THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
DAVIS
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2012 with funding from
University of California, Davis Libraries
http://www.archive.org/details/waterutilization02cali
Use of Water in California
Courtesy San Jose Chamber of Commerce
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
GOODWIN J. KNIGHT
GOVERNOR
PUBLICATION OF
STATE WATER RESOURCES BOARD
Bulletin No. 2
WATER UTILIZATION AND
REQUIREMENTS
OF CALIFORNIA
Volume I
TEXT
June, 1955
LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF CAUFOR!'"*
DAVIS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, STATE WATER RESOURCES BOARD 13
ACKNOWLEDGMENT 14
ORGANIZATION, STATE WATER RESOURCES BOARD 15
ORGANIZATION, STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS,
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES- 16
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES - 17
PREFACE— CURRENT STATUS OF WATER SUPPLY DEVELOPMENT
AND REQUIREMENTS IN CALIFORNIA- 19
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION _
Need for Determination of Present Use of Water
and of Ultimate Water Requirement
Authority and Funds for Investigation-
History of Water Development in California
The California Water Problem-
Previous Investigations
Objective of State-wide Water Resources Investi-
gation
Scope of Bulletin
General Considerations Relating to Water Utili-
zation in California
Water Supply
Irrigation
Urban Use of Water
Hydroelectric Power
Timber and Minerals
Recreation and Fish and Wildlife
Repulsion of Sea Water
Flood Control
Drainage
Salt Balance
•^ Water Quality
Costs of Water
Page
21
21
22
22
24
25
25
26
27
27
28
30
31
32
32
34
34
35
35
36
37
CHAPTER II. METHODS AND PROCE-
DURES 39
Definitions 39
Geographical Subdivision of California-. 40
Classification of Water Service Areas 41
Maps 41
General Description of Method of Determining
Water Requirements 42
Surveys of Present Water Service Areas 43
Irrigated Lands ._ 43
Urban and Suburban Areas 1 44
Metropolitan Areas 44
Unclassified Areas 44
Method of Forecasting Ultimate Water Service
Areas 45
Irrigable and Irrigated Lands 45
Standards for Determination of Irrigability
of Lands 45
Land Classification Survey Procedure— 46
Determination of Irrigable Lands That Will
Ultimately Be Irrigated 47
Probable Ultimate Crop Pattern 47
Urban and Suburban Areas 48
Metropolitan Areas 48
Other Water Service Areas 48
Techniques for Determining Land Areas
Determination of Unit Values of Water Use —
Irrigation Water Use
General Method
Special Methods
Urban and Suburban Water Use
Use of Water in Metropolitan Areas
Use of Water in Other Water Service Areas
49
49
49
50
51
53
53
54
Determination of Water Requirements 54
Present Requirements 55
Ultimate Requirements 55
Probable Ultimate Supplemental Water Require-
ments 56
Determination of Probable Ultimate Water Re-
quirement of Metropolitan Areas by Popula-
tion-Saturation Method 57
CHAPTER III. NORTH COASTAL AREA 59
Present Water Service Areas 62
Irrigated Lands 62
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas— 64
Unclassified Areas 64
Summary 65
Probable Ultimate Water Service Areas. 65
Irrigated Lands 65
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas 66
Other Water Service Areas 66
Summary 67
(5)
TABLE OF CONTENTS-Continued
Page
Unit Values of Water Use 68
Irrigation Water Use 68
Urban and Suburban Water Use 68
Use of Water in Other Water Service Areas 69
Consumptive Use of Water 70
Factors of Water Demand 70
Monthly Distribution of Water Demands 70
Irrigation Water Service Area Efficiency 71
Water Requirements 72
Requirements of a Nonconsumptive Nature 72
Fish and Wildlife 72
Hydroelectric Power 73
Flood Control 73
Timber and Timber By-products 74
Mining 75
Requirements of a Consumptive Nature 75
Supplemental Requirements 75
CHAPTER IV. SAN FRANCISCO BAY
AREA 77
Present Water Service Areas 83
Irrigated Lands 83
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas 85
Unclassified Areas 86
Summary 86
Probable Ultimate Water Service Areas 87
Tidelands and Submerged Lands Susceptible
of Reclamation 87
Pattern of Ultimate Development 87
Irrigated Lands 88
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas 88
Other Water Service Areas 90
Summary 90
Unit Values of Water Use 91
Irrigation Water Use 91
Urban and Suburban Water Use 91
Use of Water in Other Water Service Areas__ 93
Consumptive Use of Water 93
Factors of Water Demand 93
Losses in Urban Water Utility Systems__ 94
Distribution of Urban Water Demands— .__ 94
Irrigation Water Service Area Efficiency.- 95
Water Requirements 96
Requirements of a Nonconsumptive Nature 96
Flood Control 96
Pish and Wildlife^ 96
Repulsion of Salt-water Intrusion From
Ground Water Basins 97
Salt Balance . 97
Requirements of a < 'onsumptive Nature 97
Supplemental Requirements 100
Safe yield of Local and Imported Water
Supplies With Present Development 100
Allocation of Local and Imported Water
Supplies . 101
Supplemental Water Requirements 101
Page
CHAPTER V. CENTRAL COASTAL AREA 103
Present Water Service Areas 108
Irrigated Lands 109
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas 109
Unclassified Areas 10!)
Summary 111
Probable Ultimate Water Service Areas HI
Irrigated Lands 111
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas__ - 112
Other Water Service Areas 112
Summary 112
Unit Values of Water Use T . 112
Irrigation Water Use 112
Urban and Suburban Water Use 113
Use of Water in Other Water Service Areas 113
Consumptive Use of Water 115
Factors of Water Demand 115
Monthly Distribution of Water Demands - 116
Irrigation Water Service Area Efficiency 116
Water Requirements 117
Requirements of a Nonconsumptive Nature.. - 117
Fish and Wildlife 117
Flood Control IIS
Subsurface Outflow From Ground Water
Basins to Ocean 118
Requirements of a Consumptive Nature 118
Supplemental Requirements . 119
CHAPTER VI. SOUTH COASTAL AREA__ . 121
Present Water Service Areas 127
Irrigated Lands 127
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas 129
Unclassified Areas 130
Summary 130
Probable Ultimate Water Service Areas . 131
Irrigated Lands 131
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas __ 133
Other Water Service Areas 133
Summary 134
Unit Values of Water Use__ 134
Irrigation Water Use 135
Urban and Suburban Water Use 135
Use of Water in Other Water Service Areas 137
Consumptive Use of Water . 137
Factors of Water Demand . 138
Monthly Distribution of Water Demands.^ __ 138
Water Service Area Efficiency . 138
Water Requirements 139
Requirements of a Nonconsumptive Nature . 139
Fish and Wildlife . 140
Flood Control . 140
Subsurface Outflow From Ground Water
Basins to Ocean 141
Salt Balance 444
(6)
TABLE OF CONTENTS-Continued
Page
"Water Requirements — Continued
Requirements of a Consumptive Nature 141
Supplemental Requirements 143
Safe Yield of Local Water Supplies With
Present Development 143
Imported Water Supplies 143
Supplemental Water Requirements 144
CHAPTER VII. CENTRAL VALLEY AREA 145
Present Water Service Areas 153
Irrigated Lands 153
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas 155
Unclassified Areas 155
Summary 159
Probable Ultimate AVater Service Areas 159
Irrigated Lands 159
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas 160
Other Water Service Areas 161
Summary 161
Unit Values of Water Use 161
Irrigation Water Use 161
Urban and Suburban Water Use 163
Use of Water in Other Water Service Areas _ 163
Consumptive Use of Water 167
Factors of Water Demand 167
Monthly Distribution of Water Demands 167
Irrigation Water Service Area Efficiency 172
Water Requirements 172
Requirements of a Nonconsumptive Nature 172
Pish and Wildlife 172
Flood Control _ . 177
Navigation 180
Salinity Control 180
Hydroelectric Power 180
Requirements of a Consumptive Nature 181
Supplemental Requirements 183
CHAPTER VIII. LAHONTAN AREA__ _ 187
Present Water Service Areas 192
Irrigated Lands 192
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas 192
Unclassified Areas 192
Summary 193
Probable Ultimate AVater Service Areas 194
Irrigated Lands 194
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas 195
Other Water Service Areas 195
Summary 195
Unit Values of AVater Use 196
Irrigation AVater Use 196
Urban and Suburban AVater Use 196
Use of Water in Other Water Service Areas 197
Page
Consumptive Use of AVater 198
Factors of AVater Demand 198
Monthly Distribution of AVater Demands 198
Irrigation Water Service Area Efficiency 199
Water Requirements 200
Requirements of a Nonconsumptive Nature 200
Fish and Wildlife 200
Hydroelectric Power 200
Mining 201
Timber 201
Requirements of a Consumptive Nature 201
Supplemental Requirements 202
CHAPTER IX. COLORADO DESERT AREA 203
Present Water Service Areas 208
Irrigated Lands 208
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas 209
Unclassified Areas 209
Summary 211
Probable Ultimate Water Service Areas 211
Irrigated Lands 211
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas 212
Other AVater Service Areas 213
Summary 213
Unit Values of Water Use 213
Irrigation Water Use 213
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas 214
Other Water Service Areas 214
Consumptive Use of Water 215
Factors of Water Demand 215
Monthly Distribution of Water Demands 215
Irrigation Water Service Area Efficiency 216
Water Requirements 216
Requirements of a Nonconsumptive Nature 217
Flood Control 217
Fish and Wildlife 217
Alining _ 217
Hydroelectric Power 217
Requirements of a Consumptive Nature 217
Supplemental Requirements 218
CHAPTER X. SUMMARY 219
Present and Ultimate Water Service Areas 222
Irrigated Lands 222
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas 222
Other Water Service Areas 223
Summary 223
Unit Values of Water Use 223
Consumptive Use of Applied Water 225
Water Requirements 225
Supplemental Water Requirements 226
Ultimate Export and Import of AVater 227
( 7 )
TABLES
Table
No. Page
1 Standards for Classification of Lands as Irrigable — 46
2 Areas of Hydrographic Units, North Coastal Area — 59
3 Areas of Counties Within Boundaries of North
Coastal Area 59
4 Population of Principal Urban Centers, North
Coastal Area 60
5 Areas of Presently Irrigated Lands Within Hydro-
graphic Units, North Coastal Area 64
6 Areas of Presently Irrigated Lands Within Counties,
North Coastal Area 65
7 Summary of Present Water Service Areas Within
Hydrographic Units, North Coastal Area 65
8 Summary of Present Water Service Areas Within
Counties, North Coastal Area 66
9 Probable Ultimate Areas of Irrigated Lands Within
Hydrographic Units, North Coastal Area 66
10 Probable Ultimate Areas of Irrigated Lands Within
Counties, North Coastal Area 66
11 Probable Ultimate Pattern of Irrigated Crops, North
Coastal Area 67
12 Other Water Service Areas Under Probable Ultimate
Conditions, North Coastal Area 67
13 Summary of Probable Ultimate Water Service Areas,
North Coastal Area 68
14 Estimated Mean Seasonal Unit Values of Consump-
tive Use of Water on Irrigated Lands, North Coastal
Area 68
15 Estimated Mean Seasonal Unit Values of Water De-
livery in Urban and Suburban Areas, North Coastal
Area 69
16 Estimated Mean Seasonal Consumptive Use of Water
on Present Water Service Areas, North Coastal Area 70
17 Probable Mean Seasonal Consumptive Use of Water
on Ultimate Water Service Areas, North Coastal
Area 71
18 Distribution of Monthly Water Demands, North
Coastal Area 71
19 Estimated Weighted Mean Irrigation Water Service
Area Efficiency Within Hydrographic Units, North
Coastal Area 72
20 Present Hydroelectric Power Development, North
Coastal Area 73
21 Existing and Estimated Potential Hydroelectric
Power Development, North Coastal Area 73
22 Estimated Present and Probable Ultimate Mean Sea-
sonal Requirements for Water, North Coastal Area 74
23 Estimated Probable Ultimate Mean Seasonal Supple-
mental Water Requirements, North Coastal Area 75
24 Areas of Hydrographic Units, San Francisco Bay
Area 77
25 Areas of Counties Within Boundaries of San Fran-
cisco Bay Area 77
26 Population of Principal Urban Centers, San Fran-
cisco Bay Area 81
27 Areas of Presently Irrigated and Dry-farmed Lands
Within Hydrographic Units, San Francisco Bay Area 83
28 Areas of Presently Irrigated and Dry-farmed Lands
Within Counties, San Francisco Bay Area 85
29 Present Urban and Suburban Areas Within Hydro-
graphic Units, San Francisco Bay Area 85
30 Present Urban and Suburban Areas Within Counties,
San Francisco Bay Area 86
31 Summary of Present Water Service Areas Within
Hydrographic Unils, San Francisco Bay Area 86
32 Summary of Present Water Service Areas Within
Counties, San Francisco Bay Area 87
Table
No. Page
'.',?, Probable Ultimate Areas of Irrigated Lands Within
Hydrographic Units, San Francisco Bay Area__
34 Probable Ultimate Areas of Irrigated Lands Within
Counties, San Francisco Bay Area
35 Patterns of Probable Ultimate Urban Development
Within Hydrographic Units, San Francisco Bay Area 88
36 Probable Ultimate Urban and Suburban Areas Within
Hydrographic Units, San Francisco Bay Area 89
37 Probable Ultimate Urban and Suburban Areas Within
Counties, San Francisco Bay Area 89
38 Other Water Service Areas Under Probable Ultimate
Conditions, San Francisco Bay Area 90
39 Summary of Probable Ultimate Water Service Areas,
San Francisco Bay Area 90
40 Estimated Mean Seasonal Unit Values of Consump-
tive Use of Water on Irrigated Lands. San Francisco
Bay Area 91
41 Estimated Present and Probable Ultimate Mean Sea-
sonal Unit Values of Water Delivery in Urban and
Suburban Areas, San Francisco Bay Area 92
42 Estimated Mean Seasonal Consumptive Use of Water
on Present Water Service Areas, San Francisco Bay
Area 93
43 Probable Mean Seasonal Consumptive Use of Water
on Ultimate Water Service Areas, San Francisco Bay
Area 94
44 Distribution of Urban Water Deliveries by Land Use
Classifications, San Francisco Bay Area 94
45 Average Distribution of Monthly Water Demands,
San Francisco Bay Area 95
46 Estimated Weighted Mean Irrigation Water Service
Area Efficiency Within Hydrographic Units, San
Francisco Bay Area 95
47 Estimated Present and Probable Ultimate Mean Sea-
sonal Requirements for Water, San Francisco Bay
Area 99
48 Estimated Ultimate Mean Seasonal Water Require-
ments as a Function of Type of Land Use, San Fran-
cisco Bay Area 100
49 Estimated Ultimate Population, Per Capita Use of
Water, and Urban Water Requirement, San Fran-
cisco Bay Area 100
50 Estimated Presently Developed Safe Seasonal Yield
of Local and Imported Water Supplies, San Fran-
cisco Bay Area 101
51 Probable Ultimate Allocation of Presently Available
Local and Imported Water Supplies. San Francisco
Bay Area 101
52 Estimated Present and Probable Ultimate Mean Sea-
sonal Supplemental Water Requirements, San Fran-
cisco Bay Area 101
53 Areas of Hydrographic Units, Central Coastal Area 103
54 Areas of Counties Within Boundaries of Central
Coastal Area 103
55 Population of Principal Urban Centers. Central
Coastal Area 105
56 Areas of Presently Irrigated Lands Within Hydro-
graphic Units, Central Coastal Area 110
57 Areas of Presently Irrigated Lands Within Counties,
Central Coastal Area 110
58 Summary of Present Water Service Areas Within
Hydrographic Units, Central Coastal Area 111
59 Summary of Present Water Service Areas Within
Counties, Central Coastal Area 111
60 Probable Ultimate Areas of Irrigated Lands Within
Hydrographic Units, Central Coastal Area 111
61 Probable Ultimate Areas of Irrigated Lands Within
Counties, Central Coastal Area 111
(8)
TABLES— Continued
Table
No. Page
62 Probable Ultimate Pattern of Irrigated Crops, Cen-
tral Coastal Area 112
63 Other Water Service Areas Under Probable Ultimate
Conditions, Central Coastal Area 113
64 Summary of Probable Ultimate Water Service Areas,
Central Coastal Area 113
65 Estimated Mean Seasonal Unit Values of Consump-
tive Use of Water on Irrigated Lands, Central
Coastal Area 114
66 Estimated Mean Seasonal Unit Values of Water De-
livery in Urban and Suburban Areas, Central Coastal
Area 115
67 Estimated Mean Seasonal Consumptive Use of Water
on Present Water Service Areas, Central Coastal
Area 115
68 Probable Mean Seasonal Consumptive Use of Water
on Ultimate Water Service Areas, Central Coastal
Area 116
69 Distribution of Monthly Water Demands, Central
Coastal Area 116
70 Estimated Weighted Mean Irrigation Water Service
Ana Efficiency Within Hydrographic Units, Central
Coastal Area 117
71 Estimated Present and Probable Ultimate Mean Sea-
sonal Requirements for Water, Central Coastal Area 118
72 Estimated Present and Probable Ultimate Mean Sea-
sonal Supplemental Water Requirements, Central
Coastal Area 119
73 Areas of Hydrographic Units, South Coastal Area 121
74 Areas of Counties Within Boundaries of South
Coastal Area 121
75 Population of Principal Urban Centers, South
Coastal Area 123
76 Areas of Presently Irrigated Lands Within Hydro-
graphic Units, South Coastal Area 129
77 Areas of Presently Irrigated Lands Within Counties,
South Coastal Area 129
78 Present Urban and Suburban Areas AVithin Hydro-
graphic Units, South Coastal Area 130
79 Present Urban and Suburban Areas Within Counties.
South Coastal Area 130
80 Summary of Present Water Service Areas Within
Hydrographic Units, South Coastal Area 130
81 Summary of Present Water Service Areas Within
Counties, South Coastal Area 131
82 Probable Ultimate Areas of Irrigated Lands Within
Hydrographic Units, South Coastal Area 131
83 Probable Ultimate Areas of Irrigated Lands Within
Counties, South Coastal Area 131
84 Probable Ultimate Pattern of Irrigated Crops, South
Coastal Area 133
85 Probable Ultimate Urban and Suburban Areas
Within Hydrographic Units, South Coastal Area 134
86 Probable Ultimate Urban and Suburban Areas
Within Counties, South Coastal Area 134
87 Other Water Service Areas Under Probable Ultimate
Conditions, South Coastal Area 134
88 Summary of Probable Ultimate Water Service Areas,
South Coastal Area 135
89 Estimated Mean Seasonal Unit Values of Consump-
tive Use of Water on Irrigated Lands, South Coastal
Area 135
90 Estimated Mean Seasonal Unit Values of Water De-
livery and Consumptive Use of Water on Urban and
Suburban Land Use Classifications, Los Angeles
Hydrographic Unit 136
Table
No. Page
91 Estimated Mean Seasonal Unit Values of Water De-
livery to Urban and Suburban Land Use Classifica-
tions, San Diego Hydrographic Unit 137
92 Estimated Weighted Mean Seasonal Unit Values of
Water Delivery and Consumptive Use of Water on
Gross Urban and Suburban Areas, South Coastal
Area 137
93 Estimated Mean Seasonal Consumptive Use of Water
on Present Water Service Areas, South Coastal Area 138
94 Probable Mean Seasonal Consumptive Use of Water
on Ultimate Water Service Areas, South Coastal
Area 138
95 Distribution of Monthly Water Demands, South
Coastal Area 139
96 Estimated Weighted Mean Water Service Area Ef-
ficiency Within Hydrographic Units, South Coastal
Area 139
97 Estimated Present and Probable Ultimate Mean Sea-
sonal Requirements for Water, South Coastal Area 142
98 Estimated Presently Developed Safe Seasonal Yield
of Local Water Supplies, South Coastal Area 14."!
99 Estimated Present Seasonal Import, South Coastal
Area 144
100 Estimated Present and Probable Ultimate Mean Sea-
sonal Supplemental Water Requirements, South
Coastal Area T 144
101 Areas of Hydrographic Units, Central Valley Area__ 147
102 Areas of Counties Within Boundaries of Central Val-
ley Area 148
103 Population of Principal Urban Centers, Central Val-
ley Area 149
104 Areas of Presently Irrigated Lands Within Hydro-
graphic Units, Central Valley Area 156
105 Areas of Presently Irrigated Lands Within Counties,
Central Valley Area - 159
106 Summary of Present Water Service Areas Within
Hydrographic Units, Central Valley Area 160
107 Summary of Present Water Service Areas Within
Counties, Central Valley Area 161
108 Probable Ultimate Areas of Irrigated Lands Within
Hydrographic Units, Central Valley Area 162
109 Probable Ultimate Areas of Irrigated Lands Within
Counties, Central Valley Area 163
110 Probable Ultimate Pattern of Irrigated Crops, Cen-
tral Valley Area 164
111 Other Water Service Areas Under Probable Ultimate
Conditions, Central Valley Area 166
112 Summary of Probable Ultimate Water Service Areas,
Central Valley Area 168
113 Estimated Mean Seasonal Unit Values of Consump-
tive Use of Water on Irrigated Lands, Central Val-
ley Area 169
114 Estimated Mean Seasonal Unit Values of Water De-
livery and Consumptive Use of Water in Urban and
Suburban Areas, Central Valley Area 173
115 Estimated Mean Seasonal Consumptive Use of Water
on Present Water Service Areas, Central Valley
Area 174
116 Probable Mean Seasonal Consumptive Use of Water
on Ultimate Water Service Areas, Central Valley
Area 176
117 Distribution of Monthly Water Demands, Central
Valley Area 178
118 Estimated Weighted Mean Irrigation Water Service
Area Efficiency Within Hydrographic Units, Central
Valley Area 179
(9)
TABLES— Continued
Table „
No. Pa e e
119 Present Hydroelectric Power Development, Central
Valley Area 181
120 Existing and Estimated Potential Hydroelectric
Power Development, Central Valley Area 181
121 Estimated Present and Probable Ultimate Mean Sea-
sonal Requirements for Water in Hydrographic
Units, Central Valley Area 182
122 Estimated Present and Probable Ultimate Mean Sea-
sonal Requirements for Water in Major Basins, Cen-
tral Valley Area 183
123 Seasonal Water Deliveries in San Joaquin River and
Tulare Lake Basins Through Friant-Kern Canal 183
124 Estimated Present and Probable Ultimate Mean Sea-
sonal Supplemental Water Requirements in Hydro-
graphic Units, Central Valley Area 184
125 Estimated Present and Probable Ultimate Mean Sea-
sonal Supplemental Water Requirements in Major
Basins, Central Valley Area 185
126 Areas of Hydrographic Units, Lahontan Area 187
127 Areas of Counties Within Boundaries of Lahontan
Area 187
128 Population of Principal Urban Centers, Lahontan
Area 188
129 Areas of Presently Irrigated Lands Within Hydro-
graphic Units, Lahontan Area 193
130 Areas of Presently Irrigated Lands Within Counties,
Lahontan Area 193
131 Summary of Present Water Service Areas Within
Hydrographic Units, Lahontan Area 194
132 Summary of Present Water Service Areas Within
Counties, Lahontan Area 194
133 Probable Ultimate Areas of Irrigated Lands Within
Hydrographic Units, Lahontan Area 194
134 Probable Ultimate Areas of Irrigated Lands Within
Counties, Lahontan Area 194
135 Probable Ultimate Pattern of Irrigated Crops, La-
hontan Area 195
136 Other Water Service Areas Under Probable Ultimate
Conditions, Lahontan Area ' 196
137 Summary of Probable Ultimate Water Service Areas,
Lahontan Area 196
138 Estimated Mean Seasonal Unit Values of Consump-
tive Use of Water on Irrigated Lands, Lahontan
Area 197
139 Estimated Mean Seasonal Unit Values of Water
Delivery and Consumptive Use of Water on Urban
and Suburban Areas, Lahontan Area 198
140 Estimated Mean Seasonal Consumptive Use of Water
on Present Water Service Areas, Lahontan Area 198
141 Probable Mean Seasonal Consumptive Use of Water
on Ultimate Water Service Areas, Lahontan Area 199
142 Distribution of Monthly Water Demands, Lahontan
Area 199
143 Estimated Weighted Mean Irrigation Water Service
Area Efficiency Within Hydrographic Units, La-
hontan Area 200
144 Existing and Estimated Potential Hydroelectric
Power Development, Lahontan Area 201
1 15 Estimated Present and Probable Ultimate Mean Sea-
sonal Requirements for Water, Lahontan Area 201
146 Estimated Present and Probable Ultimate Mean Sea-
sonal Supplemental Water Requirements, Lahontan
Area 202
147 Areas of Hydrographic Units, Colorado Desert Area 203
148 Areas of Counties Within Boundaries of Colorado
Deserl Area 203
Table
No. Page
149 Population of Principal Urban Centers. Colorado
Desert Area 205
150 Areas of Presently Irrigated Lands Within Hydro-
graphic Units, Colorado Desert Area 209
151 Areas of Presently Irrigated Lands Within Counties,
Colorado Desert Area 210
152 Summary of Present Water Service Areas Within
Hydrographic Units, Colorado Desert Area - 211
153 Summary of Present Water Service Areas Within
Counties, Colorado Desert Area 211
154 Probable Ultimate Areas of Irrigated Lands Within
Hydrographic Units, Colorado Desert Area 212
155 Probable Ultimate Areas of Irrigated Lands Within
Counties, Colorado Desert Area 212
156 Probable Ultimate Pattern of Irrigated Crops, Colo-
rado Desert Area 212
157 Other Water Service Areas Under Probable Ultimate
Conditions, Colorado Desert Area 213
158 Summary of Probable Ultimate Water Service Areas,
Colorado Desert Area 213
159 Estimated Mean Seasonal Unit Values of Consump-
tive Use of Water on Irrigated Lands, Colorado
Desert Area 214
160 Estimated Mean Seasonal Unit Values of Water
Delivery in Urban and Suburban Areas, Colorado
Desert Area 214
161 Estimated Mean Seasonal Consumptive Use of Water
on Present Water Service Areas, Colorado Desert
Area 215
162 Probable Mean Seasonal Consumptive Use of Water
on Ultimate Water Service Areas, Colorado Desert
Area 215
163 Distribution of Monthly Water Demands, Colorado
Desert Area 216
164 Estimated Weighted Mean Irrigation Water Service
Area Efficiency Within Hydrographic Units, Colorado
Desert Area 216
165 Estimated Mean Seasonal Requirements for Water
on Present Water Service Areas, Colorado Desert
Area 217
166 Probable Mean Seasonal Requirements for Water on
Ultimate Water Service Areas, Colorado Desert Area 218
167 Estimated Present and Probable Ultimate Mean Sea-
sonal Supplemental Water Requirements, Colorado
Desert Area 218
168 Areas of Hydrographic Areas, State of California _ 219
169 Estimated Mean Seasonal Full Natural Runoff of
Hydrographic Areas, State of California 220
170 Estimated Present and Probable Ultimate Population
Within Hydrographic Areas, State of California 220
171 Areas of Presently Irrigated Lands Within Hydro-
graphic Areas, State of California 222
172 Probable Ultimate Areas of Irrigated Lands Within
Hydrographic Areas, State of California _ 223
173 Summary of Present Water Service Areas Within
Hydrographic Areas, State of California 224
174 Summary of Probable Ultimate Water Service Areas
Within Hydrographic Areas, State of California 224
175 Estimated Present Weighted Mean Seasonal Unit
Values of Consumptive Use of Applied Water, State
of California 225
176 Probable Ultimate Weighted Mean Seasonal Unit
Values of Consumptive Use of Applied Water, State
of California , 225
177 Estimated Mean Seasonal Consumptive Use of Ap-
plied Water on Present Water Service Areas, State
of California 225
( 10)
TABLES— Continued
Table
No.
178
179
Page
Probable Mean Seasonal Consumptive Use of Applied
Water on Ultimate Water Service Areas, State of
California 225
Estimated Present and Probable Ultimate Mean Sea-
sonal Requirements for Water, State of California— 220
Table
No.
180
181
Page
Estimated Present and Probable Ultimate Mean Sea-
sonal Supplemental Requirements for Water, State
of California 227
Summary of Estimated Ultimate Exports and Im-
ports of Water in California 227
ILLUSTRATIONS
Page
Use of Water in California Frontispiece
Fishing Fleet at Eureka 61
Sawmill in North Coastal Area 61
The Klamath River 63
Recreation in North Coastal Area 63
San Francisco 78
Santa Clara Valley Orchard 78
Urban Growth in San Francisco Bay Area 80
Urban Development in San Francisco S4
The Salinas Valley ___ _ 104
Harvesting Lettuce in Central Coastal Area 104
The Central Coast 107
Urban Growth in Los Angeles Metropolitan Area 122
Los Angeles Harbor 124
The Petroleum Industry in the South Coastal Area 124
Urban Development and Agriculture Near San Bernardino 128
Irrigated Lands in Ventura County 128
Urban Growth in San Diego Metropolitan Area 132
Page
Mt. Shasta 146
Harvesting Celery in the Delta 150
Agriculture in Sacramento Valley 150
Harvesting Cotton Near Bakersfield 152
Vineyards in San Joaquin Valley 152
Urban Development in Central Valley Area . 154
Irrigation in the Delta 154
Navigation on Sacramento River 158
Hydroelectric Power Plant on the Feather River 158
Donner Summit 186
Lake Tahoe 186
Scene Near Susanville 190
The Sierra Nevada 190
Date Gardens Near Indio 204
Coachella Branch of All-American Canal 204
Diversion From Colorado River for Palo Verde Irrigation
District 206
VOLUME II— TABLE OF CONTENTS
APPENDIXES
Page
A. A Preliminary Projection of California Crop Patterns for Estimating
Ultimate Water Requirements 231
B. Directory of Water Service Agencies in California 257
C. Description of Hydrographic Units 291
D. Sources and Dates of Land Use Survey Data _ 305
E. Sources of Land Classification Survey Data 307
P. Water Requirements for Fish and Wildlife in California 311
G. Hydroelectric Power Installations in California _ 325
H. Major Reservoirs of California 331
I. Water Quality Considerations Affecting Use of the Waters of Cali-
fornia 339
(H)
TABLE OF CONTENTS-Continued
PLATES
(Plates 1 to 15 at end of Volume II)
Plate
No.
1 Water Service Areas for The California Water Plan
2 Growth of Population and Cultivated and Irrigated Lands of California
3 Irrigation and Water Storage Districts
4 Valley Fill Areas
5 Electric Power Development, 1954
6 Timber Lands and Auriferous Gravel Deposits
7 Recreational Areas
8 Major Hydrographie Areas and Ilydrographic Units
9 Classification of Lands for Water Service From The California Water Plan
10 Present Land Use in San Francisco Bay Area
11 Present Land Use in Los Angeles and San Diego Metropolitan Areas
12 Principal Water Supply Agencies and Works of San Francisco Bay Area
13 Principal Water Supply Agencies and Works of Los Angeles and San Diego
Metropolitan Areas
14 Imported Water Supplies of San Francisco Bay Area
15 Imported Water Supplies of Los Angeles and San Diego Metropolitan
Areas
l 12 )
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
Goodwin J. Knight
governor
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
STATE WATER RESOURCES BOARD
PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING
SACRAMENTO 5, CALIFORNIA
CLAIR A. HILL, CHAIRMAN. REDDING
R. V. MEIKLE, VICE CHAIRMAN. TURLOCK
A. D. EDMONSTON, STATE ENGINEER
SECRETARY
June 30, 1955
A. FREW. King city
C. A. GRIFFITH, AZUSA
W P. RICH, MARYSV1LLE
PENN ROWE, San Bernardino
PHIL D. SWING. San Diego
ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO THE SECRETARY
Honorable Goodwin" J. Knight, Governor, and
Members of the Legislature of the
State of California
Gentlemen : J have the honor to transmit herewith Bulletin No. 2 of the State
Water Resources Board, entitled "Water Utilization and Requirements of Cali-
fornia," authorization of which was initiated by Chapter 1541, Statutes of 1947.
Under the provisions of the cited statute and subsequent budget acts, the
Legislature directed the State Water Resources Board to make an investigation
of the water resources of California and to formulate plans for the orderly
development of such resources. Accordingly, the Board adopted a program of
investigation and a budget at its regular meeting on September 5, 1947. Appro-
priations required for continuance of the work have been made by the Legislature
through the Fiscal Year 1955-56. The investigation is being conducted by the
Division of Water Resources of the Department of Public Works, under the
direction of the State Water Resources Board.
Bulletin No. 2 presents results of a comprehensive analysis of present and
probable ultimate use of water in California for irrigated agricultural, domestic,
industrial, and other beneficial purposes. The bulletin contains estimates of the
gross water requirements for all beneficial purposes, and of the amount of
supplemental water required for satisfaction of present and probable ultimate
needs throughout California.
