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. Buck Meadows is also a great place to spend the night. [67], Preservation groups including the Sierra Club and Restore Hetch Hetchy state that draining Hetch Hetchy would open the valley back up to recreation, a right that should be provided to the American people because the reservoir is within the legal boundaries of a national park. Loss of the reservoir would decrease the Bay Areas water and energy security, requiring new water storage (possibly in reservoirs not owned by San Francisco) and the development of new water and energy supplies. 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. No BS! 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. The battle for Hetch Hetchy wasnt just conservationists vs preservationists. California needed secure, reliable access to drinking water for their burgeoning populations. Winter storms fill Hetch Hetchy, renew debate about reservoir's future The report cited other dam projects in making the argument that this project would increase tourism. ", "San Francisco-Hetch Hetchy Valley Connection", "Hetch Hetchy controversy: Could Yosemite's 'second valley' be restored? And in a larger sense, the waters of California served as the converting agents. Franklin Lane served as the attorney for the city of San Francisco in 1903. Even before it was finished, the massive . If the dam were not to be built, it would only benefit the small percentage of Americans who actually visited the site and were concerned about the park's pristine condition. Monroe was a Chicago poet who joined Muir and others on their 1908 and 1909 outings to the valley. List what negative externalities are associated with the construction In 1913, Woodrow Wilson appointed Lane his Secretary of the Interior. Call 209-372-0200 for the latest road and weather conditions, Hetch Hetchy Road Daily Hours: 8 am to 5 pm. As we learned from Rachel Carsons Silent Spring, humankind can damage the environment while attempting to control it. Mirror Lakes famous spring-time reflections capture the eye and mind. Let us introduce you to some of the unique giant sequoia groves in the Yosemite Mariposa County area the Merced, Tuolumne, and Mariposa Groves are inside Yosemite National Park, and the Nelder Grove is just outside the park boundary to the south. [9] Formerly, a "small but noisy"[10] waterfall and natural pool existed on the Tuolumne River marked the upper entrance to Hetch Hetchy Valley,[11] informally known as Tuolumne Fall (not to be confused with a similarly named waterfall several miles upriver near Tuolumne Meadows). Would there be any room in an acquisitive society for wildness, or for non material spiritual values?. Yet it also highlighted the division within the conservation movement over two fundamental principles: utilitarian conservation versus preservation. They were both initially carved by rivers flowing down the Sierras relatively gentle western slope. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir (Yosemite National Park) - Tripadvisor Hetch Hetchy: Congress and the Environment | National Archives [16], Compared with Yosemite Valley, the walls of Hetch Hetchy are smoother and rounder because it was glaciated to a greater extent. On returning home, he asked an Indian chief the name of the valley. Worth a Dam? - Earth Island Journal Yosemite's Secret Valley - Hetch Hetchy - YouTube In continuance, water has a personality and the presence of it can change moods and help people feel better. Before they could break ground at the OShaughnessy Dam, more infrastructure was required. [46], Work on the Hetch Hetchy Project began in 1914. [14] At maximum extent, Tioga Glacier may have been 60mi (97km) long and up to 4,000ft (1,200m) thick, filling Hetch Hetchy Valley to the brim and spilling over the sides, carving out the present rugged plateau country to the north and southwest. There have been lawsuits over whether San Francisco violated the agreements of the Raker Act. Storage and Delivery Updates | SFPUC Wapama Fall is reached via a five-mile, round-trip hike that follows the shoreline of the reservoir with moderate up and downhill hiking. 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. This 1910 view shows Kolana Rock and Tueeulala Falls in the background. It spans 900 feet (270 m) with a 17-foot (5.2 m) wide trail across the top that hikers use to cross to the opposite side. [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). Photo: Herbert W. Gleason courtesy of the Sierra Club. Congress would decide the fate of the Hetchy Hetchy Valley. Wapama and Rancheria Falls Looking up at Wapama Falls from the footbridge on the hiking trail. 406 California Historical Landmark)", "John Muir's Yosemite: The father of the conservation movement found his calling on a visit to the California wilderness", "Timeline of the Ongoing Battle Over Hetch Hetchy", "The Hetch Hetchy Letters: If a Group of Intellectuals Argues in a Forest, and then that Forest is Submerged Under Water, Does Their Argument Matter? Standing upon it will give you the chance to appreciate the sublimity of both nature and human achievement. Not far from there, youll find more budget-minded lodging at Buck Meadows Lodge. GROVELAND,CA San Francisco may be required to pay more rent to the federal government for water from the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir or even tear down the O'Shaughnessy Dam. [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. Plus, the granite walls converge into a narrow outlet at the bottom of the valley the perfect location for a dam. Stand on OShaughnessy Dam and feel the cool updraft. The Dam flooded about nine miles of the river, including the Hetch Hetchy valley. From 1901 - 1913, John Muir led the Sierra Club in a campaign to protect the Hetch Hetchy Valley, a part of Yosemite National Park, from being filled by a reservoir. Would that be an improvement? This reservoir