benefits of hetch hetchy dam

We would be trading flooded acres in one place for flooded acres in another. [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. Surrounding the water are a few waterfalls, the most prominent being Tueeulala and Wapama Falls, and countless rock features. 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 . It would be almost impossible to build a new dam there today. [2] From Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, the water flows through the Canyon and Mountain Tunnels to Kirkwood and Moccasin Powerhouses, which have capacities of 124 and 110 megawatts, respectively. Hetch Hetchy, for the time being, was safe, and it would not be inundated during Roosevelts watch.. The waterfall on the Tuolumne is now submerged under Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Hetch Hetchy, located at 3,900 feet in Yosemite National Park, is one of the park's most popular hiking . These benefits include: Reservoir-based recreation - swimming, fishing, camping etc. [21] Miwok names are still used for features, including Tueeulala Fall, Wapama Fall, and Kolana Rock. Pinchot was Americas Forester. He served as the first head of the United States Forest Service. It carried workers and materials for the dam, as well as tourists, postage and other amenities. As of October 2022, Hetch Hetchy was at 77.5% of its capacity. Should nature be left alone so that flora and fauna flourish while people enjoy its primal wonders? while birds, bees, and butterflies help the river and waterfalls to stir all the air into music. Hetch Hetchy is an iconic, rare and spectacular landscape, Hetch Hetchy is part of Yosemite National Park and its damming and flooding is by far the worst destruction of our national parks have ever experienced Restoration would not only make Yosemite whole once again it would inspire people that we don't need to live with mistakes of the past" [24] Screech reported that the valley was bitterly disputed between the "Pah Utah Indians" (Paiute) and "Big Creek Indians" (Miwok), and witnessed several fights in which the Paiute appeared to be the dominant tribe. Franklin Lane served as the attorney for the city of San Francisco in 1903. It involved the unintended consequences of efforts to shape the environment to meet human needs. They also remove water needed for healthy in-stream ecosystems. The dam and reservoir are the source for the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct, which provides water for over . Due to large cataracts on the Tuolumne River upstream, Hetch Hetchy Valley may have been in the uppermost range for native rainbow trout in the river. This is a place considered by John Muir to be equal in beauty to Yose. 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. 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. During summer, people of the Miwok and Paiute came to Hetch Hetchy from the Central Valley in the west and the Great Basin in the east. . This trail is 13 miles round-trip with 3,700 feet elevation gain. According to a local legend, Nate spotted a valley to the east that was too far to visit. Finally, with the railroad complete, teams broke ground on the OShaughnessy Dam on August 1, 1919. John Muir, the first president of the Sierra Club, condemned plans to build the dam, saying, "Dam Hetch Hetchy! 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. The reservoir is fed by the Tuolumne River. It is definitely worth to visit Hetch Hetchy area especially in 2021 when main Yosemite area requires booking permits in advance. The other route begins at the entrance station and is 16 miles round-trip with 3,300 feet of elevation gain. There are four fundamental ways in which dams damage rivers. Gray pine, incense-cedar, and California black oak grow in abundance. As John Clayton writes, At the height of Progressivism, Phelan and other good-government types believed that the city should administer its own utilities. That's about twice the amount of power lost when Hetch Hetchy will be restored. Spring and early summer bring wildflowers including lupine, wallflower, monkey flower, and buttercup. (Read SPURs analysis of this plan.) A recent report evaluates the economic benefits of restoring Hetch Hetchy Valley. As well dam for . In 1923, the O'Shaughnessy Dam was completed on the Tuolumne River, flooding the entire valley under the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. As we learned from Rachel Carsons Silent Spring, humankind can damage the environment while attempting to control it. Day 6: Hetch Hetchy Reservoir to San Francisco. [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. Building the Hetch Hetchy dam in such a remote location was an enormous project. 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. First, the beauty of the valley which they felt should not be sacrificed to build a dam. Park entry (as needed). This ballot measure is so problematic that SPUR has taken early action to oppose it. Then it travels through a series of mountain tunnels. Not far from there, youll find more budget-minded lodging at Buck Meadows Lodge. He was opposed by then Mayor Diane Feinstein who argued that the dam was San Franciscans birthright. 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. 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. Us too! 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. Hetch Hetchy is a valley, a reservoir, and a water system in California in the United States. 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. Forests might provide for the material well-being of human beings, but they did not exist for this reason alone. In: Educational Resources, History, National Parks, Your email address will not be published. ", "San Francisco-Hetch Hetchy Valley Connection", "Hetch Hetchy controversy: Could Yosemite's 'second valley' be restored? Have all students read the debate overview and page one of the HR 7207, the "Raker Bill". This 1910 view shows Kolana Rock and Tueeulala Falls in the background. [24] It is likely that the edible grass was blue dicks. [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. First, they block rivers which prevents fish from migrating. Since then, the "Hetch Hetchy System" has continued to grow, now including nine impoundments . 