ipl-logo

California O Shaughnessy Dam Analysis

1428 Words6 Pages

The progressive era in the United States helped to spawn one of the first great conservative movements in the country. The conservative movement occurred as a result of the troubling theory that the fast paced urban development and industrial growth of the nation would lead to the extinction of wilderness areas in the United States. One of the most significant events during the era was that of the debate over the construction of the O 'Shaughnessy Dam in the Hetch Hetchy Valley located in California’s Yosemite National Park. After an earthquake crippled the city of San Francisco in the early 1900’s, the residents of the city recognized that they would require better-equipped ways to make certain that they had a steady supply of electricity and …show more content…

However, a careful analysis of the reasons behind the creation of the dam and how the dam was built without much damage to the environment itself, as the system relies entirely on gravity to deliver this water; therefore no pumping stations were necessary, then it is very likely that the decision to build the dam was the correct one. The O 'Shaughnessy Dam is a vital component of the Hetch Hetchy Valley water system that provides water to the San Francisco Bay Area and surrounding communities. Nearly “2.4 million people rely upon the dam,” for their supply or electricity and water (Crabtree, 2013). The demand for the damn came about as a result of the idea during the progressive era in the United Sates that the introduction of public works to certain areas was the most beneficial ways in building a great civilization. San Francisco Mayor James Phelan and the San Francisco City Engineer Michael O’Shaughnessy, both whole-heartedly believed in such an idea. That in order for the people of San …show more content…

On the other hand, many preservationists did not share the same conclusions as Mr. Pinchot or Mr. Phelan. John Muir, often described as the one of the front-runners of helping to establish the creation of national parks in the United States, was one of those individuals. To Muir, any human alteration to the valley would be only the first step in many in extinguishing America’s entire wilderness. Muir even described the sacredness of the Hetch Hetchy Valley in his excerpt titled the Hetch Hetchy Valley, “Dam Hetch Hetchy! 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” (Muir, 1908). Other writings by Muir depict the valley as something so scenic it as if it came out of a fairy tale. It was not as though Muir did not understand the consequences of not damming the valley. Muir understood that the city was in need of an adequate water supply; he simply believed that national parks and other wilderness areas should be excluded from damming. Thus, Muir did not agree with the idea that a dam for San Francisco needed to be in a national park. Muir and the Sierra Club led a battle against Mr. Pinchot, Mr. Phelan and others who believed it was appropriate to construct the O 'Shaughnessy Dam. Muir argued that his opponents were not looking at the bigger picture. He believe that allowing the construction of the dam would deny the American public the ability to enjoy the Hetch Hetchy Valley like their

Show More
Related

Plan Too Fishy For My Taste Buds By Daniel Weintraub

134 Words | 1 Pages

It was a right thing to bring back the river, not only to bring back the Salmon , but also to help the environment. Daniel Weintraub writes, “... the warring parties.. are working together on a project that should benefit the environment.. fishing industry and local economy”(3).This affirmation is describing that not only are the warring groups coming together, but they are helping the environment by bringing back the river. To bring back the San Joaquin

Read More

Rivalry Between The Corps Of Engineers And The Bureau Of Reclamation

689 Words | 3 Pages

There was the discussion of the Devil’s canyon dam, which the Bureau of Reclamation intended to build and then there was Rampart Dam the project of the Corps of Engineers. Both dams made no sense to build and it would only cause more problems for the place. There was an idea behind why the Rampart dam should be built and it was so Alaska can turn into an industrial subcontinent. The problem with the rampart dam was that it would’ve caused an ecological disaster such as flood the Yukon Flats. At the end, the Rampart Dam did come close to be built, but Floyd Dominy put an end to the project.

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis Of Hydrofracking By Paul Galley

750 Words | 3 Pages

Paul Galley an accomplished environmentalist enters the controversial debate about Hydrofracking in New York, with his article “Hydrofracking: A bad Bet for the Environment and the Economy” published in the Huffington Post on January 05, 2012. Galley states “Net-Net, fracking is simply bad bet” fracking poses serious risk to New Yorkers. Galley, president of Hudson Riverkeeper has worked for over twenty-five years to protect the environment and support local communities, as a non-profit, public official and educator. This piece continues his devotion to protection of the Hudson River, and the drinking water supply of New Yorkers. Galley effectively convinces his audience through his use of appeals to pathos and logos that hydrofracking will have negative impacts on New Yorkers.

Read More

The Pros And Cons Of The Pipeline

120 Words | 1 Pages

If Washington and Kanes counties could avoid the pipeline all together if they worked harder to conserve water. In my opinion the pipeline is a project that shouldn't be put into action.

Read More

John Muir's Ethical Dilemmas

336 Words | 2 Pages

John Muir, a naturalist and preservation pioneer of nature took an ethical stand for land ethics when he shared his thoughts that all living things are equally important parts of the land, and animals and plants have as much right to live and survive as people do. In the 1600’s when Europeans began to settle in North America, there were 1037 million acres of forestland. Today, a little over 700 million acres in the United States is forestland—only thanks to preservation laws. In the 1800’s, that number of tress and forests decreased tremendously because expansion and progression recklessly exploited natural resources by clear-cutting forest to use wood for fuel and building supplies.

