Take Action! Speak Out for Hetch Hetchy's Revival

[Mr. McD]

The Schwarzenegger administration will soon review studies examining restoring Hetch Hetchy Valley -- "Yosemite's twin" that now lies beneath 300 feet of water. While its Tuolumne River was dammed in 1923 to form a reservoir for San Francisco, studies have shown that Tuolumne's water can be stored farther downstream -- outside Yosemite National Park -- allowing this treasured landscape to be restored while preserving its pristine drinking water.

http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/hetch_hetchy1/

[pantouflard]

1. Folks, if you haven't seen photos of this valley

before it was damned, take a look. It's damn beautiful. (no pun intended.)

If we can't get this project approved and moving soon, climate change is going to make it impossible. With the projected long-term drought conditions in CA, it will just get more and more difficult to get SF to give up it's prime water source.

[illflem]

3. Pictures here

http://www.sierranevadaphotos.com/gallery/hetch_hetchy.html

I've seen Hetch Hetchy from the dam, it looks pretty good even with the lake. No boating, fishing or swimming is allowed. Seems like if it was drained it would look horrible for a very long time with the water marks on the rock, deforested and who knows how many feet of silt choking it.
I'm for keeping the dam.

[pantouflard]

6. I agree -- it's going to be ugly for a while.

But think of the education it would provide, to see the whole process work in reverse! Besides, I think we'd all be surprised at how quickly natural processes would erase these scars.

I guess I feel that, on a geologic timescale, it won't look bad for long. Besides, the real reason to restore it is for the local ecosystem, not for humans to look at. There are so many dams in the western Sierra - since Hetch Hetchy is in the park, it would be a good one to lose.

Thanks for the photo link, BTW.

[Lenape85]

2. I would, if I LIVED in California

:argh:

[pantouflard]

5. So what'cha doin' readin' the California forum?

It's a big state - come on out.

[idiosyncratic]

4. Read "Cadillac Desert" if you want history of CA water projects

I hope they can restore this valley. I would like to see Glen Canyon restored also.

If you read that book, you will be horrified and saddened.

Just the other day I heard something on the news about an attempt to make the huge agri-businesses in the Central Valley pay the full price of the water they use.

[illflem]

7. Anyone seen pictures of the Glen Canyon dam's Lake Powell

now that it's half full due to drought?
The upper third of the river is now exposed and the rapids that were underwater for 50 years are back. Only problem is there is up to 100 feet of ugly gray silt canyon along the Colorado that is highly unstable and caves in all the time making rafting hazardous.