Muir and other defenders of Hetch Hetchy believe the fight revolved around two central issues. The glacial Hetch Hetchy Valley lies in the northwestern part of Yosemite National Park and is drained by the Tuolumne River. "[34], When Yosemite Valley became part of a state park in 1864, Hetch Hetchy received no such designation. remains the least visited area of the park. That reservoir is New Don Pedro, and it rests over existing pipelines to the Bay Area. Hetch Hetchy is unique because of its small holding capacity in comparison to the vast watershed feeding it. The Hetch Hetchy Reservoir itself store 85% of the City's overall drinking water supply, the remaining 15% is stored in the system's 5 other reservoirs. The valley floor consisted of roughly 1,200 acres (490ha) of meadows fringed by pine forest, through which meandered the Tuolumne River and numerous tributary streams. Impounded by O'Shaughnessy Dam, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir water passes through hydroelectric powerhouses before it enters the San Joaquin Pipelines, the Tesla Ultraviolet Treatment Facility, and the Coast Range Tunnel on its journey to the Bay Area. The imputed motive was to divide the environmental movement: to see residents of the strongly Democratic city of San Francisco coming out against an environmental issue. If, on the other hand, San Francisco gained control, it would signal in important victory for public power resulting in lower rates for the people. Earn $27.3125 per hour. The Poopenaut Trail begins at a signed trailhead four miles past the entrance station. a strong proponent of restoring Hetch Hetchy Valley and Senator Feinstein is still[when?] The locations of these two formations roughly correspond with those of Cathedral Rocks and El Capitan seen from Tunnel View in Yosemite Valley. Use good judgment and stay safe. can you smoke on royal caribbean cruise ships benefits of hetch hetchy dam. The National Park Service concluded that two years after draining the valley, grasses would cover most of its floor and within 10 years, clumps of cone-bearing trees and some oaks would take root. The openings in the Taft administration led to the eventual success of the Raker Act. This time, in favor of those who wanted to build the dam. Start by hiking across the OShaughnessy Dam then turn east along the shore of the reservoir. [4] A broad, low rocky outcrop situated between Kolana Rock and Hetch Hetchy Dome divided the former meadow in two distinct sections. This ballot measure is so problematic that SPUR has taken early action to oppose it. In 2019, Restore Hetch Hetchy commissioned another study that found enormous recreational value from removing the dam. [54] The entire system produces about 1.7 billion kilowatt hours per year, enough to meet 20% of San Francisco's electricity needs. Activity 1: Analysis. Lawsuit to drain Hetch Hetchy Reservoir goes back to court Consider one project in progress that involves re-routing an entire river . Worth a Dam? - Earth Island Journal The idea of punching a hole in or removing the dam and allowing the valley to be restored to its pre-development conditions has been around since the late 1980s. "Hetch Hetchy is a grand landscape garden, one of nature's rarest and most precious mountain temples. The dam in the Hetch Hetchy valley of Yosemite National Park, first proposed in 1908, was intended to create a reservoir that would provide water and electricity for the burgeoning city of San Francisco. Although Hetch Hetchy is included within the boundaries of Yosemite National Park, the entrance is separate from the rest of the park. And Hetch Hetchy's damming has inspired generations of conservationists to protect our natural heritage and to commit to safeguarding our protected areas. Hetch Hetchy - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service) You could miss this small mountain community if you blink at the wrong time, but it is home to a few remarkable small businesses. Hetch Hetchy doesn't require permit, you need just regular National park pass. If you want to follow the old railroad line today, the Hetch Hetchy Road and most of the Mather Road were built on the old railroad bed and are beautiful scenic drives as well. Valley, reservoir, and aqueduct in California, USA, sfn error: no target: CITEREFMatthes1930 (, sfn error: no target: CITEREFWohlforth2004 (, sfn error: no target: CITEREFWhitney1874 (, sfn error: no target: CITEREFGlennon2009 (, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hetch Hetchy, List of dams and reservoirs in California, List of the tallest dams in the United States, "Alternatives for Restoration of Hetch Hetchy Valley Following Removal of the Dam and Reservoir", "Hetch Hetchy Reclaimed: