We have a new look! Changes coming soon!

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus has been quoted as saying, “Change is the only constant in life.”

We have seen many changes since the start of our blog on February 25, 2009.  Back then the Water System Improvement Program Projects on the Peninsula were just starting.

Today that program is about 97% complete. Together we have upgraded major transmission pipelines, constructed two new tunnels, and upgraded our water treatment plant. We’ve encountered all kinds of weather and all manner of plants and critters and interesting people along the way. All of which we have chronicled in this blog with you.

As we look forward to future projects, including the proposed extension of the Fifield-Cahill Ridge Trail, we will start using a new platform with which to share these projects with you. https://sfpucnewsroom.com.

As of July 2019, we will no longer be posting new content here. You will be able to find all the fun and informational stories at the regional section of the SFPUC newsroom at the same link that brought you here: https://sfwater.org/peninsula.

If you would like to continue to track construction projects, please visit us at https://sfwater.org/construction.

For updates on the Crystal Springs and Sawyer Camp trails, visit https://parks.smcgov.org/san-mateo-county-park-advisories.

And follow us on twitter (@sawyercamptrail) for trail updates regarding SFPUC-related activities.

Thank you so much for reading, and we will see you at the NewsRoom!

Life on the Watershed: Summer's Youth

It’s summertime, the season of renewal and regeneration, and new, young life is thriving on the watershed. Watershed keeper Sarah Lenz has spotted half-grown foxes and bobcats—both reclusive nocturnal species that keep to hollows and other remote spots during the day. So any sighting of a cub is particularly lucky.

Flowering shrubs are in full bloom and sure to proliferate, alive as they are with bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. 

Plump young songbirds are everywhere, and the resident bald eagle pair has reproduced again. This year's three juveniles are just about

to fledge, and people on the trails might start seeing them too, high in flight above. 

The 17.5-mile Crystal Springs Trail—consisting of the Sawyer Camp Trail, the San Andreas trail to the north, and the southernmost Crystal Springs segment—is managed by the County of San Mateo Parks Department and open to the public every day.

For a more solitary watershed experience, the SFPUC’s Fifield-Cahill Ridge Trail is open by reservation for docent-guided hikes and bike rides on selected Saturdays and Sundays. To find out what's coming up over the next few weeks, visit sfwater.org/ridgetrail.

F

Responders Make Ready for Wildfires and Today's "New Normal"

When fire broke out near Peninsula watershed land earlier this week, our watershed keepers were ready, and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) crews had already made their way through the nearest gates. They’d all been preparing for something just like this.  

“Fires are more destructive than ever before,” Cal Fire Division Chief Jonathan Cox told firefighters, police officers, sheriff’s deputies, park rangers, and other first responders from throughout San Mateo County at the liaison meeting hosted by SFPUC Peninsula Watershed staff every year at Pulgas Temple.  

Calling today’s conditions “the new normal,” Cox said that fires are now larger and more frequent throughout longer fire seasons.  “It takes everybody to deal with wild lands, and it’s critical we coordinate throughout the County.”

The 23,000-acre watershed is home to a drinking water system that serves more than a million customers, said SFPUC Peninsula Area Land Manager Jonathan Perrin, and “proactive prevention is key.”  

Crews have taken out hazardous vegetation that’s potential fuel, there are 48 miles of fuel breaks to slow or stop the advance of flames, and watershed keepers are continually on the move to spot a potential event before it happens.  Watershed staff are also holding regular training sessions to familiarize fellow responders with the water system infrastructure, power lines, access gates, roadways, and water pickup points. Cal Fire is also planning a training burn on the watershed's San Andreas Dam for June 17, weather and other conditions permitting. 

“Everyone has a part,” Perrin said, “and it’s done through relationships. You have to be able to reach out, talk to someone, and ask for what you need."  

The Pulgas Temple Liaison event is a standing occasion to renew those bonds and get acquainted with newcomers. 

Temporary Trail Closures During June to Reduce Fire Risk

The County of San Mateo Parks Department will close parts of the Crystal Springs Trail during the month of June for its regular annual mowing to reduce fire risk. Here is the schedule:

Sunday evening, June 9 through Friday evening, June 14: Entire Sawyer Camp Trail closed, from the south entrance to Hillcrest.  

Monday evening, June 17, through Wednesday evening, June 19. San Andreas trail closed, from Larkspur to San Bruno.

Wednesday evening, June 19, through Friday evening, June 21.  Sawyer Camp South (the new segment south of the dam) closed.  

