NEWS ADVISORY
For Thursday, October 30, 2008

SFPUC to Decide on Seismic Upgrades to Hetch Hetchy System and Water Diversions from Tuolumne River

Contact: Peter Drekmeier, (650) 248-8025

What: The San Francisco Planning Commission will vote to certify the Final Program Environmental Impact Report (FPEIR) for the Water System Improvement Program (WSIP), and the SFPUC will choose a WSIP option.

The WSIP is a $4.3 billion program aimed at upgrading and retrofitting the Hetch Hetchy Water System so that it can withstand a major earthquake. The program also includes a controversial plan to divert up to 25 million more gallons of water per day from the Tuolumne River to meet 2030 demand projections.

Where: San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco.

When: Both hearings will take place on Thursday, October 30, 2008.

The SF Planning Commission will meet in Room 400 at 1:30pm.

The SFPUC will meet in Room 263 at 5pm.

Who: SF Planning Commissioners, SFPUC Commissioners, conservation organizations (including the Tuolumne River Trust, Sierra Club, Clean Water Action and others), public officials and the general public.

Why: Everyone agrees the Hetch Hetchy Water System is in need of repair. However, the proposal to divert more water from the Tuolumne River in Yosemite National Park has met staunch resistance. Water conservation and recycling can meet future demand without causing further harm to the "wild and scenic" Tuolumne River.

For more information, please visit http://www.tuolumne.org/bayarea

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Peter Drekmeier
Bay Area Program Director
Tuolumne River Trust
111 New Montgomery, #205
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 882-7252 x 302
peter [at] tuolumne.org
http://www.tuolumne.org/bayarea