Gray pine, incense-cedar, and California black oak grow in abundance. Finally, with the railroad complete, teams broke ground on the OShaughnessy Dam on August 1, 1919. The controversy over damming Hetch Hetchy became mired in the political issues of the day. 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 O'Shaughnessy Dam and reservoir, and the series of aqueducts, tunnels, and tunnels as well as 8 other dams make up the entire Hetch Hetchy Project. Instead, the magnificence of a valley often described as Yosemite Valleys slightly smaller twin takes center stage. This is a place considered by John Muir to be equal in beauty to Yose. 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. . Forests might provide for the material well-being of human beings, but they did not exist for this reason alone. In the distance, long white plumes of water cascade hundreds of feet down from rocky heights. O'Shaughnessey Dam Facts. Apply Today! 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. Should nature be left alone so that flora and fauna flourish while people enjoy its primal wonders? It then cascades on its westward descent through the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, and enters the eastern end of Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Photo: Kim Lawson. Albert Bierstadt was known for his sweeping landscapes of the American West. By 1908, a different Interior Secretary, James R. Garfield, sided with the utilitarian conservationists and issued a permit for the Hetch Hetchy project. According to a local legend, Nate spotted a valley to the east that was too far to visit. The inadequacy of the citys existing water supply came into sharp focus. Some years later, water began flowing to San Francisco. San Francisco could flood the valley and work began the following year. Furthermore, they provided a place for the wild plants and creatures to live out their own lives, according to their purposes. The valley provided an escape from the summer heat of the lowlands. "[34], When Yosemite Valley became part of a state park in 1864, Hetch Hetchy received no such designation. 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. The O'Shaughnessy Dam was completed in 1923 and, after the . 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. 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. We're not going to remove this dam, and the funding is unnecessary. Why We Need Hetch Hetchy More Than Ever | SPUR First, the beauty of the valley which they felt should not be sacrificed to build a dam. John Muir knew that without public support, the Hetch Hetchy Valley would be lost. Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite Valley are so similar because they were created by the same sequences of geological activity. But the ultra-liberal President Woodrow Wilson signed off in 1913 on the multi-decade construction of a series of dams within Yosemite National Park that flooded Hetch Hetchy Valley to create a massive reservoir, hydroelectric plants, and a 167-mile aqueduct for the sole benefit of the City of San Francisco. Amid a worsening drought, water supplies at one important reservoir are The SFPUC and other Hetch Hetchy users are currently implementing plans to meet this demand through recycled water, groundwater and conservation. The Valley Below | The Verge Residents drink it in 26 cities and water districts from San. (Read SPURs analysis of this plan.) More Than Just Parks | National Parks Guides. The battle for the Hetch Hetchy Valleys future was not simply preservation versus conservation. [3] Kolana Rock, at 5,772ft (1,759m), is a massive rock spire on the south side of the Hetch Hetchy Valley. 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 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. [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. So visit Hetch Hetchy. Hidden in Yosemite National Parks peaceful northwest corner, Hetch Hetchy Valley is a treasure worth visiting in all seasons. "[32], In 1867, Charles F. Hoffman of the California Geological Survey conducted the first survey of the valley. 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. [5] Chief Tenaya of the Yosemite Valley's Ahwaneechee tribe claimed that Hetch Hetchy was Miwok for "Valley of the Two Trees", referring to a pair of yellow pines that once stood at the head of Hetch Hetchy. Looking up at Wapama Falls from the footbridge on the hiking trail. 2023 Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau, Yosemite Itineraries: What to Do in Yosemite. Plus, they needed a way to bring supplies and workers into the mountains. Expect delicious meals and hearty portions to fuel your adventure or beat that post-hiking hunger. Fourth, dams alter water quality. 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. August 14 Hetch Hetchy Began Producing Power (1925) - Today in 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. As well dam for water tanks the peoples cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man.'. Most people turn around here anyway. 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. This time, in favor of those who wanted to build the dam. The first people, outside of Native Americans, to see the Hetch Hetchy Valley were Joseph, Nate and William Screechin 1850. Yosemite Westgate Lodge offers newly-remodeled and well-appointed modern accommodation. (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.) For most of the year the waterfall offers a refreshing shower or cooling mist along with an amazing view. Ultimately, San Francisco sold hydropower from the dam to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), which led to decades of legal wrangling and controversy over terms in the Raker Act. Teams completed the OShaughnessy Dam in 1923 and the reservoir filled for the first time in May of that year. 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). Hetch Hetchy Valley Analysis - 1299 Words | Internet Public Library Monroe went on to lobby members of Congress as the battle moved to Washington D.C. She was a tireless advocate who believed that people needed to be educated in order to do what was best for everyone involved. Hetch Hetchy Water and Power also wants to remove the giant bulkhead that seals up the tunnel with 40 nuts and bolts, Ritchie said. 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. 