Restore Hetch Hetchy

The National Park Service changes their reason, but maintains prohibitions on boating and fishing at Hetch Hetchy. Progress?

Boating and fishing at Hetch Hetchy - at the discretion of the National Park Service? The newly released "Superintendent's Compendium" for Yosemite National Park still prohibits boating and fishing in Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. But the reason(s) for the prohibition have changed. The National Park Service now seems to be conceding that it could allow boating if it were to choose to do so

Debunking San Francisco's claims about Hetch Hetchy water quality.

Debunking “Hetch Hetchy” water Is the quality of San Francisco’s water as good as some claim? The simple answer is no. Some people cannot distinguish it from other Bay Area supplies, and many who do prefer those other sources. Ever since damming Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park, San Francisco leaders have been

San Francisco stands out as uncooperative among California’s water agencies.

San Francisco's Unfortunate Isolationism The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is continuing its history of doing its own thing by declining to cooperate with others even when there is opportunity for mutual benefit. The SFPUC has opted out the California Department of Water Resources' Flood-MAR (managed aquifer recharge) Reconn

Wapama Falls at Hetch Hetchy is a twisting torrent unlike any other in Yosemite, reminiscent of braided hair being continuously unraveled in the wind. Read more:

Yosemite's thundering waterfalls Earlier this week, the San Francisco Chronicle predicted that Yosemite’s waterfalls would reach their peak flows in early June. We will see if that’s the case, or whether the flows reached in mid-May will remain the highest of the 2024 snowmelt season. Either way it is a spectacular time to b

Restore Hetch Hetchy has joined two dozen businesses and organizations to support fishing at Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. See our group letter to the National Park Service.

24 groups and businesses ask NPS to end prohibition of fishing at Hetch Hetchy Reservoir Restore Hetch Hetchy has joined two dozen businesses and organizations to support fishing at Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. See our group letter to the National Park Service. Technically, fishing is not prohibited. A sign in the parking lot says fishing is indeed allowed from the bank of the reservoir (

Advocating for an improved visitor experience in the short term is a key part of our campaign to relocate Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Read more:

Paddling on the reservoir Restore Hetch Hetchy is continuing to encourage the National Park Service to improve access and increase recreational opportunities at Hetch Hetchy - even with the dam in place. Advocating for an improved visitor experience in the short term is a key part of our campaign to relocate Hetch Hetchy

“When Hetch Hetchy is restored, water could still be diverted to San Francisco via the Canyon Tunnel as it leaves Hetch Hetchy Valley. Such a diversion would not make a difference to water supply.”

Read more here: https://hetchhetchy.org/dams-diversions-and-water-power/

“The path to restoring Hetch Hetchy will be increasingly easier as San Francisco adapts its system for a future that includes both climate change and combining realistic levels of water from the Tuolumne River with other supplies. It starts by San Francisco understanding that its next water century will look nothing like the past. Last week’s court ruling may be a harbinger of such changes.”

Superior Court Judge rules for rivers and against water agencies The path to restoring Hetch Hetchy will be increasingly easier as San Francisco adapts its system for a future that includes both climate change and combining realistic levels of water from the Tuolumne River with other supplies. It starts by San Francisco understanding that its next water century w

We’ve heard separately from the National Park Service and San Francisco that the City is funding several visitor improvements at Hetch Hetchy, including: providing potable water and sanitation to the campground; replacing a bridge at Wapama Falls; and repairing the boat ramp. Restore Hetch Hetchy has asked the National Park Service to allow all visitors to stay at the campground, rather than limiting its use to people leaving for or returning from a backpacking trip. Restore Hetch Hetchy continues to work with the City and National Park Service to improve the visitor experience, which we believe is a key element to building support for the valley’s restoration. Read more here: https://hetchhetchy.org/progress-the-glass-is-filling-up/. Photo credit .chsr.

For a Second Yosemite: Last Chance to Support Restore Hetch Hetchy in 2023.

Restore Hetch Hetchy is grateful to all our supporters. We appreciate your contribution on this last day of 2023.

With your help, we can return Hetch Hetchy Valley to its natural splendor. It’s with your support that we are able to create change.

Happy New Year from the RHH team!

After record crowds and very long lines, NPS will be implementing a modified reservation system for 2024. Reservations will not be required in Hetch Hetchy, where visitation reached its highest level in more than 30 years.

Yosemite Reservations for 2024 After record crowds and some very long lines in 2023, the National Park Service is implementing a reservations system again in 2024. These requirements, however, include some nuance - see summary below or the NPS website for more detail. Many people will be able to plan their trips to Yose

Dam removal on the Eel River appears to be moving forward with the cooperation of the Sonoma County Water Agency. We look forward to the day when San Francisco embraces the water and power alternatives that will make it possible to restore Hetch Hetchy.

