Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
population grows, how thirsty Coloradans get, and how parched the
land becomes.
Remember thirsty New Berlin, Wisconsin, near Lake Michigan,
the town that's split by a subcontinental divide? Half that city's
water drains into the Mississippi River Basin and the other portion
drains into the Great Lakes Basin. As we mentioned, the problem
New Berlin faces, and the reason it can't just suck water from Lake
Michigan to quench its thirst, is that strict laws govern moving water
from one drainage basin or watershed system to another, including
international laws such as the recently enacted Great Lakes Water
Resources Compact.
DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH
Laws and the courts aside, the classic David versus Goliath water
battle—complete with dynamite, shotguns, soldiers, and armed
rebellion—dates back to the early 1900s. It pits the mighty, thirsty
Los Angeles represented by William Mulholland, chief engineer
of the city's Bureau of Water Works and Supply, backed by the fed-
eral government, against the farmers of tiny, then water-rich Owens
Valley about 250 miles north of Los Angeles. Guess who won?
Here's a clue: It wasn't the little guy.
Mulholland, along with former Los Angeles mayor Fred Eaton,
envisioned tapping the abundant water in Owens Valley for fast-
growing Los Angeles by building an aqueduct to transport the
water. It was a project marked by deceit, dishonesty, and violence.
The aqueduct was blown up a number of times, and Owens Valley
WATER TALES
The Owens Valley saga isn't over yet. Organizations still
offer updates and information on its history, changes, and
restoration. To learn more, visit
•
•
The Owens Valley Committee: http://ovcweb.org/
Owens Valley History: http://www.owensvalleyhistory
.com/
