The Hetch Hetchy reservoir is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco. Authorized by congress in 1913, the use of the Hetch Hetchy Valley as a water storage facility is subject to both federal and state controls. There are three primary institutions that can and should authorize the removal of the reservoir:

• The United States Congress can vote to amend the Raker Act and require San Francisco to return control of the Hetch Hetchy Valley to the National Park Service. San Francisco’s right to use Tuolumne River water would not be affected by the loss of the reservoir.
• The courts can find San Francisco in violation of the Raker Act and/or the California Constitution and instruct San Francisco to remove the reservoir from Hetch Hetchy Valley so that it can be restored.
• The people of San Francisco can vote to find alternative storage for its water supply, drain the reservoir and return the Hetch Hetchy Valley to the control of the National Park Service in order that it can be restored.

Restore Hetch Hetchy is leveraging its grassroots support to influence all three decision makers. On any given weekend, volunteers can be found on the street corners of San Francisco talking with residents about the opportunities for restoration. Additionally, Restore Hetch Hetchy recently hired the law firm of Hogan Lovells, LLC and has developed a “braintrust” of California environmental and constitutional scholars in order to begin to pursue a parallel legal strategy.

If you would like to be a part of this important effort, please contact us today.