Water Resources Division Annual Report FY 2015-2016 | Page 21

Regional Water Use
BAY AREA REGIONAL RELIABILITY PARTNERSHIP
The SFPUC is working with the Alameda County Water District (ACWD), Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency
(BAWSCA), Contra Costa Water District (CCWD), East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), Marin Municipal Water
District (MMWD), Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD), and Zone 7 Water Agency (Zone 7) to develop a Bay Area
Regional Reliability Drought Contingency Plan (BARR DCP) for the region served by these agencies. The BARR DCP is the
first activity of the regional partnership and is co-funded by a grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. This plan will
identify short- and long-term actions that two or more partners can take in response to droughts and other emergencies,
thereby improving water supply reliability.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AT LAKE MERCED
Located in the southwest corner of San Francisco, Lake
Merced is made up of four interconnected lakes and provides
a vital link for wildlife, particularly for migrating birds. In an
emergency, Lake Merced water can be used for firefighting or
sanitation purposes if no other sources of water are available.
The SFPUC and the City of Daly City are working together to
improve the Vista Grande stormwater system, which drains
the northwestern portion of Daly City and an unincorporated
portion of San Mateo County – areas originally within the
watershed of Lake Merced. Project goals include improving
stormwater drainage, minimizing flooding risk, and providing
a sustainable water source for Lake Merced management.
The project is currently undergoing environmental review,
which is anticipated to be completed in 2016.
The SFPUC also conducted remediation at the southwest
side of Lake Merced, the former site of the Pacific Rod and
Gun Club (PRGC), to address contaminated soils resulting
from historical activities by the PRGC. The objectives of the
remediation project included minimizing human exposure
to contaminated soils, allowing unrestricted use of the site,
avoiding additional ongoing monitoring and maintenance
requirements, and reducing the potential for leaching
contaminants into Lake Merced. Construction commenced
in May 2015 and was completed in spring 2016. Following
successful completion of remediation, the San Francisco Bay
Regional Water Quality Control Board approved unrestricted
reuse of the site.

Lake Merced is located in the southwest corner of
San Francisco. Residents may enjoy recreational activities
by the lake such as running, rowing, and fishing.

Through the remediation at the Pacific Rod and Gun Club,
clay pigeons (which contain poly aromatic hydrocarbons)
and lead shots were removed along the southwest shoreline
of Lake Merced. The SFPUC has re-established native
wetland plants to provide new habitat for the area.

BRACKISH WATER TREATMENT
(REGIONAL DESALINATION)
The SFPUC is continuing to explore the feasibility of a regional partnership with CCWD, EBMUD, SCVWD and Zone 7 for
the Bay Area Brackish Water Treatment (Regional Desalination) Project, a 20 mgd capacity treatment facility in eastern
Contra Costa County that could provide a water supply to be shared among the partner agencies through transfers using
an extensive network of existing or planned pipelines and interties. This project will continue to be reviewed as part of
the BARR DCP process. 

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