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. High temperatures prevail in summer months, but its a small price to pay for the reward of vast wilderness filled with stunning peaks, hidden canyons, and remote lakes. "[83], Opponents of dam removal have pointed out that the flooding of the Hetch Hetchy Valley has also deterred the crowds that overrun other areas of Yosemite National Park. 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. [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. [17] The valley's abundant plants provided nourishment for mule deer, black bears and bighorn sheep. [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. They also remove water needed for healthy in-stream ecosystems. [56] All four pipelines cross the Hayward fault. 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. These benefits include: Reservoir-based recreation - swimming, fishing, camping etc. 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. Hetch Hetchy is on the main stem of the Tuolumne River and is part of the Tuolumne watershed. [31], During this time, the upper Tuolumne River, including Hetch Hetchy Valley, was visited by prospectors attracted by the California Gold Rush. 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. DWR also found that the planning studies necessary to refine the costs and benefits of restoration would cost $65 million alone. 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. As well dam for water-tanks the peoples cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man . When youre standing at the shore overlooking what appears to be a lake, picture yourself looking down into a verdant valley filled with the tall native grasses that give the valley its name. Another popular trail crosses the OShaughnessy Dam and then takes a left turn to climb steeply out of the Hetch Hetchy valley. [79] Some observers, such as Carl Pope (director of the Sierra Club), stated that Hodel had political motives[80] in proposing the study. Exactly how San Francisco won the right to transform the bucolic valley into a Upcountry and the Bay Area. 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. Copyright © 2023 More Than Just Parks | This post may contain affiliate links - read our Standards, Corrections, & Privacy Policy. Right next to the Lucky Buck Cafe, youll find the Yosemite Westgate Lodge and Buck Meadows Lodge. In this unmanaged scenario, where nature is left to take hold in the valley, eventually a forest would grow, rather than the meadow being restored. In the distance, long white plumes of water cascade hundreds of feet down from rocky heights. Spring snowmelt runs down the Tuolumne River and fills Hetch Hetchy, the largest reservoir in our water system. 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. [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. Surrounding the water are a few waterfalls, the most prominent being Tueeulala and Wapama Falls, and countless rock features. They would light upon a man's blue shirt and turn it brown, and were voracious as mosquitoes would be. 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 . What part should mountains, rivers, natural meadows or wild creatures play in American life? There is no Starbucks here no daily parade of tour buses and RVs. Hetch Hetchy Valley is a treasure worth visiting. Environmentalists lost what was the opening battle in a fight to preserve Americas natural wonders. As a 13.4-mile (21.4 km) round-trip hike, Rancheria Falls gets fewer day-hikers than Wapama Falls but is a popular backpacking stop. 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. OShaughnessy Dam and the waterworks that connect it to the Bay Area are a marvel of engineering. [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. As well dam for water tanks the peoples cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man.'. Many examples of red-barked manzanita can be seen along the Hetch Hetchy Road. Building the Dam. ", "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. 2023 Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau, Yosemite Itineraries: What to Do in Yosemite. 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. In 2019, Restore Hetch Hetchy commissioned another study that found enormous recreational value from removing the dam. Slow-moving reservoirs heat up, resulting in abnormal temperature fluctuations which can affect sensitive species. . The OShaughnessy Dam was completed in 1938 and is 430-feet tall. Muir famously said, Dam Hetch Hetchy! 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 . 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. 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. As well dam for water-tanks the people's cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been . Even a short stroll from the car gives a magnificent view of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir from the OShaughnessy Dam. The battle for the Hetch Hetchy Valleys future was not simply preservation versus conservation. "Hetch Hetchy is a grand landscape garden, one of nature's rarest and most precious mountain temples. 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? [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. Muir and other defenders of Hetch Hetchy believe the fight revolved around two central issues. The maximum that the city has put away is 570,000 acre-feet of water. [9] Formerly, a "small but noisy"[10] waterfall and natural pool existed on the Tuolumne River marked the upper entrance to Hetch Hetchy Valley,[11] informally known as Tuolumne Fall (not to be confused with a similarly named waterfall several miles upriver near Tuolumne Meadows). Muir concludes his treatise on Hetch Hetchy with the now familiar words, "Dam Hetch Hetchy! 