desolation from the hetch hetchy valley
Between 1908 and 1913 the city of San Francisco suggested building a dam in the Hetch Hetchy Area. The city was growing and needed this kind of water supply to supply fresh water and a electricity source. In the event the dam was built, it might destroy the Valley. The preservationists would not approve of the construction and said that it was unlawful because the Pit is within Yosemite National Playground. In the end metropolis of Bay area built the OShaughnessy Dam, destroying the Hetch Hetchy valley.
Although they dropped the valley, the damming of Hetch Hetchy increased public understanding about the importance of conserving nature and helped justify the creation of the National Park Service. Even now you will find preservationists that are looking the area restored.
During 1908 the growing city of San Francisco needed a quick and easy supply of water and were not concerned with the environmental effect it might possess. The city suggested building a dam in the Hetch Hetchy area to create a tank, unfortunately for them Hetch Hetchy was located within Yosemite National Area and protected by the federal government.
For the city to be able to make a dam they needed authorization from the federal government in the form of a bill. The city pushed congressman Ruben Raker to draft and present a bill to our elected representatives. These problems prompted Steve Raker to draft the (D-CA), H. R. 7207 bill. This bill was later called “the Raker bill. “
When Ruben Raker suggested the bill to Congress, that sparked a heated issue that swept throughout the region and divided the population in the U. S, into The conservationists who were in favor of dam building and believed that the environment should be found in a careful manner to benefit culture. And the preservationists who asserted that the pit should be maintained for all persons. This debate caused agencies and night clubs to write characters and petitions either in support or perhaps in opposition to the dam. Yet , Congress passed the Raker Act which enabled the creation in the dam. Director Woodrow Pat signed the check into legislation on December 19th, 1913.
Even though the preservationists misplaced this fight, the damming of Hetch Hetchy brought up public understanding about the value of protecting nature, and helped justify the creation of the National Park Service. On September 25th, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson authorized the organic act resulting in the National Playground Service. Possibly after numerous years of being underwater the history in the Hetch Hetchy valley plus the efforts of its preservers have not been forgotten. There are still marches in the name of John Muir for his actions aid nature, companies to remove the dam and restore the valley are active to this day.
