San Fernando Valley was “discovered” on August 5, 1769 by Don Gaspar de Portola and the members of the Spanish Expedition. Leaving the Los Angeles and Westwood area, they headed north towards the Santa Monica Mountains, following an Indian trail up Sepulveda Canyon. According to Father Juan Crespi’s diary on the expedition, they “saw a [...]
Archive for the ‘Water’ Category
San Fernando Mission water system.
Posted in Mission Period, Water on December 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Dams of the SFV
Posted in Water on December 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
In 1914, a major flood covered the Valley ground. It caused $10 million in damages throughout the developing basin and brought attention to the possibility of recurrent flooding problems. The following year, the Los Angeles County Flood Control District was formed. Early flood control efforts included some channelization and support for reservoirs and dams. Taxpayers [...]
Los Angeles Aqueduct
Posted in Water on November 11, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
In the San Fernando Valley, springs were the main source of water for irrigation and drinking until well after California was officially admitted to the union on September 9, 1850. In the 1880s, the Porter Land and Water Company was formed to help control the distribution of fresh water in the Valley as the region [...]
The Los Angeles River
Posted in Green and Recreational Space, Water, tagged Green, Los Angeles, Recreation, River, trails on November 6, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The Los Angeles River is quite different from the typical image we get when thinking about a river. It is generally dry during the summer and fall and has heavy flows during the rainy and wet seasons. The floods of this river have killed more people in LA than from earthquakes. The daunting 100 year [...]
