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PUC: Hetch Hetchy near full but Water Bank low; conservation keeps deliveries down
Summary
Assistant GM Steve Ritchie told the Commission Hetch Hetchy was about 92% full and Crystal Springs ~96% on June 9, 2015, but the system’s Water Bank is drawn down (projected ~60,000 acre-feet in low scenarios). Staff urged continuing conservation and outlined how the Water Bank buys several years of operational resilience.
Assistant General Manager Steve Ritchie updated the Commission on water supply and drought operations, telling members that Hetch Hetchy was about 92% full and Crystal Springs about 96% full as of the briefing, and that customers' conservation has driven deliveries well below reduction targets.
Why it matters: While Hetch Hetchy storage is favorable in the short term, the Water Bank — an operational buffer — has been drawn down substantially. Staff projected the Water Bank could bottom out near 60,000 acre-feet (about 11% of capacity) under extended drought scenarios. Ritchie said the system is "working the way it's designed" by prioritizing Hetch Hetchy storage while drawing the Water Bank to get through multi-year dry conditions.
Operational outlook: Staff presented modeled scenarios: in a 1977‑type water year, the Water Bank might peak at about 200,000 acre-feet in April but could be exhausted the following summer if conservation and hydrology do not improve. Ritchie cautioned that favorable reservoir appearances do not mean the drought is over and noted ongoing rumors about potential state water-board actions on pre‑1914 water rights.
Public messaging and uncertainty: Commissioners asked about El Niño and communications. Ritchie said El Niño carries odds, not guarantees, and staff will plan for downside risk; commissioners praised the PUC's recent conservation campaign.
Quote: "People driving on Interstate 280 should not think that the drought is over because that reservoir is full," Ritchie told commissioners to emphasize the difference between storage operational choices and long-term drought risk.
Next steps: Staff will continue to operate for durability, update models as conditions evolve, and report back to the Commission as planning and operational decisions advance.
