Restore Hetch Hetchy

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Restoring Hetch Hetchy
can be a win-win for all

by Ron Good

As published in Modesto Bee

October 11, 2005

On Oct. 2, a Modesto Bee editorial asked: "Should Hetch Hetchy Valley be restored?"

Restore Hetch Hetchy responds positively, acknowledging that the restoration of Yosemite National Park's Hetch Hetchy Valley should be accomplished with a win-win outcome for all stakeholders: valley communities served by the Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts, Bay Area residents, Native Americans and visitors to Yosemite.

The Bee editorial acknowledged that "80 years ago, an unconscionable dam inundated an incomparable Yosemite valley." Indeed. If today, San Francisco were to propose to build a dam and reservoir in Yosemite National Park, the American people would simply reject the idea.

The Bee editorial raised several important issues:

Cost: In our feasibility study (see http://hetchhetchy.org), we estimate the cost of restoring Hetch Hetchy to be about $1 billion, based on published engineering studies and on our own engineering assessments. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has produced no evidence to substantiate its $11 billion figure.

Priorities: There will always be difficult choices in tight budgetary times, but the restoration of Hetch Hetchy Valley presents a unique opportunity to draw funds from three different sources. As restoration would greatly enhance a national park, a generous federal contribution would be appropriate. California's economy would benefit from the resurrection of a second Yosemite valley.

Thus, some state funds, possibly derived from a bond measure dealing with multiple water issues, would be justified. Most appealing is the idea of substantial private donations from foundations, corporations and individuals. Every cent of the $500million Statue of Liberty restoration came from private funds.

During the deconstruction of the O'Shaughnessy Dam, we estimate that nearly 500 good-paying jobs will be created over five years. A restored Hetch Hetchy Valley will also be of substantial economic benefit to gateway communities in the valley and foothills with increased travel and tourism.

Restoration will provide Americans with another haven of rest from the normal cares of our everyday lives. Certainly, levee protection and flood control should be very important budgetary priorities. However, O'Shaughnessy Dam is not a flood-control facility. Since 1970, all flood control responsibilities on the Tuolumne River have been assigned to Don Pedro Reservoir.

Population growth and water demand: The highly respected Pacific Institute recently published two reports demonstrating that, even with increased economic activity and population growth during the past 30 years, actual water use in California has decreased. It also predicted similar results in the next 25 years because of successful water recycling and conservation programs.

In sharp contrast to this trend, San Francisco has proposed expansion of its system to take more water out of the Tuolumne River, which flows through Modesto -- anywhere from 25 million gallons more per day to 160 million gallons more per day -- despite the fact that it has no meaningful water recycling program. San Francisco's wasteful use of water and its continued storage of water in Yosemite's Hetch Hetchy Valley should not be allowed to continue.

Increasing the size of Don Pedro Reservoir: In our feasibility study, we explore the option of increasing the size of the Don Pedro Reservoir as one of many alternative ays to offset the loss of storage at Hetch Hetchy. During part of the year, this could result in the flooding of up to 0.7 miles of the 84 miles of the Tuolumne River designated as wild and scenic.

On the other hand, the restoration of Hetch Hetchy Valley would allow for about 8miles of the Tuolumne River to be eligible for inclusion in the national wild and scenic system. Raising the Don Pedro Reservoir could provide important benefits to the people of the valley: increased water storage, increased flood control protection and increased ydropower production.

Yosemite National Park represents the very best we have in America. We have the opportunity to make the best even better with the restoration of Hetch Hetchy Valley.

Good is executive director of the group Restore Hetch Hetchy.

Posted on 10/11/05 00:00:00
http://www.modbee.com/opinion/community/story/11334943p-12082963c.html

For more information, contact Restore Hetch Hetchy at: info@hetchhetchy.org, P.O. Box 3538, Sonora, CA 95370. Telephone: (209) 533-4481.

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