Suspicious tactics were used by supporters of the O’Shaughnessy Dam and Hetch Hetchy reservoir, built in the early 20th century in the middle of Yosemite Valley to supply water to residents of the San Francisco Bay area. The controversy continues today, with an ongoing debate over whether to manage, refurbish, repair and enlarge the damn, or to tear it down and restore the Valley to its natural splendor. Patt Morrison talks with John Warfield Simpson about the politics of Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite, and about what they reveal about American attitudes toward growth, development, and environmental stewardship.
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