Which body of water was affected by the Raker Act?

The Raker Act, passed in 1913, was a significant piece of legislation that authorized the construction of the Hetch Hetchy water system, which provided water to San Francisco. While the act itself pertains to the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, it also had a broader impact on the surrounding geographical area, which includes San Francisco Bay. The water system created by the Raker Act was intended to address the needs of the growing population and infrastructure of San Francisco, effectively allowing the city to better manage its water resources from the Sierra Nevada mountains, flowing down into the Bay. This act facilitated the development of the reservoir that stored water for the city, ultimately influencing how water flowed into the Bay and supporting its ecosystems.

In contrast, while the Pacific Ocean, Lake Tahoe, and Hetch Hetchy Reservoir are all significant bodies of water, they are not directly impacted by the Raker Act in the same manner as the Bay. The act specifically pertains to the water supply and management systems that connect Hetch Hetchy with San Francisco, reinforcing the importance of this historical legislation to the Bay's development and environmental health.