Hetch Hetchy: Now and Then

Photo Credit: Unknown

Photo Credit: Stephanie Trapp

One of John Muir's most well documented battles was against the construction of the Hetch Hetchy dam in what today is Yosemite National Park. It was a battle that Muir fought in vain, with construction reaching completion in 1923. 

The first photo is prior to the construction of the Hetch Hetchy dam, the second photo was taken by several fellow technicians in the summer of 2011. Still beautiful, but only a shadow of what it once was. John Muir said that the valley was "one of nature's rarest and most precious mountain temples," and I must whole-heartedly agree.

A quick history lesson: The dam was constructed to supply potable water to San Francisco; a seaside city susceptible to prolonged dry summers. Muir, and environmentally conscious individuals across the country, fought the project until the bitter end, eventually losing out to "the progress of man." Today, Hetch Hetchy still provides water to San Francisco. However, dams further down the Toulumne River could be used to replace this water.

With construction reaching completion nearly a century ago, what does it have to do with current policy issues? Republican representative Dan Lungren, of California, has recently introduced legislation that would dismantle the dam, allowing the valley to return to its previous state. Several notable Democrats (i.e. Nancy Pelosi) have stood in opposition to Representative Lungren's proposal. As a self proclaimed liberal, I am ashamed of their stance. Their stance is one of ignorance.

What is the price of progress? What is the value of a pristine wetland? When will people decide that enough is enough?

To the dabbling duck, Hetch Hetchy is now a barren wasteland: too deep for the plants which provide it sustenance. We will never be able to entirely return Hetch Hetchy to its former beauty, it now possesses granite walls bleached as natural compounds leached out into the artificial lake's waters (among other issues). However, we can do our best to rectify the mistake made by previous generations. Drain the reservoir, remove the dam, and let nature do its best to overcome whatever obstacles man has left in its way.

Here is a pretty good video if you would like to know more about the Hetch Hetchy Valley, and the plan to restore it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-QLfeoWHPE