A few quick updates:
Fishing at Calaveras Reservoir
San Francisco’s Calaveras Reservoir is one of only two reservoirs in California holding over 75,000 acre-feet of water that does not allow fishing (now that fishing is allowed in Hetch Hetchy Reservoir!) – and only one of three such reservoirs that does not allow boating. We have been tracking Tim Dummer’s impressive efforts over the last several years to gain fishing access to Calaveras Reservoir.
Dummer has had success in the courts, but now they are giving him the runaround. His attorney, Greg Glaser, has filed an appeal. Without getting into the weeds of the case, we were happy to file an amici brief, along with Northern California Council Fly Fishers International (thanks to RHH Board Secretary and attorney Mark Palley for the legal work). UC Davis law professor Karrigan Bork is among others who have also submitted an amicus brief.
Fishing at Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, new this year, is expected to be popular. Fishing the Tuolumne River after the valley is restored will be phenomenal.
Calaveras Reservoir (Alameda County) is San Francisco’s largest reservoir in the Bay Area. The City restricts access to its reservoirs and on its watershed lands more so than other water agencies.
Crowds in Yosemite
The Los Angeles Times’ Jaclyn Cosgrove recent column on crowding in Yosemite tells some excoriating tales and compares Yosemite to Disneyland. There is some truth to this assertion, especially in summer months.
Cosgrove briefly discusses the legacy of Hetch Hetchy and laments that it is no longer “a place to find a little quiet.” That statement is true principally on spring weekends when Hetch Hetchy’s lone principal trail draws hikers on a pilgrimage to the spectacular Wapama Falls.
Except for those few days, Hetch Hetchy is still underused. Restore Hetch Hetchy is encouraging the National Park Service to allow camping at Hetch Hetchy after San Francisco fulfills its legal commitment to provide potable water to the (currently restricted) campground.
When Hetch Hetchy is restored, we will have a blank slate for managing the valley in a way that accommodates visitors without substantial traffic and congestion. There will surely be differences of opinion, but we are confident restoration will be magnificent and will provide an inspiring alternative to Yosemite Valley.
Hetch Hetchy Debate
We are looking forward to a debate on the future of Hetch Hetchy on October 20, at Manny’s in the Mission District. If you are nearby, please join us.
Our opponent with be Adrian Covert of the Bay Area Council, our worthy (and sometimes hyperbolic opposition). The Bay Area council represents some of the world’s largest businesses, including Apple, Google, Facebook, and Bank of America. Rather than oppose restoration, these companies could and should pay for much of the cost of restoration simply by rummaging under the couch cushions for spare change.
Thanks in advance to Manny’s for hosting and to Laura McFarland of Coro California for moderating the discussion. For tickets go to Eventbrite.