hetch hetchy dam pros and cons

On the other hand, Navajo representative, Ed Bencenti wrote the article, Senate Bill 2109 Seeks to Extinguish Navajo and Hopi Water Rights, in which he exposes the real intentions of the Senate Bill. . He is arguing that the conservationist only care about the real dollar cost for the project without consideration for what will be. Thats because Hetch Hetchy Reservoir has built-in advantages that save huge amounts of money. The issue at the time was should a portion of the public lands be given up as a right-of-way for San Francisco, et al, to store and transport water? Hetch Hetchy, California - Town Traveller Today, hetch hetchy valley is a dammed and flooded reservoir. Dam Hetch Hetchy! We can produce power from dams because of the kinetic energy of the water movements as it causes turbines to spin. Hardin defines the commons as finite, usually natural, resources that are shared and freely accessible to everyone (1968, pp. Only AFTER the Raker Act was put into place and AFTER the establishment of the National Park Service, was there any supportable cause to dissuade such usage in the future, but certainly NOT retro-actively. As a reservoir, Hetch Hetchy is part of a system that provides water to 2.4 million people in the San Francisco Bay Area. Nevertheless it would be nice if we could reverse that unfortunate turn of events. A decade later the O'Shaughnessy Dam, the second largest civil engineering project of its day after the Panama Canal, was completed. At least, not at this time. I think I can partially answer your question. Hetch Hetchy Railroad - Wikipedia Water data back to 1930 are available online. Today, however, that valley is under 300 feet of water. He wrote the book, A Sand County Almanac. Considering the context of the hetch hetchy debate at the time,. Hetch Hetchy Environmental Debates. I reached out to Restore Hetch Hetchy and asked them, WHY Restore Hetch Hetchy wants the valley restored. In response, Spreck Rosekrans, Executive Director said (among other things): 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.. The money was used for city to make more towns. 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. If you don't look at the dam and think about how it holds back the Tuolumne River and covers a valley that John Muir compared (pre-dam) to Yosemite Valley, it actually looks like another beautiful Yosemite mountain lake. Bringing to light the question of progress or plants (for this purpose it is a generic term encompassing various flora and fauna)? The reason why DAPL is important is because of the fact that it is running over ancient indian land, and not only that it is going over their water source.The clean water the Sioux once had could be gone in just a few months with DAPL going over the standing rocks water (Michael Bennet). Note they also derive water from local watersheds and do filter that supply. "Dam Hetch Hetchy!" - I Take History Next well ask for a review from the state Supreme Court.. Muir believed that people coming back from the rough backwoods will support the protection of Yosemite National Park. So Restore Hetch Hetchy filed an appeal with the Court of Appeals in Fresno, which heard arguments from both sides in May of this year. The debate featured those for the proposed dam the conservationists and those opposed the preservationists. John Muir believed that nature was an example of the power of god and creation, and that the use of nature through management was an act of defamation. 29 Crucial Pros & Cons of Dams - E&C Theodore Roosevelt approved the concept of the O'Shaughnessy Dam, which ultimately created the Hetch Hetchy reservoir within Yosemite. Effective at low speeds: Water has a density 1,000 times greater than air, making it possible to generate electricity at low speeds. Building a dam on the tuolumne river at hetch. Others believe that itll benefit the economy and will not have major impact on the environment. Final we learn if mans ownership of land compared to those who also inhabitant it is more important. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir (Yosemite National Park) - Tripadvisor On the global level, many people recognize the wisdom in preserving wilderness simply because the Earth itself is our home and should be respected and honored. True, a smaller Lake Eleanor was already there. Draining Hetch Hetchy | National Parks Traveler United States. Why we must restore Hetch Hetchy - SFGATE Building a dam on the Tuolumne River at Hetch . Don Pedro is operated by the Turlock and Modesto Irrigation Districts, but 1/3 of its volume is dedicated to a water supply bank for San Francisco. 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. A society as advanced as the humans on earth must have areas of wilderness regulated by the government. In the end Congress chose management over aesthetics, voting 43-25 (with 29 abstentions) to allow the Hetch Hetchy dam on federal land. Pros: The damming and flooding of Hetch Hetchy, which is a portion of Yosemite National Park, is by far the biggest harm our national parks have ever seen. 