Very truly yours,
{%^. ^ -rf-uS
Clair A. Hn.i,
Chairman
(13 )
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Valuable assistance and data used in the investigation were contributed by
agencies of the Federal Government and of the State of California, by cities,
counties, public districts, and by private companies and individuals. This co-
operation is gratefully acknowledged.
Special mention is made of the helpful cooperation of the following :
Bureau of Reclamation, United States Department of the Interior
Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture
Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Department of the Interior
Soil Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture
Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior
Federal Power Commission
California Department of Fish and Game
California Public Utilities Commission
University of California at Berkeley and at Davis
East Bay Municipal Utility District
Hetch Hetchy Water Supply, Power and Utilities Engineering Bureau, City
of San Francisco
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Department of Water and Power, City of Los Angeles
San Diego County Water Authority
City of San Diego
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Southern California Edison Company
(14)
ORGANIZATION
STATE WATER RESOURCES BOARD
CLAIR A. HILL, Chairman, Redding
R. V. MEIKLE, Vice Chairman, Turlock
A. FREW, King City W. PENN ROWE, San Bernardino
C. A. GRIFFITH, Azusa PHIL D. SWING, San Diego
W. P. RICH, Marysville
A. D. EDMONSTON, State Engineer
Secrefary and Engineer
SAM R. LEEDOM, Administrative Assistant
( 15)
ORGANIZATION
STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
FRANK B. DURKEE Director of Public Works
A. D. EDMONSTON State Engineer
T. B. WADDELL Assistant State Engineer
This bulletin was prepared under the direction of
W. L BERRY, Principal Hydraulic Engineer
by
C. B. MEYER, Supervising Hydraulic Engineer
and
W. L. HORN, Supervising Hydraulic Engineer
Assisted by
H. A. HOWLETT Senior Hydraulic
F. L. HOTES Senior Civil
ERWIN DAMES Associate Hydraulic
WILLIAM DURBROW Associate Hydraulic
F. A. MAYNARD ... Associate Hydraulic
F. NICOLAUS Associate Hydraulic
T. PYLE Associate Hydraulic
E. STEINER Associate Hydraulic
W. COOK Assistant Hydraulic
A. HOLT Assistant Hydraulic
H. JAQUITH Assistant Hydraulic
C. MACKEY ..Assistant Hydraulic
D. MEIXNER, Jr ... Assistant Hydraulic
J. PETERS Assistant Hydraulic
E. RINEHART Assistant Hydraulic
D. VAYDER Assistant Hydraulic
J. G. WULFF Assistant Hydraulic
Engineer
Engineer
Engineer
Engineer
Engineer
Engineer
Engineer
Engineer
Engineer
Engineer
Engineer
Engineer
Engineer
Engineer
Engineer
Engineer
Engineer
Work in southern California was performed
under the direction of
MAX BOOKMAN Principal Hydraulic Engineer
R. M. EDMONSTON Supervising Hydraulic Engineer
Assisted by
Supervising Hydraulic Engineer
Senior Hydraulic Engineer
Associate Hydraulic Engineer
Hydraulic Engineer
Assistant Hydraulic Engineer
lunior Civil Engineer
B. WILLETS
I. BURNS
M. CROOKER
H. BORN ..Assistant
O. POWELL
R. SHIPPEY
Geologic studies were performed
under the direction of
E. C. MARLIAVE Supervising Engineering Geologist
Assisted by
R. T. BEAN
R. C. RICHTER
Senior Engineering Geologist
Senior Engineering Geologist
Field and office activities in connection with
land classification and crop distribution
were under the supervision of
J. W. SHANNON ...Land and Water Use Specialist
Assisted by
Associate Soil Technologist
Photogrammetrist II
Junior Civil Engineer
R. N. HALEY
H. E. ANDRUS
R. R. STUART
Sections of the report and the appendix dealing
with water quality were prepared
under the direction of
HARVEY O. BANKS _
P. J. COFFEY
Assistant State Engineer
Supervising Hydraulic Engineer
Assisted by
W. R. SLATER Senior Hydraulic Engineer
C. A. McCULLOUGH ...Senior Hydraulic Engineer
J. H. LAWRENCE Associate Soil Technologist
Maps and plates for the report were prepared
under the supervision of
Supervisor of Drafting Services
J. L. JAMES
Statistical and population studies were
under the supervision of
E. P. WARREN Associate Statistician
Editing of the report was under the supervision of
R. O. THOMAS Senior Hydraulic Engineer
Legal
HENRY HOLSINGER ... Principal Attorney
Administrative
T. R. MERRYWEATHER Administrative Officer
ISABEL C. NESSLER Coordinator of Reports
L. N. CASE Senior Stenographer-Clerk
CONSULTANTS
The appendix on California crop patterns
was prepared by
DR. DAVID WEEKS ... Professor of Agricultural Economics,
University of California
Studies of fish and wildlife problems were con-
ducted in cooperation with the California
Department of Fish and Game
SETH GORDON ... Director
R. M. PAUL .Water Projects Coordinator
R. J. HALLOCK Senior Fisheries Biologist
D. E. PELGEN — Associate Fisheries Biologist
( 1G )
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES
At the time the investigation reported upon in this bulletin commenced, Royal
Miller was Chairman of the State "Water Resources Board, and continued in
that capacity until January 7, 1949, when he resigned as Chairman but con-
tinued to serve as a member of the Board until January 15, 1953. Other members
of the Board at the initiation of this study were H. J. Cozzens, B. A. Etcheverry,
C. A. Griffith, R. V. Meikle, and Phil D. Swing. The remaining vacancy on the
Board was filled by the appointment of Clair A. Hill on July 20, 1949. Mr.
Griffith succeeded to the position of Chairman upon the resignation of Mr. Miller.
W. P. Rich was appointed to the Board on October 25, 1953, to fill the vacancy
resulting from Mr. Miller's retirement. Mr. Cozzens retired from the Board on
January 1, 1954. The death of Mr. Etcheverry on October 26, 1954, removed
from public life one of its outstanding engineers and citizens, and one whose
wise counsel will be missed in the future. Arnold Frew was appointed to the
Board on February 10, 1955, replacing Mr. Cozzens. Mr. Hill became Chairman
on May 13, 1955, succeeding Mr. Griffith, who remained as a member of the
Board. The vacancy left by the death of Mr. Etcheverry was filled by the appoint-
ment of W. Penn Rowe on May 25, 1955.
Edward Hyatt, former State Engineer and ex-officio Secretary and Engineer
to the Board, retired from state service on January 31, 1950, and was succeeded
by A. D. Edmonston. Mr. Hyatt died on June 17, 1954.
Conduct of the State-wide Water Resources Investigation was under the direc-
tion of P. H. Van Etten, Principal Hydraulic Engineer of the Division of Water
Resources, from the initiation of studies for Bulletin No. 2 in 1948 until January
31, 1950, when he assumed the duties of Assistant State Engineer. T. R. Simpson,
Principal Hydraulic Engineer, then assumed responsibility for direction of the
investigation. Since Mr. Simpson's resignation from the Division of Water
Resources on September 15, 1950, the investigation has been directed by W. L.
Berry, Principal Hydraulic Engineer.
( 17
PREFACE
CURRENT STATUS OF WATER SUPPLY DEVELOPMENT AND REQUIREMENTS IN CALIFORNIA
Studies for the State-wide Water Resources In-
vestigation to date indicate that California is faced
with a substantial and rapidly increasing deficiency
in developed water supplies as related to requirements
for water. The urgency in this current problem is
believed to be sufficient to warrant a statement in this
respect prefatory to presentation of the material in
this bulletin.
Data set forth herein pertaining to so-called ' ' pres-
ent" conditions of water utilization and requirement
in California actually relate to the status of develop-
ment as of about 1950. They are based largely upon
field surveys conducted in 1949 and 1950, reports of
cooperating agencies for 1950, and records of water
supply and use as secured from operating utilities or
as estimated by the Division of Water Resources for
1950 development.
During the intervening years since 1950 the neces-
sary office studies and analyses have been conducted
and tli is bulletin prepared for publication. However,
in this same period a very significant growth has oc-
curred throughout California. Reliable estimates in-
dicate that the population of the State has increased
by about 18 per cent since 1950 to a present total of
nearly 12,500,000, and that the net irrigated area has
increased by about 13 per cent to some 7,750,000 acres.
In 1950 the estimated mean seasonal deficiency in
water supply development throughout the State
amounted to nearly 2,700,000 acre-feet, While in most
instances the lands representing this shortage were
physically served with water, it was necessary to draw
i n diminishing reserves, principally ground waters,
in order to meet the deficiency. Such perennial over-
draft has been increasing rapidly of recent years, and
has resulted in accelerated lowering of ground water
levels in many parts of the State. It is now evident
that continuing overdrafts will not only drastically
reduce the reserves in storage, but in many instances
will irreparably damage the immensely valuable
ground water reservoirs.
Increased water requirements due to the growth of
California since 1950 are estimated to aggregate about
3,200,000 acre-feet per season. However, since 1950,
new water supplies have been made available through
the Friant-Kern and Delta-Mendota Canals, and other
recently constructed projects, in amounts which have
partially offset the increased use.
In some places the necessary additional water sup-
plies could now be obtained by increasing imports
within the potential capacity of existing works. As an
examine, supplemental water now needed in the South
Coastal Area, excepting only Ventura County, could
be provided by increasing the imports from the Colo-
rado River.
Based upon reasonable forecasts of growth of the
State over the next 10 years, it is indicated that the
shortage in water supply development could amount
to more than 10,000,000 acre-feet per season by 1965,
even taking into account increasing importation from
presently developed water sources.
There is further reason for anxiety at the lag in
timely water resource development in California. The
estimated yields of our present works, as well as those
planned for the future, are necessarily based on the
assumption that the short recorded history of natural
water occurrence will repeat itself in the future. Even
if this should prove to be true, it is likely that there
will be recurrence of extended drought periods such
as have been experienced in the past, during which
the water supply of the State over a number of years
has averaged only a little more than 50 per cent of
the recorded mean. If a severe drought should come
concurrently with deficiencies in Avater supply devel-
opment such as now exist, it could create widespread
havoc and even economic disaster throughout Califor-
nia, Futhermore, there is no reason to believe that
drought conditions of the future could not be more
intense and further extended than those of the short
recorded past,
(19)
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
This bulletin is the second of a series presenting
the results of continuing surveys and studies being
made under authorization of the Legislature and di-
rection of the State Water Resources Board, with the
objective of solving what is perhaps the most basic
economic problem facing the people of California.
That problem pertains to the conservation, control,
and utilization of our abundant water resources for
the greatest public benefit.
An earlier publication of the State Water Re-
sources Board, Bulletin No. 1, "Water Resources of
California," which was released in 1951, brought to-
gether in one volume the principal basic data that
bad been accumulated up to 1947 regarding the oc-
currence of water in California, and constituted an
inventory of the water resources of the State. In
logical sequence, this present volume comprises a de-
termination of the present use of water throughout
California and of the probable ultimate water re-
quirement. Concurrently with the preparation of
these first two bulletins in the series, work has pro-
gressed on the remaining and principal phase of the
investigation: formulation of "The California Water
Plan," a comprehensive plan for the fullest prac-
ticable conservation, control, protection and utiliza-
tion of the water resources of California.
NEED FOR DETERMINATION OF PRESENT USE OF
WATER AND OF ULTIMATE WATER REQUIRE-
MENT
The continuing rapid development of California,
which is evidenced by growth of population, expansion
of industry, and increase in irrigated agriculture, has
resulted in a greatly increased requirement for water.
The population grew from 6,900,000 in 1940 to about
10,600,000 in 1950, and the 1954 population is esti-
mated to be well over 12,000,000. This new popula-
tion has imposed large additional demands upon agen-
cies supplying water for domestic purposes. The re-
cent industrial development of California has pro-
ceeded at an even more rapid rate than the growth
of population. While industrial water requirements
vary over wide limits depending upon type and lo-
cation of the industry, the average use of water in a
typical industrialized area is about five times that
in an equal area devoted to domestic residential pur-
poses. Thus, the increase in industrial development
has imposed heavy demands upon water supply agen-
cies. However, by far the greatest requirement for
water in California is for the irrigation of agricul-
tural crops. Coincident with World War II and con-
tinning at an unabated rate to the present date, there
has been rapid expansion of the area devoted to irri-
gated agriculture. There were about 7,000,000 acres
under irrigation in this State as of 1950, according to
field survey data. This constitutes an increase of
roughly 1,500,000 acres since 1944. Irrigated lands
require about 90 per cent of the water consumptively
used within California and impose the most important
draft upon the water supply.
The general location of presently irrigated lands
of California, as well as those considered suitable for
future irrigation development, are shown on Plate 1,
entitled "Water Service Areas for The California
Water Plan." Plate 2, entitled "Growth of Popula-
tion and Cultivated and Irrigated Lands of Cali-
fornia," depicts graphically the growth of popula-
tion, irrigation, and cultivated agricultural areas for
the entire State by decades from 1850 to 1950. The
data upon which this plate was based were largely de-
rived from publications of the United States Bureau
of the Census.
In general, the responsible public and private
agencies, as well as the people of CalifoiTiia, have
been aware during recent years of the urgent need
for water resource development, and have taken
steps as they became necessary to meet the increasing
water requirements. In certain instances this has re-
sulted in the farsighted construction of outstanding
conservation and distribution works, and in others
in the enlargement and expansion of existing facili-
ties. Also, there has been major construction of hydro-
electric power facilities and of flood control works.
In many cases the developments have been designed
and operated to enhance the recreational opportuni-
ties of the community and in the interest of the pres-
ervation and propagation of fish and wildlife. How-
ever, in large and important areas of California the
new requirements for water have been met only by
increasing the draft upon water stored in natural
underground reservoirs at a rate beyond the replen-
ishment to these basins. As a consequence, many such
areas face the certainty of failing water supplies
unless supplemental water is provided, and there is
real danger of permanent and irreparable damage to
the valuable ground water reservoirs through the
introduction of water of inferior quality.
It seems entirely probable that the economic, cli-
matic, and other factors that have established the
present pattern of growth of population, industry,
and agriculture in California, will continue in the
(21)
22
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
future. It is even more certain that significant growth
of the State can only be made possible by further
development of our water resources sufficient to pro-
vide for the serious present deficiencies, as well as for
the probable large added requirements of the future.
Furthermore, experience indicates that such future
water resource development should be based upon-
comprehensive and coordinated planning, state-wide
in its scope, in order that all parts of California may
share equitably in the available water resources, and
in order that no area shall suffer through want of
water. It was in recognition of these important con-
siderations that the Legislature authorized the State
Water Resources Board to conduct the state-wide in-
vestigation of water resources reported in this current
series of bulletins.
Several investigations of the water resources of
California have been made in the past, but none were
truly comprehensive in scope. Succeeding years have
added to the basic records and generally to the
knowledge of the water resources of the State. It is
for this reason, and because planning for the future
must start with a thorough understanding of the loca-
tion, amount, and quality of the waters of the State,
and of physical conditions which determine their oc-
currence and availability, that the inventory of water
resources contained in Bulletin No. 1 was compiled
and published. Equally important to future planning
is an understanding of the location, amount, and na-
ture of the present development and use of water
throughout the State, of the probable future use of
water, and of the ultimate supplemental water re-
quirement, which factors provide the subject matter
of this bulletin.
AUTHORITY AND FUNDS FOR INVESTIGATION
The State Water Resources Act of 1945, as amended
by Chapter 908, Statutes of 1947, invested in the
State Water Resources Board broad powers to initiate
and conduct investigations of the water resources of
the State. Section 17(a) of the amended act reads as
follows :
"The Water Resources Board is authorized to
conduct investigations of the water resources of the
State ; to formulate plans for the control, conserva-
tion, protection, and utilization of such water re-
sources, including solutions for the water problems
<>f each portion of the State as deemed expedient
and economically feasible; and to render reports
thereon."
Chapter 1541, Statutes of 1947, appropriated $140,-
<»()() to the Board Bor expenditure during the Fiscal
Year 1947-48 in conducting investigations and other-
wise carrying out the provisions of the State Water
Resources Act, The Budget Acts of 1948 and subse-
quent years through 1954 have made appropriations
for continuance of the investigation and for prepara-
tion of reports.
HISTORY OF WATER DEVELOPMENT
IN CALIFORNIA
History of the use of water in California starts
with the Spanish missions in the final third of the
eighteenth century. Profiting by their experience in
arid Baja California, the padres established most of
the Alta California missions where water for irriga-
tion was available. Except for some small Indian cul-
tivations along the west bank of the Colorado River,
it was in the mission "gardens" of fruits and vege-
tables, and perhaps in occasional fields of grain, that
irrigation in California had its beginnings. Even yet,
a century and a half later, remnants of mission works
to supply irrigation and domestic water may be seen,
notably at San Diego Mission Dam on San Diego
River, and at Santa Barbara Mission Dam and Res-
ervoir above Santa Barbara.
Acreage irrigated at the Spanish missions was small,
yet it provided an important object lesson for Amer-
ican and European settlers who began arriving in
California in the 1830 's and 1840 's. During the first
two decades of American occupation, from 1850 to
1870, settlers in the southern part of California built
small ditches diverting from streams of the coastal
plain, mainly in the San Gabriel and Santa Ana River
Basins. In the northern and central parts of the State
water was also diverted from streams or obtained
from artesian flows, and to a limited extent was
pumped from streams with steam-driven pumps. In
the Sierra Nevada foothills water was acquired from
mining ditches, irrigation being accelerated by the
expansion in population that accompanied and fol-
lowed the Gold Rush.
The first irrigation was from nearby streams, with-
out storage, and lands irrigated were limited to those
that could be watered from low summer flows. In the
southern part of California, however, the need for
storage reservoirs was early recognized, and several
important dams, including Bear Valley, Hemet,
Sweetwater, and Cuyamaca, were constructed or be-
gun in the 1880 's. In the remainder of the State all
major storage reservoirs primarily for irrigation have
been provided since 1900. A number of these, such as
Melones, Don Pedro, and Exchequer, were made fea-
sible by the hydroelectric power to be developed with
the water stored.
Early irrigators following Spanish and Mexican
days were mainly individuals. By 1856, however, a
"commercial" company had constructed canals to
irrigate wheat near Woodland in Yolo County, and
about that time groups of settlers were joining to-
gether to build ditches in the south. Construction of
larger irrigation works by development companies
and cooperatives was well under way by the 1870's
INTRODUCTION
23
and 1880's, both in the southern part of the State and
in the central and southern parts of the San Joaquin
Valley. In 1887 the original Wright Irrigation Dis-
trict Act was passed by the Legislature, partly as a
result of prior court decisions regarding water rights
which were adverse to irrigation development. By fol-
lowing the general pattern of this act, the principal
irrigation expansion in California has been accom-
plished during the past 30 or 40 years. Owing largely
to authority granted by the Legislature to irrigation
and similar districts to finance, construct, and oper-
ate irrigation works, and also because of the activi-
ties of many individuals, cooperatives, and water
utilities, irrigated agriculture has attained its pres-
ent position of dominant importance to the economy
of the State. The locations of all irrigation and water
storage districts, the more important of the many
types of public districts responsible for development
of irrigation water in California, are shown on Plate
3, "Irrigation and Water Storage Districts. "
The continuing increase in use of water for irriga-
tion in California is indicated in the following tabu-
lation showing historical growth of the area devoted
to irrigated agriculture :
Year
Area
irrigated,
in acres
Source of information
1880
Less than
400,000
1,004,233
1,446,114
1,708,720
3,188,541
v 4,219,040
3,540,350
4,276,554
6,438,324
6,850,000
1890
Report of State Engineer, 1880
1900
1902
1911
1919
mission
1929. __
Reports of United States Census
Reports of United States Census
State-wide Water Resources Investigation
1949
Present
(1950) _
The ground waters of California have been ex-
tensively tapped for irrigation, as well as for do-
mestic and municipal uses. Improvement of pumping
equipment and extension of electric power service
generally over most of the important ground water
basins, together with the cited growth of water re-
quirements, have so stimulated development that in
some of these basins the ground waters have been
overdrawn. Serious losses have already resulted and
more will follow unless corrective measures are taken.
Underground sources furnished about half of the
domestic, municipal, industrial, and irrigation water
in California in 1949.
Advances in the use of water in other fields have
also been striking. Commercial hydroelectric power,
first developed in California in 1893, constitutes ap-
proximately half of the presently installed power ca-
pacity in the State. Water supplies for municipali-
ties, initially secured locally, are now in some cases
being brought great distances. Outstanding illustra-
tions are the aqueducts importing Sierra Nevada
water to San Francisco and its environs, to the East
Bay cities, and to Los Angeles, and the conduit
bringing Colorado River water to Los Angeles and the
other communities constituting the Metropolitan
Water District of Southern California.
During the last 20 years federal agencies have en-
tered the field of water resource development in Cali-
fornia in a large way in the financing and construc-
tion of projects for water conservation, irrigation,
navigation, and flood control, and for the protection
of wildlife. Both the Corps of Engineers of the United
States Army and the Bureau of Reclamation of the
Department of the Interior have outlined compre-
hensive proposals, some of which have been author-
ized, with construction of several under way. The
most extensive federal project now under construc-
tion is the Central Valley Project, which is being
built in substantial accord with the State Water
Plan, referred to later in this chapter.
Progress in the use of water in California has been
made despite two incompatible doctrines governing-
rights to the use of water in surface streams, those
of appropriative and of riparian rights. A similar
conflict has been encountered in rules applicable to
ground water, between the overlying right, formulated
by analogy to the riparian right, and appropriation.
Recognition of pueblo rights is based on terms of the
treaty with Mexico when Alta California was ac-
quired by the United States, but such rights are now
exercised only by the Cities of Los Angeles and San
Diego.
The appropriative doctrine in its generally accepted
form originated in this State in the early mining cus-
toms. These were recognized by the courts, but the
earliest statute sanctioning this doctrine was enacted
on March 21, 1872. (Cal. Civ. Code, Sees. 1410-1422.)
Prior to December 19, 1914, an appropriative water
right could be established in California either by
actual diversion and application of the water to bene-
ficial use, or by posting a notice at the point of di-
version and recording the notice with the county re-
corder, followed by diligence in construction and ap-
plication of the water to beneficial use. Since that
date an appropriative right to water, other than per-
colating ground water, must be initiated by filing an
application with the Division of Water Resources of
the State Department of Public Works, pursuant to
Divisions 1 and 2 of the State Water Code (formerly
the Water Commission Act). In contrast with either
a riparian right to surface water or an overlying right
to ground water, an appropriative right is created by
use and is lost by nonuse.
The opposing riparian doctrine as now established
in California consists of the old common law rule, as
modified by California court decisions, and particu-
larly by Section 3 of Article XIV of the State Con-
24
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
stitution adopted in 1928, and decisions following
and applying it. Under this doctrine, a riparian land-
owner is entitled to a reasonable use of water correla-
tive with all other riparian owners bordering on the
same stream, lake, or watercourse, except that all the
water may be consumed by an upper riparian owner
if necessary for domestic use. The State Supreme
Court, in a line of decisions between 1886, Lux v.
Haggin, and 1927, Herminghaus v. Southern Cali-
fornia Edison Co., vacillated between strict applica-
tion and liberalization of the old common law rule.
The harsh construction of the rule in the latter case
brought about a general demand for modification. The
result was adoption of the constitutional amendment
of 1928. This amendment, which has repeatedly been
upheld by the courts of the State, imposed reasonable
and beneficial use on riparian as well as on other
water users. It provides as follows :
"Sec. 3. It is hereby declared that because of the
conditions prevailing in this State the general wel-
fare requires that the water resources of the State
be put to beneficial use to the fullest extent of
which they are capable, and that the waste or un-
reasonable use or unreasonable method of use of
water be prevented, and that the conservation of
such waters is to be exercised with a view to the
reasonable and beneficial use thereof in the interest
of the people and for the public welfare.
"The right to water or to the use or flow of
water in or from any natural stream or water
course in this State is and shall be limited to such
water as shall be reasonably required for the bene-
ficial use to be served, and such right does not and
shall not extend to the waste or unreasonable use
or unreasonable method of diversion of water.
Riparian rights in a stream or water course attach
to, but to no more than so much of the flow thereof
as may be required or used consistently with this
section, for the purposes for which such lands are,
or may be made adaptable, in view of such reason-
able and beneficial uses ; provided, however, that
nothing herein contained shall be construed as de-
priving any riparian owner of the reasonable use
of water of the stream to which his land is riparian
under reasonable methods of diversion and use, or
of depriving any appropriator of water to which
he is lawfully entitled. This section shall be self-
executing, and the Legislature may also enact laws
in the furtherance of the policy in this section
contained."
In 1935 the Supreme Court of California in the
case of Peabody v. City of Vallejo, 2 Cal. 2d 351,
40 P. 2d 486 (1935), fully approved and upheld the
constitutional amendment, saying in part as follows:
'The limitations and prohibitions of the consti-
tutional amendment now apply to every water
right and every method of diversion. Epitomized,
the amendment declares :
"1. The right to the use of water is limited to
such water as shall be reasonably required for the
beneficial use to be served.
"2. Such right does not extend to the waste of
water.
"3. Such right does not extend to unreasonable
use or unreasonable method of use or unreasonable
method of diversion of water.
"4. Riparian rights attach to, but to no more
than so much of the flow as may be required or
used consistently with this section of the Consti-
tution.
"The foregoing mandates are plain, they are
positive, and admit of no exception. They apply to
the use of all water, under whatever right the use
may be enjoyed. The problem is to apply these rules
in the varying circumstances of cases as they
arise. ' '
The new policy of water law was given its full
expression in the case of Meridian Ltd. v. City and
County of San Francisco, 13 Cal. 2d 424, 90 P. 2d
537, 91 P. 2d 105 (1939), wherein, for the first time,
the court held in effect that (1) title to all unappro-
priated water over and above proper demands and
requirements of vested rights is in the State in trust
for the use and benefit of the people. It was also held
that (2) it is for the State to prescribe the regula-
tions pursuant to which rights to use such unappro-
priated water might be acquired. Further, it was held
for the first time that (3) upstream storage in and of
itself for flood control and stream flow stabilization
for future use is a beneficial use of water. The court
directly held that (4) the declarations in the Water
Commission Act (now codified in the Water Code)
of ownership of all unappropriated water by the
State were implicit in the 1928 constitutional amend-
ment, and are to be given full force and effect.
THE CALIFORNIA WATER PROBLEM
The over-all water problem of California is made
up of many interrelated problems, some of which are
mainly local, while others are state-wide in implica-
tion. Prior to the time when the southern part of
California had to turn to the Colorado River, and
until rapidly receding ground waters in southern San
Joaquin Valley brought about initiation of the Cen-
tral Valley Project, water needs were met in most
instances by some form of local action. It is now
generally realized, however, that a greater measure
of state leadership and participation in planning and
construction is required if the water resources of
California are to be properly controlled, regulated,
protected, and utilized to meet rapidly increasing
needs of the people.
INTRODUCTION
25
From a state-wide point of view, redistribution of
the water supply from areas of surplus to areas of
deficiency provides the greatest challenge. About two-
thirds of the water is in the northern third of the
State, whereas the greater requirements — agricultural,
industrial, and municipal — are in the central and
southern portions. The solution of such a geographical
problem must involve transportation and exchange
of water, generally from north to south. It must in-
clude construction of surface storage reservoirs and
utilization of the great ground water storage capacity
of the valleys for regulating stream flow. Multiple-
purpose basin and transbasin developments will be
required, involving many complex technical, financial,
and legal problems. There must be increased devel-
opment and transmission of hydroelectric energy for
project purposes and to help meet growing urban and
agricultural demands for electric power. Solution of
the problems of flood control involves construction
of detention reservoirs, levees, channel improvements,
and by-pass channels. In many situations flood con-
trol and conservation works can be combined, but
even where this is possible complete flood control may
require additional separate works. In the Central
Valley, conservation features will provide a substan-
tial measure of salinity control, as well as improve-
ments to navigation. On many if not most streams of
the State, water conservation will contribute to rec-
reation, fish, and wildlife, and other beneficial pur-
poses.
A century of experience in California has demon-
strated that growth and development of the State
depend on the adequacy and economical utilization of
its water supply. The California Water Plan will fur-
nish a present pattern to meet the future need. It
will enable the comprehensive and coordinated con-
trol, regulation, and utilization of this great and most
vital resource, and will be susceptible of construction
by stages as the need develops. However, as the future
unfolds, as more and better information becomes avail-
able, and as conditions change, planning for water
resource development must continue.
PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS
The first broad investigation of the irrigation prob-
lem of California was made by a board of commis-
sioners on "The Irrigation of the San Joaquin, Tu-
lare, and Sacramento Valleys of the State of Cali-
fornia, ' ' described in a report published by the House
of Representatives in 1874 as Ex. Doc. No. 290, Forty-
third Congress, First Session. It outlined a hypothet-
ical irrigation system for the San Joaquin, Tulare,
and Sacramento Valleys. Other investigations by fed-
eral and state agencies followed during the next sev-
eral decades, the most noteworthy of which were by
Wm. Ham. Hall, State Engineer from 1878 to 1889.
His reports contain meteorological and stream flow
data, with notes on irrigation, drainage, and flood
control, all of which proved of great value in planning
water developments in the years that followed.
The most comprehensive recent investigations of the
water resources of California were those by the State
Engineer under authority of acts of the Legislature
in 1921, 1925, and 1929. First reports of these inves-
tigations were presented in Division of Engineering
and Irrigation Bulletins Nos. 4, 5, and 6, and in Divi-
sion of Water Resources Bulletins Nos. 9, 12, 13, 14,
and 20. A report giving residts of subsequent investi-
gations and outlining revised proposals was published
in 1930 as Division of Water Resources Bulletin No.
25, entitled "Report to Legislature of 1931 on State
Water Plan. ' ' It outlined a coordinated plan for con-
servation, development, and utilization of the water
resources of California. The plan was approved and
adopted by the Legislature by Chapter 1185, Statutes
of 1941, and designated the "State Wafer Plan." The
State Water Plan was amended by Chapter 329,
Statutes of 1945, which eliminated the proposed Trin-
ity River Diversion. Division of Water Resources
Bulletins Nos. 26, 27, 28, 29, and 31 outlined in
greater detail project plans for coordinated develop-
ment of the water resources of the Central Valley,
and for water conservation and flood control in the
Santa Ana River Basin. Bulletins Nos. 34, 35, and 36
dealt with collateral matters of water charges and
costs and rates of irrigation development. Bulletin No.
31 discussed briefly the plans for diversion and trans-
mission of Colorado River water to the South Coastal
Basin under the project of the Metropolitan Water
District of Southern California.
OBJECTIVE OF STATE-WIDE WATER
RESOURCES INVESTIGATION
Although investigations that led to the State Water
Plan were conceived as comprehensive and state-wide,
they were never completed in that pattern. All phases
were not considered for certain areas of the State,
and important projects were omitted and left for fur-
ther study. Furthermore, although adopted by the
Legislature in 1941, the plan was formulated in 1930
and was based on investigations and studies conducted
in the preceding decade. Since 1930 the population of
California has almost doubled, and the need for flood
control, water conservation, and power has more than
kept pace with population and industrial growth.
The objective of the current state-wide water re-
sources investigation is, therefore, the preparation of
The California Water Plan, a revised and more
complete plan for the fullest conservation, control,
protection, and utilization of the water resources of
California, both surface and underground, to meet
present and future water needs for all beneficial pur-
poses and uses in all areas of the State, so far as is
practicable.
26
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OP CALIFORNIA
SCOPE OF BULLETIN
As has been stated, this is the second in a series of
bulletins concerned with preparation of The Cali-
fornia Water Plan. The first of the series, "Water
Resources of California," which was released by the
State Water Resources Board in 1951, comprises an
inventory of the water resources of the State. This
present bulletin constitutes a determination of the
present use of water throughout California and a
forecast of the ultimate water requirement. These two
publications provide many of the basic hydrologic data
and information necessary for preparation of the
third bulletin, which will describe The California
Water Plan. A fourth bulletin will contain a sum-
mary of the earlier publications of the series.
A brief and generalized description of the methods
employed in estimating the present use of water and
forecasting the ultimate water requirement will serve
to illustrate the scope of this bulletin. In general, the
estimates and forecasts were made on an areal basis;
that is, determinations were made by service areas of
the various types of development making beneficial
use of water. Appropriate factors of unit water use
were then applied to these areas in order to estimate
their total water requirement.
