How Los Angeles Stole Its Water: A Complete History of The Los Angeles Aqueduct

Summary

The script narrates the tale of Los Angeles' rapid growth and the resulting water crisis, leading to the construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct. It delves into the underhanded tactics of key figures like William Mulholland and Frederick Eaton, the environmental and social impacts on Owens Valley, and the aqueduct's lasting effects on water rights and resources. The story also touches on the disastrous Saint Francis Dam failure and the ongoing challenges of balancing urban development with sustainable water management.

Takeaways

• 🏙️ The city of Los Angeles grew exponentially from 1900 to 1930, increasing its population from 102,000 to over 1.2 million, which created a significant demand for water resources.
• 💧 Los Angeles had a water supply problem due to its reliance on the unpredictable Los Angeles River and the need for a consistent water source to support its booming population.
• 🏗️ To address the water shortage, Los Angeles undertook the construction of a 233-mile aqueduct, an engineering feat that involved questionable business practices and political maneuvering.
• 💭 The key figures in this aqueduct project were William Mulholland and Frederick Eaton, who played pivotal roles in securing water rights and advancing the project despite legal and ethical challenges.
• 👥 The Owens Valley and its river became the target of Los Angeles' water acquisition, which led to the drastic environmental transformation of the area, including the disappearance of Owens Lake.
• 🤝 A complex web of relationships and inside information was used to secure land and water rights in Owens Valley, involving Joseph Lippincott, who provided valuable insights to the city of Los Angeles.
• 💡 The city of Los Angeles allegedly created a water crisis to gain public support for the expensive aqueduct project, suggesting a fabricated drought to justify the need for the aqueduct.
• 📈 The annexation of the San Fernando Valley was a strategic move to increase the city's assessed valuation, thus raising its debt limit to finance the aqueduct, and also to secure a water storage area.
• 💥 The Saint Francis Dam disaster in 1928 was a catastrophic failure that resulted in significant loss of life and tarnished Mulholland's reputation, leading to his resignation and a period of seclusion.
• 🌳 The environmental impact of the aqueduct extended beyond the initial construction, with subsequent expansions leading to further ecological damage, including the drying of Owens Lake and dust pollution.
• 🌊 Recent efforts by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to mitigate the environmental damage include shallow flooding of Owens Lake and the creation of a land art project to commemorate its environmental heritage.

Q & A

What was the population growth of Los Angeles from 1900 to 1930?

The population of Los Angeles grew from approximately 102,000 residents to over 1.2 million during this period, an increase of nearly one thousand percent.

Why was the Los Angeles Aqueduct project necessary?

The Los Angeles Aqueduct project was necessary to support the rapidly growing population of Los Angeles, which was facing a severe water shortage due to its reliance on the unpredictable Los Angeles River as its primary source of fresh water.

Who were the key players in the Los Angeles Aqueduct project?

The key players in the Los Angeles Aqueduct project were William Mulholland, Frederick Eaton, and Joseph Lippincott.

What was the Owens River and Owens Lake's significance before the aqueduct?

The Owens River and Owens Lake were integral parts of the region's ecosystem, providing a feeding and resting stop for millions of migratory waterfowl, and were the main water sources for the Owens Valley.

How did Fred Eaton and William Mulholland secure water rights in the Owens Valley?

Fred Eaton and William Mulholland secured water rights in the Owens Valley through underhanded business dealings, including purchasing land and water rights, and using information from Joseph Lippincott, who was working on the Bureau of Reclamation's Owens Valley project.

What was the role of the San Fernando Valley in the aqueduct project?

The San Fernando Valley was annexed by Los Angeles to increase the city's assessed valuation, thereby raising its debt limit and allowing for water storage in the newly acquired land, which was part of Mulholland's strategy to fund and support the aqueduct project.

What was the environmental impact of the Los Angeles Aqueduct on the Owens Valley?

The construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct led to the drying up of Owens Lake, which disrupted the local ecosystem, destroyed the agriculture industry, and created dust pollution that included dangerous carcinogens.

What was the Saint Francis Dam disaster and its consequences?

The Saint Francis Dam disaster occurred on March 12, 1928, when the dam catastrophically failed, resulting in the loss of at least 431 lives. It was the worst American civil engineering disaster of the 20th century and significantly tarnished William Mulholland's reputation.

How did the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) address the dust pollution from Owens Lake?

In 2001, the LADWP was compelled by a court order to begin shallow flooding portions of Owens Lake to combat the toxic dust pollution, which led to some environmental recovery in the area.

What is the Owens Lake Master Plan and its goal?

The Owens Lake Master Plan is a project backed by stakeholders, including the LADWP and the state land commission, with the goal of controlling dust, creating, and protecting new habitats in the area as part of the environmental recovery efforts.

What challenges does the growing population of Los Angeles County pose for water supply?

The expected increase in the population of Los Angeles County by another 1 million people by 2060 will put further strain on the region's water delivery systems, potentially leading to further expansion of the Los Angeles Aqueduct and increased pressure on natural resources.