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. This splendid book will be the definitive history of the hetch hetchy controversy for. The real questions are what will be done with the dam materials once the dam is destroyed, and are environmental benefits attainable. 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. At one point she asked muir to read a book she felt would influence his thinking, lamartines. Spend the night so you can roast smores under the stars at the. Oldest native american basket found in hetch hetchy valley and central california paiute indian burden basket. 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.
A map and guide to hetch hetchy reservoir at yosemite. The battle over hetch hetchy solidified the preservationist movement and created a new push to preserve our national treasures. The hetch hetchy group says the city would lose 20 percent of its 1. Then, john muir railed that congress might just as well flood a cathedral. Because of its lower elevation, hetch hetchy has the parks longest hiking season in the area. Oshaughnessy dam is a 430foot 1 m high concrete archgravity dam in tuolumne county, california, in the united states. A century later, the battle for hetch hetchy continues. The city had originally requested permission from the federal government to build a dam within the boundaries. Hetch hetchy has generated controversy since it was first proposed as a source of water following the 1906 san francisco earthquake. Hetch hetchy and a century of environmentalism sierra club.
The building of oshaughnessy dam hetch hetchy reservoir provides water for 2. There are also seasons that the water at the dam was drained however with the proper maintenance and with the help of the residence within the place, the dam remains as one of the most well known dam in the greater of united states. Sep 29, 2012 the group restore hetch hetchy, the sierra club and other supporters of draining the reservoir say most of its 360,000 acrefeet of water storage can be replaced through more water conservation. Usgs current conditions for usgs 11275500 hetch hetchy res a. The raker act of 19 was an act of congress which established the right to build a dam to create the hetch hetchy reservoir within the confines of the yosemite national park.
The dam and reservoir are the source for the hetch hetchy aqueduct, which provides water. Head to hetch hetchy for a new perspective of yosemite. The fight over a dam in yosemite national park marked the birth of the. Hidden in yosemite national parks peaceful northwest corner, hetch hetchy valley is a treasure worth visiting in all seasons. The hetch hetchy valley was within yosemite national park and protected by the federal government, leaving it up to congress to decide the valleys fate.
For many in the conservation community, however, hetch hetchy refers to the epic battle over building a dam in yosemite national park which culminated 19. A special provision in the act bans bathing within the reservoir, effec. Nov, 2015 though muirwhose impassioned writings drove congress to make yosemite a national park in 1890died of pneumonia on christmas eve in 1914, it was the creation of a reservoir at hetch hetchy. Hetch hetchy reservoir yosemite national park 2020 all. Hetch hetchy environmental debates national archives. The group restore hetch hetchy, the sierra club and other supporters of draining the reservoir say most of its 360,000 acrefeet of water storage can be. Pisani, university of oklahoma the battle over hetch hetchy is something beyond merely the best book anyone has ever written on confluence of canyon, dam, and city that so shaped the story of the modern american west. If forced to identify one overreaching reason for the dam s existence, it was a failure of the democratic process or, perhaps more accurately, the bias of the democratic process toward san franciscos power and wealth. The glacial hetch hetchy valley lies in the northwestern part of yosemite national park and is drained by the tuolumne river. In 1912 john muir published his collection the yosemite, which included hetch hetchy valley, his essay singing the glories of the other yosemite valley and an argument against the construction of a dam that would flood the basin in order to provide water for san francisco. Undoing a great american mistake 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. Dam could be removed to restore yosemites lost hetch.
This splendid book will be the definitive history of the hetch hetchy controversy for years to come. Photo by herbert gleason, courtesy restore hetch hetchy. Water, power, politics, and preservation in hetch hetchy. Righters book directly engages several seminal environmental history texts. Hetch hetchy is the name of a valley, a reservoir and a water system in california in the united states. We also want to be included in the story of hetch hetchy, our beautiful valley. The hetch hetchy letters center of the american west. Roderick nash environmentalism and the hetch hetchy. Youre not about to be the only person who hasnt seen hetch hetchy reservoir, so its high time you see it your way. In 19, after more than a decade of debate, congress passed the raker act approving the dam. The push to drain yosemites hetch hetchy reservoir and restore the sierra. 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. 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.
