Water and Power Associates Informing the Public about Critical Water and Energy Issues facing Los Angeles and California

Background

Beginning in 2017, students from The Claremont Colleges, California State University, Northridge (CSUN), and California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), have been digitizing reports, maps, blueprints, photographs, and other materials found in water-related archival collections.  Subjects covered by the collections include floods and flood plains, irrigation, legal cases, the Colorado River Aqueduct, the Los Angeles Aqueduct, reservoirs and dams, the Salton Sea, water companies and municipal water suppliers, water engineering, water rights, and land ownership.  The materials come from a variety of sources such as federal, state, and local governments, water companies, local agencies, engineers, and other individuals involved in water development in the Southern California region from the 19th through the 20th centuries.

This collaborative preservation and dissemination project (titled: Digitizing Southern California Water Resources) is supported by a Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources and funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Board of Water and Power Commissioners Annual Reports

The following is a collection of Board Reports (1926-1934) that highlights significant events in the history of Los Angeles' municipal water and power systems.  Featured are early reports related to the Los Angeles Aqueduct, Owens Valley, St. Francis Dam disaster, Colorado River Aqueduct, new water reservoirs, and the construction of new power generation, transmission, and distribution facilities necessary to meet the needs of the city’s rapidly growing population.

Historical Notes

1911 – The Department of Public Service and the Public Service Commission was created through an approved charter amendment.

1911 - The Bureau of Power and Light was created within the Department of Public Service to oversee and administer the electrical system in the city.

1911 - The Water Department was renamed the Bureau of Water Works and Supply after the creation of a municipal department in charge of electricity (Bureau of Power and Light).

1926 - The Board of Public Service Commissioners was renamed Board of Water and Power Commissioners through an approved charter amendment to more accurately reflect its oversight of both the Bureau of Water Works and Supply and the Bureau of Power and Light.

1937 - The Bureau of Water Works and Supply consolidated with the Bureau of Power and Light and became the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP).^

Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1926

The twenty-fifth annual report reviews the activities of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners (1st year with new name) and its divisions for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1926. For the Bureau of Water Works and Supply, it includes reports of the chief engineer (William Mulholland), Construction and Distribution Division (assistant superintendent), Pumping Plants and Supply Division (chief mechanical engineer), Meter and Service Division, Engineering Division (office engineer), distribution system, Engineering Division, and Sanitation Division (biologist). For the Bureau of Power and Light, it includes reports of the chief electrical engineer and general manager (E. F. Scattergood), and the Operating, Construction, Distribution, and Business Agent's Divisions. It also includes reports of the right of way and land agent, and the controller. Photographs include a color print of the view looking east from Shaver's Summit, along the route of the proposed Colorado River aqueduct; St. Francis Dam and Reservoir; Soledad Siphon, Los Angeles Aqueduct; Franklin Pumping Station; Sawtelle Pressure Break Reservoir; Commonwealth Distributing Station, Sawtelle Distributing Station number 28; and several Bureau of Water Works and Supply and Bureau of Power and Light facilities in Los Angeles.

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Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1927

The twenty-sixth annual report reviews the activities of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners and its divisions for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1927. For the Bureau of Water Works and Supply, it includes reports of the chief engineer (William Mulholland), the assistant superintendent (Construction and Distribution Division), the chief mechanical engineer (Pumping Plants and Supply Division), the superintendent of the Meter and Service Division, the office engineer, and the biologist. For the Bureau of Power and Light, it includes reports of the chief electrical engineer and general manager (E. F. Scattergood), and the Operating, Construction, Distribution, and Buisiness Agent's Divisions. It also includes reports of the right of way and land agent, and the controller. Photographs include St. Francis Dam and Reservoir; Ascot Reservoir; overhead waterways for diversion of cloudburst water, Alabama Hills and Olancha Divisions, Los Angeles Aqueduct; San Fernando Chlorination Plant; the Bureau of Power and Light's old and new distribution stations; Haiwee Power Plant, and Receiving Station "B".

