Water Resources of Southern California with Special Reference to the Drought of 1944-51
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Water Resources of Southern California With Special Reference To the Drought of 1944-51 By HAROLD C. TROXELL GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1366 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1957 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FRED A. SEATON, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Thomas B. Nolan, Director For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D. C. - Price 55 cents (paper cover) CONTENTS Page Abstract.. ................................................................................................................................ 1 Introduction.............................................................................................................................. 2 Purpose and scope.............................................................................................................. 3 Acknowledgments................................................................................................................ 6 What constitutes a drought? .................................................................................................. 6 Hydrologic factors._................................................................................................................ 8 Climate.................................................................................................................................. 8 Coastal area.................................................................................................................... 9 Mountain area................................................................................................................... 12 Desert area...................................................................................................................... 13 Chronological distribution of precipitation...................................................................... 14 Coastal area..................................................................................................................... 16 Mountain area ..._........................................................................................ ...,................ 18 Desert area....................................................................................................................... 19 Water requirements of native vegetation........................................................................... 20 Potential evapotranspiration.......................................................................................... 20 Annual water consumption.............................................................................................. 22 Recoverable water............................................................................................................... 24 Surface water................................................................................................................... 25 Ground water.................................................................................................................... 28 Recent droughts.................................................................................................................. 29 Cultural development............................................................................................................... 29 History of settlement and growth....................................................................................... 29 Spanish occupation*........................................................................................................ 29 Mission period.................................................................................................................. 30 The first pueblo in southern California........................................................................ 31 Early droughts.................................................................................................................. 31 Pastoral era...................................................................................................................... 32 Modern agricultural era.................................................................................................. 33 The Great Boom............................................................................................................... 33 Search for new sources of water................................................................................... 34 Values of water rights.................................................................................................... 34 The use of ground water................................................................................................ 35 The great drought of 1893-1904.................................................................................... 35 The Imperial Valley........................................................................................................ 36 Los Angeles Aqueduct.................................................................................................... 38 The Boom of 1920............................................................................................................ 37 Colorado River Aqueduct............................................................................................... 38 Mono basin Aqueduct....................................................................................................... 39 World War II...................................................................................................................... 40 San Diego Aqueduct........................................................................................................ 40 Santa Barbara water supply ............................................................................................ 41 Trend in population............................................................................................................. 42 Area irrigated....................................................................................................................... 42 Water requirements.............................................................................................................. 45 Domestic and industrial .... ................................. .._.................. .... ........................... 45 Agricultural....................................................................................................................... 46 Water reserves...................................................................................................................... 48 Surface water................................................................................................................... 48 Ground water ..........._........ ................ ........................................................... .............. 50 Imported water..................................... .. .. .... ......... ........... ....... ... 51 Waste ................................................................................................................................ 52 III IV CONTENTS___ Page Cultural development Continued Cultural influences on local water supply ....................................................................... 55 Resume..................................................................................^......^..^^........... 56 San Diego region...................................................................................................................... 57 Water requirements............................................................................................................. 57 Water reserves...................................................................................................................... 60 Importations ._.................................................................... ............................................... 62 Effect of drought of 1944-51................L.......^................L......ZZ..ZZZ!"ZZZ 62 Surface water ................................................................................................................... 63 Ground water.................................................................................................................... 64 Los Angeles region ................................................................................................................ 67 Water requirements.............................................................................................................. 67 Water reserves..................................................................................................................... 70 Mountain and foothill areas............................................................................................ 70 Valley floor areas............................................................................................................ 73 Recharge of local water reserves.................................................................................. 74 Overdraft.. .............. ....................................._................................................................. 76 Effect of drought of 1944-51 ............................................................................. ........ .._ 76 Surface water.................................................................................................................... 77 Ground water .................................................................................................................