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. Since they built the dam, yuma became a bigger city which a lot of people passed through it to get to the gold rush. It would be much easier to fight for restoration if we had some bad guys to rally against, but I dont see any. The don pedro reservoir, downstream from hetch hetchy, on the tuolumne river, currently has. I see that in July of 2010 an article on SFGATE.com (by Kelly Zito of the Chronicle at http://www.sfgate.com/green/article/Anti-dam-group-questions-Hetch-Hetchy-water-3257983.php), expressed that same concern. Department of the interior. of 5. It pitted a powerful city against a dedicated group of conservationists. In re applications of A. H. Ward and Mariposa electrical . Its going to be used to transport oil to the United States from Canada. There are already info-structure issues before San Francisco, such as required earthquake retrofits. Newest results. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. When people are not aware of where their energy comes from, it threatens their values and ideals. The balttle over hetch hetchy robert w. In 2015, Restore Hetch Hetchy filed a lawsuit against the City and County of San Francisco, seeking a ruling that Hetch Hetchy Reservoir violated California law. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and its encompassing valley have a mild climate year-round and one of Yosemite's longest hiking . Between 1908 and 1913, 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. 8. Owned by the city of San Francisco, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir provides water to 2.7 million residents and businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a boy Aldo Leopold thought by killing the predators on the mountain, there will be more deer to hunt which is an advantage for the hunters; however, he did not know that his action could affect the sustainability of the mountain. Some people are outraged by the pipeline because it contributes to man-made climate change. Therefore, this proves that Bybee Logging Company would cause an act of infringement to the Antiquities Act. repositorio-aberto.up.pt But changing the system would be jaw-droppingly expensive. Proceedings before the secretary of the interior. 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 America's wilderness. 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. Hetch Hetchy Valley, Yosemite National Park, California The Greatest Ultimately, the difference between preservation and conservation was highlight by the. Again, San Francisco Water Public Records did not respond to the argument In Favor of Restoration, so let me share what I have learned from various resources. But that is what the suite is all about. The valley is in Yosemite National park would deliver power and water to the city over 100 miles away. 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. The projected restored the natural habitat of the river and opened it up to its original course from the Olympic Mountains to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. 3. It would not take much to increase the capacity to store all of what Hetch Hetchy currently stores. Yuma's irrigation in the past was horrible but has gotten better throughout the years. The Don Pedro reservoir, downstream from Hetch Hetchy, on the Tuolumne River, currently has the capacity to hold ALL the water in the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. His sorrow and melancholy mood towards the possible destruction of the stunning ecosystem is obvious: I was saddened to think of the tragedy that might occur if this great wilderness was consumed by a web of roads and pipelines, drilling rigs and industrial facilities. Additionally, Carter appeals to the nation by choosing words such as, tremendous opposition by the American people, symbol of our national heritage, and it will be a grand triumph for America to give the reader a feeling of importance towards this problem. It is recommended that the water is either boiled for 5 minutes before drinking, heavily filtered, or an iodine based purifier is used. Though the article demonstrated (at least, to me) that there were political retorts on both sides of the issue, the fact that the contracted giardiasis rates were higher than in other areas of California was not contested. Then What? Then in 1913, when it was reconsidered, the Raker Act was passed. 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. Lund estimates that being able to forego filtration saves the SFPUC $1 or $2 billion every year. Pinchot would soon face opposition from ranchers and miners that began to hurt his position on conservation. Building a dam on the Tuolumne River at Hetch Hetchy was fiercely debated when it was proposed in the early 1900s, and the reservoir continues to spark controversy today. It is my goal to use this site to share, not only my experiences and photos, but also some of its history and the tales of those who forged it. 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. Today, however, that valley is under 300 feet of water. Drain Hetch Hetchy? Voters Say, No Dam Way - Fog City Journal I have had no response on these questions. Up to 24% cash back (the hetch hetchy was a part of yosemite national park.) Description. 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. Causing more land to appear to use. The debate featured those for the proposed dam the conservationists and those opposed the preservationists. 