SF Rejects Measure To Restore Flooded Hetch Hetchy Valley
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco voters rejected overwhelmingly a measure that sought to restore of flooded gorge in Yosemite National Park that is used as a city reservoir.
The San Francisco Department of Elections on Wednesday reported that only about 23 percent of voters supported Measure F.
If passed, it could have set in motion plans to drain the 117-billion-gallon Hetch Hetchy reservoir.
The measure's supporters sought to undo a contentious, century-old decision by Congress that created a municipal reservoir in a national park.
The battle for its restoration was first waged by naturalist John Muir, who described Hetch Hetchy as Yosemite Valley's twin.
An unlikely coalition of Republicans and environmentalists supported the measure, working against Democratic San Franciscans, led by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who fought to retain the city's pure water supply.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
