Native Americans
very limited to some irrigation along Colorado River and a small amount in Owens valley.
Spanish Mission era
1770s-1821
Spanish Mission era
Small Dams and irrigation canals from rivers
Mexican Ranch era
1821-1840s
Mexican Ranch era
Expanded to support cattle ranching
Anglo American era
Came from wet east coast, water was to be exploited
Collective water rights colonies formed early SoCal communities
1850s-1880s
Collective water rights colonies formed early SoCal communities
Anaheim, San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga early examples
Collective water rights colonies formed early SoCal communities
Irrigated crops vastly expanded by early 1900s
Riparian rights
If you owned riverfront land - you had right to divert
Appropriation rights:
if you were first settlers you could divert water from far away river, as long as you actually used it.
Centrally controlled water districts to oversee conflicting private interests
Formed from 1880s to early 1900s
Centrally controlled water districts to oversee conflicting private interests
Ban on hydraulic gold mining in 1884 due to sediment loading of downstream rivers
1970s - era of environmental movement and laws
Wild and scenic river protected undammed rivers
1970s - era of environmental movement and laws
1973 - endangered species act
1970s - era of environmental movement and laws
Dams were stopped from being built in 70s and 80s.
1970s - era of environmental movement and laws
1990s - Mono Lake restoration