Key Accomplishments

1984

Thanks to the hard work of TRT and others, the Proposed Clavey River hydroelectric project was shelved due to environmental and economic considerations

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and Modesto and Turlock Irrigation Districts (MID/TID) entered a Settlement Agreement with TRT and other parties to help restore the fall-run Chinook salmon population. Prior to this, TRT focused on river protection and stopping projects that were harmful to the environment After the Settlement Agreement, we began to focus on river restoration and fixing past harm, beginning a new phase in our scope of work

The Tuolumne River was designated a Wild & Scenic River by Congress. Immediately following this victory, the Turlock Irrigation District announced the Clavey River Project, a plan to build up to six dams on the Clavey River and other tributaries. 2008

TRT stopped the SFPUC proposal to build a 4th water pipeline from the Tuolumne River that would have diverted more water from the Tuolumne.

TRT convinced the SFPUC not to pursue plans to divert an additional 25M gallons of water per day from the River and focus on water efficiency instead

TRT demonstrated boatability of the River up to La Grange Dam, leading FERC to require MID/TID to apply for a hydropower license for the dam, a decision subsequently upheld by the DC Circuit Court of Appeals in 2015. This decision will help bring operations and management of the dam, built in 1893, up-to-date with current environmental laws and regulations.

1994 1995 2006 2012 2018

As a result of TRT’s advocacy and grassroots organizing, water demand in the Bay Area decreased by 24% from 2008 levels after the SFPUC improved its water use efficiency and conservation initiatives.

And, TRT and our allies built the scientific and political case for increased water releases on the Tuolumne and other San Joaquin Valley rivers leading the SWRCB to vote 4-1 to increase mandatory flow requirements on the Tuolumne to 40% of the River’s natural flow between February and June. Currently, only 20% is required to be released on average. As of printing, we are still advocating for implementation of the State Water Board plan.