Issue:

The National Park Service (NPS) is currently developing the scope of a new management plan for the Tuolumne River under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. This law compels the NPS to preserve selective rivers possessing outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geological, fish and wildlife, historical, cultural, or other similar values in free-flowing condition and to protect these rivers and their immediate environments for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.

At the present time, NPS does not intend to consider the impact from the operation of the dam on the Tuolumne within the scope of the Management Plan. Rock the Earth believes that if it fails to consider the impact of the dam on the river, NPS will be shirking its legal duties for properly managing the River. Not only does the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act mandate this analysis, but also the original legislation that authorized the NPS (the Organic Act and the General Services Act) mandate that NPS consider the impact from the operation of the dam.

Background:

Hetch Hetchy Valley, in Yosemite National Park, is an area of remarkable natural beauty. One of only four glacially-carved valleys in California, it features granite bluffs, tall waterfalls and grand vistas. Hetch Hetchy was often compared to Yosemite Valley itself, that is, until 1923, when O'Shaughnessy Dam was completed along the western end of the valley, creating Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. This 1,900-acre lake in the middle of the National Park now supplies the City of San Francisco with over 85% of its drinking water, along with a modest amount of electrical power. The dam was built over the strenuous objections of legendary conservationist John Muir, and environmentalists have deplored its existence ever since.

One option that might result from analyzing the impacts from the O'Shaughnessy Dam would be to remove the dam. Removing the dam and restoring natural flows to the Tuolumne River would be a big task, but it is technically feasible. In the last two decades, more than a dozen studies have been prepared on this issue, and have clearly demonstrated that there are no overwhelming technical obstacles to restoring natural flows to the Tuolumne River and reclaiming Hetch Hetchy Valley.
Over 400 dams have already been removed in the United States, and the same could be done with the dam at Hetch Hetchy, building upon past experiences. With or without human intervention, the ecosystem of Hetch Hetchy Valley would be restored to its original, natural state in less than 150 years.

Ensuring that San Francisco's water supply is not disrupted would be the most critical aspect of the restoration project. But the water that is currently taken from the Tuolumne River from behind the dam could be just as easily diverted from a new pumping station located about a half-mile downstream from the current dam site. This station would be almost imperceptible from the valley, and would provide for all of San Francisco's water needs in most years, with only a 5% shortfall in the driest years. This minor shortfall could be reclaimed in several ways, including enlarging some existing reservoirs and constructing new pipelines. The City is currently implementing a major upgrade of its water delivery system (downstream from Hetch Hetchy), and several of these projects could be modified to provide the missing water supply.

RtE Position:

On September 8, 2006, Rock the Earth submitted a detailed comment letter to NPS, presenting our technical and legal arguments for the need for NPS to review the impact from the operation of the dam. Further, the NPS must also consider potential dam removal as part of the new Tuolumne River Wild and Scenic River Management Plan, in order to restore this natural jewel to America's premier National Park.

Links:

RtE Letter of September 8, 2006