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175 Buckingham Way, #104 San Francisco, CA 94132 |
January 27, 2003
Ms. Patricia Martel
General Manager
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
1155 Market, 4th Floor
San Francisco, California 94103
Dear Ms. Martel:
We have just received a copy of the minutes of the December 18 Commission meeting. In it you presented your annual update on the status of Lake Merced.
An important question, addressed by Michael Carlin, was posed by Commission President Caen. That is, what is the ideal, or target, depth for a restored Lake Merced. The answer, 24 to 26 feet on the South Lake gauge, has been accepted policy for many years. Michael Carlin, answering on your behalf, indicated that target is now contingent on an assessment of environmental impact.
We expect that Mr. Carlin is referring to a study commissioned to the consulting firm EDAW. That study originally had quite a different purpose, that is to evaluate short term additions of water to Lake Merced in amounts necessary to raise the lake level as much as eight feet. During the single public review of that proposal, held in August, we pointed out that this study fails to address two important issues:
1. How will the lake adjust to a gradual increase of lake level spanning many years, as can be expected as the aquifer is restored?
2. What mitigating actions, including replanting, shoreline contouring, and the like, can be taken to preserve habitat as the lake level rises?
At that August meeting we requested that the public have access to the monthly reports from EDAW suggested in the proposal. Instead we were told that we would be permitted a quarterly review. Even that has not happened.
This is an important policy and operational issue. We again request full public disclosure and community participation in the conduct of this study and evaluation of the results.
By the way, we notice that in the same report Mr. Carlin stated that "a lot of progress has been made, but there is a lot of work to do with the community." We certainly agree with that assessment, and are happy that Mr. Carlin is aware of the high priority the community effort deserves.
Sincerely,
John Plummer
c.c.:
Ann Caen, President
Dennis Normandy, Vice President
Members of the Public Utilities Commission
Supervisor Tony Hall
Members of the Friends of Lake Merced
