Public disapproval nationwide with the Raker Act helped to bring about the creation of the National Park Service. They poured an estimated total of more than 398,000 cubic yards (304,000 cubic meters) of concrete to form the dam. Photo: Chris Migeon People have died after being swept off the bridge and onto the rocks below. . For John Muir, it was about preserving a natural wonder which could be enjoyed by generations to come. Show More. 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. Hetch Hetchy, for the time being, was safe, and it would not be inundated during Roosevelts watch.. . The valley provided an escape from the summer heat of the lowlands. San Francisco Mayor James Phelan led the fight to build a dam at Hetch Hetchy. Said San Francisco resident William Denman in 1918, "The first time I went into the Hetch Hetchy the mosquitoes were intolerable. Amid a worsening drought, water supplies at one important reservoir are The SFPUC tests its quality more than 100,000 times a year to ensure that it exceeds all safe drinking water standards. Start by hiking across the OShaughnessy Dam then turn east along the shore of the reservoir. Franklin Lane served as the attorney for the city of San Francisco in 1903. The Hetch Hetchy Dam in the Yosemite Valley, receives the bulk of it's water from the sierra snow pack miles above the reservoir. The Hetch Hetchy Valley underwent a monumental transformation when the City Of San Francisco received the approval of Congress in 1913 to build a dam in the Hetch Hetchy Valley, thus storing the water of the Tuolumne River and flooding the valley to a height of over 350 feet. Hydroelectric power generated from the Hetch Hetchy project is largely sold to Bay Area customers through a private power company, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). Through the manipulation of water, the company also had the power to determine which real estate became valuable and which languished. Each switchback reveals scenic overlooks of the reservoir and Kolana Rock. Friday, enjoy an evening about bats starting at 7 pm. 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. In the 21st century, Ken Brower, son of the renown environmentalist David Brower, wrote a fascinating account of the failed campaign to save Hetch Hetchy and the modern effort to Reverse an American Mistake, complete with speculation about how the rebirth of a wild valley might evolve. Yet environmentalists have dreamed of restoring the dramatic valley along the Tuolumne River, which was filled in by the lake when the dam was built in 1938 under the New Deal. [53], As completed, O'Shaughnessy Dam is 910 feet (280m) long, spanning the valley at its narrow outlet. 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. . There is no Starbucks here no daily parade of tour buses and RVs. the Hetch Hetchy Dam (1910-13) Abstract The damming of Hetch Hetchy in Yosemite National Park is a watershed event in environmental history, a presumed travesty that brought anguish to John Muir and his many sup porters throughout the United States. In the distance, long white plumes of water cascade hundreds of feet down from rocky heights. 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. . Storage and Delivery Updates | SFPUC And Hetch Hetchy's damming has inspired generations of conservationists to protect our natural heritage and to commit to safeguarding our protected areas. The dam is a small portion of the overall Tuolumne River/San Francisco storage system that benefits the Bay Area. Sign up for the email list and join an active community of monthly readers. RELATED: Meet The Real Life Batman & Robin Of The National Parks. Yes, the plan to drain Hetch Hetchy involves causing new ecological damage. But tearing OShaughnessy Dam down now in order to restore Hetch Hetchy Valley would be a disaster. [51][52] The aqueduct delivers an average of 265,000acreft (327,000,000m3) of water each year, or 31,900,000cuft (900,000m3) per day, to residents of San Francisco and San Mateo, Santa Clara and Alameda Counties. Indeed, Hetch Hetchy today[when?] The law authorizing the dam passed Congress on December 7, 1913. August 14 Hetch Hetchy Began Producing Power (1925) - Today in OShaughnessy Dam and the waterworks that connect it to the Bay Area are a marvel of engineering. For instance, the WET company helps people see the beauty of water through magnificent water fountains. Hetch Valley Measure Pits Bay Area Against Environmentalists - The New This limits their ability to access spawning habitat, seek out food resources, and escape predation. But how did the dam get to be here? "Dam Hetch Hetchy!" - I Take History 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. 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. 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. O'Shaughnessy Dam (California) - Wikipedia Muir concludes his treatise on Hetch Hetchy with the now familiar words, "Dam Hetch Hetchy! A) human well-being B) renewable energy C) environmental sustainability D) cultural services E) human population growth, The current total world population has just passed ________. The Hetch Hetchy watershed, an area located in Yosemite National Park, is the major source of water for all of San Francisco's water needs. The gently rolling terrain has excellent views of the water and eye-catching Kolana Rock, which towers roughly 2,000 feet above. SPUR wholeheartedly agrees that planning for water quality and reliability is important. This was likely because of Hetch Hetchy's narrow outlet, which in years of heavy snowmelt created a bottleneck in the Tuolumne River and the subsequent flooding of the valley floor. [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. Ultimately, San Francisco sold hydropower from the dam to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), which led to decades of legal wrangling and controversy over terms in the Raker Act. As well dam for water-tanks the people's cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been . The Hetch Hetchy Valley is about 8 miles (13 km) from Yosemite Valley. San Francisco Hetch Hetchy Reservoir Initiative, Proposition F Us too! Hetch Hetchy Valley, Yosemite National Park, California The Greatest Once the glaciers retreated, tributaries leading into the main river were left hanging hundreds or thousands of feet above the valley floor, creating the beautiful waterfalls we know today. [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. The second concept is preservation. This is why environmental impact statements, which were not required prior to 1969, are so important today. In the future, we will certainly need diverse supplies to rely on in a prolonged drought, but we will also need Hetch Hetchy more than ever. Congress, confronted with rising public opposition, refused to act on the measure. It would be almost impossible to build a new dam there today. Bierstadt described the valley as "smaller than the more famous valley but it presents many of the same features in his scenery and is quite as beautiful. So visit Hetch Hetchy. 