benefits of hetch hetchy dam

Plus, the granite walls converge into a narrow outlet at the bottom of the valley the perfect location for a dam. Related. It is 13 miles from the Yosemite National Park border and twice as close to the park than the town of Groveland. [58], Water from Hetch Hetchy is some of the cleanest municipal water in the United States; San Francisco is one of six U.S. cities not required by law to filter its tap water, although the water is disinfected by ozonation and, since 2011, exposure to UV. Why We Need Hetch Hetchy More Than Ever | SPUR Secretary of the Interior, Ethan Allen Hitchcock, refused to give San Francisco a permit to build the dam. Plus, they needed a way to bring supplies and workers into the mountains. It would be almost impossible to build a new dam there today. It was the second tallest dam in the U.S. at the time. 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. Slow down and spend the day at Tenaya Lake a beautiful and easy-to-get-to alpine lake cupped by granite domes. Fourth, dams alter water quality. The glacial Hetch Hetchy Valley lies in the northwestern part of Yosemite National Park and is drained by the Tuolumne River. . Dianne Feinstein, the mayor of San Francisco at the time, said in a Los Angeles Times story in 1987: "All this is for an expanded campground? 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. 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. They were both initially carved by rivers flowing down the Sierras relatively gentle western slope. Restore Hetch Hetchy Valley, Vote Yes! on Proposition F Winter storms fill Hetch Hetchy, renew debate about reservoir's future This trail is 13 miles round-trip with 3,700 feet elevation gain. As a consequence, visitors came to experience it for themselves. Its a a wonderful place to see spring waterfalls and wildflower displays. 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 Hetch Hetchy Valley: A Reservoir In The Sierra Nevada Mountains Of [66] In 2015, Restore Hetch Hetchy filed a complaint arguing that the construction of the dam had violated a provision in the constitution of California about water use, but the lawsuit was rejected by an appeals court and later the California State Supreme Court. Once again, the political pendulum had swung. After 2.5 miles (4.0 km), youll reach the Wapama Falls Bridge with an up-close view of the lowest section of Wapama Falls. "[32], In 1867, Charles F. Hoffman of the California Geological Survey conducted the first survey of the valley. [45], The controversy over Hetch Hetchy was in the context of other political scandals and controversies, especially prevalent in the Taft administration. Once the glaciers retreated, tributaries leading into the main river were left hanging hundreds or thousands of feet above the valley floor, creating the beautiful waterfalls we know today. 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. [17] The valley's abundant plants provided nourishment for mule deer, black bears and bighorn sheep. Hetch Hetchy water serves residents in four Bay Area counties, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Southern Alameda. The battle for the Hetch Hetchy Valleys future was not simply preservation versus conservation. [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. 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. [5] Local legend attributes the modern name Hetch Hetchy to Screech's initial arrival in the valley, during which he observed the Native Americans "cooking a variety of grass covered with edible seeds", which they called "hatch hatchy" or "hatchhatchie". [85] First, they block rivers which prevents fish from migrating. Storage and Delivery Updates | SFPUC Environmentalists lost what was the opening battle in a fight to preserve Americas natural wonders. Yosemite's Secret Valley - Hetch Hetchy - YouTube ", "Three Square Miles of Open Space: Is It Enough? History - Hetch Hetchy - Sierra Club There are many places to stop and enjoy views of the rushing water before turning around to return to your car. The Hetch Hetchy dam is upstream on the Tuolumne River from a reservoir nearly six times as large. [24] It is likely that the edible grass was blue dicks. Looking up at Wapama Falls from the footbridge on the hiking trail. 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. . And in a larger sense, the waters of California served as the converting agents. 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. [74] A 2019 study commissioned by Restore Hetch Hetchy argued that draining the reservoir and equipping the valley with a tourism infrastructure comparable to that of Yosemite Valley (which receives around 100 times as many visitors annually as Hetch Hetchy's 44,000) could result in a "recreational value" of up to $178 million per year, or possibly an overall economic value of up to $100 billion. Spring and early summer bring wildflowers including lupine, wallflower, monkey flower, and buttercup. . [35] Muir, who himself had briefly worked as a shepherd in Hetch Hetchy, was known for calling sheep "hoofed locusts" because of their environmental impact. Yes, the plan to drain Hetch Hetchy involves causing new ecological damage. Her poetic descriptions of Hetch hetchy won her the attention of powerful members of Congress. This can lead to algal blooms and decreased oxygen levels. 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. 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. The Hetch Hetchy Valley is about 8 miles (13 km) from Yosemite Valley. As well dam for . Hetch Hetchy is a valley, a reservoir, and a water system in California in the United States. 