0
To amend the Act of December 19, 1913 (38 Stat. 242), to expand access to the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and Lake Eleanor Basin areas for recreational purposes, and for other purposes.
1/8/2025, 1:40 PM
Summary of Bill HR 177
The Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and Lake Eleanor Basin areas are known for their scenic beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities. By expanding access to these areas, the bill aims to promote tourism and outdoor recreation, which can have positive economic impacts on the surrounding communities.
In addition to expanding access for recreational purposes, the bill also includes provisions for other purposes. These additional provisions may include measures to protect the natural environment, preserve wildlife habitats, or improve infrastructure in the area. Overall, Bill 119 hr 177 seeks to enhance the recreational opportunities available in the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and Lake Eleanor Basin areas while also addressing other important considerations related to the conservation and management of these natural resources.
Congressional Summary of HR 177
Yosemite National Park Equal Access and Fairness Act
This bill modifies the Raker Act, which allowed San Francisco to dam the Hetch Hetchy Valley within Yosemite National Park, to (1) increase the annual rent San Francisco pays to the National Park Service (NPS), and (2) direct the NPS to expand public access to the reservoir and lake created by the dam.
Specifically, the bill increases rent paid by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission for the use of the park from $30,000 to $2 million per year. That amount must be adjusted annually to reflect increases in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. The commission may not recoup such sums from wholesale water or power customers. The bill allows collected rent to be used by the Department of the Interior for wildfire mitigation activities in the park and other national parks in California.
The bill also requires the NPS to administer the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and Lake Eleanor Basin areas for public recreation, benefit, and use in a manner that will preserve scenic, historic, scientific, or otherwise important features.