In the case of the present water requirement, areas
of water-using urban and irrigated agricultural types
of development, as determined from land use survey
data, were multiplied by chosen factors of unit water
use, and the products added to obtain the total water
requirement. Data on unit use of water in metropoli-
tan and urban areas were obtained generally from
records furnished by water service agencies of de-
liveries to representative blocks of the various types
of development. Data on unit use of water for irriga-
tion were obtained generally from delivery records
and from the results of experiments, and were modi-
fied to account for variations in climate and agricul-
tural practice in the several parts of the State.
Because of the importance of the three great metro-
politan areas of California, in and around San Fran-
cisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, relatively detailed
land use surveys and determinations of unit use of
water were conducted in these areas.
In the case of ultimate water requirement, the entire
area of the State was considered. The inherent ca-
pacity of the land to support the various types of
development requiring water service was determined
as follows:
1. Urban land use was projected on the basis of
indicated 1 rends of growth and development, com-
munications, natural resources, and other factors
pertinent to a balanced economy.
2. Irrigated agriculture was projected on the basis
of land classification survey data, on the assumption
that all irrigable lands not presently served with
water will ultimately receive a complete and adequate
water supply.
3. Remaining lands of the State, neither urban in
character nor given over to irrigated agriculture
under ultimate conditions of development, were pro-
jected on the assumption that they will support a
rural population, generally sparse and widely scat-
tered but requiring a water supply for sustenance.
To the tiltimate pattern of land use so determined — ■
urban, irrigated agricultural, and other water service
areas — appropriate factors of unit water use were ap-
plied, and the products added to obtain the forecast
of ultimate water requirement. The unit water use
factors for irrigated agriculture were generally the
same as those used in connection with the present land
use pattern, but the factors for urban use were modi-
fied in accordance with indicated trends. Few data
were available regarding unit use of water by the
types of development in remaining lands of the State,
and factors of unit water use adopted were necessarily
based on limited information as to present deliveries
of water.
Dependent upon local conditions, either all or a
portion of the water served to the foregoing urban,
irrigated agricultural, and other water service areas
is consumed or lost to further beneficial use. However,
there are other uses of water that are not necessarily
consumptive in their nature, such as those for the
generation of hydroelectric energy, for the propaga-
tion and preservation of fish life, and for recreation.
Furthermore, certain factors of demand may be im-
posed upon the water by the nature of its beneficial
use, such as those pertaining to specific rates, times,
and places of delivery of the water, losses of water,
and quality of the water. In general, these noncon-
sumptive uses and demand factors incidental to water
service can only be evaluated on the basis of a specific
plan of water resource development. For purposes of
this bulletin, therefore, they are discussed in general
terms with particular regard to their effects on The
California Water Plan, in which plan they will neces-
sarily be given more detailed consideration.
Since a principal purpose of studies leading to
preparation of this bulletin was to provide informa-
tion required in preparation of The California Water
Plan, it was necessary to compare the present yields
of water supply works with the present water require-
ments. Any resulting estimates of deficiency under
present conditions were then added to the difference
between estimated present and utimate water require-
ments in order to determine the probable ultimate
supplemental water requirements. This served to es-
tablish the approximate general pattern of required
future regulation and conveyance of water throughout
California. However, the exact pattern will be de-
pendent upon the feasibility and relative costs of al-
ternative works, studies of which are under way in
connection with preparation of the next bulletin in
this series.
INTRODUCTION
27
The following chapter describes in some detail the
methods and procedures used in the estimates and
forecasts of water utilization and requirement. It is
followed by separate chapters for each of the seven
major hydrographic areas of California, in each in-
stance presenting and discussing the estimates and
forecasts for the respective hydrographic areas and
subdivisions thereof. These chapters also contain de-
scriptions of the hydrographic areas and their sub-
divisions, water supply conditions and development,
and land use as it relates to water utilization and re-
quirement. A final chapter summarizes on a state-wide
basis the material presented in earlier portions of the
bulletin.
Doctor David Weeks, Professor of Agricultural
Economics at the University of California in Berke-
ley, and an authority on agricultural economics and
trends, conducted the studies reported in this bulletin
dealing with the probable crop pattern in California
under conditions of complete development. His paper
on this subject is included as Appendix A.
Appendix B comprises a list of water service agen-
cies in California. Insofar as could be determined
within the scope of the investigation, the list consti-
tutes a complete compilation of all known public and
private agencies presently supplying water for domes-
tic, municipal, or irrigation purposes in the State.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS RELATING TO
WATER UTILIZATION IN CALIFORNIA
The State Water Resources Act of 1945, the basic
law under which this bulletin was prepared, states
in part as follows:
"In studying water development projects, full
consideration shall be given to all beneficial uses of
the State's water resources, including irrigation,
generation of electric energy, municipal and indus-
trial consumption of water and power, repulsion of
salt water, preservation and development of fish
and wildlife resources, and recreational facilties,
but not excluding other beneficial uses of water, in
order that recommendations may be made as to the
feasibility of such projects and for the method of
financing feasible projects. Fish and wildlife values,
both economic and recreational, shall be given con-
sideration in any flood control or water conserva-
tion program."
As a preface to the ensuing presentation of data
and estimates, it is considered desirable to discuss in
general terms certain aspects of water utilization in
California in the light of the foregoing directive of
the Legislature. This section, then, comprises a brief
description and discussion of the major beneficial uses
of water in the State, their interrelationships, their
demands upon the available water resources, the in-
dicated trends in such uses of water, and related
factors such as costs of water. The prefatory state-
ment should facilitate understanding of the subject
matter of this bulletin.
Water Supply
It was shown in Bulletin No. 1, "Water Resources
of California," that the total runoff of all streams
of the State, measured as they enter valley and mesa
lands, averaged nearly 71,000,000 acre-feet per season
over the 53-year mean period from 1894-95 through
1946-47. In addition, precipitation in the mean sea-
sonal amount of over 32,000,000 acre-feet fell on
valley and mesa lands during the 50-year period from
1897-98 through 1946-47, of which a portion was
available to meet demands on the water resources of
the State. When the available water resource is com-
pared with the estimated present total mean seasonal
water requirement of the State of about 25,000,000
acre-feet, measured in terms of consumptive use of
applied water plus irrecoverable losses, and the fore-
cast ultimate requirement of about 51,000,000 acre-
feet, as presented later in this bulletin, this water
resource might seem to be generously ample. How-
ever, as regards both location and time of occurrence,
the fresh waters of California are not well related to
the demands put upon them. For these reasons, it is
probable that they will be only partially conserved
and put to beneficial use even under conditions of
ultimate development.
Nearly 28,900,000 acre-feet, or about 41 per cent of
the total mean seasonal runoff of California, occurs
in the North Coastal Area, and about 22,400,000 acre-
feet, or nearly 32 per cent of the State's total, in the
Sacramento River Basin of the Central Valley Area.
Thus, over 72 per cent of the runoff occurs north of
a line drawn roughly through Sacramento. In unfor-
tunate contrast, an estimated 77 per cent of the
present water requirement of the State occurs south
of the same line, which value is expected to expand to
about 80 per cent under conditions of ultimate devel-
opment. From this it is apparent that solution to the
basic water problem of California must involve the
transportation of substantial amounts of water from
north to south.
Both precipitation and runoff in California vary
widely in their occurrence within the season and
from season to season. Generally, precipitation is con-
fined to winter months, and summers are extremely
dry. The amount of flow in streams follows closely
the occurrence of precipitation, and in many streams
the flow dwindles to nothing in summer and fall. This
characteristic of runoff is modified somewhat in
streams of the Sierra Nevada, wherein high stream
flow may be sustained well into summer by the stor-
age effect of heavy snowpack in the mountains.
Aside from monthly variation in her natural water
supply, California is subject to wet and dry periods
28
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
A
during which average precipitation and runoff depart
far from the mean. The periods may extend for many
years. One of the most severe dry periods in most of
the State extended from 1928 through 1934. A severe
drought was experienced in the southern part of Cali-
fornia from 1895 through 1904. More recently, and
following a very wet period from 1938 through 1944,
the State suffered dry seasons from 1945 until 1952,
which latter season was exceptionally wet. Generally
in California the seasons of 1923-24 and 1930-31 were
the driest of record. In 1923-24 the estimated total
runoff to valley and mesa lands was only about
18,300,000 acre-feet. Maximum seasonal runoff during
the period of record occurred in 1937-38 and is esti-
mated to have been about 135,000,000 acre-feet.
During the critical 10 years from 1927-28 through
1936-37, average seasonal runoff was 69 per cent of
the 53-year mean, and during each season of that
drought period runoff was less than the mean.
Severe and damaging floods are another symptom
of the erratic occurrence of California's water re-
sources. Ever since the first settlements on flat lands
along the banks of streams, periodic floods have en-
dangered life and property. Most floods of the State
are of two general types, with quite different char-
acteristics. Rainwater floods occur in winter months
and are caused by protracted general storms affecting
wide areas. On rare occasions peak discharges of such
floods are extremely high, but the flood duration is
short, usually no more than a few days. Snow floods,
resulting from rapid melting of the snowpack, occur
in streams that drain the higher mountains of the
State, principally the Sierra Nevada. Characteristi-
cally, such floods occur during months from April
through July, and have much longer duration and
lower peak flow than rainwater floods.
Maldistribution of the water resources of Cali-
fornia, as regards both place and time of occurrence,
has made necessary the construction and operation of
numerous works to control and regulate the flow of
streams, convey the conserved water to areas of use,
and distribute it therein. California has long been a
leader in the development of outstanding hydraulic
works, a major portion of which have been financed,
constructed, and operated by local public and private
agencies. If the State is to realize her full potential,
additional works of even more imposing size and
scope must be achieved to control, regulate, dis-
tribute, and permit the required utilization of her
bountiful water resources.
The extensive ground water basins of California
provide natural regulation for runoff from tributary
drainage areas and for precipitation directly on the
overlying lands. As has been stated, more than half
of the water presently used on irrigated lands and
Eor domestic, municipal, and industrial purposes in
Hi" State is regulated in ground water basins. Addi-
tional natural regulation would be provided if pres-
ently unused ground water storage capacity were
utilized to the full extent of possible safe yield of the
basins. Furthermore, as additional surface water sup-
plies are developed and made available for storage in
ground water basins, safe yield of the underground
reservoirs will be increased. Under ultimate develop-
ment the maximum amount of water could be made
available on demand through operation of surface res-
ervoirs in conjunction with cyclic underground stor-
age. Such coordinated operation would necessitate an
adequate supply of energy to pump ground water in
a series of dry years. The extent of the valley fill
areas of California is indicated on Plate 4, "Valley
Fill Areas." Many of these are known ground water
basins, whereas the susceptibility of some to ground
water storage remains to be established.
Most fresh waters in California are of excellent
quality and well suited to irrigation and other bene-
ficial uses. This is especially true of drainage from
the North Coastal Area and from the eastern side of
the Central Valley Area, both of which areas have
large watersheds with high water yield. Analyses
show that their surface and underground waters pos-
sess remarkably slight concentrations of salts, low per
cent sodium, and relatively small amounts of ele-
mental boron. These waters are of the bicarbonate
type, and calcium is the predominating base. Surface
waters of comparatively high salinity are found in
streams on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley,
in Cache Creek in the Sacramento Valley, in basins
on the west slope of the Diablo Range that separates
the Central Coastal and Central Valley Areas, in
Cuyama and Santa Maria Rivers in the Central
Coastal Area, and in Pirn and Sespe Creeks in the
South Coastal Area. Mineral solubles in these waters
include significant amounts of boron, and relatively
high concentrations of sulphates or chlorides. Ground
waters receiving replenishment from such inferior
surface waters have similar chemical characteristics.
Gradations in the quality of fresh water supplies of
California are mainly correlated with climate, soil,
and geologic complex. Any significant variation in
chemical properties not correlated with these natural
factors is usually caused by pollution or contamina-
tion from foreign sources. These may include indus-
trial wastes and sewage, unconsumed irrigation water,
or imported water of inferior quality. Depreciation in
qiiality of ground water may also result from infil-
tration of sea water along the coastal strip, from de-
fective wells, and from lack of salt balance due to
inadequate ground water outflow.
' Irrigation
Most of the arable lands of California are situated
in regions classified climaticall.v as arid or semiarid,
where rainfall is generally insufficient to support the
growth of perennial crops. For this reason, and be-
cause of the characteristically long rainless summers
INTRODUCTION
29
even in well-watered regions of the State, irrigation
is extensively resorted to in order to make agricul-
tural enterprises possible or more profitable. For
many years California has led all states of the Union
in irrigated agriculture, and, as has been stated,
some 7,000,000 acres within the State are served with
irrigation water. This constitutes by far the greatest
single demand on the developed water supplies of
California, and about 90 per cent of the water bene-
ficially used in the State is utilized by irrigated agri-
culture.
Agricultural crops utilize varying amounts of the
rain that falls upon them. Certain perennial crops,
such as alfalfa and irrigated pasture, continue to
grow throughout the winter rainy season in most
parts of California, and consume a portion of the
precipitation to sustain this growth. On other agricul-
tural lands where crops are not grown in winter there
is some consumption of winter rainfall by evapora-
tion from the bare land and by the growth of weeds
and native grasses. Of the precipitation that perco-
lates into the soil, a part may remain within the root
zone of the plants for a considerable time and sus-
tain their growth until exhausted. However, as has
been stated, precipitation available to crops is not
generally sufficient in California to meet their re-
quirements throughout the summer. This deficiency
can only be remedied by the application of irrigation
water from developed sources. Monthly irrigation de-
mands vary considerably, depending upon the type
of crop, climate, and agricultural practice. On the
average, little irrigation water is applied in winter
months, and peak summer monthly demands may be
as large as 25 per cent of the seasonal total.
•/Ordinarily, a substantial portion of the irrigation
water applied to his fields by a farmer is consump-
tively used by transpiration from the vegetative
growth and by evaporation. However, the remainder
of the applied water either percolates below the root
zone of the crop or drains away on the surface, or
both. The ratio of consumptive use of the applied
irrigation water to the total amount of such applied
water is termed "irrigation efficiency" and is em-
ployed as a rough measure of the relative efficiency of
irrigation practices. Irrigation efficiency varies widely
throughout California, depending on one or more of
many factors, including the type of crop, topography,
porosity of soil and subsoil, salinity of soil and water,
method of irrigation, availability of water, and cost
of water.
In areas of deficient water supply and high cost of
water the tendency has been to restrict crops to those
requiring a minimum amount of water. In certain
parts of the South Coastal Area where such condi-
tions prevail, farmers have restricted their application
of irrigation water to less than the optimum amount
which the plants could consume. This subnormal ir-
rigation may have resulted in high irrigation efficien-
cies, but probably has reduced crop production in some
cases. In parts of the Sacramento Valley water is rela-
tively cheap and plentiful, and low irrigation efficien-
cies are common. Similar conditions usually hold in
the Imperial Valley, but in this valley there is an
urgent demand for excess irrigation water to flush
detrimental salts from the soil. Generally throughout
California irrigation efficiency probably averages be-
tween 50 and 60 per cent.
Since more water is applied for irrigation than is
actually consumed by the plants, an opportunity ex-
ists for saving of water through its more careful ap-
plication. In this connection a recent quotation by Dr.
Frank J. Veihmeyer, former Chairman of the Irriga-
tion Department of the College of Agriculture, Uni-
versity of California, is pertinent :
' ' Deterioration of land due to wasteful use of water
is prominent throughout the world. The belief that
for the best condition of plants the soil should be
kept wet is not founded on fact. You do not increase
growth by maintaining large amounts of water in
the soil. You can save water by reducing the num-
ber of applications. The irrigated area of California
could almost be doubled, if waste could be avoided. ' '
Careful application of irrigation water is infrequently
obtained except in periods of drought emergency. In
certain past studies of proposed irrigation works in the
State it has been assumed that irrigated lands can
withstand a deficiency of 35 per cent of the average
seasonal requirement in seasons of critically deficient
water supply, provided that these deficiencies do not
occur frequently and in no case in consecutive seasons.
This assumption is based on experience throughout
California. In actual operation of several large irri-
gation systems, deficiencies of as large as 50 per cent
of the requirement occurred in such extremely dry
seasons as 1924 and 1931. In these instances perma-
nent crops suffered no lasting damage.
In addition to losses of water inherent in its field
application, in any water supply and distribution
system a portion of the available water is lost by seep-
age and evaporation from reservoirs, leakage from
conduits, seepage from canals, etc. The amount of
these losses varies over wide limits. The principal
factors affecting reservoir losses are the climate, per-
meability of the materials underlying the reservoir,
area-depth relationship of the reservoirs, and design
and maintenance of the impounding structures. Evap-
oration losses from reservoir surfaces average from
three to four feet of depth per season in California,
but may be as high as six or seven feet in dry, hot,
windswept localities. Conveyance losses of water are
generally dependent upon design and maintenance of
the system, which in turn are largely influenced by
economic considerations. In well-constructed and ad-
equately maintained, closed-type conduits they may
be negligible. In open, unlined ditch systems they may
30
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
run higher than 50 per cent of the diverted water
supply. Depending- upon soil and geologic conditions,
a portion of storage and conveyance losses may be
salvaged for re-use. However, in many instances water
lost in such fashion creates high water table condi-
tions, damaging to crop lands.
Since 1940 there has been a marked acceleration in
the placing of new lands under irrigation in Cali-
fornia. This has been caused by increased require-
ments for agricultural produce brought on by World
War II, by similar demands of the rapidly growing
population of the State, and by sustained high farm
prices. How long the present rate of growth of irri-
gated agriculture will continue is problematical. How-
ever, the eventual need for a very high degree of de-
velopment of the irrigable lands of California seems
assured. In studies for this bulletin it was assumed
that under conditions of ultimate development all
lands suitable for irrigated agriculture will be irri-
gated. It is realized that this complete irrigation de-
velopment may not actually occur, and that in some
areas it may always be more profitable to grow dry-
farmed rather than irrigated crops on lands classi-
fied as irrigable. However, the assumption is conser-
vative in the sense that it results in an estimate of
maximum probable requirement for water. With this
in mind, any lesser future requirement will be pro-
vided for in allocation of the available water resources
of the State.
Urban Use of Water
The people living in the urban centers of California
and the commerce and industry that serve and support
them create a demand on the developed water supplies
second only to that of irrigated agriculture. In meet-
ing this requirement local public agencies of the great
metropolitan areas of the State have constructed
monumental engineering works exemplified by the
Hetch Hetchy, Mokelumne River, Owens Valley, and
Colorado River Aqueducts. Other urban communities
of the State are served with municipal types of water
supply from many sources, by both publicly and pri-
vately owned utilities.
Just as irrigated lands utilize precipitation, urban
areas consume a portion of the rain that falls upon
them. Home gardens, lawns, and parks are similar to
irrigated crops in this respect, and there is also appre-
ciable consumption of rainfall by evaporation from
impervious areas, such as roofs, walks, and streets. In
addition, urban areas consume portions of the water
supplies delivered to them from artificial sources. The
monthly urban demand on such water supply sources
differs from that for irrigation because it is more
uniform throughout the year, the use of water for
domestic, commercial, and industrial purposes being
relatively constant. On the average, monthly urban
demands for water in the winter vary from 5 to 6 per
cent of the seasonal total, while monthly summer de-
mands vary from 10 to 15 per cent of this total.
Of the several classes of water use comprising the
urban requirement, that of the commercial type of
development may be the greatest on the basis of unit
area, but the areal extent of commercial enterprise is
usually less than five per cent of the whole community.
Industrial requirements vary between wide limits
from industry to industry, and even within industries
of the same type. Industrial use of water in the metro-
politan type of community in California is usually a
substantial part of the total requirement, and varies
from about 10 per cent to more than a third of the
total. However, the various classes of residential use
normally comprise the greatest single demand on
urban water supplies.
The water supplied to meet urban requirements is
not all consumptively used. Portions may run off on
the surface or percolate to underlying ground water
basins. A substantial portion is discharged to the
sewers, and, depending upon the means of sewage dis-
posal and its mineral and bacteriological quality, may
or may not become available for re-use. The amount of
sewage from urban communities in California varies
from about 25 to 75 per cent of the amount of water
delivered to them, and probably averages about 50
per cent throughout the State. Reclamation of water
from sewage as a source of water supply is accom-
plished in many interior communities incidental to
return of the water to ground water basins or stream
channels. Construction of works for sewage rec-
lamation is receiving consideration in several coastal
communities with present water shortages, and may
become a more important part of water conservation
development in the future.
In studies being made in connection with prepara-
tion of The California AVater Plan, it is being assumed
that no deficiency in urban water supply will be per-
mitted, and that the requirement will be fully met at
all times. This is a most conservative assumption, for
it has been frequently demonstrated in California that
in times of drought emergency it is possible to de-
crease urban water use very materially without undue
hardship. This has been accomplished by enforced
rationing and by educational campaigns to avoid un-
necessary waste. In one community, as a result of
serious shortage in water supply caused by a series of
exceptionally dry years, the amount of water delivered
in 1948 was reduced 26.3 per cent below that delivered
in 1947. This was accomplished by enforced rationing
and education. In another city the use of water was
reduced from 64 million gallons on one day to 38.5
million gallons on the ensuing day by means of a
newspaper and radio educational campaign.
Historically, the population growth of California
lias been rapid but intermittent. Certain communities
have nearly doubled their population each decade
INTRODUCTION
31
since 1900, and throughout the State the population
increased 53 per cent from 1940 to 1950. Perhaps the
most significant recent trend in urban growth in Cali-
fornia is toward decentralization of residential and
commercial types of development in fringe areas
around the existing communities. In studies for this
bulletin, probable ultimate urban use of water was
forecast generally on the assumption of an ultimate
population approximately four times as great as at the
present. This ratio was based on results of detailed
studies of complete land use and of population satura-
tion in the San Francisco Bay, Los Angeles, and San
Diego metropolitan areas. It is believed to be reason-
ably conservative in the aggregate, although probably
subject to wide error in particular instances.
Hydroelectric Power
A large and important nonconsumptive demand on
the water resources of California is that imposed by
use of water for generation of hydroelectric energy.
Of recent years the requirement for electric power
has increased even more rapidly than population.
The total amount of power generated for use in Cali-
fornia in 1940 was a little over 13 billion kilowatt-
hours, of which about 3.3 billion were from plants
located on the Colorado River outside of the State.
In 1950 the total was more than 29.6 billion kilowatt-
hours, an increase of some 127 per cent. Of the total,
about 4.8 billion kilowatt-hours came from Colorado
River plants. Locations of the principal power in-
stallations of the State, both hydroelectric and fuel-
electric, transmission lines, and substations, are shown
on Plate 5, "Electric Power Development, 1954."
In order to meet the rapidly "rowing requirement
for electric power it has been necessary for electric
utilities in California to increase their capacity ma-
terially, particularly since "World War II. For various
reasons, principally economic in nature, the greater
part of this increase has been made by construction
of fuel-electric plants rather than hydroelectric. How-
ever, even today the total installed capacity of hydro-
electric power plants in California is approximately
one-half that of the total of all types of electric power
generating plants. In 1940 the installed capacity of all
electric plants within the State totaled about 2,720,-
000 kilowatts, of which approximately 1,540,000 kilo-
watts were hydroelectric installations and the remain-
der fuel. In 1950 the total installed capacity was
about 5,320,000 kilowatts, of which approximately
2,600,000 kilowatts were hydroelectric. It is believed
to be reasonably safe to assume that with probable
continued rapid population and industrial growth of
California, and with the demonstrated trend for even
more rapid increase in requirement for electric power,
a demand will exist in the future for all hydroelectric
power that can be obtained from further development
of the water resources of the State.
In order to be capable of producing large amounts
of firm energy, that is, energy available on demand,
a hydroelectric power plant requires an abundant,
nearly uniform supply of water located at high eleva-
tions to provide large potential fall. These desirable
conditions occur only in rare instances in California.
Although relatively large watersheds have sufficient
elevation to provide substantial fall, many such areas,
particularly in the southern part of the State, have
so limited or intermittent a water supply that devel-
opment of hydroelectric power is impracticable. In the
Sierra Nevada, and more particularly in the north-
ern Sierra, topography and water supply conditions
are more nearly ideal for hydroelectric energy genera-
tion. By far the greatest development of hydroelectric
power in California has been in the Sierra Nevada,
and present development is continuing in this area.
In the northwestern portion of the State the water
supply is ample but the topographic relief is not as
great as in the Sierra, and a relatively large part of
the water originates at low elevations. Nevertheless,
the potential for hydroelectric power development
in the Nortli Coastal Area is very large. Only minor
installations have been constructed in this area to
date.
Because of the characteristic seasonal nature of
the water supply throughout California, regulatory
storage is almost always necessary for the production
of firm energy throughout the year. Due to the ex-
treme variation in flow of most streams, it is usually
necessary to generate large amounts of secondary
energy in order to utilize the development to its eco-
nomic potential. This makes desirable the full coordi-
nation of power generation from hydroelectric sources
with that from fuel-electric sources. The demands on
the water supply for power purposes coincide only
in part with those for other beneficial uses of the
water, such as irrigation, and can be only partly
coordinated with them. To offset the effects of this
incompatibility, revenues from the sale of hydro-
electric power from multipurpose projects have served
in many instances to make irrigation and other fea-
tures of the projects financially feasible.
Without consideration of economic or engineering
feasibility, or of conflicts with other demands on the
water supply, it is estimated on a theoretical basis
that the presently developed and potential undevel-
oped hydroelectric power capacity within California
is of the order of 10,700,000 kilowatts. Approximately
4.000,000 kilowatts of this capacity occurs in streams
of the Sacramento Valley, 3,200,000 kilowatts in those
of the San Joaquin Valley, and 600,000 kilowatts in
the Lahontan and Colorado Desert Areas, while the
remaining capacity, some 2,900,000 kilowatts, occurs
in the North Coastal Area. Only minor possibilities
for future hydroelectric power installations exist
elsewhere in the State.
32
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
Timber and Minerals
The natural resources of California support an im-
portant group of basic industries, of which oil and
gas, timber, and the mining industries occupy the
more prominent positions. Significant use of water by
the oil and gas industry is confined to refining and
processing, and is considered in this bulletin along
with urban requirements. Use of water by the timber
and mining industries is an item of importance in
local areas in which the industries are located, al-
though the total use for this purpose is minor in com-
parison with other consumptive uses of water in the
State. The locations of principal timber lands and
auriferous gravel deposits are shown on Plate 6,
; ' Timber Lands and Auriferous Gravel Deposits. ' '
Data for this plate were furnished by the United
States Forest Service and the State Division of Mines.
Commercial stands of timber are found principally
in the mountainous parts of the North Coastal Area
and above 3,000 feet on the westerly slopes of the
Sierra Nevada in the Central Valley Area. Less im-
portant stands of commercial timber occur along the
easterly slope of the Coast Range in the Central Val-
ley Area, in Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties, and
in the Lahontan Area between Mono and Lassen Coun-
ties. A few comparatively small stands of timber are
located in the southerly part of the State.
The timber cut in California amounted to about
5.7 billion board feet, International Scale, in 1952.
The estimated requirements for production of lumber
and timber by-products are about 56,000 gallons of
water per 1,000 board feet for pulp production, 2,300
gallons per 1,000 board feet for fiberboard, and 1,000
gallons per 1,000 board feet for lumber products. On
this basis the consumptive use of water in the timber
industry in 1952 was about 311,000 acre-feet.
The present growth on some 16,000,000 acres of
timber lands susceptible of commercial development
in California is estimated to be about 1,200,000,000
board feet per year. It is forecast that, under ultimate
conditions and with adequate crop management, an
annual yield of 3,800,000,000 board feet is possible.
The water requirement for processing this sustained
timber yield will be about 232,000 acre-feet per year.
Discovery of gold at Coloma by James W. Marshall
in 1848 caused the initial influx of white men which
Led to permanent settlement and development of Cali-
fornia. The present large mining industry, which in-
cludes the extraction and processing of numerous
valuable metallic and nonmetallic minerals, including
sand, gravel, and building stone, has grown from the
meager beginning at Coloma. Among the valuable
minerals found in this State, gold has always occupied
a principal place in the imagination of mankind, and
the profusion in distribution of gold has maintained
it in a leading position in California's mining indus-
try. .Much of California's gold production results from
the mining of placer deposits, where gold is found in
nugget or granular form. Gold is extracted from
placer deposits, also known as auriferous gravels, by
hydraulic methods, including the washing of gravels
from hillsides by the use of jetted streams of water
under high pressure and by dredging.
The production of gold in California in 1952 was
about 258,000 ounces, much of it from the gravel de-
posits. Available estimates of the water required for
production by hydraidic methods range from 1.25 to
1.5 acre-feet per ounce of gold. Very little of this
water is used consumptively, the greater portion being
returned to stream channels where it is available for
re-use.
Past methods of operation in hydraulic mining areas
have resulted in the discharge of large quantities of
mining debris, consisting of sand, gravel, soil, and
vegetable matter, into the stream channels in placer
areas, and the deposition of sand and gravel waste in
dredging areas. The California Debris Commission has
constructed several dams for the sole purpose of re-
taining placer waste and preventing such material
from adversely affecting productive valley floor agri-
cultural lands. Space in reservoirs constructed for
other purposes has also been made available for debris
collection through mutual arrangements between mine
operators and the agencies controlling the reservoir
areas. The restrictions now placed on hydraulic min-
ing and dredging to prevent stream pollution and
destruction of land indicate that in the future gold
will be produced by less destructive methods and that
smaller amounts of water will be required.
Reduction, concentration, and refining of ores re-
quire a relatively small consumptive use of water in
relation to the volume of the final product. The dif-
ferent processes used require varying amounts of
water, but the total requirement, most of which is
returned to stream chanels and underground basins
and is available for re-use, is relatively minor. Much
usage of this nature, particularly the requirement for
final refining, is combined with general industrial re-
quirements in urban and suburban water service
areas.
Recreation and Fish and Wildlife
By virtue of her climatic advantages and wide
variety of natural attractions, California enjoys an
outdoor recreational opportunity of significant im-
portance to her growth and economy. With antici-
pated continued growth in population of the State, it
is expected that the public demand for preservation
and enhancement of recreational facilities will be suf-
ficient to assure the provision of water supplies nec-
essary for such purposes. The principal recreational
facilities of the State are indicated on Plate 7, "Rec-
reational Areas."
In the aggregate the amount of water used for do-
mestic and service facilities in recreational areas of
California is relatively small, and the demands are
INTRODUCTION
33
widely scattered. As for waters employed for boating,
sailing, swimming, and other water sports, most are
available naturally or as a result of works constructed
and operated for other purposes, and the noncon-
sumptive recreational use of the water is incidental to
other uses. The flow of streams and the water in lakes
and ponds that enhance the esthetic value of recrea-
tional areas rarely have been supplied primarily for
recreational purposes. In only a few instances, prin-
cipally in national parks and monuments, have such
recreational water requirements been considered
equal or superior to those for other beneficial pur-
poses. Among the many uses of water for recrea-
tional purposes in California, those associated with
the preservation and propagation of fish and wildlife
are probably the most substantial. In this connection,
certain species of fish propagated in fresh-water
streams of the State support an important offshore
commercial fishery.
The principal present consumptive use of water
in California related to fish and wildlife is the water
utilized to maintain ponds and feeding areas for
migratory wild fowl. Data collected in connection with
the current investigation indicate that about 100.000
acres of fresh-water ponds for wild fowl are pres-
ently maintained throughout the State. The seasonal
delivery of water to these ponds totals some 400,000
acre-feet, most of which is consumptively used. The
wild fowl ponds are included in state and federal
waterfowl refuge and management areas, and in
commercial and private gun clubs. They are located
principally in the Central Valley Area, although
some are scattered throughout the State. In addition
to the ponds, a nearly equal area of adjacent land
is irrigated and cropped to feed migratory waterfowl,
with a requirement for water nearly as great as for
the ponds.
Both the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
and the California Department of Fish and Game
foresee the future provision of additional facilities for
migratory wild fowl. Based largely on studies by
these agencies, it is indicated that some 190,000 acres
will eventually be used for wild fowl ponds, with a
seasonal application of water of nearly 650,000 acre-
feet. With regard to future use of land and water for
this purpose, the following is quoted from a recent
statement of the Department of Fish and Game :
"It is in the needs of water for waterfowl and
other game species requiring wet lands for their
existence that man's agricultural and economic
water needs have made the greatest inroads. Vast
acreages of former marsh or semi-marsh lands have
been drained for farming or other purposes, push-
ing these species into a small existing area which in
turn is further subject to demands for more land
and more water. Waterfowl are vitally dependent
on free water over productive land areas. Their con-
tinued existence depends on planned reservation of
water for their use. Other minor aquatic wildlife
species, such as shorebirds, muskrat, beaver, etc.,
will benefit from any planning for waterfowl.
