SFPUC: Reservoir storage improving but drought remains; staff urges 10% voluntary cut

Assistant General Manager for Water Steve Ritchie told the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission on April 22 that while recent precipitation has improved reservoir levels, the city remains in drought conditions and conservation remains essential. Ritchie said total storage available in Hetch Hetchy and local reservoirs is roughly 361,000 acre‑feet, about two‑thirds of maximum capacity, and noted Hetch Hetchy itself was at about 63 percent of maximum storage.

Ritchie said March precipitation and local rains have steadily increased supplies but that the statewide snowpack was weak — roughly 40 percent of the April 1 median — meaning much of San Francisco’s final water availability will depend on snowmelt timing later in the spring. “Make no mistake about that,” he said, “this is still a drought condition.”

Ritchie outlined operations used to manage limited supplies, including the city’s water‑bank strategy. He described how water normally available to irrigation districts and the city is allocated on the Tuolumne River (the presentation referred to district entitlements, unimpaired flows and PUC diversions) and said the PUC plans to draw the water bank down more heavily this year to preserve Hetch Hetchy storage through the dry season. He gave a Cherry Lake target storage level of 150,000 acre‑feet on January 1, 2015 as an emergency planning goal and said there is a reasonable chance Hetch Hetchy could fill by July 1 if timely precipitation continues.

Ritchie warned the State Water Resources Control Board may consider curtailment notices for pre‑1914 water rights and explained the water‑bank agreements help manage that risk. On management actions, he said the PUC extended its request for a 10 percent voluntary system‑wide water‑use reduction on April 15 and will review customer demand weekly with a planned reassessment on June 15. If usage does not meet the target, he said staff may recommend stronger measures later in the summer.

Ritchie also summarized drought‑relief projects and capital work intended to improve supply reliability, citing the Lower Cherry Aqueduct emergency rehabilitation, expansion of direct‑install toilet replacements and the recently approved San Francisco Groundwater Project. He said several of those projects are candidates for state drought‑relief funding under Proposition 84’s integrated regional water management program.

The commission had no public speakers on the GM’s water‑supply report and accepted the presentation. Ritchie remained available to answer follow‑up questions from commissioners about the water bank, irrigation allocations and program timelines.