Northern Section of Sawyer Camp Trail Closed on Wednesday night, June 29th through Friday, July 1st

A northern portion of Sawyer Camp Trail will be closed from the Hillcrest Gate entrance in Millbrae to the 4.5 mile marker beginning this Wednesday, June 29th at 5 p.m. The closure will be in effect through Friday, July 1st. When the trail reopens, please use caution as a metal plate will be located on the trail near the San Andreas Dam (approximately 1 mile south of the Hillcrest entrance).

The southern trailhead at Skyline Blvd. and Crystal Springs Rd. will be open as usual, but hikers will need to turn around by the 4.5 mile marker. No through traffic will be permitted. If you frequent the northern section of Sawyer Camp, you may have noticed lots of construction activity! Crews are seismically upgrading the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System -- ongoing work in the Peninsula Watershed is to enhance the reliability of San Mateo County’s emergency water supply.

Additional closures planned in July not related to the construction project:

July 11th: Cal-Fire tentatively plans to do seasonal fire prevention on Monday morning July 11th, and may close the northern trailhead at the Hillcrest Gate for a few hours.

July 12th – 14th: San Mateo County Parks will close the entire trail for three days (Tuesday through Thursday) to do required seasonal maintenance.

Please subscribe for automatic updates on trail closures on the blog: www.sfwater.org/SCT

Workers Along Polhemus Road in San Mateo Starting June 29th

Starting on Wednesday, June 29th, the contractor for the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel and Pipeline project will begin performing removal work on small devices, called piezometers, on some of the hillsides and shoulders along Polhemus Road in San Mateo. Several work trucks will also be in the area.

On Thursday, June 30th, work will take place on Polhemus Road near the retaining wall located near the intersection of Ascension Drive and will require traffic control. Neighbors in the area may experience temporary traffic delays.

Thank you for your patience as we complete this important water project.

Please do not drive on upper terrace of South Shaft site off Polhemus Road

The project team has noticed tire tracks on the upper terrace area of the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel's South Shaft site off of Polhemus Road in San Mateo.

PLEASE do not drive cars, trucks, bicycles, etc on the upper terrace area/meadow area of the site. Driving on it will create issues for dust control and erosion. We have measures in place to reduce dust so it does not blow onto homes above.

This fall, we will be adding a native seed mixture to the upper terrace/meadow area.

Thank you for your patience and support as we complete this important water infrastructure project.

Aqua Colored Soil Stabilizer added to NCSBT Meadow Area near Polhemus Rd in San Mateo

Is anyone wondering why the upper terrace/meadow/muck disposal area at the South Shaft construction site of the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel (NCSBT) is now an aqua-blue/green color?

In order to help prevent erosion and to control dust, the contractor has added a soil stablizer in preparation for revegitation.

In late summer/early fall, the area will be seeded with natives grasses and plants.

Please note the color of the soil stabilizer will fade over time! We promise the color is only temporary.

Construction Update at Peninsula Watershed Reservoirs

Silt curtains to protect species and water quality

delivered to San Andreas Lake: May 10, 2011

Barge and Dive Boat Launching at San Andreas Lake:

Does the water level appear low to you at San Andreas Lake? It will continue to get slightly lower to accommodate upcoming underwater seismic improvements. You may also see our crew transporting large marine equipment near the trailhead to San Andreas Trail and the northern entrance to the Sawyer Camp Trail.

The construction team must use the Hillcrest Gate entrance for water craft and other large equipment, which may cause delays on Hillcrest Blvd. (near Skyline in Millbrae, just west of 280). Large deliveries are expected over the next couple of weeks, with work in the reservoir taking place all summer.

If you frequently access Sawyer Camp Trail from Millbrae’s northern trailhead, the trail will remain open! Follow us on Twitter for real-time updates about activities: http://www.Twitter.com/SawyerCampTrail.

Pulgas Water Temple Temporary Closure:

Further south in the Peninsula Watershed (along Cañada Road), the Pulgas Water Temple is closed as of Monday, May 23^rd and is expected to reopen in mid-summer 2011. Please subscribe (see right) in order to receive an email when the temple reopens.

Increased Truck Traffic on Polhemus Road in San Mateo

Residents near the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel & Pipeline project on Polhemus Road in San Mateo will see additional large trucks in the area on Friday, May 20th. Trucks will be making deliveries to the project site and may create some additional traffic or delays on Polhemus Road between Bunker Hill Road and Crystal Springs Road.

The trucks are delivering top soil to the project terrace areas. Dust control measures are in place to help prevent dirt and dust flying into the air. The contractor may continue grading work on the terrace (former muck disposal area) into Saturday.

The tunnel and pipeline are complete and the project is nearing completion. Thank you again to our neighbors for your continued support and patience during the final stages of the project.

Demobilization Continues near Polhemus Rd & Crystal Springs Rd in San Mateo

Crews continue to remove equipment and materials from both the north and south shaft construction sites of the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel & Pipeline project in San Mateo.

Early next week, crews will remove the k-rail along Crystal Springs Road near the former north shaft construction area (the 10 mph zone near Polhemus Road). Metal guard rail will be installed and crews will be working on the shoulder area. Please watch for crews in the area and use caution during this work next week.

Top soil deliveries will continue to the south shaft site along Polhemus Road. Please watch for trucks in the area during the day. Dust mitigation measures will be in effect to minimize dust.

Construction trailers will be removed from the site soon.