The national parks preceded the National Park Service, but the first great natural park was a state park. Californiaâs Yosemite State Park was established in 1864, by a federal cession approved by President Abraham Lincoln, and on October 21, 1880, President Rutherford B. Hayes toured Californiaâs Yosemite in an open carriage.
In fact, humans have been capturing the energy of moving water for thousands of years. Today, harnessing the power of moving water to generate electricity, known as hydroelectric power, is the largest source of emissions-free, renewable electricity in the United States and worldwide.
Conduct electricity from the hydropower plant to homes and business. How Much Electricity Can a Hydroelectric Plant Make? The amount of electricity a hydropower plant produces depends on two factors: How Far the Water Falls. The farther the water falls, the more power it has. Amount of Water Falling. More water falling through the turbine will produce more power.