Part 1 of several parts concerning the american indian indigenous history of hetch hetchy valley. Jul 23, 2012 the raker act of 19 was an act of congress which established the right to build a dam to create the hetch hetchy reservoir within the confines of the yosemite national park. Hetch hetchy was then a complex but harmonious aggregation of terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Since december 19, 19, when the raker act was signed by president wilson, there has been a lamentation on the loss of hetch hetchy valley. Pioneer conservationist john muir called it a remarkably exact counterpart to the. Dam water, power, politics, and preservation in hetch. The unfortunate story of the clearcutting, damming and flooding of hetch hetchy valley has been told many times in books and film. Why hetch hetchy is staying under water under water high. Eventually, when the issue was put on a ballot in 1908, it. To get the electricity they would need, they first built a smaller dam at lake eleanor. Though muirwhose impassioned writings drove congress to make yosemite a national park in 1890died of pneumonia on christmas eve in 1914, it was the creation of a. You can walk on several trails, ranging from two to miles long. Many hiking trails begin from oshaughnessy dam and some of hetch hetchys most beautiful features are easily seen from the top of the dam. Cheap hotels near hetch hetchy reservoir, groveland ca.
The government of the united states works hand in hand just to preserve the natural resources at hetch hetchy dam. Ultimately san francisco was allowed to build the dam but only after unprecedented controversy and days of intense debate in both houses of the u. As ken brower writes in his new book, hetch hetchy. Phelans faction continued to push for the tuolumne water option in washington. The hetchhetchy valley, by john muir, sierra club bulletin, january, 1908 hetch hetchy valley by john muir from his 1912 book, the yosemite. 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. But in the late 19th century, preserving public land in its natural state was a new and provocative idea.
As described by robert redford, hetch hetchy s damming turned into the defining struggle of the conservation movement. By constructing a dam at this very narrow gorge in the hetch hetchy valley, about 700 feet across, we create, not a reservoir, but a lake, because mr. Photo, print, drawing hetch hetchy dam being raised digital file from original photograph full online access to this resource is only available at the library of congress. Why are swimming and boating prohibited at hetch hetchy when. The san francisco public utilities commission owns and operates hetch hetchy power, which represents some of the cleanest energy available in california. Stereograph showing a small group of people next to railroad tracks atop a hillside overlooking the oshaughnessy dam and a portion of the hetch hetchy reservoir in california. Owned by san francisco, hetch hetchy reservoir in yosemite national park provides. Greens call for removing dam to restore hetch hetchy valley. View of oshaughnessy dam and hetch hetchy reservoir, california. Roderick nash environmentalism and the hetch hetchy debate. Muir described hetch hetchys dominant trees in his 1873 publication for the boston weekly transcript, the surface of hetch hetchy is diversified with groves and meadows in the same manner as yosemite, and the trees are identical in species. Techniques also exist to remove the material once the dam has been destroyed. Americas most controversial dam and the birth of modern environmentalism.
Widespread opposition to the raker act encouraged congress to change course. Oshaughnessy dam was completed in 1923 and on october 24, 1934, water from the hetch hetchy project finally began pouring into san francisco. John muir also known as john of the mountains and father of the national parks, was an. It is both a wellargued history and a beautifullywritten testimony of hubris and loss, even possible redemption. Building a dam in yosemite was allowed at a time when our national parks. The damming is often cited as having ignited the modern environmental movement. In 1924 the hetch hetchy railroad ceased operations as a common carrier.
Hetch hetchy valley was a spectacular valley highly populated with naturalists. Hetch hetchy quotes rausser college of natural resources. Hetch hetchy valley, by john muir, boston weekly transcript, march 25, 1873. Americas most controversial dam and the birth of modern environmentalism kindle edition by righter, robert w download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Lane helped san francisco with an allout legislative push to allow the city to dam hetch hetchy.
Hetch hetchy valley by john muir, from his 1912 book, the yosemite. Stored in hetch hetchy reservoir behind oshaughnessy dam, the water is delivered by a gravity based system and aqueduct to the bay area. Books, film and music the proposal to dam hetch hetchy valley in yosemite national park created unprecedented controversy and provoked editorials in opposition from more than 200 newspapers across the country. However, not until 1987 under president reagan did hope resurfaced that we may actually get it back.
How did the hetch hetchy project impact native americans. 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. Elegant, engaging, and frankly enraging exploration of the hetch hetchy controversy. Hotels near hetch hetchy reservoir you have a vacation wish list a mile long, but theres one spot that needs to be checked off now.
