John Muir and the Hetch Hetchy Controversy & The National Park Service Act of 1916
Muir, John. The Hetch Hetchy. Sierra Club, 1912.
John Muir and Wilderness Preservation
Hetch Hetchy Valley: A Yosemite Counterpart
John Muir passionately advocated for the preservation of wilderness, using the Hetch Hetchy Valley as a prime example. He described Hetch Hetchy as a valley within Yosemite National Park, remarkably similar to the Yosemite Valley itself. Muir noted its discovery by Joseph Screech in 1850, a year before Yosemite's discovery, and often referred to it as the "Tuolumne Yosemite."
Similarities to Yosemite Valley
Muir highlighted the striking resemblances between the two valleys:
Elevation: Yosemite's floor is approximately 4000 feet above sea level, while Hetch Hetchy's is about 3700 feet.
Rivers: The Merced River flows through Yosemite, just as the Tuolumne flows through Hetch Hetchy.
Granite Walls: Both valleys feature gray granite walls that rise sharply from the valley floor, sculpted by glacial activity.
Rock Formations: Hetch Hetchy boasts formations like Kolana, a rock Muir says is called this by the Indians, standing at 2300 feet, analogous to Yosemite's Cathedral Rocks. It also has a counterpart to El Capitan, rising 1800 feet, adorned with a graceful waterfall comparable to Yosemite's Bridal Veil Fall but excelling it in height and beauty.
Description of Hetch Hetchy
Muir emphasized that Hetch Hetchy was not a simple meadow but a "grand landscape garden," a rare and precious mountain temple. He depicted the rocks as alive and welcoming, with groves, flowery meadows, birds, bees, butterflies, rivers, and waterfalls contributing to a harmonious environment. He saw it as a place where the transient and the permanent meet, fostering a close connection with nature.
The Threat to Hetch Hetchy: A Dam Proposal
Muir lamented the danger of Hetch Hetchy being dammed to create a reservoir for San Francisco's water and power supply. This would flood the valley, submerging its unique landscape. He noted that this destructive commercial scheme was pursued despite the availability of pure and abundant water from other sources outside the park. Muir argued that the cheapness of the dam and the land diversion motivated this plan, conflicting with the Yosemite National Park's establishment in 1890.
Opposition to the Dam
Muir cited the initial denial of San Francisco's application in 1903 by Interior Secretary Hitchcock, who emphasized the park's purpose to preserve natural scenic features. Hitchcock highlighted that the aggregation of natural scenic features made Yosemite Park a wonderland that the Congress of the United States sought by law to reserve for all coming time as nearly as practicable in the condition fashioned by the hand of the Creator.
Arguments Against the Dam
Muir refuted arguments in favor of the dam, comparing them to the devil's temptations in the Garden of Eden. He countered claims that Hetch Hetchy was a "low-lying meadow" by asserting its status as a high-lying natural landscape garden. He also dismissed the idea that damming it would enhance its beauty, arguing that the resulting reservoir would be an eyesore with exposed slimy sides and accumulated debris during dry seasons.
Addressing the claim of Hetch Hetchy's water being the purest, Muir argued that it was less pure than other Sierra streams due to sewage from campgrounds, particularly the Tuolumne Meadows campground. He condemned the "temple destroyers" driven by commercialism and reverence for the "Almighty Dollar". Muir passionately equated damming Hetch Hetchy to destroying cathedrals and churches, emphasizing its sanctity as a natural temple.
The National Park Service Act of 1916
Establishment of the National Park Service
The National Park Service was created within the Department of the Interior, led by a director appointed by the Secretary. This service was tasked with promoting and regulating the use of federal areas designated as national parks, monuments, and reservations.
Purpose of National Parks
The fundamental purpose of these parks, monuments, and reservations is to conserve scenery, natural and historic objects, and wildlife. This conservation is intended to provide for the enjoyment of these resources in a way that leaves them unimpaired for future generations.
Powers of the Secretary of the Interior
The Secretary of the Interior was granted the authority to establish rules and regulations for the use and management of