In 1924 the hetch hetchy railroad ceased operations as a common carrier. A painted crack and message on glines canyon dam foreshadowed its removal over. But head to the parks northwest corner in hetch hetchy valley and youll witness springs splendor from a whole new perspective. Theres no lodging in hetch hetchy itself though there is a backpackers campground, but the recently refurbished evergreen lodge in camp mather, with cabins originally built to house the workers erecting the hetch hetchy dam, is just outside the hetch hetchy entrance. San francisco hetch hetchy reservoir initiative, proposition. As well dam for watertanks the peoples cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man. Americas most controversial dam and the birth of modern environmentalism. Details are still being investigated over the circumstances that led to the sudden death of. Why hetch hetchy is staying under water under water high. The vandal painted the 40foot crack on the 312foothigh o shaughnessy dam, in yosemite national park, in the darkness thursday night. The hetch hetchy project was created to find and deliver drinking water to san francisco and the bay area.
Why hetch hetchy is staying under water under water. Dam water, power, politics, and preservation in hetch hetchy and yosemite national park. Jun 27, 2017 death at hetch hetchy under investigation. The mission of restore hetch hetchy is to restore the hetch hetchy valley in yosemite national park to its natural splendor while continuing to meet the water and power needs of all communities that depend on the tuolumne river. Top 10 groveland hotels near hetch hetchy reservoir. Dam water, power, politics, and preservation in hetch hetchy and yosemite national park simpson, john w. We kindly ask that you choose standard shipping where possible to reduce our environmental impact. This photo of hetch hetchy before the dam give you some appreciation of the comparison. The first great american conservation movement was born during the progressive era out of the concern that industrial growth and urban development threatened to extinguish americas wilderness. The glacial hetch hetchy valley lies in the northwestern part of yosemite national park and is drained by the tuolumne river. The progressive eras most controversial environmental issue was the 190819 struggle over federal government approval for building the hetch hetchy dam in a remote corner of federallyowned land in californias yosemite national park. Covid19 travel alert if you have an upcoming booking to change or cancel, check the next steps and policies here. His suggestion generated cries of outrage and some intense media coverage for a few weeks.
Luckily the movement to restore hetch hetchy has been gaining momentum. The progressive eras most controversial environmental issue was the 190819 struggle over federal government approval for building the hetch hetchy dam in a remote corner of federallyowned land in. How did the hetch hetchy project impact native americans. The morning of november 6, 2012, dawned with high hopes among the band of preservationists hoping to restore the hetch hetchy valley in yosemite national park. Hetch hetchywhich conservationist john muir called a wonderfully exact counterpart to yosemite valleyis, like its neighbor to the south, graced by sheer granite walls and multiple gushing cataracts. The visual effect suggested that the dam had cracked. Nov 06, 2012 in an october, 2011 letter to the san francisco public utilities commission, restore hetch hetchy s executive director, mike marshall, wrote restore hetch hetchy has announced plans to place an initiative before the voters in 2012 that would lead to the removal of the hetch hetchy reservoir. This paper begins with a brief overview of hetch hetchy valley, the hetch hetchy system, and potential oshaughnessy dam removal decisions. The dam and reservoir are the centerpiece of the hetch hetchy project, which in 1934 began to deliver water 167 miles 269 km west to san francisco and its client municipalities in the greater san francisco bay area. A paved road leads 7 miles from mather to the 312foot dam, which impounds san franciscos water supply. Moccasin, tuolumne county heavy rain in the sierra foothills pushed a small dam within san franciscos hetch hetchy water system to the brink of failure thursday, sending a.
A plan to restore the hetch hetchy valley to its natural state might actually hold promise. Hetch hetchy reservoir yosemite national park 2020 all. Journal of the american water resources association jawra 422. An environmental artist with the skills of a mountain climber painted a giant crack down the face of hetch hetchy reservoir dam, park officials said monday. Early spring through late fall, keeping in mind that the summer months, due to the photomultiplier the reservoir, which reflects intense amounts of light and heat, can be brutally hot. Ben knight films the former elwha dam before its removal. We do our best to process and ship orders within 12 business days mondayfriday, excluding holidays. Calvin california value integrated network, the computer model used to evaluate alternatives to oshaughnessy dam, is. Please only call if you are within 10 days of checkin, so we. 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.
Introduction oshaughnessy dam, located in the hetch hetchy valley of yosemite national park, was built by the. Our hydrologic monitoring stations continue to send data in near realtime to nwisweb, and we are continuing critical water monitoring activities to. You can walk on several trails, ranging from two to miles long. On june 25 19 the house committee on the public lands opened hearings on the hetch hetchy issue, with gifford pinchot as the star. Part 1 of several parts concerning the american indian indigenous history of hetch hetchy valley. Apr 16, 2017 restore hetch hetchys mission remains, to return the hetch hetchy valley in yosemite national park to its natural splendor while continuing to meet the water and power needs of all communities that depend on the tuolumne river.
