Our Story the History of the Cucamonga Valley Water District the Region of Cucamonga Has Been Known As an Area Rich in a Reliable Water Supply for Many Centuries

Our Story The History of the Cucamonga Valley Water District The region of Cucamonga has been known as an area rich in a reliable water supply for many centuries. The Tongva Indians lived very close to what today is known as Cucamonga Creek for hundreds of years. At that time, the area was known as Kukumo-nga and the creek where the Tongva resided provided an abundant supply of fresh water. The Tahtam Indians lived along the mountain stream area known today as Lytle Creek. Springs bubbled up from the ground, providing the water they needed to survive. By the early 1800's, missions had been established from Los Angeles to San Diego, and everywhere in between. Mission San Gabriel was originally established near present day Montebello, and then branched out to San Bernardino. In the 1830's, the missions began closing their doors, and the land that was once owned by the missions became available to purchase. In 1839, Tiburcio Tapia applied for land in the area known as Cucamonga. Tapia built a house in the Red Hill area and planted a small vineyard. Thanks to the abundant supply of water, Tapia was able to support his homestead. Over the next few years, Tapia's "Rancho Cucamonga," as it became known, continued to flourish through extensive planting of vineyards, corn and grain fields, and fruit orchards, thanks to the abundant supply of water that fed the farms. The Rancho Cucamonga changed ownership over the years and the vineyards were expanded to include over 150,000 vines, all continuing to require a reliable water source. Settlers Arrive in San Bernardino Settlers continued to make their way to California and particularly the lands close to today's San Bernardino Valley. The travelers from New Mexico and Utah settled in areas close to water, specifically the Lytle Creek area and the Santa Ana River. In order to survive, grow crops, and build houses, they knew they must settle in an area that provided an abundant source of water. Water along with a good climate and excellent soils prompted the early pioneers to develop a long successful agricultural era. Settlers knew that in order to make their homes and farms survive, they must get water to their land. They began to build their own ditches to move water from the creeks to their lands, and dams to contain the water that was diverted. Weather Troubles In 1862, there occurred the Great Flood, which dropped three times the normal amount of rain on Southern California. Many areas were destroyed, including the ditches that used to move water throughout Cucamonga. The Great Flood of 1862 was followed by years of severe drought. Because of the lack of water in the region, water users were required to limit the water they each took out of the rivers and canyons. As land throughout Cucamonga was purchased, small water companies began to form to regulate water use. Beginning in the late 1940's and continuing for about twenty years into the 1960's, most of Southern California experienced an extensive dry cycle. All water came from about twenty-five water companies and a few water wells. The continuing dry cycle was an extremely difficult period for most of the water companies. Organizing to Provide Water During this drought period, the Cucamonga Water Company was not able to adequately service its customers both agriculturally and domestically. As a result of these conditions, stockholders in the Cucamonga Water Company and the Cucamonga Basin Protective Association organized to create a public agency that would be able to raise funds from property owners and water users to provide an adequate supply of water for the growing Cucamonga Valley. The Cucamonga County Water District was organized in March 1955 within boundaries established by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. The first five member Board of Directors was created: Mr. Robert Nesbit, Mr. Galer Royer, Mr. John S. Ingalls, Mr. J.F. Grass Jr., and Mr. Harold B. Blatz. At the Board of Directors meeting of August 25, 1956, Norman Hixson was appointed as the District's first General Manager. At that time, the District occupied an area approximately 22,000 acres generally bounded on the west by the City of Upland, on the south by the City of Ontario, on the east by Etiwanda Avenue and on the north by the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. The service area included the unincorporated communities of Cucamonga, Alta Loma, and a part of Etiwanda. Today the Cucamonga Valley Water District serves approximately 185,000 people (as of 2007). .

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