The Hypocrisy of San Francisco’s Hetch Hetchy Reservoir

This essay offers a sharp critique of San Francisco’s environmentalist posture, pointing out the disconnect between its performative green policies and the deeper environmental issue lurking beneath. It contrasts the city’s climate activism with the unresolved legacy of the Hetch Hetchy Valley, drowned by the O’Shaughnessy Dam in the early 20th century to provide water to the city. The author argues that while San Francisco boasts about its sustainability initiatives—like banning gas stoves or creating bike lanes—its environmental hypocrisy is glaring. The piece suggests that the reclamation of Hetch Hetchy is not only an act of restorative justice but also a practical way to address California's water needs, presenting a bold vision for environmental abundance that transcends the city's current limited view of green policies.

The piece critiques modern environmentalism in San Francisco as largely symbolic, disconnected from real-world ecological restoration. With references to the state's need for a broader vision of abundance and a more unified approach to environmental policies, the essay proposes the dismantling of the O’Shaughnessy Dam as a key solution—both symbolic and practical.

• San Francisco’s Performative Environmentalism:

  • San Francisco is known for its self-congratulatory, performative environmentalism.

  • Recent initiatives include a "climate emergency" declaration, banning natural gas hookups, closing major highways, and planting trees to restore ecosystems.

• The Hetch Hetchy Valley:

  • The Hetch Hetchy Valley, once a pristine natural area, was submerged by the O’Shaughnessy Dam to provide water to the Bay Area.

  • The valley was described by John Muir and others as even more beautiful than Yosemite, and its destruction was a personal blow to Muir.

  • The water supplied by the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is some of the finest in the world and has been critical for San Francisco’s water supply.

• The Legacy of John Muir and the Sierra Club:

  • John Muir, a pioneering environmentalist, founded the Sierra Club in San Francisco and fought to protect natural landscapes like Yosemite.

  • The Hetch Hetchy Valley’s destruction represents a tragic environmental loss that Muir was unable to prevent before his death.

• Modern Environmental Hypocrisy:

  • San Francisco’s contemporary environmental policies are seen as hollow and disconnected from real ecological restoration.

  • Actions like banning cars or gas stoves are viewed as performative, with no serious effort to address more impactful environmental issues like water shortages.

  • There is a sharp critique of the city’s failure to confront the environmental cost of its water supply—an issue that directly undermines its green credibility.

• The Vision of Abundance:

  • The essay advocates for a more comprehensive vision of "abundance" in California—focusing on large-scale solutions like forest thinning, runoff harvesting, desalination, and restructured water systems.

  • Such projects could add 10 million acre-feet of water to California’s supply, potentially revitalizing ecosystems, supporting agriculture, and preventing urban water rationing.

• Reclaiming the Hetch Hetchy Valley:

  • The reclamation of the Hetch Hetchy Valley is presented as an achievable and symbolic act of environmental restoration.

  • The O’Shaughnessy Dam could be demolished, and the valley rewilded, creating a modern solution to water shortages and ecological restoration.

• A Unified Environmental Future:

  • The reclamation of Hetch Hetchy could unite environmentalists and conservatives, offering a shared vision of ecological restoration and abundance.

  • The argument is made that this kind of big, bold project could shift the way California approaches environmental issues, fostering bipartisan support for ambitious restoration projects.

• San Francisco’s Role:

  • San Francisco, the birthplace of the Sierra Club, should lead the charge in restoring the Hetch Hetchy Valley as part of honoring its environmental legacy.

  • The essay argues that the city has an obligation to balance its green policies with the reclamation of this lost natural treasure.

• The Alternative Path:

  • The author contrasts this grand vision with San Francisco’s current, misguided environmentalism, which is seen as a "misguided sideshow" focused on trivial policies instead of addressing significant ecological issues like the Hetch Hetchy disaster.

https://amgreatness.com/2025/06/18/the-hypocrisy-of-san-franciscos-hetch-hetchy-reservoir/