PUC approves plan to block draining Hetch Hetchy Reservoir

Hetch Hetchy is our main water source

Silicon Valley Mercury News/Paul Rogers, 1/24/13.  "Effort to drain Hetch Hetchy dealt major setback."  

"In a move that could be the political death knell for environmentalists' efforts to drain Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has approved a plan to block the draining of the famed reservoir unless the 26 cities and water districts in San Mateo, Santa Clara and Alameda counties that receive Hetch Hetchy water give their approval.

"It's a fairness question," said Michael Carlin, deputy general manager of the commission. "They are paying two-thirds of the bills. They are two-thirds of our customers. We need to make sure that whatever we do is fair and equitable to all of our customers."

The 5-0 vote, which came after 13 minutes of discussion at a low-profile commission meeting on Tuesday, means that unless the move is overturned by a lawsuit, environmental groups can no longer hope to drain the reservoir simply by winning approval from the voters of San Francisco.  The reservoir in Yosemite and the Tuolumne River that flows into it are the main water source for 2.5 million Bay Area residents. Although San Francisco owns and operates the system of pipes, dams and tunnels, only one-third of the users of the water live in San Francisco. The other 1.7 million live on the Peninsula, in parts of San Jose and Alameda County."  Read more. 

Related article -  San Francisco Chronicle/John Wildermuth, 11/10/12.   "Despite an emphatic loss in Tuesday's election, backers of Proposition F will continue their long-running effort to drain San Francisco's Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and restore a once-pristine slice of Yosemite National Park." 

"We went into this election knowing we'd probably lose," said Mike Marshall, executive director of Restore Hetch Hetchy, which put the initiative on the ballot. "One goal was to win, sure, but also to build a political infrastructure in the city, educate voters about where their water comes from and create a debate about restoring Hetch Hetchy." In upcoming months, Marshall's organization is planning a legal attack on the city's use of the Hetch Hetchy facility, as well as environmental challenges to the reservoir. The group also has supported efforts to have Congress rescind its 1913 decision to allow the dam to be built in the national park."  Note:  The lower 3 photographs are from the San Francisco Chronicle, various dates. 

Related Fix Pacifica reprint article - Sacramento Bee, 2/15/12 - "Dain Hetch Hetchy reservoir?"

Posted by Kathy Meeh