Hetch Hetchy Native American Indian history

San Francisco-owned Hetch Hetchy Water and Power has agreed to pay $7 million to the federal government to settle suits over fires on federal lands the utility uses. The U.S. Attorney's office announced the settlement Friday. It says Hetch Hetchy failed to properly clear flammable materials from nearly 6,000 acres of federal land that burned in 1999 and 2004. The federal government says the blazes were ignited by electrical discharges near trees that should have been cleared. Tony Winnicker, a spokesman for the utility, says Hetch Hetchy Water and Power did not acknowledge any wrongdoing. Still, Winnicker says it has since stepped up its ... Read Full Story

The city of San Francisco has paid $7 million to settle federal claims for wildfire damage to a national forest caused by negligent maintenance of power line rights of way. The 1999 Pilot fire and the 2004 Early fire burned 5,698 acres in the Stanislaus National Forest in Tuolumne County, Calif. The fires resulted from trees growing too close to the high-voltage power transmission lines of Hetch Hetchy Water and Power, which is owned by San Francisco. There were two civil lawsuits filed by the federal government against the city and its utilities agency. Legislation passed in 1913 granted the city rights of way ... Read Full Story

New cabins are available for visitors to Yosemite National Park at the 1920s-era Evergreen Lodge. The lodge is on the west side of the park near Hetch Hetchy Valley, an area that is less well-known than other parts of Yosemite. But the lodge offers numerous recreation programs, including day trips for hikers and bikers to sites like Wapama Falls and North Dome, and access to swimming holes. The 24 new cedar cabins will open in May, increasing the number of units at Evergreen to 90. The lodge will also debut a new outdoor dining area and plaza with a beer garden, restored tavern, outdoor ... Read Full Story

Hetch Hetchy Native people history. Handpainted photo of Hetch Hetchy Valley with railroad tracks in the forefront. A respected Paiute historian and elder wrote a letter recently to address a concern that we Paiutes have regarding the whole Hetch Hetchy Valley history and historical accounts. Jennifer Treutelaar, is the Hetch Hetchy Program Manager for Yosemite National Park. In her postition one would think she would know the original history of one of the most talked and controverial places in modern day California environmental history. Instead Ms. Treutelaar did not add the Paiute people who once held Hetch Hetchy since before first contact. Here is the his ... Read Full Story

California – Tear down the Hetch Hetchy?   This year voters in San Francisco could vote on a proposal to tear down part of the Hetch Hetchy water system.   The Tuolumne River and the Reservoir are key to the areas water needs.   See it Link it:   Modesto Bee article   Read Full Story