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). "[61][62], The battle over Hetch Hetchy Valley continues today[when?] California O Shaughnessy Dam Analysis 1428 Words | 6 Pages. 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. For your last day, enjoy a short hike on the shores of the beautiful Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. She says the water first leaves Hetch Hetchy through the O'Shaughnessy Dam. It is the primary water source for about 2.5 million residents of the San Francisco Bay Area. 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. "[34], When Yosemite Valley became part of a state park in 1864, Hetch Hetchy received no such designation. In 1967 the Robert C. Kirkwood Powerhouse started commercial operation followed by a New Moccasin Powerhouse in 1969 when the Old Moccasin Powerhouse was taken out of service. Plus, the granite walls converge into a narrow outlet at the bottom of the valley the perfect location for a dam. Second, the sanctity of the national parks which they believed should not be violated. [20] They hunted, and gathered seeds and edible plants to furnish themselves winter food, trade items, and materials for art and ceremonial objects. From this work, we have concluded that it is not wise to reduce water storage facilities considering the realities of a growing population and climate change. The Hetch Hetchy Dam is destroying a piece of land that is the homes of multiple types of animals. As John Clayton writes, At the height of Progressivism, Phelan and other good-government types believed that the city should administer its own utilities. For example, plan to stop at the Lucky Buck Cafe on your way to or from a day of exploring Yosemite. It is part of our More than Just Parks Environmental Heroes series. After Hetch Hetchy, many realized the National Parks needed more protection. Principally, dam removal on the Klamath will require annual replacement of 696 gigawatt hours of electricity by other means. . It is the source of water for the city of San Francisco. [28][29] About 1853, his brother, Joseph Screech (credited in some accounts for the original discovery of the valley)[27] blazed the first trail from Big Oak Flat, a mining camp near present-day Lake Don Pedro,[30] for 38mi (61km) northeast to Hetch Hetchy Valley. Although Hetch Hetchy is included within the boundaries of Yosemite National Park, the entrance is separate from the rest of the park. Her poetic descriptions of Hetch hetchy won her the attention of powerful members of Congress. Photo: Chris Migeon Like Muir, she felt the beauty of the valley was a national treasure which ought to be preserved. Rounding the corner and catching the first glimpses of Hetch Hetchy Valley reveals the play of light on water. The Hetch Hetchy Valley is about 8 miles (13 km) from Yosemite Valley. 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. The main power facility in the system, the Moccasin Powerhouse, began commercial operation on August 14, 1925. [12] During the last glacial period, the Tioga Glacier[13] formed from extensive icefields in the upper Tuolumne River watershed; between 110,000 and 10,000 years ago Hetch Hetchy Valley was sculpted into its present shape by repeated advance and retreat of the ice, which also removed extensive talus deposits that may have accumulated in the valley since the Sherwin period. This time, in favor of those who wanted to build the dam. So visit Hetch Hetchy. It has two trailhead options. As we learned from Rachel Carsons Silent Spring, humankind can damage the environment while attempting to control it. 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 . Hetch Hetchy Dome, at 6,197ft (1,889m), lies directly north of it. 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. Animals were principally driven along Joseph Screech's trail from Big Oak Flat to Hetch Hetchy. Many are vital pieces of infrastructure that provide reliable water supplies, hydropower, flood control, and recreation. 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. The Hetch Hetchy Valley was within Yosemite National Park and protected by the federal government, leaving it up to Congress to decide the valley's fate. [8], While its cousin Yosemite Valley to the south had permanent Miwok settlements,[25] Hetch Hetchy was only seasonally inhabited. In the 21st century, Ken Brower, son of the renown environmentalist David Brower, wrote a fascinating account of the failed campaign to save Hetch Hetchy and the modern effort to Reverse an American Mistake, complete with speculation about how the rebirth of a wild valley might evolve. Other trails also continue to Lake Vernon. The grassroots organization of environmental activism, established by John Muir and his supporters, became a model for future environmentalists. San Francisco had its eyes on this water source early on and repeatedly tried to acquire water rights to the Tuolumne River. The dam in the Hetch Hetchy valley of Yosemite National Park, first proposed in 1908, was intended to create a reservoir that would provide water and electricity for the burgeoning city of San Francisco.
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