SFPUC 2001 Alameda Watershed Management Plan

III. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND IMPACTSA. EXISTING PLANS AND POLICIESThe SFPUC seeks to manage its lands in a way that is consistent with San Francisco’s planningand building laws and works cooperatively with local jurisdictions to avoid conflicts with localplanning and building laws. Nevertheless, the laws of other jurisdictions are nonbinding on theSFPUC’s management of its lands. The following excerpts from the general plan of the City andCounty of San Francisco, general plans of the Counties of Alameda and Santa Clara, and theEBRPD Master Plan are presented in this report for informational purposes only.2.1 CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCOCity and County of San Francisco General PlanDeveloped in accordance with state law, The San Francisco General Plan (General Plan) setsforth the comprehensive, long-term land use policy for the City and County of San Francisco.The General Plan contains eight issue-oriented Elements, including: Residence, Commerce andIndustry, Recreation and Open Space, Transportation, Urban Design, Environmental Protection,Community Facilities, and Community Safety. The General Plan also includes 10 area plans thatwere developed as tools for residents and the City to guide development in specific geographicdistricts. The Alameda Watershed is not included in an area plan and is rarely addressed by theplans and policies of the General Plan directly because it is outside of the City’s boundary;consequently, for the reasons stated above, such plans and policies are presented in this reportsolely for informational purposes. Policies of the General Plan elements that could be applicableto the Management Plan issues are summarized below. Policies of the General Plan are stated asobjectives, with more specific policy statements listed under each objective. Four of the eightGeneral Plan elements contain relevant policy issues concerning the Management Plan:Recreation and Open Space, Environmental Protection, Transportation, and Community Safety.Recreation and Open Space ElementObjective 1: Preserve large areas of open space sufficient to meet the long-range needs of theBay region.Policy 1: Protect the natural character of regional open spaces and place high priority onacquiring open spaces noted for unique natural qualities.Policy 2: Make open space lands already in public ownership accessible to the public forcompatible recreational uses.! Public access should be provided by the San Francisco Water Department to portions of itsWatershed lands which have high recreational value, subject to restriction required toprotect water quality and water production, rare, and endangered plant and animal species,and preserve wildlife habitats, archaeological, and natural resources. 11 The San Francisco Water Department is now the Water Supply and Treatment Division of the San Francisco PublicUtilities Commission.NOP 96.223E: Alameda Watershed Management Plan III.A-2 ESA / 930385January 2001