Hetch-Hetchy Water Project: Then & Now

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Hetch-Hetchy Water Project: Then & Now

The Hetch-Hetchy valley was initially a V shaped ravine that had been slowly carved out over time by the ancient Tuolumne River. After some glacial formations occurred during the last glacial period the valley was carved into what it appears as today around 10,000 years ago due to the melting of the glaciers. After the glaciers had finished melting they formed the alluvial flood plain that composes the valley’s floor. In comparison to the other similar valleys found in the region, the Hetch-Hetchy valley has much more round and smooth walls due to its higher abundance of glaciation. Before the valley was dammed and flooded, it was home to many different types of flora and animal life. It was also home to many Native American hunting and gathering tribes in the mid-1800s, however by the late 1880s the city of San Francisco already had its eye on the valley as a solution to its growing water system problems.

During the great earthquake of 1906, fires torched the city of San Francisco and it became very clear that the city needed to urgently update its inadequate water system. After a vicious battle with an environmental group known as the Sierra Club led by John Muir, the city of San Francisco was able to obtain the rights to dam the Tuolumne River creating a reservoir for them to have a more adequate water source. Because the area that was to be affected was within the region of a national park congress had to approve and President Woodrow Wilson had to sign the approved legislation before the project began.

Plans began and the Hetch-Hetchy water project was started in 1913 and completed in 1938. It’s goal was to deliver fresh drinking water to San Francisco and the greater bay area by ...

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...ce.org/HetchHetchy/>.

"The Original Valley." The Original Valley. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. .

Huber, N. King. "The Geologic Story of The Yosemite Valleys." United States Geological Survey. N.p., 13 Jan. 2004. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. .

Wunderman, Jim. "Forum: Don't Drain Hetch Hetchy." SFGate. SFGate, 23 Dec. 2009. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. .

SCHOLARY:

Huber, N. King. "The late Cenozoic evolution of the Tuolumne River, central Sierra Nevada, California." The late Cenozoic evolution of the Tuolumne River, central Sierra Nevada, California. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. .

Muir, John. "Hetch Hetchy Valley." Sierra Club Bulletin 6 (1912): 211-20.

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