The Alabama Gates and gate house were constructed in 1913 with the Los Angeles Aqueduct to dewater the aqueduct when maintenance was necessary. On November 16, 1924, seventy or more local citizens seized the aqueduct at the Alabama Gates and diverted the city's water supply through the gates into the dry Owens River to publicize the concerns of Owens Valley residents. Four days later, the water was voluntarily allowed to again flow into the aqueduct. Over the years, attempts to reconcile the city's water needs and the concerns of valley residents moved from confrontation to negotiation.