"In order to allocate water for these species,
such allocation must be done for specific areas of
the State, since waterfowl have definite habits and
needs for certain types of lands and feeds which
cannot be met with alternate situations. In other
words, wintering grounds for waterfowl must be
met in warm valley areas capable of growing good
reliable foods. They cannot be met on mountain
areas, or on areas of poor winter climate or inferior
soil. Farming development has taken over the vast
majority of lands formerly available to these spe-
cies; the needs found below are allocated to lands
that remain available in some measure for water-
fowl. Provision must be made with as much speed
as possible to see that not only lands, but water for
these lands are devoted to waterfowl.
"That California has in this matter an obliga-
tion not only to her sister States of the Pacific
Waterfowl Flyway, but to our neighboring Nations
to the North and South, has been brought out by
many waterfowl authorities. This State has been
the traditional wintering ground for vast numbers
of birds of the Pacific Flyway. It has assumed this
position of responsibility to the birds, if such it
may be called, by virtue of its valley areas and
their attendant winter climates. There is no substi-
tute which will serve if these birds are to survive."
As in the case of water sports, few artificial lakes
are utilized exclusively for fishlife in California, such
use normally being incidental to the primary pur-
poses for which the reservoirs were constructed.
From some reservoirs, however, releases are made to
maintain downstream flow conditions favorable to the
preservation and propagation of fishlife. It is con-
sidered probable that in the future more reservoir
storage capacity will be allocated to this purpose, and
that some reservoirs will be constructed primarily to
augment naturally low summer and fall stream flows
in the interest of fishing.
Water released down a stream to maintain the
minimum flow required for fishlife does not consti-
tute a consumptive use of the water. The demands of
fishlife, however, are frequently incompatible with
hydroelectric power development and diversion for
other beneficial iises of the water. Furthermore, in
coastal streams of California, the migrations of
anadromous fish such as steelhead, salmon, and
striped bass can only be maintained by outflow of
fresh water to the ocean in substantial amounts.
Resolution of the inherent conflicts between the inter-
ests of stream fishing, and those of domestic, irriga-
tion, hydroelectric power, and other requirements for
water, is a problem for the future. It is believed that
_■ iiiisnl
34
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
in many instances fishing must give way to the
higher uses of water. However, an improved stream
fishery can be developed and maintained by the dedi-
cation of certain streams, and certain reaches of
other streams, to recreation and fishing, and by the
construction of upstream storage to improve low
stream flow conditions. In addition, reservoirs con-
structed to regulate stream flow for other purposes
will provide a greatly increased lake fishery.
Repulsion of Sea Water
Insofar as the surface water resources of Cali-
fornia are concerned, the repulsion of sea water has
been a serious problem only in the delta of the Sacra-
mento and San Joaquin Rivers. The low delta lands,
reclaimed and protected by levees, are irrigated with
water from adjacent fresh-water channels and
sloughs. They include more than 350,000 acres of the
most fertile and productive agricultural lands in the
State. In the past, during years of low stream flow,
and most notably in 1924 and 1931, saline water from
upper San Francisco Bay moved far into the delta
channels under the influence of tidal action. These
saline invasions caused extensive damage to crops and
farm lands, and resulted in marked depreciation of
land values. After intensive study by the Division of
Water Resources and others, it was concluded that
control and prevention of the sea-water invasion
could be most economically effected by repelling the
saline water with fresh water released from upstream
reservoirs. This was provided for in plans for the
Central Valley Project. Operation of Shasta Reser-
voir started in 1941, and since then there has been no
significant invasion of sea water into the Sacramento-
San Joaquin Delta. Originally it was estimated that
minimum outflows of about 3,300 second-feet would
have to be maintained in the Delta to repel sea water.
This estimate has since been increased to about 4,500
second-feet, of which 3,300 second-feet is measured
inflow, and the remainder is unmeasured accretions
in the Delta. Tins demand on the developed water
supply is largely coordinated with reservoir releases
for navigation, hydroelectric energy production, and
other beneficial uses of the water.
So far as the ground water resources of California
are concerned, the repulsion of sea water is a serious
problem in many economically important ground
water basins adjacent to the coast. Characteristically,
these coastal basins are capped with impervious strata
for soi listance inshore, and the underlying con-
fining aquifers connect with the ocean. The water in
the aquifers moves under pressure caused by the dif-
ference in head lief ween inland intake areas and areas
of discharge from the aquifers. As a resull of pump-
ing from the aquifers, the hydraulic gradient, or ele-
vation of the pressure head, may be lowered below
sea Level, This induces landward How of sea water in
the aquifers and saline degradation of the water sup-
ply. Heavily pumped ground water basins in the San
Francisco Bay, Central Coastal, and South Coastal
Areas have experienced such sea-water intrusion,
which has forced abandonment of wells, and in some
instances threatens permanent damage to the basins.
Other coastal basins are susceptible to similar damage
if pumping increases.
Experiments and studies have recently been con-
ducted under direction of the State Water Resources
Board to determine feasible methods of preventing
sea-water intrusion of ground water basins. The ex-
periments included the creation of a fresh-water
mound in the confined aquifers, adjacent and parallel
to the coast, by injection of fresh water in wells. The-
installation of various types of impervious membranes
or dikes was also studied. In general, sea-water in-
trusion of ground water basins is a symptom of over-
draft on the aquifers. In most cases the solution of
the problem will probably involve the reduction of
pumping draft on the aquifers, and the provision of
a supplemental water supply from some other source.
Basically, this solution is similar to that presently em-
ployed for surface waters of the Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta, that is, it involves repulsion of the
sea water by fresh water.
Flood Control
Destruction and havoc caused by floods in Califor-
nia have frequently been accompanied by the eco-
nomic anomaly of wastage of huge amounts of water
into the ocean in areas of deficient water supply.
Storage of such flood waters in upstream reservoirs
would have accomplished the dual purpose of conser-
vation of needed water and reduction of flood dam-
ages. However, storage capacity sufficient to contain
all flood waters would require extremely large and
expensive reservoirs. Generally in the past it has not
been feasible to attain complete conservation and
flood control by storage. Improvement of stream chan-
nels to provide capacities sufficient to contain peak
flood flows, either separately or in combination with
upstream storage, has usually provided the most
economic solution to the problem of flood control in
California.
The construction of works to control Hoods and re-
duce flood damage has been diligently pursued since
the early days of California's statehood in the 1850's.
One notable achievement is the Sacramento River
Flood Control Project. This consists of an extensive
system of leveed channels, by-passes, and drainage
pumps, to protect the fertile lands and cities of the
Sacramento Valley. The project is operated by the
State of California, and construction expenditures to
elate have totaled about $136,000,000. The funds have
been provided nearly equally by local, state, and fed-
eral agencies. Another example of major importance
is the flood control project in Los Angeles County.
INTRODUCTION
35
This is a complex system of debris basins, detention
reservoirs, and improved channels to protect the tre-
mendous urban development in and around Los An-
geles, and is only partially completed at this time.
Expenditures to date are more than $225,000,000, and
the funds have been provided by local, state, and fed-
eral governments. Los Angeles County has also re-
cently voted a bond issue of $179,000,000 to construct
a system of works for drainage of storm waters. These
are but major examples of the many such projects
throughout California. Over 700 reservoirs in the
State, some of which are operated wholly or partially
for flood control, impound flood waters and enhance
the value of downstream channel improvements. How-
ever, in relatively few localities has complete or even
reasonably adequate flood control been achieved. With
expected continued growth of the State, a much higher
degree of flood control must be provided to protect
life and property.
Results of the State-wide Water Resources Investi-
gation to date indicate that if California is to at-
tain growth and development commensurate with her
manifold resources, nearly all of the potential res-
ervoir storage capacity of the State must be con-
structed and dedicated to operation for water con-
servation purposes. This in itself will result in a
substantial increase in downstream flood protection.
However, any portion of the available reservoir stor-
age capacity that is operated wholly or partially for
solely flood control purposes will correspondingly re-
duce the capacity available for conservation. Flood
control operation requires the release of stored flood
waters immediately upon expiration of the flood at
rates within downstream channel capacities. Such
operation is necessary so that possible snbsequent
flood flows may be similarly detained in the reservoir
and their discharge regulated. It is apparent that
flood control reservoir operation is largely incom-
patible with conservation, which requires detention of
the stored flood waters until released upon demand
for beneficial use. It is considered probable that under
economic pressure attendant with ultimate develop-
ment in California, flood control operation of reser-
voirs will give way in some measure to their operation
for conservation.
Improvement of stream channels for flood protec-
tion may also oppose the interests of water conserva-
tion. Under natural conditions flood waters leave the
stream channels and spread out over wide areas of
adjacent alluvial lands. Depending upon permeability
and the degree of saturation of the soils, varying
amounts of the flood waters percolate to the underly-
ing ground water basins. This is the principal source
of replenishment for most of the economically vital
ground water basins of California. Confinement of
flood waters to restricted channels materially reduces
the opportunity for percolation and ground water
replenishment. This adverse effect is even more pro-
nounced when the channels are lined with concrete
or other impermeable materials, as they are in many
instances in areas of acute ground water overdraft,
particularly in southern California. To compensate
for this impairment of the natural process, or to in-
crease the natural conservation of flood waters in
ground water reservoirs, artificial spreading works
have been constructed in a number of places. Flood
waters, either uncontrolled or temporarily stored in
upstream reservoirs, are diverted and conveyed to
the spreading grounds and allowed to percolate as
rapidly as possible. Beneficial results from such arti-
ficial spreading have been obtained in the Santa Clara
Valley and in the South Coastal Area, and it is prob-
able that extensive spreading works will be con-
structed in the future.
Drainage
Drainage of high water table lands is a serious
problem in many agricultural areas of California.
Large acreages of developed lands have been lost to
agriculture by water-logging, and in some instances
by excessive salinity, brought about by over-irrigation
and careless storage and conveyance of water. Further
large areas of potential agricultural land cannot be
utilized because of naturally high water tables. Exten-
sive drainage works have been constructed in most ag-
ricultural areas of the State, at both public and pri-
vate expense, but large areas remain to be reclaimed.
Such enterprise is doubly desirable in future efforts
of California to meet its water requirements. Con-
sumptive use of water from the high water table lands
is a substantial economic loss, while the water sal-
vaged in maintaining lower water tables may ordi-
narily be put to beneficial consumptive use.
Salt Balance
The use of ground water storage capacity in con-
serving and regulating both local and imported water
supplies, particularly those supplies intended to be
used consumptively by irrigated agriculture, requires
the consideration of the salt balance involved in the
use and re-use of the available supplies.
The problem of salt balance exists in most of the
developed ground water basins of California, and
must be considered if the basins are to retain their
important place in conservation and utilization of
water in the State. The solution involves induced
drainage of water from the basins in amounts suffi-
cient to maintain satisfactory mineral quality therein.
The amount of water so drained away will constitute
a future demand on the developed water supply.
Practically all natural waters contain mineral salts
of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium in
varying amounts, present in the waters in the form
of carbonates, sulphates, and chlorides. After applica-
tion of water on the land, that part which is not con-
36
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
sumptively used and which does not drain off on the
surface will percolate to the main body of ground
water in free ground water basins. As a result of use
some salt compounds will be given up in promoting
growth or in combining with soil elements. Conversely,
percolating water will absorb other salt compounds
in passing through the soil between the surface and
the water plane. Under natural conditions most
ground water basins tend to fill with water and to
overflow in the lower portions, thereby flushing out
soluble salts contained in water originating on the
tributary watershed and overlying lands. When aqui-
fers in the basin are tapped by wells, the pumping
draft lowers ground water levels to such an extent
that in many cases the natural flushing of the basins
ceases. Since the pumped water is largely used on
overlying lands, soluble salts accumulate within the
basin and tend to degrade the quality of the ground
water in storage. If the situation is such that no dis-
charge of water from the area, either surface or sub-
surface, occurs, in the course of time the concentra-
tion of salt compounds in the remaining water will
become so great as to inhibit its use as a source of
water supply. This is particularly true in the case
of irrigation supplies, as crops generally have rather
low tolerances for dissolved salts.
In general, a salt balance can be established in a
given area by deliberately inducing outflow of water
from the area in such amount that the total quantity
of mineral salts exported is the same as the quantity
imported. Under these conditions the long-time mean
quantity of salts is maintained as a constant quantity.
The maintenance of such balance, or the removal of a
total amount of salt from an area exceeding the salt
input to the area (termed "favorable salt balance")
does not necessarily imply lack of damage to the lands
and crops. When existing ground water in storage is
substantially more saline than the waters currently
applied on the surface, the total quantity of salt in
the effluent water is likely to be greater than that in
the influent to the same area, and this condition will
continue until all existing saline ground waters have
been displaced. It is also important to determine
whether a favorable salt balance is being maintained
in the root zone of the irrigated crops, as accumula-
tions of salt compounds in that zone will prevent the
successful culture of many irrigated crops.
Water Quality
Full development of the waters of California for
all beneficial uses will require thorough consideration
of problems of water quality.
Three general classes of water quality problems
have been found to exist in California :
(a) The use of water to carry away wastes re-
sulting from urban and industrial development.
(b) Empairment of the quality of water as a result
of its development and beneficial use, (such as return
irrigation water, sea-water intrusion, and damage to
quality of ground waters resulting from improperly
constructed, defective, and abandoned wells).
(c) Naturally occurring poor quality water.
Regulatory machinery to prevent unreasonable and
adverse impairment of the quality of receiving
waters to the detriment of the beneficial uses of the
waters, from the discharge of sewage or industrial
wastes, the first of the foregoing problems, was estab-
lished in California in 1949. Section 13005 of the
Water Code defines "pollution" as
" ... an impairment of the quality of the
Avaters of the State by sewage or industrial waste
to a degree which does not create an actual hazard
to the public health but which does adversely and
unreasonably affect such waters for domestic, in-
dustrial, agricultural, navigational, recreational or
other beneficial uses."
and "contamination" as
" ... an impairment of the quality of the
waters of the State by sewage or industrial waste
to a degree which creates an actual hazard to the
public health through poisoning or through the
spread of disease. 'Contamination' shall include
any equivalent effect resulting from the disposal of
sewage or industrial waste, whether or not waters
of the State are affected."
Control of "pollution" is the responsibility of nine
regional water pollution control boards. The State
Water Pollution Control Board can review the acts of
a regional board if it appears that appropriate action
has not been taken by the regional board. Each of the
regional boards has authority to prescribe require-
ments as to the nature of any sewage or industrial
waste discharge or the conditions to be maintained in
the receiving waters. Both the state and regional
boards have authority to formulate policy for the
control of water pollution.
The power of abatement of contamination is vested
in the state and local health officers.
Most of the problems caused by disposal of sewage
and industrial wastes that previously existed in Cali-
fornia have been corrected by the work of these agen-
cies, and progress is being made on correction of the
remainder as well as prevention of damage from new
waste discharges.
The Division of Water Resources was given author-
ity in 1950 by Sections 229, 230, and 231 of the Water
Code to study all water quality problems in the State,
to report on them, and to recommend corrective action
to the Legislature and the regional water pollution
control boards. Studies have been initiated by the
Division of many of the more pressing problems.
Those completed to date have been concerned with
specific conditions in limited areas. Studies are now
in progress on such aspects as water quality objectives
INTRODUCTION
37
necessary for water resource developments of state-
wide magnitude, salt balance in ground water basins,
minimum standards for well construction and aban-
donment, sea-water intrusion to coastal ground water
basins, and effects of irrigation return flows in the
lower reaches of streams. Results of these current
studies will be taken into account in the development
of The California Water Plan.
A discussion of the general aspect of the quality of
water problems in California, particularly as it re-
lates to water requirements, is presented in Appendix
I, "Water Quality Considerations Affecting Use of
the Waters of California."
Costs of Water
As has been stated, the relative costs of water have
a considerable influence on the nature and amount of
water utilization in the various parts of California,
particularly as they affect the types of prevailing
irrigated crops and industries, methods of water
conservation and use, and efficiencies attained in con-
servation, distribution, and application of water. In
general, the effects are less apparent in connection
with urban than with agricultural use of water. How-
ever, high municipal water charges tend to prevent
the establishment of certain large water-using indus-
tries. They may in some cases reduce the per capita
use of water, but this effect was not demonstrated
in studies of the relationship of water cost to per
capita use in connection with metered deliveries,
recently conducted in the San Francisco Bay Area.
It has been generally observed throughout California,
however, that by installing water meters and imposing
metered rates the per capita use of water is reduced
in amount from that prevalent during prior flat rate
service.
Extensive study of the cost of water in California
was not made in connection with the current investi-
gation. However, a few examples will serve to indi-
cate the range in unit cost for irrigation and urban
supplies in various parts of the State. In the Turlock
Irrigation District in the San Joaquin Valley, the
assessment for irrigation water now averages about
$1.25 per acre per year, and entitles the farmer to a
maximum of four acre-feet of water per acre. This
extremely low charge is made possible by efficient
district management and by subsidy through income
from sale of hydroelectric power produced by the
district. In contrast, the average annual assessment
in one irrigation district in southern California is
about $24 per acre per year. To this is added water
charges that result in a total annual cost of water
of from about $60 to $70 per acre, depending upon
the amount of pumping required to reach the land
to be served. On the average, the cost to the farmer
of pumping irrigation water from wells in California
is of the order of about four to six cents per acre-
foot per foot of lift. In the Central Valley Area the
cost to a typical irrigator pumping 1,000 gallons per
minute from a depth of 80 feet is approximately
$3.50 per acre-foot. This includes costs of power,
operation and maintenance, and capital investment.
The cost of urban water in California shows similar
variation. In many municipalities of the Sacramento
Valley water is plentiful and low flat rate charges
prevail. In the City of Sacramento flat rates average
about $1.50 per month for single-family residences,
and wholesale rates are correspondingly low. Rates
for single-family domestic metered service by major
utilities in the San Francisco Bay Area vary from
about 30 to 40 cents per 1,000 gallons. For an average
consumer these rates result in monthly charges of
from about $3.00 to $4.00. Average wholesale rates
in the Bay Area for industries and other large water
users vary from about 25 to 30 cents per 1,000 gal-
lons. In the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area single-
family residential rates average from about 20 to 40
cents per 1,000 gallons. Inasmuch as the per capita
water use is slightly greater in Los Angeles than
in San Francisco, the average domestic consumer's
monthly bill varies from about $3.00 to $5.00. Whole-
sale water rates in the Los Angeles area vary from
about 12 to 30 cents per 1,000 gallons.
It is believed that the cost of water will not be a
limiting factor in ultimate development of the water
resources of California. Today, as in the past, expen-
sive urban water supply works, resulting in relatively
high charges to consumers, are readily financed to
meet existing shortages or anticipated future water
needs. It is indicated that urban communities will
always be able and willing to pay the cost of water
to meet their municipal needs. Furthermore, it is
considered probable that under pressure of future
demands for agricultural produce the water necessary
for a greatly expanded irrigation development will
be provided, at whatever cost may be required. For
these reasons, in current studies in preparation of
The California Water Plan, the indicated present cost
of water and present financial feasibility are not
necessarily being taken as determining factors in
selection of project features. Many works financially
infeasible today will undoubtedly be financed and
constructed in the future. In the current studies, how-
ever, full consideration is being given to indicated
relative costs of possible alternative project features,
with choice being given to those demonstrating the
least cost.
CHAPTER II
METHODS AND PROCEDURES
The complexity and magnitude of the task of as-
sembling and interpreting basic data presented in
this bulletin, and of forecasting growth of California
and her water requirements, justify some explanation
of the methods and procedures involved. In general,
the process included: (1) the collection of survey
data and information from all available sources, (2)
the conduct of supplemental surveys as required, (3)
compilation of the data and information in present-
able form, (4) interpretation and projection of the
data and information, and (5) reference of the re-
sults to the best available authorities for review based
on their experience and judgment. The methods and
procedures employed are described in this chapter,
and in order to avoid repetition are only referred to
in ensuing chapters when significant departures from
the general practice were involved.
DEFINITIONS
The following definitions of certain terms and con-
cepts, as used in this bulletin, are presented to facili-
tate understanding of the ensuing subject matter.
Annual — This refers to the 12-month period from
January 1st of a given year through December 31st
of the same year, sometimes termed the "calendar
year. ' '
Seasonal — This refers to any 12-month period other
than the calendar year.
Precipitation Season — The 12-month period from
July 1st of a given year through June 30th of the
following year.
Runoff Season — The 12-month period from October
1st of a given year through September 30th of the
following year.
Average Monthly Temperature — The monthly aver-
age of daily averages of maximum and minimum
temperatures.
Mean Period — A period chosen to represent condi-
tions of water supply and climate over a long series
of years. For purposes of the current investigation
the mean precipitation period embraces the 50
seasons from 1897-98 through 1946-47, and the
mean runoff period the 53 seasons from 1894-95
through 1946-47.
Mean — This is used in reference to arithmetical aver-
ages relating to mean periods.
Average — This is used in reference to arithmetical
averages relating to periods other than mean
periods.
Present — This is used generally in reference to land
use and water supply conditions prevailing during
the period from 1945-46 through 1952-53.
Ultimate — This is used in reference to conditions
after an unspecified but long period of years in the
future when land use and water supply develop-
ment will be at a maximum and essentially stabi-
lized.
Water Utilization — This term is used in a broad sense
to include all employments of water by nature or
man, whether consumptive or nonconsumptive, as
well as irrecoverable losses of water incidental to
such employment, and is synonymous with the term
"water use."
Factors of Water Demand — Those factors pertaining
to rates, times, and places of delivery of water,
quality of water, losses of water, etc., imposed by
the control, development, and use of the water for
beneficial purposes.
Water Requirement — The water needed to provide for
all beneficial uses and for all irrecoverable losses
incidental to such uses.
Present Supplemental Water Requirement — The ad-
ditional water needed to provide for all present
beneficial consumptive uses of water and for irre-
coverable losses incidental to such use over and
above the safe yield of the present water supply
development.
Probable Ultimate Supplemental Water Requirement
— The difference between the present and probable
ultimate water requirement, added to the present
supplemental water requirement if such exists, or
minus the ultimate developed water supplies of the
Friant-Kern, Madera, and Contra Costa Canals in
the areas where they apply.
Consumptive Use of Water — This refers to water con-
sumed by vegetative growth in transpiration and
building plant tissue, and to water evaporated from
adjacent soil, from water surface, and from foli-
age. It also refers to water similarly consumed and
evaporated by urban and nonvegetative types of
land use.
Applied Water — The water delivered to a farmer's
headgate in the case of irrigation use, or to an in-
dividual's meter in the case of urban use, or its
equivalent. It does not include direct precipitation.
( 39 )
40
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
Effective Precipitation — That portion of the direct
precipitation which is consumptively used and
which does not contribute to stream flow or perco-
late to the ground water.
Irrigation Efficiency — The ratio of consumptive use of
applied irrigation water to the total amount of
water applied, expressed as a percentage.
Irrigation Water s< rvice Area Efficiency — The ratio
of consumptive use of applied irrigation water in a
given service area to the gross amount of water de-
livered to the area, expressed as a percentage.
Natural Flow — The flow of a stream as it would be if
unaltered by upstream diversion, storage, import,
export, or change in upstream consumptive use
caused by development.
Impaired Flow — The actual flow of a stream with any
given stage of upstream development.
Aquifer — A geologic formation or structure suffi-
ciently permeable to yield water to wells or springs.
Free Ground Water — A body of ground water not
immediately overlain by impervious materials, and
moving under control of the water table slope.
Confined Ground Wafer — A body of ground Avater
immediately overlain by material sufficiently im-
pervious to sever free hydraulic connection with
overlying water, and moving under pressure caused
by the difference in head between the intake or fore-
bay area and the discharge area of the confined
water body.
Safe Surface Water Yield — The maximum dependable
rate at which surface water would be available
throughout a chosen critically deficient water sup-
ply period, with a given stage of surface water
supply development.
Saft Ground Water Yield — The maximum rate of net
extraction of water from a ground water basin
which, if continued over an indefinitely long period
of years, would result in the maintenance of certain
desirable fixed conditions. Commonly, safe ground
water yield is determined by one or more of the
following criteria :
1. Mean seasonal extraction of water from the
ground water basin does not exceed mean sea-
sonal replenishment to the basin.
2. Water levels are not so lowered as to cause
harmful impairment of the quality of the
ground water by intrusion of other water of
undesirable quality, or by accumulation and
concentration of degradants or pollutants.
•'!. Water levels are not so lowered as to imperil
the economy of ground water users by exces-
sive costs o!' pumping from the groundwater
basin, or by exclusion of users from a supply
therefrom.
Ground Water Overdraft — The rate of net extraction
of water from a ground water basin in excess of
safe ground water yield.
Quality of Water — Those characteristics of water af-
fecting its suitability for beneficial rises.
Pollution — Impairment of the quality of water by
sewage or industrial waste to a degree which does
not create a hazard to public health, but which ad-
versely and unreasonably affects such water for
beneficial uses.
Contamination — Impairment of the quality of water
by sewage or industrial waste to a degree which cre-
ates a hazard to public health through poisoning or
spread of disease.
Degradation — Impairment in the quality of water due
to causes other than disposal of sewage and indus-
trial wastes.
GEOGRAPHICAL SUBDIVISION OF CALIFORNIA
For purposes of this bulletin the State was divided
into seven major hydrographic areas, coinciding with
those utilized in Bulletin No. 1, "Water Resources of
California," and these major areas were further sub-
divided into "hydrographic units." The portion of
California included within each hydrographic area
and the numbers and names by which they are desig-
nated are :
1. North Coastal Area. Lower Klamath Lake and
Lost River Basins, and all basins draining into the
Pacific Ocean from the California-Oregon state line
southerly to the northern boundary of Lagunitas
Creek Basin in Marin County.
2. San Francisco Bay Area. All basins draining
into San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun Bays, and
into Sacramento River downstream from Collinsville;
Winter and Browns Islands in Contra Costa County;
basins west of the eastern boundary of Kirker Creek
Basin in Contra Costa County; and basins directly
tributary to the Pacific Ocean from the northern
boundary of Lagunitas Creek Basin to the southern
boundary of Peseadero Creek Basin, in San Mateo and
Santa Cruz Counties.
3. Central Coastal Area. All basins draining into
the Pacific Ocean from the southern boundary of
Peseadero Creek Basin in Santa Cruz County, to the
southeastern boundary of Rincon Creek Basin in the
western part of Ventura County.
4. South Coastal Area. All basins draining into
the Pacific Ocean from the southeastern boundary
of Rincon Creek Basin to the California-Mexico
boundary.
5. Central Valley Area. All basins draining into
the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers above the
eastern boundary of the San Francisco Bay Area
near Collinsville, including Goose Lake Basin in
Modoc County.
METHODS AND PROCEDURES
41
6. Lahontau Area. All basins east of the Santa
Ana and Los Angeles River Basins and all basins
east of the Central Valley Area, between the Cali-
fornia-Oregon boundary and the southern boundary
of basins draining into Antelope Valley and Mojave
River, and into Dry Lake Basin near the Calfornia-
Nevada line north of Ivanpah.
7. Colorado Desert Area. All basins east of the
South Coastal Area that drain into the Colorado
River within California ; also Salton Sea Basin and
local sinks between the southern boundary of the
Lahontan Area and the California-Mexico boundary.
The hydrographic units, into which the major
hydrographic areas were subdivided, Avere established
for purposes of required hydrologic study. Descrip-
tions of the units are contained in Appendix C. The
hydrographic unit boundaries were determined from
consideration of water supply and related Avater
serA T ice. Boundaries were established in the Central
Valley Area so that a major stream basin includes
two units, one an upstream mountainous or predomi-
nantly Avater-source unit, and the other a doAvnstream
A T alley floor or predominantly water-using unit. Bound-
aries of hydrographic units in the North Coastal,
Central Coastal, South Coastal, Lahontan, and Colo-
rado Desert Areas encompass entire stream basins in
most cases. The San Francisco Bay Area, because of
its highly developed urban nature, was divided into
units designed to facilitate study of established water
service areas, as were the metropolitan areas in and
around Los Angeles and San Diego in the South
Coastal Area.
Locations of the major hydrographic areas and of
the hydrographic units, together with their numerical
designations, are shown on Plate 8, "Major Hydro-
graphic Areas and Hydrographic Units."
CLASSIFICATION OF WATER
SERVICE AREAS
The lands of California Avere segregated into three
broad areal classifications according to the nature of
their present or expected future water service for the
purpose of determining eonsimiptive vrater require-
ments, as follows :
(1) Irrigable lands — lands presently irrigated, as
well as those additional lands which are suitable for
irrigation under conditions of probable ultimate de-
velopment. The lands so classified Avere further segre-
gated on the basis of types of principal crops.
(2) Urban and suburban areas — lands which are
presently, or Avill probably ultimately be devoted to
urban and suburban use. In the San Francisco Bay
Area and in most of the South Coastal Area, these
lands were further classified on the basis of principal
types of urban land use, such as residential, commer-
cial, industrial, etc.
(3) Other water service areas — the remaining area
of the State, other than the irrigation and urban
and suburban water service areas, which contains
lands either now or in the future requiring water
service, but which cannot be placed in either of the
foregoing classifications. Under present conditions,
this area receives water service for limited specialized
purposes such as recreational development, isolated
industrial plants, military establishments, evapora-
tion from valley floor reservoirs in the Central Valley
Area, wild fowl ponds, etc., and the actual aggregate
water service area is relatively insignificant. For this
reason, these remaining lands Avere not segregated
comprehensively as regards types of present land use,
and are hereinafter referred to as "unclassified
areas." It was assumed that under conditions of
probable ultimate development, in addition to alloAV-
ances for expansion of irrigation and urban and
suburban water service areas, all of the remaining
lands of the State will require water service. This
large area will be generally subject to only sparse
development even under such conditions of ultimate
development, and is hereinafter referred to as " other
water service areas."
Irrigation is presently by far the most important
consumptive employment of water in California, in
terms of quantity of Avater requirement, and will
probably maintain this position under conditions of
ultimate development, From a quantitative stand-
point, the next most important consumptive water
requirement is for urban and suburban develop-
ments. Other consumptiA'e Avater requirements, con-
sidered quantitatively, are minor in amount, On the
basis of the relative importance of the irrigation
water requirement, particularly as it pertains to
planning for water resource development, it folloAVS
that the greatest emphasis in studies for this bulletin
was placed on the determination of present and prob-
able ultimate irrigation water service areas. Urban
and suburban Avater requirements for present and
probable ultimate urban and suburban water service
areas Avere studied in considerable detail, although
not to the same degree of intensity as the irrigation
requirements. Urban and suburban use of water in
the case' of the three cited major metropolitan areas
will be paramount in the future, and therefore urban
and suburban Avater service areas included therein
were given detailed treatment and emphasis. In ac-
cordance with its relatively minor consumptive water
requirement, the third general classification, "other
water service areas," was given relatively less de-
tailed study and consideration.
MAPS
A series of maps is included with this bulletin de-
picting present and probable ultimate water service
areas throughout California. This series is designated
42
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
as Plate 9, and is entitled "Classification of Lands
for Water Service From The California Water Plan."
Shown in distinctive colors are the present irrigation
water service areas, urban and suburban water serv-
ice areas, and additional lands considered to be future
irrigation or urban and suburban water service areas.
"Other water service areas" under ultimate condi-
tions of development comprise the remainder of the
State. Present military areas, as well as tidal and sub-
merged lands subject to possible future reclamation
in the San Francisco Bay Area, are shown by distinc-
tive conventions. The series of maps also shows the
location of principal physical and cultural features.
place names, and latest available topography. The in-
dividual map sheets, 26 in number, each cover one
degree of latitude and varying degrees of longitude,
and are drawn to a scale of 1 to 500,000. The maps
were adapted from a base map published by the
United States Geological Survey in 1952 and show
only those water service areas of one square mile or
greater in area. In addition, there is an index sheet
which identifies by number the various portions of
the State covered by the individual map sheets. On
Plate 1, "Water Service Areas for The California
Water Plan," the present irrigation and urban and
suburban water service areas and the additional lands
suitable for future irrigation and urban and suburban
development, shown on the foregoing series, are gen-
eralized for the purpose of presenting a composite of
present and probable ultimate water service areas for
the State as a whole.
Greater detail than was possible with the foregoing
map series was desirable for presently highly devel-
oped lands around San Francisco Bay and in and
around Los Angeles and San Diego. Two supplemental
series of maps cover these metropolitan areas at a
scale of 1 to 125,000, and show the present residential,
commercial, industrial, and irrigated agricultural
lands in distinctive colors. Lands with certain special-
ized uses, such as salt ponds, which depart materially
in water requirement from that of other industrial
lands, are shown by special conventions. The San
Francisco Bay Area is covered by a series of 11 map
sheets and an index sheet, designated Plate 10, and
entitled "Present Land Use in San Francisco Bay
Area." Coverage of the Los Angeles and San Diego
Metropolitan Areas consists of a series of nine and two
map sheets, respectively. One index sheet serves for
both of these latter metropolitan areas, and the series
is designated Plate 11, and entitled "Present Land
I'se in Los Angeles and San Diego Metropolitan
Areas. " Recenl United States Geological Survey quad-
gles served as the base for preparation of these
map series.
