Willie L. Brown, Jr.
MAYOR

MINUTES

REGULAR MEETING
Public Utilities Commission

September 23, 2003
1:30 P.M.
City Hall, Room 400
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

7. Report of the General Manager

  c) Lake Merced Update

Mr. Greg Bartow, Groundwater Program Manager with the Planning Bureau, gave a brief update on Lake Merced issues regarding: 1) water additions and water levels, 2) ongoing work, and 3) interim plan development.

1. Mr. Bartow stated water was being added for 2 reasons: 1) to restore lake levels, and 2) to understand the volume of water needed to be added to achieve certain target goals as part of a scientific study. He stated 230 million gallons of water had been added to the lake in July and August this year, bringing the lake up to nearly 21 feet gage board and 2 feet over the July level. He stated this was the highest the lake had been, at this time of year, since 1987. 

2. Mr. Bartow stated there were 3 issues with ongoing work. 1) SFPUC was analyzing the feasibility of raising the lake level by 2, 4, 6 and 8 feet. He stated an environmental and infrastructure evaluation on the levels was being done and that the draft report would be available in November. 2) SFPUC was studying the water sources of recycled water, treated storm water, groundwater and surface water and that a draft report was available. 3) SFPUC had a joint project with Daly City to look at using wetlands treatment along the Lake Merced shoreline to get additional treatment of storm water after it flows through the already existing storm water filtration system.

3. Mr. Bartow stated the public was concerned that SFPUC was moving too quickly by fast tracking the plans, but that it was desired to maintain the momentum that had moved the project forward. He stated an interim plan was proposed as a road map to the final plan for raising and maintaining lake levels. He stated a draft plan would be issued to the public in the next month outlining the goals for the next 4 years. He stated both public comment and the Commission’s input would be sought over the next few months.  

President Normandy called for public comment related to Lake Merced.

Public Comment:

Mr. Tim Colen, Chair of the Lake Merced Task Force (LMTF), commended Mr. Bartow for his work, noting that the fast tracking showed promise and signs of success. Mr. Colen stated the LMTF was a 30-40 member organization. He stated at their September 17 meeting, the LMTF adopted a resolution that recommended a lake level of 25-28 feet on the gage board. He stated there was a long history and evidence for that level as a public goal because it accommodated the desired beneficial uses. He referred to Mr. Bartow’s report regarding identifying potential water sources to add to the lake such as treated storm water, surface water, Westside Basin Aquifer groundwater, and recycled water. He stated the sources had favorable attributes for restoring the lake level, but had significant drawbacks. He stated that a retired senior City Engineer attended a recent SFPUC meeting and identified the potential water source of conveying East Side groundwater along the Alemany corridor to the lake. Mr. Colen hoped this suggestion would be added to the potential water sources list and that funding be provided to study if it was a viable option.      

Mr. John Plummer, Friends of Lake Merced (FLM), stated FLM was pleased with the progress at the lake and that a hydrogeologist was on staff. He wanted to correct a few impressions from Mr. Michael Carlin’s August 26 report. He stated he gave a related letter to Commission Secretary Mary Jung for the Commission on FLM letterhead that had been reviewed, approved and supported by a number of other organizations. He raised 3 points.

1. In response to the “lake was at an all time high,” he stated the lake does not look great and much work needed to be done to achieve the 25-28 feet lake level goal. In response to a lot of water being added to the lake, he stated in fact the source of water being added was not environmentally benign or sustainable. He stated so-called “system water” being added to the lake was taken from the Tuolumne River. He stated FLM had assured Tuolumne River Trust they did not support it as a long-term solution. Mr. Plummer stated the Westside Basin aquifer had been overdrafted and emphasis needed to be placed on restoring the aquifer. He stated when restored it would benefit Lake Merced, Pine Lake, other surface waters in the area, and would establish a resource of potable water for the community.

2. In response to “the community was satisfied with the reports made at the August 20th presentations,” he responded that the reports were made but that there was limited time for questions, no time for discussion, and no one could really conclude anything about the community acceptance or rejection of what was presented. Mr. Plummer stated attachments to his letter contained comments from the Audubon Society, FLM, Committee to Save Lake Merced and Golden Gate Heights Association.

3. In response to the recycled water program referred to in the report, Mr. Plummer stated FLM was not well informed about that program and its provisions. He stated members had attended a workshop on the recycled water program and discovered that suggestions from the community were not considered in the report and that actions that might benefit Lake Merced had been given a low priority. He stated the work done did not include community input. 

In addition, Mr. Plummer stated the Board of Supervisors (BOS) recently adopted a precautionary principle policy as the official policy of the City. He quoted the policy, “one of the goals of the precautionary principle is to include citizens as equal partners in decisions affecting their environment….The community has the right to know complete and accurate information on potential human health and environmental impacts associated with the selection of products, services, operations or plans. The burden to supply this information lies with the proponent, not with the general public.” Mr. Plummer suggested that if the community were a partner with the Planning Bureau for the monthly Merced Lake Update, the community wouldn’t need to make a separate report to the Commission on their reaction to the report. He stated FLM was hopeful that steps be taken to assure that a partnership in which joint recommendations and reports could be presented could be affected.

President Normandy thanked Messrs. Colen and Plummer for their comments on Lake Merced, stating it was a departure from the process to include other speakers on the monthly Lake Merced Update. He stated it was not a negative reflection on staff, rather a responsible action to follow the BOS’s precautionary principle policy. President Normandy stated the Lake Merced issue was one of the Commission’s high priorities. He commended Mr. Bartow, Mr. Carlin and staff for their efforts and for allowing the public to participate in the process. He stated SFPUC did not want to give the public an established plan absent their input. He emphasized teamwork was elemental and that the Commission needed to be aware of the full panoply of opinion regarding Lake Merced.