Finally, some good environmental news: Hetch-Hetchy Valley May Return

America to regain lost paradise

A California valley disappeared under a reservoir 80 years ago. Dreams of reclaiming it are now coming true

Paul Harris in New York
Sunday November 19, 2006
http://www.observer.co.uk/">The Observer

It is the Atlantis of modern American environmentalism: a lost paradise of unsurpassable beauty in the California highlands that sank beneath the waves of a reservoir almost a century ago.

When the Hetch Hetchy valley - often called the prettier twin of its famous neighbour, Yosemite - was flooded in the Twenties, no one thought it would be seen again. Its loss was mourned by the nascent environment movement, and especially by the naturalist John Muir, who had fought to save what he called a 'mountain temple' because of its spectacular scenery.

Now hopes are high that Hetch Hetchy will re-emerge in one of the biggest restoration projects on American soil. It could cost billions and take years, but its proponents say it would herald a new age of restoring damaged eco-systems. 'It is an idea whose time has come. This is a signal of hope. This will show that the Earth can restore itself,' said Ron Good, founder of Restore Hetch Hetchy, the group spearheading the project.

More at http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1951688,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=12

Expensive, but doable.

like schools and health care.

The ROI and political support just isn't there. The rest of California is not going to shoulder the bill for San Francisco for this.