Study Determines That Restoring Hetch Hetchy Valley Would Be Costly

摘要

Nearly a century has passed since the renowned conservationist John Muir failed in his attempts to prevent San Francisco from damming California's Hetch Hetchy valley and creating the reservoir that now provides most of the Bay Area's drinking water and is a significant source of hydroelectric power. Yet the debate continues to this day as to whether the valley—described by Muir as "one of nature's rarest and most precious mountain temples" and a "wonderfully exact counterpart" to the famed Yosemite Valley—should be restored to its natural condition. The latest contribution to the debate—a study released on July 19 by the State of California—concludes that while restoring Hetch Hetchy to a more natural state is technically feasible, the cost of doing so would prove substantial. In a sign that the debate is likely to continue for some time, the study has been cited by restoration proponents and opponents alike to bolster their arguments.