Photo: Herbert W. Gleason courtesy of the Sierra Club. William Howard Taft became president in 1909. Wapama and Rancheria Falls Looking up at Wapama Falls from the footbridge on the hiking trail. As John Clayton writes, At the height of Progressivism, Phelan and other good-government types believed that the city should administer its own utilities. 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. It forced elected representatives to consider what a national park designation truly meant and whether or not the land within these parks deserved protection. 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. Only a tiny proportion of Yosemites visitors explore this out-of-the-way corner of the national park. Photo: Kim Lawson. [21] Miwok names are still used for features, including Tueeulala Fall, Wapama Fall, and Kolana Rock. [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. Hetch Hetchy, for the time being, was safe, and it would not be inundated during Roosevelts watch.. But during peak spring flow, the thundering waterfall can wash over the bridge making it dangerous to cross. They also remove water needed for healthy in-stream ecosystems. Required fields are marked *. Building the Hetch Hetchy dam in such a remote location was an enormous project. 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. ", "Three Square Miles of Open Space: Is It Enough? Formerly called Buck Meadows Restaurant and Bar, the new caf crosses rustic-mountain flair with roadside cafe friendliness. We can't help it either. They poured an estimated total of more than 398,000 cubic yards (304,000 cubic meters) of concrete to form the dam. 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. 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. 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. The battle for Hetch Hetchy was perhaps the first effort at what is now known as "grassroots lobbying," getting individual citizens to contact elected officials in support . Hetch Hetchy Water and Power also wants to remove the giant bulkhead that seals up the tunnel with 40 nuts and bolts, Ritchie said. The extensive amount of storage, which is designed to benefit the Bay Area as droughts become more severe with climate. 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. There is plenty to see and do right here, from kayaking on the water to climbing the magnificent domes above. Her poetic descriptions of Hetch hetchy won her the attention of powerful members of Congress. Over the last 35 years, the idea has been studied by the Environmental Defense Fund, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the National Park Service, UC Davis, and several state agencies. Us too! Mirror Lakes famous spring-time reflections capture the eye and mind. The regional water system provides water to 2.4 million people in San Francisco, Santa Clara, Alameda and San Mateo counties. 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. Monroe was a Chicago poet who joined Muir and others on their 1908 and 1909 outings to the valley. [24] It is likely that the edible grass was blue dicks. 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. What one Secretary of the Interior giveth, another taketh away. ", "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. The second concept is preservation. San Francisco had its eyes on this water source early on and repeatedly tried to acquire water rights to the Tuolumne River. Dams, including this one, dont last forever, and perhaps in a few generations the conversation about a different future for the Hetch Hetchy Valley may be worthwhile. Hidden in Yosemite National Parks peaceful northwest corner, Hetch Hetchy Valley is a treasure worth visiting in all seasons. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This is interesting from an ideological perspective. [53], As completed, O'Shaughnessy Dam is 910 feet (280m) long, spanning the valley at its narrow outlet. View of the OShaughnessy Dam and the Hetchy Hetchy Road and parking. "[85] However, she does support breaching the dam once it has reached the end of its lifespan, and not replacing it. Call 209-372-0200 for the latest road and weather conditions, Hetch Hetchy Road Daily Hours: 8 am to 5 pm. He was opposed by then Mayor Diane Feinstein who argued that the dam was San Franciscans birthright. Today the 117-billion-gallon reservoir supplies drinking water to about 2.5 million San Francisco Bay Area residents and hydro-electric power generated by two plants downstream. The most prominent preservationist spokesman was John Muir.. 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. 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. Smith Peak (7,751 feet) is the highest point in the area and offers outstanding views. [54] An additional hydroelectric system comprising Cherry Lake, Lake Eleanor and the Holm Powerhouse is also part of the Hetch Hetchy Project, adding another 169 megawatts of generating capacity. The trail to Wapama Falls is one of the most popular trails in the Hetch Hetchy area for a good reason. RELATED: Meet The Real Life Batman & Robin Of The National Parks. You could miss this small mountain community if you blink at the wrong time, but it is home to a few remarkable small businesses. If you delight in getting off the well-beaten path, or if you are looking for a peaceful natural retreat, its perfection. Divide the class into four small groups. Day 6: Hetch Hetchy Reservoir to San Francisco. As well dam for water-tanks the people's cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been . For functional purposes, Hetch Hetchy was a promising solution to San Francisco's serious water shortages. 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 Dam is destroying a piece of land that is the homes of multiple types of animals. On a national stage, Hetch Hetchy became caught in the cross fire between the interests of private utilities ownership and those of municipal ownership. John Muir once described Hetch Hetchy Valley as, a grand landscape garden, one of Natures rarest and most precious mountain temples.. Due to extreme winter weather, Yosemite National Park is closed with no estimated date of reopening. . The battle for the Hetch Hetchy Valleys future was not simply preservation versus conservation. Next to John Muir, the most vocal defender of the Hetch Hetchy Valley was Harriet Monroe. [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. Your email address will not be published. [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. [5], The valley is fed by the Tuolumne River, Falls Creek, Tiltill Creek, Rancheria Creek, and numerous smaller streams which collectively drain a watershed of 459sqmi (1,190km2). In 1923, the O'Shaughnessy Dam was completed on the Tuolumne River, flooding the entire valley under the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. There is no Starbucks here no daily parade of tour buses and RVs. 