Hetch Hetchy is a valley, a reservoir, and a water system in California in the United States. Shasta, Oroville, Hetch Hetchy and many others were built by damming large rivers. [20] They hunted, and gathered seeds and edible plants to furnish themselves winter food, trade items, and materials for art and ceremonial objects. We can't help it either. 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. Hetch Hetchy | Hetch Hetchy Dam & Reservoir History | Yosemite.com 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 . But Hetch Hetchy was a federally protected as part of Yosemite National Park. The first Moccasin Powerhouse in Moccasin, California began commercial operation in 1925 followed by the Holm Powerhouse in 1960 (the same month the Early Intake Powerhouse was taken out of service). I will agree to take down Hetch Hetchy, when we first replace it with a bigger new reservoir such as a bigger taller Yosemite Valley dam at El Capitan. San Francisco assumed from the outset that there would not be significant opposition to using the Hetch Hetchy Valley, even if it was in a national park, for the high and noble purpose of providing water to one of the nations great and growing metropolises, so their efforts in Washington, DC, were conducted discreetly. There are many places to stop and enjoy views of the rushing water before turning around to return to your car. [53], As completed, O'Shaughnessy Dam is 910 feet (280m) long, spanning the valley at its narrow outlet. We have historic photographs to remind us of what Hetch Hetchy Valley looked like before the dam was built. It was the second tallest dam in the U.S. at the time. When changes are made there are unintended consequences. John Muir once described Hetch Hetchy Valley as, a grand landscape garden, one of Natures rarest and most precious mountain temples.. In: Educational Resources, History, National Parks, Your email address will not be published. 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. Residents drink it in 26 cities and water districts from San. 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. HETCH HETCHY: The Epic Enviro Battle That Changed America 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? After Hetch Hetchy, many realized the National Parks needed more protection. The valley provided an escape from the summer heat of the lowlands. [48], The Early Intake (Lower Cherry) Powerhouse began commercial operation five years before the O'Shaughnessy Dam was completed. The Hetch Hetchy dam would still be as naturally beautiful as it was before when it was preserved, and along with that, the construction of the dam will benefit the greatest number of. 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. Stand on OShaughnessy Dam and feel the cool updraft. [21] Miwok names are still used for features, including Tueeulala Fall, Wapama Fall, and Kolana Rock. [2] The dam contains 675,000cuyd (516,000m3) of concrete. Hetch Hetchy Water & Power plans five-year $140M Mountain Tunnel 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). Activity 1: Analysis. 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. Why we must restore Hetch Hetchy - SFGATE Hetch Hetchy is on the main stem of the Tuolumne River and is part of the Tuolumne watershed. [4] A broad, low rocky outcrop situated between Kolana Rock and Hetch Hetchy Dome divided the former meadow in two distinct sections. Mirror Lakes famous spring-time reflections capture the eye and mind. But how did the dam get to be here? The Great Alaskan Land Fraud and the Pinchot-Ballinger Controversy caused both Richard A. Ballinger and Gifford Pinchot to resign and be fired respectively. It is part of our More than Just Parks Environmental Heroes series. For instance, the WET company helps people see the beauty of water through magnificent water fountains. The proposed ballot measure calls for the creation of a task force that would spend $8 million to develop a long-term plan for improving water quality and reliability, remediating environmental damages caused by the water supply system, and identifying new water and renewable energy supplies so that Hetch Hetchy Valley could be returned to the National Park Service. The Engineer as Lobbyist - JSTOR 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? Worth a Dam? - Earth Island Journal On December 19, 1913, Congress passed and President Wilson signed the Raker Act which permitted the building of the OShaughnessy Dam and the flooding of the Hetch Hethcy Valley in Yosemite National Park. Following a fierce nationwide debate led by John Muir and Will Colby of the Sierra Club, the City of San Francisco was authorized by the U.S. Congress, in the Raker Act of 1913, to construct a dam and reservoir on the Tuolumne River in Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park. After 2.5 miles (4.0 km), youll reach the Wapama Falls Bridge with an up-close view of the lowest section of Wapama Falls. 