A ballot initiative designed to move San Francisco away from reliance on the reservoir that submerged the Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park was overwhelmingly rejected by voters.
Proponents of the initiative, though, said the more than 55,000 votes the measure received demonstrated some success in "inspiring San Franciscans to imagine a different future - one that would increase their water security and begin to reverse the damage the City has done to Yosemite National Park and the Tuolumne River."
Out of the 244,099 votes cast on the Water Conservation & Yosemite Restoration Initiative, 188,924 opposed it.
The initiative would have required San Francisco to create a water conservation task force, and require that task force to present a plan to voters for greater water conservation and restoration of Yosemite National Park.
“Although we have not yet prevailed, the Yosemite Restoration Campaign has achieved many of the goals we set out to accomplish," campaign leaders said in a prepared statement. "For the first time ever, San Franciscans considered a different future that would increase our water security and begin to reverse the damage the City has done to Yosemite National Park and the Tuolumne River. Nearly a quarter voted to reform our 19th century water system so that the Hetch Hetchy Valley and the Tuolumne River can be restored.
“Today was a beginning, not an end. Over 50,000 San Franciscans sent a powerful message to our elected officials that the status quo is not good enough. We will spend the next two years leveraging and expanding this base of support to advance the cause of water reform in San Francisco and environmental restoration in Yosemite. We have no doubt that the values of sustainability and restoration will ultimately prevail."
Proposition F would have required the city to develop a two-part plan to build San Francisco’s local water resources and "reverse the damage done to the environment by the current water system over the last 100 years," the campaign said.
Groups that supported the initiative included the National Wildlife Federation, San Francisco League of Conservation Voters, National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Nevada Alliance, Foothill Conservancy, Forest Issues Group, Friends of the River, California Water Impact Network, Eco Equity, Endangered Species Coalition, The Planning and Conservation League, Earth Island Institute and Wild Equity.
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Wow. Really surprised that San Francisco voters could not get on board with this idea. Maybe a statewide ballot measure would be a good approach.
Interesting thought, Meg. I'm guessing that noone exit-polled this one.
Many in the environmental community come to discussions about dams with an assumption that they are all unnessesary or somehow past their utility. Many dams are. But the fact is, Hetch Hetchy is one of the best-engineered water systems on earth, and continues to provide enormous benefit--in pristine drinking water and carbon-free power--to millions of people in and outside of San Francisco. In addition, the dam is deeply isolated in a mountain range, accessible only by a small road, meaning any restoration project would be extremely expensive. You could complete at least 30 Elwha-river-sized-projects for one Hetch Hetchy, and Hetch Hetchy wouldn't even help salmon. The cost so dramatically outwieghs the benefit, it just isn't feasible.
A-men to that. Green energy can also be acheived with smaller scale projects, mainly improved efficency, but also home wind and solar.
Hi Al. Good thoughts. We were involved closely with the Proposition in San Francisco. We are also involved in working against certain ill-conceived solar and wind energy plants in the desert. Information on our effort regarding that issue is available on our website. http://www.npca.org/about-us/center-for-park-research/solar/solar-energy-national-parks.html On that page you will find a link to our report and the video titled "Feeling the Heat." This effort is one of our most robust efforts right now, and we are making some progress, working with Senator Feinstein and others who are concerned about the impacts of the industry on pristine desert lands.
With regard to the Hetch Hetchy initiative, the leaders of Restore Hetchy Hetchy, on whose board I sit, knew from the git-go that the initiative was not likely to pass. And such an initiative might not ever pass in San Francisco, but what this initiative did was completely elevate the issue of restoration into the public discussion in a way that has never happened previously. Unfortunately, the entire Democratic Party establishment of the City was opposed to the proposition. The only exception was the African American Democratic Club. In San Francisco there is no Republican Party to speak of, so the Democratic Party effectively represents the business interests within the city, as well as numerous other interests. In addition, Senator Feinstein has always been adamantly opposed to any talk of restoration and Democratic officials in the City look to her for leadership.
The Hetch Hetchy restoration campaign effort will continue, and will likely grow over the years to come. While there is a sizeable hill to climb to get to the outcome we want it is possible to ultimately win this campaign. It could take another 10 to 50 years, but we will keep at it.
-Ron
So actually the San Fransico Democrates are really Republicans in disguise??
Democrats can be anything they want, say anything and do just the opposite of what they say. All for the good of the Parks (It must be understood:).
We need a statewide initiative or Act of Congress to address this issue. Why should San Francisco alone make this decision? This Valley belongs to all Americans and all Californians. The voters of San Francisco have failed to do the right thing. We will make the decision for them. Tear down this dam!