Officials Favor Discussion on Bringing Back a Flooded Valley

More and more people are talking about a valley submerged beneath 300 feet of water, and are wondering, Can we really see it again? And the answer is looking more and more positive.

Years after Yosemite's fabled Hetch Hetchy Valley was dammed to become a reservoir, nature lovers have imagined restoring it to its original splendor. Government officials, scientists and economists have deemed it possible. Environmental Defense's report, Paradise Regained: Solutions for Restoring Yosemite's Hetch Hetchy Valley, released upon the launch of our "Discover Hetch Hetchy" campaign, was greeted with great interest from policymakers, media and private citizens.

Now, as the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) moves closer to finalizing a $4.3 billion system upgrade for the city's water supply, the concept of a restored Hetch Hetchy is being treated as more than just a dream -- and is crossing party lines as well.

Not only does restoration have the backing of Assemblymember Lois Wolk (D-Davis), who chairs the Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee in Sacramento; the effort to bring back Hetch Hetchy is being praised by Assemblyman Tim Leslie, a conservative Republican representing Tahoe City, in an op-ed he penned for the Sacramento Bee.

"We are attracting support from very unlikely places and that I think holds the most promise," said Environmental Defense regional director Tom Graff. "Unlike many other issues that seem to have the same lineups of supporters and detractors, this one attracts support from across the political spectrum. With some creativity and open mindedness we're hoping to bring people in, from the most aggressive environmentals to the most conservative."

But will bipartisan support translate to bipartisan action?

Schwarzenegger administration flexes environmental muscle

In recent days California saw the release of the newly minted State Quarter featuring the environmentalist John Muir, Yosemite National Park's Half Dome, and the California Condor. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger chose these powerful icons as a way to signify the state's commitment to preserving our natural heritage for future generations.  The symbolism is significant, the timing auspicious, for 2005 is shaping up to be a year in which more and more people are seriously talking about the rebirth of Hetch Hetchy. 

This past November, California's Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman announced that the state government will assess the studies produced so far [PDF] (including Environmental Defense's report) that explore the potential of restoring the valley. The flow of Hetch Hetchy water is an issue that requires the cooperation of many parties on the federal, state and local levels, which is why it's noteworthy that the state government has asked all Tuolumne River users to participate in the study of the system's upgrade and weigh in on restoration.

"No longer is it an environmental group saying there is real potential here for doing an astounding thing -- the state government has determined that it's worthy of serious investigation," said Graff.

As water customers like the SFPUC and the Turlock and Modesto Irrigation Districts get together to revise the system for the 21st century, concerned citizens can and should voice their support for an upgrade that considers a restoration plan.

"That's one of the main determining factors going forward: the level of public and activist interest," said Graff. "The more that emerges in the weeks to come, the better."

Later this spring (between April and June) the scoping process for the environmental review of the physical upgrade of the Tuolumne River water system will begin. As the SFPUC begins to study its options for retrofitting and possibly expanding the system's infrastructure (which would include an environmental impact study for the Tuolumne River), we encourage the Commission and other policymakers to make sure that studying the feasibility of restoring Hetch Hetchy is a part of the process.  Because we are finding some critics who seek to prevent even a discussion of restoration, let alone a feasible plan, it is important that everyone who wants to walk through a restored Hetch Hetchy Valley one day make their voice heard.

Posted: 08-Aug-2007; Updated: 27-Aug-2007