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John Muir
Muir devoted most of his time to the preservation of the Western forests, focusing especially on Yosemite. His love for the Hetch Hetchy valley began when he first came across the luscious area and painted its beauty in 1871. Muir became president of the Sierra club in 1892.Becoming the first environmental activist, he sparked the grassroots movement that sent letter to Congress and high officials to preserve nature. Muir wrote vigorously and gained many followers, but never won over Congress. -
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Woodrow Wilson
The debate over Hetch Hetchy’s water use had the country split. The president received many letter urging one side or another. In the end, Congress passed legislation that enabled the creation of a dam in Hetch Hetchy. Wilson signed the bill into law on December 19, 1913. Although the preservationists lost this battle, the damming of the Hetch Hetchy Valley raised public awareness about the importance of preserving nature, and helped justify the creation of the National Park Service in 1916. -
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Gifford Pinchot
Pinchot was america's first professional forester, and founder of the U.S. Forest Service. He served under President Theodore Roosevelt and later as governor of Pennsylvania. He and John Muir met in 1893 and later spent time surveying western forest reserves. While Muir advocated for preservation of places such as Hetch Hetchy, Pinchot spoke for the utilitarian side of the debate. -
The Sierra Club
The sierra club voiced for preservation of aesthetic lands to Congress. Led by president John Muir, it was a group of mountain lovers that spoke for the preservation of forests, valleys, etc. The Hetch Hetchy debate was soon backed predominantly by the club’s inspiring letters and articles. While they rallied support, Congress still passed the building of the dam in The Valley. The Sierra club was successful in many other forest preserves, however. -
Applying for water storage
Mayor Phelan decided to apply to the Interior Department for a permit to obtain water storage in the Hetch Hetchy Valley. Quickly after his request, the department denied him due to The Valley being located in a national park. The City of San Francisco did not back down and citizens claimed that the park would be more beautiful with a reservoir in it. Still, secretary Hitchcock denied the appeal for storage. -
1906 San Fransisco earthquake and fire
The 1906 San Francisco earthquake struck Northern California with a magnitude of 7.9. Fires soon broke out in the city and lasted for days. The earthquake had rendered majority of pipelines in the area useless, creating a lack of water to put the fires out. Thousands of homes were dismantled. As a result, up to 3,000 people died and 80% of the city was destroyed.The citizens of San Fran pointed blame to Not having water from hetch hetchy. With this crisis in mind, support to dam The Valley rose. -
Approval of obtaining water from Yosemite
Mayer Phelan applied for a permit regarding water storage at Hetch Hetchy to the Interior Department. After being denied twice, Yosemite finally gave water to San Francisco in 1908 due to petitions made by the city. The Secretary of the Interior James Garfield approved the city’s application for water storage. Eventually congress got involved and began to schedule hearings regarding both sides of the Hetch Hetchy debate. -
The Raker Act
The Raker Act, named after advocate John Raker, was passed by the U.S. senate on December 2, 1913 and was signed by President Wilson on December 19, 1913. The United States Congress created The Raker Act so that they could legally start building the O’Shaughnessy Dam and flood the Hetch Hetchy Valley, located in Yosemite National Park, California. This act granted San Francisco the right to use The Valley as a reservoir and electricity for the city. -
Construction of O’Shaughnessy Dam
Construction of O'Shaughnessy Dam was completed in 1923, at a cost of $100 million and the lives of 67 men and one woman. The project transports water 160 miles by gravity alone to customers in San Francisco and 32 other Bay Area communities. Loans continued to add on aqueducts to further water transportation in 1934 and 1947. -
Sierra Club wants removal
In 1970, board directors in the Sierra Club recommended a removal for the O’Shaughnessy Dam and Eleanor Dam (a reservoir also located in Yosemite). To avoid an expensive restoration or reconstruction, the board believed that it was smart to remove the dam rather than bring Hetch Hetchy to its magnificent and original state. Also the Sierra Club expressed how important it was to find an alternative water source for San Francisco if Hetch Hetchy disappeared. -
Get rid of the dam
The New York Times began a study to see if it would be economically possible/feasible to get rid of the dam that once created the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. The Times says that San Francisco can receive their water in numerous other ways. -
Current state of Hetch Hetchy debate
Today, Hetch Hetchy is buried underneath the water beside the O’Shaughnessy Dam. This is by far the most damage that the government has allowed in any of America’s National Parks. Some want to take down the dam, drain The Valley, and restore the land that was once flooded decades ago. Others want Hetch Hetchy to live on. According to Hetchhetchy.org, The Valley can be restored again, along with the restoration of grass and wildlife.