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. Most of the dam would remain in place, both to avoid the enormous costs of demolition and removal, and to serve as a monument for the workers who built it. [5] The valley was slowly becoming known for its natural beauty, but it was never a popular tourist destination because of extremely poor access and the location of the famous Yosemite Valley just twenty miles to the south. The deciding factor was whether or not the land in question had access to water. There are many places to stop and enjoy views of the rushing water before turning around to return to your car. Since the valley was within Yosemite National Park, an act of Congress was needed to authorize the project. Specialty pricing may require . The Tuolumne River originates in the peaks above Tuolumne Meadows and is the major drainage system for the northern part of Yosemite. The SFPUC tests its quality more than 100,000 times a year to ensure that it exceeds all safe drinking water standards. Sign up for helpful guides, beautiful videos, and insider tips on the national parks. 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. [73] Furthermore, the removal of O'Shaughnessy Dam would not require costly sediment control measures, as would be typical on most dam removal projects, because of the high quality of the Tuolumne River water in the first 90 years since its construction, only around 2in (5.1cm) of sediment had been deposited in Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, much less than most other dams. [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. This reservoir on the Sacramento River has been planned for decades Next to John Muir, the most vocal defender of the Hetch Hetchy Valley was Harriet Monroe. DWR also found that the planning studies necessary to refine the costs and benefits of restoration would cost $65 million alone. To begin the trail, cross the dam and pass through the tunnel. benefits of hetch hetchy dam - Lindon CPA's (Source: American Rivers, How Dams Damage Rivers). 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. By Posted student houses falmouth 2021 In jw marriott panama concierge lounge They also remove water needed for healthy in-stream ecosystems. Another popular trail crosses the OShaughnessy Dam and then takes a left turn to climb steeply out of the Hetch Hetchy valley. "[22], The valley's name may be derived from a Miwok word earlier anglicized as hatchhatchie, which means "edible grasses"[8][23] or "magpie". 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 surface of the water hides an additional 300 feet of granite cliffs and once-upon-a-time waterfalls within its depths. This limits their ability to access spawning habitat, seek out food resources, and escape predation. 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. 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. [70] Hodel called for a study of the effect of tearing down the dam. [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. If the nation set aside some natural places as especially sacred, how far beyond their borders should a sense of the sacred extend? As a consequence, visitors came to experience it for themselves. 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. Photo: Herbert W. Gleason courtesy of the Sierra Club. In an effort to build this support, he published his bookThe Yosemitein 1912. Then it travels through a series of mountain tunnels. Watershed Worker (Summer, 2023) - Hetch Hetchy Water & Power (Moccasin [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. "[81] Hodel, now retired, is still[when?] 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. The Engineer as Lobbyist - JSTOR 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. 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.. San Francisco had its eyes on this water source early on and repeatedly tried to acquire water rights to the Tuolumne River. [21] Periodic clearing of the valley provided ample space for the growth of the grasses and shrubs they relied on, as well as additional room for large game animals such as deer to browse. Three strikes for San Francisco | Restore Hetch Hetchy [15] When the glacier retreated for the final time, sediment-laden meltwater deposited thick layers of silt, forming the flat alluvial floodplain of the valley floor. Dam the Hetch Hetchy! Sign up for the email list and join an active community of monthly readers. 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. 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. As well dam for . [4] A broad, low rocky outcrop situated between Kolana Rock and Hetch Hetchy Dome divided the former meadow in two distinct sections. 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. Gravel, logs, and other important food and habitat features can become trapped. The dam was then 227 feet (69m) high; its present height of 312 feet (95m) was achieved only later, in 1938. As John Clayton writes, At the height of Progressivism, Phelan and other good-government types believed that the city should administer its own utilities. O'Shaughnessy Dam is a 430-foot (131 m) high concrete arch-gravity dam in Tuolumne County, California, United States.It impounds the Tuolumne River, forming the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir at the lower end of Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park, about 160 miles (260 km) east of San Francisco. "[19], People have lived in Hetch Hetchy Valley for over 6,000 years. 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" While opponents of the dam were hard pressed for financial support, the city of San Franciscos campaign was well financed. Journal entry - Hetch Hetchy.pdf - , Environmental Science Everyone who drinks water or takes a shower in San Francisco should go. Like Muir, she felt the beauty of the valley was a national treasure which ought to be preserved. Principally, dam removal on the Klamath will require annual replacement of 696 gigawatt hours of electricity by other means. 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 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. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir - O'Shaugnessy Dam - National Park Service [21][33] Albert Bierstadt, Charles Dorman Robinson and William Keith were known for their landscapes that drew tourists to the Hetch Hetchy Valley. 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. . This effort was famously and vociferously fought by John Muir and was the subject of a national debate for years; the loss later galvanized the Sierra Club to successfully oppose large dams in Dinosaur National Monument and Grand Canyon National Park. Photo: Chris Migeon. . 