For updates, please visit https://parks.smcgov.org/press-release/summer-closures-crystal-springs-regional-trail.

Vegetation Removal Near Sawyer Camp Trail Starts May 6--Trail Will Be Open

SFPUC crews will return to Peninsula Watershed land adjoining part of the Sawyer Camp Trail, starting the week of May 6, to remove resprouted acacia saplings and other non-native, invasive vegetation. The trail will remain open, but crews may need to halt pedestrian and bike traffic for short periods when vegetation is being treated or removed. The work will be in areas adjacent to the trail between Mile Markers 1 and 3, and will continue for two to three weeks. 

This work follows our previous vegetation removal project for habitat restoration in 2016, when we cleared large acacias and other highly invasive plants from the same area over a four-month period. However, the control of re sprouts and other tenacious invasives can be ongoing if we are to protect and nurture the new native grasslands and oak woodlands we’ve restored in their place. The historic native habitats are vital for other native plants, butterflies, birds, and animals, many of them endangered.

Peninsula Watershed native habitats range from old-growth Douglas fir forests and coastal scrub to serpentine grasslands and freshwater marsh. Together, they harbor over 800 species of plants and trees, 165 bird species, 50 mammal species, and 30 species of reptiles and amphibians. The 36-square-mile watershed also has the Bay Area's highest concentration of rare, threatened and endangered plant and animal life.   

  

Life on the Watershed: Serpentine Wildflowers

The annual wildflower bouquets are out on the Peninsula Watershed’s normally sparse serpentine ridges. 

Serpentine is California’s state rock—a gray-greenish rock originating from the earth’s mantle (and closely associated with our fault lines).  Its thin covering of serpentine soil is high in magnesium and iron, but low in plant-nutritious calcium, aluminum, and clay. So most of the year, the plants that do survive there are limited to stubby low-growing native grasses and small herb-like plants. 

But, come spring, it’s home to a multitude of native wildflowers—many of them rare or endangered—that thrive in the harsh conditions so unfavorable to their more common or non-native competitors. 

In fact, the long-protected watershed harbors the highest concentration of rare, threatened and endangered species in the Bay Area. In all, we have over 800 species of plants and trees, 165 species of birds, 50 mammal species, and 30 species of reptiles and amphibians. The place is also a State Fish and Game Refuge. 

Sawyer Camp Trail Temporary Closure April 14-19

The San Mateo County Parks Department will close the entire Sawyer Camp Trail, between the Skyline and Hillcrest entrances, from the evening of April 14 through the evening of April 19 for vegetation removal/ fire fuel reduction. Cyclists please use alternate routes from that Sunday evening, the 14^th, through Friday, the 19^th.  

Notices at the trail have been posted. For further questions, please call the Coyote Point Ranger Station, 650-573-2592.

Watch for Construction Trucks Crossing Sawyer Camp Trail at San Andreas Dam through April 5

The SFPUC is conducting geotechnical work on the west side of the Peninsula Watershed. The site is well out of public view, but vehicles will occasionally drive along a short part of the Sawyer Camp Trail where it crosses the San Andreas Dam, about one mile from the north entrance. We expect this work to continue through the first week of April.

The trail will remain open, but please watch for the trucks in the San Andreas Dam area. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding. 

Weed Control Near Sawyer Camp Trail--First of Several Projects Now Complete

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission crews recently launched a series of short projects to control invasive weeds on parts of its Peninsula Watershed land near the Sawyer Camp Trail for approximately a one-mile stretch slightly north of Mile Marker 1. The first project, which started Monday, February 18, is now complete. The trail remained open throughout the work period.  

The weed control is being done to preserve and enhance the native grasslands that were seeded in late 2016 as part of a continuing long-term habitat restoration program in various areas throughout the watershed.  The 2016 seeding followed the removal of acacia trees and other large, invasive vegetation that had displaced the watershed’s historic native habitats near the trail and at other watershed sites.

Subsequent intermittent short periods of weeding and other vegetation control measures will occur in the Sawyer Camp Trail area in the course of the next couple of years or more. Trail users will be notified in advance.

The approximately 36-square-mile Peninsula Watershed is home to a diversity of long-time coastal habitats, ranging from conifer and oak forests to chaparral, grasslands, and marsh. In all, they harbor an abundance of native plant and animal life, including a high concentration of rare, threatened or endangered species. The watershed is also a State Fish and Game Refuge. 

The First Crystal Springs Bridge

The Lower Crystal Springs Dam across San Mateo Creek went up in 1888, and the first bridge on top of it opened soon after.

