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American Environmental History

American Environmental History. The conflict at Hetch Hetchy. Geographic Location. Specific Location. A bit zoomed out. Hetch Hetchy valley in 1908. The Issue. San Francisco wanted water rights to the Tuolume river, to provide water for its growing population.

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American Environmental History

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  1. American Environmental History The conflict at HetchHetchy

  2. Geographic Location

  3. Specific Location

  4. A bit zoomed out

  5. HetchHetchy valley in 1908

  6. The Issue • San Francisco wanted water rights to the Tuolume river, to provide water for its growing population San Francisco 1920, population 506,676 San Francisco 1900, population 342,782

  7. So…. • In order to get this water, they needed to create a reservoir, and in so doing place a dam in the HetchHetchy valley. • The city of San Francisco proposed this in 1903. • But…. HetchHetchy was protected in Yosemite national park.

  8. The Debate • Two of the most prominent environmental figures of the time faced off. At stake was nothing short of the idea of nature. Gifford Pinchot John Muir

  9. In The Left Corner The Man… The Legend… The Wisconsinite… John Muir

  10. Muir • Born in Scotland, moved to Portage Wisconsin at a young age, founded the Sierra Club. • “Dam HetchHetchy! As well dam for water-tanks the people's cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man.” • The underlying philosophy: Nature is pristine, and should be preserved for its transcendental qualities; a romantic view of nature. • Also known as Preservationist

  11. In The Right Corner The Gentleman… The Scholar… The Forester… Gifford Pinchot

  12. Pinchot • Born in Connecticut, founded the Yale School of Forestry and the National Forest Service, governor of Pennsylvania. • “whether the advantage of leaving this valley in a state of nature is greater than using it for the benefit of the city of San Francisco.” • The Underlying Philosophy: Favors the use of resources, with a long term outlook – the greatest good, for the most number of people, for the longest time; autilitarian view of nature. • Also Known as a Conservationist

  13. Preservation • “Few are altogether deaf to the preaching of pine trees. Their sermons on the mountains go to our hearts; and if people in general could be got into the woods, even for once, to hear the trees speak for themselves, all difficulties in the way of forest preservation would vanish.” – Muir • Setting aside nature, preserving whole ecosystems for their intrinsic value. Nature is beautiful, let’s save it.

  14. Conservation • “The first great fact about conservation is that it stands for development. There has been a fundamental misconception that conservation means nothing but the husbanding of resources for future generations.” –Pinchot • The long term use of natural resources. It is unrealistic to set aside all of nature, we should use it all, but in a manner that is sustainable for many decades, and benefits the most amount of people.

  15. Now You Debate! • What should be done about HetchHetchy? • Should it be dammed? Why? Why not? • What does this mean for the rest of nature and how we think of it? • How do humans fit into preservation? • How do other species (animals and plants) fit into conservation?

  16. The Result • Both Men lobbied their favorite president, Teddy Roosevelt. Dam that river! Don’t dam it!

  17. And… • The project was put on hold, but in 1913 President Woodrow Wilson decided to approve the dam project. That sounds like a dam good idea!

  18. The O'Shaughnessy Dam

  19. HetchHetchy now And the debate over the dam continues… The Sierra Club continues to push for the Removal of the dam and restoration of the original ecosystem.

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