In addition to the foregoing general map coverage,
several specialized maps are included to illustrate the
subject matter of this bulletin. Plate 3 shows the irri-
gation and water storage districts in the State. These
agencies supply the majority of the irrigation water
requirements of the State. Plate 4 depicts the known
ground water basins of California, as well as those
additional areas of valley fill that may or may not
comprise ground water basins at the present time or
in the future. Plate 5 shows the present hydroelectric
power development in the State, including power
plants, principal transmission lines, and reservoirs
used principally for hydroelectric power production.
Plate (i shows the timber-producing lands of the State
and the general location of auriferous gravel deposits.
Plate 7 shows the recreational areas including national
parks, monuments, and forests, and state beaches and
parks. Plate 8 shows the boundaries of the seven major
hydrographic areas of California, and of the hydro-
graphic units into which the areas were divided for
purposes of hydrologic analysis. Plate 12 shows the
principal public and private agencies and water sup-
ply works serving the San Francisco Bay Area at the
present time, while Plate 13 depicts similar informa-
tion for the Los Angeles and San Diego Metropolitan
Areas.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF METHOD OF
DETERMINING WATER REQUIREMENTS
The basic method used in estimating water require-
ments was, first, to determine the areas of various
types of water service according to the classifications
previously described, based generally on survey data.
and, second, to derive appropriate unit values of
consumptive water use for each particular class and
type of land use, based largely on available experi-
mental and investigational data. Unit values of con-
sumptive use of water were subsequently applied to
the established water service areas to estimate the
total consumptive use. The w ? ater service area effi-
ciency was then applied to the consumptive use figure
to determine the total water requirement, generally
measured in terms of consumptive use of applied
water plus all unavoidable losses.
With respect to water requirements for "other
water service areas," there were variations from the
foregoing procedure in that derivation of some of the
water requirements w y as made on a per capita or unit
of production basis rather than on an area! basis.
The supplemental water requirements under condi-
tions of probable ultimate development generally were
evaluated as the difference between present and ulti-
mate water requirements, plus any existing present
supplemental water requirement. Where a present
deficiency in available water supply exists, the safe
yield of the present water supply development was
determined from available data and compared with
the present water requirement, the difference being
the present supplemental water requirement.
METHODS AND PROCEDURES
43
Data secured from field surveys and from office
analysis of pertinent estimates for ultimate develop-
ment are presented in tables pertaining to each
hydrographic area. The tabular data were gener-
ally rounded to three significant figures, with the
totals rounded as necessary to accord with the same
standard.
SURVEYS OF PRESENT WATER
SERVICE AREAS
Data as to the nature, location, and areal extent
of lands in California to which water other Hum
precipitation is presently applied were obtained, in-
sofar as they were available, from federal, state, and
local agencies. These data generally were based on
results of field surveys, segregated in accordance
with various classes and types of land use, and are
regularly determined by many water service agen-
cies as a part of their operational procedures. The
Bureau of Reclamation of the United States Depart-
ment of the Interior, in planning for and operating
the Central Valley Project, has made land use surveys
of much of the irrigated area on the floor of the Cen-
tral Valley. The Division of Water Resources, in
connection with recent and current water resources
investigations, has surveyed water-using lands in
many areas of the State. Additional field surveys to
supplement the available land use information were
conducted in order to obtain complete coverage of
water service areas in California. Because of the rela-
tively great importance of the metropolitan areas
in and around San Francisco Bay, Los Angeles, and
San Diego, special detailed land use surveys were
conducted in these areas.
Surveys of present water service areas conducted
during the investigation were accomplished generally
by field inspection, using aerial photographs or suit-
able maps to delineate boundaries of the various
classifications. Areas so delineated were then meas-
ured, and the data compiled in combination with that
from other sources. Combined data were then tabu-
lated as desired for presentation in this bulletin.
"Within the scope of the present investigation, it was
impracticable to survey during any single season
all areas receiving water service in California. Tabu-
lations of present water service areas included herein
represent a composite of survey data covering the
period from 1946 through 1953, which is the period
referred to in this bulletin in discussing present con-
ditions of development in California. The pictorial
presentation of present water service areas shown on
the individual sheets of Plate 9 depicts all lands that
received water service during one or more years of
this designated present period.
Irrigated Lands
Data from surveys of irrigated lands in California
were tabulated in such form as to permit grouping
of crops having similar water-using characteristics,
and which were raised under similar agricultural
practices. The crop groups varied throughout the
State, dependent upon the nature of the survey data
and the distribution of crops. Indicative of the nature
of the irrigated crop groupings is the following for
the Central Coastal Area :
Alfalfa _ Hay, seed, and pasture
Pasture Grasses and legumes, other than
alfalfa, used for livestock forage
Orchard . Deciduous fruit, nuts, and olives
Citrus Oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and
avocados
Vineyard All varieties of grapes
Truck crops Intensively cultivated fresh vege-
tables, including tomatoes, lettuce,
artichokes, brussels sprouts, cab-
bages, carrots, peppers, broccoli,
flower seed, and nursery crops
Sugar beets
Miscellaneous
field crops Dry beans, milo, corn, hops, hay.
grain, etc., and unsegregated sugar
beets in Santa Barbara County
The coverage of the land use surveys in most parts
of the State was limited to areas of irrigated crops.
However, on the valley floor of the Central Valley
Area, in the three major metropolitan areas, and in
several localities where special water resource inves-
tigations had been conducted, the data obtained were
complete on an areal basis, embracing all types of
land use, both natural and man-made, within the
survey boundaries.
Delineation of irrigated lands Avas largely accom-
plished on the basis of their gross area. That is, in
general, the included areas of roads, railroads, rights
of way. farm lots, and other nonagricultural parcels
within the irrigated lands were not segregated at the
time of the survey. These items were later evaluated
by application to the gross surveyed areas of appro-
priate percentage factors, determined from detailed
surveys of representative sample plots. In the case of
most mountain and foothill areas and certain other
relatively sparsely developed agricultural areas, irri-
gated lands as originally plotted on aerial photo-
graphs in the field were assumed to represent net
areas. This was permissible because the included
rights of way and nonagricultural lands were very
minor in extent.
At the request of the Division of Water Resources,
irrigated lands within the boundaries of national
44
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
forests and national parks and monuments were sur-
veyed by the federal agencies having administrative
jurisdiction of these lands. Each such agency reported
the irrigated acreage by types of crop, location, and
quantity of water pumped or diverted for the purpose
of irrigation.
Information as to the sources of data regarding
areas of irrigated lands and approximate dates of the
surveys is presented in Appendix D.
Urban and Suburban Areas
In most of the State the areas classified in this
bulletin as urban and suburban consist of those lands
in and adjacent to towns and cities that are charac-
terized by commercial, industrial, residential, and re-
lated community types of development. Such a typ-
ical urban and suburban area might be composed of
a central business and commercial district, one or
more adjacent industrial districts, and surrounding
residential and suburban districts, together witli in-
cluded parks, schools, streets, airfields, vacant lands,
etc.
Lands devoted to urban and suburban development
in the Central Valley Area and in most of the South
Coastal Area, and in several other localities where
special Avater resources investigations have been con-
ducted, were determined in varying detail from field
survey data. In order to make this determination, it
was usually the procedure to assume an arbitrary
criterion for delineating the boundary between such
urban and suburban lands and surrounding lands.
Generally, the boundary was established to include
all lands in the urban and suburban classification
where at least 10 per cent of the gross area was oc-
cupied by designated urban and suburban types of
land use. In the South Coastal Area, however, no lines
were drawn delimiting the gross urban and suburban
areas, and all lands devoted to these types of use were
included in the totals even when isolated from urban
centers. In the Klamath River drainage basin esti-
mates were made of all the urban and suburban areas
by eon verting population to acres by the application
of a density factor.
The areal extent of urban and suburban lands
throughout the remainder of California was deter-
mined by measurements made on the latest and most
accurate available maps or photographs. In the case
nf a few small communities where no other appro-
priate information was available, the urban and
suburban areas were computed by dividing 1950 cen-
sus population figures by the average population
density of similar towns in the vicinity.
Metropolitan Areas
in the case of irrigated lands in the agricul-
tural portions of the State, detailed surveys of land
use in the three large metropolitan areas, in and
around San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego,
were made for the purpose of grouping development
types having similar characteristics as regards water
use. Recent zoning maps of the areas being surveyed
were obtained from the planning agency of the re-
sponsible local political subdivision, for use in deter-
mining the various prevailing types of urban land
use, as well as their general locations within the area.
The principal types of land use considered were
residential, commercial, and industrial. In those cases
where the indicated unit values of water use departed
materially from the average for these principal types,
further subdivisions were made. Thus, multiresiden-
tial areas were segregated from residential, and tank
farms, airports, and other low water-using industries
were segregated in the industrial areas.
Available recent maps or aerial photographs were
then obtained and provisional determination of the
various land use types was accomplished in the office
by inspection of the maps and aerial photographs in
conjunction Avith the zoning map. Blocks of the area
were identified as to their prevailing urban land use
type and then field-inspected, resulting in verifying
or changing the office determinations as required.
Following this gross classification of the blocks, the
net area actually devoted to the indicated prevailing
urban type of use was determined by eliminating the
areas of streets, highways, and vacant lots, which
were estimated as percentages of the total, and by
similarly estimating the percentages of the total area
represented by land use types differing from the dom-
inant type in the block. Where agricultural and
urban uses of land were interspersed, either a crop
classification was estimated for the irrigated agri-
cultural portion and expressed in terms of percentage
of the whole area, or the irrigated lands were classi-
fied as to crop type during the survey.
Unclassified Areas
Certain present water-using lands in California,
not falling into the foregoing major classifications,
were difficult to delineate, while in the case of others
the areal extent bore little relationship to the amount
of the water requirement. Such present areas, there-
fore, were not surveyed and delineated in detail, but
the water requirements were generally determined on
a per capita or unit of production basis, rather than
on an areal basis. For purposes of this bulletin, this
category of present water service area is referred to
as "unclassified."
In general, the unclassified area receiving water
service includes scattered developed portions of na-
tional forests, parks and monuments, public beaches
and parks, private recreational areas, military reser-
vations, wild fowl refuges, and artificial water sur-
faces on the valley floor of the Central Valley Area
that consume water by evaporation. Military reserva-
tions in the South Coastal Area, however, were not
METHODS AND PROCEDURES
45
segregated as a separate land use type, the included
water service areas being assigned to the appropriate
irrigated agricultural or urban and suburban classifi-
cation. The extent of unclassified lands receiving
water service was estimated on the basis of informa-
tion from agencies having jurisdiction and from any
other available competent sources. The determina-
tion of artificial water surface areas was largely based
on data compiled in a publication of the State Divi-
sion of Water Resources, entitled "Dams Within
Jurisdiction of the State of California," February 1,
1950.
METHOD OF FORECASTING ULTIMATE
WATER SERVICE AREAS
In forecasting the probable ultimate water service
areas of California, the anticipated extent of future
urban and suburban types of development was first
determined. Existing urban centers and surrounding
suburban devlopments were assumed to generally con-
stitute the nuclei for ultimate urban and suburban
water service areas, and it is believed that future
growth of this type will be largely in and around such
present centers. The remaining lands of the State
were surveyed to determine the areas suitable for
irrigated agricultural development. It was assumed
that all such suitable lands will ultimately be devel-
oped and served with water for irrigation. The lands
not assigned to either of the foregoing major classifi-
cations were not segregated in detail with regard to
their expected ultimate type of land use. It was as-
sumed, however, that ultimately all of these remain-
ing lands will contain at least sparse development re-
quiring water service, and, as previously stated, they
are herein designated "other water service areas."
The use of water for irrigation creates the major
water requirement in California, a condition that is
anticipated to continue even under probable ultimate
conditions of development. Consequently, the forecast
of the ultimate irrigated area of the State was of pri-
mary importance in estimating the ultimate water re-
quirement. The methods used in the determination of
irrigable areas and irrigated lands under probable
ultimate conditions are outlined in considerable detail
in the ensuing section.
Irrigable and Irrigated Lands
The extent and location of the irrigable lands of
California were determined by collecting, reviewing,
and compiling appropriate land classification survey
data available from other agencies, supplemented by
data obtained from field surveys conducted as re-
quired by the Division of AVater Resources during
the investigation. Agencies whose land classification
survey data were so used include the Bureau of Rec-
lamation of the United States Department of the In-
terior, the Bureau of Agricultural Economics of the
United States Department of Agriculture, and the
Agricultural Experiment Station of the University
of California. Appendix E presents a tabulation of
the areas classified by the aforementioned agencies.
New developments in irrigation practice in recent
years and new irrigated crops have modified former
concepts of the types of land suitable for irrigated
agriculture. Lands formerly considered nonirrigable
because of excessive slope or roughness of topography
are now being irrigated satisfactorily by sprinklers,
which make feasible the irrigation of nearly all land
otherwise suitable and capable of holding the soil
against erosion. The successful irrigation of ladino
clover and certain other irrigated forage crops has
resulted in a rapid expansion of the acreage devoted
to irrigated pasture, and has justified the development
of lands with shallow soils formerly considered non-
irrigable. These recent technological developments
made it necessary to review and revise some of the
land classification data supplied by other agencies
which had been based on past standards, and to cor-
relate earlier standards with those established by the
Division of Water Resources for the present investi-
gation.
Standards for Determination of Irrigability of
Lands. The suitability of land for irrigation devel-
opment is influenced by many factors. Those factors
relating to the production and marketing of clima-
tically adapted crops have marked influence upon the
successful development of certain types of land for
irrigation. The cost of water and the size, shape, and
location of the parcels of land with respect to the
water supply are also significant factors. Further-
more, climatic conditions influence crop adaptability
and thus indirectly affect the irrigability of the lands.
Contrasting with these more or less indirect factors
of irrigability are the physical characteristics of the
land and the inherent conditions of the soil itself
which directly affect the adaptability of the land for
irrigation development, and which are generally sub-
ject to relatively little change with variation in local
or general economic conditions.
Studies for this bulletin resulted in the determina-
tion that the most permanent and significant classifi-
cation of the lands, as regards their suitability for
irrigation development, would be obtained if the
standards were based upon the more stable physical
characteristics of the land and inherent conditions of
the soil. These standards kept the cited economic
factors as separate variables, making it possible to re-
appraise the present land classification at any future
date in view of economic conditions existing at that
time. The land classification standards used in studies,
for this bulletin, therefore, were based upon physical
factors and inherent conditions of (1) soils, (2) to-
pography, and (3) drainage.
46
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OP CALIFORNIA
(1) Soils. The characteristics of soils that prin-
cipally establish their suitability for irrigation are
depth, texture, and structure. These physical factors
to a large extent determine the moisture-holding capac-
ity, the root zone area, the ease of cultivation and
irrigation, and the available nutrient capacity of the
soils.
(2) Topography. Topographic conditions consid-
ered in the land classification included the degree of
slope, the undulation of the land, and the amount of
cover as represented by loose rock and rock outcrop-
pings. These factors directly affect the ease of irriga-
tion and determine the type of irrigation practice best
suited to provide the land with water in sufficient
quantity to meet crop needs, without soil erosion or
excessive losses of water through surface runoff.
(3) Drainage. Drainage is highly important in
determining the irrigability of land, as the problems
of salinity and alkalinity are closely associated with
it. For purposes of the present studies it was assumed
that under conditions of ultimate development most
lands physically capable of drainage reclamation will
be reclaimed. Thus, in the land classification rela-
tively little land was determined to be nonirrigable
because of its present condition as regards drainage,
if it appeared that drainage and reclamation would be
practical in the future.
Results of the land classification surveys presented
herein are not segregated into several classes as re-
gards their adaptability to irrigation, although much
of the data was field mapped and compiled in that
manner. Maps and tabulations of such data obtained
from other agencies involved somewhat different sys-
tems of classification, and in many cases could not
icadily be correlated directly with the land classes
established for use by the Division of Water Re-
sources. Furthermore, in many parts of the State the
scale and detail of available base maps would not al-
low delineation of several irrigable land classes. In
these cases, necessity limited the classification to a
basic determination of whether or not the land was pre-
dominantly irrigable. It is probable that acreage de-
terminations in future studies of irrigable lands in
many areas of California will deviate from acreages
as shown herein. The planning for definite future
projects in those areas requires that stricter standards
as to irrigability will be applied due to economic
factors concerned with the feasibility of developing
water supplies. In general, the lands of California
classified as irrigable in this bulletin meet the mini-
mum requirements set forth in Table 1.
Land Classification Survey Procedure. The field
mapping procedures utilized during the investigation
for the delineation of irrigable lands were basically
the same throughout the State. The character of the
soils was established by examination of materials
TABLE 1
STANDARDS FOR CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
AS IRRIGABLE
Land characteristics Minimum requirements
Soils
Texture Loamy sand to permeable clay.
Deptli
To sand, gravel, or cobble. _ 18 inches of good free-working soil of fine
sandy loam or heavier, or from 24 to 30
inches of lighter textured soil.
To bedrock At least 18 inches over shattered bedrock
or tilted shale bedrock; or 24 inches over
massive bedrock or hardpan.
Topography
Slopes Smooth slopes up to no more than 30 per-
cent in general gradient in reasonably
large-sized bodies sloping in the same
plane; or undulating slopes which are
less than 20 percent in general gradient.
Rock cover No more than enough loose rock and rock
outcroppings to moderately reduce
productivity and interfere with cultural
practices. Varies with soil depth and
topographic conditions.
Erosion No more than moderate erosion, with very
few gullies which are not crossable by
tillage implements.
Drainage
Soil and topography Such that moderate farm drainage may be
required, but without excessive cost.
Salinity Total salts in the soil solution do not exceed
0.5 percent, except in readily drained
soils where reclamation appears feasible.
Alkalinity.. The pH value is 9.0 or less, unless the
soil is calcareous in which case higher
values may be allowed. If there is
evidence of black alkali a lower pH
value may be limiting.
from test holes, road cuts, and ditch banks, together
with observation of the type and quality of natural
vegetation or crops. In classifying lands of the Mo-
jave and Colorado Deserts, but excluding those areas
having rights in and to the waters of the Colorado
River, this procedure was supplemented with labo-
ratory determinations of moisture-holding capacities
of soil samples taken from representative lands. The
Soil Conservation Service of the United States De-
partment of Agriculture cooperated in this activity
by making available laboratory facilities and profes-
sional assistance. In general, topographic and drain-
age conditions were estimated from examination of
topographic maps, supplemented and cheeked by ob-
servations in the field. Characteristics of the soils and
topographic and drainage conditions were delineated
and recorded on the most suitable maps or aerial
photographs available. The areas in the Colorado
Desert Area having rights in and to the waters of the
Colorado River are not classified in this bulletin.
Some variations in the degree of mapping detail
were necessary as a result of differences in scales of
available base maps. In this connection, the quality
and scale of the available topographic maps materi-
ally affected the accuracy of determination of topo-
graphic and drainage factors. The base maps utilized
for a large part of the State were either Geological
Survey or Forest Service topographic maps at scales
METHODS AND PROCEDURES
47
of 1 to 62,500 or 1 to 125,000. Topographic maps were
not available in a few areas, and county or State Di-
vision of Forestry maps were utilized. In other areas,
covered by recent special water resources investiga-
tions, the irrigable areas were delineated on aerial
photographs and topographic maps at a scale of ap-
proximately 1 to 20,000.
Determination of Irrigable Lands That Will Ulti-
mately Be Irrigated. The amount of the land classi-
fied as irrigable that will be actually irrigated in any
one year under conditions of ultimate development
probably will depend on one or more of the follow-
ing factors :
(1) Quality of the Land. It is anticipated that in
the future the higher quality irrigable lands will be
intensively developed for irrigation and will remain
in relatively continuous operation, whereas lands of
poorer quality and of limited crop adaptability will
be in production only as favorable economic condi-
tions permit.
(2) Irrigable Areas Utilized for Purposes Other
Than Agriculture. It is anticipated that there will
always be a portion of the irrigable lands that will
be occupied by urban types of development, farm
lots, highways, railroads, canals, industrial establish-
ments, etc. The nature of the agricultural develop-
ment will to some extent determine the amount of
certain of these nonagricultural land uses. For ex-
ample, orchard and truck farming areas ordinarily
include more land used for roads and farmsteads
than areas where field crops are dominant.
(3) Nonirrigable Lands. The areas of small plots
of nonirrigable land included within the areas classed
generally as irrigable varied with the detail of the
survey and classes of land being surveyed. Analysis
of typical areas throughout the State developed
factors which were applied to topographically similar
areas in order to estimate the magnitude of nonir-
rigable land included in the general boundaries de-
lineating the area of irrigable lands. The nonirrigable
areas and the irrigable areas utilized for purposes
other than agriculture were subtracted from the gross
irrigable area to determine the net irrigated area
under estimated idtimate conditions.
(4) Size, Shape, and Location of the Irrigable
Land. It is apparent that small, irregularly shaped
plots of land, particularly those isolated from other
irrigable lands, cannot be irrigated readily or as com-
pletely as large, regular, compact units.
(5) Climatic Influences. Considering lands of
equal inherent agricultural quality, it is improbable
that as intensive irrigation practices will develop in
localities where rainfall is sufficient to support some
dry farming, as in areas with a more arid climate
where irrigation is an absolute necessity for crop pro-
duction. The length of the growing season and the
danger of unseasonable frosts are other factors that
affect adaptability and production of crops, thus in-
directly affecting the cultural practices and the inten-
sity of irrigation.
(6) Economic Conditions. The economic effects of
crop production costs and net returns are recognized
as the most influential factors in limiting the annual
irrigated acreage. It is probable that there will
always be a tendency to withdraw land from produc-
tion in years of economic adversity. Inasmuch as the
concept of ultimate development adopted for pur-
poses of the present studies presupposes maximum
land use within physical limitations, economic factors
were not given consideration in determining the prob-
able ultimate irrigated area. This assumption is con-
servative in relation to water requirements, in that
the estimated requirements have thus been maximized
in this stage of planning for future water resources
development.
The area that will actually be irrigated in Califor-
nia in any one year under probable conditions of
ultimate development was estimated by the applica-
tion of two percentage factors. One factor reflects an
estimate of the included land ultimately to be devoted
to farm lots, highways, railroads, canals, etc., and
varied from 93 to 96 per cent, based on results of
analysis of representative irrigation developments.
The second factor reflects those items of land quality,
inclusion of nonirrigable land, and size, shape, and lo-
cation of the irrigable land, and varied from 69 to 97
per cent, based on results of analysis of representative
irrigation development, as well as experience and
judgment. Where the irrigable land was subdivided
into classes as to suitability for irrigation, the factors
varied with the class. In the case of irrigable lands not
so classified, an approximation of the areas of the
several classes was estimated in order to provide a
basis for using the factors.
Probable Ultimate Crop Pattern. The kinds and
amounts of crops that eventually will be grown on
lands to be irrigated in California will affect the
amount of the ultimate water requirement. Determi-
nation of the ultimate crop pattern, therefore, was
important in evaluating that requirement.
Methods used in deriving a crop pattern for the
State as a whole under conditions of ultimate develop-
ment are discussed in some detail in Appendix A by
Doctor David Weeks, Professor of Agricultural Eco-
nomics of the University of California. State-wide
acreages of the various crops, as derived by Doctor
Weeks, were allocated to the seven major hydro-
graphic areas of the State, and, in turn, to hydro-
graphic units within the major areas. The assignment
of crop areas was based, in general, on known crop
adaptability of the soils and on climatic conditions
within the various hydrographic areas and units.
48
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
Urban and Suburban Areas
Generally throughout the State, except in the San
Francisco Bay Area and most of the South Coastal
Area, the lands to be ultimately devoted to urban and
suburban types of development were determined from
expected ultimate areal population densities and from
forecasts of ultimate urban populations. For this large
portion of the State, it was assumed that ultimate
urban development will occupy the same general local-
ities as at present, but that present land vacancies will
be filled and population densities will be increased.
It was considered probable that some urban encroach-
ment will occur on presently irrigated or irrigable
lands, as Well as on nonirrigable lands. The locations
of such future encroachment, however, were not spe-
cifically predicted nor was the irrigable area reduced
to allow for such encroachment.
Detailed studies of land use, available undeveloped
land, and present and anticipated densities in the
metropolitan centers in and around San Francisco,
Los Angeles, and San Diego, indicated that the ulti-
mate population will be approximately 300 per cent
greater than at present under a saturated condition
of development. It was assumed that the same ratio
of population growth under ultimate conditions was
generally applicable to urban areas throughout Cali-
fornia. Following this assumption, the 1950 popula-
tions of present urban centers, as determined by the
federal census, were increased by 300 per cent in order
to estimate probable ultimate populations.
Present areal population densities were computed
from available data, and urban densities were in-
creased to 10 persons per acre under ultimate condi-
tions of development, except for cities in the Central
Valley Area where it was assumed that population
densities will ultimately increase to 15 persons per
acre. Water requirements under ultimate conditions
of population density were estimated on the basis of
land areas and total population residing therein.
In those hydrographic units where irrigable land is
relatively undeveloped at present and where urban
development is negligible, the ultimate urban land
area was estimated to vary in accordance with the
ultimate irrigable area. Studies of presently developed
irrigated lands and related urban areas indicated that
the urban population will approximate one urban resi-
dent per nine acres of irrigated land in the tributary
area.
Metropolitan Areas
Water requirements for urban areas will, in general,
va iy with the type of development, that is, residential,
commercial, industrial, etc., and consequently more
detailed studies were made to project the probable
ultimate Land use pattern in the San Francisco, Los
Angeles, and San Diego Metropolitan Areas, and in
most remaining urban areas in the South Coastal
Area, than were made in other urban areas of the
State. Such emphasis was necessary because of the
relative importance of the large metropolitan centers
in determination of future water requirements.
Within the defined boundaries of the San Fran-
cisco Bay, Los Angeles, and San Diego Metropolitan
Areas, it was assumed that under conditions of ulti-
mate development all suitable land will be occupied
by a balanced urban economy. The suitability of the
land for urban purposes was determined largely from
topographic considerations, although climatic factors
influenced the determination in a feAV instances. The
proportions of the several broad classes of urban
development, including residential, commercial, indus-
trial, parks and institutions, etc., were projected on
the basis of present trends within the respective met-
ropolitan areas and from historic experience in older
communities in other parts of the country.
In that part of the South Coastal Area outside of
the Los Angeles and San Diego Metropolitan Areas,
similar methods and criteria were utilized to deter-
mine probable ultimate urban and suburban develop-
ment. It was assumed that future growth of this
nature will be generally adjacent to and in extension
of presently established urban centers. Coastal areas
bordering on the Pacific Ocean were assumed to be
generally suitable to recreational development in the
future in accordance with the well established present
trend.
Other Water Service Areas
The remaining lands of California, not otherwise
classified as either irrigable, urban, or metropolitan
under ultimate conditions of development, were as-
sumed to be utilized eventually for miscellaneous pur-
poses requiring a limited water service. It is believed
that such land use will be generally sparse, scattered,
and minor in extent even when the State is fully de-
veloped. Types of land use contemplated for other
water service areas include residences, both seasonal
and permanent, recreational developments, industrial
plants in isolated locations, etc.
Other water service areas comprise groupings estab-
lished with reference to elevation and existing major
jurisdiction and are, respectively, the lands above an
elevation of 3,000 feet, lands below that elevation,
lands within national forests, parks, and monuments,
and those outside the boundaries of such establish-
ments. It was assumed that lands included within
other water service areas above the 3,000-foot eleva-
tion will be inhabited only during the summer months,
and will require water service only during that por-
t ion of the year.
METHODS AND PROCEDURES
49
TECHNIQUES FOR DETERMINING
LAND AREAS
Acreage included within the various types and
classes of land and land use, as delineated on maps
and aerial photographs, were obtained either by plani-
metering the delineated areas or by the cutting and
weighing of maps. Generally, field delineations of land
areas made on aerial photographs were transferred
to a base map prior to measurement of areas. Plani-
metering of areas was done in cases where areas were
measured directly on the aerial photographs, and, in
some instances, for measuring small parcels of land
delineated on maps.
Acreage determination by the cutting and weighing
of maps was the method generally used for the pres-
ent bulletin. In this method, a print of the area to
be measured, together with a control of known area,
is made on ozalid intermediate material, a high qual-
ity vellum paper of uniform weight. Land areas for
which acreage is to be determined are cut from the
print. All areas cut from the print, as well as the
control, are weighed on a precision balance to the
nearest one-tenth milligram and the gross area deter-
mined in accordance with the weight. Detailed cut-
tings are then made from the gross area, and separate
weighings are made of subareas or groupings of sub-
areas in accordance with the data desired. The control
is also weighed intermittently during this process in
order that changes in the moisture content of the
vellum are accounted for in the computation and as-
semblage of acreages of the desired classification. Con-
version of weights of land areas to actual acreages
is made by multiplying the weights of individual
areas, determined between weighings of the control,
by the ratio of the control area to the average weight
of the control at two successive weighings.
DETERMINATION OF UNIT VALUES
OF WATER USE
Detailed investigations and studies were made to
determine appropriate unit values for irrigation use
of water throughout California, and for urban use
of water in the three large metropolitan areas in
and around San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San
Diego. The unit values of urban water use in most
of the remaining portions of the State were derived
mainly from records of water agencies serving many
of the smaller cities of the State. Unit values of water
use used for other water service areas were generally
based on records and estimates furnished by authori-
tative agencies.
Irrigation Water Use
A comprehensive study was made of available ex-
perimental data on consumptive use of irrigation
water, existing records of irrigation deliveries, and
return flows of water, as secured from irrigation dis-
tricts and other public and private agencies. Investi-
gation was also made of prevailing irrigation practices
in the several parts of the State. The method which
was developed for determining the unit values of
consumptive use of irrigation water provided a work-
able standard for derivation of unit values over a
wide range of climatic conditions. The method was
generally applicable throughout California, and is re-
ferred to as the "general method" in this bulletin.
The specialized cultural and irrigation practices
for a few crops, such as rice, winter-grown potatoes,
and grain, appreciably influence the consumptive use
of water by these crops. Cultural and irrigation prac-
tices for many crops grown in the Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta also differ considerably from those used
to produce the same crops in other parts of the State,
and affect unit values of consumptive use to such an
extent that they could not be evaluated readily by the
general method. For such exceptional situations of
cultural and irrigation practice, unit values of water
use by irrigated crops were derived by so-called
"special methods" of analysis.
Largely on the basis of judgment, it was assumed
for most of the State that the unit seasonal value of
consumptive use of water applied to farm houses, out-
buildings, and surrounding farm lots averages 0.5
foot of depth. The consumptive use of precipitation on
such farm lots was estimated to be the same as that
for native vegetation.
In many parts of California where climatic condi-
tions permit, it is the practice to grow more than one
irrigated crop on the same land in a single season. For
such areas the unit values of consumptive use of water
were adjusted to reflect the resultant increase in
water use. In the methods later described, these in-
creased unit values of consumptive use were computed
by lengthening the crop-growing period to permit the
maturing of the indicated number of irrigated crops.
Verification of the results obtained by the applica-
tion of the derived unit values of consumptive use of
water to a given pattern of land use was made by
applying these unit values to actual crop patterns in
those areas of California susceptible of complete hy-
drologic analysis. In these cases the total seasonal
consumptive use of water during a mean period of
water supply and climate, as derived by application
of the computed unit values, compared favorably with
the difference between the measured inflow and out-
flow of water in the test areas.
It is anticipated that the unit values of consumptive
use of water estimated for this bulletin will be used
in connection with long-range water resource plan-
ning. The values expressed, therefore, are those that
would occur under mean conditions of water supply
and climate, and represent the average consumptive
use of water when an adequate water supply is avail-
able to produce optimum crop yields.
50
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
General Method. For most of California unit sea-
sonal values of consumptive use of applied water and
of precipitation for each of the irrigated crop groups
were estimated by a method developed mainly by
Harry F. Blaney and Wayne D. Criddle of the Soil
Conservation Service of the United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture. However, the basic method of
these authorities was modified somewhat to meet the
special needs of the present studies.
The general method expresses, by means of the for-
mula U = KF, the relation between consumptive use
of water, average temperature, and daylight hours in
a given area. Consumptive use is established from
experimental data or from measured values of use of
water. Monthly average temperatures and monthly
per cent of annual daylight hours are secured from
published data from the U. S. Weather Bureau. Other
factors, such as humidity, soil depth and quality, and
wind movement, which are known to affect Avater use,
are neglected in the correlation, due to the lack of
adequate data except for a relatively few localities.