The narrow wood-planked crossing easily accommodated the horse-drawn vehicles of the time, and members of the Association of Civil Engineers soon turned out in force to inspect and celebrate.      

The new dam secured an additional welcome supply of more fresh, clean Peninsula water for thirsty San Francisco to the north. And the inventive gravity-arch structure itself, built of staggered interlocking concrete blocks, has lasted without fail ever since. It survived unimpaired the next two major earthquakes of 1906 and 1989.

Lower Crystal Springs Dam stands 149 feet tall on a 176-foot-wide base. The SFPUC recently upgraded it to ensure safe discharge of reservoir water during high rain periods. The more

contemporary bridge of the 1920s was removed just beforehand, with plans to construct a more seismically stable one in its place. 

The new 21^st-century bridge opened this past January 11.  

Today Upper and Lower Crystal Springs operate as one reservoir and have a combined capacity of 22.5 billion gallons of water. The stored stream runoff, rainfall and surplus Sierra Nevada waters are continually drawn on as an essential local supplement to the Hetch Hetchy drinking water we serve throughout the Peninsula and San Francisco. 

Life on the Watershed: When Birds of Different Feather Flock Together--Look for Winter Activity along the Ridge Trail

February is still a good time to catch winter’s unique activity in the woods, where a single quiet tree can suddenly become a hub of fluttering, chirping commotion. 

This  is the season when songbirds of various sizes and colors band together in flight and feeding. They'll descend in mass on one or a couple of trees to feast on insects from leaves or the bark.  Each species has its own way of foraging (depending on bill size, shape, and other features), so that many of them are after different specific foods and coexist with less competition.

And there’s strength in the numbers, since flocking in a large group makes it harder for hawks and other predators to target a specific bird.  

Good places to catch a winter feeding frenzy are stands of our native coastal live oaks, especially in the mornings.

You can get well into the Peninsula Watershed woodlands by signing up for one of our Fifield-Cahill Ridge Trail hikes. There’s something scheduled for almost every weekend through March and into April. Events range from easy 5-mile round trips to brisker hikes across the 13-mile length of the trail.  For more information, and to reserve your space on line, please visit sfwater.org/ridgetrail.    

The 36-square-mile Peninsula Watershed has been protected since the late 1800s to safeguard the

quality of our local drinking water resources. A key side-effect is that the place remains an oasis of historic native habitats that support a diversity of plant and animal life, including 165 bird species, 50 different mammals, and 30 reptile or amphibian species. The SFPUC continually works to enhance the indigenous wetlands, grasslands, forests and other ecosystems by removing the non-native trees, shrubs and weeds that spring up, and replacing them with seeds or saplings from the original species.  

Crystal Springs 10-Year Challenge

Many a brave person is participating in the #10yearchallenge these days. Posting a photo from 10 years ago and a current one side by side on your favorite social media platform.

We at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission are not shy about how much we’ve changed in 10 years, and thought we’d join in on the fun with Lower Crystal Springs Dam and Reservoir.

May 2008

This photo was taken in 2008 and shows Lower Crystal Springs Dam on the left, Skyline Bridge on top, and Lower Crystal Springs Reservoir and the watershed in the distance.

January 2019 (Ok, technically a little over 10 years)

What a difference a decade makes! Taken in January 2019, this photo shows Lower Crystal Springs Dam and the new parapet wall constructed to allow for safer release of high flows over the Dam. The upgrades are clearly visible in the lighter concrete color. Also clearly visible is the recently-opened new Skyline Bridge.  

What is conspicuously absent? The power poles. The upgraded power lines were placed underneath the new bridge.

Otherwise, the environs around Crystal Springs Reservoir are not showing their age at all.

We are firm believers that some views get better with age….

Have a great weekend everyone!

Photo Friday from the Crystal Springs Reservoir

We were thrilled to join the San Mateo Department of Public Works and San Mateo County Parks to open Skyline Bridge over Lower Crystal Springs Dam last Friday, January 11th. The new bridge, and the pedestrian lane on top of it, connect to a new trail section south of the dam.  

For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of visiting the region's newest bridge and trail section, you're in luck. We happened to take a bunch of photos of the bridge and the stunning Peninsula Watershed around it.

Happy Photo Friday and have a great weekend!

The new Skyline Bridge, atop Lower Crystal Springs Dam, has a separate trail for pedestrians.

View of the protected pedestrian lane on the bridge, Lower Crystal Springs Dam beneath it, and Crystal Springs Reservoir.

