BOMA San Francisco supports the Calaveras Dam Replacement Project and the Draft Environmental Impact Report. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has proposed to replace the Calaveras Dam with a new earth and rock fill dam of equal height and improved seismic design. The existing reservoir has been lowered to 40% of its capacity because of seismic safety concerns. The reservoir is the system’s largest local reservoir and represents more than half of the storage capacity in the Bay Area. As such, the association feels that the project should proceed for the following reasons:
- The Calaveras Dam Replacement Project is extremely important to San Francisco and the Bay Area’s water supply.
- Calaveras Reservoir, when full, represents over half of the San Francisco Public Utility Commission’s water storage capacity in the Bay Area and more than 60% of our drinking water.
- Communities in the East Bay and South Bay depend even more heavily upon this water source when Hetch Hetchy supplies are not available.
- If Hetch Hetchy supplies were cut off because of a major earthquake, it is critical that we have sufficient water in reserve available for fire fighting, public health, and to keep our city functioning as much as possible.
- Finally, we need this nearby improved water supply project moving forward today, not tomorrow, and cannot support further CEQA review delays. Discussions about the operation of the proposed new dam are ongoing with the appropriate permitting agencies, and will be appropriately dealt with.
