Comments on: Hetch Hetchy Tussle http://www.modernhiker.com/2007/02/09/hetch-hetchy-tussle/ A Hiking Blog for L.A. and Southern California Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:09:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: tom http://www.modernhiker.com/2007/02/09/hetch-hetchy-tussle/comment-page-1/#comment-65 tom Sun, 11 Feb 2007 01:19:39 +0000 http://www.modernhiker.dreamhosters.com/2007/02/09/hetch-hetchy-tussle/#comment-65 To me it's also a question of priorities. In an ideal world, sure, I'd love to see Hetch Hetchy restored. But: whether it's a billion or 10 billion, it's a lot of money on an environmental initiative that in the grand scheme of things has to be considered a luxury. Even though it's a blight on the landscape, the damage is essentially done, the reservoir a known quantity that does not represent a risk of further ecological degradation in a time when ecosystems around the world are facing mass extinctions and global warming threatens the survival of our species. With a couple days research I could easily find hundreds of delicate ecosystems at risk that are much higher priority, to say nothing of what's being done to our oceans. This is what I mean when I said this is the abortion/guns issue for environmental types. I agree with the sentiment that the dam at Hetch Hetchy is an abomination, it is absolutely appalling, yet to spend a billion dollars (or whatever the cost) on this when there are so many other far more pressing needs is akin to buying a speedboat with your rent money. Sure, the boat's nice to have, but a home is a bit more of a requirement. To me it’s also a question of priorities. In an ideal world, sure, I’d love to see Hetch Hetchy restored. But: whether it’s a billion or 10 billion, it’s a lot of money on an environmental initiative that in the grand scheme of things has to be considered a luxury.

Even though it’s a blight on the landscape, the damage is essentially done, the reservoir a known quantity that does not represent a risk of further ecological degradation in a time when ecosystems around the world are facing mass extinctions and global warming threatens the survival of our species.

With a couple days research I could easily find hundreds of delicate ecosystems at risk that are much higher priority, to say nothing of what’s being done to our oceans.

This is what I mean when I said this is the abortion/guns issue for environmental types. I agree with the sentiment that the dam at Hetch Hetchy is an abomination, it is absolutely appalling, yet to spend a billion dollars (or whatever the cost) on this when there are so many other far more pressing needs is akin to buying a speedboat with your rent money. Sure, the boat’s nice to have, but a home is a bit more of a requirement.

]]> By: Dan Mitchell http://www.modernhiker.com/2007/02/09/hetch-hetchy-tussle/comment-page-1/#comment-64 Dan Mitchell Sat, 10 Feb 2007 21:26:40 +0000 http://www.modernhiker.dreamhosters.com/2007/02/09/hetch-hetchy-tussle/#comment-64 I posted <a href="http://outside.danmitchell.org/2007/02/08#a2821" rel="nofollow">my response to Tom</a> at my <a href="http://outside.danmitchell.org/" rel="nofollow">dan's outside</a> blog. There is a lot to say about this issue, some of which I mentioned in my piece. In addition to other issues that come up any time a reservoir is constructed, in this case we must keep in mind that <i>this particular reservoir</i> is not only filling a valley that rivaled its sibling a few miles to the south but that it sits in one of our greatest national parks. These are among the factors that differentiate this issue from those that might be at play if we were discussing some other reservoir. Take care, Dan I posted my response to Tom at my dan’s outside blog.

There is a lot to say about this issue, some of which I mentioned in my piece. In addition to other issues that come up any time a reservoir is constructed, in this case we must keep in mind that this particular reservoir is not only filling a valley that rivaled its sibling a few miles to the south but that it sits in one of our greatest national parks. These are among the factors that differentiate this issue from those that might be at play if we were discussing some other reservoir.

Take care,

Dan

]]> By: tom http://www.modernhiker.com/2007/02/09/hetch-hetchy-tussle/comment-page-1/#comment-63 tom Fri, 09 Feb 2007 23:45:32 +0000 http://www.modernhiker.dreamhosters.com/2007/02/09/hetch-hetchy-tussle/#comment-63 Casey: canny assessment of the situation. Sounds like a classic example of one political faction doing something primarily to make its rivals squirm. Casey: canny assessment of the situation.

Sounds like a classic example of one political faction doing something primarily to make its rivals squirm.

]]> By: Jerry Cadagan http://www.modernhiker.com/2007/02/09/hetch-hetchy-tussle/comment-page-1/#comment-62 Jerry Cadagan Fri, 09 Feb 2007 21:47:17 +0000 http://www.modernhiker.dreamhosters.com/2007/02/09/hetch-hetchy-tussle/#comment-62 Two "little" mistakes in the otherwise good description of the issue: restoration proponents are not saying that the cost of reservoir removal andvalley restoration be borne solely by Californians (it should be split between the feds, the state and private philanthropists). And we don't for a minute accept the high end $10 billion cost. We're pretty confident in our estimate of about 1 billion for everything. Jerry Cadagan Restore Hetch Hetchy board chair Two “little” mistakes in the otherwise good description of the issue: restoration proponents are not saying that the cost of reservoir removal andvalley restoration be borne solely by Californians (it should be split between the feds, the state and private philanthropists). And we don’t for a minute accept the high end $10 billion cost. We’re pretty confident in our estimate of about 1 billion for everything.

Jerry Cadagan
Restore Hetch Hetchy board chair

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