Public commentators press SFPUC on Bay‑Delta plan and Tuolumne River flows

Several members of the public used the July 24 SFPUC public‑comment period to press the commission on the State Water Resources Control Board’s Bay‑Delta Water Quality Control Plan and its potential impacts on the Tuolumne River and the Bay‑Delta estuary.

Peter Drechmeier of the Tuolumne River Trust opened public comment by saying he was disappointed the Bay‑Delta Plan was not on the agenda and introduced a video and slide package the group wished to present to the commission. Commenters including Bill Martin and Dave Warner criticized the socioeconomic study by the Brattle Group for lacking clear assumptions and probability analyses, and urged staff to incorporate mitigation measures such as indirect potable reuse (IPR) and desalination into models.

"We're a little disappointed that the Bay Delta Plan didn't make it onto your agenda today," Peter Drechmeier said. Dave Warner argued that without probabilities and mitigation, "the studies are one‑sided, narrow..." and asked that staff not rely on the current studies until those issues are addressed.

Environmental groups also spoke: Sonia Diermeier of the Sierra Club said she found it "appalling" that San Francisco was opposing the state board's proposal to leave more water in the Tuolumne River and warned that inadequate flows harm salmon and smelt. BAWSCA representatives later reiterated concerns about customer impacts and said voluntary settlements were a preferred path.

Commission response: Commissioners and staff acknowledged the breadth of submitted materials and agreed a fuller public hearing or forum would be useful. Commissioner Moran defended the SFPUC's planning drought approach as prudently protective of customers while recognizing that model assumptions and mitigation deserve further public discussion.

Next steps: Commissioners indicated they will pursue additional public discussion and staff will participate in follow‑up meetings with stakeholders.