Alameda Creek Watershed San Francisco Public Utilities Commission October 27, 2009

Alameda Creek Watershed Purpose – to provide an overview of activities, including a summary of SFPUC projects, and describe the context within the Alameda Creek Watershed for issues that will come before the Commission for discussion and/or decision.

Alameda Creek Watershed Approximately 440,000 acres (687 square miles) Subwatersheds Arroyo de la Laguna = 269,000 acres (420 square miles) Upper Alameda Creek = 130,000 acres (203 square miles) Lower Alameda Creek = 41,000 acres (64 square miles)

Alameda Creek Watershed Largest watershed within the Central California Coast Distinct Population Segment Region for Steelhead Final Federal Endangered Species Act listing decision in January 2006 Steelhead are the anadromous component of the O. mykiss population Current resident trout component in the watershed and reservoirs is not listed due to the BART Weir/Middle Rubber Dam barrier

Alameda Creek Watershed Water Operations Zone 7 Water Agency San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Alameda County Water District State Water Project’s South Bay Aqueduct Hydrology Very “flashy” (e.g., October 13, 2009 storm), intermittent stream flow Approximately 18 inches average annual precipitation Sycamore/Oak Woodland and grasses

Upper Alameda Creek Watershed SFPUC WSIP Sunol Valley projects New Irvington Tunnel (Nov 2009) Sunol Valley Water Treatment Plant Expansion and Treated Water Reservoir (Nov 2009) Calaveras Dam Replacement Project (2010) San Antonio Backup Pipeline (2011) Upper Alameda Creek Filter Gallery (2013)

Upper Alameda Creek Watershed Other SFPUC projects Alameda Watershed Habitat Conservation Plan Watershed and Environmental Improvement Program Sunol Valley Quarry Leases (e.g., SMP 30) Grazing Leases East Bay Regional Park District’s Sunol Regional Park Lease Nursery Leases Sustainable Agriculture Education Lease

Alameda Creek Watershed Other projects Pacific Gas and Electric’s natural gas line crossing Alameda County Water District and Alameda County Flood Control District fish passage project at the BART Weir/Middle Rubber Dam Apperson Ridge mining (i.e., SMP 17) Zone 7’s Stream Management Master Plan Alameda Creek Fisheries Restoration Workgroup

Alameda Creek Watershed SFPUC approach to Steelhead Restoration Alameda Creek Fisheries Restoration Workgroup MOU (April 2006) and Amendment (2009) Alameda Watershed Habitat Conservation Plan Calaveras Dam Replacement Project

Alameda Creek Watershed SFPUC approach to Steelhead Restoration Sunol and Niles Dams removed (October 2006) Four Fish Passage Reports (Calaveras Dam and Alameda Creek Diversion Dam completed; Natural Barriers and Critical Riffles scheduled for completion by December 2009)

Alameda Creek Watershed Alameda Creek Fisheries Restoration Workgroup hydrology and temperature modeling – will link projects within the watershed and provide input data to… SFPUC Alameda Watershed Habitat Conservation Plan fish modeling

Alameda Creek Watershed Key issues to be address in modeling Migration flows for adults to move upstream and juveniles to move downstream Feasibility and benefits of passage at remaining barriers (both natural and water supply infrastructure)

Calaveras Dam Replacement Project What’s changed since September 2005 CEQA scoping? Final Federal Endangered Species Act listing decision for Steelhead (January 2006) ACWD and ACFCD MOU with Summer 2010 target date for completion of fish passage project at the BART Weir/Middle Rubber Dam (August 2007) SFPUC proposes steelhead consultation process with NMFS (August 2008) WSIP Final PEIR certified (October 2008) Deputy General Manager memo regarding proposed operation of Calaveras Dam and Alameda Creek Diversion Dam to support steelhead restoration (March 2009)

Diversion Dam

Calaveras Dam Replacement Project Important Environmental Documents (both include March 2009 proposed operations to support steelhead restoration) National Marine Fisheries Service Biological Opinion (includes commitment to complete the Alameda Watershed Habitat Conservation Plan) Draft Environmental Impact Report

Alameda Creek Watershed What’s next? Calaveras Dam Replacement Project (Summer 2010) ACWD/ACFCD Fish Passage Project at the BART Weir/Middle Rubber Dam (Summer 2010) Alameda Watershed Habitat Conservation Plan, including independent review of hydrology, temperature, fish modeling, and potentially genetic concerns (2011)

Alameda Creek Watershed What’s next in Sunol Valley? SMP 30 related activities (2010) Slurry cutoff walls (to keep water in the creek and out of the quarry pits) Sunol Valley Restoration Plan PG&E natural gas line relocation (?) Upper Alameda Creek Filter Gallery Project (2013) Increased opportunities for public access, recreation, and education