Hetch Hetchy, a glacially carved valley situated in the northern end of the park, was flooded and dammed in the early 1900s in order to serve as the primary drinking water source for parts of San Francisco and the Bay Area. Application Opening: February 10, 2023 Application Filing Deadline: March 3, 2023 Hourly Compensation: $27.3125 Recruitment ID: RTF0131751-01138303 (131752) APPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary Exempt: This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer. The waterfall on the Tuolumne is now submerged under Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. 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. The reservoir provides water to a large portion of the Bay Area through a 160 mile delivery. The first people, outside of Native Americans, to see the Hetch Hetchy Valley were Joseph, Nate and William Screechin 1850. Hetch Hetchy water travels 160 miles via gravity from . [40] The city would repeatedly try to acquire water rights to Hetch Hetchy, including in 1901, 1903 and 1905, but was continually rebuffed because of conflicts with irrigation districts that had senior water rights on the Tuolumne River, and because of the valley's national park status. Everyone who drinks water or takes a shower in San Francisco should go. From the turn-off, the road winds for 16.5 miles up the old Hetch Hetchy railroad grade (26.5 km) to the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, passing many lonely trails along the way. [4] A broad, low rocky outcrop situated between Kolana Rock and Hetch Hetchy Dome divided the former meadow in two distinct sections. This time, in favor of those who wanted to build the dam. In the autumn of 1871, John Muir visited Hetch Hetchy for the first time. Pinchot was Americas Forester. He served as the first head of the United States Forest Service. Second, the sanctity of the national parks which they believed should not be violated. 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 first is utilitarian conservation. [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. Through the manipulation of water, the company also had the power to determine which real estate became valuable and which languished. The extensive amount of storage, which is designed to benefit the Bay Area as droughts become more severe with climate. Hoover Dam. This can be very disorienting to fish and disrupt their migrations as they depend on steady streams and flows to guide them. The deciding factor was whether or not the land in question had access to water. They were both initially carved by rivers flowing down the Sierras relatively gentle western slope. [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. I will agree to take down Hetch Hetchy, when we first replace it with a bigger new reservoir such as a bigger taller Yosemite Valley dam at El Capitan. Hetch Hetchy is the incredible story of Americas most controversial dam and the birth of the environmental movement. 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 falls roar in spring and early summer. Said San Francisco resident William Denman in 1918, "The first time I went into the Hetch Hetchy the mosquitoes were intolerable. Gray pine, incense-cedar, and California black oak grow in abundance. As of 2013, the water storage and hydroelectric power supplied by the Hetch Hetchy Project serviced an estimated 2.6 million people in the San Francisco Bay Area. The water from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is used to supply system customers as well as to generate hydroelectric power; the reservoir is also operated to provide instream flows to benefit fisheries and other wildlife. We're not going to remove this dam, and the funding is unnecessary. Bierstadts paintings and Muirs writings began to publicize the beauty of the Hetch Hetchy Valley. [41], In 1906, after a major earthquake and subsequent fire that devastated San Francisco, the inadequacy of the city's water system was made tragically clear. Animals were principally driven along Joseph Screech's trail from Big Oak Flat to Hetch Hetchy. Instead, it was a more complicated battle which pitted public interests against private interests. Apply Today! "[32], In 1867, Charles F. Hoffman of the California Geological Survey conducted the first survey of the valley. a strong proponent of restoring Hetch Hetchy Valley and Senator Feinstein is still[when?] In the sum of American economic expansion the intrusion might have seemed a minor, obscure matter, but to [John] Muir immense issues were involved: why had the nation preserved that pure wildness in the first place? The reservoir supplies water for the city of San Francisco, so there is no recreational boating or swimming allowed. Although there are relatively few visitors to Hetch Hetchy, youll find most of them along the trail to Wapama Fall. The chief began packing up and, when Nate asked him why, he replied, The valley is yours now., Far below them, the river cascaded into a peaceful valley floor, a heavenly setting similar to that of the main Yosemite Valley. In 2019, Restore Hetch Hetchy commissioned another study that found enormous recreational value from removing the dam. Photo: Kim Lawson. Exactly how San Francisco won the right to transform the bucolic valley into a 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. Photo: Kim Lawson. 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. Would that be an improvement? If youre especially in the mood to relax and let yourself be taken care of, The Blackberry Inn is a luxury bed and breakfast situated on 36 acres and surrounded by National Forest land. 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. Dam the Hetch Hetchy! [42] This provoked a seven-year environmental struggle with the environmental group Sierra Club, led by John Muir. 