Central Valley Project

On September 28, 1963, less than two months before his assassination, President John F. Kennedy made his last official visit to California to dedicate Whiskeytown Dam. The dedication completed the Central Valley Project, a 500-mile-long water diversion system, initiating a new era of growth in California. Water from northern California is diverted to the drier Central Valley, allowing some of the world’s most productive agricultural regions to thrive. During the ceremony, President Kennedy recognized great conservationists of the past and expressed the need to utilize precious resources wisely for the future. He spoke of his pride in the Central Valley Project and praised the completion of Whiskeytown Dam. Other benefits from the Central Valley Project include hydroelectric power generation, flood protection, and countless recreational opportunities.

California · United States