Drain it, then what? As Hetch Hetchy Reservoir Fills, Environmentalists Still Dream of Three strikes for San Francisco | Restore Hetch Hetchy There, he met the same Indian chief and his wives. Photo: Kim Lawson. The pressure that Muir and his compatriots generated in 1908 and 1909 did not dissuade the administration from its support of the Hetch Hetchy dam, but this pressure was quite effective in the realm of electoral politics. This can lead to algal blooms and decreased oxygen levels. "[65] Harold L. Ickes, Secretary of the Interior in the late 1930s, said there was a violation of the Raker Act, but he and the city reached an agreement in 1945. Restore Hetch Hetchy Valley, Vote Yes! on Proposition F The main power facility in the system, the Moccasin Powerhouse, began commercial operation on August 14, 1925. But what about when the lake dries? OShaughnessy Dam and the waterworks that connect it to the Bay Area are a marvel of engineering. On a national stage, Hetch Hetchy became caught in the cross fire between the interests of private utilities ownership and those of municipal ownership. The battle for Hetch Hetchy wasnt just conservationists vs preservationists. Seventeen species of bats inhabit the Hetch Hetchy area, including the largest North American bat, the western mastiff. Coming from the San Francisco Bay Area youll pass right through Buck Meadows on Highway 120. High temperatures prevail in summer months, but that is a small price to pay for the reward of vast wilderness filled with stunning peaks, hidden canyons, and remote lakes. . He said, So we come now face to face with the perfectly clean question of what is the best use to which this water that flows out of the Sierras can be put. It is 13 miles from the Yosemite National Park border and twice as close to the park than the town of Groveland. Put another way, if Congress denied the city of San Francisco the Hetch Hetchy Valley, the California Progressive leaders suspected that it would only be a matter of time before the emerging Pacific Gas and Electric Company would grab the area. benefits of hetch hetchy dam. ", "Three Square Miles of Open Space: Is It Enough? Hetch Hetchy is a valley, a reservoir, and a water system in California in the United States. The trail includes spectacular views of Tueeulala and Wapama Falls. Hetch Hetchy: Pros and Cons of Restoration - Yosemite Tales Hetch Hetchy | Hetch Hetchy Dam & Reservoir History | Yosemite.com What Happens When You Remove a Dam? - Hetch Hetchy Reservoir The trail to Wapama Falls is one of the most popular trails in the Hetch Hetchy area for a good reason. Without Hetch Hetchy as its primary reservoir, San Francisco will be forced to pump and filter its water for the first time in a century, and lose out on the 726 million kilowatt-hours produced by . Dbq Hetchy Project - 663 Words | Internet Public Library As in Yosemite, the sublime rocks of its walls seem to glow with life . To do so, it would either have to buy out the private monopoly at an exorbitant price or outmaneuver or outbid Spring Valley for a potential new reservoir., (Source: Natural Rivals: John Muir, Gifford Pinchot, and the Creation of Americas Public Lands, John Clayton). For functional purposes, Hetch Hetchy was a promising solution to San Francisco's serious water shortages. This is why environmental impact statements, which were not required prior to 1969, are so important today. [46], Work on the Hetch Hetchy Project began in 1914. The bustling metropolis of Los Angeles could not have become the city it did without the water which flowed from the Owens Valley hundreds of miles away. Amid a worsening drought, water supplies at one important reservoir are The Hetch Hetchy Reservoir also serves to provide energy in the form of hydroelectricity, with a capacity of over 200 megawatts a year. The terminus of the incomplete line was "conveniently located next to a PG&E substation", which connected to PG&E's private line which in turn bridged the gap to San Francisco. Hetch Hetchy is the incredible story of Americas most controversial dam and the birth of the environmental movement. For thousands of years before the arrival of settlers from the United States in the 1850s, the valley was inhabited by Native Americans who practiced subsistence hunting-gathering. It would be almost impossible to build a new dam there today. Not to be outdone by Los Angeles, San Francisco had a greater feat in mind: dam the Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park and pipe the water into San Francisco. Hetch Hetchy: Congress and the Environment | National Archives Get SPUR news and events delivered straight to your email inbox. Smith Peak (7,751 feet) is the highest point in the area and offers