benefits of hetch hetchy dam

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benefits of hetch hetchy dam

A large part of today's incentive for restoration is that when the dam and the Hetch Hetchy reservoir were authorized by President Woodrow Wilson in 1913, as the Raker Act, the Hetch Hetchy Valley . 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. [8], While its cousin Yosemite Valley to the south had permanent Miwok settlements,[25] Hetch Hetchy was only seasonally inhabited. . Over the last 35 years, the idea has been studied by the Environmental Defense Fund, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the National Park Service, UC Davis, and several state agencies. 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. Many are vital pieces of infrastructure that provide reliable water supplies, hydropower, flood control, and recreation. San Francisco could flood the valley and work began the following year. [50] The project is operated by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. No spam. 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. The deciding factor was whether or not the land in question had access to water. Yet it also highlighted the division within the conservation movement over two fundamental principles: utilitarian conservation versus preservation. Forests might provide for the material well-being of human beings, but they did not exist for this reason alone. For all the similarities between Hetch Hetchy Valley and Yosemite Valley, there is one enormous difference the Hetch Hetchy reservoir. [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. 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. The Hetch Hetchy Dam is destroying a piece of land that is the homes of multiple types of animals. The reservoir supplies water for the city of San Francisco, so there is no recreational boating or swimming allowed. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. As we learned from Rachel Carsons Silent Spring, humankind can damage the environment while attempting to control it. It's dumb, dumb, dumb. . "[19], People have lived in Hetch Hetchy Valley for over 6,000 years. The history of Californias growth is inextricably linked to the search for water. You may take easy hike to Wapama falls ( around 6 miles) or even more challenging hike to Rancheria falls ( around 14 miles). John Muir knew that without public support, the Hetch Hetchy Valley would be lost. The construction of the Hetch Hetchy Railroad took place from 1915 to 1918. 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. The surface of the water hides an additional 300 feet of granite cliffs and once-upon-a-time waterfalls within its depths. [20] They hunted, and gathered seeds and edible plants to furnish themselves winter food, trade items, and materials for art and ceremonial objects. Appreciate what nature created and what the city built there long ago. The gently rolling terrain has excellent views of the water and eye-catching Kolana Rock, which towers roughly 2,000 feet above. In: Educational Resources, History, National Parks, Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. The O'Shaughnessy Dam is near Yosemite's western boundary, but the long, narrow, fingerlike reservoir stretches eastward for about 8 miles (13km). It forced elected representatives to consider what a national park designation truly meant and whether or not the land within these parks deserved protection. "[85] However, she does support breaching the dam once it has reached the end of its lifespan, and not replacing it. More Than Just Parks | National Parks Guides. What one Secretary of the Interior giveth, another taketh away. Franklin Lane served as the attorney for the city of San Francisco in 1903. The Hetch Hetchy Road drops into the valley at the dam, but all points east of there are roadless, and accessible only to hikers and equestrians. 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? This limits their ability to access spawning habitat, seek out food resources, and escape predation. Since then, the "Hetch Hetchy System" has continued to grow, now including nine impoundments . At full capacity, the reservoir stretches eight miles (13 km) upstream of the OShaughnessy Dam. [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. A national debate ensued between the preservationist and conservationist factions of the young environmental movement. California O Shaughnessy Dam Analysis 1428 Words | 6 Pages. strongly against restoration. As of October 2022, Hetch Hetchy was at 77.5% of its capacity. Guests at these suites receive breakfast on their patios. At the time, neither side understood the long-range consequences of human actions to manage the environment. [75] The remaining deficit would likely have to be replaced by polluting fossil fuel generation. [56] All four pipelines cross the Hayward fault. The Hetch Hetchy Road drops into the valley at the dam, but all points east of there are roadless, and accessible only to hikers and equestrians. 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. Activity 1: Analysis. "[34], When Yosemite Valley became part of a state park in 1864, Hetch Hetchy received no such designation. John Muir, the first president of the Sierra Club, condemned plans to build the dam, saying, "Dam Hetch Hetchy! Located at 3,900 feet, it boasts one of the longest hiking seasons in the park. A) 5 billion B . The other route begins at the entrance station and is 16 miles round-trip with 3,300 feet of elevation gain. [48], The Early Intake (Lower Cherry) Powerhouse began commercial operation five years before the O'Shaughnessy Dam was completed. The main problem with the measure is that in spite of appearing to be about studying best options or planning for future water supplies, it has pre-determined the solution: draining Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. The reservoir is fed by the Tuolumne River. Photo: Kim Lawson. 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. [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. 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. The Great Alaskan Land Fraud and the Pinchot-Ballinger Controversy caused both Richard A. Ballinger and Gifford Pinchot to resign and be fired respectively. 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). 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. Learn what to expect from Mirror Lake in various seasons. [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. The Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, which lies within the Yosemite National Park, supplies 85% of the water needs of San Francisco and surrounding counties. Building a dam there was off the table. Plus, they needed a way to bring supplies and workers into the mountains. Yes, the plan to drain Hetch Hetchy involves causing new ecological damage. Albright, along with Stephen Mather, became instrumental players in the creation of a national park system three years after Congress decided the issue of Hetch Hetchy. John Muir once described Hetch Hetchy Valley as, a grand landscape garden, one of Natures rarest and most precious mountain temples.. Due to extreme winter weather, Yosemite National Park is closed with no estimated date of reopening. Photo: Kim Lawson. [8] Rancheria Falls is located farther southeast, on Rancheria Creek. Winter weather conditions may cause road closures. The restoration of Hetch Hetchy would be a simple task compared to some dam removal efforts. 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. "[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. [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). It involved the unintended consequences of efforts to shape the environment to meet human needs. San Francisco applied once again for rights to Hetch Hetchy in 1908. Pinchot was recognized as a leader of the conservation movement. As well dam for water tanks the peoples cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man.'. Above all, one's behavior Argument Against The Hetchy Dam 587 Words | 3 Pages But the reservoir has spared it some of the indignities of Yosemite Valley", "San Francisco Department of Elections, November 2012 Results", "San Francisco vote to study draining Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is defeated", "Hetch Hetchy Water and the Bay Area Economy", "Thesis: Water Supply Implications of Removing O'Shaughnessy Dam", "New Irvington Tunnel latest in Hetch Hetchy water system improvements", Current Conditions, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, California Department of Water Resources, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission: Hetch Hetchy Water and Power, California Resources Agency Hetch Hetchy Restoration Study, Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency on Hetch Hetchy dam, National Register of Historic Places in Yosemite National Park, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hetch_Hetchy&oldid=1131920349, History of the Sierra Nevada (United States), Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the National Park Service, Articles with dead external links from May 2019, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2022, Infobox mapframe without OSM relation ID on Wikidata, Pages using infobox bridge with empty coordinates parameter, All articles with vague or ambiguous time, Vague or ambiguous time from October 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 6 January 2023, at 11:49. California Rep. John E. Raker submitted a bill to Congress granting the city of San Francisco the right to dam the Hetchy Hetchy Valley as a reservoir and also provide the city the right of municipalized electricity as well. What should be the fate of prairies, wetlands, or coastal marshes? As in Yosemite, the sublime rocks of its walls seem to glow with life . 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. Furthermore, they provided a place for the wild plants and creatures to live out their own lives, according to their purposes. And today there is even an organization, Restore Hetch Hetchy, which is committed to doing just that. Spring and early summer bring wildflowers including lupine, wallflower, monkey flower, and buttercup. Watershed Worker (Summer, 2023) - Hetch Hetchy Water & Power (Moccasin) - SFPUC (7542) Job at City and County of San Francisco in Moccasin. 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. Day 6: Hetch Hetchy Reservoir to San Francisco. The new 68-mile (109 km) railroad wound its way up the narrow canyon of the Tuolumne River past sharp curves and up steep 4% grades. Have all students read the debate overview and page one of the HR 7207, the "Raker Bill". 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. Like Muir, he was totally transfixed by the Hetch Hetchy Valley. Glaciers followed these low-points, leaving their own marks in particular carving out the characteristic U-shaped valley with steep sides and wide floor. Building the Hetch Hetchy dam in such a remote location was an enormous project. They suggest that draining the reservoir and turning Hetch Hetchy Valley into a tourist center similar to Yosemite Valley could be worth up to $178 million per year. Park entry (as needed). No picture of the giant sequoia trees in Yosemite National Park manages to fully capture their immense size and majesty. The inadequacy of the citys existing water supply came into sharp focus. According to a local legend, Nate spotted a valley to the east that was too far to visit. 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. Expect delicious meals and hearty portions to fuel your adventure or beat that post-hiking hunger. ", "Fall in the Main Tuolumne River at the Head of Hetch Hetchy Valley", "Fly Fishing Poopenaut Valley Tuolumne River", "Screech Brothers Find Hetch Hetchy Valley", "Big Oak Flat (No. It also was an early battle of conservatives vs progressives. Note: you may use the handout or navigate to our feature on the Hetch Hetchy Environmental Debates to access the overview and copy of the Raker Bill. [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 battle over the Hetch Hetchy, in part, was a fight over public versus private ownership of vital resources such as 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 the battle lines were drawn, the different methods employed by each side in presenting their case spoke to some of their basic assumptions about the nature of the issue. [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. Gifford Pinchot wanted the U.S Forest Service to control the parks, but after his support to dam Hetchy Hetchy, Congress voted in 1916 to to establish the National Park Service whose sole purpose was "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the . 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). Spring snowmelt runs down the Tuolumne River and fills Hetch Hetchy, the largest reservoir in our water system. [citation needed], The Hetch Hetchy Valley began as a V-shaped river canyon cut out by the ancestral Tuolumne River. In Yosemite National Park, the Hetch Hetchy reservoir relies on the annual snowmelt to stay full. The fundamental issue involved two concepts. The dam and reservoir are the source for the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct, which provides water for over . Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite Valley are so similar because they were created by the same sequences of geological activity. 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 main power facility in the system, the Moccasin Powerhouse, began commercial operation on August 14, 1925. Looking up at Wapama Falls from the footbridge on the hiking trail. First, they block rivers which prevents fish from migrating. 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. Congress, confronted with rising public opposition, refused to act on the measure. 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. While youre at it, plan to add to the historic flavor of this route with a stop the Northern Mariposa County History Center. 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. The upcountry portion of the System begins with Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park. This 1910 view shows Kolana Rock and Tueeulala Falls in the background. Show More. 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. Bierstadts paintings and Muirs writings began to publicize the beauty of the Hetch Hetchy Valley. Even before it was finished, the massive . 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 . At SPUR, we have done a lot of work on climate change adaptation. Hidden in Yosemite National Parks peaceful northwest corner, Hetch Hetchy Valley is a treasure worth visiting in all seasons. The controversy over damming Hetch Hetchy became mired in the political issues of the day. About one million years ago, the extensive Sherwin glaciation widened, deepened and straightened river valleys along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, including Hetch Hetchy, Yosemite Valley, and Kings Canyon farther to the south. [36] Muir's friend Robert Underwood Johnson of the politically influential Century Magazine and several other prominent figures were inspired by Muir's work and helped to get Yosemite National Park established by October 1, 1890. Buck Meadows is also a great place to spend the night. The first is utilitarian conservation. 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. while birds, bees, and butterflies help the river and waterfalls to stir all the air into music. 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. Two additional reservoirs in the Hetch Hetchy RegionLake Eleanor and Lake Lloyd (also . The Blackberry Inn Bed and Breakfast is just one of many welcoming businesses located on the way to Hetch Hetchy. [citation needed] The George W. Bush administration proposed allocating $7 million to studying the removal of the dam in the 2007 National Park Service budget. As well dam for . 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. Many examples of red-barked manzanita can be seen along the Hetch Hetchy Road. Even a short stroll from the car gives a magnificent view of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir from the OShaughnessy Dam. But tearing OShaughnessy Dam down now in order to restore Hetch Hetchy Valley would be a disaster. Hetch Hetchy water travels 160 miles via gravity from . Once again, the political pendulum had swung. ", "Hetch Hetchy reclaimed: The dam downstream", "Alternatives for restoration of Hetch Hetchy Valley following removal of the dam and reservoir page 15", "Chapter 9: Impact of restoration on hydropower production and revenues", "Putting Bay Area's Water Sources to a Vote", "Hodel Would Tear Down Dam in Hetch Hetchy", "On Hetch Hetchy, John Muir was wrong: California's revered naturalist wrote a poetic diatribe against the drowning of the great valley. There is plenty to see and do right here, from kayaking on the water to climbing the magnificent domes above. The Hetch Hetchy Valley is about 8 miles (13 km) from Yosemite Valley. [40] The city would repeatedly try to acquire water rights to Hetch Hetchy, including in 1901, 1903 and 1905, but was continually rebuffed because of conflicts with irrigation districts that had senior water rights on the Tuolumne River, and because of the valley's national park status. The spacious rooms include access to a heated swimming pool, spa, playground, and laundry facilities. But how did the dam get to be here? This is a place considered by John Muir to be equal in beauty to Yose. The reservoir is eight miles long and the largest single body of water in Yosemite. The locations of these two formations roughly correspond with those of Cathedral Rocks and El Capitan seen from Tunnel View in Yosemite Valley. The water shunted through them about 218 million gallons a day arrives in most city taps by gravity alone. But during peak spring flow, the thundering waterfall can wash over the bridge making it dangerous to cross. . The trail includes spectacular views of Tueeulala and Wapama Falls. [63] The city justified this as a temporary measure, but no attempt to follow through with completing the municipal grid was ever made. The Hetch Hetchy system's supporters say it has one of the smallest carbon footprints of any water system in the United States because its water is of such high quality that it requires no. It is spectacular: a miles-long placid blue lake nested within towering granite cliffs, from which waterfalls cascade. Muir predicted that this lake would create an unsightly "bathtub ring" around its perimeter, caused by the water's destruction of lichen growth on the canyon walls,[44] which would inevitably be visible at low lake levels. Hetch Hetchy, a glacially carved valley situated in the northern end of the park, was flooded and dammed in the early 1900s in order to serve as the primary drinking water source for parts of San Francisco and the Bay Area. ", "Three Square Miles of Open Space: Is It Enough? Instead, the magnificence of a valley often described as Yosemite Valleys slightly smaller twin takes center stage. By 1908, a different Interior Secretary, James R. Garfield, sided with the utilitarian conservationists and issued a permit for the Hetch Hetchy project. What part should mountains, rivers, natural meadows or wild creatures play in American life? There are four fundamental ways in which dams damage rivers. [21][33] Albert Bierstadt, Charles Dorman Robinson and William Keith were known for their landscapes that drew tourists to the Hetch Hetchy Valley. Over the next decade, he produced fifteen large oils that transformed the valley into a dreamland unlike anything that ever met mortal eye.. (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.) 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. There are many places to stop and enjoy views of the rushing water before turning around to return to your car. Enjoy elegant touches like wrap-around porches, and fresh-baked cookies served daily. Should nature be left alone so that flora and fauna flourish while people enjoy its primal wonders? 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. Fourth, dams alter water quality. One route begins six miles beyond the entrance station. 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. [85] 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. Everyone who drinks water or takes a shower in San Francisco should go. The valley provided an escape from the summer heat of the lowlands. She says the water first leaves Hetch Hetchy through the O'Shaughnessy Dam. Would there be any room in an acquisitive society for wildness, or for non material spiritual values?. 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. 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). Then it travels through a series of mountain tunnels. Then, in 1906, a devastating earthquake caused a series of fires in San Francisco that destroyed 25,000 buildings across 490 city blocks.

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