HETCH HETCHY RESERVOIR: To drain or not to drain

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 6/13/5 | Glen Martin

[SmithL]

The debate over the proposal to breach the Sierra's O'Shaughnessy Dam, drain the reservoir behind it and restore Hetch Hetchy Valley to its former natural splendor is apt to intensify this summer with the release of a California Department of Water Resources study on the issue.

But preliminary comments from the agency indicate two things:

First, the restoration is technically possible without disrupting water supplies to San Francisco, Modesto and Turlock, the cities that are the beneficiaries of Hetch Hetchy water.

Second, it will cost a lot of money: From $4 billion to $8 billion, depending on whom you talk to.

"Regardless of what you do in terms of restoration, it will be expensive, " said Gary Bardini, the Hetch Hetchy project manager for the Department of Water Resources.

"People who want to restore the valley tend to pick the low end, and those against it favor the high end," said Larry Weis, the general manager of the Turlock Irrigation District. "So it might be wise to pick a figure in the middle."

For the Hetch Hetchy restoration true believers, Bardini said, "money isn't the issue, of course. The prospect of restoring the valley is what matters. But then there are going to be other people who say, 'Why make this investment when we already have a perfectly good (water delivery) infrastructure?' So it's hard to say how it will play out."

[SmithL]

So, California, which is consistently short on water and power, is seriously thinking about spending Billions of dollars to get rid of both water and power?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

They want us to live in caves. Glad we have fewer of these kooks over here in Missouri.

[GSWarrior]

And after all the water is drained and the area is restored to its original splendor, it will be off limits to human beings, of course.

[B Knotts]

Furthermore, this won't "restore Hetch Hetchy Valley to its former natural splendor."

The valley is forever changed, and will be very different than it was before the dam was put in.

What's done is done. People should consider getting a life instead of wringing their hands over what was done years ago.

[Carry_Okie]

It would certainly please the water corporations (Vivendi et al.) drooling to get the contracts for water treatment. Then there are the energy companies looking to cash in on a shortage of the natural gas fired electricity it will take to replace the lost hydro-power.

[PeterPrinciple]

if a beaver who is part of nature builds a dam for it's purposes, it is ok, but if a man who is part of nature builds a dam for his purposes, it is not ok.

[bigfootbob]

There's a Federal wacko judge who's ruled against the administrations salmon plan and is now planning on taking over the water management on the Columbia River, which will include water releases and breaching several power generating damns.

The extreme hubris of this individual is breathtaking.

[Soliton]

I think an energy transfer tax is required. Those states that have off-shore oil, but refuse to exploit it, should have to pay a tax to the states like Louisiana, Texas, and Alaska that make the "sacrifice" of energy exploration.

California uses immense amounts of energy, but refuses to provide any. Tax the crap out of them.

[nuke rocketeer]

But of course! It will be available for use ONLY by members of the Sierra Club, Earth First, and the EDF for nude no-trace camping.

Who's money is it they want to spend?????

[randog]

...it will be off limits to human beings, of course.

Not exactly. The Sierra Club et.al. will have their "Resource Centers" (you and I call them "cabins").

[Carry_Okie]

They want us to live in caves.

No, they want you to pay through the nose for water, like a good little serf, while they get to play in their socialized "natural" wonderland, at your expense of course.

[hmong]

How many dams and canals are in Missouri? I live in Cali...

Does Missouri need irrigations for their farms.

[Carry_Okie]

You gonna post Jim's letter?

[bigfootbob]

The regulators in Washington State are requiring folks who mitigate development restore land to "Pre-Colombian" conditions. And they tell you with the most serious straight face. Bizarre.

[eddie65]

Nothing in Yosemite is off limits to human beings.

[bigfootbob]

Which one?

[GladesGuru]

People like Judge Hubris are why there is Pacific Legal Foundation.

Judgie Wudgie was reversed.

[hmong]

Beavers don't destroy whole valleys the size of Hetch Hetchy..... and all the other animals and plants. In 5-10 years man can destroy Yosemite Valley and turn it into a big lump of cement like LA, but a beaver can never do anything in that scale.


How much more money is needed to restore the vegetation etc....?

[Age of Reason]

So, California, which is consistently short on water and power, is seriously thinking about spending Billions of dollars to get rid of both water and power?

So Californians, who are consistently short on water and power, continue to favor population growth from legal immigration?

[w1andsodidwe]

First, the restoration is technically possible without disrupting water supplies to San Francisco, Modesto and Turlock, the cities that are the beneficiaries of Hetch Hetchy water.

Don't you just love statements like this with absolutely no proof to back them up. All of their proposed solution would just be taking water from others.

Heres my solution for SF. Drink wine instead of water, bring back outhouses, and bathe in either the bay or the ocean, whichever is closer to your house.