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SFPUC update recommends 8.5-foot lake level, John Muir wetland as centerpiece of Lake Merced plan
Summary
PUC staff recommended a target Lake Merced level of 8.5 feet city datum and a stormwater–groundwater hybrid to sustain it, highlighted a proposed 5.2-acre John Muir Wetland (estimated ~360 acre-feet/yr) and outlined next steps including 10% design and CEQA review; community groups present expressed strong support.
David Behar, deputy to the assistant general manager for water, told the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission that staff has chosen a target lake level of 8.5 feet city datum for Lake Merced and recommends a stormwater–groundwater hybrid as the preferred source of supplemental water.
The recommendation, presented as part of an alternatives analysis report (AAR) and broader watershed planning effort, identifies the proposed John Muir Wetland — a roughly 5.2-acre stormwater-treatment wetland along John Muir Drive — as a central feature. Staff preliminarily estimated the wetland could yield about 360 acre-feet of water annually and deliver corollary benefits such as bird habitat, reduced stormwater ocean discharge and educational opportunities.
Why it matters: Lake Merced has been reduced from a historical 6,000-acre watershed to about 600 acres; staff said the recommended lake level and hybrid source best balance ecological benefits, hydrologic sustainability and public acceptance. Behar said the selection drew strong support from the Lake Merced Task Force, which includes more than 30 community organizations that have worked on lake restoration for years.
Details and next steps: Behar said the draft AAR is final and posted; staff will move into 10% design and the environmental review process under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The watershed plan will proceed in phases and include facilitated work groups and broader community meetings; staff expects to return to the commission at key decision points during design and environmental review.
Community reaction: Robert Maddow, an attorney representing the Olympic Club, said the club supports the AAR but noted a portion of the John Muir Wetland would occupy Olympic Club property, and urged continued dialogue. Representatives of the Lake Merced Task Force and San Francisco Beautiful said they broadly support the preferred approach and urged the commission to advance the plan.
Technical questions raised: When asked about saltwater intrusion, Greg Bartow of Water Resources Planning said the lake and lake bottom are well above sea level, so the lake itself would have to be nearly drained before saltwater intrusion into the lake would be a concern; he characterized current aquifer intrusion risk as low and noted ongoing monitoring well data collection. On lead shot, staff said shooting over the lake had been banned in prior decades, that a water-column study showed no widespread toxicity outside bottom sediments, and that the PUC and the Rod and Gun Club are moving forward with an upland lead-deposition study whose results are pending.
What’s next: Staff will proceed with engineering design and CEQA review and return to the commission for decision points; public outreach and advisory committee work will continue. No formal vote was required or taken on the AAR at this meeting.