In 1987, united states secretary of the interior donald hodel issued a proposal to restore the hetch hetchy valley. Opponents of later big dam projects, like glen canyon, evoke hetch hetchy as a reminder of what the arid west sacrificed for its water infrastructure. Restore hetch hetchy intends to undo this great american mistake. A dam cinches a rivers natural course, breaking an uninterrupted. Located at 3,900 feet, hetch hetchy boasts one of the longest hiking seasons in the park and is an ideal place for thundering spring waterfalls and wildflower displays. The ghosts of hetch hetchy, by gene rose, part of restore hetch hetchy, by the sierra club hetch. A 2006 report done by the state of california looked at all the studies done so far. Since water is one of the basic needs of most people, the dam plays a vital role in all the residence as well as with the. Following a fierce nationwide debate led by john muir and will colby of the sierra club, the city of san francisco was authorized by the u. When the city of san francisco, eager to create a better water supply, set its sights on building a dam in the hetch hetchy valley, muir embarked on a long and bitter fight to save his beloved temple. At the hetch hetchy reservoir, you can walk across the dam and learn more about areas history from the interpretive signs. Jun 12, 2014 the dam is considered as one of the water sources in the country of california and this is one of the reasons why most people within the place want to preserve all the natural resources that can be found at hetch hetchy dam.
Hetch hetchy valley, before the dam native history part. Hetch hetchy politicspreservationist, provincial, personal, and perhaps postpartisanin the 2000s by rick heide author, editor. Instead of seeing the majestic backdrop of the sierra nevada reflected in the pristine mountain water, they are now greeted by millions of black balls that cover the surface. At present the san francisco board of supervisors and certain monopolizing capitalists are trying to get the governments permission to dam and destroy hetch hetchy, the tuolumne, yosemite valley, for a reservoir, simply that comparatively private gain may be made out of universal public loss. It was the only time in american history that such destruction has been allowed in our national parks. Jun 28, 2011 this is hetch hetchy reservoir and oshaughnessy dam in california. Hetch hetchy reservoir is accessed from sr 120, just w. 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. Usgs current conditions for usgs 11275500 hetch hetchy.
How san franciscos clean drinking water destroyed the 2nd yosemite. The oshaughnessy damwith its magnificent arch of concrete, curved inward. Muir, that a climber painted on the dam in 1987 are still sort of visible. Captured in old photographs and paintings, hetch hetchy valley was a scenic landscape that rivaled nearby yosemite valley before congress approved construction of. The 38mile drive from the valley can be covered easily in 2 hours. In 1908, san francisco voters approved building a dam at hetch hetchy. During the construction of the dam, the hetch hetchy railroad carried 400 tons of cement each day to the site. The project construction spanned twentyfive years from 19 to 1938. Oshaughnessy dam is a 430foot 1 m high concrete archgravity dam in tuolumne county, california, in the united states. A recent poll showed 76% of sf voters would be in favor of removing the dam if it only resulted in a small water rate increase. The hetch hetchy reservoir, while providing water to millions of people in the san francisco bay area, also provides visitors with access to spectacular beauty and the wilderness of yosemite national park. Oshaughnessy dam was completed in 1923 and on october 24, 1934, water from the hetch hetchy project finally began pouring into san francisco. Congress, in the raker act of 19, to construct a dam and reservoir on the tuolumne river in hetch hetchy valley in yosemite national park.
Hetch hetchy valley, before the dam native history part 1. In the 1920s the thirsty city of san francisco reached deep into yosemite national park to build the oshaughnessy dam on the tuolumne river, diverting onethird of the rivers water and flooding the hetch hetchy valley, said at the time to be as magnificent as yosemite valley itself. Opponents of later bigdam projects, like glen canyon, evoke hetch hetchy as a reminder of what the arid west sacrificed for its water infrastructure. Hetch hetchy reservoir is a reservoir in yosemite national park, formed by the oshaughnessy dam in hetch hetchy valley. For thousands of years before the arrival of settlers from the united states in the 1850s, the valley was inhabited. Frobish visitors to yosemites iconic hetch hetchy reservoir are doing a doubletake.
Hetch hetchy is the name of a valley, a reservoir and a water system in california in the united states. Hetch hetchy politicspreservationist, provincial, personal. After hetch hetchy, many realized the national parks needed more protection. In an october, 2011 letter to the san francisco public utilities commission, restore hetch hetchys executive director, mike marshall, wrote restore hetch hetchy has announced plans to place an initiative before the voters in 2012 that would lead to the removal of the hetch hetchy reservoir. Hetch hetchy was once magnificent, unspoiled wild land. The first phase of construction on the oshaughnessy dam named for the chief engineer was completed in 1923 and the final phase, raising the height of the dam, was completed in 1938. Petition from the hypatia womens club of san francisco supporting granting san francisco water rights to lake eleanor and hetch hetchy, naid 7268040 protest against diversion of waters from lands requiring irrigation from citizens of merced and stanislaus counties, california. Restore hetch hetchys mission remains, to return the hetch hetchy valley in yosemite national park to its natural splendor while continuing to meet the water and power needs of all communities that depend on the tuolumne river. Hetch hetchy quotes rausser college of natural resources. Oldest native american basket found in hetch hetchy valley and central california paiute indian burden basket. Hetch hetchy reservoir california fishing, camping.
