River advocates call for end to harmful hoarding of Tuolumne River (Hetch Hetchy) water
Press release from the Tuolumne River Trust
Today, the Tuolumne River Trust filed a formal complaint alleging that the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is engaging in unreasonable use of Tuolumne River water, harming both the environment and Bay Area ratepayers. At the heart of the issue is the SFPUC’s outdated and overly conservative drought planning model—known as the “Design Drought”—which has led to environmental degradation, inflated infrastructure investments, and skyrocketing water bills.
“The SFPUC’s planning is based on a drought that is 72% worse than any California has experienced in the last 1,100 years. That’s not responsible management—it’s hoarding water based on fear, not fact,” said Peter Drekmeier, Policy Director for the Tuolumne River Trust (TRT).
Hoarding in Droughts, Spilling in Wet Years
In dry years, the SFPUC releases only the legally required minimum flows into the Tuolumne River—just 12% of natural flow during the 2012–2015 drought. The result: collapsed salmon populations, degraded river habitat, and missed recreational opportunities. In contrast, when the rain and snow comes, the agency is often forced to release massive amounts of water—spilling more than 85% of its entitlement in 2017—because its reservoirs are already full.
The “Design Drought” Problem
SFPUC drought planning is based on an artificial 8.5-year megadrought model—created by simply combining two of the worst historic droughts—despite the fact that the agency’s own Long-Term Vulnerability Assessment suggests the likelihood of such a drought is once every 8,000 years. Moreover, the SFPUC continues to plan around inflated water demand projections that have been 20-50% higher than actual demand.
High Costs and Environmental Harm
Due to these flawed assumptions, the SFPUC has projected the need for a huge investment in alternative water supplies that could cost $17 billion, driving up rate increases that have already quadrupled since 2008. Meanwhile, essential river flows that support fish and wildlife are sacrificed, worsening conditions for salmon and undermining the health of the Tuolumne River ecosystem.
An unnecessary 5% drought surcharge in 2022—despite reservoirs holding 4.5 years of supply—cost San Francisco ratepayers tens of millions. By 2023, the drought was clearly over, but the SFPUC continued planning as if it wasn’t, creating a $55 million budget shortfall.
What’s at Stake
The Tuolumne River has the steepest salmon population decline of any major Central Valley river. Scientific consensus points to low winter and spring flows as the key limiting factor. Without sufficient flow to activate floodplain habitat, few juvenile salmon grow big enough to survive the journey to the ocean.
Call to Action
The complaint urges state regulators to recognize this as an unreasonable use of water under the Public Trust Doctrine and require the SFPUC to modernize its drought planning and environmental stewardship.
“There’s enough water for everyone—people, fish, and farms—if we manage it wisely,” said Drekmeier. “It’s time for the SFPUC to let go of outdated fears and step into a future of sustainable, balanced water use.”
TRT Complaint – SFPUC Unreasonable Use_FINAL