01 of 05. My personal Yosemite tales, knowledge and park information. Pinchot made efforts to understand the physical and biological background behind forest fires and this would impress politicians and those who were involved in the environmental field. Others are mainly outraged because the Standing Rock Sioux tribe never agreed to the construction of the pipeline. Restoring the valley would return to Yosemite National Park a major asset. In the past there was always flood incidents due to the river being uncontrolled and overflowing. Something that had to do with the protests part is the Dakota Access Pipeline, or DAPL. (Hook. The Sierra Club also built a visitor and education center in 1898. Restore Hetch Hetchy is not anti-dam. Why is it so controversial? Due to the fact the logging company would be harming natural lands of the national, According to Jared Prince, The three purposes of the club - recreation, conservation, and education and are still major objectives of the club today (Prince). The leaders of the tribe say that Washington never considered their concerns, as required by the federal law (Worland). Hetch Hetchy Dam Environmental Debate - Emma Odom Hetch Fresno transpires as one of the fastest growing population county, and they accustomed to obtaining high temperatures. Hetchy Dam Pros And Cons - 1025 Words | Internet Public Library Reliable: Tidal currents are predictable. This photo from the early 1900s shows Hetch Hetchy Valley from the southwestern end, with the Tuolumne River flowing through the lower portion of the valley prior to damming. . 1244). Hetch Hetchy - Wikipedia As pollution and environmental destruction become a more imminent threat, humans must control their use of energy, preferably making sure not to use more than is necessary to sustain them. 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. The area where the Hetch Hetchy project was to take place was an established part of a national park and therefore off limits for human use. 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. So the water is officially considered to be safer than most water sources, but not safe to drink unfiltered and untreated. Restoring Hetch Hetchy could also come at an environmental cost. This created conflicts between the Conservationists and the Preservationists over the thought of building a dam in Hetch Hetchy. That anyone would try to destroy [Hetch Hetchy Valley] seems; incredible; but sad experience shows that there are people good enough and bad enough for anything. That is why I think it is good that the issue is now before the courts. The Hetch Hetchy Project controversy brought into sharp relief the difference between conservation and preservation. In the essay Thinking Like A Mountain, Aldo Leopold tell us how important is sustainability. How feasible is restoration? The Public Works Administration (PWA) funded a major increase in the height of the O'Shaughnessy Dam, which creates Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. 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. Agencies Accelerate Efforts to Build Transit-Oriented Development, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. 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." John Muir, 1909. Hetch Hetchy was the first major battle of the environmental movement. Copyright 2014-2023 Yosemite Tales | Powered by WordPress | Design by Starry Night Web Designs. 1245). Legal issues aside, is it theoretically possible to change the Hetch Hetchy water system? What Are The Pros And Cons Of Hydraulic Fracturing 292 Words | 2 Pages . He also gives the specific dilemma that, The Hetchy Dam controversy of the early 1900s was a debate that shaped how America has dealt with the environment since. He argued that conservationists only wished to dam Hetch Hetchy as it would be low cost and saw no value in its natural state. You may take easy hike to Wapama falls ( around 6 miles) or even more challenging hike to Rancheria falls ( around 14 miles). Today, hetch hetchy valley is a dammed and flooded reservoir. Hetch Hetchy Debate Pros And Cons. Hetch Hetchy: Pros and Cons of Restoration. As it is clear from the Pros and Cons above, (and San Franciscos less than enthusiastic undertaking in alternative view points) there are some sound reasons why San Francisco doesnt want to give up their Dam/Reservoir. If you're thinking about visiting Hetch Hetchy during your Yosemite vacation, these pros, cons, and views may help you decide whether to go. Not only was that bad for the environmental movement, but also many people did not know how to act in the national parks. Local job creation. Here are the pros and cons of hydropower: List of Pros of Hydropower. Every person uses the commons in accordance with their individual interests. Don Pedro Reservoir, downstream on the Tuolumne River, holds 6 times as much water as Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. The Tragedy of Commons is a concept originally contrived by William Forster Llyod in 1833 in the essay Two Lectures on the Checks to Population. They did not so much respond to where they stood on the issue, rather they outlined why they like the system as it is; they shared a previously published flyer: Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System. Giving a Dam: Congress Debates Hetch Hetchy. 