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 fundamental issue involved two concepts. This valley was isolated and remote, twenty miles northwest of the original. Over the next decade, he produced fifteen large oils that transformed the valley into a dreamland unlike anything that ever met mortal eye.. However, the same NPS study also finds that with intensive management, an outcome in which "the entire valley would appear much as it did before construction of the reservoir" is feasible. They would light upon a man's blue shirt and turn it brown, and were voracious as mosquitoes would be. [2], Wapama Falls, at 1,080ft (330m), and Tueeulala Falls, at 840ft (260m) both among the tallest waterfalls in North America are both located in Hetch Hetchy Valley. Hetch Hetchy is a valley, a reservoir, and a water system in California in the United States. Within 50 years, vegetative cover would be complete except for exposed rocky areas. [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. Its a a wonderful place to see spring waterfalls and wildflower displays. This time, in favor of those who wanted to build the dam. 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 . [40] By the 1880s, San Francisco was looking to Hetch Hetchy water as a fix for its outdated and unreliable water system. 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. A national debate ensued between the preservationist and conservationist factions of the young environmental movement. The OShaughnessy Dam was completed in 1938 and is 430-feet tall. 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? Hetch Hetchy, unlike other water storage facilities in California, is relatively buffered from near-term climate change because of its high elevation. 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. 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 trail continues to climb for 1.8 miles (2.8 km) above the trail intersection, but you can turn around any time. In 2006, the California State Department of Water Resources (DWR) and Department of Parks and Recreation evaluated the cost estimates of multiple feasibility studies conducted between 1988 and 2005. "[34], When Yosemite Valley became part of a state park in 1864, Hetch Hetchy received no such designation. Other trails also continue to Lake Vernon. The Blackberry Inn Bed and Breakfast is just one of many welcoming businesses located on the way to Hetch Hetchy. Hours: Year-round, but only accessible by car when the Hetch Hetchy Road is open. It is only a cut in the hills through which the Tuolumne River runs, but if you think there might be a valley keep looking and if you find such a place I will give it to you., Nate went on looking for the valley. 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. 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. 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). But how did the dam get to be here? It carried workers and materials for the dam, as well as tourists, postage and other amenities. Photo: Chris Migeon 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. 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. We're not going to remove this dam, and the funding is unnecessary. 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. 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. Yet it also highlighted the division within the conservation movement over two fundamental principles: utilitarian conservation versus preservation. . This is why environmental impact statements, which were not required prior to 1969, are so important today. As the Hetch Hetchy Valley was part of Yosemite National Park, Hitchcock preferred to protect the parks natural wonders. 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.. But Hetch Hetchy was a federally protected as part of Yosemite National Park. The Hetch Hetchy dam is upstream on the Tuolumne River from a reservoir nearly six times as large. Finally, in 1988, a third generator was added to the Kirkwood Powerhouse. Today, descendants of these people still use milkweed, deergrass, bracken fern, willow, and other plants for a variety of uses including baskets, medicines, and string. Looking up at Wapama Falls from the footbridge on the hiking trail. By Posted student houses falmouth 2021 In jw marriott panama concierge lounge As the Hetch Hetchy Valley was part of Yosemite National Park, Hitchcock preferred to protect the park's natural wonders. This 1910 view shows Kolana Rock and Tueeulala Falls in the background. Seventeen species of bats inhabit the Hetch Hetchy area, including the largest North American bat, the western mastiff. The O'Shaughnessy Dam is near Yosemite's western boundary, but the long, narrow, fingerlike reservoir stretches eastward for about 8 miles (13 km). She says the water first leaves Hetch Hetchy through the O'Shaughnessy Dam. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. There, he met the same Indian chief and his wives. 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. Apply Today! [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 maximum that the city has put away is 570,000 acre-feet of water. Muir observed:[3]. 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). Two additional reservoirs in the Hetch Hetchy RegionLake Eleanor and Lake Lloyd (also OShaughnessy Dam and the waterworks that connect it to the Bay Area are a marvel of engineering. Pinchot was recognized as a leader of the conservation movement. 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. 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 openings in the Taft administration led to the eventual success of the Raker Act. "[61][62], The battle over Hetch Hetchy Valley continues today[when?] Related. The privately owned Spring Valley Water Company had required its customers to pay exorbitant rates for years. Muir and other defenders of Hetch Hetchy believe the fight revolved around two central issues. Since the valley was within Yosemite National Park, an act of Congress was needed to authorize the project. 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. [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. The SFPUC tests its quality more than 100,000 times a year to ensure that it exceeds all safe drinking water standards. [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. First, the beauty of the valley which they felt should not be sacrificed to build a dam. And in a larger sense, the waters of California served as the converting agents. Muir predicted that this lake would create an unsightly "bathtub ring" around its perimeter, caused by the water's destruction of lichen growth on the canyon walls,[44] which would inevitably be visible at low lake levels. 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. The inadequacy of the citys existing water supply came into sharp focus. Show More. Activity 1: Analysis. Furthermore, they provided a place for the wild plants and creatures to live out their own lives, according to their purposes. 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. Building the Dam. 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.. The Hetch Hetchy Dam in the Yosemite Valley, receives the bulk of it's water from the sierra snow pack miles above the reservoir. Through the manipulation of water, the company also had the power to determine which real estate became valuable and which languished. 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. The new 68-mile (109 km) railroad wound its way up the narrow canyon of the Tuolumne River past sharp curves and up steep 4% grades. 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. Not far from there, youll find more budget-minded lodging at Buck Meadows Lodge. 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.