survey and subsequent mitigation monitoring will be generally accepted quantitative vegetation sampling methods to permit statistical comparison of vegetation composition over time, as well as mapping the meadow vegetation in the Poopenaut Valley. The SFPUC will retain the services of a qualified biologist to assist in shaping the releases from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in consideration of baseline and future meadow vegetation data. If a significant decline in the extent or diversity of native meadow vegetation occurs, releases will be modified as needed to achieve the mitigating effect of sustaining the existing meadow communities.

The SFPUC will manage reservoir releases for this purpose by releasing the expected available volume of water in the reservoir in a pattern that provides flows of a magnitude that inundate the meadows and streamside alluvial deposits for as long as possible. For example, rather than making releases at a constant rate each day (e.g., releasing 1,000 cubic feet per second for seven days), the SFPUC could release the same volume of water but with varying cubic feet per second rates, creating flow pulses to meet the objective.

The basic methodology for baseline vegetation survey and subsequent mitigation monitoring will be generally accepted quantitative vegetation sampling methods to permit statistical comparison of vegetation composition over time, as well as mapping the meadow vegetation in the Poopenaut Valley. The SFPUC will retain the services of a qualified biologist to assist in shaping the releases from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in consideration of baseline and future meadow vegetation data. If a significant decline in the extent or diversity of native meadow vegetation occurs, releases will be modified as needed to achieve the mitigating effect of sustaining the existing meadow communities.

Mitigation Measure 4.O-1b on Draft EIR page 4.O-42 is revised to read as follows to incorporate Brisbane’s role in supporting implementation of the SFPUC’s controlled release measure.

Mitigation Measure 4.O-1b: Controlled Releases to Recharge Groundwater in Streamside Meadows and Other Alluvial Deposits. In any year during which the SFPUC determines that controlled releases of water from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir are required to sustain existing meadow vegetation within the Poopenaut Valley, Brisbane shall contribute a percentage of the water it purchases from OID to the SFPUC to augment the controlled releases from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. The City’s contribution shall be in proportion to the amount of water required for controlled releases by the SFPUC in any given year that such releases are needed, and shall be in an amount sufficient to ensure that impacts to