outstanding views. In fact, this is so obviously a good idea that the SFPUC and other end users of Hetch Hetchy water have been doing it for years. [74] A 2019 study commissioned by Restore Hetch Hetchy argued that draining the reservoir and equipping the valley with a tourism infrastructure comparable to that of Yosemite Valley (which receives around 100 times as many visitors annually as Hetch Hetchy's 44,000) could result in a "recreational value" of up to $178 million per year, or possibly an overall economic value of up to $100 billion. [24] Screech reported that the valley was bitterly disputed between the "Pah Utah Indians" (Paiute) and "Big Creek Indians" (Miwok), and witnessed several fights in which the Paiute appeared to be the dominant tribe. The Engineer as Lobbyist - JSTOR [21] Miwok names are still used for features, including Tueeulala Fall, Wapama Fall, and Kolana Rock. The Freeman Report artfully depicted reservoirs in Norway, the United Kingdom and the eastern United States showing how nature and public utility worked together to improve their surroundings and provide long-term benefits for everyone. Now San Francisco wanted to dam one of the two principal watersheds in the park, the Hetch Hetchy valley through which ran the Tuolumne River, to create a reservoir for its water supply. The O'Shaughnessy Dam and reservoir, and the series of aqueducts, tunnels, and tunnels as well as 8 other dams make up the entire Hetch Hetchy Project. He produced at least four oil paintings of the valley one of which is prominently displayed in Mount Holyoke Colleges art museum. Glaciers followed these low-points, leaving their own marks in particular carving out the characteristic U-shaped valley with steep sides and wide floor. The water from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is used to supply system customers as well as to generate hydroelectric power; the reservoir is also operated to provide instream flows to benefit fisheries and other wildlife. Such new supplies are not guaranteed to have the low greenhouse gas emissions profile that Hetch Hetchy water and power do and they could worsen climate change while increasing our vulnerability to it. But the ultra-liberal President Woodrow Wilson signed off in 1913 on the multi-decade construction of a series of dams within Yosemite National Park that flooded Hetch Hetchy Valley to create a massive reservoir, hydroelectric plants, and a 167-mile aqueduct for the sole benefit of the City of San Francisco. If youre especially in the mood to relax and let yourself be taken care of, The Blackberry Inn is a luxury bed and breakfast situated on 36 acres and surrounded by National Forest land. This is because the Tuolumne catchment basin above Hetch Hetchy is almost three times as large as the catchment area of the Merced River above Yosemite, allowing a greater volume of ice to form. They also remove water needed for healthy in-stream ecosystems. He was a firm believer in utilitarian conservation. The first is utilitarian conservation. It is the source of water for the city of San Francisco. After Hetch Hetchy, many realized the National Parks needed more protection. The law authorizing the dam passed Congress on December 7, 1913. These benefits include: Reservoir-based recreation - swimming, fishing, camping etc. In the autumn of 1871, John Muir visited Hetch Hetchy for the first time. The construction of the Hetch Hetchy Railroad took place from 1915 to 1918. [64] Peter Byrne of SF Weekly has stated that "the plain language of the Raker Act itself and experts who are familiar with the act (and have no stake in city politics) all agree: The city of San Francisco is not in violation of the Raker Act. And today there is even an organization, Restore Hetch Hetchy, which is committed to doing just that. In an effort to build this support, he published his bookThe Yosemitein 1912. Hetch Hetchy, located at 3,900 feet in Yosemite National Park, is one of the park's most popular hiking . First, the beauty of the valley which they felt should not be sacrificed to build a dam. Hidden in Yosemite National Parks peaceful northwest corner, Hetch Hetchy Valley is a treasure worth visiting in all seasons. The U.S. Congress passed and President Woodrow Wilson signed the Raker Act in 1913, which permitted the flooding of the valley under the conditions that power and water derived from the river could only be used for public interests. [72] The water storage provided at Hetch Hetchy could be transferred into Lake Don Pedro lower on the Tuolumne River by raising the New Don Pedro Dam 30ft (9.1m). The report cited other dam projects in making the argument that this project would increase tourism. In some cases, however, including