Stanford Heights Reservoir Update - Summer 2010

Thank you for your patience and cooperation while we’ve been rebuilding the Stanford Heights Reservoir and Mt Davidson Pump Station.

With the seismic upgrades complete, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission/Water Department is addressing a few outstanding items this summer.

The heavy springtime rains brought some of the tallest weeds we’ve ever seen throughout San Francisco! The goats will be coming to the reservoir this summer as an environmentally-friendly way to remove the high weeds behind the reservoir fence. Watch for them soon!

The Department of Public Works will repave Agua Way between Teresita and Chaves in September or October due to two sewer repair projects that are scheduled on the street this summer. Once they complete their projects, they will repave the street as promised.

The Water Department will paint the blue valves and other equipment on Agua Way this summer. Bamboo and other plants were added this past spring.

The temporary orange fencing around the reservoir will be removed soon.

The Goats are coming to Stanford Heights Reservoir this summer!

Those high weeds behind the fence at Stanford Heights Reservoir will soon be lunch for a herd of goats!

The popular return of the goats will take place this summer - most likely in early August. With the heavy winter and spring rains, the weeds are tall and thick this year at the reservoir.

The goats are a fun and environmentally-friendly way for the City to control weeds. Power mowers use gas and often cannot reach steep areas of weeds on our properties. Using the goats also reduces the need for herbicides to control weeds.

Watch for them at Stanford Heights Reservoir soon!

Public Comment Welcome on Agua Way Bamboo Plan

Our landscape folks have created a proposed planting plan for the area near the blue valves and chlorine building along Agua Way near Teresita. The plan includes beautiful clumping bamboo and blooming flowers that will create a 'green screen' that neighbors can enjoy instead of viewing the valves and other equipment.

You can view the drawings near the valves on Agua Way.

Please provide comments by noon on Thursday, March 11th via email to asinclair@sfwater.org.

We will soon be painting the chlorine building, DPW will repave Agua Way this Spring and then we can plant proposed bamboo and flowers. Bamboo can grow between 12 and 16 feet in height and will fill out over time.

Thank you to the many Agua Way neighbors who suggested bamboo as a good option for everyone.

Snow Fence Added to Protect Plants at Stanford Heights Reservoir

Residents may notice snow fencing around the perimeter of Stanford Heights Reservoir this week. The temporary fence was added in order to protect the new landscaping recently installed and allow it to grow.

The fence will remain in place until the new plants and flowers have a chance to grow. It will be removed once the landscape team feel the plants are safe from damage.

New Video Highlights WSIP Progress

Here is a new video highlighting the progress we are making in rebuilding and seismically retrofitting the Hetch Hetchy water system.

Repaving of Rockdale - UPDATE!

The San Francisco Dept of Public Works is planning to repave Rockdale between Isola and La Bica in December, possibly as early as December 1st, depending on weather and schedule.

Watch for posted 'no parking' signs and crews on the street soon!

Repaving of Agua Way will take place this Spring.

Repaving of Rockdale and Agua Way

The City will repave Rockdale Drive from Isola to La Bica and Agua Way from Teresita to Chaves in the near future. The San Francisco Department of Public Works (DPW) will do the paving work and have tentatively scheduled to repave Rockdale in December or early 2010 and Agua Way in Spring 2010.

Why the Delay? The reason for the delay is due to the requirement to contact other utility agencies and give them a chance to schedule work on Rockdale and Agua BEFORE we repave. We do not allow utilities to dig up the recently repaved street for a period of time, so we give them some time before to check their maintenance schedules and give them enough time to complete work if necessary.

Watch this blog for updates on the repaving plans.

New Plants at Stanford Heights Reservoir

New plants are being installed this month around the perimeter of Stanford Heights Reservoir. New landscaping installation will continue at the site over the next month.

Once we complete landscaping and finish the new Mt Davidson Pump Station, located on Agua Way and La Bica, the chlorine building will get a much needed new coat of paint to match the new pump station.

In late winter/early spring, the hillsides behind the fence will begin to bloom with new native wildflowers.

Native Wildflower Hydroseeding at Stanford Heights

Why is the hillside by the reservoir suddenly GREEN, you might be wondering? On October 1st, the contractor sprayed native wildflower seeds, through a process called hydroseeding, onto the hillside area around the Stanford Heights Reservoir. Early this Spring, you will start to see beautiful native wildflowers growing. The green color is a mixture of seeds, nutrients and mulch.

Landscaping Update: After a few delays with the irrigation system, the contractor will complete the irrigation lines soon and will begin landscaping the area in mid-October.

After landscaping is complete, we will paint the blue valves and the chlorine building next to them to help may Agua Way look great! New landscaping will go in front of the valves too. Repaving of Agua Way will take place next Spring.

