Hetch Hetchy

September 6, 2004 10:01 AM

Hetch Hetchy is Yosemite's lost valley (the name is Miwok.) But it's no longer necessary as a water supply, so it may be time to bring it back.
posted by homunculus (3 comments total)

Great to hear it might be drained. I've looked at old photos of the region for years and read stories about how the Hetch Hetchy Valley was more beautiful than the Yosemite Valley. I'm sure it'd take 20-30 years to look great again, but I'm hopeful they remove the dam and restore the wilderness.

I also have been hearing for years about the canyons of what is now Lake Powell rivalled the best slot canyons of zion and parts of the Grand Canyon. This group seems to be at the forefront of those that want to drain it.
posted by mathowie at 11:47 AM on September 6, 2004

Thanks for the link, homunculus; I can't believe I missed this story (I live in Stockton). I think it would be wonderful if they drained the reservoir and allowed it to return to it's (almost) original state, but I would really love it if they didn't turn it into another Yosemite Valley with roads, shops and hotels.
posted by DakotaPaul at 6:12 PM on September 6, 2004

Oh, and it was at Rancheria Falls in Hetch Hetchy that I asked my fiancee to marry me. The wedding's in 17 days!
posted by DakotaPaul at 12:03 AM on September 12, 2004