Dam removal on the Eel River! After years of discussion and debate, dam removal on the Eel River appears to be moving forward. The dams in question are the Scott Dam, which forms Lake Pillsbury, and the Cape Horn Dam downstream, where diversions from the Eel River to Sonoma County have taken place for decades. Some divers

Restore Hetch Hetchy has been working to improve the visitor access to the Hetch Hetchy Valley. This fall, we sent a legal petition to the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior alleging that the access restrictions currently in place are in violation of what Congress intended with the Raker Act.

Under the Raker Act, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir was intended to be used for water storage as well as recreational purposes. Today, very little visitor access is available to the area - to a degree that is also inconsistent with the way the rest of Yosemite National Park is managed.

We are pushing for extended gate hours, improvements to the campground allowing its use as more than just a backpacker’s campground (including providing potable water, which San Francisco is required to do under the Raker Act and currently does not do), and allowing non-polluting boating on the reservoir.

We hope to continue to work cooperatively with the National Park Service towards our common goals of better access to Hetch Hetchy Valley. In order to garner support for restoration, it is important to bring visitors to Hetch Hetchy. We believe that access can be improved without creating the crowding that plagues Yosemite Valley - in fact, dispersing more climbers, hikers and other visitors to Hetch Hetchy could be a solution to that crowding.

You can read the legal petition on our website (hetchhetchy.org/petition-for-public-access/).

📷: .runes

Stars align for groundwater recharge. 2023 was an unprecedented year for groundwater recharge in California. Farmers, irrigations districts, government agencies, environmentalists and others cooperated as never before and improved statewide water supplies at low cost. Read our latest blog.

Stars align for groundwater recharge 2023 was an unprecedented year for groundwater recharge in California. Farmers, irrigations districts, government agencies, environmentalists and others cooperated as never before and improved statewide water supplies at low cost. 2023 was a very wet year, of course, which always helps to res

At this year's Annual Dinner, held at the historic Berkeley City Club, we were thrilled to be joined by our supporters to share an inspiring evening with keynote speaker Kim Stanley Robinson We're grateful to everyone who made this event a success and came together for the sake of our continued mission towards the restoration of Hetch Hetchy.

Thank you for making our Annual Dinner a success At this year's Annual Dinner, held at the historic Berkeley City Club, we were thrilled to be joined by our supporters to share an inspiring evening with keynote speaker Kim Stanley Robinson We're grateful to everyone who made this event a success and came together for the sake of our continued miss

Restore Hetch Hetchy has petitioned Department of Interior and National Park Service officials regarding public access and recreational opportunities to the Hetch Hetchy Valley. The petition provides legal and historical rationale for changing current policies at Hetch Hetchy, including eliminating daily closure of the area, allowing camping and permitting non-polluting boats on Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.

Petition Seeks Improved Public Access to Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park Two years ago, Restore Hetch Hetchy published Keeping Promises: Providing Public Access to Hetch Hetchy Valley, Yosemite National Park. The report explains how Congress expected far greater access and recreational opportunities at Hetch Hetchy than are available today. Today's petition, in the fo

Reminder that the public comment period for Yosemite's Visitor Access Management Plan closes on September 6th. This is a great opportunity to advocate for Hetch Hetchy. If you haven't already sent in your comment, please visit www.hetchhetchy.org/visitor-access-comments where we have suggested points to encourage the National Park Service to improve visitor experience.

The San Francisco Standard recently published an article titled "San Francisco City Officials Enjoy Exclusive Vacation Spot in Yosemite. Why?" Those with the privilege to stay in these exclusive cottages are provided access to Hetch Hetchy that everyday park visitors do not have.

San Francisco Standard: Officials Enjoy Exclusive Vacation Spot in Yosemite It is definitely not what Congress intended when it passed the Raker Act allowing San Francisco to build a dam in Yosemite’s Hetch Hetchy Valley. Today’s San Francisco Standard published an article titled San Francisco City Officials Enjoy Exclusive Vacation Spot in Yosemite. Why? Reporter Jo

California farmers have proposed emptying Lake Powell, the reservoir behind Glen Canyon Dam, which would allow Glen Canyon to be restored.

