The Hetch Hetchy Reservoir provides water to millions of people in the San Francisco Bay Area. Located inside Yellowstone National Park, the Hetch Hetchy valley offers views two of North America’s tallest waterfalls in the spring, dramatic domes, and the 312 foot tall, 910 foot wide O’Shaughnessy Dam. The reservoir itself holds approximately 117 billion gallons of water, is 8 miles long, and has a maximum depth of 306 feet.
Though quite the sight, the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir comes with its own controversy. California proposed the dam in the early 1900s to provide to the growing city of San Francisco. Congress debated the proposal between 1908 and 1913. Preservationists led by the legendary John Muir argued that Hetch Hetchy Valley should be preserved for its beauty, while San Francisco citizens and others argued that the health of their city relied on the reservoir’s water.
Congress eventually passed legislation allowing the building of the dam, and on December 19, 1913, President Woodrow Wilson signed the bill into law. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and the dam that created it still stand today, but it’s hard not to wonder what the area undammed would look like today. Filmmaker Aidin Robbins explored the area, taking a deep dive into its history and the story behind its creation.