The effects of these unevaluated items, however, are
contained in the empirical coefficient ' ' K . ' '
The first step in the general method for estimat-
ing the seasonal consumptive use of water by each
crop is to divide the season into two periods which
are termed the "cultural period" and the "noncul-
tural period." The former period varies with cadi
crop, and generally comprises the irrigation season
and the growing season of the crop. The noncultural
period comprises the remainder of the season. Gen-
erally, during this latter period the annual crops have
been removed and the land is without vegetation,
although in many cases, preparation of the land for
the next season is accomplished. Deciduous orchards
and perennial forage crops in most areas are in a
dormant stage during the noncultural period. Thus,
the characteristics of consumptive use of water in a
given locality are completely different in the cultural
period from those in the noncultural period.
The comsumptive use of water by a given crop in a
given area during the cultural period is expressed in
the formula U = KF, where :
V = consumptive use of water by the crop, in inches
of depth
F = sum of the monthly consumptive use factors
for the cultural period (sum of the products
of mean monthly temperature and monthly
per cent of annual daylight hours, or t x p)
K = an empirical coefficient
t = mean monthly temperature, in degrees Fahr-
enheit
p = monthly total of daytime hours, expressed as a
per cent of the total for the year
The "A"' coefficient for each crop is derived by
utilizing values of consumptive use of water from data
obtained from tank experiments, measurements of
field delivery of irrigation water, studies of inflow and
outflow of water from irrigated areas, studies of soil
moisture depletion on irrigated plots, and from esti-
mates based on the experience and judgment of quali-
fied experts. The "K" coefficient is determined by
using consumptive use values, obtained as above, and
corresponding values of the consumptive use factor,
"F," in the basic formula.
For determination of variance in value of the "Jf "
factor, the State was divided into 16 climatic areas,
ranging from the low desert region of the Imperial
Valley to the cool coastal lands of the northwestern
coast. Within each climatic area, values of the "K"
coefficient were computed by consideration of all avail-
able data pertaining to crops and use of water. The
"K" coefficient for various crops was expressed as a
percentage of the "K " coefficient for alfalfa in areas
for which the greatest amount of data pertaining to
these crops was available. The resulting percentage
was applied to the "K" coefficient of alfalfa in order
to estimate the "7f" coefficient for various crops in
areas where sufficient data were not available.
During the noncultural period the consumptive use
of water in a given unit area is derived by application
of appropriate unit consumptive use of water values,
which are based on experimental and investigational
data, experience, and judgment. The values used in
the current investigation, within the limits of avail-
able precipitation were :
(a) 1 inch of depth of water per month for annual
crops or for land without vegetation.
(b) 1.5 inches of depth of water per month for land
devoted to orchards or vineyards.
(c) 2 inches of depth of water per month for forage
or cover crops.
The total seasonal unit value of consumptive use of
water, regardless of source of the water, is the sum of
the values obtained from the two foregoing computa-
tions applicable to cultural and noncultural periods.
To determine the seasonal unit value of consumptive
use of applied water, that is, the water provided by
means other than precipitation, an estimate of effec-
tive precipitation is necessary. Effective precipitation
is that portion of precipitation that is consumptively
used and does not run off or percolate to ground
water. The difference between total seasonal unit value
of consumptive use of water and seasonal effective
precipitation is that portion of the seasonal consump-
tive use provided by application of water to the irri-
gated area. Effective precipitation is segregated into
three portions for the purposes of evaluation :
(a) Precipitation occurring and consumptively
used during the cultural period. In Cali-
fornia this is generally minor in amount.
(h) Precipitation occurring during the noncultural
period and consumptively used during that
METHODS AND PROCEDURES
51
period. The amount is limited by the pre-
viously stated criteria governing consump-
tive use of water during this period.
(c) Precipitation occurring during the noncultural
period and percolating to the root zone of
the crop where it is retained for consumptive
use during the following cultural period.
Computations of unit values of consumptive use of
water on land devoted to irrigated cotton in the Cen-
tral Valley of California, at latitude 36°, furnish an
illustrative example of the general method. Values
for mean monthly temperature and precipitation were
assumed for purposes of this illustration. The empiri-
cal coefficient, "K," which was obtained from experi-
mental data, was assumed to be 0.62. The cultural
period used for cotton was April through October. In
the noncultural period it was assumed that consump-
tive use of water is equal to all precipitation up to
one inch of depth per month.
Special Methods. A description of the methods of
derivation of unit values of consumptive use of water
by those crops affected by specialized cultural and
irrigation practices follows :
A. Rice. Irrigation practice in rice culture varies
considerably from that followed in the production of
other crops. Fields are kept flooded from the time
SAMPLE COMPUTATION OF UNIT VALUES OF CONSUMPTIVE USE
OF APPLIED WATER FOR LAND CROPPED TO COTTON
Cultural Period
Adjustments for Effective Precipitation
Month
April
May
June
July
August
September.
October
TOTALS.
Mean tem-
perature,
in degrees
F.
(0
00.5
67.5
74.7
81.0
79.1
72.9
64 . 2
Percent of
annual
daylight
hours
(P)
8.86
9.83
9.84
10.00
9.41
8.36
7.84
Con-
sumptive
use
factor
(< X P)
5.36
6.64
7.35
8.10
7.44
6.09
5.03
46.01 ="F'
Mean pre-
cipitation,
in inches
of depth
1.00
0.55
0.10
0.02
0.01
0.14
0.53
2.35
Consumptive use of water during the cultural period — U = KF
- 0.62 X 46.01 = 28.51 inches of depth
Noncultural Period
Month
Consumptive use of
water, in inches of
deptli
Mean precipitation, in
inches of deptli
November.
0.79
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
0.79
1.71
2.04
1.90
1.82
TOTALS
4.79
8.26
Consumptive use of water during the noncultural period =
4.79 inches of depth
Total seasonal consumptive use of water = 28.5 -V 4.8 = 33.3
inches of depth
Inches of deptli
10.61
Deductions
Precipitation occurring and consumptively used
during cultural period . .
Precipitation consumptively used during noncultural
2 . 35
4.79 7.14
Precipitation occurring during noncultural period and
retained in root zone for use by crop during
3.47
* Available moisture-holding capacity in the root zone equals the depth of the
principal root zone, estimated to he approximately 4 feet in this instance,
multiplied by the unit moisture-holding capacity of the soil, estimated to be
1.5 inches per foot of depth, yielding a product of 6 inches of water depth in this
example. Cultural practice of this crop permits the assumption that the entire
root zone would be depleted of moisture prior to the beginning of the noncultural
period. Thus, it was assumed that the 3.47 inches of precipitation available from
the noncultural period was carried over into the cultural period as soil moisture
in the root zone.
Determination of Seasonal Consumptive
Use of Applied Water
Inches of depth
33.3
Deductions
Precipitation occurring and consumptively used
2.3
Precipitation consumptively used during noncultural
4.8
Precipitation occurring during noncultural period
and retained in root zone for use by crop during
3.5 10.6
22.7
of planting to the time the crop matures, when fields
are drained to enable harvesting the yield. Planting
usually takes place between April 15 and May 15.
the fields are drained the following September and
harvested during October. The period used for deter-
mination of the consumptive use of applied water
was the 5-month period from May through Sep-
tember.
The volume of irrigation water applied varies con-
siderably and is dependent to a large extent upon
soil type and availability of water. The gross amount
of irrigation water applied is frequently greatly in
excess of the consumptive use since the maintenance
of a small flow in the ponds facilitates the control of
fungus and water plants and enhances the crop yield.
Existing cultural practices indicate that satisfactory
yields are produced when the return flow, or differ-
ence between applied water and consumptive use of
applied water, amounts to about one foot in depth on
the cropped area.
Available data for rice farming areas in the Sacra-
mento Valley indicate that the total water applied
during the growing season amounts to about 5.4 feet
in depth and that the return flow is about one foot
in depth. Reliable estimates of deep percolation below
the root zone indicate that about 0.3 foot of water
is disposed of in this manner. The unit seasonal value
52
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
of consumptive vise of applied water is therefore
about 4.1 feet in depth, and that value is used in
estimates of water requirements for the present study.
The value of consumptive use of applied water, as
determined above, applies principally to those areas
in the Sacramento Valley for which data were avail-
able. For those areas, it was estimated that an average
depth of 0.2 foot of rainfall occurs during the cul-
tural period. For others areas where the precipitation
differs significantly from the above value, the unit
volume of consumptive use of applied water was
adjusted accordingly.
Noncultural period consumptive use of water on
rice land was estimated to amount to one inch of
depth per month, when that amount of water is avail-
able. On the basis of an assumed 3-foot depth of
principal root zone and 1.5-inch depth of effective
moisture-holding capacity per foot of soil depth, it
was estimated that 4.5 inches of soil moisture is re-
tained from winter precipitation and carried over into
the growing season, when it is consumptively used.
These two items, plus the cultural period precipita-
tion and consumptive use of applied water, were
taken to equal the total seasonal consumptive use of
water by rice lands.
B. Winter-grown Hay and Grains. Small grains,
such as barley, oats, and wheat, threshed for grain
or cut for hay, are grown extensively throughout
California. Unit values of water use by irrigated
crops of this type during the summer months were
estimated by the previously described general method.
Hay and grain crops, however, are also grown during
winter months by specialized cultural practices. Expe-
rience indicates that, in general, when the depth of
seasonal precipitation is approximately 17 inches or
more, normally distributed throughout the season,
these crops can be satisfactorily grown without irri-
gation. In some areas, however, precipitation is not
sufficient for this purpose, and the available winter
moisture must be supplied by irrigation. Winter-
grown grain is planted in the fall, matures during
the winter months, and is harvested in June and
July.
By inspection of monthly precipitation records in
a zone of 17-inch depth of mean rainfall, it was ob-
served thai the amount of precipitation falling during
the months from November through April, the cul-
tural period I'm' winter hay and grain, averages about
1.") inches of depth. It was assumed that all of this
winter precipitation is consumptively used in matur-
ing the crop, and that it is adequate in amount for
thai purpose. The remaining 2-inch depth of precipi-
tation available was considered to be consumed by
weed growth or evaporated from the soil during the
noncultural period. It was further assumed that in
areas where the normal seasonal depth of precipita-
tion is less than 17 inches, the supplemental irriga-
tion required for maturing winter-grown small grain
and hay is measured by the difference between the
actual November-through-April precipitation and a
depth of 15 inches.
C. Winter-grown Potatoes. In the southern San
Joaquin Valley the climatic conditions are such that
potatoes can be grown during the winter months,
thereby meeting favorable marketing conditions.
Planting times vary with locality from late Novem-
ber through February, and the crops mature in May
and June. Unit values of use of water by winter-
grown potatoes were estimated from results of studies
of prevailing cultural and irrigation practices.
The three months from March through May were
taken as the average cultural period. A study of avail-
able data on water use for irrigation of potatoes in-
dicated that an average depth of 30 inches of irriga-
tion water is applied. Based upon the available in-
formation, it was estimated that the efficiency of such
irrigation application averages approximately 50 per
cent. Therefore, the seasonal depth of consumptive
use of applied water for winter-grown potatoes, based
upon these figures, was estimated to be 15 inches. The
average depth of precipitation during the cultural
period was estimated to be about 2 inches, all of
which is estimated to be consumptively used. A depth
of 17 inches, therefore, was taken as the total con-
sumptive use of water during the three-month cul-
tural period. Consumptive use of water during the
remainder of the season was taken as equal to normal
precipitation, all of which was assumed to evaporate
from the soil or transpire and evaporate from weed
growth.
D. Crops Produced in Sacramento-San Joaquin
Delta. Unit values of consumptive use of water by
crops grown in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
were based chiefly on data from experiments with
growing vegetation in tanks in the delta area. These
experiments were conducted by the United States
Department of Agriculture in cooperation with state
agencies, over a period of six years prior to 1931. A
summary of the monthly and seasonal unit values was
published in Bulletin No. 26, "Sacramento River
Basin," Division of Water Resources, 1931.
In order to evaluate the seasonal depth of consump-
tive use of applied water in the Delta, estimates of
the average depth of precipitation consumptively used
were subtracted from the total seasonal unit values of
consumptive use of water. All noncultural period con-
sumptive use of water was assumed to be provided by
precipitation, and all precipitation occurring during
the cultural period was assumed to be consumptively
used. The depth of precipitation carried over into the
cultural period in the root zone was estimated to aver-
age approximately two inches per foot of soil depth.
The unit value of consumptive use of water by land
in the Delta devoted to irrigated pasture was com-
puted as previously set forth in the description of
METHODS AND PROCEDURES
53
general methods followed in the remainder of the
State.
Urban and Suburban Water Use
Unit values of water use in urban and suburban
areas of California, other than in the San Francisco
Bay Area and most of the South Coastal Area which
are discussed in the following section, generally were
estimated from records of present deliveries of water.
Available data from private and public water serv-
ice agencies were utilized in developing appropriate
unit values of water use.
Although there are large variations in per capita
water deliveries to various cities throughout the State,
analysis of available records discloses no firm trends
in the amount of the deliveries as related to metered
or unmetered water service, or as related to costs of
filter to the consumer. More important factors in this
respect seem to be the climatological characteristics
of the several areas, the abundance or scarcity of
water, and the nature and habits of the communities.
For these reasons, unit values of water use based on
recorded deliveries in cities generally were assigned to
adjacent or nearby urban and suburban areas with
similar water-using characteristics, where data on
deliveries Avere not available.
Limited available information on the quantity of
sewage outflow from urban and suburban areas indi-
cated that, on the average, about 50 per cent of the
water production for a city is discharged as sewage.
It was assumed, therefore, that in the Central Valley
and Lahontan Areas, urban and suburban consump-
tive use of applied water is equal to one-half of the
quantity of water delivered to the area. In all other
areas, sewage is generally discharged to the point of
final disposal without opportunity for re-use. In these
areas, the gross delivery was taken as both the con-
sumptive use and the gross requirement for water in
urban and suburban areas.
Past and present records of water deliveries to
urban areas in California indicate that in recent years
there has been an increase in per capita requirement
for water, and that the trend is continuing. Part of
this increase may be credited to more liberal use of
water in households and gardens. In this connect ion
a substantial part undoubtedly results from develop-
ment of modern water-using household appliances,
such as garbage disposal units and automatic washers.
In some communities, also, an increasing industrializa-
tion has raised per capita values of water use. To ac-
count for this increasing use, the probable ultimate
unit values of water deliveries to urban and suburban
areas generally were increased 10 per cent over pres-
ent values.
Use of Water in Metropolitan Areas
For the three major metropolitan areas of the
State, in and around San Francisco, Los Angeles,
and San Diego, as well as for most of the remaining
urban areas in the South Coastal Area, unit values of
water use by each of the principal types of urban
land use were estimated by a sampling procedure.
In this procedure, an inventory was made of meas-
ured water deliveries in sample areas representative
of each urban type. For irrigated lands within the
metropolitan areas the "general method" of deter-
mining unit values of consumptive use of water was
employed.
Evaluation of unit water use by urban types in
the foregoing areas was generally based on the as-
sumption that water deliveries to urban consumers
constitute an approximate equivalent measure of con-
sumptive use of applied water. This follows from the
fact that in most of the areas sewage is presently dis-
charged to the ocean, and for purposes of inventory
may be considered to be wasted or consumptively
used. Exceptions to this general assumption were
made in those unsewered absorptive portions of the
South Coastal Area, Avhere due allowance was taken
of return flows from sewage.
In the sampling procedure, the sample areas se-
lected usually consisted of single blocks or a number
of contiguous blocks devoted to one type of land
use, and chosen so as to be representative of conditions
in the area. The total delivery of water to a given
sample area for a recent year was determined by
adding all the individual metered deliveries as ob-
tained from records of the water agency serving the
area. The net acreage of the sample area was deter-
mined from assessors' plats or other maps of suitable
scale. The unit value of water delivery was obtained
by dividing the total delivered water supply by the
net area of the sampling, excluding streets.
The total acreage sampled for each type of land
use varied with the indicated range of unit values
of Avater delivery. Industrial deliA r eries of Avater
varied so Aviclely, depending upon the industry and
the locale, that in order to obtain an average for all
industries it Avas necessary to extend the sampling
surveys to the larger areas devoted almost entirely
to industry. These included the Vernon, Terminal
Island, and other industrial areas near Los Angeles
and the highly industrialized Emeryville area in Oak-
land. Additional extensiA'e suiweys were made to de-
termine the unit value of water deliveries to each of
a number of major industries throughout the San
Francisco Bay and Los Angeles Areas.
Probable ultimate unit values of water deliveries
in the metropolitan areas usually were estimated by
adjusting the present unit values as determined by
the sampling procedure. The adjustments were based,
insofar as possible, upon indicated trends in unit
water requirements for each of the different types of
urban land use.
54
WATEE UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
Use of Water in Other Water Service Areas
Estimates of unit values of water use in those
present or future water service areas of California not
classified as either irrigated, urban and suburban, or
metropolitan, were based largely on records or esti-
mates of present water delivery. By the nature of the
activities involved, water utilization in most of the
other water service areas is not adaptable to areal
classification, and the unit values of water use con-
sisted of per capita or unit of production values
rather than as per acre values.
The United States Forest Service prepared esti-
mates of unit values of water use for recreation, in-
dustries, grazing, pollution abatement, esthetics, etc.,
within the national forests. These values were based
on measured deliveries of water in some instances,
but to a large extent were estimated from experience
and judgment. Similar estimates were prepared by
the National Park Service and by the State Division
of Beaches and Parks for areas under their respective
jurisdictions.
Estimates of unit values of water use by permanent
military establishments, when so classified, were based
on records of water deliveries and populations of the
establishments obtained from military authorities.
The same values were utilized for both present and
probable ultimate conditions.
Use of water in the lumber industry was estimated
on the basis of units of production. Such use does not
occur in all hydrographic areas of the State, and
varies in amount in the areas in which it does occur.
The principal purposes for which water is used in
the heavily forested North Coastal Area are in the
production of wood pulp products and in evaporation
from mill ponds. Based on data available from the
industry, the consumptive use of water in this area
for these purposes is estimated to average about 25
acre-feet per million board feet of timber harvest.
The mining industry, while requiring an adequate
supply of water in relatively isolated locations, gen-
erally has a minor consumptive use. Information on
use of water by the industry is scant and the esti-
mates in this bulletin are based on an assumed gross
requirement in the various hydrographic areas. Much
of the ore which is mined is transported to refineries
located in or near urban centers, and the water re-
quirements related to refining are included in the gen-
eral industrial requirements for such urban areas. In
Hi' North < loastal Area, gold refining involves the use
of about 1.5 acre-feet of water per ounce of gold pro-
duced, and this value was used in estimating require-
ments for other areas. Very little of this water is used
consumptively, hut the disposal of the highly toxic
waste requires treatmenl to prevent stream pollution.
For this reason, and because of the relatively minor
am. nints of water involved, the total use of water by
the mining industry was treated as a consumptive use
in the determination of ultimate water requirements.
A considerable amount of water has, in the past,
been nonconsumptively used in the production of
gold by hydraulic methods and by dredging. Restric-
tions now placed on such operations, in order to pre-
vent stream pollution and destruction of land, indi-
cate that in the future placer gold will be produced
by less destructive methods and that smaller amounts
of water will be required.
In general, the water consumed in the propagation
and preservation of fish and wildlife is so minor in
extent that the actual consumptive use was not com-
puted. Minimum stream flow requirements for the
protection of fish life at specified points on many
streams of the State were estimated by the California
Department of Fish and Game. These estimates are
listed in Appendix F. Wildlife refuges on the valley
floor of the Central Valley, and the Tule Lake. Lower
Klamath Lake, and smaller refuges in other parts of
the State use water consumptively in an amount equal
to evaporation from the ponded areas established to
attract game. In these cases, the evaporation was esti-
mated from available data and was included in the
water requirements of the hydrographic areas con-
cerned.
As has been stated, it was assumed that all lands of
the State will be included in one of the types of water
service areas under conditions of probable ultimate
development. In such water service areas outside of
the previously described specific types of develop-
ment, unit values of water use were expressed on a
per capita basis, assumptions being made as to the
densities of ultimate population in the various parts
of the State. For those lands in the other water
service areas above an elevation of 3,000 feet it was
assumed that occupancy would be limited to a few
months of the year, thus reducing the effective sea-
sonal per capita value of water use. Corresponding
lands below 3,000 feet in elevation were assumed to
be occupied for longer periods of the year. Consump-
tive use of precipitation was not estimated for other
water service areas since it was not considered as
meeting any portion of the water requirements.
DETERMINATION OF WATER REQUIREMENTS
In general, the estimates of present and probable
ultimate requirements for water were derived by
applying unit values of water use to the areas of each
type of land use and dividing by the appropriate
efficiency factor. In some instances, requirements
were separately determined and the resultant effi-
ciencies estimated to the nearest five per cent. The
amounts of most nonconsumptive requirements for
water are not readily determined except as they
relate to actual water development projects, and can
he evaluated only with consideration to other require-
ments for water at the time future projects are im-
METHODS AND PROCEDURES
oo
plemented. For this reason, nonconsumptive water
requirements are discussed only generally in this
bulletin.
Present Requirements
The present irrigation requirement for water in
each hydrographic unit was estimated as the sum of
the products of the appropriate unit values of con-
sumptive use of applied irrigation water and the
areas of the various irrigated crop types, divided by
an estimated water service area efficiency, or by equiv-
alent procedure. Present urban and suburban water
requirements within hydrographic units other than
the South Coastal Area, were estimated as the prod-
uct of a unit value of water delivery and the de-
termined area of the urban and suburban land use.
In the South Coastal Area the urban and suburban
requirements were estimated by the procedure de-
scribed in the next paragraph for metropolitan areas.
For unclassified areas within hydrographic units
throughout the State, present water requirements
were estimated as the sum of the products of unit
values of water delivery and population, units of pro-
duction, and other appropriate factors. The total
present requirement for water in each hydrographic
unit was then taken as the sum of the individual re-
quirements for the several classes of water use.
Present urban water requirements for hydrographic
units of the metropolitan areas in and around San
Francisco and San Diego were estimated as the sum
of the products of appropriate unit values of water
delivery times the areas of the various types of urban
land use, multiplied by a factor to account for water
losses in conveyance and delivery throughout the
water system. Records indicate that such water losses
generally vary from about 5 to 15 per cent of the
production of the water service agency. However, in
estimating urban requirements for hydrographic units
of the remainder of the South Coastal Area, including
the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, consideration was
given to re-use of a portion of the uneonsumed de-
livered urban water in absorptive areas, including
consideration of the status of sewage reclamation. Re-
quirements for irrigation water in the metropolitan
areas were estimated as described in the preceding
paragraph.
Data were available in many hydrographic units
regarding the irrigation efficiency attained by agencies
serving portions of each unit. This efficiency was a
principal factor in the estimation of water service
area efficiencies for irrigated lands. The estimated
consumptive use of applied irrigation water in in-
dividual areas was divided by the quantity of water
delivered to those areas in order to provide an index
by which the water service area efficiency of the unit
could be estimated. In those hydrographic units
where such data were available from several agencies.
the water service area efficiency for irrigated lands
was evaluated by consideration of the total data avail-
able. In units where this information was not avail-
able, water service area efficiencies as determined for
other hydrographic units in the same general locality
and with similar water-using characteristics were ad-
justed in accordance with experience and judgment.
Determination of water service area efficiencies for
irrigated lands included consideration of many per-
tinent factors, including: the amount of re-use of re-
turn flow from irrigation within the area, irrecover-
able losses of water resulting from operation of the
conveyance and distribution system, flushing water
required to maintain proper salt balance in soils of
the area, and topographic and geologic conditions
which affect the use and application of irrigation
water.
Ultimate Requirements
Estimates of water requirements under conditions
of probable ultimate development were derived by
methods generally similar to those employed for pres-
ent conditions. The principal difference in the methods
generally used in estimating the requirements for ir-
rigated lands was the consideration given to geologic
factors that will be of primary importance under con-
ditions of complete irrigation development. These
factors include the existence, extent, and type of
ground water basins within a hydrographic unit, and
their position with relation to sources of water supply
for the unit and to other hydrographic units.
The first step in determination of the ultimate ir-
rigation requirement for water in many hydrographic
units was to divide the unit into subareas, largely on
the basis of topographic and geologic conditions. Ir-
rigable lands within these subareas were segregated,
on the basis of geological conditions, into lands over-
lying free ground water basins and those overlying
confined ground water basins or nonwater-bearing
materials. In the former case, relatively high water
service area efficiencies were assumed, while in the
latter case the water service area efficiency was esti-
mated to be somewhat lower. Consideration was given
to available data and experience regarding irrigation
practice in comparable existing fully developed ir-
rigated areas in developing estimated ultimate ef-
ficiencies. For each hydrographic unit a weighted
average water service area efficiency was then derived,
on the basis of previously computed subarea efficien-
cies of the irrigated lands respectively overlying ab-
sorptive and nonabsorptive materials, and considering
re-use of return flow from one subarea by another
subarea which is topographically situated and geo-
logically adapted to use of the return flow. Return
flows of irrigation water were thus routed through the
entire hydrographic unit to determine the require-
ment for irrigation water in the unit as a whole. The
method was modified somewhat in detail in its appli-
56
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
cation to hydrographic units of the South Coastal
Area.
An extension of this method was employed in de-
termination of the ultimate irrigation requirement
for water in certain of the hydrographic units on the
floor of the Central Valley where considerable infor-
mation on irrigation water use and return flow is
available. Nonabsorptive irrigated lands were divided
topographically into two parts, the higher of which
was assumed to receive water to meet its full irriga-
tion requirement from either surface or ground water
sources independent of return flow from within the
nonabsorptive area. The lower portion of the non-
absorptive area was assumed to receive a portion of
its irrigation water supply from return flow of ap-
plied water on the higher portion. The basis for de-
termination of the degree to which return flow was
utilized was the data on water use collected over the
past quarter century in the Sacramento and lower
San Joaquin Valleys.
In hydrographic units, other than those in the
San Francisco Bay and South Coastal Areas, the
probable ultimate urban and suburban water require-
ment was estimated as the sum of the products of
unit values of water delivery applied to the forecast
ultimate areas of the urban and suburban class of
land use. Probable ultimate urban requirements for
water in hydrographic units of the San Francisco Bay
and South Coastal Areas, including the metropolitan
areas, generally were estimated as the sum of the
products of appropriate unit values of water delivery
applied to projected ultimate areas of the several
major classes of urban land use, adjusted to account
for water losses in conveyance and distribution
throughout the water system. In the South Coastal
Area consideration was also given to re-use of water
in minor unsewered areas overlying absorptive ma-
terials. Ultimate water requirements for the remain-
ing lands of the State, other than those classified
as irrigated or urban and suburban under ultimate
conditions of development, were estimated by apply-
ing appropriate unit values of water delivery to the
forecasted population, units of production, and other
appropriate factors.
The total ultimate requirement for water in each
hydrographic unit was then the sum of the individual
requirements for the several classes of water use.
Usable return flow of applied water was considered
to be a part of the water supply available in evalu-
ating total ultimate water requirements of the major
hydrographic areas of the State.
PROBABLE ULTIMATE SUPPLEMENTAL
WATER REQUIREMENTS
For the purposes of this bulletin, probable ulti-
mate supplemental water requirements were evalu-
ated as the difference between presenl and probable
ultimate requirements for water, plus the present
supplemental water requirement in those areas expe-
riencing an existing deficiency. The possible additional
yield of existing water supply development works
over the present water requirement of the area served,
was not credited to reduction of the ultimate supple-
mental water requirement, except for the developed
water supplies allocated from the Friant-Kern, Ma-
dera, and Contra Costa Canals. The difficulties inher-
ent in defining and determining accurately the amount
of present surplus yield, and in allocating such sur-
plus to specific water service areas prior to completion
of a comprehensive ultimate plan for water supply
development and utilization, made the extensive yield
studies necessary infeasible in the present study.
Methods employed for estimating present and prob-
able ultimate water requirements of hydrographic
units have been described. In hydrographic units with
a present deficiency in water supply development,
standard procedures were utilized to evaluate the
present safe yield.
In hydrographic units where all or a major part of
the present water supply is obtained from surface
reservoirs, it was necessary to make operation studies
over a critically dry period of years in order to esti-
mate safe yields. Adequate information as to these
operation factors was frequently lacking and yield
studies were based on fragmentary runoff data, reser-
voir inflow being estimated by correlation with re-
corded or estimated flow of other streams. In many
hydrographic units, surface supplies, while adequate
during the early portion of the irrigation season,
decrease rapidly during the summer and are insuffi-
cient for present requirements in the latter part of
the irrigation season. In many of these cases, stream
flow records were not available and estimates of safe
yield were based on runoff estimates made by corre-
lation with flow of other streams.
In hydrographic units where all or a portion of
the water supply is obtained from ground water
basins, a complete hydrolo^ie investigation is neces-
sary to determine present safe ground water yield.
Special investigations have been made in the past
for only a limited number of ground water basins in
California. Complete hydrologic studies for the others
were beyond the scope of work for this bulletin.
Determinations of safe ground water yield employed
in estimating probable ultimate supplemental water
requirements for this bulletin must, for this reason.
be considered as reasonably approximate evaluations.
For the reasons stated, the available data upon
which to base estimates of safe yield of the present
water supply development were often inadequate,
and the resulting estimates of present supplemental
requirements are necessarily subject to a margin of
error. Determinations of ultimate supplemental water
METHODS AND PROCEDURES
57
requirements based thereon, however, are believed to
be sufficiently reliable for their principal purpose,
which is to develop sufficient information regarding
surplus and deficiency in water supply in the various
areas of California to permit development of The
California "Water Plan.
A necessary qualification in evaluating the esti-
mated supplemental water requirement for a major
hydrographic area, or for a stream basin within that
area, is that the total supplemental requirement is not
necessarily equal to the sum of the individual supple-
mental requirements of the included hydrographic
units. This follows from the fact that there is usually
opportunity for re-use of return flows from water
applied on upstream hydrographic units, thus reduc-
ing the supplemental requirement for the major hy-
drographic area or stream basin taken as a whole.
DETERMINATION OF PROBABLE ULTIMATE
WATER REQUIREMENT OF METROPOLITAN
AREAS BY POPULATION-SATURATION
METHOD
In the course of the current State-wide Water Re-
sources Investigation it became evident that the esti-
mates of probable ultimate water requirement in the
San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego Metro-
politan Areas are of major significance in planning
for comprehensive water resource development in
California. For this reason, and in view of inad-
equacies inherent in any known method of forecasting
ultimate conditions, a supplemental series of estimates
of ultimate water requirements was made for the met-
ropolitan areas. These estimates were to a large
extent independent of those previously described
which were based on the land use pattern and unit
areal values of water use. The supplemental estimates
involved forecasting the probable ultimate population,
which was done on an area-saturation basis rather
than on one of chronological extrapolation, and fore-
casting the ultimate per capita water use on the basis
of studies of past and indicated future trends in the
various classes of urban water use. The studies of
ultimate water requirement by the population-satura-
tion method were undertaken with the objective of
evaluating in general terms the reasonableness of the
forecasts by the land use method.
The first phase of the population-saturation method
of estimating ultimate water requirements was to
forecast the ultimate population of each metropolitan
area. Basically, this was clone by multiplying esti-
mated net ultimate urban areas by estimated popula-
tion density values. In the San Francisco and San
Diego Metropolitan Areas the net ultimate urban area
was defined as the total habitable area, as determined
by the previously described land classification surveys.
decreased by forecast residual agricultural areas,
nonwater-using industrial areas, and by the areas of
heavy industry. In the Los Angeles Metropolitan
Area, however, the industrial land use was not sep-
arated from the other types, while agricultural use
was only accounted for indirectly. The net ultimate
urban area in the San Francisco and San Diego Met-
ropolitan Areas was segregated between valley and
mesa lands and foothill lands. In the Los Angeles
Metropolitan Area this subdivision was omitted.
The second phase in the population-saturation
method was to forecast the ultimate per capita deliv-
ery of water for the several classes of urban water use
in each metropolitan area. This was accomplished by
study of recent trends in per capita values of delivery
of water. The per capita deliveries were then pro-
jected to their probable ultimate values on the basis
of the present trends and considered assumptions as
to the nature of future urban development.
The final phase in the method was to multiply the
forecast ultimate population by the assumed per
capita values of water delivery in the several classes
of water use. The sum of the products was adjusted
for conveyance and delivery losses, resulting in the
estimated total ultimate urban water requirement for
each metropolitan area.
A description of the population-saturation method
as it was developed and applied in the San Francisco
Metropolitan Area will serve to illustrate the basic
procedures involved. The applications of the method
in the Los Angeles and San Diego Metropolitan Areas
varied from the described procedure in detail, partly
because of differing characteristics of the areas, and
partly because of simultaneoiis independent develop-
ment of the procedures by different investigators in
each of the areas.
