meadows resulting from the proposed OID-Brisbane water transfer are reduced to less than significant.

Prior to the City’s approval of a water supply agreement with OID, the formula for determining Brisbane’s required contribution to the SFPUC shall be determined in consultation with the SFPUC. That formula shall be included in the City’s agreement with the SFPUC to transport and store the water purchased from OID.

As part of this measure the SFPUC will gather baseline data regarding the extent, species composition and condition of the existing meadow vegetation within the Poopenaut Valley. Some of these environmental baseline data may be available as a result of current study efforts in the Poopenaut Valley. Some of these environmental baseline data may be available as a result of current study efforts in the Poopenaut Valley. As needed, the SFPUC will augment this information by carrying out vegetation composition surveys in the meadow before implementing the WSIP and at 5 year intervals after WSIP implementation to assess the efficacy of mitigation releases in maintaining or improving the percentage cover of meadow species as described by Ratliff (1985). 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.

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. As part of this measure the SFPUC will gather baseline data regarding the extent, species composition and condition of the existing meadow vegetation within the Poopenaut Valley. Some of these environmental baseline data may be available as a result of current study efforts in the Poopenaut Valley. As needed, the SFPUC will augment this information by carrying out vegetation composition surveys in the meadow before implementing the WSIP and at 5 year intervals after WSIP implementation to assess the efficacy of mitigation releases in maintaining or improving the percentage cover of meadow species as described by Ratliff (1985).