As a consequence, visitors came to experience it for themselves. Upcountry and the Bay Area. John Muir knew that without public support, the Hetch Hetchy Valley would be lost. It forced elected representatives to consider what a national park designation truly meant and whether or not the land within these parks deserved protection. He produced at least four oil paintings of the valley one of which is prominently displayed in Mount Holyoke Colleges art museum. By 1908, a different Interior Secretary, James R. Garfield, sided with the utilitarian conservationists and issued a permit for the Hetch Hetchy project. Hetch Hetchy, for the time being, was safe, and it would not be inundated during Roosevelts watch.. He had journeyed to Washington to lobby the federal government on behalf of the project. 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. After Hetch Hetchy, many realized the National Parks needed more protection. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir - O'Shaugnessy Dam - National Park Service [4] A broad, low rocky outcrop situated between Kolana Rock and Hetch Hetchy Dome divided the former meadow in two distinct sections. The landscape painter Bierstadt, who brought his German Romantic training to the valley in 1862, gave the world an even larger portrait, and one in extravagant color, that photographers could not match on any scale. [71], The dam would not have to be completely removed; rather, it would only be necessary to cut a hole through the base in order to drain the water and restore natural flows of the Tuolumne River. 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. Hoover Dam. Hetch Hetchy and many others were built by . [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. Other trails also continue to Lake Vernon. Show More. Finally, with the railroad complete, teams broke ground on the OShaughnessy Dam on August 1, 1919. The city must pay a lease of $30,000 per year for the use of Hetch Hetchy, which sits on federal land. Five country-chic rooms in the main building include en suite bathrooms, free WiFi and electric fireplaces. The SFPUC and other Hetch Hetchy users are currently implementing plans to meet this demand through recycled water, groundwater and conservation. 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. Instead, the magnificence of a valley often described as Yosemite Valleys slightly smaller twin takes center stage. This time it was in favor those who wanted to preserve the valley for generations yet to come. We're not going to remove this dam, and the funding is unnecessary. Plus, they needed a way to bring supplies and workers into the mountains. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like The 1987 UN Commission on Sustainability first introduced the concept of ________ as a necessary focus for maintaining sustainability. The Hetch Hetchy Dam in the Yosemite Valley, receives the bulk of it's water from the sierra snow pack miles above the reservoir. 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. 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. [50] The removal of the dam would be extremely costly, at least $310 billion,[76] and the transport of the demolished material away from the dam site along the narrow, winding Hetch Hetchy Road would be a logistical nightmare with possible environmental impacts. Hetch Hetchy Valley Analysis - 1299 Words | Internet Public Library It has not been demonstrated that Hetch Hetchy is the only available source, but only that it might be the cheapest. 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. 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. The battle over the Hetch Hetchy, in part, was a fight over public versus private ownership of vital resources such as water. . 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. A Trip to Hetch Hetchy and the O'Shaughnessy Dam 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. between those who wish to retain the dam and reservoir, and those who wish to drain the reservoir and return Hetch Hetchy Valley to its former state. Only a tiny proportion of Yosemites visitors explore this out-of-the-way corner of the national park. 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. [21] Periodic clearing of the valley provided ample space for the growth of the grasses and shrubs they relied on, as well as additional room for large game animals such as deer to browse. For functional purposes, Hetch Hetchy was a promising solution to San Francisco's serious water shortages. It is only a cut in the hills through which the Tuolumne River runs, but if you think there might be a valley keep looking and if you find such a place I will give it to you., Nate went on looking for the valley. Dam Hetch Hetchy! Building the Hetch Hetchy dam in such a remote location was an enormous project. No picture of the giant sequoia trees in Yosemite National Park manages to fully capture their immense size and majesty. As John Clayton writes, At the height of Progressivism, Phelan and other good-government types believed that the city should administer its own utilities. [70] Hodel called for a study of the effect of tearing down the dam. Hetch Hetchy is the incredible story of Americas most controversial dam and the birth of the environmental movement. 