You cant find anyone today that says that dam should have. 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. Also later on, there was a controversy over glen canyon dam and that was. Why are swimming and boating prohibited at hetch hetchy. In 1908, san francisco voters approved building a dam at hetch hetchy. Jun 18, 2019 introduced by congressman john raker dca, h.
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 battle went on for over a decade over whether or not to have a dam. Sierra foothills dam, part of sfs hetch hetchy system. During the construction of the dam, the hetch hetchy railroad carried 400 tons of cement each day to the site.
Residents from san francisco, however, wanted to use the territory to get water for their growing population. However after hetch hetchy there were a number of controversies that had the same payers a dam on public land, a dam affecting a national park. Hetch hetchy and the meanings of american conservation jstor. 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. Building the hetch hetchy dam in such a remote location was an enormous project.
Lawsuit to drain hetch hetchy reservoir goes back to court. The ghosts of hetchhetchy by gene rose damming hetch hetchy by john muir, unpublished journal entry, c. Hetch hetchys hh turnoff is about a mile from the highway 120 gate and about 10 miles in. From the road, you can see the reservoir and along the reservoir are three hiking trails. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the battle over hetch hetchy. Usgs current conditions for usgs 11275500 hetch hetchy. Hetch hetchy valley, before the dam native history part. A cluster of ramshackle cabins built for the hetch hetchy dam workers in 1920, it is now a woodsychic cottage resort with a tavern, restaurant, and saltwater swimming pool.
For thousands of years before the arrival of settlers from the united states in the 1850s, the valley was inhabited. At the hetch hetchy reservoir, you can walk across the dam and learn more about areas history from the interpretive signs. San francisco was the big winner in the damming of hetch hetchy valley which provides a pristine water source and generates electricity for the city. Its hard to imagine the united states of america without our national parks. But hetch hetchy reservoir remains as a scar upon yosemite and our national park system. Hetch hetchy, the second largest municipal water system in the state and an engineering marvel, is his monument.
The physical dimensions of the oshaughnessy dam are. In 19, congress passed and wilson signed the raker act, allowing the dam and reservoir to be built. Why hetch hetchy is staying under water under water. View of oshaughnessy dam and hetch hetchy reservoir. But the san francisco lobbyists were able to push the act through congress. The building of the oshaughnessy dam and hetch hetchy reservoir in the middle of yosemite national parkdespite the availability of less expensive, less technically challenging, and less politically complicated possibilitiesset off a defining controversy in american environmentalism. If forced to identify one overreaching reason for the dams existence, it was a failure of the democratic process or, perhaps more accurately, the bias of the democratic process toward san franciscos power and wealth.
As well dam for watertanks the peoples cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man. After a hike, a microbrew might hit the spot, so drive nine miles from the trail to evergreen lodge. Before they could break ground at the o shaughnessy dam, more infrastructure was required. Hetch hetchy has generated controversy since it was first proposed as a source. Carl nolte, hetch hetchy at 60 is still causing controversy, san francisco chronicle, october 27, 19994, ppl. Robert righter, a history professor at southern methodist university, chronicles the damming of the hetch hetchy valley in yosemite national.
The senate, however, debated the measure extensively before passing the legislation on december 6, 19. Freeman, who has studied the situation in manchester or birmingham, where there is a similar case, has shown that by planting trees or vines over the dam, the idea of a dam, the appearance of a. For over 100 years this systemwhich utilizes the gravity flow of the citys water from source to taphas operated without producing any carbon emissions nor any radioactive byproducts. Apr 16, 2017 since december 19, 19, when the raker act was signed by president wilson, there has been a lamentation on the loss of hetch hetchy valley. While the loss was devastating to the preservationists, hetch hetchy became a rally cry to stop future dams from being built in national parks. 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. In john muirs eyes, the hetch hetchy valley of yosemite national park was one of natures rarest and most precious mountain temples. The hetch hetchy controversy is a nice parable for how californias water system and problems keep changing, said jay lund, director for the uc davis center for watershed sciences, as.
For the last one hundred years, various groups have lobbied to remove the dam, and next month a measure is on the ballot in san francisco to approve a study of how the valley might be restored and replaced with alternative sources of water and power. San francisco, quite frankly, has a lot of guilt, says robert righter, author of the 2005 book, the battle over hetch hetchy. Ultimately san francisco was allowed to build the dam but only after unprecedented controversy and days of. Water, power, politics, and preservation in hetch hetchy and yosemite national park book. The story of hetch hetchy valley is not quite over.