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. As in Yosemite, the sublime rocks of its walls seem to glow with life . He discovered it a few of years later. For functional purposes, Hetch Hetchy was a promising solution to San Francisco's serious water shortages. 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. In some cases, however, including the Klamath and Hetch Hetchy, the benefits of restoration clearly outweigh the benefits provided by the dams. As the Hetch Hetchy Valley was part of Yosemite National Park, Hitchcock preferred to protect the parks natural wonders. Wapama Fall is reached via a five-mile, round-trip hike that follows the shoreline of the reservoir with moderate up and downhill hiking. Annie Li, a senior engineer at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, points to the yellow and brown squiggly lines on the map, revealing our water's path from Hetch Hetchy to the Bay Area. Standing upon it will give you the chance to appreciate the sublimity of both nature and human achievement. As of October 2022, Hetch Hetchy was at 77.5% of its capacity. Glaciers followed these low-points, leaving their own marks in particular carving out the characteristic U-shaped valley with steep sides and wide floor. "Dam Hetch Hetchy!": John Muir Contests the Hetch-Hetchy Dam [30] After the valley's native inhabitants were driven out by the newcomers, it was used by ranchers, many of whom were former miners, to graze livestock. But Hetch Hetchy, one of nature's perfect . Hetch Hetchy Valley, far from being a plain, common, rock-bound meadow, as many who have not seen it seem to suppose, is a grand landscape garden, one of Nature's rarest and most precious mountain temples. Winter storms fill Hetch Hetchy, renew debate about reservoir's future Hidden in Yosemite National Parks peaceful northwest corner, Hetch Hetchy Valley is a treasure worth visiting in all seasons. Hetch Hetchy is dammed by the 430-foot-tall OShaughnessy Dam and has a storage capacity of 360,360 acre-feet. In 2019, Restore Hetch Hetchy commissioned another study that found enormous recreational value from removing the dam. 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. . [8], While its cousin Yosemite Valley to the south had permanent Miwok settlements,[25] Hetch Hetchy was only seasonally inhabited. 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 . As a consequence, visitors came to experience it for themselves. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. And today there is even an organization, Restore Hetch Hetchy, which is committed to doing just that. Giving a Dam: Congress Debates Hetch Hetchy - George Mason University [31], During this time, the upper Tuolumne River, including Hetch Hetchy Valley, was visited by prospectors attracted by the California Gold Rush. Franklin Lane served as the attorney for the city of San Francisco in 1903. "[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. Eighty-five percent of the water comes from Sierra Nevada snowmelt stored in the Hetch Hetchy reservoir situated on the Tuolumne River in Yosemite National Park. A full breakfast is served in the dining room. 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. The glacially-carved U-shaped valley floor maximizes the amount of water stored in the reservoir. In terms of quality, Hetch Hetchy water is so pristine that it is one of only a handful of water supplies in the country that doesn't need to be filtered, a process that is expensive and energy intensive. Controversy continues to swirl around the Hetch Hetchy Dam even now. Winter weather conditions may cause road closures. The OShaughnessy Dam was completed in 1938 and is 430-feet tall. Historians of the American conservation movement regard Pinchot as the foremost exemplar of the utilitarian approach to conservation, according to which man has a right to use natural resources, but also an obligation to use them wisely and efficientlyor as the classic criterion put it, the greatest good for the greatest number over the long run. As applied to forests and espoused by Pinchot, this meant that the nations forest reserves ought not to be maintained as inviolate sanctuaries, but opened to enlightened management.. In Yosemite National Park, the Hetch Hetchy reservoir relies on the annual snowmelt to stay full. 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. And, as you might imagine, it produces some of the cleanest municipal water in the United States. remains the least visited area of the park. William Howard Taft became president in 1909. [6][7], Upstream from the valley lies the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, while the smaller Poopenaut Valley is directly downstream from O'Shaughnessy Dam. They would light upon a man's blue shirt and turn it brown, and were voracious as mosquitoes would be. 