Crystal Springs Dam

4 feet water capacity increase after 120 years and improvements. RL frogs move from temporary digs.

 Beginning February, 2011 completed in March 2012, the Crystal Springs Dam reservoir water will increase from the current 19.5 billion gallons of storage capacity to 21 billion gallons, 1.5 billion gallons, which represents raising the reservoir level by 4 feet.  Crystal Springs Dam was built in 1888, raised a few feet in 1891, images of the Damn http://3dparks.wr.usgs.gov/3Dbayarea/html/CrystalSprings.htm

From San Mateo Times Julia Scott, 3/3/10....The work, estimated to cost between $15 million and $25 million, will also involve widening the "spillway" at the top of the dam, which allows surplus water to flow into San Mateo Creek during rainstorms, and adding a newer, larger "stilling basin" at the toe of the dam. The stilling basin catches the water that comes out of the dam and tempers the flow before delivering it to San Mateo Creek.The project has been planned for a long time but only recently gained funding as part of the SFPUC's $4.6 billion Water System Improvement Program, which is intended to shore up or replace infrastructure that carries water 170 miles from the Sierra Nevada to San Francisco, spanning seven counties....The work will begin after workers remove a colony of threatened California red-legged frogs that have made their home in an improvised pond at one end of the dam. Wildlife biologists will find a new home for the frogs elsewhere on SFPUC property.The dam work will ultimately raise winter water levels on San Mateo Creek by several feet, wiping out 13.5 acres of wetland habitat for the red-legged frog and the San Francisco garter snake, another threatened species. Full Full article  http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_14768048?source=rss

Lower Crystal Springs Dam Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) was released 3/2/10. The SFPUC has released a draft environmental impact report outlining the project and will hold two public hearings, at 8 p.m. April 6 at Hillsborough Town Hall and at 1:30 p.m. April 8 at San Francisco City Hall. The SFPUC is seeking public comments on the plan until April 16. http://sfwater.org/detail.cfm/MC_ID/35/MSC_ID/395/MTO_ID/652/C_ID/4941

Posted by Kathy Meeh