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!

Some responses to your questions

The following Q&A was handed out at the June 8 meeting with neighbors regarding the Laguna Honda Reservoir area.
In April 2010 the SFPUC was asked to provide information about the planned use of an area at the Laguna Honda Reservoir

Provide documentation of all planned/anticipated and “emergency” activities of the SFPUC at the site:
• Frequency
• Duration
• # of staff on site at any given time
• Regularly scheduled activity outline/emergency activity described
• # and size of vehicles expected on site consistent with regular planned activity
• # and size of vehicles expected on site for “emergency” activities

• The activities will be limited to the hours of 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with usually no more than one Dive Supervisor dealing with office work. The majority of the Divers are working at dive sites throughout the city. The Dive Team has three passenger trucks, so there will never be more than that number parking there at any given time. No trucks will be left there overnight.
• Once it has been placed on the site the trailer will provide office space for a couple of diver supervisors and a small workshop to repair and maintain items such as air stations, helmets, dry suits, ROVs, cameras, power and light units, and filling air cylinders.

What were/are the criteria used by the SFPUC in selecting the Lake Honda site for these facilities and activities?
When the dive shop left Treasure Island, the City Distribution Division researched other SFPUC land to house the dive shop. The criteria for a new site included:
• Central location to quickly service a majority of reservoirs (Sunset, Merced Manor, Sutro, Summit, Twin Peaks, Mount Davidson & Forest Hill tanks that are close to this location).
• Unobtrusive location; the actual site is below street level and below the driveway.
• Secure; behind locked gates (two gates).
• Location to water test gear, if necessary.The dive office may or may not be purchased and installed this year, it all depends on the available funding and the cost of the trailer. In the meantime, existing facilities will continue to be used. The generator will be removed once the transformer installation and connections are complete.

Can it be said that there will be no additional facilities, structures or activities at this site?
• After the trailer is placed in this location, other activities would be limited to placement of lattice screens/fences to obscure the structure from view and other plantings..

• The pad and green house covers SFPUC owned switchgear that would not produce any noticeable noise. The transformer is actually on the existing PG&E pole.

Can neighbors be assured that no one but authorized personnel will be accessing the site? Why were their reports of late night access to the site but no record of it by the Water Dept.?

• Aside from keys for beekeepers, only authorized Water Department personnel have access to this property. On the occasion referenced, a dept. staff person may have had to access this site but that is highly unusual and not a regular occurrence.

Community asked for copy of the WEISS natural areas study. It could be posted at sfwater.org/natural areas.
We have scanned in the old report however since it is dated, the agency plans to have the study redone this fall or spring.

SFPUC staff will pursue the following landscaping and property upgrades at Lake Honda/Laguna Honda:
1. Obscure as much of the fencing as possible, both the fence along Clarendon and the interior fence with vines and other greenery. Place green fabric on interior fence gate as nothing can be planted near it. Also, since it is within the exterior fence, graffiti would not be a problem.

2. Extend the fence screen along the fire access road to obscure the bee boxes.

3. Coordinate with our Landscape Supervisor about planting more native plants for the area inside of the fences. Garden Project could be a resource here.

4. Staff is considering recommending that SFPUC Real Estate revoke the beekeeper’s permit in this area as they are extending beyond their restricted area.

4. Work together to minimize the impact of the sand and gravel mounds – we are proposing to relocate the gravel and sand to an area within the inner fence

5. Consider a screen for the gate on Clarendon, taking into consideration the potential for graffiti on any surface (could we get a gate with tighter weave?).

6. Notify SFPUC Communications of any change in the “regular operations” hours at the site so that the neighbors can be notified in advance.

Contact us at feedback@sfwater.org

Laguna Honda Comments

Following a meeting at Clarendon School last night with neighbors, SFPUC was asked to research and post previous comments regarding this area that had not been published. Digging into Blogger, we found 5 comments that are now linked to the May 14 posting. Below is a new comment that we received today.

For response and further discussion, look for the SFPUC handout from the June 8 meeting. At the meeting, neighbors asked the SFPUC to verify the zoning for this property. While we do that, Kevin Barry, City Distribution Manager, promised that the SFPUC dive and operations staff will not pursue any further activities at the site.

Peter Cook and a fellow beekeeper also reported to the group. Peter is working to consolidate the bee hives within his allotted 125 sq. feet and will try to make the hives more asethetically pleasing.

New Comment:
My husband and I are not very happy with the construction site posted up (seemingly permanently) at the bottom of Clarendon Street at Laguna Honda Lake area. That is an area that we were told would turn back to it's natural green state. It is important for wildlife, dog walkers and the trails within the area should be restored for recreational purposes.

There was the hidden away water pump station which wasn't done very green and eliminated a lot of forest and now this. Please help our community by moving PUC to another area.