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. San Francisco applied to the United States Department of the Interior to gain water rights to Hetch Hetchy, and in 1908 President Theodore Roosevelt's Secretary of the Interior, James R. Garfield, granted San Francisco the rights to development of the Tuolumne River. Finally, in 1988, a third generator was added to the Kirkwood Powerhouse. What part should mountains, rivers, natural meadows or wild creatures play in American life? Five country-chic rooms in the main building include en suite bathrooms, free WiFi and electric fireplaces. The . Muir famously said, Dam Hetch Hetchy! Congress has set aside the Yosemite Valley as a state park in 1864, established a national park around it in 1890, and then reclaimed the valley as part of the national park in 1903. [46], Work on the Hetch Hetchy Project began in 1914. Hetch Hetchy System - BAWSCA Teams completed the OShaughnessy Dam in 1923 and the reservoir filled for the first time in May of that year. In 1913, Woodrow Wilson appointed Lane his Secretary of the Interior. Even if we could obtain the several billion dollars necessary to carry out this endeavor (neither private nor public sources have yet been identified) some of the tasks involved may not even be possible. Utilizing its superior resources, the city produced a detailed report which made a compelling case that, far from damaging the beauty of Yosemite, the dam would actually enhance it. [2] "Dam Hetch Hetchy!" - I Take History The spacious rooms include access to a heated swimming pool, spa, playground, and laundry facilities. This reservoir on the Sacramento River has been planned for decades Visitors might still need chains to get down Evergreen Road this time of year, but a trip to Hetch Hetchy reveals an example of the potent storms, and a reservoir of controversy for 100 years. 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. Hetch Hetchy Valley Analysis - 1299 Words | Internet Public Library Learn what to expect from Mirror Lake in various seasons. Hetch Hetchy Environmental Debates | National Archives The Blackberry Inn Bed and Breakfast is just one of many welcoming businesses located on the way to Hetch Hetchy. The fundamental issue involved two concepts. Hetch Hetchy, unlike other water storage facilities in California, is relatively buffered from near-term climate change because of its high elevation. Start by hiking across the OShaughnessy Dam then turn east along the shore of the reservoir. A Trip to Hetch Hetchy and the O'Shaughnessy Dam Would there be any room in an acquisitive society for wildness, or for non material spiritual values?. This effort was famously and vociferously fought by John Muir and was the subject of a national debate for years; the loss later galvanized the Sierra Club to successfully oppose large dams in Dinosaur National Monument and Grand Canyon National Park. This limits their ability to access spawning habitat, seek out food resources, and escape predation. [79] Some observers, such as Carl Pope (director of the Sierra Club), stated that Hodel had political motives[80] in proposing the study. 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. As well dam for . Many examples of red-barked manzanita can be seen along the Hetch Hetchy Road. The San Francisco Bulletin printed a Dec. 1, 1913, story calling the bills opponents a crowd ofnature lovers and fakers, who are waging a sentimental campaign to preserve the Hetch Hetchy Valley as a public playground, a purpose for which it has never been used.. As well dam for water-tanks the peoples cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man . $27.3125/hr Watershed Worker (Summer, 2023) - Hetch Hetchy Water [3] Kolana Rock, at 5,772ft (1,759m), is a massive rock spire on the south side of the Hetch Hetchy Valley. The Tuolumne River, the source of. Dam Hetch Hetchy! Hetch Hetchy's restoration, after all, will benefit national . O'Shaughnessy Dam is a 430-foot (131 m) high concrete arch-gravity dam in Tuolumne County, California, United States.It impounds the Tuolumne River, forming the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir at the lower end of Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park, about 160 miles (260 km) east of San Francisco. But what about when the lake dries? As surely as forests provided timber, so did they provide beauty, inspiration, and the renewal of over-citified spirits. It would be almost impossible to build a new dam there today. 