OCR Text |
Show BOULDER CANYON PROJECT 25 electrical energy to finance the cost of the works, will, incidentally, enable a large number of cities in southern California to secure a much needed water supply. The costal belt of southern California includes a strip of land from 20 to 60 miles in width, bordering on the Pacific Ocean from Los Angeles to the Mexican boundary, a distance of about 150 miles. It includes the counties of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, and San Diego, south and west of the high mountains. This coastal belt has a population of more than 2,000,000. The present population of Los Angeles County is something over 1,500,000, of which more than 1,000,000 are within the limits of the city of Lob Angeles. The four counties of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange, from the standpoint of ultimate water supply are a unit. San Diego County is somewhat detached from the others and may present a unit of its own. The water supply of the coastal belt of southern California is affected by cycles of wet and dry periods, periods of 10 to 12 years, in which the average rainfall and stream flow are below normal, followed by periods of similar duration, in which they rise above normal. Owing to increase of population, even average water conditions will leave a shortage of supply in a few years. To meet this situation, the cities of that region have been investigating possible sources of additional water supply. These investigations have shown that about 1,500 second-feet of water for domestic purposes will be required for these communities, and that the only possible source is the Colorado River. Plans are being formulated to go to that river for such supply. Naturally, the city of Los Angeles, because of its size and wealth has taken the lead. That city has, by an overwhelming vote, authorized a bond issue of $2,000,000 for preliminary investigation and construction, a large part of which has been expended. Plans for obtaining water from the Colorado River for southern California cities contemplate an aqueduct about 260 miles in length, and taking water from the river near the town of Blythe, Calif., which is about 150 miles below Boulder Canyon. This aqueduct will cost, according to preliminary estimates, about $150,000,000. Water will have to be lifted by pumping about 1,400 feet in order to surmount an intervening mountain range. A public district is now in process of formation embracing Los Angeles, Pasadena, Glendale, and about 20 other interested cities, to carry through this domestic water project. This district will require for pumping purposes a large block of electrical energy, amounting, when the aqueduct is operated to full capacity, to possibly 350,000 horsepower, thus adding materially to the market for power from the dam. A high dam creating large storage is essential in order that these cities may obtain the water they need from the Colorado River. It will impound for useful purposes large quantities of flood waters of the river which now annually waste into the sea and will have the effect of desilting the river flow and thus making it suitable for domestic use. The unquestionable needs of southern California cities for domestic water will assure heavy contributions, on account of water stored and delivered and power for pumping purposes, to Government revenues from the project. |
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Original book: [State of Arizona, complainant v. State of California, Palo Verde Irrigation District, Coachella Valley County Water District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, City of Los Angeles, California, City of San Diego, California, and County of San Diego, California, defendants, United States of America, State of Nevada, State of New Mexico, State of Utah, interveners] : California exhibits. |