Damming of the Hetch Hetchy Valley Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Damming of the Hetch Hetchy Valley - Assignment Example However, San Francisco’s water needs mean they are interested in damming the valley. The city argues that engineer reports indicate the valley to be the best source for sufficient water. They also state that the domestic water needs of the city’s population far outweigh the interests of campers in the valley. The anti-damming side argues that the engineer reports are faulty and unreliable, not exhausting other possible water sources for the city. Besides, damming the valley upholds the immoral and selfish commercial exploitation of nature. I advise you to vote against the Bill on the rationale that this will allow for the involvement of all stakeholders in deliberating on the issue and independent engineer investigations, both of which have been foregone in the preparation of the current bill. Background on the Hetch Hetchy and the Raker Bill: The Hetch Hetchy is a valley in California, closely related with the Yosemite Valley and lying in the wider Sierra Nevada mountain ranges (Hetch Hetchy Timeline 1). In light of the rapid commercial expansionism of America at the expense of the environment, the Harrison administration legislated and converted the entire area into the Yosemite National Park on March 3, 1891. A notable figure in sparking public awareness on conservationism and, in particular, the need to conserve the natural setting of California was John Muir, who has later headed the Sierra Club to protect the established park (United States Mint 1). Geographically, the Yosemite National Park consists of the Yosemite Valley and the Hetch Hetchy Valley (History Matters 5-6).