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. [77][78], The economic wisdom of removing the dam has been frequently questioned. [2] The dam contains 675,000cuyd (516,000m3) of concrete. "[85] However, she does support breaching the dam once it has reached the end of its lifespan, and not replacing it. The dam and reservoir, combined with a series of aqueducts, tunnels, and hydroelectric plants as well as eight other storage dams, comprise a system known as the Hetch Hetchy Project, which provides 80% of the water supply for 2.6 million people. Enjoy elegant touches like wrap-around porches, and fresh-baked cookies served daily. Photo: Herbert W. Gleason courtesy of the Sierra Club. Topic: Hoover Dam - Water Education Foundation In some cases, however, including the Klamath and Hetch Hetchy, the benefits of restoration clearly outweigh the benefits provided by the dams. [31], During this time, the upper Tuolumne River, including Hetch Hetchy Valley, was visited by prospectors attracted by the California Gold Rush. 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). In the early 20th century, San Francisco flooded the Hetch Hetchy Valley, destroying "one of nature's rarest and most precious mountain temples." This is why the city can now ban new natural gas. During the late 19th century, the valley was renowned for its natural beauty often compared to that of Yosemite Valley but also targeted for the development of water supply for irrigation and municipal interests. [2] Richard Ballinger was a conservative who was one of the main characters who was responsible for the progressive-conservative split in the GOP in 1912 (leading to the creation of the Bull Moose party), which is the factor that determined the GOP would be on the right side of the political spectrum (and therefore ensuring the Democrats would be on the left side of the spectrum). This valley was isolated and remote, twenty miles northwest of the original. He produced at least four oil paintings of the valley one of which is prominently displayed in Mount Holyoke Colleges art museum. Proponents of the dam replied that out of multiple sites considered by San Francisco, Hetch Hetchy had the "perfect architecture for a reservoir",[43] with pristine water, lack of development or private property, a steep-sided and flat-floored profile that would maximize the amount of water stored, and a narrow outlet ideal for placement of a dam. Many examples of red-barked manzanita can be seen along the Hetch Hetchy Road. Hetch Hetchy System - BAWSCA Rounding the corner and catching the first glimpses of Hetch Hetchy Valley reveals the play of light on water. Above all, one's behavior Argument Against The Hetchy Dam 587 Words | 3 Pages . Being one of the biggest hydroelectric facilities in the United States and a National Landmark, Hoover Dam generates power to serve more than 1.3 million people. [47] On October 28, 1934 twenty years after the beginning of construction on the Hetch Hetchy project a crowd of 20,000 San Franciscans gathered to celebrate the arrival of the first Hetch Hetchy water in the city. The Sites Reservoir a $4.4 billion project to add dams and store more water that'll be sent south is still years away from completion. The controversy over damming Hetch Hetchy became mired in the political issues of the day. They would light upon a man's blue shirt and turn it brown, and were voracious as mosquitoes would be. First, they block rivers which prevents fish from migrating. Could you imagine building a dam inside a national park today? Watershed Worker (Summer, 2023) - Hetch Hetchy Water & Power (Moccasin) - SFPUC (7542) Job at City and County of San Francisco in Moccasin. Apply Today! Its a a wonderful place to see spring waterfalls and wildflower displays. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, encompassing 2,000 acres of federal park land, has clearly been maintained for the benefit of San Francisco with minimal consideration of the wider public whose tax dollarsand, in the case of visitors, entrance feessupport the national park. When changes are made there are unintended consequences. Fourth, dams alter water quality. Wapama and Rancheria Falls Looking up at Wapama Falls from the footbridge on the hiking trail. 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. 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. The privately owned Spring Valley Water Company had required its customers to pay exorbitant rates for years. The Hetch Hetchy Valley is a part of Yosemite National Park. Building the Hetch Hetchy dam in such a remote location was an enormous project. 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. 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. In Yosemite National Park, the Hetch Hetchy reservoir relies on the annual snowmelt to stay full. can you smoke on royal caribbean cruise ships benefits of hetch hetchy dam. Since the valley was within Yosemite National Park, an act of Congress was needed to authorize the project. Monroe was a Chicago poet who joined Muir and others on their 1908 and 1909 outings to the valley. Hetch Hetchy is on the main stem of the Tuolumne River and is part of the Tuolumne watershed. The larger issues at stake would frame environmental debates for years to come. Due to extreme winter weather, Yosemite National Park is closed with no estimated date of reopening. What part should mountains, rivers, natural meadows or wild creatures play in American life? California O Shaughnessy Dam Analysis 1428 Words | 6 Pages. Even before it was finished, the massive . It forced elected representatives to consider what a national park designation truly meant and whether or not the land within these parks deserved protection. 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. This can be very disorienting to fish and disrupt their migrations as they depend on steady streams and flows to guide them. The Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, which lies within the Yosemite National Park, supplies 85% of the water needs of San Francisco and surrounding counties. The SFPUC tests its quality more than 100,000 times a year to ensure that it exceeds all safe drinking water standards. Building the Dam. Hetch Hetchy's restoration, after all, will benefit national . [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). Looking up at Wapama Falls from the footbridge on the hiking trail. [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. The battle for Hetch Hetchy wasnt just conservationists vs preservationists.
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