The new southern section of trail is now open to the public where it connects to Skyline Bridge.

Crystal Springs Dam Bridge Opens January 11

The County of San Mateo is inviting pedestrians and bicyclists  to experience the new Crystal Springs Dam Bridge on Friday, January 11 at 2 p.m. They will have a unique view of the bridge and connecting trails before the road opens to vehicle traffic at approximately 4 p.m. that day.  Scheduled speakers include Senator Jerry Hill and San Mateo County Supervisor Carole Groom.

The bridge opening also provides access to a new segment of the Crystal Springs Trail that is just under one mile long and offers additional views of the Peninsula Watershed. The trail ends just north of Highway 92 and Skyline Boulevard.

A shuttle service will be available to transport event attendees to the bridge from the Youth Services Center at 222 Paul Scannell Drive in San Mateo beginning at 1 p.m.  No on-site parking will be available at the bridge itself. Bicyclists are welcome ride to the site or use the shuttle service which can accommodate bikes.

Winter Watch on the Ridge Trail

Winter conditions have spurred a new schedule of activities along the Peninsula Watershed's Fifield-Cahill Ridge Trail. We've lined up a diversity of hikes and bike rides throughout January, February and beyond. 

If you go--

The time is right for checking out one of our most striking evergreens (the venerable Douglas fir known as “old Doug”). Also  look for red-tailed hawks (mostly juveniles on the hunt at this time of year). And watch for newts. After months of seclusion in their leafy, dry-weather shelters, the newts might be seen now, inching their way along or across the trail to enjoy the more palatable winter wetness. 

Events range from easy 4- or 5-mile round-trip strolls to all-day excursions across the entire 13-mile route. All of them are led by one or more of our knowledgeable volunteer trail leaders, and space is limited to 20 at most.

For more specifics, and to reserve a spot, please visit sfwater.org/ridgetrail.

Happy Holidays from the SFPUC

We hope you are having a restful and joyful holiday season!

It doesn't snow very often on the Peninsula. A photographer named George Fanning found himself in a winter wonderland on the Peninsula Watershed on January 30, 1922.

Here a couple of his photos to enhance the holiday mood.

San Andreas Reservoir

View from Pilarcitos Dam, looking downstream toward the keepers cottage.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Holiday Season!

Bring on the Rain--Completed Watershed Erosion Control Project Will Safeguard Pipeline AND Native Plant Life

Crews have finished a key project to control heavy volumes of eroding soil and rock that threatened to damage a major drinking water pipeline along the Crystal Springs Reservoir shoreline below parts of the Sawyer Camp Trail. 

The specially fabricated "holey concrete" blocks, installed by hand into the hill, will allow returning young native plants to sprout through and around the newly stabilized slope. 

 

Holey Concrete! Plant-Friendly Blocks Will Halt Erosion Near Sawyer Camp Trail

Crews have been installing vegetation-friendly concrete blocks into some slopes near Sawyer Camp Trail to stabilize them as part of a late-year erosion control project.  

The area is normally wetland habitat, and the innovative blocks are designed to allow future young plants to sprout through them and flourish after the project is finished. The work is being done to shore up the soil and rocks that were sliding into the nearby Crystal Springs/San Andreas Pipeline along the reservoir shore. 

The pipeline transports Crystal Springs reservoir water north to the San Andreas Reservoir and then the Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant. Those local reservoir waters are then blended with Hetch Hetchy regional water for distribution to Peninsula and San Francisco customers. 

Thanksgiving on the Watershed: Wild Turkeys—Pardoned by Circumstance

Wild turkeys flourish here and there throughout the Peninsula Watershed. Our watershed keepers are particularly used to a flock of 20 or so that routinely pass by their office, a mile or so in from the staff entrance near I-280. 

The approximately 36-square-mile space provides an ideal diversity of habitat for the opportunistic foragers, which roam a couple of miles a day to feast on grasses or scratch in the woodland leaf litter for insects, seeds, acorns, blackberries and other plant or animal fodder. 

Since the long-protected watershed is also designated as a State Fish and Game Refuge, the turkeys that dwell here are safe from one of THEIR potential predators, the human hunter. 

Happy Thanksgiving to them and  all of you, from all of us.    

Sawyer Camp Trail Closure Continues Through Today, Nov. 19

Monday, Nov. 19.—The Sawyer Camp Trail and other San Mateo County Park trails will continue to be closed through today because of the hazardous air quality. For updates, please check the County Parks Department news advisories at
https://parks.smcgov.org/crystal-springs-regional-trail