Hetch Hetchy Resevoir near Yosemite
Right now plans are afoot to spend over $215 million - to revamp Mountain Tunnel - a key, large and pertinent conduit that brings water to San Franciscans some 160 miles - away.
What makes the emerging Mountain Tunnel project - that was visited before - and slated to be revamped is that now at this late stage some critical issues - need immediate attention - more as an emergency - that should have been attended to - years ago.
Mountain Tunnel - its close proximity to the Hetch Hetchy reservoir - that stores the clean water - that supplies San Francisco and our Regional customers - in all some 2.6 million people - plus.
The Water System Improvement Project is nearing its completion - over $2.4 billion in bond measures - were contributed by tax payers from San Francisco.
$2 Billion more from Bay Area counties - who are our customers - whose interests are taken by the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA).
BAWSCA, the Board and its customers feel that the recent emerging issues - linked to Mountain Tunnel - the urgent repairs - building a brand new tunnel - will create hurdles - impede water flows to the BAWSCA customers - more, put them in jeopardy.
The famous Hetch Hetchy Dam
In the Summer of 1917 - City employees of the Hetch Hetchy project - started constructing the Mountain Tunnel - from Early Intake - to Priest Reservoir - above Moccasin.
Mountain Tunnel is NOT lined for 38% of its length. It was drilled through the mountain - with a diameter of 13.5 feet - through solid granite.
The rest of the tunnel is ten feet in diameter and lined with concrete. Shaped like a horseshoe - the tunnel is designed for a flow capacity of 470 million gallons per day.
The water flows all the way to San Francisco some 160 miles away.
AT one time four large pipes - brought the water - mostly by gravity - today the four large pipes have been reduced to three.
I worked for Six United States Army and Presidio of San Francisco.
The National Park Service and the United States Park Police - these three agencies in smaller or larger capacities - provided me information - about this project and more the area - mostly, when I worked for the Sixth U.S.Army and the National Park Service that closely works with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.
Gravity brings the water most of the way. With huge pumps aiding the flow. Treatment plants - curing the water - and finally are stored in large reservoirs - University Mound and the one in the Sunset area.
The earliest workshops that I attended - linked to the Water System Improvement Project - mentioned again and again - many goals and time-lines - few that were met.
A great deal and concern was expressed- how critical Mountain Tunnel played - in moving large amounts of water - and its close proximity to Hetch Hechy reservoir.
Mention was also made that Mountain Tunnel would be revamped and fixed - more as a priority. This never happened.
I remember studying and reading reports. All hog wash - millions expanded on these findings - the SFPUC leadership under Julie LaBonte - wanting.
As I said - this did not happen - under Julie LaBonte - the project manager - who jumped ship - some years ago.
She has a tainted career - and failed as the Project Manager of the Water System Improvement Project (WSIP).
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has a sordid history - when it comes to delivering a standard product. They talk the talk - but rarely can walk the walk with dignity.
The Hayward Fault - Calavares Dam
Initially - the Bond Measure that addressed our Clean Water System - later named Water System Improvement Project (WSIP).
The Sewer System - now better know as the Sewer System Improvement Project(SSIP) - had money to address both - the WSIP and SSIP.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) independently decided to go ahead with the WSIP and put the SSIP on the back burner.
Never mind that since the mid 1970s the stench of the Phleps Sewage Treatment Plant has impacted thousands of residents in the Bayview.
Methane gas spews from the Raw Sewage Treatment Plant - large areas in the vicinity are contaminated - including the areas where the Nurseries - are situated.
For all practical reasons - the WSIP has not passed the test.
We have serious issues to attend at Calavares - a earthen dam - that is now being revamped - with a modern dam - and is placed - stark naked and center - on the Hayward fault.
The Calavares Dam if it is impacted - will flood Fremont and the adjoining areas - the SFPUC know this - but does not thing much about Emergency Services - nor being a good neighbor.
Large fissures with the standing walls at Calavares - went unnoticed for a long time.
Only to be addressed at the later date - after added borings - revealed the precarious situation.