Thanks,
Brooke Spilberg

Celebration on Mt Davidson

Friends and neighbors gathered under bright sunshine on Saturday morning, June 5th on top of Mt Davidson to celebrate the completion of three large Water System Improvement Program (WSIP) projects and rededicate a new plaque to the woman who helped preserve Mt Davidson as a park back in 1926.

Supervisor Sean Elsbernd opened the ceremonies by recognizing people from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Rec & Park Natural Areas Program and the many organizations and volunteers who worked with the City to ensure the critical water construction projects took place in harmony with native plants and natural habitats on the mountain.

The Mt Davidson Tank & Pipeline, Mt Davidson Pump Station and the Stanford Heights Reservoir are now updated, renovated and will help ensure water delivery and fire protection in the event of a major earthquake or other disaster.

Jacquie Proctor, local author, historian and co-founder of the Friends of Mt Davidson Conservancy, shared her vast knowledge of Mt Davidson's unique history. She shared historic photos of Mrs. Edmund "Madie" Brown, a courageous woman who in 1926, organized to prevent Mt Davidson from development so it could be enjoyed by the public as a park.

The new plaque in honor of Madie Brown.

June 8th Community Meeting: Updates at Laguna Honda Reservoir

Neighbors of Laguna Honda Reservoir:

A community meeting with the SFPUC will take place on Tuesday June 8, 2010. The meeting will be held in the Auditorium at Clarendon School, 500 Clarendon, and will begin at 6:00pm.

SFPUC staff will provide updates on the improvements to the small area near the Clarendon Gate that were discussed and proposed in April. We will have updated illustrations of proposed changes to the site.

When: Tuesday, June 8th, 2010 at 6pm

Where: Auditorium at Clarendon School, 500 Clarendon

Construction at the Clarendon Gate is pictured here.

We hope you are able to join us on June 8th, we look forward to hearing from you.

Celebrate Mt Davidson on Saturday, June 5th

Celebrating SFPUC Water Projects and Honoring Mt Davidson History

Join us to celebrate the completion of critical SFPUC water system upgrade projects and the dedication of a plaque honoring “Madie” Brown.

Saturday, June 5th, 2010
10:30am
Top of Mt Davidson
Light breakfast served • Rain or shine
asinclair@sfwater.org

Mrs. Edmund N. “Madie” Brown,
a courageous woman who in 1926
organized to preserve Mt Davidson as
a public park for San Francisco.

Volunteer with the Natural
Areas Program before the event!
Meet at 9am at Landsdale &
Dalewood. Closed-toe shoes,
long pants & layers suggested.
415-831-6331

Historical Photo Credit: Jacquie Proctor

Laguna Honda

The SFPUC City Distribution Division will continue to use an area of the property at the Laguna Honda Reservoir. This area is just inside of the gate on Clarendon Ave. Activities and facilities for the site were the topic of a community meeting held on April 20, 2010. Below are some of the highlights of that community meeting:

With respect to the ongoing and regular use of the site by our Dive Team, here are the current plans:
• Regular activities at this site will be limited to the hours of 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with usually no more than one Diver Supervisor dealing with office work. The majority of the Divers are working at dive sites throughout the city. The Dive Team has three passenger trucks, so there will never be more than that number parking there at any given time.
• Once it has been placed on the site the trailer will provide office space for a couple of diver supervisors and a small work shop to repair and maintain items such as air stations, helmets, dry suits, ROVs, cameras, power and light units, and filling air cylinders.
• Construction related to the trailer will be limited to placement of lattice screens/fences to obscure the structure from view.

A pad and structure have been installed close to the fence and gate on Clarendon Ave.

• The PG&E equipment referred to on the pad is a transformer with switch gear. It makes no sound and hence no reportable decibels. The structure surrounding the transformer is 8 feet tall by 3 feet deep by 7 feet long.
• Once the transformer is fully operational, the temporary generator will be removed.

We are planning a follow up with the community on Tuesday June 8th, stay tuned for more details.

San Andreas Pipeline No. 3 Update

Temporary Road Closure

In order to safely make upgrades to our water delivery system, the SAPL3 project team is closing Eucalyptus Drive between Ocean Ave. and 19th Ave. today and Friday (April 29th and 30th). The 2-day closure will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Iris Martin Lopez in SFPUC Communications at: (415) 554-3222 or ilopez@sfwater.org.

SF Water Dept Water Service Shutdowns for April 27th

The SF Water Department is scheduling water service shutoffs on Tuesday, April 27th at 11pm to service our pipelines. Water is expected to be back on within several hours.

Here are the San Francisco locations:

Eucalyptus Dr, 19th ave to Melba
19th ave, Ocean to Eucalyptus
East side 20th ave, Ocean to Eucalyptus
S/W Eucalyptus & 20th
S/E Eucalyptus & 22nd ave
S/E Eucalyptus & Melba