Hetch Hetchy, Unsung Hero of the National Park Service In this post from July 8, 2015, I discuss some of the history of how a dam and reservoir could be placed in a National Park. It pitted Gifford Pinchot, America's first forester, against John Muir, America's legendary conservationist.. With negatives comes positives, in this case the hoover dam helped us control the colorado river which was and still is one our main resources. Hetch Hetchy is a valley, a reservoir, and a water system in California in the United States.The glacial Hetch Hetchy Valley lies in the northwestern part of Yosemite National Park and is drained by the Tuolumne River.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. Up to 24% cash back (the hetch hetchy was a part of yosemite national park.) Many worry that it will intrude on property rights, while others believe that it will be a danger to the environment. The cost of filtration is included in our figures. Fresno transpires as one of the fastest growing population county, and they accustomed to obtaining high temperatures. They also cannot pass through because there is going to be a dam in there way. 1244). For example, raising a dam on another reservoir in the system could flood another stretch of the Tuolumne River that, while outside Yosemite National Park, is designated as a national Wild and Scenic River. This would also mean that park of the national park would be flooded destroying the forest and nature living in the valley.The common view among americans was that is was in the most part for the greater good. So San Francisco won the day, fair and square. Donald Hodel, then Secretary of the Interior, suggested that . But with them building the dam the water level would lower down making it harder to be at a safe distance from the ground. Considering the context of the hetch hetchy debate at the time,. Feb 13, 2022. It is recommended that the water is either boiled for 5 minutes before drinking, heavily filtered, or an iodine based purifier is used.. Restoring Hetch Hetchy could also come at an environmental cost. These two viewpoints came into conflict when the Hetch Hetchy project was proposed to create a water supply above San Francisco. Due to its high-altitude location at 3,900 feet above sea level and its snowmelt-fed water supply, water from Hetch . Nevertheless, like anything else worthwhile, from the very beginning, however well guarded, they have always been subject to attack by despoiling gain-seekers and mischief-makers of every degree from Satan to Senators, eagerly trying to make everything immediately and selfishly commercial, with schemes disguised in smug-smiling philanthropy, industriously, shampiously crying, Conservation, conservation, panutilization, that man and beast may be fed and the dear Nation made great. The Hetch Hetchy Controversy, 1903-13: Additional Resources in the Again, as I said in an earlier post about the nature of the government and of the Department of Interior more specifically, their job was of managing the land resources for progressive purposes (water use, timber, land appropriation). This grossly destructive commercial scheme has long been planned and urged (though water as pure and abundant can be got from sources outside of the peoples park, in a dozen different places), because of the comparative cheapness of the dam and of the territory which it is sought to divert from the great uses to which it was dedicated in the Act of 1890 establishing the Yosemite National Park. Hetch Hetchy today | Restore Hetch Hetchy . Water data back to 1930 are available online. List of the Advantages of Dams. One of the most positives outcomes was that came from the control of the colorado river was that the crops were able to be saved because the unpredictable floods were no longer occurring. Ive posted on this subject a number of times (see the links below). The club continues opening National Parks, building monuments and dams in rivers and protecting the sequoia trees in many other parks (The Sierra Club). If the dams were not built then till this day there would still be and uncontrollable and an uncontrollable, In response to this discussion, Senators Kyl and McCain wrote the article, An Endless Tribal Water Fight, in hopes of defending the intentions of their bill. He was able to see firsthand the damage humans were causing. Its not just San Francisco.. Leopold grew up in the 1800s when the railroads were being built and all the forests were being cut down to make room for them. Next well ask for a review from the state Supreme Court.. Its not going to be easy or simple and, maybe, not even feasible. Building a dam on the tuolumne river at hetch. Hello, my name is Jeff Kreider. But while it is deemed as very beneficial, it also has its downsides. But there are signs all over Yosemite about not drinking the water because of the Giardia parasites. Maybe well find a legal one, allowing all parties to see alternative ways to handle the water system that would benefit both San Francisco AND visitors to Yosemite. The tragedy in essence due to unrestricted use and access to a limited resource, which ultimately leads to the reduction of the resource as a result of over-exploitation. This decision concluded a decade-long, highly contentious debate over the dam-and-reservoir complex to supply water to post-earthquake San Francisco, a battle that was . He is arguing that the conservationist only care about the real dollar cost for the project without consideration for what will be. The dam had been completed by the city of San Francisco in 1923, after years of controversy over flooding the magnificent Hetch Hetchy Valley, the smaller twin of Yosemite Valley. Back in the early nineteen hundreds, when the debate start about The Hetch Hetchy dam being built a large majority of people did not realize or care how valuable nature is. Everyone has at least seen or heard of an argument or dispute involving the environment. Ultimately, pro-reservoir forces won, and in 1913 Congress passed the Raker Act, which granted San . 