Public and NGOs Pressure SFPUC as Bay‑Delta Plan Is Deferred to Dec. 12

San Francisco — The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission on Nov. 13 heard a lengthy update on the Bay‑Delta Water Quality Control Plan and drew sharp public criticism over the commission’s public stance and staff actions on Tuolumne River flows.

Steve Ritchie, assistant general manager for water, told commissioners the State Water Resources Control Board had deferred action on the plan until Dec. 12 to allow negotiations over voluntary settlement agreements. Ritchie outlined a range of projects the agency could pursue — recycled water expansions, indirect potable reuse partnerships, brackish desalination, Los Vaqueros reservoir investment and a possible Calaveras Reservoir expansion — and said the commission should begin workshops and planning in early 2019 to examine those options and their budget implications.

Public commenters, many representing conservation and fishing groups, urged the commission to support the State Water Board’s phase‑1 proposal to restore cold‑water flows for fish. Bill Martin of the Sierra Club said the board’s proposal is backed by peer‑reviewed science (public comment; SEG 705–748). Peter Drechmeyer of the Tuolumne River Trust criticized what he described as a staff reversal on a resolution previously negotiated with the Board of Supervisors and said that undermined trust in negotiated settlements (public comment; SEG 857–921).

Speakers representing fisheries and environmental organizations, including the Golden Gate Salmon Association and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, described an urgent need for increased flows to avoid continuing declines in salmon and other species and asked the commission to retract any public opposition to the State Water Board proposal while negotiations continue (public comment; SEG 1016–1162).

Commissioners acknowledged the intensity of advocacy and several said they want to add Tuolumne River in‑stream flow planning to SFPUC’s water‑supply planning regardless of the state’s outcome. Commissioner Moran asked staff to incorporate likely additional stream‑flow requirements into water‑supply planning and budget scenarios so the commission can evaluate costs and timing (commission discussion; SEG 1356–1414).

Ritchie told the commission many supply actions will have budget implications and that staff will return with projections. He also warned that storage and physical constraints — for example, capturing large wet‑weather flows in San Francisco — remain barriers to some reuse options (presentation; SEG 401–416, 600–616).

Next steps: the State Water Board’s decison was deferred to Dec. 12; SFPUC staff said it will present additional financial projections and proposed workshop timing in December and early 2019. The commission did not take a formal vote on a new policy at this meeting.

Sources: SFPUC presentation and public‑comment record at the Nov. 13, 2018 commission meeting.