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Public commenters and conservation groups urge caution; SFPUC moves to continue Tuolumne voluntary‑agreement resolution
Summary
After staff presented a resolution supporting SFPUC participation in voluntary agreements for the Tuolumne and Delta watershed, dozens of public commenters — conservation groups and fishery advocates — called for peer review, stronger flows and rejection of the current voluntary settlement. Commissioners voted to continue the item to March 26 to incorporate public input and proposed alternative language.
The commission opened an extended discussion and public comment period on a staff resolution to direct SFPUC participation in negotiations on a voluntary agreement for the Tuolumne River and a Delta watershed‑wide framework. Staff framed the resolution as supporting negotiation, early implementation of flow and non‑flow measures, adaptive management with Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts (MID and TID), and coordination with local stakeholders and BOSCA.
Ellen Levin, deputy manager for the Water Enterprise, said the staff resolution seeks a "comprehensive approach to protect native fish and wildlife species while also protecting water supply reliability" and listed expected elements including feasibility studies, early implementation funding and an adaptive management process. The staff packet referenced a $76,000,000 capital expenditure for habitat improvement in support of voluntary agreements.
A sustained and strongly worded public comment period followed. Chris Schultz of the California Sport Fishing Protection Alliance asked the commission to order peer review of the Don Pedro fish‑population models relied on by staff and the districts and asked the commission to table the resolution for further evaluation. "I also came to ask that you table the proposed resolution in support of negotiating voluntary agreements," he said.
Several environmental groups reiterated that the current voluntary settlement is insufficient to meet salmon recovery objectives and urged the commission to insist on peer review and stronger flow commitments. Doug Obegi of the Natural Resources Defense Council said conservation groups oppose the proposed Tuolumne agreement as currently negotiated, arguing it remains inadequate to protect and restore the river’s health. "Right now, due to diversions by both farms and cities including San Francisco, on average, about 80% of the river’s flows [are] diverted in most years," he said, and urged the commission to clarify what further negotiations would mean for flow levels and scientific review.
Nicole Sankula Bosca (Bosca CEO) spoke in favor of the staff proposal but recommended adding language referencing Bosca's motion to intervene in related litigation and explicitly preserving SFPUC water supply and sustainability level‑of‑service goals in any settlement.
Commissioners debated competing priorities: urgency of action for fish and the need to preserve municipal supply and contractual obligations to wholesale customers. One commissioner (environmental seat) moved to continue the item to the March 26 meeting to allow incorporation of public and commissioner amendments, including stronger language on early implementation, peer review and adaptive management; another commissioner seconded the motion. The commission approved the continuance.
What the commission did: The commission voted to continue Item 10 to the March 26 meeting and to circulate an amended resolution for consideration; staff and the city attorney will work with the mover to reconcile language and public input before the next hearing.
Why it matters: The Tuolumne negotiations are part of a statewide effort to apply flow and habitat measures to improve Delta and tributary conditions while balancing municipal and agricultural water reliability. Public commenters asked SFPUC to ensure its participation is based on peer‑reviewed science and explicit protections for local water supply and fishery recovery goals.