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. It forced elected representatives to consider what a national park designation truly meant and whether or not the land within these parks deserved protection. Albert Bierstadt was known for his sweeping landscapes of the American West. As the Hetch Hetchy Valley was part of Yosemite National Park, Hitchcock preferred to protect the park's natural wonders. Have you been to Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite? There, he met the same Indian chief and his wives. This time, in favor of those who wanted to build the dam. Swimming and boating are prohibited in Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in order to maintain a clean source of drinking water. [17] The valley's abundant plants provided nourishment for mule deer, black bears and bighorn sheep. Upcountry and the Bay Area. 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. Although there are relatively few visitors to Hetch Hetchy, youll find most of them along the trail to Wapama Fall. 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 larger issues at stake would frame environmental debates for years to come. 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. 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. "[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. 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. ", "The Hetch Hetchy Story, Part II: PG&E and the Raker Act", "The Forbidden Water: San Francisco and Hetch Hetchy Valley", "Idyllic Pulgas Water Temple still offers comfort for weary wanderers", "Chronology of San Francisco's Water Development", "Frequently Asked Questions About Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and the Regional Water & Power System", "Water From Yosemite Is Still Cheap, for Now", "Serving 2.6 million residential, commercial and industrial customers", "Hetch Hetchy water goes through ultraviolet rinse", "A historic bid for limited boating at Hetch Hetchy Reservoir", "Trump team reassigns Yosemite National Park superintendent; timing raises questions", "Western Water Wars: Efforts to Take Over San Francisco's Hetch Hetchy Systems", "Hetch Hetchy Power Debacle: Continuing Yosemite Threat", "Could Hetch Hetchy Valley be worth $100 billion? Appreciate what nature created and what the city built there long ago. remains the least visited area of the park. 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. For instance, the WET company helps people see the beauty of water through magnificent water fountains. The Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, which lies within the Yosemite National Park, supplies 85% of the water needs of San Francisco and surrounding counties. 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). The network goes from the Sierra Nevada mountains, across the Central Valley and out to the coast, and serves 2.5 million Californians in 30 cities across four counties. As of 2013, the water storage and hydroelectric power supplied by the Hetch Hetchy Project serviced an estimated 2.6 million people in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is the primary water source for about 2.5 million residents of the San Francisco Bay Area. Hetch Hetchy Water and Power also wants to remove the giant bulkhead that seals up the tunnel with 40 nuts and bolts, Ritchie said. It marks the first catchment in a 160-mile long water system that brings high quality, superb-tasting water to 2.6 million residents of the Bay Area every day. 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. Not only does it supply 85 percent of the water for 2.6 million people in San Francisco, controlled releases via the O'Shaughnessy Dam are helping preserve downstream specieseven in dry years. Residents drink it in 26 cities and water districts from San. Pinchot argued that applying the principle of the greatest good for the greatest number, meant the benefits accrued to the people of San Francisco from having the dam far outweighed leaving the valley in its current state. . Monroe was a Chicago poet who joined Muir and others on their 1908 and 1909 outings to the valley. Second, dams slow rivers. But what about when the lake dries? Assign each group to analyze one or more . Those who did visit it were enchanted by its scenery, but encountered difficulties with the primitive conditions and, in summertime, swarms of mosquitoes. 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). The Great Alaskan Land Fraud and the Pinchot-Ballinger Controversy caused both Richard A. Ballinger and Gifford Pinchot to resign and be fired respectively. Hetch Hetchy is unique because of its small holding capacity in comparison to the vast watershed feeding it. Everyone who drinks water or takes a shower in San Francisco should go. Mirror Lakes famous spring-time reflections capture the eye and mind. Could you imagine building a dam inside a national park today? 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. 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. In an effort to build this support, he published his bookThe Yosemitein 1912. Yosemite Westgate Lodge offers newly-remodeled and well-appointed modern accommodation. 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). In contrast to the utilitarian view, the preservationist approach denied the assumption that the natural world existed solely to serve mans purposes. "[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. Some of these studies determined that the idea of draining the reservoir was technically feasible but incredibly costly. But Hetch Hetchy, one of nature's perfect . The battle for Hetch Hetchy wasnt just conservationists vs preservationists.