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. Required fields are marked *. As a result, San Francisco secured a reliable and . Within the ranks of the Sierra Club, there was a split between those San Francisco members who favored the dams municipal use versus those who believed this pristine area should not be tampered with under any circumstances. Above all, one's behavior Argument Against The Hetchy Dam 587 Words | 3 Pages For thousands of years before the arrival of settlers from the United States in the 1850s, the valley was inhabited by Native Americans who practiced subsistence hunting-gathering. [54] The entire system produces about 1.7 billion kilowatt hours per year, enough to meet 20% of San Francisco's electricity needs. Expect delicious meals and hearty portions to fuel your adventure or beat that post-hiking hunger. 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. Why we must restore Hetch Hetchy - SFGATE 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). 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. Hetch Hetchy was the first major battle of the environmental movement. The privately owned Spring Valley Water Company had required its customers to pay exorbitant rates for years. Next to John Muir, the most vocal defender of the Hetch Hetchy Valley was Harriet Monroe. This is also a place imbued with history: San Franciscos congressional delegation won the right to build the dam in 1913, to secure a reliable source of water in the wake of the 1906 earthquake. By 1908, a different Interior Secretary, James R. Garfield, sided with the utilitarian conservationists and issued a permit for the Hetch Hetchy project. Rounding the corner and catching the first glimpses of Hetch Hetchy Valley reveals the play of light on water. There is a third concept, too, though it was little understood at the time. Hetch Hetchy: Time to Redeem a Historic Mistake - Sierra Club We're not going to remove this dam, and the funding is unnecessary. Some of these studies determined that the idea of draining the reservoir was technically feasible but incredibly costly. [54][55], After passing through the powerhouses, Hetch Hetchy water flows into the 167mi (269km) Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct which travels across the Central Valley. Your email address will not be published. Monroe was a Chicago poet who joined Muir and others on their 1908 and 1909 outings to the valley. Located 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas, the dam captures water from the . "[85] However, she does support breaching the dam once it has reached the end of its lifespan, and not replacing it. The trail continues to climb for 1.8 miles (2.8 km) above the trail intersection, but you can turn around any time. Third, dams alter natural habitats and change the ways in which rivers function. 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. He said, So we come now face to face with the perfectly clean question of what is the best use to which this water that flows out of the Sierras can be put. As well dam for water-tanks the peoples cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man.. No spam. Teams completed the OShaughnessy Dam in 1923 and the reservoir filled for the first time in May of that year. (Source: American Rivers, How Dams Damage Rivers). Formerly called Buck Meadows Restaurant and Bar, the new caf crosses rustic-mountain flair with roadside cafe friendliness. A full breakfast is served in the dining room. 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.. Due to its high-altitude location at 3,900 feet above sea level and its snowmelt-fed water supply, water from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir behind O'Shaughnessy Dam does not require filtration. California O Shaughnessy Dam Analysis 1428 Words | 6 Pages. Coming from the San Francisco Bay Area youll pass right through Buck Meadows on Highway 120. They acknowledge that a concerted effort would have to be made to control the introduction of wildlife and tourism back into the valley in order to prevent destabilization of the ecosystem,[68] and that it might be decades or even centuries before the valley could be returned to natural conditions. [42] This provoked a seven-year environmental struggle with the environmental group Sierra Club, led by John Muir. [2] The dam contains 675,000cuyd (516,000m3) of concrete. No picture of the giant sequoia trees in Yosemite National Park manages to fully capture their immense size and majesty. There, he met the same Indian chief and his wives. For example, plan to stop at the Lucky Buck Cafe on your way to or from a day of exploring Yosemite. [75] The remaining deficit would likely have to be replaced by polluting fossil fuel generation. In: Educational Resources, History, National Parks, Your email address will not be published. SPUR wholeheartedly agrees that planning for water quality and reliability is important. A) 5 billion B . 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. "[22], The valley's name may be derived from a Miwok word earlier anglicized as hatchhatchie, which means "edible grasses"[8][23] or "magpie". 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? For most of the year the waterfall offers a refreshing shower or cooling mist along with an amazing view. 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 restoration of Hetch Hetchy would be a simple task compared to some dam removal efforts. The new. There are four fundamental ways in which dams damage rivers. [79] Some observers, such as Carl Pope (director of the Sierra Club), stated that Hodel had political motives[80] in proposing the study. Said San Francisco resident William Denman in 1918, "The first time I went into the Hetch Hetchy the mosquitoes were intolerable. 