Thank you for Neighborhood Input

The SFPUC appreciates continued neighborhood input on the reservoir and pump station projects at Stanford Heights Reservoir and Mt Davidson Pump Station.

The landscaping phase is beginning and soon neighbors will see the addition of new native plants and bushes around the reservoir. Hydroseeding, which is a spray mix of wildflower seeds, will be added behind the new fence soon.

We appreciate many of our Agua Way neighbors meeting with us and Supervisor Elsbernd at the site recently to discuss alternatives for the area near the chlorine building and the blue valves. We will discuss options with our project team and follow up soon. The Water Department is making plans to repaint the chlorine building this fall to match the new pump station on Agua Way. Once we complete these projects by the end of the year, we believe the area will look great again.

New Fence and Landscaping at Stanford Heights Reservoir

The contractor is making progress on the installation of the new fence around Stanford Heights Reservoir. We expect the reservoir project to be complete in early fall.

Several neighbors have voiced concerns about the height of the fence. The ten-foot fence is required by Homeland Security due to the fact this is a drinking water reservoir.

Landscaping work is taking place with the installation of many native, low-water-use plants and bushes.

As we near completion, we will install additional landscaping in front of the blue valves on Agua Way. Once landscaping is complete, we will paint the blue valves a better color so they blend into the hillside and tunnel. The nearby building to the left of the valves will also be repainted a similar color to the new pump station on Agua Way.

We expect the new pump station to be complete in December or early January.

Fence Installation Beginning this Summer

Installation of the new security fence around Stanford Heights Reservoir is beginning! New fence posts can be seen along Agua Way. It will be a 10 foot high, black vinyl-clad fence surrounding the reservoir.

The east reservoir basin retrofit work is nearing completion and will be placed back in service in early fall.

New Fence and Landscaping Coming to Stanford Heights Reservoir

The countdown to completion of the Stanford Heights Reservoir Seismic Retrofit project is beginning!

In summer 2009, residents can expect to see a new 10 foot security fence installed around the perimeter. New landscaping will be installed in late July/August to beautify the area. Native wildflower and grass seeds will be adding using 'hydroseeding' and colorful native plants and bushes will be planted.

Project completion is expected fall 2009!

Stanford Heights Reservoir Retrofit Moving Toward Completion

With the retrofit of the east reservoir basin almost complete, the project team feels the entire project will finish in Fall 2009. This summer, residents can expect to see installation of the new 10 foot fence around the perimeter of the property. A new retaining wall along the La Bica path will be installed in June. Landscaping is scheduled for early Fall and will include new drought-tolerate, native plants, grasses and flowers. The SFPUC will keep the neighborhood updated as we begin the countdown toward completion.

Access and Parking Limitations on Agua Way on or around March 17th

A large concrete pumping truck will be required to place the concrete inside the wall forms of the new pump station on Agua Way near La Bica. The truck will be on site on or around Tuesday, March 17th, depending on weather.

Contractor NTK Construction will place “Road Closed to Through Traffic” signs at the intersections of both Agua at Teresita and Agua at Chaves.

A flag person will be onsite at Teresita at Agua to help direct traffic. Agua Way residents will have access to their driveways and the street. Some minor delays can be expected. “No Parking” signs will be posted on the reservoir side of Agua Way in advance.

Due to the amount of concrete to be poured, the contractor may need to work as late as 6:30pm.

Traffic Calming Information

Neighbors on Agua Way have asked about traffic calming measures to address the ongoing problem of speeding car traffic.

The San Francisco Department of Parking and Traffic can work with a neighborhood to research the best methods to decrease speeding car traffic. The first step is to contact them and complete an application to start the research process. The Department of Parking and Traffic will track car traffic to determine what traffic calming measures will help decrease speeding.

For more information and to complete an application for traffic calming research, visit the San Francisco Department of Parking and Traffic website: Traffic Calming Application and Information Link

Response to Agua Way neighbors

Here are a few responses to neighbor questions from our February 7th community coffee:

Concerns about exposed blue pipes mid-block on Agua Way: the Water Dept will repaint them and work with neighbors to choose a better color. We cannot add wood slats to the fence but painting the pipes will help them blend in better.

Request for street repaving after projects: The streets are not on the Depart of Public Work's 5-year repaving list but given our inquiries they will be sending a staff person to review the streets for possible consideration for future street paving. The SFPUC contractor will repair areas that are damaged - both sidewalk and street.

Request for traffic calming on Agua Way: Many neighbors are concerned about speeding traffic on Agua Way. The SFPUC contacted the Department of Parking and Traffic and will provide information to neighbors about the process of applying for traffic calming measures.