In the San Francisco Metropolitan Area the ulti-
mate habitable area in each county, obtained from the
land classification survey, was segregated into those
parts with a present high degree of development and
those relatively undeveloped. This was accomplished
on the basis of population densities in appropriate
subdivisions. These subdivisions were formed by as-
sembling groups of voting precincts or census tracts
having similar and, insofar as possible, homogeneous
characteristics as to classes of present land use, par-
ticularly with regard to the several residential types.
Consideration was also given to commercial, munic-
ipal, and industrial classes of land vise.
Aerial photographs of each subdivision in relatively
highly developed areas were examined in detail, with-
out regard to topography, to determine percentages
of occupancy and vacancy in the area under consid-
eration. Present effective population densities within
the subdivisions were next estimated by dividing the
aggregate population of each subdivision by the total
area actually occupied.
58
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OP CALIFORNIA
The next step was to forecast the proportion of the
area of each subdivision that will ultimately be occu-
pied. In this step, consideration was given to the
probable effects of topography on urban develop-
ment, the present trend toward tract-type housing
construction, and other pertinent factors. The areas
to be occupied by nonwater-using activities and heavy
industry were excluded. Segregation was also made
between valley and mesa lands and foothill lands to
obtain patterns characteristic of differing topographic
conditions. The estimated ultimate population of each
subdivision was obtained by applying effective popu-
lation densities to the areas actually to be occupied
by urban development, Over-all effective population
density factors were determined separately for valley
and mesa lands and for foothill lands. This was done
by combining the ultimate population and area fore-
casts for the various subdivisions in accordance with
their topographical classifications.
A determination was made for each county in the
San Francisco Metropolitan Area of those portions of
the present relatively undeveloped area which are
suitable for future urban development. This was done
by study of topographic maps on the basis of voting
precincts, census tracts, or townships. The considera-
tions involved included topographic conditions, rela-
tive isolation from present urban centers, and other
pertinent factors. Areas ultimately to be devoted to
agriculture and industry were excluded, and a divi-
sion of the net urban area was made between valley
and mesa lands and foothill lands. The over-all effec-
tive population density factors for balanced urban
communities, determined as described in the preced-
ing paragraph, were applied to the portions of each
county determined to be suitable for future develop-
ment. This resulted in forecasts of probable ultimate
urban population for the relatively undeveloped por-
tions of the various counties, which were added to the
estimates derived for those portions of the counties
at present relatively highly developed to arrive at
l lie estimate of the total ultimate urban population
For the San Francisco Metropolitan Area.
The estimate of probable ultimate per capita water
use in the San Francisco Metropolitan Area was
based largely on records of annual delivery of water
to individual consumers by 10 major public and pri-
water service agencies in the area over a period
extending from 1940 through 1950. These data were
differentiated by the agencies according to several
classes of urban water use, including residential,
commercial, municipal, and industrial. The standards
of classification varied somewhat among the several
agencies, and the records were reconciled as required
to permit combining of the data from the different
agencies. Consideration was given to the use of large
amounts of water by certain industries utilizing pri-
vately developed supplies, in addition to the data ob-
tained from the water service agencies. Estimates of
the total population served by the respective water
service agencies were made for years corresponding
to the available data on water deliveries. The total
annual use of water was divided by the corresponding
total population served to estimate the per capita use
of water for each class of urban water service. These
annual values were plotted so as to define recent
trends in per capita use of water.
The foregoing data indicated a fairly constant rate
of per capita use of water with regard to commercial
and municipal uses. In determining the probable ulti-
mate water requirement for these two classes the in-
dicated present values were used. A prominent up-
ward trend was apparent in the per capita use of
water for residential purposes. On this basis, a sub-
stantial increase over the present value was forecast
for ultimate residential per capita use of Avater.
While no significant trend in per capita industrial
use of water was noted, on the basis of an indicated
over-all present deficiency in the level of industrial
production in California, and in the San Francisco
Bay Area in particular, a substantial future increase
in per capita industrial use of water was predicted.
The final step in the population-saturation method
was to total the estimated values of ultimate annual
per capita use of water for the several classes of
urban water use, and to apply the total to the esti-
mated ultimate urban population to obtain an esti-
mate of total annual ultimate urban use of water in
the metropolitan area. The estimate of total use of
water was increased by a factor representing esti-
mated distribution and transmission losses, based
upon the experience of water service agencies in the
San Francisco Bay Area. This final value derived
was the estimate of probable ultimate annual urban
water requirement for the San Francisco Metropoli-
tan Area.
CHAPTER III
NORTH COASTAL AREA
The North Coastal Area, designated Area 1 on
Plate 8. constitutes the northwestern portion of the
State between latitudes 38° and 42° N. Its shape is
roughly that of a triangle, the shorter leg lying along
the Oregon border for about 180 miles on the north
and the longer leg along the Pacific Ocean for some
270 miles on the west. Within its boundaries are the
entire counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, and
Mendocino, and parts of Siskiyou, Modoc, Glenn,
Lake, Sonoma, and Marin Counties. Among the prin-
cipal incorporated cities are Santa Rosa, Eureka,
Ukiah, Fort Bragg, Areata, Ilealdsburg, and Yreka.
The topography of the North Coastal Area is char-
acterized by a predominance of mountainous terrain,
and nearly one-half of the area lies within national
forest boundaries. The major portion of the national
forest land lies in the Cascade Mountains, Coast
Range, and Klamath Mountains north of Mendocino
County.
In order to facilitate the present studies, the North
Coastal Area was divided into 16 hydrographic units,
which, with two exceptions, are identical with the
drainage basins of the principal streams. Two basins,
those of the Klamath and Eel Rivers, were divided
into upstream and downstream hydrographic units,
while the principal tributaries of these two streams
were also considered as separate hydrographic units.
The 16 hydrographic units and their areas are listed
in Table 2 and their boundaries are shown on Plate
TABLE 2
AREAS OF HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS,
NORTH COASTAL AREA
Hydrographic unit
Reference
number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Name
Tule Lake
Shasta Valley
Scott Valley
Upper Klamath
Trinity
Klamath
Rogue
Del Norte
Redwood Creek
Mad River
Upper Eel
Humboldt
Mattole
Mendocino Coast
Russian River
Bodega
APPROXIMATE TOTAL
Acres
,544,000
508,000
423,000
614,000
,897,000
,416,000
107 000
456,000
191,000
409,000
,976,000
565,000
235,000
,037,000
960,000
165,000
TABLE 3
AREAS OF COUNTIES WITHIN BOUND-
ARIES OF NORTH COASTAL AREA
County
Acres
Del Norte
700,000
Glenn
53,800
Humboldt .
2,305,000
Lake
190,000
Marin __ .
95,400
Mendocino
2,247,000
Modoc
753,000
3,270,000
Sonoma _ .
842,000
Trinity
2,047,000
APPROXIMATE TOTAL-
12,500,000
12,500,000
8. Table 3 lists the several counties lying wholly or
partly within the North Coastal Area, together with
their included acreages.
Prevailing northwest winds with heavy fog and
moderate temperatures are typical of climatic condi-
tions along the northern coast of California. Inland
portions of the North Coastal Area characteristically
experience a wider temperature range and more mod-
erate winds. Precipitation is principally in the form
of rainfall, with substantial snow falling in only the
higher elevations. The heaviest rainfall in the State
occurs in Del Norte County, where a mean seasonal
precipitation of about 75 inches of depth has been
recorded near Crescent City, and average seasonal
values as high as 100 inches have been estimated for
locations in the Klamath Mountains. The record at
Healdsburg in Sonoma County in the southern por-
tion of the North Coastal Area indicates a seasonal
mean depth of precipitation of about 40 inches. Pre-
cipitation inland from the coast is relatively high
throughout most of the higher mountainous areas.
However, lower rates are typical of the larger moun-
tain valleys and of the northeastern plateau areas.
The 17-year precipitation record at Tulelake in
Modoc County indicates an average seasonal depth of
only about 10 inches. Variation in precipitation from
year to year is typified by the 58-year record at
Eureka which has a seasonal average depth of 38.34
inches, a maximum of 74.10 inches, and a minimum
of 20.72 inches. On the average, approximately 85
per cent of the seasonal rainfall in the North Coastal
Area occurs in the months from December through
April.
It is estimated that the mean seasonal natural runoff
of streams of the North Coastal Area is about
28,000,000 acre-feet, or about 41 per cent of that for
( 59)
60
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
the entire State. The greatest single contribution to
runoff of the area is made by the Klamath River with
a drainage area of approximately 15,700 square
miles, one-third of which lies in Oregon. The mean
seasonal natural runoff of the Klamth River in Cali-
fornia is estimated to be about 11,120,000 acre-feet, or
some 38 per cent of the total of the North Coastal
Area. Runoff from the coastal streams closely follows
the rainfall pattern. Average monthly stream flow
during the dry summer months of July, August, and
September is less than one per cent of the seasonal
total in all coastal streams except the Klamath and
Smith Rivers, and in those rivers it is only slightly
higher. Shasta and Scott Rivers, draining absorptive
interior basins, maintain relatively greater summer
flows, with about 15 per cent of the seasonal runoff
occurring during the three named summer months.
As shown on Plate 4, a total of 18 valley fill areas,
which may or may not constitute ground water-
basins, has been identified in the North Coastal
Area. Appreciable development and utilization of
ground water supplies is presently limited to those
basins underlying Shasta, Scott, and Butte Valleys,
Eel and Mad River deltas, three irrigated areas in
the Russian River Basin, and the Dry Creek-Santa
Rosa Plains area.
The population of the North Coastal Area has more
than doubled in the last 50 years. The Counties of
Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Siskiyou, Sonoma,
and Trinity had an aggregate population of approxi-
mately 110,000 in 1900 and 257,000 in 1950, an in-
crease of about 134 per cent. The populations of the
principal urban centers, as shown in Table 4, have
almost doubled between 1940 and 1950. It may be
noted that recent growth in population of suburban
areas of the larger communities has been proportion-
ately greater than within the city limits.
TABLE 4
POPULATION OF PRINCIPAL URBAN CENTERS,
NORTH COASTAL AREA
1940
1950
City
Within
city
limils
In
suburbs
Total
Will, in
city
limits
In
suburbs
Total
Rosa
i
12,600
17,100
3,700
3,200
1,800
..-.(in
i, too
! [Q0
4,800
2,400
3,900
1,300
3,200
900
500
17,400
19,500
7,600
4,500
5,000
2,500
2,300
3,000
17,900
23,100
6,100
3,800
3,700
3,300
1,800
3,200
15,000
5,100
7,500
5,600
.-,.1,1)11
1,700
2,800
1,100
32,900
28,200
13,600
9,400
9,300
5,000
4,600
4,300
Fort Bragg
Areata.. _
burg
Fortuna--
Yreka.. ._
Lumbering is the outstanding industry in the North
i'il Area, with timber products in 1951 valued at
aated $175,000,000. Agriculture, the principal
r-using industry, is second in importance, with
the annual production valued at .+80,000,000 by the
1950 census. The majority of the crops are closely
allied with the livestock industry, and alfalfa, pasture,
hay, and grain predominate. Irrigated areas have in-
creased from 56,000 acres in 1900 to 213,000 acres in
1953. Most of this increase has occurred within the
past 20 years.
Mining operations provided the incentive for the
original water developments in the North Coastal
Area. Beginning in 1849-50, ditches were constructed
in Shasta and Scott Valleys to divert water for mining
purposes. The first recorded use of water for irrigation
occurred in 1850 when one of the mining ditches in
Shasta Valley was utilized to irrigate agricultural
lands. Mining has gradually decreased in importance.
At the present time it includes chromite operations at
various locations in the Klamath Mountains and the
Coast Range, minor mercury production at mines
scattered from Sonoma County to the Oregon border,
the extraction of pumice in the Glass Mountain area
of Modoc County, the production of sand and gravel,
and some mining of gold, silver, and manganese. Since
about 1900 agriculture has become the principal
water-using industry. Numerous private and coopera-
tive irrigation developments were constructed, with
water supplied by pumping from stream gravels or
by direct surface diversion. Many of the larger units
have since been reorganized under irrigation district
laws.
Six present irrigation districts in the North Coastal
Area had a total area in 1948 of 36,400 acres, of which
14,411 acres were reported to be under irrigation.
Four districts, Montague, Scott Valley, Grenada, and
Big Springs, were organized to take over existing
irrigation works. Butte Valley and Potter Valley Irri-
gation Districts were formed to develop previously
unirrigated lands.
In 1906 the United States Reclamation Service
began construction of the first unit of the Klamath
Project in California and Oregon. Drainage and irri-
gation of lands surrounding Tule and Lower Klamath
Lakes have been continued since that time, until an
area of 69,840 acres in California was under irrigation
in 1953 within the Klamath Project area.
Irrigation from surface storage in the North Coastal
Area is accomplished by three large developments and
numerous small reservoirs. Clear Lake Reservoir, con-
ceived primarily as a flood control basin, also supplies
water to a portion of the Klamath Project of the
Bureau of Reclamation. Dwinnell Reservoir in Shasta
Valley provides water for the Montague Water Con-
servation District. The Potter Valley Irrigation Dis-
trict utilizes Eel River water, stored in Lake Pillsbury
and imported to the Russian River watershed pri-
marily for power generation. After passing through
the Pacific Gas and Electric Company power plant,
the water is diverted for irrigation purposes in Potter
Valley. Small water storage developments serve indi-
vidual farms and ranches, lumber mills, and mines.
Fishing Fleet at Eureka
Courtesy Eureka Chamber of
Commerce
Sawmill in North
Coastal Area
Courfesy Eureka Chamber of
Commerce
62
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
The large available runoff and rugged topography
of the North Coastal Area provide conditions favor-
able to power generation, but present development in
the area consists of only six hydroelectric installations,
three of which are under 5,000 kilowatt capacity. This
is due to the relatively small industrial and urban
power demand within the area and the long transmis-
sion distance to urban load centers.
Municipal water supplies of the Cities of Eureka
and Areata are provided by reservoir storage and
ground water pumping. Other communities are served
by wells, springs, surface diversions, or combinations
of these sources. A compilation of the principal water
service agencies in the North Coastal Area is included
in Appendix B, together with the number of domestic
services and area of irrigated lands served by each
agency.
The lumber industry has developed as the principal
source of income in the North Coastal Area, mainly as
a result of the large stand of virgin timber located
within its boundaries. Other industrial development,
such as food processing and the manufacture of ply-
wood and furniture, are related to the area's primary
industries, agriculture and forestry. The limiting in-
fluences of soils, topography, and short growing season
have maintained relatively stable crop patterns in the
North Coastal Area, with increases in production re-
sulting from irrigation of previously dry-farmed
lands. All irrigable land is expected to be developed
under ultimate conditions to the same type of crop
pattern as at present. Urban areas have developed
slowly in the past due to lack of demand for urban
services. Much of the recent growth of the larger
urban centers has been in suburban areas surrounding
existing towns, and growth in many cases has been at
the expense of developed agricultural land.
The North Coastal Area has a high potential as a
recreational area. The vast forested mountain areas,
long scenic coast, and the abundance of fish and game
make the area an important resort and recreational
region. Development of recreational facilities has been
greatest in the coastal redwood region and along the
lower reaches of the Russian River, largely as a
result of close proximity to the densely populated
San Francisco Bay Area. The many streams of the
North Coastal Area attract sport fishermen from
throughout the State, and the coastal waters support
an important sport and commercial fishery. As the
population of the State increases, it is anticipated
thai an increasing demand will be placed upon the
recreational facilities of the region. The North Coastal
Area is well provided with the resources required to
meet this demand, and it is anticipated that the re-
sort and lonrist trade will become a major field for de-
velopmenl in i he l'ni are.
The principal existing use of water in the North
Coastal Area is For agriculture. Use of water for do-
tic industrial, and power generation purposes is
relatively minor. Ultimate demands for water within
the area are expected to follow generally this same
pattern, with estimated ultimate development pred-
icated upon a continued predominantly agricultural
and lumber economy.
High peak flood flows in an area of low population
density and relatively sparse agricultural develop-
ment have made flood control measures in the North
Coastal Area difficult of justification, although wide-
spread flooding of towns and agricultural lands has
occurred periodically. It is probable that in the fu-
ture adequate flood control works will be constructed
in the areas of greatest development.
Use of water for recreation is limited to that con-
sumed for domestic purposes in resort and recrea-
tional areas, evaporation from migratory waterfowl
refuges, and to water used for supporting stream flows
for maintenance of fish life. These uses will increase
as facilities are developed to provide for the recrea-
tional needs of the growing population of the State.
Available data and estimates pertinent to the na-
ture and extent of water requirements in the North
Coastal Area, both at the present time and under con-
ditions of probable ultimate development, are pre-
sented in the following portion of this chapter.
PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS
As a first step in estimating the amount of the
water requirement in the North Coastal Area, with
the present pattern of land use and under mean con-
ditions of water supply and climate, determinations
were made of the location, nature, and extent of irri-
gated and urban and suburban water service areas.
Remaining lands were not classified in detail with re-
gard to their relatively minor miscellaneous types of
water service, although such water service was given
consideration in estimating the present water re-
quirement,
Irrigated Lands
It was determined that under present conditions of
development in the North Coastal Area, about 213,000
acres are irrigated in a given year, on the average.
This constitutes approximately three per cent of the
land irrigated throughout California.
Grain and the forage crops, such as pasture, alfalfa,
and hay, are the dominant crops due to their adapt-
ability to the- soils and the short growing seasons oc-
curring throughout most of the area, Truck and or-
chard crops are produced throughout the region, but
principally in small quantities for home consumption.
Although a substantial acreage is planted to vines,
this crop is principally dry-farmed. Lands in the Tule
Lake and Butte Valley Basins produce quantities of
truck, of which potatoes are the principal commodity.
In the Tule Lake hydrographic unit potatoes were
The Klamath River
Courtesy Moulin Studios
64 WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
classified separately so as to permit consideration of It is estimated that approximately 4,100 acres in
their somewhat higher water requirements. Crops in the North Coastal Area are occupied by farm lots at
the Russian River Valley are more diversified, with the present time. These consist of farm buildings and
pasture, field crops, orchard, and alfalfa constituting the immediately surrounding areas receiving water
the bulk of the irrigated agricultural production. service.
mi „ , ., -,■-,-,, ■ <■ P Summaries of presentlv irrigated acreages within
The field surveys upon which determinations or ,, XT ,, -, , , . , ,,
. . , , '. J XT A . ~ , . . the North Coastal Area by the various crop groups
irrigated acreage m the North Coastal Area were , , . m , , _ , „ m ■,, c v , .,
, & , & .. , n _ . ,. . . „ ..._ are presented in Tables 5 and 6. Table 5 lists the acre-
based were accomplished during the period from 194/ i i i i • -j. i m i_n o i
ia i -inro t.1 • -/i • i ages by hvdrographic units, and Table 6 by counties,
through 1953 by several agencies with varying stand- J
ards and degrees of accuracy. Information regarding Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas
the dates of field mapping and sources of data is Tx , , . , ,, , ,...
.-•-,.' A i- t\ -n j j.i -i t.1 It was determined that under present conditions
contained in Appendix D. Based on the available sur- „ . , , . ,, ^ ,, _. r , , .
j , ,, ■ j i j i -n i ■ of development m the North Coastal Area approx-
vey data, the irrigated lands were classified into . J . , i, _„„ , , , , , ,
• ,, • , , ■ ,-. imately 18,500 acres are devoted to urban and subur-
various crop groups with a view to segregating those , ,„■,, t-,,i , ■
o ■ ■-, . » r + n +1 e n ban types of land use. hor the most part, business,
of similar water use. A list or these groups follows : . , ^ ■ -, ± ■ -, , , • ,
commercial, and industrial establishments and sur-
Alfalfa _ -Hay, seed, and pasture. rounding homes included in this areal classification
Pasture Grasses and legumes, other than receive a municipal type of water supply. Areas of
alfalfa used for livestock for- urban and suburban water service within each hydro-
ao . e graphic unit of the North Coastal Area are listed in
Table 7, and within each county in Table 8. It should
Orchard _ Deciduous truits and nuts. ^ no t e( i th a t areas shown are gross acreages, as they
Vineyard— —All varieties of grapes. include streets and intermingled undeveloped lands
„,, , , that are a part of the urban tvpe of community.
Hay and gram The cereal grasses, wheat, bar-
ley, oats, and rye, harvested Unclassified Areas
either as a hay or a seed crop. As has been state ^ rema i n i ng lands in the North
Truck crops Intensively cultivated fresh veg- Coastal Area, other than those that are irrigated or
etables, including tomatoes, peas, urban and suburban in character, were not classified
corn, carrots, potatoes, squash, in detail with regard to present water service. How-
bushberries, flower seeds, and ever, of a total of about 12,250,000 acres of such re-
nursery crops. maining lands, less than 20,000 acres actually receive
Miscellaneous water service at the present time. These relatively
field crops Hops, field corn, and sugar minor service areas consist of scattered developments
beets. in national forests and monuments, public beaches
TABLE 5
AREAS OF PRESENTLY IRRIGATED LANDS WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, NORTH COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Refer
ence
number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
1 l
IS
ii,
Name
Tule Lake
Shasta Valley
Scott Valley
Upper Klamath
Trinity
Klamath
Rogue
Del Norte
Redwood Creek
Mad River
Upper Eel
Humboldt
Mattole
Mendocino Coast
Russian River
Bodega
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS
Alfalfa
(i,!l()0
10,600
4,200
800
200
100
300
400
100
800
21 inn
Pasture
100
1,600
600
1,300
700
9,300
200
I. SI II I
18,600
Im-
proved
pasture*
7,400
13,900
9,400
1,200
2,600
600
35,100
Mar-
ginal
pasture*
8,200
7,700
2.100
1,600
600
20,200
Mead-
owland*
10,700
4,100
8,200
200
400
23,600
Orchard
100
o
o
o
2,700
2,800
Truck
crops
14,800
100
200
100
400
400
16,000
Hay
and
grain
57,300
1 ,300
6,900
800
100
800
300
67,500
Miscel-
laneous
field
crops
4,300
100
4,400
Net
irri-
gated
area
106,000
37,600
30.800
4,600
3,400
1,200
100
1,700
800
1,400
1,100
10,500
300
13,300
500
213.000
Farm
lots
2,200
800
600
100
100
o
100
200
4,100
In-
cluded
non-
water
service
areas
3.300
1.200
1,000
100
100
100
100
200
300
0.400
Approx-
imate
gross
area
111,000
39,600
32.400
4,800
3,600
1,300
100
1,800
800
1,400
1,100
10,800
300
13,800
500
223,000
Detailed land use survey data from Klamath River Basin Investigation conducted by the State Division of Water Resources.
NORTH COASTAL AREA
65
TABLE 6
AREAS OF PRESENTLY IRRIGATED LANDS WITHIN COUNTIES, NORTH COASTAL AREA
(In
acres)
County
Alfalfa
Pasture
Orchard
Truck
crops
Hay and
grain
Miscel-
laneous
field
crops
Net
irrigated
area
Farm
lots
Included
nonwater
service
areas
Approxi-
mate
gross area
700
800
3,300
19.300
100
200
2,000
11,700
3,300
10,900
64,500
2.000
3,100
1,800
100
900
200
300
100
8,500
6,200
700
1,000
300
20,400
45,800
1,000
3,400
2,200
13,700
7,300
43,100
136,000
7,100
3.300
100
100
900
2,800
100
100
300
200
1,400
4,300
100
100
2,200
14.100
7,600
Modoc _ .
Siskiyou _
45,400
143,000
7,300
Trinity
3,500
APPROXIMATE TOTALS
24,400
97,500
2,800
16.000
67,500
4,400
213.000
4,100
6,400
223,000
and parks, private recreational areas, wild fowl ref-
uges, and other similar recreational activities.
Approximately 46 per cent of the North Coastal
Area lies within the boundaries of the Modoc, Klam-
ath, Trinity, Shasta, Mendocino, and Six Rivers Na-
tional Forests. The topography of most of these lands
is rough, and the existing development is limited, in
general, to timber production and stock grazing.
Many small scattered valleys and plateaus in the area
are suitable for the production of forage crops. The
United States Forest Service reports a total of 18,800
acres of such lands under irrigation, and this acre-
age has been included in Tables 5 and 6. Other water
service areas in the national forests are those occupied
by administration buildings, public camps, picnic
grounds, and other tourist accommodations, the total
of which contributes only a small part to the total
water service area. Historic monuments, and public
beaches and parks, all administered by the California
Department of Natural Resources, provide additional
attractions and conveniences to vacationists who an-
nually visit the natural scenic wonders of the North
Coastal Area. There are 24 such recreational areas,
covering a total of 53,800 acres, along the coast be-
tween Sonoma and Del Norte Counties. Water service
requirements are minor, consisting of domestic sup-
plies to permanently inhabited areas and summer
supplies to camp and picnic areas. Similar service is
supplied to Lava Beds National Monument, which in-
cludes 46,000 acres in Modoc County, and is under
the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. Private
recreational areas are scattered throughout the North
Coastal Area, with the major developments of this
type concentrated along the Russian River in Sonoma
County.
Summary
Table 7 comprises a summary of present water
service areas within hydrographic units of the North
Coastal Area, segregated into irrigated and urban and
suburban lands. A similar summary by counties is
presented in Table 8.
PROBABLE ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE AREAS
In order to estimate the amount of water that will
be utilized in the North Coastal Area with ultimate
land use and under mean conditions of water supply
and climate, projections were made to determine the
probable ultimate irrigated and urban and suburban
water service areas. It was assumed that the remain-
ing lands, for convenience referred to as "other
water service areas," ultimately will be served with
water commensurate with their needs.
Irrigated Lands
Based on data from land classification surveys, it
was estimated that a gross area of approximately
1,058,000 acres in the North Coastal Area is suitable
for irrigated agriculture. Other than farm lots and
TABLE 7
SUMMARY OF PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS WITHIN
HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, NORTH COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Reference
number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Name
Tule Lake
Shasta Valley
Scott Valley__
Upper Klamath. .
Trinity
Klamath
Rogue
Del Norte
Redwood Creek. _
Mad River
Upper Eel
Humboldt
Mattole
Mendocino Coast-
Russian River
Bodega
Subtotals-
Irrigated
lands
1 1 1 .000
39.600
32.400
4,800
3,600
1,300
100
1,800
800
1,400
1,100
10,800
300
13,800
500
223,000
Urban
and
suburban
areas
1,000
1,400
200
200
1,000
400
1 ,300
100
800
900
4,300
1,100
5,600
200
18,500
Unclassified areas receiving water service.
APPROXIMATE
TOTAL
Approximate
total
112,000
41,000
32,600
5,000
4,600
1,700
100
3,100
900
2,200
2,000
15,100
1,400
19.400
700
242,000
19,500
261,000
3—99801
66
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OP CALIFORNIA
TABLE 8
SUMMARY OF PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS WITHIN
COUNTIES, NORTH COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
LTrban
Irrigated
and
Approximate
County
lands
suburban
areas
total
Del Norte ... ._.-._.
2,200
1,400
3,600
Humboldt . . .
14,100
5,900
20,000
Marin..
100
100
Mendocino,. ._.......
7,600
2,200
9,800
Modoc - - -
45,500
45.500
143,000
3,000
146,000
Sonoma _. . -
7,300
4,900
12,200
Trinity
3,500
1.000
4.500
Subtotals —
223,000
18,500
242,000
19,500
APPROXIMATE TOTAL*.
261,000
certain lands within the gross irrigable area that ex-
perience indicates will never be served with water,
such as lands occupied by roads, railroads, etc., it
was estimated that under ultimate conditions of de-
velopment a net area of approximately 869,000 acres
will actually be irrigated. Table 9 presents these esti-
mates for hydrographic units of the North Coastal
Area, and Table 10 for the various counties.
The probable ultimate crop pattern for irrigated
lands of the North Coastal Area is presented in Table
11. The crop grouping parallels that used in the case
of present development except for the added group
titled "Vineyard." Since most present vineyards are
dry-farmed, this group was of minor importance and
not segregated in the case of the present irrigated
crop pattern. It is expected to be of greater sig-
nificance in the future.
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas
It is expected that in the North Coastal Area urban
and suburban growth generally will be associated
with further development of agriculture, although the
tourist trade and scenic attractions will probably in-
fluence growth of certain population centers. Increase
of population may also be brought about by expansion
of present and new industries, particularly those as-
sociated with the timber resource. It was estimated
that under ultimate conditions of development urban
and suburban water sin-vice areas will increase to
about 53,000 acres. Urban and suburban types of land
use are expected to occupy the same localities as at
present, but vacant lands will be filled and densities
increased. Additionally, it is probable that encroach-
ment will occui' on surrounding lands in an estimated
ai nt of about 34,500 acres. For the purposes of
the present studies no at tempi was made to delineate
the boundaries of such encroachment, nor to deter-
mine whal proportion will be Oil irrigable lands. The
TABLE 9
PROBABLE ULTIMATE AREAS OF IRRIGATED LANDS
WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, NORTH COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Gross
irrigable
area
Farm
lots
Included
nonwatei
service
area
Approxi-
mate
Refer-
ence
number
Name
net
irri-
gated
area
1
2
3
4
5
Tule Lake
Shasta Valley. . . .
Scott Valley
Upper Klamath
Trinity
276.000
1 ll.OIMI
68,700
21,300
22,000
8,000
600
30,500
2,200
29,900
49,900
75,000
4,500
75,800
208,000
41,400
4,600
2,100
1,100
300
300
100
300
300
700
700
900
2,800
500
50,200
34,200
12,500
6,700
5,500
1 .500
100
3,700
400
3,800
6,200
9,000
600
10,500
24,200
5,300
221,000
107,000
55,100
14,300
16,800
6
6.400
7
500
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Del Norte . . .
Redwood Creek
Mad River
Upper Eel _.
Humboldt .
Mattole
Mendocino Coast
Russian River
Bodega,
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS
26,500
1,800
25,800
13,0110
65,300
3,900
64,400
181,000
35,600
1,058,000
14,700
174,000
869,000
TABLE 10
PROBABLE ULTIMATE AREAS OF IRRIGATED LANDS
WITHIN COUNTIES, NORTH COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
County
Gross
irri-
gable
area
Farm
lots
Included
nonwater
service
area
Approxi-
mate net
irrigated
area
Del Norte
35,000
126,000
14,700
155,000
63,700
450,000
195.000
17,900
300
1,500
100
1,400
1,100
7,100
2,900
300
3,500
16.400
8,100
34,900
7,100
97,500
2,300
4,600
31,200
Humboldt. .
108,000
Marin
6,500
119,000
Modoc _
55,500
346,000
190,000
Trinity.
13,000
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS . _
1,058,000
14,700
174,000
869,000
estimate of probable ultimate urban and suburban
water service areas is included in Table 13. It should
be noted that the areas shown are gross acreages, in-
cluding streets, vacancies, etc.
Other Water Service Areas
Remaining lands of the North Coastal Area, not
classified as irrigable or urban and suburban under
conditions of ultimate development, aggregate about
11,390,000 acres, or 93 per cent of the area. As pre-
viously mentioned, it was assumed that ultimately
these lands will be served with water in amounts suf-
ficient for their needs. No attempt was made to segre-
gate these "other water service areas" in detail with
regard to the nature of their probable ultimate water
service. However, as shown in Table 12, they were
NORTH COASTAL AEEA
67
TABLE 11
PROBABLE ULTIMATE PATTERN OF IRRIGATED CROPS, NORTH COASTAL AREA
(In
acres)
Hydrographic unit
Alfalfa
Pasture
Improved
pasture*
Marginal
pasture*
Meadow-
land*
Orchard
Vine-
yard
Truck
crops
Hay and
grain
Miscel-
laneous
field
crops
Refer-
ence
num-
ber
Name
Approxi-
mate
total
1
10,500
14,100
16,700
3,700
3,800
1,100
1,500
2,500
4.500
.-,,11111)
500
500
25,200
1,800
18,000
9,100
19,800
3,500
20,000
45.000
11,600
25,000
28,800
13,700
5,200
8,200
3,fi00
2.2(1(1
2.200
5,000
3,100
2,000
300
II
15,700
10,200
0,900
300
100
500
200
1,000
7,000
500
18,300
500
1,100
12,500
35,000
2,200
400
100
400
400
1.300
3,000
4,000
5,000
80,500
15,100
1 1 ,800
1,800
1,700
500
5,300
20,000
10,500
400
41,400
90,300
18,000
22,300
4.800
600
300
200
6,000
"1,000
2
107,000
3
Scott Valley
55,100
4
5
6
7---.
8
Upper Klamath
Trinity .
