Senators McCain, Coburn Single Out Sharp Park

Julia Scott reports on a photo opp hosted by the two Republican senators to single out 100 examples of "waste and mismanagement," highlighted by $2.2 million slated to convert Sharp Park's irrigation system to

Specifically, the report questions whether it's wise to spend $2.2 million to pump recycled water to a golf course that "might not exist much longer" — a reference to the fact that San Francisco has been under threat of a lawsuit by environmentalists who favor converting the 18-hole course into a nature preserve for the sake of two federally threatened species that live there. Golf lovers have fought equally hard to keep the public course, which is owned by San Francisco and located in Pacifica.

The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department recently weighed in on the golfers' side, circulating a study intended to demonstrate how the golf course could be redesigned to accommodate wetland habitat for the San Francisco garter snake and California red-legged frog while keeping all 18 holes. The compromise plan was widely praised by Pacifica officials and by Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough.

Speier said that McCain and Coburn have deliberately conflatedthe debate over the future of the course and the recycled water project, which will create 275 jobs and irrigate some high school playing fields in addition to the golf course — all while conserving about 50 million gallons of potable water each year.

"This golf course is not going away. This is a classic example of trying to make half-truths make your case," she said. "The senator from Arizona probably has the highest number of golf courses per capita in his state. I'd like to ask him how many of his golf courses are irrigated with potable water when recycled water is more efficient."