The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is continuing its history of doing its own thing by declining to cooperate with others even when there is opportunity for mutual benefit.
The SFPUC has opted out the California Department of Water Resources’ Flood-MAR (managed aquifer recharge) Reconnaissance Study of the Tuolumne River watershed. Flood-MAR is a statewide effort to identify the potential benefits of cooperative groundwater recharge. DWR has completed a study of the Merced River watershed and is proceeding to analyze other important Sierra watersheds.
We get it – “DWR’s Flood-MAR Reconnaissance Studies” is a wonky term, but it is critically important effort for all Californians.
We will be asking the SFPUC to consider and, if it continues to decline, we will ask DWR to proceed with comprehensive analysis of the Tuolumne River with publicly available data.
DWR’s graphic illustrating some of the benefits of groundwater recharge.
The Flood-MAR studies are simply studies, and will carry neither mandates nor even recommendations for implementation. Rather, the Flood-MAR studies will provide information to the public, water agencies and decision-makers for consideration. There is no downside to better information.
Cooperative groundwater recharge, in the Tuolumne watershed and elsewhere, has substantial potential to improve water supply reliability for farms, cities and vulnerable communities, to reduce groundwater overdraft and land subsidence, and to provide upstream and downstream environmental benefits. On the Tuolumne, recharging groundwater has the potential to replace the water storage benefits of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.
It is essential that all of Flood-MAR Reconnaissance Studies be true watershed studies. We must know what is possible so we can work together to manage our limited water supplies as efficiently and effectively as possible. Allowing major stakeholders to opt out will result in the omission of major benefits and undermine public confidence in the overall process.
Restore Hetch Hetchy will be working with the Department of Water Resources, the SFPUC if it is willing, and others to ensure that the Flood-MAR analysis of the Tuolumne River is as complete as possible.