On November 5, 1913, 40,000 people gathered here to witness the dedication of the Los Angeles–Owens River Aqueduct. The Cascades, the terminus of the 233-mile engineering project, were the site of William Mulholland’s famous declaration, “There it is, take it!” An extension completed in 1940 brought water 338 miles from the system’s northernmost intake near Tioga Pass. Since 1917, the aqueduct system has also generated significant hydroelectric power. The water it supplied transformed Los Angeles from a city of 300,000 to nearly 4 million and contributed to the growth of Southern California as a whole. Environmental challenges, mandates, and projects led to modifications in aqueduct operations, but despite reduced water deliveries, the aqueduct remains a critical part of the city’s present and future water supply, and protecting the Owens River watershed continues to be a major activity of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