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Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1928

The twenty-seventh annual report reviews the activities of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners and its divisions for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1928. For the Bureau of Water Works and Supply, it includes reports of the chief engineer (William Mulholland), the assistant superintendent (Construction and Distribution Division), the chief mechanical engineer (Pumping Plants and Supply Division), the superintendent of the Meter and Service Division, the office engineer, and Sanitation Division (biologist). For the Bureau of Power and Light, it includes reports of the chief electrical engineer and general manager (E. F. Scattergood), and the Operating, Construction, Distribution, and Buisiness Agent's Divisions. It also includes reports of the right of way and land agent, and the controller. Photographs include the Ascot Reservoir; Tinnemaha Dam and Reservoir, Inyo County; Owens Valley headquarters office and warehouse building, Independence, Calif.; Eagle Rock tank; 99th Street and San Pedro Pump Stations; the Bureau of Power and Light general warehouse; and various machinery for generating and transmitting electrical power.

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Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1929

The twenty-eighth annual report reviews the activities of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners and the Department of Water and Power for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1929. Water System (Water Works and Supply Division) reports comprise reports of the chief engineer (F. E. Weymouth); Owens River Aqueduct Division; Water distribution and operation; Distribution, Construction and Operating Division; Reservoir and Pumping Plants Division; Water Distribution Design Division; and Meters and Service Division. Power System (Power and Light Division) reports comprise reports of the chief electrical engineer (E. F. Scattergood); Operating Division; Division of Preliminary Studies; Division of Power Plants and General Construction; Division of Engineering Design; Power Distribution Division; Sales Division; Commercial Division; Cost Division; Personnel and Efficiency Division; Purchasing Division; Right of Way and Land Division. It also includes the report of the controller. Photographs include the Ascot, Fairmont, Sawtelle Pressure Break, Silver Lake, and Stone Canyon Reservoirs, the Pacific Palisades Reservoir under construction, and San Francisquito Power Plants Nos. 1 and 2. 

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Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1930

The twenty-ninth annual report reviews the activities of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners and the Department of Water and Power for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1930. The Department of Water and Power comprises two bureaus: (1) the Bureau of Water Works and Supply, and (2) the Bureau of Power and Light. Bureau of Water Works and Supply reports include those of the chief engineer (H. A. Van Norman); Division of Water Distribution and Operation; Pumping Plants and Reservoirs; Sanitation; Meters and Service; and Division of Owens River Aqueduct. Bureau of Power and Light reports include those of the chief electrical engineer (E. F. Scattergood) and general manager; Operating Division; Division of Design and Construction; Business Agent's Division; Commercial Division; Cost Division; Personnel and Efficiency Division; Purchasing Division; Right of Way and Land Division. It also includes the report of the controller. Photographs include the Granada, Hollywood Knolls, and North Hollywood Pumping Plants; the San Fernando and Silver Lake Chlorination Plants; dipper dredge cleaning of an unlined section of the Los Angeles Aqueduct in Owens Valley; Owens Valley wells; tSan Francisquito Power Plants Nos. 1 and 2; Receiving Station "B"; and Distribution Station No. 19.

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Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1931

The thirtieth annual report reviews the activities of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners and the Department of Water and Power for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1931. The Department of Water and Power comprises two systems (1) Water, and (2) Power. Water System reports include those of the Owens River Aqueduct Division; Distribution, Construction and Operation Division; Pumping Plants and Reservoirs; Ground Water Surveys and Development; Meters and Services; Water Distribution and Design; New Business and Extensions (Water System); Sanitation; Special Construction Division; Field Engineering--Los Angeles Division; and Mono Basin Division. Power System reports include those of the Operating Division; and Design and Construction Division. Water and Power Systems joint divisions reports include those of the Commercial Division; Cost Division; Purchasing Division; Stores Division; Transportation and Equipment Division; Right of Way and Land Division; and Accident Prevention. The annual report also includes the report of the controller. Photographs include Chatsworth Dam No. 2; Distributing Station No. 17; Fairmont Reservoir; Lower Franklin Reservoir; Lower San Fernando Dam; Los Angeles River chlorinating station; various sites in Mono County; Rowena Reservoir; San Fernando Receiving Station; transmission line towers (South Gate); Wilmington Receiving Station "C"; and Wrigley Baseball Field and Olympic Stadium. 