01 of 05. Sure, Restore Hetch Hetchy had some suggestions, but San Francisco has to do the research; they know what functionality they need. At least, not at this time. By california standards, hetch hetchy is not a large reservoir. 9. Basically, that is what the petition (suit) filed by Restore Hetch Hetchy is all about; that is, to come up with a plan to rework the water system so that Hetch Hetchy Valley does not need to be used to store the water. 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, lift them to the Almighty Dollar. The Great Hetch Hetchy Debate - Bay Area Monitor Due the logging proposal there have been various lawsuit claims from Cascadia Wild and Oregon Wild conservation groups. NEXT. Theodore roosevelt approved the concept of the o'shaughnessy dam, which ultimately created the hetch hetchy reservoir within yosemite. Legal issues aside, is it theoretically possible to change the Hetch Hetchy water system? 16 Main Pros and Cons of Hydropower - Green Garage Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and its encompassing valley have a mild climate year-round and one of Yosemite's longest hiking . Dbq Hetchy Project - 663 Words | Internet Public Library Attraction of tourists. A society as advanced as the humans on earth must have areas of wilderness regulated by the government. Note: you may use the handout or navigate to our feature on the Hetch Hetchy Environmental Debates to access the overview and copy of the Raker Bill. There is no question in my mind that historical precedence goes to San Francisco in keeping the reservoir right where it is. students will explore the divisions this controversy exposed within the conservation movement by using teacher selected documents and text representative of both sides of the debate along with actual records of the congressional hearings held to decide the valley's fate. 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. Protective measure against floods. McEwen, a journalist, acquired a position in The Fresno Bee for 35 years. 17 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Dams - Green Garage Restoration would not only make Yosemite whole once again it would inspire people that we don't need to live with . It carried workers and materials for the dam, as well as tourists, postage and other amenities. In 1913, President Woodrow Wilson signed legislation approving the construction of the O'Shaughnessy Dam to inundate the Hetch Hetchy Valley inside Yosemite National Park. Hetch Hetchy Valley as a repository for the water from the Tuolumne River belongs to San Francisco, et al. Thats because Hetch Hetchy Reservoir has built-in advantages that save huge amounts of money. need to think this through better) The Keystone Pipeline has been debated for sometime now. Argument Against The Hetchy Dam - 587 Words - Internet Public Library Source: John Muir, The Yosemite (New York: Century, 1912), 255257, 260262. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park is seen in 2022. The Public Works Administration (PWA) funded a major increase in the height of the O'Shaughnessy Dam, which creates Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Bringing to light the question of progress or plants (for this purpose it is a generic term encompassing various flora and fauna)? In the essay Thinking Like A Mountain, Aldo Leopold tell us how important is sustainability. Hetch Hetchy Debate Pros And Cons. We cant build more dams as long as the radical environmental laws make their construction impossible(McClintock). I imagine a meadow, dotted with oak, pine, and fir trees, and with the Tuolumne River meandering through it, said Rosekrans, executive director of Restore Hetch Hetchy, a Berkeley-based nonprofit. One claim in particular from the conservervation groups is, It says the logging requires building a road through two areas of virgin forest, which would make them ineligible for future wilderness designation (Juillerat, OPB). Some of the costs would be operational, recurring year after year. The proposed dam in Hetch Hetchy Valley was to supply fresh water and electricity to San Francisco. Stated in one of his essays This grossly destructive commercial scheme has long been planned and urged, because of the comparative cheapness of the dam. How feasible is restoration? Water quality would remain high. students will explore the divisions this controversy exposed within the conservation movement by using teacher selected documents and text representative of both sides of the debate along with actual records of the congressional hearings held to decide the valley's fate. Between 1850 and 1910, forests were cleared at a rate, They feel that being able to enjoy the natural beauty of the world was more beneficial to humanity than collecting resources from it and destroying it in the process. Steve Ritchie, a San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) water manager who oversees the Hetch Hetchy system, says storing the water elsewhere would cost billions of dollars. By being able to connect socially and politically Pinchot was able to push his agenda to improve environmental, The plan that has been proposed by Bybee Logging Company is, a reckless proposal, the Bybee Timber Sale, which involves national forest land on the edge of Crater Lake National Park (Environment Oregon). 1. In July of this year, the judges affirmed the previous ruling in favor of San Francisco: The trial court correctly concluded Restore Hetch Hetchys claims are preempted under federal law.. Ultimately, passage of the passage of the Raker Act in 1913 by Congress granted San Francisco the right to flood the Hetch Hetchy Valley. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike. Which they got more crops, which they used to get more money. So more people started to stay and the town's population became bigger. Another positive impact on yuma from the project. In contrast, the recreational value of a restored valley is estimated to be $B 8.7 over 50 years far greater than the cost of making it possible. Department of the interior. Preservationist and Sierra Club founder John Muir did not testify before Congress, but he argued against the Hetch Hetchy plan in this excerpt from his 1912 book, The Yosemite. Knapp and Americans view of the issue of the environment that the U.S. had been properly using the resources it had taken from the earth. People who do not fully control the sources of their energy may take it for granted and waste it, however if they make changes in their lifestyle, these dangers can be avoided. The river later turned away flowing West, and led into the Southern California Salton Sink river. Hetch Hetchy: Congress and the Environment | National Archives This November, a group of environmental advocates will put forth a ballot measure that would require the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to develop a plan to drain Hetch Hetchy. I welcome comments on this post (as I do on anything posted). There is a waiver for FILTERING but not for TREATMENT. The Hetchy Dam controversy of the early 1900's was a debate that shaped how America has dealt with the environment since. The Hetch Hetchy Project controversy brought into sharp relief the difference between conservation and preservation. The two sides include Preservationists who wanted to preserve Hetch Hetchy and Conservationist who believed that we should take advantage of the resources Hetch Hetchy provides. The Progressive Eras most controversial environmental issue was the 19081913 struggle over federal government approval for building the Hetch Hetchy dam in a remote corner of federally-owned land in Californias Yosemite National Park. The Hetch Hetchy entrance to the park is a gateway to Yosemite Valley's breathtaking cousin. Hetch Hetchy Valley, far from being a plain, common, rock-bound meadow, as many who have not seen it seem to suppose, is a grand landscape garden, one of Nature's rarest and most precious mountain temples. Provide at least two arguments supporting your position. Hetch Hetchy: Pros and Cons of Restoration. So the water is officially considered to be safer than most water sources, but not safe to drink unfiltered and untreated. Though the system fosters this behavior, it is the individuals that increase their usage of the commons and play into the hand of the failed system as opposed to standing up against it. 1245). The Hetch Hetchy Project controversy brought into sharp relief the difference between conservation and preservation. 2. 98 Hetch Hetchy Dam Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images Find Hetch Hetchy Dam stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. 1243). of 5. Rebuttal to the Argument in Opposition to Restoration. When Spreck Rosekrans visits Hetch Hetchy the valley in Yosemite National Park that San Francisco turned into a reservoir nearly a century ago he looks beyond what is. However, not until 1987 under President Reagan did hope resurfaced that we may actually get it back. If they expand filtration at Sunol, they would need to break gravity at that point. Explore hetch hetchy - view hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. Rules were not set in the early stages of the parks, so people would overkill the animals and damage the trees by puncturing the outer layer . . 29 Crucial Pros & Cons of Dams - E&C The pipeline is called the Dakota Access Pipeline project and is being built by the Energy Transfer Partners company. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, a source of drinking water for 2.7 million people in the City of San Francisco, is viewed from O'Shaughnessy Dam on October. The O'Shaughnessy Dam was completed in . True, a smaller Lake Eleanor was already there. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir Pictures, Images and Stock Photos It uses a free resource. Hetch Hetchy water travels 160 miles via gravity from . The brought and gave good to yuma and went through the colorado river because yuma was mostly a flood plain at a constant level. Hetch-Hetchy - Theodore Roosevelt approved the concept of John Muir was the main proponent for the preservationists. Note they also derive water from local watersheds and do filter that supply. At Congressional hearings on Hetch Hetchy held in 1913, supporters of the plan like Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief Forester of the United States and a noted environmentalist, argued that conservation of natural resources was best achieved through management of the wilderness. Reliable: Tidal currents are predictable. In the end Congress chose management over aesthetics, voting 43-25 (with 29 abstentions) to allow the Hetch Hetchy dam on federal land. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. Why We Need Hetch Hetchy More Than Ever | SPUR The notion that we could restore Hetch Hetchy would be very attractive if it didnt have any other effects but it does, Ritchie said, adding that the water goes to about one third of the people in the Bay Area. Due to the high intelligence level of human, we often think that we know what are the consequences of our action, and do things the way we like without knowing the real impact that we cause. Rosekrans had previously worked at the Environmental Defense Fund, a New York-based environmental advocacy nonprofit, where he was lead author of the 2004 report Paradise Regained: Solutions for Restoring Yosemites Hetch Hetchy Valley. 4. Then in 1913, when it was reconsidered, the Raker Act was passed. INTEGR A O, A D A P TA O, RECONVERSO Planeamento urbano da orla costeira face subida da gua do mar no caso de Vila Ch. 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. Wilderness is a type of protection given to the most pristine wildlands left on Earth areas within national parks, forests, recreation areas and other wildlands where there are no roads or development. See Also:Giving a Dam: Congress Debates Hetch Hetchy, Giving a Dam: Congress Debates Hetch Hetchy.