Eliza Fong Spring 2014

The Los Angeles Aqueduct

INTRODUCTION The Los Angeles Aqueduct is one of the most eminent water engineering in the United States. It was built in 1913, and the Chief Engineer and Aqueduct designer was William

Mulholland. The project underwent considerable hard condition, including cutting the tunnels, installing the pipes, and bringing water from approximately 250 miles Owens River to Los Angeles. For the hundred years, the Los Angeles Aqueduct has been becoming the main source of water for the growing city Los Angeles. On the other hand, it brought adversity to the Owens Valley. (The Los Angeles Aqueduct) IN THE NEWS

According to Los Angeles Time, an article published by William Kahrl on 03 November, 2013, "Mulholland's Long Shadow; His L.A. Aqueduct Changed the City -- and Water Politics --Forever", the Los Angeles Aqueduct has brought disaster to the Owens Valley area. The more water the Los Angeles Aqueduct withdraws from the Owens River, The more water shortage the Owens Valley encounters. The consequence is that the Owens Valley people and economy severely suffered. Especially, it gravely hurt the Owens Valleys agriculture economy. (Kahrl) SCHOLARLY RESEARCH On the other hand, a research conducted by Jeff Brown indicated: the Los Angeles Aqueduct has been acting a significant role to the Los Angeles people's happiness, economic prosperity, and bright future. On the occasion of celebrating 100 years of the accomplishment of the Los Angeles Aqueduct, we should give the applause to the water project Chief Engineer, William Mulholland. It is he who made the bold decision and successfully designed the splendid water engineering. It is he who led the workers to overcome numerous challenges without the modern technology at that time. It is he who

had the far-sighted and brought the continuous benefits to the Los Angeles generations and economies. (Brown)

FUN FACTS Although the Los Angeles Aqueduct evokes debates, the following fun facts are not controversial: the Los Angeles Aqueduct construction last five years from 1913 to 1918. It consumed $23 million (approximately $1.5 billion today). Its distances extend 223 miles. It comprises five reservoirs. Also it consists of 142 tunnels extending 52 miles. It totally used up the siphons 49,575 feet. The Los Angeles Aqueduct supplied the City of Los Angeles 440 cubic feet per second annual flow which could support two million people for 20 years. Additionally, in order to transport the construction materials and equipment, a parallel 505 miles railroad was built. (First Owens River - Los Angeles Aqueduct)

CONCLUSION The Los Angeles Aqueduct is astonished me even though I never heard about the Los Angeles Aqueduct before I immigrated here the United States. It is such splendid manmade water engineering. Over the hundred years, I cannot imagine how the City of Los Angeles has been becoming a world-known prosperous city if it has not benefited from the water source, the Los Angeles Aqueduct. Meanwhile, I just want to remind when we enjoy our sweet life, dont forget others bitterness. We cannot build our happiness on others suffering. I hope water planners will consider both communities' interests and

find a practical solution to solve the conflict between the City of Los Angeles and the Owens Valley. I envision a harmonious society will present sooner.

Word Bank
This is a list of words, phrases, jargon, terminology, synonyms, and keywords I found while conducting research for this Web Page. 1. Los Angeles Aqueduct 2. L.A. Aqueduct 3. Owens Valley 4. Eastern Sierra 5. L.A. Watershed 6. An engineering marvel in 1913 7. 100-year old engineering marvel 8. William Mulholland 9. L.A. man-made Aqueduct 10. LADWP 11. Los Angeles Department of Water & Power 12. Water supplies in L.A. 13. Los Angeles water and power 14. Los Angeles racecourse 15. Los Angeles watercourse 16. Los Angeles dam 17. Los Angeles channel 18. Los Angeles conduit

19. Los Angeles canal 20. Los Angeles flume

Works Cited

Brown, Jeff L. "Water From A Distance: The First Owens River--Los Angeles Aqueduct." Civil Engineering. 83.4 (2013): 40-43. Business Source Elite. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. First Owens River Los Angeles Aqueduct. American Society of Civil Engineers, 2014. Web. 08 Feb. 2014. <http://www.asce.org/People-andProjects/Projects/Landmarks/First-Owens-River---Los-Angeles-Aqueduct/> Kahrl, William. "Mulholland's Long Shadow; His L.A. Aqueduct Changed the City -- and Water Politics -- Forever." Los Angeles Times. 03 Nov. 2013: n. pag. ProQuest. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. Pinkishkaty. "upper owens gorge - los angeles aqueduct." Photograph. Flickr. Bing, 29 May 2011. Web. 08 Feb. 2014.
<http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6021/6205738157_125968c769_z.jpg >

The Los Angeles Aqueduct." Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, 2013. Web. 08 Feb. 2014. <https://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/faces/ladwp/aboutus/a-water/a-wlosangelesaqueduct?_afrLoop=531237934357951&_afrWindowMode=0&_afrWind owId=18axa4dia7_34#%40%3F_afrWindowId%3D18axa4dia7_34%26_afrLoop%3 D531237934357951%26_afrWindowMode%3D0%26_adf.ctrlstate%3D18axa4dia7_50>