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. It is the primary water source for about 2.5 million residents of the San Francisco Bay Area. 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. [6][7], Upstream from the valley lies the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, while the smaller Poopenaut Valley is directly downstream from O'Shaughnessy Dam. If youre excited about a long hike or backpacking trip, you can continue to Laurel Lake for a 14.2-mile (22.9 km) out and back. Worth a Dam? - Earth Island Journal Annie Li, a senior engineer at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, points to the yellow and brown squiggly lines on the map, revealing our water's path from Hetch Hetchy to the Bay Area. The Hetch Hetchy Valley underwent a monumental transformation when the City Of San Francisco received the approval of Congress in 1913 to build a dam in the Hetch Hetchy Valley, thus storing the water of the Tuolumne River and flooding the valley to a height of over 350 feet. Wapama Fall is reached via a five-mile, round-trip hike that follows the shoreline of the reservoir with moderate up and downhill hiking. As the Hetch Hetchy Valley was part of Yosemite National Park, Hitchcock preferred to protect the parks natural wonders. It pitted Gifford Pinchot, Americas first forester, against John Muir, Americas legendary conservationist. [70] Hodel called for a study of the effect of tearing down the dam. Congress would decide the fate of the Hetchy Hetchy Valley. The Dam Rent Is Too Low - PERC 2 Existing Regional Water System - San Francisco A recent report evaluates the economic benefits of restoring Hetch Hetchy Valley. 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. These benefits include: Reservoir-based recreation - swimming, fishing, camping etc. 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. Finally, with the railroad complete, teams broke ground on the OShaughnessy Dam on August 1, 1919. This option favors building a dam in the Hetch Hetchy Valley to provide hundreds of thou- sands of San Francisco residents with water and electricitybasic necessities for health and well-being, as well as urban development and economic growth. Hetch Hetchy Water's Epic Journey, From Mountains to Tap Most people called it Hetch Hetchy, a mispronunciation of a Central Mohawk word for a plant that indigenous people were harvesting there when the first white man came along.. Building the Hetch Hetchy dam in such a remote location was an enormous project. As of October 2022, Hetch Hetchy was at 77.5% of its capacity. ", "San Francisco-Hetch Hetchy Valley Connection", "Hetch Hetchy controversy: Could Yosemite's 'second valley' be restored? The Tuolumne River originates in the peaks above Tuolumne Meadows and is the major drainage system for the northern part of Yosemite. The law authorizing the dam passed Congress on December 7, 1913. Would that be an improvement? The water is transported from the reservoir by the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct which is made up of 170 miles of gravity-driven pipelines, dams, and other reservoirs. Hetch Hetchy Environmental Debates | National Archives [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. The Hetch Hetchy Reservoir created by the dam has a capacity of 360,400acreft (0.4445km3), with a maximum area of 1,972 acres (798ha) and a maximum depth of 306 feet (93m). Photo: Chris Migeon [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. "[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. An advantage which Phelan, Pinchot and other supporters of the dam project enjoyed was a divided opposition. Located at 3,900 feet, it boasts one of the longest hiking seasons in the park. 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. Yet it also highlighted the division within the conservation movement over two fundamental principles: utilitarian conservation versus preservation. Buck Meadows is also a great place to spend the night. The O'Shaughnessy Dam was completed in 1923 and, after the . Have you been to Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite? But how did the dam get to be here? 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. The waterfall on the Tuolumne is now submerged under Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. [13], Hetch Hetchy is home to a diverse array of plants and animals. "[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. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and Water System While opponents of the dam were hard pressed for financial support, the city of San Franciscos campaign was well financed. Another Iconic Valley In Yosemite? Report Estimates Tourism Benefits Of If the nation set aside some natural places as especially sacred, how far beyond their borders should a sense of the sacred extend? The O'Shaughnessy Dam is near Yosemite's western boundary, but the long, narrow, fingerlike reservoir stretches eastward for about 8 miles (13km). The Hetch Hetchy watershed, an area located in Yosemite National Park, is the major source of water for all of San Francisco's water needs. 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 . Other trails also continue to Lake Vernon. 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. In an effort to build this support, he published his bookThe Yosemitein 1912. $27.3125/hr Watershed Worker (Summer, 2023) - Hetch Hetchy Water But Hetch Hetchy was a federally protected as part of Yosemite National Park. 