Former Yosemite Supervisors call for restoring Hetch Hetchy
December 2009
Two former Yosemite Supervisors have joined the Advisory Board of Restore Hetch Hetchy, the national advocacy campaign to bring the Hetch Hetchy Valley back to life. B.J. Griffin and Bob Binnewies are the new board members. Dave Mihalic, Yosemite Superintendent from 1999 to 2003 has been a board member since 2006. Griffin served as Superintendent from 1995 to 1997; Binnewies served as Superintendent from 1979 to 1986.
Griffin, who is a San Francisco resident, said, “I am delighted to join the fight to restore this unique ecosystem in Yosemite National Park. As our nation responds to the challenges of climate change it is important to focus on environmental restoration as part of the solution. . . . I am confident that the studies performed by Environmental Defense Fund, the State of California, Restore Hetch Hetchy, and UC Davis provide ample evidence that restoration is possible while continuing to meet San Francisco’s water and power needs.”
Initial restoration of the Hetch Hetchy Valley would take 10-12 years and cost from $1.5-$3 billion. After 75 years there would be no trace of past destruction. The State estimates that a restored Hetch Hetchy Valley would be worth about $6 billion annually and would provide habitat to more than 10,000 plant and animal species.
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