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. There was no distinction between wilderness, National Forests or National Parks. It was deeded to them in a duly enacted act of Congress in 1913. Hetch Hetchy Valley as a repository for the water from the Tuolumne River belongs to San Francisco, et al. Donald Hodel, then Secretary of the Interior, suggested that the time might be ripe to remove the OShaughnessy Dam that holds back the Tuolumne River creating the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Another positive impact on yuma from the project. Ultimately, Muir lost in his long battle to protect Hetch Hetchy, but what was established was that to infringe upon the resources of the national parks was simply not worth the money and time because of the long legal battle that would occur. 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. In the 1600s when Europeans began to settle in North America, there were 1037 million acres of forestland. Instead, he envisions what once was and could be again. 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. danitza athanassiadis biography; statute of limitations on traffic tickets in california; craigslist low income apartments for rent. . Encountered a bear meandering down the trail towards us about a 1/2 mile from the fork to go up left . 1970 ford torino for sale; federal premium barnes tsx 300 win mag Even the author, Bruce Brown, said I cant say I thought Id live to see the day which goes to show how radical the idea was when he wrote it so many years ago. The club continues opening National Parks, building monuments and dams in rivers and protecting the sequoia trees in many other parks (The Sierra Club). The era's most controversial environmental issue was the five-year struggle over federal approval for . Hetch Hetchy water used in cities has always been treated, at least in recent decades. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Other supporters of the appeal include the State Water Resources Control Board. The debate over the Hetch Hetchy dam was about whether preserving the environment the way it is or using our natural resources efficiently had more value to human society. 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. Get here via Hetch Hetchy Road, which is open during daylight hours. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir | reservoir, Yosemite National Park, California "Dam Hetch Hetchy! In most areas of the country municipal water must be filtered AND treated. 1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272, Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress, Hetch Hetchy: Congress and the Environment, For suggestions on how to usethese documents in a classroom, visit, To learn more about the Hetch Hetchy Valley, visit, To learnabout the devastating earthquake to San Francisco in 1906, visit, If you have problems viewing these images please contact. Rainer National Park and Glacier National Park. Between 1908 and 1913, 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. The Time article A High-Plains Showdown Over the Dakota Access Pipeline by Justin Worland talks about a controversy over a 1,200-mile pipeline stretching from North Dakota to Illinois. Hetch Hetchy Environmental Debates | National Archives India. Hetch Hetchy: A History in Documents - Broadview Press He felt that the act conflicted with the conditions of the Yosemite Act of 1890 that made it a park in the first place. It then outlined five features that form the keystone of this clean, efficient water and power delivery system: The flyer goes on to say that the system supplies their customers with water and power that is delivered by a greenhouse gas-free system.. See Also:Giving a Dam: Congress Debates Hetch Hetchy, Giving a Dam: Congress Debates Hetch Hetchy. 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 Natures rarest and most precious mountain temples. McEwen, 1972 Fresno High graduate, attended Fresno State and majored in Journalism. Into the conclusions of the studies listed above and the data on which they are based, and, finally, to weigh the pros and cons of dam removal and formulate your own position. Basically, this is a debate between ecocentric people and anthropocentric people. The reservoir is about a 1-hour drive from both Groveland and Yosemite Village. Historical photographs show why: like Yosemite Valley, Hetch Hetchy has sheer granite walls that originally rose dramatically from a wide valley floor. You might say mining was a decent thing to help the environment financially, but a lot of the times after people were done mining they left the environment a mess including the rivers and its banks. It is hard NOT to get inspired by the beauty of this park. 174 Hetch Hetchy Reservoir Premium High Res Photos Which gave it more attention so more people came through and check it out. Since December 19, 1913, when the Raker Act was signed by President Wilson, there has been a lamentation on the loss of Hetch Hetchy Valley. Today, a little over 700 million acres in the United States is forestlandonly thanks to preservation laws.