Farmers propose restoring Glen Canyon! In a “Dog Bites Man” story, California farmers have proposed emptying Lake Powell, the reservoir behind Glen Canyon Dam, which would allow Glen Canyon to be restored. The Imperial Valley farmers did not suddenly become afficionados of desert canyons. They are still interested in maximizing th

The National Park Service is holding a second round of public comment on its Visitor Access Management Plan for Yosemite. We are asking supporters to tell the National Park Service that improved access to Hetch Hetchy would provide visitors with exciting new opportunities as well as help with overall crowding in Yosemite. Click the link below to submit your comments by September 6th.

https://hetchhetchy.org/visitor-access-comments/

Over the July 4th holiday weekend, Yosemite Valley experienced an overwhelming influx of crowds - while Hetch Hetchy remains underutilized.

Overwhelming Yosemite Valley Summer Crowds During the July 4th holiday this past week, Yosemite National Park experienced unprecedented crowds. The San Francisco Gate published a story detailing the 4-hour wait at the entrance gates of the park over the weekend. Cars parked and idled for miles, hoping to get into Yosemite Valley. The line

The National Park Service is updating its management agreement with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. We have written a letter to SFPUC expressing what needs to be updated for compliance with the law.

The Park Service's agreement with San Francisco The National Park Service is in the process of updating its management agreement with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. The most recent version of the agreement, completed in 2019, has the sexy title “Memorandum of Agreement Between City and County of San Francisco San Francisco Publ

"While Hetch Hetchy Valley has been massively altered, it remains one of the forgotten, hidden treasures of Yosemite National Park. Here visitors can escape the crowds of Yosemite Valley and see two of the tallest waterfalls in North America during the springtime."

Hetch Hetchy: The Story Behind This Reservoir & Why It Offers Incredible Hiking Today Hetch Hetchy was once equated with the beauty of Yosemite Valley, and today it remains one of the best hiking destinations in the national park.

We continue to work with the National Park Service to improve the visitor experience in Hetch Hetchy, even with the dam in place. A recent meeting proved tangible progress, but there is still more to be done.

Engaging with the National Park Service to Improve the Visitor Experience at Hetch Hetchy Improving the visitor experience at Hetch Hetchy, even while the dam is in place, will draw more people. They will marvel at Hetch Hetchy’s grandeur, explore its canyon, and learn its story. We expect most will support the campaign to restore the valley to its natural splendor, returning Hetch Het...

Restore Hetch Hetchy board and staff visited Yosemite Valley, met with the National Park Service and celebrated the Yosemite Conservancy centennial in early June. Spreck writes about his experience below.

Inspiration abounds in Yosemite Friends, I had a chance to spend 5 really wonderful days in Yosemite – Yosemite Valley, not Hetch Hetchy, at the beginning of June. In between meetings and events, there was time for hiking, biking and exploring. There’s nothing like Yosemite in early June of a wet year. It took a little doing

Our guest speakers at this week's Rotary lunch meeting were Spreck Rosekrans, Executive Director of Restore Hetch Hetchy, and Mark Cederborg, a Restoration Specialist, Manager, and Principal at Hanford ARC.

Spreck and Mark enlightened us about the inspiring and vital effort to restore the majestic Hetch Hetchy valley in Yosemite National Park to its natural splendor while continuing to meet the full water and power needs of every community that depend on the Tuolumne River.

The Hetch Hetchy reservoir dam was completed in 1923 and is the only dam that's every been built in any of America's national parks. Restore Hetch Hetchy is building political support to have the dam removed, advocating water solutions, and improving the visitor experience at Hetch Hetchy even with the dam in place. This will be a multi-year effort, but Spreck and Mark clearly have the passion and determination to bring their vision to reality.
Restore Hetch Hetchy Rotary International Rotary District 5130 Yosemite NationalPark

Hear author Kim Stanley Robinson speak at this year's RHH Annual Dinner. Robinson is a well-known science-fiction writer and environmental advocate whose speaking credits also include the COP-26 Climate Summit. His latest book, The High Sierra: A Love Story, includes a chapter on the restoration of Hetch Hetchy. Save the date for Saturday, October 7th 2023.

Save the Date: Annual Dinner on Saturday, October 7th 2023 Save the date for Restore Hetch Hetchy's Annual Dinner on Saturday, October 7th, 2023. The dinner will be held at the historic Berkeley City Club. Author Kim Stanley Robinson, whose most recent book The High Sierra: A Love Story speaks on the restoration of Hetch Hetchy, will be our keynote speaker

A new set of Hetch Hetchy notecards with art by Lesley Goren is available for $15 per set of five unique designs. Inside each notecard is Lesley’s imagining of wildlife in a restored Hetch Hetchy Valley. Please email [email protected] to order.

Notecards with Art by Lesley Goren As featured in our Spring 2023 Newsletter, a new set of Hetch Hetchy notecards with art by Lesley Goren is available. The art is an expansion on the letterhead she created for us. Click on each of the images below to zoom in on the artwork. On the front of the notecards is a beautiful image of Cali