Tennessee Hollow Restoration Options Under Deliberation

By Ryder W. Miller

The Presidio Trust has released the Tennessee Hollow Watershed Environmental Assessment Project Update, which details the long-term plans to restore the natural watershed at the Presidio.

But, the environmental community, although excited about the project, has some concerns.

"The environmental community is generally supportive of the Trust's preferred alternative, but not without some modification," said Matt Zlatunich, who is on the San Francisco Conservation Committee for the Golden Gate Chapter of the Audubon Society.

"Of concern is the Trust's ability to implement effective pet management practices as they relate to the watershed," Zlatunich said.

Another concern at the Presidio is the fate of the endangered California Quail, one of the few populations which can still be found in the City at the Presidio, which may be chased by off-leash dogs.

The Presidio is an urban oasis for more than 500 species of plants and wildlife.

The vision for the Tennessee Hollow Restoration Project is to restore a natural watershed within the boundaries of the Presidio. This will involve exposing the underground stream and its tributaries and developing a watershed trail.

In the future, visitors to the Presidio will be able to follow the steam on a trail all the way to the mouth of the bay. In the last eight years, 17 acres of the watershed has been revitalized. The Presidio Trust is proposing to revitalize 28 more acres, recreating the three tributaries which lead to the main stream.

"Imagine discovering the very beginning of a creek, watching water seep from the ground and tracing the water course as it travels downhill to the bay and Pacific Ocean. Now imagine being able to experience all of this within an afternoon hike a few miles from downtown San Francisco," is how the Presidio Trust's Environmental Assessment (EA) describes the goals of the plan.

"Restored with the help of community volunteers, Tennessee Hollow is envisioned as a vibrant place where all are welcome," it continues. "A place where children can experience nature, learn about history, or simply play outdoors. A place to find solitude or explore the beginnings of our great City."

The public has already cast its votes concerning the three options detailed in the EA, but the results have not been tallied yet.

The three options described in the EA are: No Action - Maintain the status quo and only require cleanups of designated environmental remediation sites; Alternative 1 - Daylights and restores the eastern tributary of the creek, enhances and interprets the area surrounding El Polin Springs, relocates Morton Street Field to Pop Hick Field and builds a new Little League field at Fill Site 1 (pending completion of remediation), enhances habitat in the upper western tributary and converts a portion of Barnard Avenue into a multi-use trail; Alternative 2 (Trust preferred) - Similar to Alternative 1, with the following exceptions: Maximizes habitat enhancements in the eastern tributary and converts Morton Street into a multi-use trail, relocates Morton Street Field to Julius Kahn Playground and proposes parking enhancements, builds a new practice field and restores habitat at Fill Site 1 (after cleanup).

Jake Sigg, on behalf of Nature in the City and the California Native Plant Society, is generally supportive of the plan but has some concerns.

"The project EA is inspiring, since ecological restoration is the central goal. The plan also proposes creating living Ohlone cultural ecological opportunities at El Polin Spring, a water source used by native peoples as well as Spanish colonists in the early 1800s. The EA is a positive step for the Presidio, but there are some problems with what has been proposed," Sigg said.

According to Sigg, the west arm of the creek system should be entirely excavated, not capped as proposed, and all of Landfill E should be restored to its natural riparian and upland ecology. He also wants all dogs banned from the watershed area and trails in order to protect native habitat and wildlife, especially birds.

Zlatunich thinks the plan has the power to educate and transform public attitudes.

"As the riparian corridors are re-established, we can expect the local wildlife populations and diversity to increase and natural ecosystems to become more functional. This will benefit some of the resident species of the park as well as some of the migratory animals that pass through seasonally," Zlatunich said.

"It is hoped that the biggest benefit to wildlife will be a result of our urban community having a chance to visit the watershed, connect with nature and adopt a resource preservation and land stewardship philosophy that can be incorporated into mainstream social consciousness," he added.

Dana Polk, senior advisor for media and governmental relations at the Presidio Trust, said the public comment period was two months longer than normal and there was strong interest in the project.

"About 80 people attended the public meeting on Oct. 2, and approximately 1,000 comment letters have been received," Polk said. "We can provide a summary of comments and our responses when it is complete."

If the Trust's preferred alternative is adopted, it will take about five years to implement all the restoration projects identified.

Though the Environmental Assessment has been already released and the formal public comment period is over, the public can still comment by sending correspondence to the Presidio Trust, attention "Tennessee Hollow Project," P.O. Box 29052, 34 Graham St., San Francisco, CA 94129-0052 or by e-mailing thproject@presidiotrust.gov. For more information, go to the Web site at www.presidio.gov/trust/projects/tenn or call 561-5414.