BIG WIN FOR THE TUOLUMNE!
Thank You Tuolumne River Trust Supporters and Volunteers
A year ago
we faced a Water System Improvement Program (WSIP) that would have diverted an
additional 25 million gallons of water per day from the Tuolumne River. Fortunately, at a public hearing on October 30th the SFPUC approved the Phased WSIP, which will cap water sales at
current levels until 2018. This was a huge victory – the first time
we’ve ever had a cap on sales.
Many thanks
to all of you who wrote letters to the SFPUC or attended last night’s
hearing. We had an overflow crowd, with dozens of articulate and
passionate speakers. It was wonderful to see so many people
committed to the health of the Tuolumne
River and other local
watersheds. Thank you
again, and we look
forward to working with you on the next phase of the campaign – promoting water
conservation and recycling.
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Peter Drekmeier, Tuolumne River Trust, 415-882-7252 ext. 302
Jennifer Clary, Clean Water Action, 415-369-9160 ext. 311
October 31, 2008
SFPUC to Retrofit Hetch Hetchy Water System and Cap Water Sales to
Protect Tuolumne River
SAN FRANCISCO – On Thursday, October 30, the San Francisco Public
Utilities Commission (SFPUC) approved a $4.4 billion Water System Improvement
Program (WSIP) that will upgrade the Hetch Hetchy Water System to enable it to
withstand a major earthquake. By adopting the “Phased WSIP” alternative, the
SFPUC also chose to cap water sales at current levels until at least
2018.
“This is a major victory for the wild and scenic Tuolumne River,” said
Peter Drekmeier, Bay Area Program Director for the Tuolumne River Trust. “A
year ago we faced a proposal to divert an additional 25 million gallons of water
per day from the Tuolumne – enough to fill 1,000 swimming pools. We’ve come a
long way.”
“This is the first time there’s been a cap on water sales,” said Jennifer
Clary, Water Policy Analyst for Clean Water Action. “We've changed the way the
SFPUC does business.”
By capping sales for 10 years, the SFPUC and its wholesale customers will
have time to reexamine water demand projections, ramp up conservation and
recycling programs, study the potential impacts of climate change on future
river flows, and complete a biological study of the Tuolumne that will help
determine when additional water should be released from Hetch Hetchy to benefit
wildlife and vegetation downstream.
An overflow crowd attended the SFPUC hearing, with the vast majority
speaking in support of the seismic upgrades combined with measures to protect
the Tuolumne River and other local watersheds, including Alameda Creek, from
which the SFPUC obtains 10% of its water. The Tuolumne provides 85% of SFPUC
water.
The Phased WSIP still includes a provision that would allow the diversion
of an additional 2 million gallons of water per day from the Tuolumne to fill
reservoirs following extended droughts. However, the Commissioners made it
clear they want to see the Tuolumne protected, and included several strongly
worded amendments aimed at minimizing the need for additional
diversions.
“The Commission heard our message loud and clear, and responded with
additional measures to protect the Tuolumne through aggressive water
conservation and recycling,” said Clary. “There also will be regular updates on
projected water demand, which will allow us to identify potential threats to the
River before they become problematic.”
“We’re pleased to see the SFPUC taking its role as a steward of the
Tuolumne River seriously,” said Drekmeier.
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Take Action to Protect the Tuolumne:
 JOIN THE TUOLUMNE RIVER TRUST
CLICK HERE to become a member of the Tuolumne River Trust and support the important work we do throughout the watershed. The Trust is the only organization linking Bay Area, Central Valley, and Sierra water conservation issues. Our success and the health of the watershed is dependent on our members.
JOIN THE TUOLUMNE RIVER TRUST'S E-MAIL ACTIVIST LIST
Send an email to jessie@tuolumne.org with "EMAIL ACTIVIST" as the subject heading and get up to date reports on news in the watershed and how you can help. You'll also receive the Trust's e-newsletter, the eCascade.
WATCH TRT's CABLE AD
Do you know where your water comes from? Throughout the month of October Tuolumne River Trust has launched a cable tv advertising campaign to heighten the awareness of all those who drink water from the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, and hence the Tuolumne River. You may see the ad yourself on cable stations such as CNN, Discovery, National Geographic, and Animal Planet, but get your sneak peak by CLICKING HERE.
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