Environmentalists since John Muir 100 years ago have lamented the inundation of the magnificent Hetch Hetchy Valley for San Francisco's water supply, and they have persistently lobbied to drain the system's main reservoir. This summer, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) will review and release a report on the valley's restoration. The report suggests water and power replacement options for the San Francisco Bay Area.
Work on the report began in November 2004 after Secretary of Resources Mike Chrisman released a letter to State Assembly members asking to use existing staff and budget resources to develop information about rerouting of water and energy supplies. The California Dept. of Water Resources was charged to work with the Dept. of Parks and Recreation.