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SFPUC: reservoirs rose but drought conservation remains in effect; Lower Cherry Aqueduct rehab under contract schedule
Summary
SFPUC staff reported March 11 that total reservoir storage is about 1 million acre-feet (69% of maximum) with 313,000 acre-feet directly available, system demand down ~12% since Jan. 31, and projects including Lower Cherry Aqueduct rehabilitation moving toward construction; staff said a formal water shortage could be declared under the water code in April.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission was told on March 11 that recent storms improved reservoir levels, but officials urged continued conservation and outlined near-term projects to protect supply.
Ellen Levin, deputy manager for the water enterprise, said total reservoir storage is "about a million acre feet" and roughly 69 percent of maximum, with about 313,000 acre-feet directly available for water supply. Levin said demand has responded to conservation requests: the system is showing about a 12 percent reduction in deliveries since the Jan. 31 voluntary-reduction announcement.
Levin summarized other supply indicators: Hetch Hetchy gauge readings were about 120 percent of average for February, the local system was also above average, and snowpack measured roughly 33–35 percent of median April 1. Based on current forecasts, staff estimated a 65 percent chance Hetch Hetchy will be above a 1977 benchmark by July 1, but noted the system still needs about 6.5 inches of precipitation to fill Hetch Hetchy by that date.
Levin also reviewed management actions: the general manager declared an emergency on Feb. 21 to expedite contracting for the Lower Cherry Aqueduct rehabilitation, with the goal of having it operational by Oct. 1. Staff said pre-bid meetings were scheduled and they expected construction-management and contractor contracts in early April. The SFPUC is also watching state drought-relief legislation and an acceleration of Proposition 84 integrated regional water-management funding, a package referenced at roughly $472,000,000 total with $200,000,000 set aside for drought relief; staff said they proposed funding for the Lower Cherry rehabilitation, a San Francisco groundwater project, and a local toilet-installation program.
Levin said the commission will publish a "final estimate of available water supply" for wholesale customers by April 15 or sooner, which will determine long-term restrictions. "We don't anticipate that being reduced anytime soon," she said regarding the 10 percent conservation expectation.
What happens next: staff will release the final water-availability estimate in mid-April and continue project procurement for the Lower Cherry Aqueduct rehabilitation and related programs.
