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Tuolumne diversions under pressure to be increased by 25 million gallons daily, Tuolumne River Trust seeking alternatives

By Peter Drekmeyer
August 13, 2008 -- The Final Program Environmental Impact Report for the San Francisco Public Utilities Comission's Water System Improvement Program is now expected to be released in late September. In addition to examining the "Aggressive Conservation/ Water Recycling and Local Groundwater Alternative" that we support, it will study another alternative that would cap diversions at current levels until 2018. While we would prefer extending the cap until 2030, we feel this alternative is something we might be able to support in the spirit of compromise.

The "Preferred Alternative" still calls for diverting 25 million more gallons of water per day from the Tuolumne, so we have our work cut out for us. You can help now by circulating our petition -
http://www.tuolumne.org/content/fmd/files/2008%20Tuolumne%20Petition.pdf

Another way to help is by writing a letter to the editor of a local newspaper. You can find talking points at

http://www.tuolumne.org/content/index.php?topic=programs_bayarea

under "Learn More." You can find contact information for newspapers on the same page under "Take Action."

Here are a few other updates:

1) I'll be giving a presentation titled "From the Tuolumne to the Tap" to the Technology and Society Committee (open to the public) on Tuesday, September 9 from noon-1pm at the:
Hangen Szechuan Restaurant
134 Castro St.
Mountain View.

2) The Trust currently has several job openings (Administrative and Finance Director, Bay Area Organizer, Central Valley Program Director, and River Parkway Project Manager). You can view the details at http://www.tuolumne.org/content/article.php/20080116140050109

3) South San Francisco recently passed a resolution in support of the Tuolumne River - http://www.tuolumne.org/content/fmd/files/South%20San%20Francisco%20
Water%20Conservation%20Resolution.pdf

4) Friends of the River will be hosting a rafting trip on the South Fork of the American River this weekend. For details, visit http://www.friendsoftheriver.org/site/PageServer?pagename=BBQBoat
ReservationTripAug16and17SFA
(please note, you need to be an FOR member to participate).

5) Sustainable San Mateo County will be hosting a roundtable discussion about water on August 21 from noon-1pm. For details, visit http://www.sustainablesanmateo.org/sustainability-resources/sustainable
-events-corner

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Peter Drekmeier, Bay Area Program Director
Tuolumne River Trust
111 New Montgomery, #205
San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 882-7252 x 302
peter@tuolumne.org
http://www.tuolumne.org/bayarea