Pine Lake Park Slope Restoration Project
Overview
The Vale Parking lot and Pine Lake Park dog meadow are open but the paved roadway may experience temporary closures when equipment is being brought in or out of the work area. The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department may also close the area to the public on days with sustained high winds. Please visit their website for wind-related closure information.
August 2025:
The dog park remains open. Restoration of the soil on the impacted slope is complete.
The final stage of work is to plant new vegetation on the slope and restore the valley floor where it has been impacted by this work. An area stretching from the dog park westwards toward the lake is temporarily fenced off in order to restore the meadow grounds so that they will be returned to park users in the most optimal condition.
Please avoid the fenced-in area where staging of materials and equipment is taking place. It will take between 60-90 days for vegetation in the meadow area to adequately take root before the area can be reopened.
Approximately location where sod will be laid down in August/September.
Progress Photos:
July 2025
Installation of mats and topsoil is complete, openings are being created for planting of new vegetation
June 2025
Placement of mats to stabilize soil
Installation of irrigation system on slope
May 2025
Final grading of slope
Finished slope prior to vegetation restoration
April 2025
Contractor's final work on the upper part of the slope
March 2025
Our removal of hazard trees in Pine Lake Park is complete.
Improving drainage on the western end of Pine Lake Park
Slope restoration continues
February 2025
Retaining wall mid-way up the slope (will not be visible when project is complete)
Soil compaction
January 2025
Building up the slope
Progress on the lower end of the slope
December 2024
Retaining wall construction
Slope protection during atmospheric river rain event
Preparing slope for installation of steel beams
Steel beams after installation on slope
Cement poured above retaining wall
November 2024
Restoration of soil on slope, and materials being prepared for the retaining wall
October 2024
Overview of work area and dog park
Machinery used to remove debris from the soil so that it may be reused
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Project Background
The Sunset Supply Pipeline is one of several major water transmission lines that bring water to San Francisco's drinking water reservoirs. This pipeline is 60" in diameter and was placed into service shortly after World War II. The air valve that failed was 8" in diameter, and the transmission line itself was not breached.
Map showing approximate area along the Sunset Supply transmission line where air valve is located (in red)
Background:
On March 8, 2024, an 8-inch air valve connected to a 60-inch water transmission line failed, just below the end of the 1700 block of Wawona Street, above the Pine Lake Park dog park.
That transmission line feeds water from our treatment plant on the San Francisco Peninsula to the Sunset Reservoir, which is one of the largest serving the residents of the city.
Water streaming from the air valve caused a geyser above the area which then flowed down a steep slope into the park, scouring a path to the park below until the crews onsite were able to shut the leak down.
The week of March 11, 2024 the SFPUC identified a construction contractor and an engineering consultant who will work with the agency to determine a scope and schedule for repairs, including the hillside and the dog park area.
Map is approximate and not to scale. Blue area is the location of the impacted slope. Yellow area is the debris field.
The first phase of work to prepare for restoration of the area was to remove hazardous trees. That included all trees that became dangerously undermined by the scouring action of the water. This work began on March 11th, 2024 and was completed on March 21st, 2024.
The second phase of work involved covering the affected area of the slop with plastic sheeting to prevent further erosion. That work was completed on March 22nd, 2024.
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Photos
Filtering debris to provide clean material for re-use on the slope repair, October 9, 2024
Work area prior to "grubbing of slope", September 30, 2024
Covering the slope with temporary waterproofing, March 22, 2024
View of washout area and debris field, March 14, 2024
Washout area, March 12, 2024
The day of the valve failure, March 8, 2024
- Project Materials