the Klamath and Hetch Hetchy, the benefits of restoration clearly outweigh the benefits provided by the dams. Plus, the granite walls converge into a narrow outlet at the bottom of the valley the perfect location for a dam. [5], The valley is fed by the Tuolumne River, Falls Creek, Tiltill Creek, Rancheria Creek, and numerous smaller streams which collectively drain a watershed of 459sqmi (1,190km2). Even a short stroll from the car gives a magnificent view of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir from the OShaughnessy Dam. This trail is 13 miles round-trip with 3,700 feet elevation gain. San Francisco Hetch Hetchy Dam Almost Failed and Could - Breitbart history. In the sum of American economic expansion the intrusion might have seemed a minor, obscure matter, but to [John] Muir immense issues were involved: why had the nation preserved that pure wildness in the first place? This 1910 view shows Kolana Rock and Tueeulala Falls in the background. It has not been demonstrated that Hetch Hetchy is the only available source, but only that it might be the cheapest. Then, well need to weigh our options for other new large water supplies, all of which will have enormous environmental tradeoffs: think of building a desalination plant, fighting with Los Angeles over the Sacramento Delta, building a peripheral canal or siting new large dams in presently undammed Sierra mountains and foothills. However, the same NPS study also finds that with intensive management, an outcome in which "the entire valley would appear much as it did before construction of the reservoir" is feasible. Hetch Hetchy is dammed by the 430-foot-tall OShaughnessy Dam and has a storage capacity of 360,360 acre-feet. Once again, the political pendulum would swing. As well dam for water-tanks the people's cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been . Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite Valley are so similar because they were created by the same sequences of geological activity. [15] When the glacier retreated for the final time, sediment-laden meltwater deposited thick layers of silt, forming the flat alluvial floodplain of the valley floor. Wapama and Rancheria Falls Looking up at Wapama Falls from the footbridge on the hiking trail. [8] Rancheria Falls is located farther southeast, on Rancheria Creek. Progressive political leaders, of whom Mayor Phelan was one, believed it was time to take this power away from the private interests and turn it over to the people. [50] The project is operated by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. As of October 2022, Hetch Hetchy was at 77.5% of its capacity. . Call 209-372-0200 for the latest road and weather conditions, Hetch Hetchy Road Daily Hours: 8 am to 5 pm. The Hetch Hetchy Dam is destroying a piece of land that is the homes of multiple types of animals. These are called Bay Division Pipelines (BDPL) 1, 2, 3, and 4, with nominal pipeline diameters of 60, 66, 78, and 96 inches (1.5, 1.7, 2.0 and 2.4m, respectively). The network goes from the Sierra Nevada mountains, across the Central Valley and out to the coast, and serves 2.5 million Californians in 30 cities across four counties. The history of Californias growth is inextricably linked to the search for water. [61] In 2018, the Department of the Interior of the Trump administration began to consider a proposal to allow limited boating on the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir for the first time, supported by the advocacy group Restore Hetch Hetchy which argued that "San Francisco received [Hetch Hetchy's] benefits long ago, but the American people have not. As well dam for water-tanks the people's cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man. Many examples of red-barked manzanita can be seen along the Hetch Hetchy Road. OPTION 3Give control to the local people of Hetch Hetchy These clean and comfortable rooms also enjoy access to the pool, spa and other facilities at Yosemite Westgate Lodge. Native American cultures were prominent before the 1850s when the first settlers from the United States arrived in the Sierra Nevada. An anthropocentrist would agree with building the dam in the park without taking into consideration what the dam would do to the already existing ecosystem due to not caring about the established animals and plants. (Source: American Rivers, How Dams Damage Rivers). This time it was in favor those who wanted to preserve the valley for generations yet to come. The new. San Francisco applied once again for rights to Hetch Hetchy in 1908. Hetch Hetchy, unlike other water storage facilities in California, is relatively buffered from near-term climate change because of its high elevation. The Tuolumne River, the