> why don’t they just divert the Columbia river.
Is very different from the actual comment,
> I am sure they have thought of this but why don’t they “just” divert the Columbia river.
I think it’s an interesting hypothetical question that’s worth asking in good faith, just to understand more.
HN is supposed to be curious, no?
It’s the addition of “just” that gives it its present hilarious form.
And the topology there is far from flat - it’s at the bottom of a valley. Trying to get that much water going anywhere it isn’t already going to go will require a project similar in scale to the Hoover Dam or California Aquaduct system.
It’s a bit like asking why we can’t ‘just’ build some walls to stop hurricanes from screwing over Florida. It sounds simple enough, right?
And unlike your example, rivers have indeed been diverted. The question can then be reasonably interpreted as, why not this one?
And, of course, you answered that question. Thanks!
"I'm sure they thought of this, but could someone explain why they don't just divert...?"