San Francisco Supervisors and nature enthusiasts want to expand the trails on the west side of Crystal Springs Reservoir and open them to the public.
by Xochitl Rojas-Rocha
April 6, 2015—In the midst of a continuing drought, the Crystal Springs Reservoir glistens to the west of Interstate Highway 280: pristine, sapphire-blue and a reliable source of drinking water for San Francisco and San Mateo. Concern over contaminating the reservoir and disturbing endangered animals’ habitats has historically blocked access to trails winding around the watershed. Now, San Francisco Supervisors and nature enthusiasts want to expand the trails and open them to the public as a hub of cheap recreation with a beautiful view.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) bought the watershed in 1930. It’s kept the watershed off-limits ever since. Endangered animals like the marbled murrelet make the land around the reservoir their home, and rare plants live there, too. Environmental organizations like the California Native Plant Society worry that inviting the public into this protected space could also cause a devastating fire. This could threaten both the animals and plants of the surrounding area, and contaminate valuable drinking water, according to sources cited by the San Jose Mercury News.
Ten years ago, however, the SFPUC opened the Fifield-Cahill Ridge Trail to supervised access—nature lovers can visit the trail as long as they’re accompanied by a docent. Within the next few years, SFPUC plans to grant interested individuals, including hikers and equestrians, annual permits that allow them on the trails without a docent. It also plans to begin building a new six-mile trail next year, according to a report by KQED. Editor's note: This paragraph was updated on April 8, 2015 to include specifics about SFPUC plans.
For nature lovers, hikers and bikers, that’s not enough. A group called Open The SF Watershed is pushing for even greater access to trails around the reservoir. And other supporters insist that opening the watershed to public access could provide affordable recreation to families.
“This is an area that is really one of the most densely populated in our country, and also has a lot more folks who have socioeconomic challenges who are looking for opportunities to get outside,” said San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine.
Yet it’s more complicated than simply “opening the gates” and letting people in, says Timothy Ramirez, the SFPUC member managing the watershed, in an interview with KQED. Management of the watershed is tangled in bureaucracy. But whichever way the decision goes, regulated public access does not have to be an entirely bad thing, according to East Bay Municipal Utility District Watershed manager Scott Hill, who notes that people who visit and love a public space are also more driven to protect it.
Read about recreational activities currently allowed on the 15-mile Crystal Springs Regional Trail.
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