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. But how did the dam get to be here? There are thousands of dams in the United States. Learn what to expect from Mirror Lake in various seasons. The trail includes spectacular views of Tueeulala and Wapama Falls. O'Shaughnessey Dam Facts. . Many are vital pieces of infrastructure that provide reliable water supplies, hydropower, flood control, and recreation. DWRs meta-study found a range of costs from $3 billion to $10 billion for restoration and replacement of water and power sources. benefits of hetch hetchy dam. Another popular trail crosses the OShaughnessy Dam and then takes a left turn to climb steeply out of the Hetch Hetchy valley. The controversy over damming Hetch Hetchy became mired in the political issues of the day. 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. 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 . Impounded by O'Shaughnessy Dam, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir water passes through hydroelectric powerhouses before it enters the San Joaquin Pipelines, the Tesla Ultraviolet Treatment Facility, and the Coast Range Tunnel on its journey to the Bay Area. Photo: Chris Migeon View of the OShaughnessy Dam and the Hetchy Hetchy Road and parking. If youre up for a driving adventure, try taking a little extra time to retrace parts of the route John Muir described in his book, My First Summer in the Sierra. As a consequence, visitors came to experience it for themselves. Then, in 1906, a devastating earthquake caused a series of fires in San Francisco that destroyed 25,000 buildings across 490 city blocks. The law authorizing the dam passed Congress on December 7, 1913. Photo: Theresa Ho, Of course, the proposal was immediately opposed by environmentalists including the Sierra Club and John Muir. Surrounding the water are a few waterfalls, the most prominent being Tueeulala and Wapama Falls, and countless rock features. 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. Residents drink it in 26 cities and water districts from San. 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. In contrast to the utilitarian view, the preservationist approach denied the assumption that the natural world existed solely to serve mans purposes. Forests might provide for the material well-being of human beings, but they did not exist for this reason alone. [17] The valley's abundant plants provided nourishment for mule deer, black bears and bighorn sheep. [53], As completed, O'Shaughnessy Dam is 910 feet (280m) long, spanning the valley at its narrow outlet. The larger issues at stake would frame environmental debates for years to come. 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. For example, plan to stop at the Lucky Buck Cafe on your way to or from a day of exploring Yosemite. 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. All offers, including but not limited to, bonus amenities, upgrades, prices, and group benefits are based on select dates, resorts, room categories, and/or fare codes. OPTION 3Give control to the local people of Hetch Hetchy Should natural resources be used to serve the greatest good for the greatest number? A recent report evaluates the economic benefits of restoring Hetch Hetchy Valley. Hetch Hetchy is unique because of its small holding capacity in comparison to the vast watershed feeding it. If the nation set aside some natural places as especially sacred, how far beyond their borders should a sense of the sacred extend? Have all students read the debate overview and page one of the HR 7207, the "Raker Bill". The most prominent preservationist spokesman was John Muir.. We have historic photographs to remind us of what Hetch Hetchy Valley looked like before the dam was built. That reservoir is New Don Pedro, and it rests over existing pipelines to the Bay Area. Richard Ballinger was a conservative who was one of the main characters who was responsible for the progressive-conservative split in the GOP in 1912 (leading to the creation of the Bull Moose party), which is the factor that determined the GOP would be on the right side of the political spectrum (and therefore ensuring the Democrats would be on the left side of the spectrum). [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). The Sites Reservoir a $4.4 billion project to add dams and store more water that'll be sent south is still years away from completion. The dam and reservoir are the source for the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct, which provides water for over . Youll just need to see them for yourself. Restore Hetch Hetchy and the Environmental Defense Funds own studies support a lower cost estimate, ranging from $1 billion to $2 billion. 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. The Blackberry Inn Bed and Breakfast is just one of many welcoming businesses located on the way to Hetch Hetchy. Winter weather conditions may cause road closures. 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. San Francisco was able to accomplish this in 1925 by claiming it had run out of funds to extend the Hetch Hetchy transmission line all the way to the city. In an effort to build this support, he published his bookThe Yosemitein 1912. In continuance, water has a personality and the presence of it can change moods and help people feel better. 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. There have been lawsuits over whether San Francisco violated the agreements of the Raker Act. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, encompassing 2,000 acres of federal park land, has clearly been maintained for the benefit of San Francisco with minimal consideration of the wider public whose tax dollarsand, in the case of visitors, entrance feessupport the national park. Required fields are marked *. ", "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. Divide the class into four small groups. Healthy fish populations - by releasing sufficient instream flows for spawning and rearing downstream - sometimes to mitigate for the loss of spawning habitat caused by their construction, and Earn $27.3125 per hour. As well dam for water-tanks the peoples cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man.. Watershed Worker (Summer, 2023) - Hetch Hetchy Water & Power (Moccasin) - SFPUC (7542) Job at City and County of San Francisco in Moccasin. Hetch Hetchy is dammed by the 430-foot-tall OShaughnessy Dam and has a storage capacity of 360,360 acre-feet. [84] Karin Klein has described Yosemite Valley as "so crammed that it looks more like a ripstop ghetto than the site of a nature experience.