Posted on 07/19/2006 3:36:55 PM PDT by calcowgirl
SAN FRANCISCO – It would cost between $3 billion and $10 billion to tear down a dam and restore Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park more than 80 years after it was flooded, a report said Wednesday.
The valley, once described by conservationist John Muir as “one of nature's rarest and most precious mountain temples,” was plugged in 1923 to provide drinking water, irrigation and hydropower to the Bay Area and Central Valley.
The long-awaited study by the Department of Water Resources made no recommendations on what to do, but said further investigation should include participation by the federal government, which oversees the national park in the Sierra Nevada.
Environmentalists have sought for decades to remove the 312-foot O'Shaughnessy Dam, but opponents say draining and restoring the submerged valley carries too high a price at a time when California has more pressing infrastructure needs.
Hetch Hetchy Reservoir on the Tuolumne River provides drinking water to 2.4 million San Francisco Bay area residents.
The restoration campaign gained new momentum two years ago when Environmental Defense published a study arguing that water quality and supply could be maintained if the dam was removed.
That report, along with requests by state lawmakers, prompted Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to direct the state water agency to examine the issue and review previous academic and government studies conducted over the past two decades.
Why tear down a dam that provides water and power to millions of people?
So environmentalist can walk areas and view beautiful areas according to some weird PBS show I watched. But if the people were allowed to walk these areas, the same environmentalist weirdos would say people were destroying it still.
IOW... because they hate people inhabiting this earth.
Because it's a pretty valley... isn't that reason enough? /birkenstoner
to provide drinking water, irrigation and hydropower to the Bay Area and Central Valley.
So we no longer want to do this?
Translation..."Here's another great chance to feed at the public trough until this huge supply of money runs out."
Is there any logical justification for this Hetch Hetchy environmental movement?
What are they really up to?
I'm in San Francisco, a World Heritage Site for old hippies. This movement to drain the reservoir is based here. Sure! We'll just tear down a dam that's been there since 1915.
Never mind that it supplies 3,000,000 people with water and power.
Of COURSE we'll be able to build another source of water and power....after 3,390,409 public hearing and environmentsl lawsuits.
If the hippies want to see the submerged vally, buy some scuba gear and go look at it.
Hetch Hetchy Reservoir on the Tuolumne River provides drinking water to 2.4 million San Francisco Bay area residents.
This happened during the dark ages, when socieety provided not only for themselves, but also for their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. A mindless dedication to people which no longer has the cachet it once did.
The restoration campaign gained new momentum two years ago when Environmental Defense published a study arguing that water quality and supply could be maintained if the dam was removed.
The beauty of moonbat groups is that they can say anything with impunity, without the peer reviewed documentation that justifies claiming that it is not only possible, but feasible.
Destroying is effortless.
Creating, on the other hand, and providing for future generations requires sacrifice, skill, commitment and a value system with humans at the top of the pyramid.
Nope.
I'm sure those folks won't mind a bit.
lol
You can buy a heck of a lot of dynamite for $10,000,000,000.00. Are you sure you need this much dynamite to blow up that dam, Butch?
The dam should remain in service until the people of San Fran have identified replacement sources of power and water, have funded and built and brought the new sources on line.
Not a day before. Since the good people of San Fran will never approve any power project anywhere at any time, and since they will never approve the building of any reservoir anywhere at any time, this dam will stand forever.
As if just draining the lake would instantly restore the valley to its previous state. It's too late now, like you say keep it a breathtaking mountain valley lake.
Is that the valley that had dinosaurs in it?
It's directly related to their belief system and their high priest, the Sierra Flub founder Mr. Whatshisname. They consider the Sierra-Nevada mountain range their holy temple and have attempted to change the name of it to "Range of Light," then subsequently to "Charismatic Megafloura!" Believe it or not!!!
I too believe strongly in the separating of church and state! Especially the total infestation of the religion of EnvironMentalism in the religion of GovernMentalism that we see manifest around the world, but especially in America and most pronounced here in the land of "Fruits and Nuts!"
By the way I firmly believe in EXPORTING this religion to other competing nations to the maximum extent possible!!! And the more authoritarian, the better!!!
You know, when they burn fossil fuels to replace the lost hydro power, that's going to release a heck of a lot of Greenhouse Gases!
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