Working Together to Restore a Treasure

Re “Removal of Yosemite Dam to Be Studied,” Nov. 12: It is refreshing to see Republicans and Democrats coming together to cooperate on the proposed restoration of the once spectacular Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s positive response to a request by two Democratic legislators sets the tone for what should be a constructive and bipartisan examination of the feasibility of restoring Yosemite Valley’s twin sister while still providing the water and power produced by the hard-working Tuolumne River.

First proposed by Ronald Reagan’s secretary of Interior, the concept of restoring the Hetchy Hetchy Valley while retaining the water and power supply benefits provided by the river is feasible.

In retrospect, the near 100-year-old decision to flood Hetchy Hetchy Valley was a mistake. The waters of the Tuolumne River could have been stored elsewhere for consumptive and power-generating purposes. Now is the time to correct that mistake. We owe no less to our children and grandchildren.

Jerry Cadagan

Sonora, Calif.