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Chronicle editorial: A Hetch Hetchy pipe dream

Posted by: Maven on February 14, 2010 at 8:38 am

From the San Francisco Chronicle, this commentary by John Diaz:

“It might seem irrational in this drought-vulnerable state to even think of permanently draining a High Sierra reservoir that supplies superior-quality water for 2.4 million people in San Francisco and three suburban counties. But rationality does not always count for much in San Francisco politics. A movement is afoot for a ballot measure this year to put San Francisco on a path that could lead to the removal of its dam on the Tuolumne River in Yosemite National Park.

The restoration of the Hetch Hetchy Valley has long been a dream of an environmental movement that traces its modern origins to John Muir’s fierce and eloquent, but ultimately unsuccessful, early 20th century efforts to persuade the federal government not to turn “one of nature’s rarest and most precious mountain temples” into a water tank for human consumption.

“Restoring Hetch Hetchy is a simple idea with a complicated explanation,” said Mike Marshall, executive director of Restore Hetch Hetchy. “It’s going to be one of those things that people will say, once we’ve done it, ‘Why didn’t we do this before?’ Everyone will be for it after it’s done.”

Complicated does not begin to capture the magnitude of the task. … “

Continue reading this editorial by clicking here.

February 14, 2010 · Filed Under Bay Area

Comments

One Response to “Chronicle editorial: A Hetch Hetchy pipe dream”

  1. Diesel Slade on January 26th, 2012 6:21 am

    The Follies of Hetch Hetchy

    I grew up in Yosemite Valley “Disneyland with trees”. I’ve hiked the Park and around Hetch Hetchy several times. I think the lake is beautiful with its steep walls and water falls — along with a permanent watermark that rings the valley. After they drain the lake the ring will remain for years along with the mud and swamp that will be created.

    The follies of the environmentalism are that by destroying the dam you destroy an eco-system that provides exceptionally pure water to millions,
    plus the fish and birds who currently have taken up residence. Who should we benefit just a few hikers notion of John Muir, or a mass population.

    If you think the billion dollar bridge for S.F.bikers is a good idea how about a several billion dollar trail for a few hikers. Hetch Hetchy is currently in a remote location in the Park, it will be years before Hetch Hetchy is really usable to all and then to only a few. They will be handing out passes.

    A couple other problems. The dam was created from materials found on site. The Billon plus $ project to move that massive amount of material off-site is crazy. It will ironically create an environmental mess.
    Drive Old Grade Priest Road in a full dump truck (times a 1000).

    …In the mean time lobbie groups collect money to fund their job and promote this follie…. I know there are developers all ready to go for Yosemite2. Epcot Center with trees….

    Political Football (see: Yosemite National Park)

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