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). Hetch Hetchy Valley was once home to a richly diverse ecosystem, surrounded by towering cliffs and waterfalls similar to those in neighboring Yosemite Valley. Hetch Hetchy, located at 3,900 feet in Yosemite National Park, is one of the park's most popular hiking . On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Due to extreme winter weather, Yosemite National Park is closed with no estimated date of reopening. . Eighty-five percent of the water comes from Sierra Nevada snowmelt stored in the Hetch Hetchy reservoir situated on the Tuolumne River in Yosemite National Park. Instead, the magnificence of a valley often described as Yosemite Valleys slightly smaller twin takes center stage. Within 50 years, vegetative cover would be complete except for exposed rocky areas. The SFPUC tests its quality more than 100,000 times a year to ensure that it exceeds all safe drinking water standards. 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. So visit Hetch Hetchy. Hetch Hetchy is dammed by the 430-foot-tall OShaughnessy Dam and has a storage capacity of 360,360 acre-feet. 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. Day 6: Hetch Hetchy Reservoir to San Francisco. California needed secure, reliable access to drinking water for their burgeoning populations. San Francisco could flood the valley and work began the following year. Once again, the political pendulum would swing. "[81] Hodel, now retired, is still[when?] [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 Hetch Hetchy Dam is destroying a piece of land that is the homes of multiple types of animals. But during peak spring flow, the thundering waterfall can wash over the bridge making it dangerous to cross. Here are just some of the hurdles we would need to cross: Identify water supplies to meet about 18 percent of the regions water demand in dry years (which occur about 20 percent of the time), Permit and build 40 to 90 megawatts of renewable power to supply almost all municipal demand in San Francisco, Build and operate a water-filtration plant, because water stored further downstream than Hetch Hetchy will have to be filtered, Engineer and design a series of expensive and complicated infrastructure projects to re-engineer major components of the regional water system, then get those changes through the environmental review process, Somehow convince senior water-right holders like the Modesto and Turlock Irrigation Districts on the Tuolumne River to let us store our drinking water in their reservoirs. HETCH HETCHY: The Epic Enviro Battle That Changed America It has two trailhead options. Healthy fish populations - by releasing sufficient instream flows for spawning and rearing downstream - sometimes to mitigate for the loss of spawning habitat caused by their construction, and As well dam for water-tanks the peoples cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man . It is spectacular: a miles-long placid blue lake nested within towering granite cliffs, from which waterfalls cascade. Friday, enjoy an evening about bats starting at 7 pm. Building a dam there was off the table. If youre especially in the mood to relax and let yourself be taken care of, The Blackberry Inn is a luxury bed and breakfast situated on 36 acres and surrounded by National Forest land. OPTION 3Give control to the local people of Hetch Hetchy Hetch Hetchy Valley: Battle To Restore, History & Recreation More Than Just Parks | National Parks Guides. Smith Peak (7,751 feet) is the highest point in the area and offers outstanding views. Forests might provide for the material well-being of human beings, but they did not exist for this reason alone. This is because the Tuolumne catchment basin above Hetch Hetchy is almost three times as large as the catchment area of the Merced River above Yosemite, allowing a greater volume of ice to form. We can't help it either. The terminus of the incomplete line was "conveniently located next to a PG&E substation", which connected to PG&E's private line which in turn bridged the gap to San Francisco. What should be the fate of prairies, wetlands, or coastal marshes? People have died after being swept off the bridge and onto the rocks below. The Fight for Hetch Hetchy | Environment & Society Portal DWRs meta-study found a range of costs from $3 billion to $10 billion for restoration and replacement of water and power sources. That reservoir is New Don Pedro, and it rests over existing pipelines to the Bay Area. Yosemite's Hetch Hetchy Water Wars - Yosemite National Park Trips Right next to the Lucky Buck Cafe, youll find the Yosemite Westgate Lodge and Buck Meadows Lodge. Divide the class into four small groups. 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. As we all know, there is no use of water that is higher than the domestic use., He went on to say, We come straight to the question of whether the advantage of leaving this valley in a state of nature is greater than the advantage of using it for the benefit of the city of San Francisco.. San Francisco had its eyes on this water source early on and repeatedly tried to acquire water rights to the Tuolumne River. Slow-moving reservoirs heat up, resulting in abnormal temperature fluctuations which can affect sensitive species. The Hetch Hetchy Valley is a part of Yosemite National Park. In the Bay Area, Hetch Hetchy water is stored in local facilities including Calaveras Reservoir, Crystal Springs Reservoir, and San Antonio Reservoir. Hetch Hetchy's restoration, after all, will benefit national . 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.