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Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1932

The thirty-first annual report reviews the activities of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners and the Department of Water and Power for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1932. The Department of Water and Power comprises two bureaus (1) Water Works and Supply, and (2) Power and Light. Water Works and Supply Bureau reports include those of the Water System; Owens River Aqueduct Division; Distribution, Construction, and Operation Division; Pumping Plants and Reservoirs; Ground Water Surveys and Development; Meters and Services; Water Distribution and Design; New Business and Extensions (Water System); Sanitation Division; Major Dam Construction; Field Engineering (Los Angeles Division); and Mono Basin Division. Power and Light Bureau reports include those of the Division of Operation and Distribution; Design and Construction Division; and Business Agent's Division. Joint Divisions reports include those of the Commercial Division; Cost Division; Purchasing Division; Stores Division; Transportation and Equipment Division; Right of Way and Land Division; and Accident Prevention. The annual report also includes the report of the controller. Photographs include Finley Avenue tank; Rowena Reservoir; Laurel Canyon Covered Reservoir No. 2; Tinemaha Reservoir; Grapevine Siphon; various pipe lines; Upper Franklin Dam and Reservoir; water spreading pits, San Fernando Valley; Chatsworth Dam and Reservoir; Bouquet Canyon Dam No. 1; test conductors for Boulder Canyon transmission line; various power transmission lines; repairing and enlarging power tunnels between Bee Canyon siphon and San Francisquito Power Plant No. 2. 

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Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1933

The thirty-second annual report reviews the activities of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners and the Department of Water and Power for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1933. The Department of Water and Power comprises two bureaus (1) Water Works and Supply, and (2) Power and Light. Water Works and Supply Bureau reports include those of the Water System; Owens River Aqueduct Division; Distribution, Construction, and Operation Division; Pumping Plants and Reservoirs; Ground Water Surveys and Development; Meters and Services; Water Distribution and Design; New Business and Extensions (Water System); Sanitary Engineering Division; Major Dam Construction; Field Engineering (Los Angeles Division); and Mono Basin Division. Power and Light Bureau reports include those of the Division of Operation and Distribution; Design and Construction Division; and Business Agent's Division. Joint Divisions reports include those of the Commercial Division; Purchasing Division; Joint Shops, Transportation, Equipment and Stores Division; Right of Way and Land Division; and Accident Prevention. The annual report also includes the report of the controller. Photographs include Stone Canyon Reservoir and Chlorinating Station; Silver Lake Reservoir; 30-inch cast iron pipe; Lower Franklin Reservoir; various pumping stations; Tujunga Spreading Grounds; Hollywood and Upper Hollywood Reservoirs; Wilmington Treatment Plant; Bouquet Canyon Dam; Distributing Station No. 10; Boulder Canyon transmission line project construction; San Francisquito Power Plant No. 2; Owens Valley properties.

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Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1934

The thirty-third annual report reviews the activities of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners and the Department of Water and Power for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1934. The Department of Water and Power comprises two bureaus (1) Water Works and Supply, and (2) Power and Light. Water Works and Supply Bureau reports include those of the Water System; Owens River Aqueduct Division; Distribution, Construction, and Operation Division; San Fernando Valley Distribution System; Pumping Plants and Reservoirs; Ground Water Surveys and Development; Meters and Services; Water Distribution and Design; New Business and Extensions-Water System; Sanitary Engineering Division; Major Construction Division; Field Engineering-Los Angeles Division; and Mono Basin Division. Power and Light Bureau reports include those of the Division of Operation and Distribution; Design and Construction Division; and Business Agent's Division. Joint Divisions reports include those of the Commercial Division; Purchasing Division; Joint Shops, Transportation, Equipment and Stores Division; Right of Way and Land Division; and Accident Prevention. The annual report also includes the report of the controller. Photographs include the route of the Mono Craters tunnel; Chatsworth Reservoir; open lined section of the Los Angeles-Owens Valley Aqueduct in the vicinity of Ash Creek; 30-inch and 36-inch steel pipe and 24-inch cast iron pipe; Bouquet Canyon Reservoir pipe line; San Francisquito Canyon pipe line; Lomita Pumping Station; Summer flow of Los Angeles River in Griffith Park; Stone Canyon; Chatsworth Inlet Chlorine station; Field Engineering laboratory; Boulder Canyon Project scenes; Distributing Station No. 20; and Owens Valley scenes. 

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