Located in the northwest portion of Yosemite National Park, Hetch Hetchy refers to a valley in the Sierra Nevada and a reservoir that
supplies water to the San Francisco Bay Area
. The valley is drained by the Tuolumne River.
What is the primary purpose of the Hetch Hetchy reservoir and aqueduct?
The dam and reservoir are the source for the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct, which
provides water for over two million people in San Francisco and other municipalities of the
west Bay Area.
Why did they build the Hetch Hetchy dam?
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
.
Why is Hetch Hetchy important?
It marks
the first catchment in a 160-mile long water system
that brings high quality, superb-tasting water to 2.6 million residents of the Bay Area every day. Standing upon it will give you the chance to appreciate the sublimity of both nature and human achievement.
What was the significance of the plan to construct a dam and reservoir in the Hetch Hetchy Valley?
What was the significance of the plan to construct a dam and reservoir in the Hetch Hetchy Valley?
It helped launch the environmental movement.
Will Hetch Hetchy ever be restored?
As the habitat is
restored
, animals will migrate home and the twin of Yosemite Valley will re-emerge in the light of the 21st century. Families from around the world will be able to return to Hetch Hetchy Valley year after year to witness a national treasure coming back to life.
Can you swim in Hetch Hetchy?
Water Quality:
Swimming and boating are prohibited in Hetch Hetchy Reservoir
in order to maintain a clean source of drinking water. … Fishing: Fishing is allowed year-round in most lakes and the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and part of the year in most rivers and streams.
What happened at Hetch Hetchy?
Despite opposition from many citizens, including most of the nation's leading newspapers,
Congress passed the Raker Act in 1913 allowing the city of San Francisco to destroy Hetch Hetchy
. The City built a dam and reservoir, drowning this beautiful valley, even though other less-damaging sites existed.
How did Hetch Hetchy get its name?
Located in the northwest portion of Yosemite National Park, Hetch Hetchy refers to a valley in the Sierra Nevada and a reservoir that supplies water to the San Francisco Bay Area. The valley is drained by the Tuolumne River. The name Hetch Hetchy is
derived from a Sierra Miwok word for a type of wild grass.
Who drinks Hetch Hetchy water?
The regional water system provides water to 2.4 million people in
San Francisco, Santa Clara, Alameda and San Mateo counties
. 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.
Is Hetch Hetchy water good?
This includes San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Alameda Counties. For a reservoir that relies on snowpack, the Hetch Hetchy reservoir
is actually in pretty good shape in terms of water supply
.
Who believed preserving Hetch Hetchy?
A national debate ensued between the preservationist and conservationist factions of the young environmental movement. Preservationists, led by
John Muir
, believed the valley should be preserved for its inherent aesthetic beauty.
Was the Hetch Hetchy Dam Removed?
The removal of the Hetch Hetchy dam and reservoir
isn't even in the planning stages yet
; the measure on November's ballot simply asked voters to earmark money for research and design of a new water system to take the place of the reservoir.
How does the Bay Area get water?
Hetch Hetchy water travels 160 miles via gravity from Yosemite to the
San Francisco Bay Area. The remaining 15 percent of water comes from runoff in the Alameda and Peninsula watersheds. This local water is captured in reservoirs located in San Mateo and Alameda counties.
What is Hetch Hetchy power?
For over 100 years, Hetch Hetchy Power has generated
clean, 100% greenhouse gas-free electricity for San Francisco
. We power municipal services such as Muni and San Francisco General Hospital, redeveloped neighborhoods like The Shipyard, and some large developments such as the Salesforce Transit Center.
Is Hetch Hetchy water treated?
It's a journey that begins at the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park, a source of drinking water that has a well-known and crystal-clear reputation: It's so
clear that it isn't filtered – only treated.
