"Restore Hetch Hetchy" = Goodbye Camp Mather

Concern about Camp Mather's future

San Franciscans have been  lucky to have a mountain getaway in Camp Mather  since 1924. It was after the O'Shaunessey Dam  at Hetch Hetchy was completed, and the crew that built the dam moved away that Camp Mather became San Franciscans' family camp. The camp, in the watershed area controlled by SFPUC that feeds Hetch Hetchy, was turned over to the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department which runs the camp for the 5,000+ campers every year. In addition to the R+P's summer sessions there have been two senior sessions (now down to one senior session at the end of summer) and two fall sessions. This gently cared for historic camp has a place in many hearts, and is a tradition for generations of families.

There is a group that would like to remove the O'Shaugnessy Dam and drain the reservoir at Hetch Hetchy. Although it is unlikely that this will happen, if the dam is removed Camp Mather will be turned into a processing station for cement from the dam. The study by "Restore Hetch Hetchy" (RHH) explains the process in its appendices and figures that the process of removing the dam would take five years. After the dam has been removed, after SFPUC is no longer leasing the watershed area that fed Hetch Hetchy, will San Francisco be given back its historic camp? Would it be in any shape to be enjoyed by San Franciscans? It seems unlikely. What argument could there be for a continued San Francisco Rec and Park presence in the area?

The draining of Hetch Hetchy is a much larger issue than our beoved Camp Mather, but let's remember that along with billions of gallons of clean tasty drinking water, along with billions of megawatts of clean hydroelectricity, we would also be losing a dusty old camp - a camp full of stories and generations of family visits - a place where San Franciscans return year after year to rest and restore. A place where city kids come to be free.

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Strawberry Music Festival at Mather

The Strawberry Music Festival also takes place at Camp Mather at the beginning and end of each summer, drawing about  5,000 music lovers to the camp over the Memorial Day weekend, and again over the Labor Day weekend. Luminaries on their Music Meadow stage include Arlo Guthrie, KD Lang and other country and bluegrass stars. Most festival goers have loyally attended every year for all 28 years. This year a baby was born at Strawberry, and there were at least two weddings performed.

Hetch Hetchy has already been restored. It was originally a glacier lake, and it has been made into a lake again.
~ Neil Fahy, Geologist, Camp Mather Naturalist 

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Campers + Friends, if you want to know what's happening with Camp Mather, if you want updates on possible changes, please join the email list. 

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This website is one woman's opinion, the website reflects my opinions, and my opinions only. You may share those opinions, others may too, but this is not meant to reflect the policies or stands of any nonprofit, government or for-profit organizations. Thanks for your interest!! - robin

For more information about Camp Mather:
Camp Mather reservation desk / San Francisco Recreation + Parks / 501 Stanyan, San Francisco 94117 / 415-831-2715
Camp Mather Office / phone 209-379-2284 / fax 209-379-9326 / 35250 Mather Road, Groveland, California 95321