on the Sacramento River has been planned for decades Photo: Theresa Ho, Of course, the proposal was immediately opposed by environmentalists including the Sierra Club and John Muir. Gray pine, incense-cedar, and California black oak grow in abundance. The battle for Hetch Hetchy was perhaps the first effort at what is now known as "grassroots lobbying," getting individual citizens to contact elected officials in support . Instead, it was a more complicated battle which pitted public interests against private interests. According to a local legend, Nate spotted a valley to the east that was too far to visit. An adjacent building contains another five suites with vaulted ceilings, forest views and soaking tubs. Public disapproval nationwide with the Raker Act helped to bring about the creation of the National Park Service. In spite of Muirs eloquent and heated objections, the Raker Act was signed into law in December of 1913. Dam the Hetch Hetchy! He was opposed by then Mayor Diane Feinstein who argued that the dam was San Franciscans birthright. . For John Muir, it was about preserving a natural wonder which could be enjoyed by generations to come. [39], Interest in using the valley as a water source or reservoir dates back as far as the 1850s, when the Tuolumne Valley Water Company proposed developing water storage there for irrigation. 2 Existing Regional Water System - San Francisco "[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. Dianne Feinstein, the mayor of San Francisco at the time, said in a Los Angeles Times story in 1987: "All this is for an expanded campground? Sign up for the email list and join an active community of monthly readers. [8], Before damming, the valley floor contained abundant stands of black oaks, live oak, Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and silver fir bordering the meadows, with alder, willow, poplar and dogwood in the riparian zone along the Tuolumne River. Hours: Year-round, but only accessible by car when the Hetch Hetchy Road is open. The second concept is preservation. Activity 1: Analysis. Although Hetch Hetchy is included within the boundaries of Yosemite National Park, the entrance is separate from the rest of the park. As well dam for . Photo: Chris Migeon. Located 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas, the dam captures water from the . ", "Three Square Miles of Open Space: Is It Enough? Most people turn around here anyway. [28][29] About 1853, his brother, Joseph Screech (credited in some accounts for the original discovery of the valley)[27] blazed the first trail from Big Oak Flat, a mining camp near present-day Lake Don Pedro,[30] for 38mi (61km) northeast to Hetch Hetchy Valley. Building a dam there was off the table. In 1923, the O'Shaughnessy Dam was completed on the Tuolumne River, flooding the entire valley under the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Surrounding the water are a few waterfalls, the most prominent being Tueeulala and Wapama Falls, and countless rock features. In the Bay Area, Hetch Hetchy water is stored in local facilities including Calaveras Reservoir, Crystal Springs Reservoir, and San Antonio Reservoir. [49], The narrow defile at the lower end of Hetch Hetchy Valley where San Francisco planned to dam the Tuolumne River, seen in 1914 before construction began, The same area seen today, with O'Shaughnessy Dam and Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, Hetch Hetchy Valley serves as the primary water source for the City and County of San Francisco and several surrounding municipalities in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. While the debate goes on, Hetch Hetchy remains a relaxing and often-overlooked corner of the park much to the delight of hikers and backpackers who prefer less touristy experiences. 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. A national debate ensued between the preservationist and conservationist factions of the young environmental movement. The waterfall on the Tuolumne is now submerged under Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Garfield had granted San Franciscos request, but Ballinger ordered the city to show cause as to why Hetch Hetchy should not be deleted from their grant. If you love that insider feeling of discovering an often-overlooked gem, plan a stop at Buck Meadows on your way to or from Hetch Hetchy. 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? "Hetch Hetchy is a grand landscape garden, one of nature's rarest and most precious mountain temples. SPUR Urban Center, 654 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105-4015 | (415) 781-8726 | [emailprotected], 2023 SPUR Privacy Policy 501(C)(3) Non-Profit Tax Identification: 94-1498232, a member-supported nonprofit organization. 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. The Hetch Hetchy Valley is about 8 miles (13 km) from Yosemite Valley. 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. Hetch Hetchy Quotes - Rausser College of Natural Resources The first people, outside of Native Americans, to see the Hetch Hetchy Valley were Joseph, Nate and William Screechin 1850. [37][38] However, ranchers who had previously owned land in the new park continued their use of Hetch Hetchy Valley a "sheep-grazing free-for-all [that] threatened to denude the High Sierra meadows"[37] before disputes over state and private properties in respect to national park boundaries were finally settled in the early 1900s. "[19], People have lived in Hetch Hetchy Valley for over 6,000 years. This limits their ability to access spawning habitat, seek out food resources, and escape predation. As surely as forests provided timber, so did they provide beauty, inspiration, and the renewal of over-citified spirits. Argument Against The Hetchy Dam - 587 Words - Internet Public Library O'Shaughnessy Dam (California) - Wikipedia That trip is a 19.1-mile (22.9 km) out and back, or you can turn the hike into a loop that returns past Rancheria Falls (28.2 miles, 45.4 km). Slow down and spend the day at Tenaya Lake a beautiful and easy-to-get-to alpine lake cupped by granite domes. But how did the dam get to be here? It is spectacular: a miles-long placid blue lake nested within towering granite cliffs, from which waterfalls cascade. A bigger population will increase demand, meanwhile climate change could significantly reduce supply through drought and hydrological cycle changes. The extensive amount of storage, which is designed to benefit the Bay Area as droughts become more severe with climate. Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite Valley are so similar because they were created by the same sequences of geological activity. 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. Two additional reservoirs in the Hetch Hetchy RegionLake Eleanor and Lake Lloyd (also Have you been to Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite? [17] The valley's abundant plants provided nourishment for mule deer, black bears and bighorn sheep. Hetch Hetchy is dammed by the 430-foot-tall OShaughnessy Dam and has a storage capacity of 360,360 acre-feet. If the nation set aside some natural places as especially sacred, how far beyond their borders should a sense of the sacred extend? San Francisco was able to accomplish this in 1925 by claiming it had run out of funds to extend the Hetch Hetchy transmission line all the way to the city. Hetch Hetchy Valley Analysis - 1299 Words | Internet Public Library He had journeyed to Washington to lobby the federal government on behalf of the project. . As the grazing of livestock damaged native plants in the Hetch Hetchy Valley, mountaineer and naturalist John Muir pressed for the protection of both valleys under a single national park. As John Clayton writes, At the height of Progressivism, Phelan and other good-government types believed that the city should administer its own utilities. Those in favor of dam removal have pointed out that many actions by San Francisco since 1913 have been in violation of the Raker Act, which explicitly stated that power and water from Hetch Hetchy could not be sold to private interests. As of October 2022, Hetch Hetchy was at 77.5% of its capacity. This fight set the stage for future battles between those who believed natural resources were to be used for the greatest good versus those who believed natural resources were to be preserved for the greatest enjoyment. Over the next decade, he produced fifteen large oils that transformed the valley into a dreamland unlike anything that ever met mortal eye.. We have historic photographs to remind us of what Hetch Hetchy Valley looked like before the dam was built. The trail includes spectacular views of Tueeulala and Wapama Falls. In 1987, President Reagans Secretary of the Interior, Donald Hodel, proposed that Hetch Hetchy be restored. The 68mi (109km) Hetch Hetchy Railroad was constructed to link the Sierra Railway with Hetch Hetchy Valley, allowing for direct rail shipment of construction materials from San Francisco to the dam site. Hetch Hetchy Valley, dammed and flooded in the 1920s despite bitter opposition from Sierra Club founder John Muir, provides drinking water for an estimated 2 million people in the San Francisco . [59] The water quality is high because of the unique geology of the upper Tuolumne River drainage basin, which consists mostly of bare granite; as a result, the rivers feeding Hetch Hetchy Reservoir have extremely low loads of sediments and nutrients. $27.3125/hr Watershed Worker (Summer, 2023) - Hetch Hetchy Water Expect delicious meals and hearty portions to fuel your adventure or beat that post-hiking hunger. Hiking Hetch Hetchy: the unknown Yosemite National Park - 2TravelDads The reservoir provides water to a large portion of the Bay Area through a 160 mile delivery. The O'Shaughnessy Dam is 430-foot (131 m) high made of concrete and it is named after engineer Michael O'Shaughnessy, who oversaw the entire construction. Healthy fish populations - by releasing sufficient instream flows for spawning and rearing downstream - sometimes to mitigate for the loss of spawning habitat caused by their construction, and More Than Just Parks | National Parks Guides. To get to Hetch Hetchy, turn north off Highway 120 onto Evergreen Road about 1 mile (2.2 km) outside the Big Oak Flat Entrance gate, and 12.5 miles (20 km) east of the small community of Buck Meadows. [2] They acknowledge that a concerted effort would have to be made to control the introduction of wildlife and tourism back into the valley in order to prevent destabilization of the ecosystem,[68] and that it might be decades or even centuries before the valley could be returned to natural conditions. This time, in favor of those who wanted to build the dam. In 2007, in approving the environmental impact report for the Water System Improvement Program an investment of more than $4 billion to shore up the seismic reliability of the Hetch Hetchy water system the SFPUC gave itself, and its wholesale customers on the peninsula, ten years to develop a plan that would identify reliable alternative sources of water to meet the regions future growth in demand, rather than diverting more water from the Tuolumne River. The dam and reservoir are the source for the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct, which provides water for over . Just before reaching the Bay Area, it passes through the Irvington tunnel near the city of Fremont, and the aqueduct splits into four pipelines at 373253N 1215555W / 37.548104N 121.932041W / 37.548104; -121.932041. Required fields are marked *. Hodel Would Tear Down Dam in Hetch Hetchy - Los Angeles Times [2], Wapama Falls, at 1,080ft (330m), and Tueeulala Falls, at 840ft (260m) both among the tallest waterfalls in North America are both located in Hetch Hetchy Valley.
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