SFPUC approves three water‑system projects, adds conditions after Hillsborough concerns

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission on Oct. 15 approved a package of major water‑system projects, adopting CEQA findings and directing staff to proceed with design, permitting and future contract awards while incorporating additional reporting commitments requested by local stakeholders.

Item 11 authorized the Crystal Springs Pipeline No. 2 replacement (project CUW‑37801), a multi‑jurisdictional rehabilitation that spans about 19 miles with roughly 5 miles of repair or replacement. Staff described the preferred "modified bridge design" alternative as the environmentally superior option under CEQA and estimated the project cost at about $71,000,000. Staff said construction advertisement and bidding will follow and that a notice‑to‑proceed was expected around February 2011 with anticipated completion in March 2013.

Item 12, a Lower Crystal Springs Dam improvement project (CUW‑3540) that includes hydraulic modifications and a variant adding beneficial releases to support native fisheries, was presented with an estimated cost of $20,000,000. Julie Labonte, project lead, told commissioners the variant would restore roughly 16 percent of previously lost storage by addressing restrictions imposed by the Division of Safety of Dams and would require coordination with multiple regulatory agencies. Staff and the commission acknowledged the variant could reduce available supply in some years; Steve Ritchie, assistant general manager for water, described work already done and committed to further analysis and future reports so "we are not going to not meet our level of service goals."

Public commenters from Hillsborough and regional water agencies urged stronger seismic study language and asked that staff commitments to Hillsborough be incorporated in the record. Commissioners accepted an amendment directing staff to proceed "with due haste" on items outlined in an Oct. 12 letter from staff (Steve Ritchie) to Hillsborough and to return with implementation reports; the amended resolution was adopted by voice vote.

Item 13 approved the Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant Long‑Term Improvements Project (CUW‑36701), a large program of seismic, hydraulic and electrical upgrades to maintain a sustainable treated‑water capacity of about 140 million gallons per day after a major seismic event. Staff estimated the Harry Tracy package at approximately $353,000,000 with a multi‑year construction timeline and noted a settlement negotiation in principle with Skyline Stables to clear the site; Christine Hansen, president of the Skyline Stables nonprofit, said her group is negotiating in good faith and is prepared to cooperate on relocation logistics.

For all three approvals, staff said implementation actions will include advertising for construction bids and returning to the commission for contract awards and other approvals. The meeting record shows commissioners moved and seconded the motions and adopted the items by voice vote with no recorded opposing votes on the tape.