California Water System

Largest water projects in the world: State Water Project one of the largest water transfers in world over 700 mile aqueduct plus 25 reservoirs Federal - Shasta Reservoir & Central Valley Project agricultural subsidy (small 160 acre farms) SWP and CVP world’s largest water system Local - numerous projects such as S.F. & L.A.

• Significance of water in the American West
  • arid climates: So Cal = desert; S.F. = arid landscape
  • antiquated water laws: riparian vs. prior appropriation
    • oasis settlements and irrigation districts
  • suburban development & urban expansion

• Supply and Demand
  • uneven resource
    • 75% in top 1/3 state
      

Sacramento & tributaries	33% steam flow
Northwest: Klamath, Eel, Russian	42%
San Joaquin River system	12%
Other River systems	13%

• farmers use 80% of water
  • in arid regions; "wet" crops: alfalfa, cotton, rice, produce
• major cities dependent on water
  • Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose
• Peripheral Canal (referendum 1982)
  • Opponents: cost to maintain system, ruin Delta farming, salt water
  
  

• Federal projects:
  • 1930’s with Central Valley Water Project (CVP)
    • Dept. of Interior & agricultural use
      • 500 miles canal & 20 reservoirs
    • Shasta Dam and Sacramento River (1945)
      • enlarged to capture Trinity River
      • others (Contra Costa & San Luis Res.)
    • Folsom Dam (1955) - flood, irrigation, supply
      
      
  • Other canals: Madera (1944), Friant-Kern (1949),
    Delta-Mendota (1951) ,Tehama-Colusa (1971), New Melones [Stanislaus River] (1979), Auburn Dam (largest proposal)

• State water projects:
  • State Water Project (SWP) - map
    • history and vision (1961 - 1973) - urban use
    • 700 miles of canal and 25 reservoirs
      • begins Feather River / Oroville Dam
      • pumped from Delta / Peripheral canal rejected
      • lifted up into holding reservoirs and over Transverse Range
      • ends at Perris Reservoir & Castaic Reservoir

• Local projects:

Los Angeles Aqueduct (1913) insatiable thirst for water: Mulholland’s Dream buying up water rights in Owens Valley "greatest good for the greatest number" secret land grab in San Fernando Valley

• Metropolitan Water District - MWD (1941) Colorado River - Los Angeles
• Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct (1934) - Yosemite (urban needs vs. environment)
• Oakland and the Mokelumne (1929)

• East Bay Watershed (1950’s &1960s)
• South Bay (San Jose)
• Sacramento's flood protections?
  • Yolo Bypass
    
    
• Water Wars Klammath River Story
  (film about farmers vs. native Americans)
  
  
• benefits vs. costs of dams
  • hydroelectric power (9% of all electricity)
  • irrigation and drinking water
  • flood control; recreation
    
    
  • devastation of fishing habitat (Salmon, Steelhead)
  • diverting fresh water from rivers & estuaries
  • loss of water for bird habitat
  • impounding silts and sand
  • natural state & aesthetics

• Groundwater and alternatives
  • 40% of usage; pumped for individual use
  • common resource yet little regulated
  • contamination
    
    
  • alternatives: reclaimed (waste) water, desalinization
  • divert the Columbia River?
  • conservation: limit growth and use, drip irrigation, smaller lawns...