Read More

Review Of Episode 8: Boom: Story Of The United States

860 Words | 4 Pages

In order for a large number of people to be able to live in California means had to be provided to get the water. He found a place called Owens Vally water flowing out of the mountains has formed a massive lake. Aided only by gravity this water could flow all the way to Los Angeles. The aqueduct is completed, and it saves Los

Read More

Why Was Mendocino Important

372 Words | 2 Pages

In the beginning, people came for the trees, the huge, majestic redwoods were what drew people here. In the 1850’s the gold rush in the San Francisco area needed more

Read More

The Progressive Era In John Spargo's The Bitter Cry Of Children

576 Words | 3 Pages

The progressive era was a time in american history when there was change in the american way of life. Before the progressive era people would die because of mal- sanitation, children would be working in factories and where getting hurt. Meat packing was done inadequately. Muckrakers brought about positive change by exposing the ill fated conditions of child labor, and the sheer filth of the meat packing industry, through literature.

Read More

Analysis Of The Antebellum Era In Dispossessing The Wilderness

754 Words | 4 Pages

By this definition of wilderness, the Yellowstone, Glacier, and Yosemite national parks are defined as wilderness today. The Indians who once found reservation in the national parks were slowly removed in the best interest of tourism until the parks were no longer the “Indian Wilderness.” The National Park Service who preserves these national parks claims to preserve the natural and cultural resources and values of the national parks; however, the National Park Service subsequently erased the existence of Indians from the history of the national parks. Mark Spence argues that the National Park Service is therefore providing inaccurate history of the nations’ national parks. While the National Park Service successfully preserves the land in which it protects, it fails to be informative on the cultural aspect and how the national parks came

Read More

Gold Rush Dbq

663 Words | 3 Pages

Some will argue that a monument should not be approved since the sacrifices made by the pioneers were self serving and selfish. However, the Gold Rush sped up settlement in California, but there was a personal cost to all those who walked and rode over mountains and the plains to get there. Some died, while others endured such cold, heat and risked their lives crossing rivers since few bridges or ferries existed. By1849, the

Read More

The Impact Of John Muir's Legacy On Preservation Of America During The Progressive Era

1621 Words | 7 Pages

Phelan also thought that damming Hetchy Hetchy was the only way to stop “monopoly and microbes” (Carlsson). The Federal Right of Way Act of 1901 also provided the legal basis for cities to acquire rights to national parkland, continuing Phelan’s point. However, in January 1910, the city held a vote where voters approved of a $45 million bond to build the Hetch Hetchy but rejected a $35 million bond to buy out the nearby Spring Valley Water Company’s facilities (Carlsson). This point gave the basis for John Muir’s argument saying that Hetch Hetchy should be preserved for its natural beauty. City lobbyists and engineers also argued for public use of Hetch Hetchy but argued for a grand water and power system to provide energy and water to San Francisco (Carlsson).

Read More

Hydropower Dams Impact On Native American Culture

1703 Words | 7 Pages

As Kitson (2009) notes, "the hydropower projects, in many ways, represented a new form of colonization, as indigenous peoples were excluded from the decision-making process and bore the brunt of the social and environmental impacts of the dams" (p. 630). This lack of consultation and collaboration with Native American communities during the planning and approval of hydropower projects has been a significant challenge in mitigating their impacts. In fact, as Deloria and Lytle (2011) explain, "the United States government, which had a trust responsibility to protect tribal lands and resources, had approved the dam without consulting the tribal nations that would be most affected by it" (p.

Read More

Mutant Sg At Horn Creek Summary

894 Words | 4 Pages

Sarah K. Castle, in her scientific fiction “The Mutant Stag at Horn Creek” develops the story to tell the nature-culture hybrids and its effect on human-kind and other creatures. The story sets in one location called “Horn Creek” and the main character “Sue” a park ranger and a narrator of the story. The author shows the effect of human meddling with natures at the very beginning of the story. A “Grand Canyon” which is the story plays had been mined and it starts to be closed for visitors and Horn Creek was one of them. In this fiction author is more about to say that human kind intervention in nature is the reason for the natural world disaster.

Read More

Analysis Of The Trouble With Wilderness By William Cronon

90 Words | 1 Pages

In his 1995 essay “The Trouble with Wilderness,” William Cronon declares that “the time has come to rethink wilderness” (69). From the practice of agriculture to masculine frontier fantasies, Cronon argues that Americans have historically defined wilderness as an “island,” separate from their polluted urban industrial homes (69). He traces the idea of wilderness throughout American history, asserting that the idea of untouched, pristine wilderness is a harmful fantasy. By idealizing wilderness from a distance, he argues that people justify the destruction of less sublime landscapes and aggravate environmental conflict.

Read More

Mutant Sg At Horn Creek Analysis

958 Words | 4 Pages

Sarah K. Castle, in her science fiction “The Mutant Stag at Horn Creek” develops the story to tell the nature-culture hybrids and its effect on human-kind and other creatures. The story sets in one location called “Horn Creek” and the main character “Sue” a park ranger and a narrator of the story. The author shows the effect of human meddling with natures at the very beginning of the story. A “Grand Canyon” which is the story plays had been mined and it starts to be closed for visitors and Horn Creek was one of them. In this fiction author is more about to say that humankind intervention in nature is the reason for the natural world disaster.

Read More

More about California O Shaughnessy Dam Analysis

Open Document