Drain Hetch Hetchy Ballot Plans

Regional discussion and conditions reports for the Golden State. Please post partners requests and trip plans in the California Climbing Partners forum.
User Avatar
colinr

 
Posts: 914
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:37 pm
Thanked: 525 times in 390 posts

Drain Hetch Hetchy Ballot Plans

by colinr » Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:33 pm

The Hetch Hetchy movement is alive and kicking a century after the efforts of Muir and others failed to stop the dam from being built.

http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_21033628/drain-hetch-hetchy-reservoir-san-francisco-voters-may

User Avatar
fedak

 
Posts: 710
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2003 5:28 pm
Thanked: 106 times in 85 posts

Re: Drain Hetch Hetchy Ballot Plans

by fedak » Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:48 am

IMHO, the reservoir has preserved that valley and the surrounding terrain far better than anything else would have.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
http://www.fedak.net/backcountry.html

User Avatar
fedak

 
Posts: 710
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2003 5:28 pm
Thanked: 106 times in 85 posts

Re: Drain Hetch Hetchy Ballot Plans

by fedak » Tue Jul 10, 2012 3:09 am

The other thing to consider that a lake the size of Hetch Hetchy isn't terribly out of place in the Sierra Nevada ecosystem.
Compare that, for example, with things like the San Luis Reservoir which much more drastically modifies the local environment.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
http://www.fedak.net/backcountry.html

User Avatar
Marmaduke

 
Posts: 1541
Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 1:08 am
Thanked: 729 times in 562 posts

Re: Drain Hetch Hetchy Ballot Plans

by Marmaduke » Tue Jul 10, 2012 3:53 am

Would it be feasible to drill through the base of the damn, installing large pipe to allow the river to flow freely and to drain Hetch Hetchy but to keep the integrity of the damn itself so as to keep a bridge/scenic overlook for the gorge?

User Avatar
Diggler

 
Posts: 2796
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2001 1:03 pm
Thanked: 11 times in 10 posts

Re: Drain Hetch Hetchy Ballot Plans

by Diggler » Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:13 am

fedak wrote:IMHO, the reservoir has preserved that valley and the surrounding terrain far better than anything else would have.


Ha ha. I suppose that they should have "preserved" Yosemite Valley (suggested by some prominent politician of the time- I'd highly recommend reading Cadillac Desert) & the Grand Canyon too???? :lol:

User Avatar
colinr

 
Posts: 914
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:37 pm
Thanked: 525 times in 390 posts

Re: Drain Hetch Hetchy Ballot Plans

by colinr » Tue Jul 10, 2012 9:11 pm

Apparently some jeep roads will be in the works.

Image

User Avatar
Marmaduke

 
Posts: 1541
Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 1:08 am
Thanked: 729 times in 562 posts

Re: Drain Hetch Hetchy Ballot Plans

by Marmaduke » Wed Jul 11, 2012 5:50 am

Is that Jeep even a 4x4? Awfully low to the ground.

User Avatar
colinr

 
Posts: 914
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:37 pm
Thanked: 525 times in 390 posts

Re: Drain Hetch Hetchy Ballot Plans

by colinr » Wed Jul 11, 2012 8:28 am

Hey, what can I say; it's a San Francisco jeep. It should do fine in the early years of restoration.

Image

User Avatar
colinr

 
Posts: 914
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:37 pm
Thanked: 525 times in 390 posts

Re: Drain Hetch Hetchy Ballot Plans

by colinr » Wed Jul 11, 2012 8:38 am

It will never look like this again, but could eventually come close if left as roadless wilderness. Feinstein is okay with the view as is.

Image

User Avatar
colinr

 
Posts: 914
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:37 pm
Thanked: 525 times in 390 posts

Re: Drain Hetch Hetchy Ballot Plans

by colinr » Wed Jul 11, 2012 11:49 pm

This would go over well:
Image

User Avatar
colinr

 
Posts: 914
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:37 pm
Thanked: 525 times in 390 posts

Re: Drain Hetch Hetchy Ballot Plans

by colinr » Thu Jul 12, 2012 11:34 pm

I'd guess that without maintenance and improvement of California's extensive water system, flooding of areas shown on that map would be more common, but it is actually a simulation of an extreme weather scenario similar to the storms of 1861-62. http://www.wunderground.com/blog/weatherhistorian/article.html?entrynum=13

The story about taking a canoe from Bakersfield to the bay is interesting. That wouldn't be my first choice of adventures, but it sounds like an adventure nevertheless and would beat walking, especially under flood conditions. He must have had a strong desire to escape Bakersfield.

User Avatar
Bob Burd
Forum Moderator
 
Posts: 4271
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2001 10:42 pm
Thanked: 572 times in 296 posts

Re: Drain Hetch Hetchy Ballot Plans

by Bob Burd » Fri Jul 13, 2012 3:12 am

butitsadryheat wrote:doesn't everyone have a strong desire to escape Bakersfield?


It was 86F at 1am when I drove through last night. You folks must have asbestos underwear.

The following user would like to thank Bob Burd for this post
96avs01

Next

Return to California

 


  • Related topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests

cron