San Francisco Chronicle - September 10, 2001





A 'WIN-WIN' PLAN FOR HETCH HETCHY



Editor -- I am writing in response to an editorial ("Avoiding a water war, "

Sept. 6) and an article ("Joint power over water possible," Sept. 5) regarding

necessary repairs to the Hetch Hetchy water system. I agree that "a retrofit

for Hetch Hetchy obliges new thinking."





This "new thinking" could include one of the innovative ideas explored in the

UCLA study: the use of state and federal funds to help finance the repairs.



Our organization is ready to assist the Bay Area's receipt of state and federal

funds for its water infrastructure needs, in exchange for serious and

meaningful movement toward returning Yosemite National Park's Hetch Hetchy

Valley to all the people of California and the nation. All of us could assist

the Bay Area with its water infrastructure needs -- and take the multi-billion-

dollar burden of infrastructure repairs off of the people just in the Bay Area.



A "win-win" outcome for Hetch Hetchy and for the Bay Area is possible -- just

as happened at Mono Lake, with the water level now constantly rising and Los

Angeles receiving more water from other sources and millions of dollars of

state and federal funds for water conservation programs.





RON GOOD



Executive Director



Restore Hetch Hetchy



Yosemite