Sunol Water Temple Restoration Celebration, September 27, 1997
Graham Barnes' Remarks

This is the start of a significant chapter in the contunuing story of the Sunol valley. As you know, we are celebrating the launch of a cooperative effort between the SFPUC and the community of Sunol to restore and preserve this historic water temple and its environment. It took years of commitment by Pat Stillman and members of Save Our Sunol, together with an act of will by the SF Board of Supervisors and PUC President Dennis Normandy for us to be standing here today. My vision is that we are able to build a strong relationship between the City of San Francisco and the community of Sunol at the same time as we rebuild this water temple and its environment. My vision is that we in Sunol can work with the City of San Francisco to sustain the beautiful resources of this valley, My vision is that people from the whole San Francisco Bay area will be able to come here and be able to enjoy this wonderfully serene and beautiful valley for the future. None of this is assured, but we have turned another page in the story today. When I first moved to Sunol three years ago, the gate out there at the entrance to the water temple was closed. It has been closed to visitors ever since - in fact, I took this photograph, one warm evening after work, just two months ago, from outside the fence, because I couldn't get in. However, the gate is open today! I am one of the many people in this small community who care deeply about our valley and this water temple. I feel a sense of stewardship towards Sunol.

By stewardship, I mean, "fulfilling personal responsibility for the sustainable management of shared resources". Stewardship means doing the right thing and we all know how fulfilling that can be. Stewardship means thinking about the future to manage for sustainability, not just surface mining fertile farmland for a quick profit. And stewardship means caring for resources that we all share - like the Sunol valley and this water- temple here. It is important that these resources be used for positive and viable purposes - as in Alternative S - and that we hold those managing these resources accountable.

So, I would like to present you, Dennis Normandy, with this photograph of the Sunol Water Temple and its beautiful environment as a reminder to you of the stewardship you have shown and to remind you of your role in the story of the Sunol valley. I hope you found your initiative to pass the SFPUC resolution to restore the Water Temple to be personally fulfilling. And I hope this photograph continues to remind you of your actions and motivates you towards further stewardship in your future responsibilities.