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SFPUC briefs Planning Commission on Alameda Creek recapture draft EIR; agency says impacts can be mitigated
Summary
SFPUC presented the draft EIR for the Alameda Creek Recapture Project, describing plans to recapture bypass releases from Calaveras Reservoir to support steelhead recovery and estimating an average recapture of about 7,200 acre‑feet per year; staff recommended holding the published 48‑day comment period.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s Alameda Creek Recapture Project drew an informational presentation at the Planning Commission on Jan. 5 as SFPUC and planning staff sought comments on the draft environmental impact report.
Chris Thomas (Planning staff) introduced the item and Ellen Levin, Deputy Manager of the SFPUC’s Water Enterprise, gave a project overview. Levin said the project would recapture water released from Calaveras Reservoir and bypassed around the Alameda Creek Diversion Dam to support habitat restoration for Central Coast steelhead as part of the SFPUC’s Water System Improvement Program. She summarized the hydrologic estimates: average releases and bypasses are about 14,700 acre‑feet per year (range ~8,200–26,200) and the estimated recapture volume is about 7,200 acre‑feet per year (range roughly 4,800–9,200).
Levin said the project would pump water via floating vertical turbine pumps and route it through a new manifold and a 100‑foot, 36‑inch pipeline connection to existing conveyance facilities. SFPUC staff said the draft EIR found no significant and unavoidable impacts after mitigation and recommended maintaining the published 48‑day comment period (longer than the 45‑day minimum required by CEQA).
Leonard Ash, a water resources planning engineer with Alameda County Water District, testified that ACWD appreciates the SFPUC’s work and looks forward to collaboration; ACWD relies on the regional water system for roughly 20% of its supply. Staff recorded that one comment letter from the Alameda Creek Alliance raised concerns about surface‑groundwater interactions and dry‑year recapture operations; the Alliance requested an extension of the comment period and a hearing in Sunol, which staff did not support because the 48‑day period exceeds CEQA’s minimum.
The commission closed public comment for this item; staff will respond in writing to comments and return to the commission for EIR certification and subsequent entitlement consideration if appropriate.
