Group Argues for Removal of Hetch Hethcy Reservoir

By Jonathan Farrell

Tuan Nguyen, who now serves as San Francisco field director for the non-profit organization Restore Hetch Hetchy, made a presentation in support of restoring the valley.

"Eighty-five percent of San Francisco's water comes from the Hetch Hetchy Valley reservoir by way of the O'Shaughnessy Dam," said Nguyen, who has been active in city politics for many years.

Nguyen spoke to the Westside Democratic Club at its monthly meeting at the Taraval Police Station on Aug. 27. He explained why restoring the valley to its natural state would be the most beneficial, not just to the San Francisco Bay Area but the entire state as well.

Built in 1923, the dam and reservoir is the starting point for water going to San Francisco through a series of pipes - a span of 160 miles.

"That is not safe, being so far away from the City," said Nguyen of the long distribution system. "The city can store its water some place else."

Nguyen explained that having water available and stored in more places closer to the City would reduce the risk of sole dependency upon one main water source.

Over the years, at least four engineering evaluations have been done. The most recent, facilitated by U.C. Davis, was completed in 2005.

Ron Good, the executive director of Restore Hetch Hetchy, described the non-profit's efforts as a "win-win outcome on all sides, with no losers."

Good said he gave testimony before the U.S. Congress twice this year, noting that the restoration is technically feasible. "But Congress decided not to fund a more conclusive study," he said.

The $7 million study "would put more meat on the bones of the various engineering reports over the years," Good said.

Good noted that current cost estimates to restore the valley have varied from $3 billion to $10 billion.

"In some of those estimates there are other fees added to it, which makes the estimation higher," he said.

Restore Hetch Hetchy's vision sees the benefits outweighing the costs. In addition to establishing a more varied water supply source, the public will have better access to the Hetch Hetchy Valley as a national park. Hetch Hetchy Valley is part of the famous Yosemite National Park that draws millions of tourists to California annually. Not much official study has looked at the benefits, which according to the non-profit's forecasts could provide between $26 million and $6 billion annually in revenue earned and money saved.

According to Nguyen, Sen. Dianne Feinstein is opposed to the idea of tearing out the dam and eliminating the reservoir.

The Hetch Hetchy reservoir provides water for San Francisco residents and for people living in dozens of towns along the distribution network.

Good said that the door to approaching Congress again is open. He is confident that other sources of funding are out there which would help support the effort, both private and public.

"We are looking at all the options," he said.

For more information about Restore Hetch Hetchy, call (209) 533-4481.