April 30 marks the end of our rain year. Each year at this time we tot up the rainfall and lake-level data, and try to figure out if we've had a good year.
This year it's simple. We haven't.
Rainfall was a little below normal, 18.3 inches as measured at the Lake Merced Pumping Station vs. a normal rainfall of about 20.4 inches. Apparently the local rainfall was somewhat less than the City average.
The lake level went down 13.2 inches, more than a foot. That reflects the continuing deterioration of the supporting aquifer, as historically the expected reduction from a 2-inch shortfall in rain would be substantially less.
Last summer the lake level went down more than 2 feet between April and October. If that happens again this year, and there's no reason to think that it won't, by the end of the summer we can expect the lake level to be near or even below the lowest level reached during the major drought of the early 1990s. And the early forecast for next year's rain is not a good one.
What is the solution?
Recycled water from Daly City to water the golf courses won't be ready in time.
There will not be stormwater from the Vista Grande canal in time.
We've got to find some water, quickly, to maintain the lake level or the lake faces the threat of serious long-term deterioration. Is Hetch-Hetchy water available? Could we pump water from the deep aquifer and put it in the lake? We need the PUC to start getting some answers, and some results.
I don't want to be an alarmist, but when the press conveys a sense that a solution to the problems at Lake Merced has been found, and when City officials attempt to diminish the urgency with which these problems need to be addressed, they're just not leveling.
You can help by keeping this on the top page of everyone's to do list.
Thanks for the help.
John
