With sharply reduced demand over the past decade, San Francisco can meet its full water demands without storing water in Hetch Hetchy Reservoir – simply by connecting Cherry Reservoir to its conveyance system!
This finding is the conclusion of our groundbreaking new report: Restoring Hetch Hetchy: The Cherry Solution. Since Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is no longer needed to provide water to San Francisco and its customers, the original justification for allowing a reservoir in Yosemite National Park is invalid. The reservoir should be emptied and the valley restored.
The Cherry Solution is short, but rich in detail and based on detailed hydrologic modeling. Restore Hetch Hetchy invites supporters, skeptics and opponents alike to give it a hard look. More information about the report is posted on the Cherry Solution page.
See today’s press release – New Report: Water Demand is Down, Connect Cherry Reservoir, Restore Hetch Hetchy.
San Francisco owns and stores water in Cherry and Eleanor Reservoirs, but does not deliver those supplies to its customers. Under our proposal, the City would install a short intertie which would allow both full water deliveries and the return of Hetch Hetchy Valley to its natural splendor.
We have sent The Cherry Solution to all members of Congress as well as to a plethora of officials in San Francisco and other Bay Area cities – accompanied by letters cosigned by former Secretary of the Interior Donald P. Hodel, former State Senator Lois Wolk and Robert Hanna – great great grandson of John Muir. The report, letters and other information are posted on our Cherry Solution page. If you’d like a hard copy but haven’t received one let us know by email to admin@hetchhetchy.org.
The Cherry Solution is a relatively simple fix. Until recently, Restore Hetch Hetchy has advocated that San Francisco pursue supplies via groundwater banking, recycling, new reservoirs, transfers and conservation (See, for example, Yosemite’s Opportunity). But with substantially reduced demand, none of those options are necessary.
It’s time for Congress and San Francisco to work cooperatively to restore Hetch Hetchy Valley and make Yosemite National park whole again.