Label Type
Cultural/Historical ContextLabel
Hetch Hetchy
June 2014
In 1913, Congress permitted the construction of a dam that would flood the Hetch Hetchy, a valley in the northwestern corner of present day Yosemite National Park. The act would provide a reliable water source and hydroelectric power for the growing San Francisco metropolitan area. The decision sparked an outcry from environmental and parkland advocates, who likened Hetch Hetchy’s natural wonders to that of its world famous neighbor and claimed the Bay Area had other viable options for water storage outside protected lands.
Over 100 years later, the reservoir still accounts for 80% of San Francisco’s water and nearly 20% of San Francisco’s energy. Environmental groups continue to hotly advocate for removal of the dam and Hetch Hetchy’s full restoration.