Watersheds and Creeks, April 2023

 

San Francisco's Current Watersheds:

• Eight Urban Watersheds:

  San Francisco is divided into eight distinct urban watersheds, with three on the Westside draining towards the Pacific Ocean and five on the Bayside draining into the San Francisco Bay. 
• Water Supply:

  While snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada provides the majority of San Francisco's water supply, rainfall collected in East Bay and Peninsula reservoirs also plays a significant role. 
• Peninsula Watershed:

  The 23,000-acre Peninsula Watershed, managed by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), is a vital area for water quality protection, wildlife habitat, and natural resources. 
• Hetch Hetchy System:

  The Hetch Hetchy system, developed in the 1920s, delivers water from a reservoir in Yosemite National Park to San Francisco through the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct.