benefits of hetch hetchy dam

Appreciate what nature created and what the city built there long ago. An advantage which Phelan, Pinchot and other supporters of the dam project enjoyed was a divided opposition. Glaciers followed these low-points, leaving their own marks in particular carving out the characteristic U-shaped valley with steep sides and wide floor. Public disapproval nationwide with the Raker Act helped to bring about the creation of the National Park Service. The report cited other dam projects in making the argument that this project would increase tourism. . Plus, they needed a way to bring supplies and workers into the mountains. 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 . In its natural state, the valley floor was marshy and often flooded in the spring when snow melt in the high Sierra cascaded down the Tuolumne River and backed up behind the narrow gorge which is now spanned by O'Shaughnessy Dam. 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. The second concept is preservation. 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). Another popular trail crosses the OShaughnessy Dam and then takes a left turn to climb steeply out of the Hetch Hetchy valley. [2] The dam and reservoir are the centerpiece of the Hetch Hetchy Project, which in 1934 began to deliver water 167 miles (269km) west to San Francisco and its client municipalities in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. can you smoke on royal caribbean cruise ships benefits of hetch hetchy dam. Hetch Hetchy is on the main stem of the Tuolumne River and is part of the Tuolumne watershed. To get the electricity they would need, they first built a smaller dam at Lake Eleanor. 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. ", "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. It is part of our More than Just Parks Environmental Heroes series. In the autumn of 1871, John Muir visited Hetch Hetchy for the first time. The grassroots organization of environmental activism, established by John Muir and his supporters, became a model for future environmentalists. No spam. 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. Hetch Hetchy Dome, at 6,197ft (1,889m), lies directly north of it. The Hetch Hetchy Reservoir also serves to provide energy in the form of hydroelectricity, with a capacity of over 200 megawatts a year. 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. Enjoy elegant touches like wrap-around porches, and fresh-baked cookies served daily. The new. 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. A recent report evaluates the economic benefits of restoring Hetch Hetchy Valley. Controversy continues to swirl around the Hetch Hetchy Dam even now. Hetch Hetchy is a valley, a reservoir, and a water system in California in the United States. In the sum of American economic expansion the intrusion might have seemed a minor, obscure matter, but to [John] Muir immense issues were involved: why had the nation preserved that pure wildness in the first place? [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. William Howard Taft became president in 1909. 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. The larger issues at stake would frame environmental debates for years to come. If their signature-gathering campaign is successful, a small group of environmental advocates, led by Restore Hetch Hetchy, will give you the opportunity this November to vote on a measure that would require the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) to develop a plan to drain Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. 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. The proposed study would also have been required to identify potential replacements for the water storage capacity and hydroelectric power production.[87][88]. There is a third concept, too, though it was little understood at the time. Day 6: Hetch Hetchy Reservoir to San Francisco. "Hetch Hetchy is a grand landscape garden, one of nature's rarest and most precious mountain temples. In 1913, Woodrow Wilson appointed Lane his Secretary of the Interior. Smith Peak (7,751 feet) is the highest point in the area and offers outstanding views. 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. remains the least visited area of the park. Hetch Hetchy and many others were built by . The battle over Hetch Hetchy was a fight to determine whether a beautiful valley would remain in its natural state or service the growing city of San Franciscos water needs. A national debate ensued between the preservationist and conservationist factions of the young environmental movement. [75] The remaining deficit would likely have to be replaced by polluting fossil fuel generation. Would that be an improvement? Each switchback reveals scenic overlooks of the reservoir and Kolana Rock. Yet it also highlighted the division within the conservation movement over two fundamental principles: utilitarian conservation versus preservation. Hetch Hetchy is the incredible story of Americas most controversial dam and the birth of the environmental movement. while birds, bees, and butterflies help the river and waterfalls to stir all the air into music. This can lead to algal blooms and decreased oxygen levels. Gray pine, incense-cedar, and California black oak grow in abundance. For instance, the WET company helps people see the beauty of water through magnificent water fountains. [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. Plus, the granite walls converge into a narrow outlet at the bottom of the valley the perfect location for a dam. 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. Building the Hetch Hetchy dam in such a remote location was an enormous project. Standing upon it will give you the chance to appreciate the sublimity of both nature and human achievement. 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. To get to Hetch Hetchy, turn north off Highway 120 onto Evergreen Road about 1 mile (2.2 km) outside the Big Oak Flat Entrance gate, and 12.5 miles (20 km) east of the small community of Buck Meadows. As the grazing of livestock damaged native plants in the Hetch Hetchy Valley, mountaineer and naturalist John Muir pressed for the protection of both valleys under a single national park. [13], Hetch Hetchy is home to a diverse array of plants and animals. Related. Activity 1: Analysis. It was the second tallest dam in the U.S. at the time. In fact, this is so obviously a good idea that the SFPUC and other end users of Hetch Hetchy water have been doing it for years. 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. The history of Californias growth is inextricably linked to the search for water. Learn what to expect from Mirror Lake in various seasons. 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). 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. Dam the Hetch Hetchy! As well dam for water-tanks the people's cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man. The Tuolumne River continues through Tuolumne Meadows and the associated park developments at an elevation of 8,600 feet. Browers Hetch Hetchy: Undoing A Great American Mistake, makes a compelling case for restoring the valley to its previous glory. Hetch Hetchy ushered in a new era for the national parks. Albert Bierstadt was known for his sweeping landscapes of the American West. Miners did not stay in the area for long, however, as richer deposits occurred further south along the Merced River and in the Big Oak Flat area. 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. 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. Even a short stroll from the car gives a magnificent view of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir from the OShaughnessy Dam. John Muir knew that without public support, the Hetch Hetchy Valley would be lost. He was opposed by then Mayor Diane Feinstein who argued that the dam was San Franciscans birthright. Us too! John Muir once described Hetch Hetchy Valley as, a grand landscape garden, one of Natures rarest and most precious mountain temples.. That trip is a 19.1-mile (22.9 km) out and back, or you can turn the hike into a loop that returns past Rancheria Falls (28.2 miles, 45.4 km). Fourth, dams alter water quality. It forced elected representatives to consider what a national park designation truly meant and whether or not the land within these parks deserved protection. Franklin Lane served as the attorney for the city of San Francisco in 1903. 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.. If the nation set aside some natural places as especially sacred, how far beyond their borders should a sense of the sacred extend? Then it travels through a series of mountain tunnels. 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 doesnt need to be filtered, a process that is expensive and energy intensive. [21][33] Albert Bierstadt, Charles Dorman Robinson and William Keith were known for their landscapes that drew tourists to the Hetch Hetchy Valley. Those who did visit it were enchanted by its scenery, but encountered difficulties with the primitive conditions and, in summertime, swarms of mosquitoes. The fundamental issue involved two concepts. RELATED: A Woman Started The Environmental Movement (Can It Continue?). What should be the fate of prairies, wetlands, or coastal marshes? Most importantly, San Francisco would lose its source of high-quality mountain water, and would have to depend on lower-quality water from other reservoirs which would require costly filtration and re-engineering of the aqueduct system to meet its needs. Shasta, Oroville, Hetch Hetchy and many others were built by damming large rivers. (Source: American Rivers, How Dams Damage Rivers). Slow down and spend the day at Tenaya Lake a beautiful and easy-to-get-to alpine lake cupped by granite domes. 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. Would there be any room in an acquisitive society for wildness, or for non material spiritual values?. No BS! a strong proponent of restoring Hetch Hetchy Valley and Senator Feinstein is still[when?] 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. The battle over the Hetch Hetchy, in part, was a fight over public versus private ownership of vital resources such as water. [42] They claimed the valley was not unique and would be even more beautiful with a lake. More Than Just Parks | National Parks Guides. This strenuous 2.5-mile, round-trip hike to the Tuolumne River has 1,229 feet of elevation gain. All offers, including but not limited to, bonus amenities, upgrades, prices, and group benefits are based on select dates, resorts, room categories, and/or fare codes. Most people turn around here anyway. Environmentalists lost what was the opening battle in a fight to preserve Americas natural wonders. If you delight in getting off the well-beaten path, or if you are looking for a peaceful natural retreat, its perfection. Hetch Hetchy is dammed by the 430-foot-tall OShaughnessy Dam and has a storage capacity of 360,360 acre-feet. [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. In the northwest corner of Yosemite National Park you can find the 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 ________. 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. The falls roar in spring and early summer. The SFPUC tests its quality more than 100,000 times a year to ensure that it exceeds all safe drinking water standards. Restore Hetch Hetchy and the Environmental Defense Funds own studies support a lower cost estimate, ranging from $1 billion to $2 billion. Since the valley was within Yosemite National Park, an act of Congress was needed to authorize the project. [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 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. In the Bay Area, Hetch Hetchy water is stored in local facilities including Calaveras Reservoir, Crystal Springs Reservoir, and San Antonio Reservoir. [56] All four pipelines cross the Hayward fault. As well dam for water tanks the peoples cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man.'. Should nature be left alone so that flora and fauna flourish while people enjoy its primal wonders? Even in the summer when Yosemite Valley is being explored by visitors from around the world, Hetch Hetchy remains an oasis of relative calm. He wrote, I have always called it the Tuolumne Yosemite, for it is a wonderfully exact counterpart of the great Yosemite, not only in its crystal river and sublime rocks and waterfalls, but in the gardens, groves, and meadows of its flowery park-like floor. 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. And it is the largest single source of water supply for the Bay Area. "[32], In 1867, Charles F. Hoffman of the California Geological Survey conducted the first survey of the valley. Instead, the magnificence of a valley often described as Yosemite Valleys slightly smaller twin takes center stage. . California O Shaughnessy Dam Analysis 1428 Words | 6 Pages. Spring and early summer bring wildflowers including lupine, wallflower, monkey flower, and buttercup. 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. . 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. Your email address will not be published. Friday, enjoy an evening about bats starting at 7 pm. From the turn-off, the road winds for 16.5 miles up the old Hetch Hetchy railroad grade (26.5 km) to the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, passing many lonely trails along the way. Muir and other defenders of Hetch Hetchy believe the fight revolved around two central issues. 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. Many examples of red-barked manzanita can be seen along the Hetch Hetchy Road. 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.

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