source of. Yosemite's Hetch Hetchy Water Wars - Yosemite National Park Trips Friday, enjoy an evening about bats starting at 7 pm. strongly against restoration. When changes are made there are unintended consequences. During summer, people of the Miwok and Paiute came to Hetch Hetchy from the Central Valley in the west and the Great Basin in the east. Today, descendants of these people still use milkweed, deergrass, bracken fern, willow, and other plants for a variety of uses including baskets, medicines, and string. "[85] However, she does support breaching the dam once it has reached the end of its lifespan, and not replacing it. There have been lawsuits over whether San Francisco violated the agreements of the Raker Act. Congress, confronted with rising public opposition, refused to act on the measure. A full breakfast is served in the dining room. As a consequence, visitors came to experience it for themselves. And, as you might imagine, it produces some of the cleanest municipal water in the United States. The Hetch Hetchy Valley is a part of Yosemite National Park. Indeed, the battle over Hetch Hetchy may have been a little-known contributor to the permanent alignment of American politics it was the tension between Ballinger and Pinchot that set in motion the events that lead to the split mentioned above. Even in the summer when Yosemite Valley is being explored by visitors from around the world, Hetch Hetchy remains an oasis of relative calm. Located at 3,900 feet, Hetch Hetchy boasts one of the longest hiking seasons in the park and is an ideal place for thundering spring waterfalls and wildflower displays. "[32], In 1867, Charles F. Hoffman of the California Geological Survey conducted the first survey of the valley. Have you been to Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite? Would that be an improvement? History - Hetch Hetchy - Sierra Club Slow down and spend the day at Tenaya Lake a beautiful and easy-to-get-to alpine lake cupped by granite domes. Located at 3,900 feet, Hetch Hetchy boasts one of the longest hiking seasons in the park and is an ideal place for thundering spring waterfalls and wildflower displays. You could then scuba ElCapitan down to the valley floor. To begin the trail, cross the dam and pass through the tunnel. Hetch Hetchy Water and Power also wants to remove the giant bulkhead that seals up the tunnel with 40 nuts and bolts, Ritchie said. [42] This provoked a seven-year environmental struggle with the environmental group Sierra Club, led by John Muir. O'Shaughnessey Dam Facts. Finally, with the railroad complete, teams broke ground on the OShaughnessy Dam on August 1, 1919. William Howard Taft became president in 1909. Hetch Hetchy - Wikipedia Many are vital pieces of infrastructure that provide reliable water supplies, hydropower, flood control, and recreation. [67], Those in opposition of dam removal state that demolishing O'Shaughnessy Dam would take away a valuable source of clean, renewable hydroelectric power in the Kirkwood and Moccasin powerhouses; even if measures such as seasonal water diversion into the powerhouses were employed, it would only make up for a fraction of the original power production. No BS! [85] The walls of both are of gray granite, rise abruptly out of the flowery grass and groves are sculptured in the same style, and in both every rock is a glacial monument., (Source: Journal of Sierra Nevada History & Biography, Hetch-Hetchy, Natural History Before The Dam, Joe Medeiros), In defense of Hetch Hetchy, Muir crafted some of his most famous prose. He had journeyed to Washington to lobby the federal government on behalf of the project. The view in Hetch Hetchy Valley As you know by now, the hike is 90% along the reservoir so you always get to see the most beautiful blue water in all of California. . A) 5 billion B . Another popular trail crosses the OShaughnessy Dam and then takes a left turn to climb steeply out of the Hetch Hetchy valley. Why we must restore Hetch Hetchy - SFGATE The dam also provides flood control, irrigation, and water storage along the Colorado River. The deciding factor was whether or not the land in question had access to water. [58], Water from Hetch Hetchy is some of the cleanest municipal water in the United States; San Francisco is one of six U.S. cities not required by law to filter its tap water, although the water is disinfected by ozonation and, since 2011, exposure to UV. Hetch Hetchy Valley was once home to a richly diverse ecosystem, surrounded by towering cliffs and waterfalls similar to those in neighboring Yosemite Valley. Before they could break ground at the OShaughnessy Dam, more infrastructure was required.
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