IID: THE FIRST 40 YEARS = M. J. Dowd IID: THE FIRST 40 YEARS = HISTORY OF IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT and the DEVELOPMENT OF IMPERIAL VALLEY by M. J. Dowd Executive Officer 1956 PREFACE The following history of the Imperial Irrigation District was prepared by Mr. M. J. Dowd, who served the District from 1922 until his death in 1965, as Consulting Engineer and Executive Officer to the Board of Directors. The history covers the early years of the District until 1940. It was Mr. Dowd’s intention to prepare additional chapters covering the All-American Canal project, power development, the Salton Sea, and the period from 1940 to date. It is unfortunate that he was unable to complete that work. Mr. Dowd’s original manuscript prepared in 1956 contained a bibliography, and reference list which were not completed and therefore, are not included here. They are filed in the Imperial Irrigation District’s Dowd Memorial Library located in El Centro. Mr. Dowd labeled this manuscript a “Preliminary Draft”, but no attempt has been made to make any changes other than minor editorial corrections. Richard N. Taylor, Director Community & Special Services PLEASE NOTE: In 2012, this document was scanned using optical character recognition software, and reformatted using modern type treatments on digital equipment. Other than minor typographic corrections, the document retains its original verbiage as written by Mr. Dowd. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. DESCRIPTION OF AREA The Colorado Desert ...................................................................................................................................................................1 Imperial Valley .............................................................................................................................................................................1 Geologic History ..........................................................................................................................................................................2 Lake Cahuilla ..............................................................................................................................................................................2 II. EARLY RECOGNITION OF DEVELOPMENT POSSIBILITIES Capt. A. R. Johnson ....................................................................................................................................................................4 Dr. W. P. Blake .............................................................................................................................................................................4 Dr. O. M. Wozencraft .................................................................................................................................................................5 Lt. Eric Bergland .........................................................................................................................................................................6 William Denton ...........................................................................................................................................................................7 III. PROJECT PLANS AND FINANCING Colorado River Irrigation Company......................................................................................................................................7 Preliminary Investigations.............................................................................................................................................7 Survey of Canal Location ..............................................................................................................................................7 Change in Plans ...............................................................................................................................................................8 California Development Company ........................................................................................................................................8 Organization ....................................................................................................................................................................8 Attempts to Finance ........................................................................................................................................................9 George Chaffey .................................................................................................................................................................9 Naming Imperial Valley .............................................................................................................................................10 The Mexican Company ..........................................................................................................................................................10 Mutual Water Companies .....................................................................................................................................................11 Plan of Colonization ...................................................................................................................................................11 First Mutual Water Company ...................................................................................................................................11 Interrelated Contracts between Companies ......................................................................................................................11 Mexican Company and No. 1 Company ...............................................................................................................11 C. D. Company and Mexican Company ................................................................................................................12 Tri-Party Contract .......................................................................................................................................................12 Imperial Land Company .......................................................................................................................................................13 i TABLE OF CONTENTS The Mexican Company ..........................................................................................................................................................10 Mutual Water Companies .....................................................................................................................................................11 Plan of Colonization .....................................................................................................................................................11 First Mutual Water Company ....................................................................................................................................11 Interrelated Contracts between Companies1 .......................................................................................................................1 Mexican Company and No. 1 Company .................................................................................................................11 C. D. Company and Mexican Company .................................................................................................................12 Tri-Party Contract ........................................................................................................................................................12 Imperial Land Company .......................................................................................................................................................13 Delta Investment Company ...................................................................................................................................................13 IV. ORIGINAL WATER APPROPRIATIONS 1895-1899 .................................................................................................................................................................................15 V. EARLY DEVELOPMENT First Construction ....................................................................................................................................................................17 Alamo ..............................................................................................................................................................................17 Chaffey Gate ..................................................................................................................................................................17 First Diversion and Delivery of Water ................................................................................................................................17 Additional Mutual Water Companies ................................................................................................................................18 Additional Construction ........................................................................................................................................................18 Canals ..............................................................................................................................................................................18 Structures ........................................................................................................................................................................19