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. history. Indeed, Hetch Hetchy today[when?] The exploitation of Californias natural resources continued unabated in the years leading up to Hetch Hetchy. [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. Denouncing dam proponents as greedy, he wrote, These temple destroyers, devotees of ravaging commercialism, seem to have a perfect contempt for Nature, and instead of lifting their eyes to the God of the Mountains, life them to the Almighty Dollar. If youre up for a driving adventure, try taking a little extra time to retrace parts of the route John Muir described in his book, My First Summer in the Sierra. [50] The project is operated by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. The maximum that the city has put away is 570,000 acre-feet of water. Plus, they needed a way to bring supplies and workers into the mountains. This is why environmental impact statements, which were not required prior to 1969, are so important today. The reservoir supplies water for the city of San Francisco, so there is no recreational boating or swimming allowed. Use good judgment and stay safe. As we all know, there is no use of water that is higher than the domestic use., He went on to say, We come straight to the question of whether the advantage of leaving this valley in a state of nature is greater than the advantage of using it for the benefit of the city of San Francisco.. Pinchot was Americas Forester. He served as the first head of the United States Forest Service. Due to its high-altitude location at 3,900 feet above sea level and its snowmelt-fed water supply, water from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir behind O'Shaughnessy Dam does not require filtration. Second, dams slow rivers. . While youre at it, plan to add to the historic flavor of this route with a stop the Northern Mariposa County History Center. 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. Due to extreme winter weather, Yosemite National Park is closed with no estimated date of reopening. There, he met the same Indian chief and his wives. Photo: Kim Lawson. The deciding factor was whether or not the land in question had access to water. [24] It is likely that the edible grass was blue dicks. Included with your registration: Two-day guided experience in Yosemite; one day at Hetch Hetchy and one day in Ackerson Meadow (Saturday, May 11, at 8 am, through Sunday, May 12, until about 3 pm). Hetch Hetchy Dome, at 6,197ft (1,889m), lies directly north of it. Only a tiny proportion of Yosemites visitors explore this out-of-the-way corner of the national park. Next to John Muir, the most vocal defender of the Hetch Hetchy Valley was Harriet Monroe. First, they block rivers which prevents fish from migrating. Gifford Pinchot: A 2021 Lesson From Americas First Forester, Meet The Real Life Batman & Robin Of The National Parks, Natural Rivals: John Muir, Gifford Pinchot, and the Creation of Americas Public Lands, Gifford Pinchot and the Making of Modern Environmentalism, Son of the Wilderness: The Life of John Muir, General Sherman Tree: Everything You Need to Know About The Largest Tree in the World, 11 BEST National Parks Near San Francisco to Visit (Expert Guide), 7 EPIC National Parks Near Santa Ana Youll Love (Photos + Guide). 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. So visit Hetch Hetchy. Prominent sponsors of the dam proposal, particularly (by then former) Mayor James Phelan and city engineer Marsdon Manson (and later his successor, Michael OShaughnessy), quietly lobbied key figures in the government, trusting that the appeal of municipal water and power would easily win supporters amid the prevailing progressive political climate. (In fact partially because it is so difficult and destructive to build large dams, we are running out of new supplies of water in California.) 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). And in a larger sense, the waters of California served as the converting agents. The proposed study would also have been required to identify potential replacements for the water storage capacity and hydroelectric power production.[87][88]. What should be the fate of prairies, wetlands, or coastal marshes? Have you been to Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite? Browers Hetch Hetchy: Undoing A Great American Mistake, makes a compelling case for restoring the valley to its previous glory. [18], Due to its abundant wetlands and stream pools, Hetch Hetchy was notorious among early travelers for becoming infested with mosquitoes in the summertime. The chief replied, There is no valley. [5] The valley was slowly becoming known for its natural beauty, but it was never a popular tourist destination because of extremely poor access and the location of the famous Yosemite Valley just twenty miles to the south. Off Deadline: Is 'Restore Hetch Hetchy' a pipe dream or a living vision A recent report evaluates the economic benefits of restoring Hetch Hetchy Valley. Restore Yosemite? It can be done. - Los Angeles Times 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. 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? The dam and reservoir are the source for the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct, which provides water for over . 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. 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.
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