Half Moon Bay Review
February 2, 2006

Agencies prepare for Water Summit II
Nine months later, locals can see progress and what remains to be done

By Marc Longpre

Efforts to protect the Coastside's precious water resources get a helping hand later this month, with a variety of programs poised to bring the issue to the forefront of local politics.

The most visible of these is a follow-up on last year's water summit. Various organizations plan to come together to address, among other things, the state of beleaguered Pilarcitos Creek.

The meeting comes nine months after the original summit, during which officials agreed to work together to bring recycled water to the Coastside. That move was hailed as a major step for the revival of the creek. Tim Frahm, director of the conservation and water quality program for the San Mateo County Farm Bureau, says the next meeting will look at what needs to be done next.

"We want the community to have an understanding about what has been accomplished, and we also want an understanding from our point of view about what still needs to be accomplished in order to achieve our goal," Frahm said.

Pilarcitos Creek has a long and troubled history. In 1992 the collapse of a sediment basin at BFI's Ox Mountain landfill ended in a $1 million fine against the waste management agency. The California Department of Fish and Game, as well as the regional water board, subsequently set up the Pilarcitos Creek Restoration Fund to support projects to help the watershed.

Lennie Roberts, a member of the Pilarcitos Creek Advisory Committee and an advocate with the Committee for Green Foothills, said the meeting will include an explanation of where that money has been spent as well as what will be done in the future.

Roberts also said she is hopeful that San Francisco may agree to release more water from the Pilarcitos Dam to help the health of the creek.

The Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside, which agreed to pursue a recycled water program nine months ago, is still searching for funding for that project. Jack Foley, general manager of SAM, said construction would take approximately one year once the project received the green light.

In November, voters in Half Moon Bay voiced their approval for a recycled water effort by voting overwhelmingly in support of Measure P.

"We're finishing up some grant applications for state funding right now," Foley said. "We heard from the public and we're still committed to finding funding for this project."

The well-being of the Pilarcitos watershed is crucial to a number of local entities, and reaching a solution that will please everyone has been a lesson in compromise.

According to Chris Mickelsen, president of the Coastside County Water District board of directors, the health of the creek could benefit both the revival of natural species as well as CCWD's customers.

"I think there's enough untapped water there to satisfy our customers' needs and the fishes' needs," Mickelsen said. "It's a great opportunity for public agencies to partner up in search of a win-win solution."

Mickelsen would also like to see more water released from the Pilarcitos Dam, so that it could benefit both the fishery as well as consumers.

Partners for the event include the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside, the city of Half Moon Bay, the San Mateo County Farm Bureau, and the Committee for Green Foothills, among others.

The event will take place on Feb. 26, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Ted Adcock Community/Senior Center. The meeting will be moderated by San Mateo County Board of Supervisors member Rich Gordon.

Page last updated February 3, 2006 .