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Albert Henning's avatar

For what it's worth, not only SF, but many towns on the SF Peninsula get most if not all of their water from the Hetch Hetchy system.

As a life member of Sierra Club, I am aware of both the irony and hypocrisy, of using Hetch Hetchy water.

I would be interested in measurements of micro-plastics in both the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, and at the point-of-use (i.e., in my home) of this water source.

I look at the three great valleys of the Sierra Nevada -- Hetch Hetchy, Yosemite, and Kings Canyon -- and I see one sacrificed for water development, one sacrificed for commercial development, and one left nearly in its wilderness state. Is that a fair characterization? And, if so, is that a fair distribution of these resources? Rhetorical questions.

All that said, I do not foresee tearing down of the Hetch Hetchy dam, and relocating it downstream. Retaining the status quo seems to me to be least-bad, at this point in history. (Although I'm very aware of what's been happening on the Klamath.)

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Spreck Rosekrans's avatar

We did a series of double blind taste tests and people preferred East Bay and Marin water.

https://hetchhetchy.org/san-francisco-chronicle-surprising-results-for-hetch-hetchy-water-taste-test/

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cory's avatar

Thx Wes, I learned a lot and very well done on this timely piece.

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Dale's avatar

Reminds me of the movie Chinatown with Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway. We could use some current times Monkey Wrenchers too!

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Corey Tucker's avatar

I appreciate you sharing this important history lesson so we don't repeat mistakes selling off public lands. I listened to a podcast talking about the history of Hetch Hetchy and heard John Muir was deeply disappointed when Hetch Hetchy valley was flooded. If only people valued nature as it is and stop looking at is profit. Instead of this tree is worth $$, how about looking at this tree as a living being and appreciating the life it gives and leave it alone.

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Wes Siler's avatar

I mean that's a nice sentiment, but how do we make that argument within the bounds of constitutional law or to a Republican politician?

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Corey Tucker's avatar

More people in this country need to get more in tune to nature and Indigenous ways. Check out the book, "Braiding Sweetgrass" As a politician to be, it's super important. We wouldn't be in this mess if more folks looked at nature through this lens. I'd love to see you make an argument in this regard. We are going to need voices like yours. I wish I was half as witty as you.

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Joe English's avatar

Update on the budget bill, public lands, etc. Borrowed from an Ariella Elm post today.

Rep Jared Huffman (CA-02)

Posted a new episode of “The Flip Side” where he discussed what happened in the National Resources Committee markup last week, where he is Ranking Member. Republicans want to open public lands to oil and gas extraction and mining and Democrats proposed 120 amendments against this for over 13 hours.

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/Z-Z6s3cxAcM

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