Millions of tons of dirt removed - spending millions - for some contractor waiting for such opportunities - on the side line - to line his pockets at the expense of the tax payer.
The idiotic SFPUC hired an archeologist - who found some "whale skeletons" - failed to hire a "Geologist" - who could have detected the fissures - early on.
The small talk made at the SFPU Commission by the Commissioners - defies logic - and they do not know - and that some of us - are fully aware of the situation at hand - and have the empirical data - to prove what we are saying.
At Mountain Tunnel we have very serious issues and the timing could not be worse - the current drought - the impending El Nino that will bring - torrents of rain water - and the Mountain Tunnel project - at stand by - waiting to be revamped at this late - date.
Its close proximity to the Hetch Hetchy reservoir - impedes progress - and millions of constituents - tax payers - have been told - nothing at all - more those served by BAWSCA.
Hetch Hetchy Map - the route to San Francisco
Each time the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BASCA) representative talks before the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission - she is taken lightly.
We hear this and notice this fact - and those of us that know more - comprehend details - know why - I will speak on that subject - soon.
Hetch Hetchy was built to produce hydro-electricity - this asset was created, mentioned and approved in the Raker Act of 1913.
Later on the hydro-electricity produced was never given the due importance - and San Francisco its intended user - put on the back burner.
Much of what was produced - was sold to other entities - like Tulare County - once again the SFPUC for all their talk - shoving their dirty foot - in their, mouth.
Room was made for Pacific Gas and Electric to make money - many in power to this day - have large stocks and shares. They make decisions - little knowing - we have studies their portfolios - and know how wicked they are.
Like the Native American Elders said a long time ago - they speak with a fork tongue. I call them the scum of the Earth - those that lie, steal, and hoodwink.
Hetch Hetchy and all the land was stolen from the Native Americans. To this day - the SFPUC has failed to acknowledge them and more to compensate them - for all the ills, the many hurtful actions - more, disrespecting the Sacred Water - that is Hetch Hetchy.
Today clean drinking water is used to flush the toilets - more by the many skyscrapers - doting the skyline of San Francisco. Greedy developers and SFPUC are hand in glove. Lennar Urban is hand in glove with SFPUC - time will tell.
We mentioned that the SFPUC decided to go ahead with the Water System Improvement Project (WSIP)- and drop the Sewer System Improvement Project (SSIP) - just like that - even though - it was paid for.
Only for the corrupt, unworthy, hoodwinking SFPUC to come years later and ask San Francisco for a $6 Billion Bond Measure - to fix the Sewer System in San Francisco, replace the Digestors, the failing Wiers, the outfalls - and so on and so forth.
San Franciscans were told that the Big One - the impending Earth Quake - would bring us to our knees.
Adding - with foul smell and raw sewage every where. Climate change, sea rise - and all sorts of reasons - were given - today we see the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission - hoodwinking the constituents of San Francisco - wasting millions.
In this serious drought recently we had a pipe burst - spilling and wasting millions of gallons of clean drinking water. No apology - and excuses - for a job that lacks leadership, less accountability and absolutely no transparency.
Under the jurisdiction of
Mayor Edwin M. Lee -
the most corrupt mayor of San Francisco.
Juliet Ellis is still there - after being charged for being unethical.
She was caught siphoning over $200,000 to her former Green For All non-profit. Charged by the Fair Political Action Committee - the San Francisco Ethics Commission. She is still working and we - tax payers - pay her over $200,000 with benefits. What a crying shame.
Why is it that the laymen - have to reveal the very serious misdeeds of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission - know to shelter and give opportunity to people who are eased to work for SFPUC - by the former Mayor of San Francisco - Willie L. Brown Jr.
I have followed every aspect of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission for the last 35 years.
The worst crooks work for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.
We have delivered on a platter several meaningful projects and done SFPUC much good - never, ever to be recognized or mentioned.
I will be speaking to these facts and more - before the next San Francisco Public Utilities Commission - September 8, 2015.
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