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 glacially-carved U-shaped valley floor maximizes the amount of water stored in the reservoir. Hiking in Yosemite National Park | AAA Ohio Pipelines 1 and 2 cross the San Francisco Bay to the south of the Dumbarton Bridge, while pipelines 3 and 4 run to the south of the bay. We can't help it either. Get SPUR news and events delivered straight to your email inbox. It has two trailhead options. Controversy continues to swirl around the Hetch Hetchy Dam even now. Exactly how San Francisco won the right to transform the bucolic valley into a An adjacent building contains another five suites with vaulted ceilings, forest views and soaking tubs. HETCH HETCHY: The Epic Enviro Battle That Changed America [8], While its cousin Yosemite Valley to the south had permanent Miwok settlements,[25] Hetch Hetchy was only seasonally inhabited. She says the water first leaves Hetch Hetchy through the O'Shaughnessy Dam. The Tuolumne River originates in the peaks above Tuolumne Meadows and is the major drainage system for the northern part of Yosemite. 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. The Blackberry Inn Bed and Breakfast is just one of many welcoming businesses located on the way to Hetch Hetchy. Within three years, Congress had passed the Organic Act, formally defining the parks and creating a new federal agency, the National Park Service, with a mission: to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.. The dam also provides flood control, irrigation, and water storage along the Colorado River. At SPUR, we have done a lot of work on climate change adaptation. Congress would decide the fate of the Hetchy Hetchy Valley. The trail includes spectacular views of Tueeulala and Wapama Falls. The question Pinchot always asked was, What is the greatest good for the greatest number?, He was famously quoted as saying, Where conflicting interests must be reconciled, the question shall always be answered from the standpoint of the greatest good of the greatest number in the long run., RELATED: Gifford Pinchot: A 2021 Lesson From Americas First Forester, In his congressional testimony, Pinchot argued in favor of building the dam. It pitted a powerful city against a dedicated group of conservationists. On returning home, he asked an Indian chief the name of the valley. It is the primary water source for about 2.5 million residents of the San Francisco Bay Area. [85] 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. Hetch Hetchy Quotes - Rausser College of Natural Resources Each switchback reveals scenic overlooks of the reservoir and Kolana Rock. O'Shaughnessey Dam Facts. Located at 3,900 feet, it boasts one of the longest hiking seasons in the park. a strong proponent of restoring Hetch Hetchy Valley and Senator Feinstein is still[when?] Would that be an improvement? On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Glaciers followed these low-points, leaving their own marks in particular carving out the characteristic U-shaped valley with steep sides and wide floor. 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. 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. San Francisco Mayor James Phelan led the fight to build a dam at Hetch Hetchy. Including additions made between 1934 and 1938, the dam currently stands 430 feet (131 m) above the bedrock below. And it is the largest single source of water supply for the Bay Area. 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. That's about twice the amount of power lost when Hetch Hetchy will be restored. It would be almost impossible to build a new dam there today. It is the source of water for the city of San Francisco. The extensive amount of storage, which is designed to benefit the Bay Area as droughts become more severe with climate. Residents drink it in 26 cities and water districts from San. The privately owned Spring Valley Water Company had required its customers to pay exorbitant rates for years. National opinion divided between giving San Francisco the right to dam the valley and preserving the valley from development. Browers Hetch Hetchy: Undoing A Great American Mistake, makes a compelling case for restoring the valley to its previous glory. [41], In 1906, after a major earthquake and subsequent fire that devastated San Francisco, the inadequacy of the city's water system was made tragically clear. Required fields are marked *. The dam is a small portion of the overall Tuolumne River/San Francisco storage system that benefits the Bay Area. 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 Tuolumne River, the source of. 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. [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. The grassroots organization of environmental activism, established by John Muir and his supporters, became a model for future environmentalists. Hiking Hetch Hetchy: the unknown Yosemite National Park - 2TravelDads 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 is a treasure worth visiting. The first is utilitarian conservation. For example, plan to stop at the Lucky Buck Cafe on your way to or from a day of exploring Yosemite. 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 - Hetch Hetchy - Sierra Club His path roughly follows the John Muir Highway State Highway 132 that runs from Highway 49 in Coulterville up through Greeley Hill before connecting back into Highway 120 before Buck Meadows and the turn-off to Hetch Hetchy. Horace Albright, the second director of the National Park Service, wrote that Franklin Lanes appointment to the cabinet was made specifically for the purpose of pushing this [Hetch Hetchy project], the so-called Raker-Pittman Bill. (Source: The Battle Over Hetch Hetchy, Robert W. Righter). 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. Hetch Hetchy Water's Epic Journey, From Mountains to Tap Second, dams slow rivers. Owned by the city of San Francisco, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir provides water to 2.7 million residents and businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area. 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. 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. Application Opening: February 10, 2023 Application Filing Deadline: March 3, 2023 Hourly Compensation: $27.3125 Recruitment ID: RTF0131751-01138303 (131752) APPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary Exempt: This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer. Smith Peak (7,751 feet) is the highest point in the area and offers outstanding views. 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. While the dialogue around the West's water wars has been concentrated on the Colorado River and the alarming decline of Lake Powell and Lake Mead, watersheds across the Western United States are feeling the effects of a rapidly aridifying landscape due to climate change. Then, in 1906, a devastating earthquake caused a series of fires in San Francisco that destroyed 25,000 buildings across 490 city blocks. Should nature be left alone so that flora and fauna flourish while people enjoy its primal wonders? Hetch Hetchy water travels 160 miles via gravity from . A recent report evaluates the economic benefits of restoring Hetch Hetchy Valley. 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 ________. Buck Meadows is also a great place to spend the night. This is a place considered by John Muir to be equal in beauty to Yose. [5] Chief Tenaya of the Yosemite Valley's Ahwaneechee tribe claimed that Hetch Hetchy was Miwok for "Valley of the Two Trees", referring to a pair of yellow pines that once stood at the head of Hetch Hetchy. Should natural resources be used to serve the greatest good for the greatest number? Amid a worsening drought, water supplies at one important reservoir are Photo: Kim Lawson. [40] By the 1880s, San Francisco was looking to Hetch Hetchy water as a fix for its outdated and unreliable water system. 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. While John Muir led the fight against building the dam, the opposition was supported by Gifford Pinchot. 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. The new. Three strikes for San Francisco | Restore Hetch Hetchy The construction of the Hetch Hetchy Railroad took place from 1915 to 1918. Like Muir, he was totally transfixed by the Hetch Hetchy Valley. There are four fundamental ways in which dams damage rivers. Hoffman observed a meadow "well timbered and affording good grazing", and noted the valley had a milder climate than Yosemite Valley, hence the abundance of ponderosa pine and gray pine. Teams completed the OShaughnessy Dam in 1923 and the reservoir filled for the first time in May of that year. In the northwest corner of Yosemite National Park you can find the Hetch Hetchy Valley. Hetch Hetchy Valley, Yosemite National Park, California The Greatest . Could you imagine building a dam inside a national park today? [69], In 1987, the idea of razing the O'Shaughnessy Dam gained an adherent in Don Hodel, Secretary of the Department of the Interior under President Ronald Reagan. Call 209-372-0200 for the latest road and weather conditions, Hetch Hetchy Road Daily Hours: 8 am to 5 pm. [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. The National Park Service conducted research to determine what would happen if the dam were removed, and people have repeatedly proposed costly studies to further understand the consequences of removing the dam. Topic: Hoover Dam - Water Education Foundation 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. Yosemite Westgate Lodge offers newly-remodeled and well-appointed modern accommodation. The glacial Hetch Hetchy Valley lies in the northwestern part of Yosemite National Park and is drained by the Tuolumne River. Had it been, the Sierra Clubs members would have presented a united front in opposition to its development. 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). Building a dam there was off the table. 2 Existing Regional Water System - San Francisco Water could be diverted into the Kirkwood and Moccasin Powerhouses using lower-impact diversion dams, providing power generation on a seasonal basis, and the enlarged height at Don Pedro would also increase power generation there. "[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. In the 19th century, the first white visitors to the valley did not realize that Hetch Hetchy's extensive meadows were the product of millennia of management by Native Americans; instead they believed "the valley was purely a product of ancient geological forces (or divine intervention) this was fundamental to its allure as a destination and subject. Dam shame / It's time that San Francisco let go of Hetch Hetchy - SFGATE San Francisco had its eyes on this water source early on and repeatedly tried to acquire water rights to the Tuolumne River. This valley was isolated and remote, twenty miles northwest of the original. [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. Richard Ballinger was appointed his Interior Secretary. . 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. Another popular trail crosses the OShaughnessy Dam and then takes a left turn to climb steeply out of the Hetch Hetchy valley. 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.