I believe that the greatest threat to the survival of american indians more than the wars, the disease, the poverty, the discrimination, and the european occupation is the removal of the spiritual matrix of traditional life, the theft of the sacred. Crack in hetch hetchy dam supertopo rock climbing discussion. But restore hetch hetchy is campaigning to tear down the dam, drain the. Oshaughnessy dam, completed in 1923, holds back 340,000 acre feet of water on the tuolumne river to form hetch hetchy reservoir. Hetch hetchy reservoir california fishing, camping, boating. We also want to be included in the story of hetch hetchy, our beautiful valley. Dam officials quickly painted over the crack, which included. From the road, you can see the reservoir and along the reservoir are three hiking trails. May 29, 2018 captured in old photographs and paintings, hetch hetchy valley was a scenic landscape that rivaled nearby yosemite valley before congress approved construction of oshaughnessy dam in 19. Oshaughnessy dam on the tuolumne river could then be torn down and the valley.
A map and guide to hetch hetchy reservoir at yosemite. Sierra foothills dam, part of sfs hetch hetchy system. Lawsuit to drain hetch hetchy reservoir goes back to court. The battle over hetch hetchy reservoir in judges hands. Head to hetch hetchy for a new perspective of yosemite. Notice the usgs water resources mission areas priority is to maintain the safety and wellbeing of our communities, including providing critical situational awareness in times of flooding in all 50 u. Aug 03, 2007 we also want to be included in the story of hetch hetchy, our beautiful valley. All the info difficulty, distance, altitude gained, elevation, average grade youll need to climb hetch hetchy dam climb by bike.
Because of its lower elevation, hetch hetchy has the parks longest hiking season in the area. Mountain tunnel, a key part of the hetch hetchy water system which supplies 2. Americas most controversial dam and the birth of modern environmentalism righter, robert w. Hetch hetchy environmental debates national archives. Since then several studies and reports have been done, many saying the restoration of hetch hetchy is feasible.
An environmental artist with the skills of a mountain climber painted a giant crack down the face of hetch hetchy reservoir dam, park officials. Whitney, former state geologist of california, stated that hetch hetchy valley is not on quite as grand a scale as yosemite valley. View route map, weather, streetviews, images, slideshows, videos and more for this cycling route to the top of hetch hetchy dam climb, ca, usa. Hetch hetchy water tunnel in danger of catastrophic collapse. Between 1908 and 19, congress debated whether to make a water resource available or preserve a wilderness when the growing city of san francisco, california proposed building a dam in the hetch hetchy valley to provide a steady water supply. Groups pushing for more public access to hetch hetchy reservoir. The hetch hetchy project was a major contributor to the history of tuolumne county affecting its natural environment and economic development. Hetch hetchys hh turnoff is about a mile from the highway 120 gate and about 10 miles in. Dam water, power, politics, and preservation in hetch. The hetchhetchy issue resurfaced in 1988 when then interior secretary don hodel proposed that the city of san francisco undertake a feasibility study to determine if the dam could be removed and the valley restored.
In 19, after more than a decade of debate, congress passed the raker act approving the dam. Yosemite national park kpix 5 hetch hetchy reservoir is considered san franciscos main water supply and the city is very. But in 19, congress allowed san francisco to clearcut, dam and flood hetch hetchy valley. Taking new tack in hetch hetchy battle the new york times. Water managers drop the ball on hetch hetchy california. Yosemite national parks hetch hetchy valley was filled with water from. As water managers and conservationists are becoming aware of the new normal for water quality in hetch hetchy, dam removal is quietly being revisited. Details are still being investigated over the circumstances that led to the sudden death of a hetch hetchy hiker over this past week.
I almost wrote about the original hetch hetchy valley and how it was dammed, but decided to keep ca water wars out of the blogat least for now. Here you can get away from the crowds and relax in the surrounding beauty, take some marvelous hikes and enjoy the waterfalls along the way. Today the 117billiongallon reservoir supplies pristine drinking water to 2. Aug, 2014 mountain tunnel, a key part of the hetch hetchy water system which supplies 2. Many hiking trails begin from oshaughnessy dam and some of hetch hetchys most beautiful features are easily seen from the top of the dam. Operating a dam and reservoir in an iconic valley within yosemite national park is not, in 2015, a reasonable method of. Hidden in yosemite national parks peaceful northwest corner, hetch hetchy valley is a treasure worth visiting in all seasons. Hetch hetchy reservoir and oshaughnessy dam youtube. Hetch hetchy water reaches san francisco peninsula.