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 doesn't need to be filtered, a process that is expensive and energy intensive. It is part of our More than Just Parks Environmental Heroes series. Call 209-372-0200 for the latest road and weather conditions, Hetch Hetchy Road Daily Hours: 8 am to 5 pm. In the northwest corner of Yosemite National Park you can find the Hetch Hetchy Valley. San Francisco Hetch Hetchy Dam Almost Failed and Could - Breitbart There, he met the same Indian chief and his wives. California O Shaughnessy Dam Analysis 1428 Words | 6 Pages. The glacial Hetch Hetchy Valley lies in the northwestern part of Yosemite National Park and is drained by the Tuolumne River. Hetch Hetchy ushered in a new era for the national parks. 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. Through the manipulation of water, the company also had the power to determine which real estate became valuable and which languished. Could you imagine building a dam inside a national park today? It carried workers and materials for the dam, as well as tourists, postage and other amenities. He produced at least four oil paintings of the valley one of which is prominently displayed in Mount Holyoke Colleges art museum. 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. between those who wish to retain the dam and reservoir, and those who wish to drain the reservoir and return Hetch Hetchy Valley to its former state. 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? 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 . Park entry (as needed). The Dam Rent Is Too Low - PERC 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 . 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). Although Hetch Hetchy is included within the boundaries of Yosemite National Park, the entrance is separate from the rest of the park. The fundamental issue involved two concepts. Muir and other defenders of Hetch Hetchy believe the fight revolved around two central issues. . This was likely because of Hetch Hetchy's narrow outlet, which in years of heavy snowmelt created a bottleneck in the Tuolumne River and the subsequent flooding of the valley floor. The Tuolumne River continues through Tuolumne Meadows and the associated park developments at an elevation of 8,600 feet. The same features that make Hetch Hetchy Valley so spectacular also make it an ideal location for a dam. What Happens When You Remove a Dam? - Hetch Hetchy Reservoir Hetch Valley Measure Pits Bay Area Against Environmentalists - The New In continuance, water has a personality and the presence of it can change moods and help people feel better. 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. Even a short stroll from the car gives a magnificent view of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir from the OShaughnessy Dam. Divide the class into four small groups. 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. 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. Five country-chic rooms in the main building include en suite bathrooms, free WiFi and electric fireplaces. For thousands of years, Native Americans subjected the valley to controlled bushfires, which prevented forest from taking over the valley meadows. Hetch Hetchy was the first major battle of the environmental movement. As in Yosemite, the sublime rocks of its walls seem to glow with life . Hetch Hetchy, for the time being, was safe, and it would not be inundated during Roosevelts watch.. The pressure that Muir and his compatriots generated in 1908 and 1909 did not dissuade the administration from its support of the Hetch Hetchy dam, but this pressure was quite effective in the realm of electoral politics. OShaughnessy Dam and the waterworks that connect it to the Bay Area are a marvel of engineering. Upcountry and the Bay Area. The O'Shaughnessy Dam is 430-foot (131 m) high made of concrete and it is named after engineer Michael O'Shaughnessy, who oversaw the entire construction. It's dumb, dumb, dumb. [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. The chief replied, There is no valley. The main power facility in the system, the Moccasin Powerhouse, began commercial operation on August 14, 1925. Mirror Lakes famous spring-time reflections capture the eye and mind. As well dam for water-tanks the people's cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been . The maximum that the city has put away is 570,000 acre-feet of water. It is 13 miles from the Yosemite National Park border and twice as close to the park than the town of Groveland. 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. Argument Against The Hetchy Dam - 587 Words - Internet Public Library [17] The valley's abundant plants provided nourishment for mule deer, black bears and bighorn sheep. The proposed study would also have been required to identify potential replacements for the water storage capacity and hydroelectric power production.[87][88]. And, as you might imagine, it produces some of the cleanest municipal water in the United States. [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. These clean and comfortable rooms also enjoy access to the pool, spa and other facilities at Yosemite Westgate Lodge. Over the next decade, he produced fifteen large oils that transformed the valley into a dreamland unlike anything that ever met mortal eye.. 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. Glaciers followed these low-points, leaving their own marks in particular carving out the characteristic U-shaped valley with steep sides and wide floor. Copyright © 2023 More Than Just Parks | This post may contain affiliate links - read our Standards, Corrections, & Privacy Policy. They poured an estimated total of more than 398,000 cubic yards (304,000 cubic meters) of concrete to form the dam. To do so, it would either have to buy out the private monopoly at an exorbitant price or outmaneuver or outbid Spring Valley for a potential new reservoir., (Source: Natural Rivals: John Muir, Gifford Pinchot, and the Creation of Americas Public Lands, John Clayton). To get the electricity they would need, they first built a smaller dam at Lake Eleanor. From our petition "The cost of replacing water storage in Hetch Hetchy Valley to maintain the current levels of water service and electrical power production by CCSF would be approximately 2 billion dollars, including 199 million dollars for additional interties, 372 million dollars for water supply, 387 million dollars for water treatment, 669 Environment Quiz 1 Chapters 1-3 Flashcards | Quizlet 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.