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 September 2, 2009.  Back then the Water System Improvement Program Projects in the Sunol Valley were just starting.

Today that program is about 97% complete. Together we have upgraded pipelines, constructed new tunnels, built a one of a kind fish ladder, and an entirely new Calaveras Dam. 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 the operation of a new Native Plant Nursery, new Sunol Yard, and a future Alameda Creek Watershed Center, 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: sfwater.org/sunolvalley.

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

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

Photo Friday - Rattlesnake Season

Summer is nearly here. Warm temperatures bring out the rodents and all sorts of critters who feed on them, including rattlesnakes.

In California alone, there are seven types of rattlesnakes. Please be careful when you’re hiking in and around Sunol. 

Photo courtesy of Pat Jones, SFPUC Watershed Keeper

Here are some tips to stay safe and avoid coming face to face with our reptilian friend, courtesy of  California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) website:

· Be alert.
· Wear sturdy boots and loose-fitting long pants.
· When hiking, stick to well-used trails.
· Do not step or put your hands under logs or in burrows where you cannot see.
· Do not handle any snake. Call the experts if you need it removed.
· Leash your dog when hiking in snake country.

Remember that rattlesnakes aren't usually aggressive, but they can be provoked if they feel threatened. And when out enjoying nature, you are in their home after all. 

Stay safe out there and see you around the Valley!

Photo Friday: Beyond the New Calaveras Dam

Happy Photo Friday!

Here are some beautiful aerial photos of the New Calaveras Dam and Calaveras Reservoir.  Photos are courtesy of SkyHawk Photography.  

Here is a stunning photo of the Calaveras Reservoir from the south looking north towards the New Calaveras Dam. Calaveras Reservoir helps supply drinking water to 2.7 million Bay Area residents. 

Workers completed the road that leads to the dam.

















We couldn't resist adding a picture of the new intake tower.  
  

The seismically robust New Calaveras Dam is in full operation. It can now hold its historic storage capacity of 96,850 acre feet of water (31 billion gallons).  

The dam was completed in May 2019. The team is finishing up a few minor items at the Dam, but the majority of construction activities are now complete. 

See you around the valley! 

Getting Ready for Fire Season

  

A passerby would have assumed that a huge emergency must have been unfolding at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s (SFPUC) new Sunol Yard on May 30^th.  No less than five separate fire department units were on scene, sharing space with Alameda and Santa Clara County Sheriff’s vehicles, California Highway Patrol, and even the East Bay Regional Park District’s Police helicopter. 

Thankfully, this was merely the East Bay First Responder Liaison Lunch hosted by the SFPUC’s Natural Resources and Lands Management Division each year. More than 70 representatives from all swaths of local law enforcement kindly set aside two hours of their time for coordination and planning for fire season.

 CalFire’s Mike Marcucci (Deputy Chief – State Operations), discusses fire department resource planning.

The SFPUC owns 35,000 acres of watershed lands in Alameda and Santa Clara Counties. Managed by Natural Resources and Lands Management staff, these lands house water infrastructure that is crucial to the drinking water supply of our 2.7 million customers, including two drinking water reservoirs, pump stations, pipelines, and tunnels. These lands have been protected from development as drinking water sources, which also makes them vulnerable to trespass, criminal activity, and fire.

Alameda County Sheriff Ahern, Cal Fire’s Mike Marcucci, and SFPUC's Neal Fujita discuss the specific roles played by first responders and SFPUC during a fire.

It is important that our staff meet these first responding agencies before an emergency. Thus, the Liaison Lunches were born. Over home-made tri-tip and salad, first responders meet SFPUC staff and become familiar with the watershed and the location of entry roads and gates. The goal: to plan for the inevitable eventuality of a fire on or near our watershed.

“Whatever the scale, we will have emergencies again this year on the watersheds – but we’re better prepared because of the hard work to prepare for these gatherings.” said Tim Ramirez, Director of the Natural Resources and Lands Management Division.

We would like to thank our First Responders for being such tremendous partners in keeping our watershed lands and our communities safe. Thank you for your service!

Alameda County Fire Department

Alameda County Sherriff’s Office

Cal Fire

California Department of Fish and Game

California Highway Patrol

East Bay Regional Park District

Fremont Fire Department

Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department

Santa Clara County Fire Department

Santa Clara County Sherriff’s office

Spring Valley Fire Department

Be Safe Out there! See you around the Valley!

A Family Connection to the Old Calaveras Dam

We at the Calaveras Dam Replacement Project were extremely honored to host a very special guest, Geneva Barrett (Hunt). She was accompanied by her daughter, Debbie and her son-in-law, Randy  of Dublin, California.

Geneva has a special connection to the old Calaveras Dam. Her father, Frank Hunt, worked on the second Calaveras Dam (the first dam slumped under its own weight in 1918). The second Calaveras Dam was built between 1918 and 1925. Frank Hunt was a civil engineer on the project and operated a drag line.  Geneva was born in Sunol in 1927.


Randy and Debbie with Geneva Barrett (Hunt) on far right.




The late Frank Hunt circa 1920's.

After the dam's completion, her father relocated the family to Oregon where he continued to work on dams in and around the the state. Geneva recalls her dad as being very dedicated to his profession and to his family. During those times, her father worked all week at his designated job site and came home during the weekends only. She was one of twelve kids.



Frank and Maude Hunt with their first four children in Sunol.


Geneva told us that seeing the old dam was on her bucket list. We were so pleased to meet her and her family.

See you around the Valley!

Photo Friday: Dedication Celebration

On Friday, May 3, 2019 we were delighted to celebrate the completion of the Calaveras Dam Replacement Project, and dedicate the New Calaveras Dam. Over 300 people joined us on top of the new dam to celebrate this momentous occasion. In attendance were community members as well as industry leaders, and folks that took an active role in the construction of the dam.



A view of the celebration from the left abutment.




Dan Wade, Director of Water Capital Programs thanks team members for their work.




We were honored to formally dedicate the New Calaveras Dam with a plaque. 
Left to right:
Sharon Tapia from DSOD, Dan Wade, Lakeisha Bryant from Congressman Ro Khanna's office, Chad Mathes from Dragados, Harlan L. Kelly Jr. SFPUC General Manager, Commission Vice President Francesca Vietor, Commissioner Tim Paulson, Matt Bedinger from Senator Kamala Harris' Office, Commissioner Anson Moran, BAWSCA Board Chair Barbara Pierce, and Rob Stoker from the Alameda County Building and Trades Council. 




We were honored that Assemblymember Kansen Chu spoke at the event. 
From left to right: Lakeisha Bryant, Tim Paulson, Rob Stoker, Assemblymember Chu, Matt Bedinger, Emily Lam, Director of Legislative Affairs for the SFPUC.



The New Calaveras Dam

It was a joyous and wonderful occasion. See you around the Valley!

Moth Photo Friday

Happy Photo Friday from the Calaveras Dam Replacement Project!

Today we we'd like to draw attention to a special visitor to our trailers. Meet the Hyalophora euryalus moth.  We found this beauty on the doorstep of our trailers.  Lucky for us, our SFPUC photographer, Robin, was onsite to capture these photos.

The Hyalophora euryalus moth is a very large red-brown moth with pale lines and long crescent-shaped hindwing discalspots. This fellow has a broad home range spanning from British Columbia all the way to Baja Mexico. The adults don't eat. But their caterpillars, do, and enjoy a wide range of plants as hosts. 

It somehow found it's way to the Calaveras Dam and we were glad that it stopped by. 

See you around the Valley!