Klamath. - - - -
Rogue
Del Norte. _.
14,300
16,800
6,400
500
26,500
9
10
Redwood Creek
1,800
25,800
11
13,000
12
65,300
13
Mattole ..
3,900
14
15
Mendocino Coast .
64,400
181,000
16
35,600
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS
124,000
185,000
84,500
14,800
33.100
28,100
16,900
51,800
297,000
34,200
869,000
Detailed land use survey data from Klamath River Basin Investigation conducted bj State Divisi if Water Resources.
TABLE 12
OTHER WATER SERVICE AREAS UNDER PROBABLE ULTIMATE CONDITIONS, NORTH COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Reference
number
Name
Inside national forests and
monuments
Above
3.000-foot
elevation
HeloM
:; ooo-i,,,, i
elevation
Outside national forests and
monuments
Above
3.000-foot
elevation
Below
3.000-foot
elevation
Approximate
total
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Tule Lake..
Shasta Valley
Scott Valley
Upper Klamath
Trinity
Klamath .
Rogue
Del Norte
Redwood Creek
Mad River
Upper Eel
Humboldt
Mattole
Mendocino Coast
Russian River
Bodega
APPROXIMATE TOTALS
961.000
122,000
137,000
229,000
,171,000
810,000
77,000
101,000
2,700
107,000
473,000
43.800
(I
184,000
495,000
368.000
21,700
246,000
2,300
29,200
178.000
8.900
296,000
198,000
213,000
1 05.000
91.600
1 6.300
300
21.300
28,100
154,000
33,900
2,700
500
13.300
9,000
41,400
3,800
74,200
1 13,000
210,000
7,800
75,300
163,000
213.000
1,118,000
390,000
227,000
958,000
723,000
123,000
1,266,000
362,000
354,000
592,000
1,871,000
1,101,000
106,000
122,000
189,000
377.000
1, 923, 000
177.000
230,000
958,000
736,000
123,000
4,234,000
1,533,000
1,174.000
4,449.000
1 1 ,390,000
broken down for convenience in estimating water re-
quirements into those portions inside and outside of
national forests and monuments, and further segre-
gated to areas above and below an elevation of 3,000
feet. The lands classified as "other water service
areas" include recreational developments, both public
and private, residential and industrial types of land
use outside of urban communities, wild fowl refuges,
etc. By far the greater portion of the lands are situ-
ated in rough mountainous terrain, much of which is
presently unaccessible. It is expected that even under
conditions of ultimate development this portion will
be only sparsely settled and will have only very minor
requirements for water service.
Summary
Table 13 comprises a summary of probable ultimate
water service areas, segregated into irrigated lands,
urban and suburban areas, and other water service
areas.
68
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OP CALIFORNIA
UNIT VALUES OF WATER USE
Recent investigation of the water resources of the
Klamath River Basin provided much of the data used
in estimating unit values of water use in the North
Coastal Area. These data were modified by standard
methods to provide complete coverage of the area.
TABLE 13
SUMMARY OF PROBABLE ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE
AREAS, NORTH COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Irrigable
lands
Urban
and
suburban
areas
Other
water
service
areas
Refer-
ence
number
Name
Approxi-
mate
total
1
2
3
4
5...
Tule Lake
Shasta Valley
Scott Valley
Upper Klamath
Trinity __
276,000
144,000
68,700
21.300
22,600
8,000
600
30,500
2,200
29,900
49,900
75,000
4,500
75,800
208,000
41,400
1,700
2,100
400
500
3,300
3,700
3,200
300
2,300
2,700
13,300
3,000
16,000
500
1,266,000
362,000
354,000
592,000
1,871,000
1,404,000
106,000
422,000
189,000
377,000
1,923,000
477,000
230,000
958,000
736,000
123,000
1,544,000
508,000
423,000
614,000
1,897,000
6 .
1,416,000
7
107,000
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Del Norte.
Redwood Creek
Mad River
Upper Eel
Humboldt
Mattole _ _
Mendocino Coast _
Russian River
Bodega.
456,000
191,000
409,000
1,976,000
565,000
235,000
1,037,000
960,000
165,000
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS
1,058,000
53,000
11,390,000
12,500,000
Irrigation Water Use
In general, unit seasonal values of consumptive use
of water on lands devoted to the various irrigated crops
were computed by the methods outlined in Chapter
II. Soil moisture studies conducted in Shasta, Scott,
and Butte Valleys resulted in more accurate values
of consumptive use in these areas. Pasture lands of
the Klamath River drainage basin were segregated
into meadow, improved pasture, and marginal pas-
ture. Unit water use values presented in this chapter
are for improved pasture, while 25 per cent higher
use was assumed to occur on meadowlands and 25 per
cent lower use was estimated for marginal pasture
lands.
Significant climatic variations, as related to con-
sumptive use of water, occur among the hydrographic
units of the North Coastal Area. For example, pre-
vailing fogs and cool temperatures along the coast
tend to reduce the consumptive use, and values for
those areas affected were adjusted accordingly. Table
14 presents the estimated unit values of mean seasonal
consumptive use of applied irrigation water and of
precipitation on lands devoted to crops of the various
groups.
Unit mean seasonal consumptive use of applied
water on farm lots was estimated to be about 0.5 foot
in depth in the southerly portion and 1.0 foot in
depth in the northerly part of the North Coastal Area.
Estimates of unit mean seasonal consumptive use of
precipitation on farm lots varied from 1.1 to 2.2 feet
in the various hydrographic units, and averaged about
1.7 feet of depth. These estimates were employed for
both present and probable ultimate conditions of
development.
Urban and Suburban Water Use
Present unit seasonal values of use of water on
urban and suburban water service areas of the North
TABLE 14
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT VALUES OF CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON IRRIGATED LANDS
NORTH COASTAL AREA
(In feet of depth)
Hydrographic unit
Alfalfa
Pasture
Orchard
Vineyard
Refer-
ence
number
Name
Applied
water
Precipi-
tation
Total
Applied
water*
Precipi-
tation
Total
Applied
water
Precipi-
tation
Total
Applied
water
Precipi-
tation
Total
1
Tule Lake -
1.6
1.8
1.5
1.5
1.6
1.5
0.9
1.1
1.3
1.6
1.5
1.6
2.5
2.9
2.8
3.1
3.1
3.1
1.9
2. 2
1.9
1.9
2.0
1.9
1.4
0.9
1.3
1.5
2.4
1.6
1.4
1.3
2.1
2. 2
0.9
1.0
1.2
1.5
1.4
1.5
2.2
2.2
2.0
1.8
1.4
1.6
2.0
1.8
1.5
1.4
2.8
3.2
3.1
3.4
3.4
3.4
3.6
3.1
3.3
3.3
3.8
3.2
3.4
3.1
3.0
3.6
1.0
1.4
1.1
1.1
1.2
1.1
1.0
1. 1
1.4
1.7
1.7
1.7
2.0
2.5
2.5
2.8
2.9
2.8
2
Shasta Valley _ _ _
3
Scott Valley _ _ _
0.6
0.7
1.5
1.3
2.1
2.0
4
5
Trinity
6..
Klamath
7
Rogue.. _
8
Del Norte .. _
9
Redwood Creek _
10
Mad River
1.3
2.0
1.3
2.0
1.8
1.9
3.3
3.8
3.2
0.7
1.3
0.7
1.8
1.6
1.7
2.5
2.9
2.4
11
Upper Eel _
0.9
1.2
2.1
12
Humboldt
13
Mattole. _ _
1 1
Mendocino Coast _
1.1
1.9
1.9
2.0
1.7
1.7
3.1
3.0
3.6
15
1.2
1.2
1.5
1.5
2.7
2.7
0.8
1.4
~ ; ~
16
Bodega .
* Within tin' Klamath River n-ai"age Basin Pasture was segregated Mo three classes. The value shown in this table applies to Improved Pasture, while a 25 per cent lower value
was assumed for Marginal Pasture, and a 25 per cent higher value was estimated for Meadowland.
NORTH COASTAL AREA
69
TABLE 14-Continued
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT VALUES OF CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON IRRIGATED LANDS,
NORTH COASTAL AREA
(In feet of depth)
Hydrographic unit
Truck crops
Miscellaneous fielc
crops
Hay and grai
D
Reference
number
Name
Applied
water
Precipi-
tation
Total
Applied
water
Precipi-
tation
Total
Applied
water
Precipi-
tation
Total
1
Tule Lake --
1.2
1.3
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.2
0.9
0.8
0.9
1.0
1.0
1.0
2.1
2.1
2.0
2.2
2.3
2.2
0.9
0.9
0.7
0.8
0.9
0.8
0.9
1.0
1.2
1.2
1.1
1.2
1.8
1.9
1.9
2.0
2.0
2.0
0.9
0.9
0.7
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.9
1.0
1.2
1.2
1.1
1.2
1.8
2
1.9
3
Scott Vallev
1.9
4
2.0
5
Trinity -- - - - --
1.9
6
2.0
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
0.2
0.3
0.4
1.5
1.4
1.3
1.7
1.7
1.7
0.5
0.8
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.7
0.7
1.3
1.2
1.2
1.4
1.3
1.1
1.1
1.8
2.0
1.7
1.9
0.4
0.7
0.7
1.3
1.1
1.1
1.7
1.8
1.8
1.8
0.8
0.8
1.1
1.1
1.9
1.9
1.8
16
1.8
Coastal Area were estimated largely on the basis of
population. Available records of delivery of water to
the areas, as compiled by municipalities and other
public water service agencies, provided data on the
per capita use of water. Probable ultimate deliveries
of water were estimated by applying the per capita
water use to the estimates of ultimate urban popula-
tion of the area. The water use thus determined was
converted to unit use per acre. Estimates of present
and probable ultimate unit seasonal values of water
delivery to, and consumptive use of water on, urban
and suburban water seiwice areas are found in Table
15. The gross delivery was assumed to be equivalent
to the consumptive use, because of the limited oppor-
tunity for re-use of the water in many of the coastal
hydrographic units.
Use of Wafer in Other Water Service Areas
Unit values of water use on the miscellany of serv-
ice areas grouped in this category were derived gen-
erally from measured or estimated present deliveries
of water to the typical development involved. In most
cases the estimates were made in terms of per capita
use of water, and the actual acreage of the service
area was not a significant factor. In such cases the
aggregate amount of water deliveries is relatively very
small, and negligible recovery of return flow is in-
volved. For purposes of study, therefore, the estimated
unit values of delivery of water to these facilities were
considered to be also the measures of consumptive use
of applied water.
Both the National Forest and Park Services pro-
vided estimates of present and probable ultimate unit
deliveries of water to all facilities within their juris-
diction. The estimates were generally in terms of per
TABLE 15
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT VALUES OF WATER
DELIVERY IN URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS, NORTH
COASTAL AREA
(In feet of depth)
Hydrographic unit
Gross delivery of water*
Refer-
ence
number
Name
Present
Probable
ultimate
1
1.0
1.7
1.9
1.8
1.6
2.0
0.7
0.7
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.1
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.5
2
2.1
3
Scott Vallev
2.2
4
2.0
5
Trinity
2.2
6
2.2
7
1.2
8
1.2
9
1.5
10
Mad River. .
1.5
11
1.5
12
1.5
13
Mattole
1.5
14
1.5
15
1.5
16
1.5
* Assumed equivalent to consumptive use of applied water.
capita use of water and were based on actual measure-
ments and experience. They varied widely from place
to place and in type of use, and for this reason are
not detailed herein.
Unit values of consumptive use of water by the
timber and timber-processing industries, aside from
those industrial uses of water included in urban unit
values, were derived largely from data obtained from
the United States Forest Service. For sawmill opera-
tions and plywood manufacture the estimated unit
value of consumptive use of water was 1 acre-foot per
185,000 board-feet of lumber produced. Unit values of
70
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
consumptive use of water, as recommended by the
Forest Service, were used for anticipated future
manufacture of various other wood products, such as
paper, pulp, and fiberboard. The use of water in the
manufacture of wood pulp, the greatest water-con-
suming- process, was estimated at 64,000 gallons of
water per 1,000 board-feet processed.
In the ultimate pattern of land use, marshlands
and water surfaces of Upper Klamath Lake and Tule
Lake will be important to the Pacific migratory water-
fowl flyway. Following consultation with federal agen-
cies, it was assumed that approximately 11,000 acres
in Lower Klamath Lake would be maintained ulti-
mately as marshland for waterfowl. Unit values of
water use on both Lower Klamath Lake and Tule Lake
Refuges Avere based on evaporation data.
In other water service areas not encompassed by the
foregoing specific types of water service, unit values
of consumptive use of applied Avater under probable
ultimate conditions of development were assigned on
a per capita basis. In such areas, sparse residential,
industrial, and recreational development is expected
in t lie future. For areas outside national forests and
monuments, it was estimated that the ultimate popu-
lation density will average about eight persons per
square mile, and that per capita consumptive use of
water will be about 70 gallons per day. In areas inside
national forests and monuments the same per capita
use estimates were made, but the population density
was assumed to average about four persons per square
mile. The period of water use was assumed to be of
three months' duration during the summer for areas
above 3,000 feet in elevation, while water service for
areas below 3,000 feet in elevation was assumed
throughout the year.
CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER
In general, estimates of the amounts of water con-
sumptively used in the North Coastal Area were de-
rived by applying appropriate unit values of water
use to the service areas involved. The estimates rep-
resent the seasonal amount of consumptive use of
water under mean conditions of water supply and
climate. Table 16 presents estimates of present con-
sumptive use of applied water and precipitation in
areas having water service, and Table 17 presents cor-
responding estimates for probable ultimate conditions
of development.
FACTORS OF WATER DEMAND
In addition to the amount of water consumptively
used in a given service area, certain factors relating
to the water requirements, such as necessary rates,
times, and places of delivery of water, quality of
water, losses of water, etc., have to be given considera-
tion in the design of water development works. In the
North Coastal Area the most important of these de-
mand factors are associated with the supply of water
for irrigation. Of secondary importance are those re-
lated to the supply of water for urban, suburban,
recreational, and other uses. Those demand factors
most pertinent to design of works to meet water re-
quirements of the North Coastal Area are discussed
in the following sections.
Monthly Distribution of Water Demands
Within the season, demand for irrigation water in
the North Coastal Area varies from little or none dur-
ing the winter rainy months to more than 25 per cent
of the seasonal total during dry summer months.
TABLE 16
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS,
NORTH COASTAL AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Irrigated lands
Farm
lots
Urban and
suburban
areas
Unclassified
areas
Approximate
Refer-
Name
total
consumptive
ence
numbei
Applied water
Precipitation
Applied water
Applied water
Applied water
use of
applied water
1
Tule Lake . .
133,000
75,100
51,600
(i,800
6,500
2,300
100
1,400
900
2,000
2.300
15,800
400
18,700
400
86,200
38,800
37,400
6,800
4,800
1,800
100
3,800
1,400
2,500
1,500
16,600
600
18,200
500
2,200
800
600
100
100
100
100
1,000
2,400
400
400
1 .600
800
900
100
800
900
4,700
1,100
5.600
200
200
200
200
200
300
400
1,000
900
100
800
200
136,000
2
Shasta Vallej .. __ .
78,500
3
Sr-ott Valley
52.800
1
7,300
8,200
6
3,300
7
100
8
Del Norti ...
2,600
'.'
it ■'<! wood Creek
1,000
HI
Mad River _ __ ... _ .
3,200
1 1
12
Upper Eel . . _
Humboldt
4,200
21,500
13
Vlattole
100
i 1
Mendocino < !oas1
2,300
i i
Russian Km er
24.600
16
600
\iTito\i.\i VTE TOTALS
317,000
221.000
4,000
20,900
4,500
346,000
NORTH COASTAL AREA
71
TABLE 17
PROBABLE MEAN SEASONAL CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE AREAS,
NORTH COASTAL AREA
(In acre-feet)
Refer-
ence
number
Hydrographic unit
1..
2
3..
4.
5__
6
7-
8..
9..
10..
11_.
12..
13..
14..
15..
16 .
Name
Tule Lake
Shasta Valley
Scott Valley
Upper Klamath —
Trinity
Klamath
Rogue
Del Norte
Redwood Creek . .
Mad River
Upper E<4
Humboldt
Mattole
Mendocino ( loast
Russian River
Bodega
Irrigated lands
Applied water Precipitation
APPROXIMATE TOTALS.
284,000
195.000
83,000
21,600
28,300
10,900
700
22.200
2,300
32.300
55,900
91,100
5,100
47,900
JUT, in in
43,200
1,131,000
194,000
111,000
67,000
21,200
23,700
9,500
1,100
58,200
3,000
44.100
57,700
102,000
7,00(1
93,700
231,000
43.100
Farm
lots
Applied water
1,009,000
4,700
2,300
1,200
300
400
100
100
200
400
400
400
1,400
300
Urban and
suburban
areas
Applied \\ :itei
12,200
2.600
4,400
900
1,000
7,300
8,100
3,800
400
3,400
4,000
20,000
4.500
2 1.000
800
Other water
service areas
Applied water
85,200
70,200
600
100
400
2,000
1,500
700
200
600
2,700
1,400
300
1.700
1,000
100
Approximate
total
consumptive
use of
applied water
83,500
362,000
202,000
85,800
23,300
38,000
20,600
700
20,800
2,900
36,500
63,000
113,000
5,400
54,500
233,000
44,400
1,312,000
Available information indicates that considerable vari-
ation in water demand also occurs with length of
growing season and with distance from the coast.
Urban water demands, while substantially higher in
summer than in winter months, are far more uniform
throughout the season than are those for irrigation.
They vary from four to eight per cent of the seasonal
total during the months of December through March,
to over ten per cent from June through September.
Electric power demand is nearly constant throughout
the year, with individual monthly demand ranging
between seven and nine per cent of the seasonal total.
Representative data on monthly distribution of irri-
gation and urban water demands in the North Coastal
Area are presented in Table IS.
Irrigation Water Service Area Efficiency
In study of irrigation water requirements of the
North Coastal Area it was found to be desirable to
estimate the over-all efficiency of irrigation practice in
the various service areas. Irrigation water service area
efficiency was measured by the ratio of consumptive
use of applied irrigation water to the gross amount
of irrigation water delivered to a service area. Present
water service area efficiencies were estimated after
consideration of geologic conditions of the service
areas involved, their topographic position in relation
to sources of water supply and to other service areas,
consumptive use of water, irrigation efficiency, usable
return flow, and urban and suburban sewage outflow.
The availability of more than adequate water supplies
in the North Coastal Area is not conducive to the at-
tainment of high irrigation efficiencies. Present over-
all irrigation efficiency, the ratio of consumptive use
of water to total amount of water applied, is estimated
at from 40 to 50 per cent, on the average. Efficiencies
were derived from areas having measured water sup-
plies with known irrigated acreages and unit water
TABLE 18
DISTRIBUTION OF MONTHLY WATER DEMANDS, NORTH COASTAL AREA
(In per cent of seasonal total)
Locality and purpose
January
Feb-
ruary
March
April
May
June
July
August
Sep-
tember
October
Novem-
ber
Decem-
ber
Total
Irrigation demand
Humboldt County, 1947 through
1951
0.5
7.1
5.4
6.5
4.3
0.5
7.3
5.0
0.4
4.0
0.1
1.2
7.0
5.7
7.0
4.3
0.1
10.2
8.4
7.1
7.8
7.5
5.9
0.7
18.3
14.0
7.8
8.9
8.3
7.0
11 .1
10.0
18.0
8.0
11.4
9.2
8.5
23.2
21.3
25 . :s
9.3
12.8
12.8
14.4
29.6
20.1
19.5
10.0
12.0
12.4
15.7
27.1
13.4
9.3
10.2
10.7
10.8
13.9
8.1
1.4
9.7
8.2
8.5
12.2
0.1
0. 1
8.5
6.1
5.1
5 . 5
0.3
7.4
6.0
4.9
4.3
100.0
Shasta Valley, 1935-36 through
195' 7 53 _
100.0
Klamath Project, Tule Lake Divi-
sion, 1938-39 through 1949-50. ._
Urban demand
Eureka, 195" through 1954
Santa Rosa, 1945 through 1949
Ukiah, 1945 through 1949. .. .
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
'
72
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
uses from which consumptive uses could be calculated.
Additional factors affecting the estimates of probable
ultimate irrigation water service area efficiencies were
related to the location and extent of presently unde-
veloped irrigable lands. For purposes of illustration,
the weighted mean values of all irrigation water
service area efficiencies within each hydrographic unit
of the North Coastal Area are presented in Table 19.
TABLE 19
ESTIMATED WEIGHTED MEAN IRRIGATION WATER SERV-
ICE AREA EFFICIENCY WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS,
NORTH COASTAL AREA
(In per cent
Hydrographic unit
Present
Probable
ultimate
Reference
number
Name
1
Tule Lake
70
85
60
30
30
40
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
65
50
75
2
60
3
Scott Valley -
50
4
40
5
6
Trinity
40
40
7
50
8
Del Norte .
50
9
50
10
Mad River
55
11
12
13
14_
15
Upper EeL _ .
Humboldt
Mattole
Mendocino Coast
55
55
50
50
65
16-
Bodega ... _ _
50
WATER REQUIREMENTS
As the term is used in this bulletin, water require-
ments refer to the amounts of water needed to provide
for all beneficial uses of water and for irrecoverable
losses incidental to such uses. Those water require-
ments of the North Coastal Area that are primarily
nonconsumptive in nature are discussed in general
terms in the ensuing section. Following this, water
requirements of the area that are consumptive in
nature are evaluated, both for present and for prob-
able ultimate conditions of development.
Requirements of a Nonconsumptive Nature
The principal nonconsumptive water requirements
of the North Coastal Area are associated with the
preservation and propagation of fish and wildlife,
flood control, timber production, and the generation
of hydroelectric power. For the most part, such re-
quirements for water are extremely difficult to evalu-
ate other than in conjunction with definite plans for
water resource development. Their consideration in
this bulletin, therefore, is limited to discussion of
their implications as related to planning for future
developmenl of water resources.
So far as is known, there is no present requirement
in i lie North Coastal Area foe water for purposes of
navigation, excepl for minor uses on the Klamath
River in connection with the lumber industry. In
view of topographic conditions, it cannot be fore-
seen that appreciable requirements of such nature
will ever develop in the future.
Fish and Wildlife. The abundant water supply
and numerous streams tributary to the ocean in the
North Coastal Area have contributed to the develop-
ment of important sport and commercial fishing in-
dustries based on the large annual runs of anadro-
mous fishes, principally king salmon, silver salmon,
and steelhead rainbow trout. Resident rainbow trout
found in the higher reaches of permanent streams,
and other trout species occurring throughout the
smaller streams and natural lakes of the area, pro-
vide additional attractions to sport fishermen.
Steelhead trout are foremost among the game
fishes taken in the North Coastal Area and are found
in practically all suitable coastal streams. Coast cut-
throat trout, an anadromous form also, are taken in
many coastal streams, particularly from the Eureka
area north. King and silver salmon provide a very
important sport fishery in the lower stretches of the
larger coastal streams, while silver salmon are also
taken in a multitude of the smaller streams. In addi-
tion to supporting a valuable sport fishery, the
salmon reared in coastal streams are also caught at sea
by both sport and commercial fishermen.
Since the young silvers and steelhead trout spend
at least one year in fresh water, it is especially im-
portant that a suitable stream flow be maintained
throughout the year to assure their continued propa-
gation. Some of the most important streams serving as
spawning areas for anadromous fishes are the Klam-
ath, Smith, Mad, Eel, Van Duzen, Bear, Mattole, and
Russian Rivers, and Redwood Creek. There are also a
number of additional streams that provide spawning
grounds for salmon and steelhead in the southern part
of the North Coastal Area. The largest of these are
Ten Mile, Novo, Big, Navarro, Garcia, and Gualala
Hi vers. With their present regimen, the low summer
flow of these latter streams, when accompanied by
heavy surf action, is usually insufficient to maintain
the mouth of the stream free from sandbars. These
obstructions frequently prevent the passage of ana-
dromous fishes to and from the spawning areas and
thus limit their usefulness for fish propagation pur-
poses.
The Klamath Mountains contain a large number
of streams and natural lakes which offer excellent
trout fishing. Included are the Marble Mountain
Wilderness Area and the Trinity Divide Area, where
eastern brook and rainbow trout predominate, with
brown trout present in certain waters. Trout fishing
is available in most of the streams at higher eleva-
tions throughout the North Coastal Area, and large-
mouth black bass and catfish are taken in some part of
Modoc County.
NORTH COASTAL AREA
7:-!
Salmon and trout populations are dependent upon
the maintenance of adequate stream flows, and in
many cases could be increased by the augmentation
of natural flows with stored flood waters released
during low stream flow periods. The southern coastal
streams of the area would be especially benefited by
summer and fall releases of stored water, and it ap-
pears that supplies could he made available for such
purposes without interference with other require-
ments of the area. Spawning' beds on many of the
smaller streams tributary to the principal rivers
would also be improved if their low flows were in-
creased.
The mountainous regions of the North Coastal Area
provide a natural habitat for many forms of wildlife
and offer excellent hunting opportunities. Water re-
quirements for big game and upland game, estimated
at about 300 acre-feet seasonally, are small compared
with other requirements and are expected to remain
so in the future. Although small in amount, water
supplies for game species should be widely and stra-
tegically located in proper relation to basic food and
cover sources.
At the request of the Division of Water Resources,
a series of estimates of the flow required for the pro-
tection and maintenance of fish life in each of the
important streams of the North Coastal Area was
made by the California Department of Fish and
Game. These streams were divided into four classes
by the Division according to anticipated degree of
development for various purposes that would com-
pete with recreational or commercial fishing require-
ments. These classes are described, and the summer
and winter flow requirements for fish life in streams
of Classes 1 and II, as determined by the Department
of Fish and Game, are listed in Appendix F. At the
present time, cooperative 1 studies are in progress
by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the
California Department of Fish and Game, the United
States Bureau of Reclamation, and the Division of
Water Resources to ascertain further data regarding
the fisheries resources in the North Coastal Area, with
the objective of refining the determinations of re-
quirements.
Hydroelectric Power. The abundant natural run-
off of the North Coastal Area and its rugged topog-
raphy provide essential natural elements for the gen-
eration of significant amounts of hydroelectric power.
Present hydroelectric development in the area is
minor, and represents only a small part of the po-
tential power available. Streams with power devel-
opments and the average annual water requirement
of the plant with the greatest inflow demand are
listed in Table 20.
Estimates of the power obtainable under average
conditions of stream flow, and with full utilization
of the available head, indicate that an annual total of
TABLE 20
PRESENT HYDROELECTRIC POWER DEVELOPMENT,
NORTH COASTAL AREA
Stream
Number
of power
plants
Installed
power
capacity, in
kilowatts
Present
annual
water
requirement,
in acre-feet
3
1
2
49,200
2,700
9,450
1 .500.000
Trinity River .
11.000
215,000
6
61,350
TABLE 21
EXISTING AND ESTIMATED POTENTIAL HYDROELECTRIC
POWER DEVELOPMENT, NORTH COASTAL AREA
Required
Average
average
annual
oower
Installed
annual
inflow of
Stream
output, in
1,000,000
kilowatt-
capacity, in
kilowatts
water at
lowest
plant, in
hours
1,000
acre-feet
Smith River .. _ _ _ _ .
760
160,000
1,670
2,980
620,000
2,420
Klamath River in California (less
6,880
1,430.000
4.500
85
550
270
1,980
130
30
15,000
115,000
55.000
410.000
25.000
5,000
400
Mad River
555
550
3,110
Mattole River
57. ■>
Navarro River
225
Gualala River.
35
5,000
320
Russian River. _ . ..
100
20,000
820
APPROXIMATE TOTALS.
13,800
2,860,000
15,140
13,800,000,000 kilowatt-hours, with an average annual
water requirement of about 15, 000, 000 acre-feet, is
theoretically possible. This power output is estimated
on the assumption that the water supply is used pri-
marily for power production, with no consideration
given to use of water for other purposes. It is prob-
able that the streams of the area ultimately will serve
a combination of beneficial uses, and the water utilized
for power development under combined operations
will be considerably less than the theoretical poten-
tial. Estimated theoretical power output, installed
power capacity, and required inflow of water at the
lowest plant are presented in Table 21 for streams of
the North Coastal Area on which power development
is feasible.
Flood Control. Flood control, whether achieved
by channelization or by storage, has as its objective
the movement of flood flows to the ocean as rapidly
as possible with the maximum protection against
flooding of developed areas. Water dedicated to regu-
lation for flood control purposes is largely unavail-
able for other purposes and usually results in a net
74
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
loss to the available water supply. At present the
only storage development for flood control in the
North Coastal Area is Clear Lake Reservoir in Modoc
County, which regulates the runoff of Lost River.
The reservoir was originally designed for flood con-
trol, with regulation achieved by storage and evapora-
tion of floodwaters. Evaporation from the reservoir
has amounted to about two-thirds of the total aver-
age water supply to the reservoir, or about 60,000
acre-feet annually. Under present conditions of de-
velopment all available water in the reservoir in ex-
cess of evaporation and other losses is utilized by ir-
rigable lauds iu the Klamath Project.
The Coyote Project on the East Fork of the Rus-
sian River near Ukiah has been authorized for con-
struction by the United States Army Corps of Engi-
neers as a flood control and Avater conservation proj-
ect. This project would impound waters heading in
the Russian River drainage basin, as well as diver-
sions from the Eel River through the Potter Valley
Power Plant. In addition to winter flood control, the
Coyote Project would provide agricultural and urban
water supplies to valley floor lands. Summer flow in
the lower reaches of the Russian River, greatly en-
hancing the recreational potential of the area, would
also he provided by the project. Other existing flood
control projects in the North Coastal Area are <jen-
erally limited to minor levee and bank protection
works.
Timber and Timber By-products. Available data
from the Tinted States Forest Service and mill pro-
duction records indicate that in the future more of
the cull timber and logging and mill residues prob-
ably will be used for manufacture of such products as
pulp and fiberboard. It is estimated that these resi-
dues could provide about 155,000,000 cubic feet of
chips for pulp processing annually. The water re-
quirement for the sulphate process of making pulp,
which is best adapted to the use of coniferous woods
such as pine, fir, and spruce that prevail in the area,
averages about 56,000 gallons per 200 cubic feet of
chips. It is estimated that 75 per cent of these residues
would be processed within the North Coastal Area,
requiring water in the amount of about 99, OIK) acre-
reel annually, while the remaining 25 per cent would
be processed by mills situated in the San Francisco
Pay Area, with an annual water requirement of 33,-
000 acre-feet. Water for processing is not used con-
sumptively, but plant effluents are so highly acidic as
to require treatment in order to prevent obnoxious
pollution, destruction of fish life, and impairment of
recreational values.
In evaluating the probable future requirement for
water by the timber industry in the North Coastal
A iea, it was assumed the previously computed 99,000
acre-feet of water per season for pulp processing
would be obtained from local sources. This require-
ment very likely would occur in the lower reaches of
the stream systems, and re-use of the water would
probably not occur. It was also assumed an addi-
tional 3,000 acre-feet of water per season would be
required for fiberboard production, while the re-
quirement for maintaining log ponds and other mis-
cellaneous uses in sawmill operation would be about
6,000 acre-feet seasonally. The three estimates result
in a total of 108,000 acre-feet of water per season
required for the timber industry in the North Coastal
Area under conditions of ultimate development.
TABLE 22
ESTIMAIED PRESENT AND PROBABLE ULTIMATE MEAN SEASONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR WATER,
NORTH COASTAL AREA
(In acre-feet)
Refer-
ence
numbei
Hydrographic unit
N T ame
Irrigated lands
Present
Probable
ultimate
Farm lots
Present
Probable
ultimate
Urban and
suburban areas
Present
I'lobable
ultimate
Other water
service areas
Present
Probable
ultimate
Approximate
totals
Present
Probable
ultimate
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
S
9
10
11
12
13
14
IS
16
Tule Lake
Shasta Valley
Scott Valley
I ppei Klamath
Trinity
Klamath
Rogue
Del Norte. _
Redwood ' Ireek
Mad Rivei
I ppei I !i I
Humboldt
Mattole
Mendocino ( !oas1
Russian lln ei
Bodega
VPPROXIM VI E TOTALS
193.000
86,600
83,900
22,300
21,500
5,600
200
2,800
1,800
4,000
4,600
31,600
800
28,800
800
388,000
320.000
168,000
55,200
70.900
27,900
1,400
44,400
4,600
58,700
Hi-',
Hid, 001)
10,200
95,800
318,000
86,400
2,200
800
600
100
100
200
200
4,700
2,300
1,200
300
400
100
200
400
800
800
800
2,800
600
1,000
2,400
300
400
1,600
800
900
100
800
1 .000
4,700
1,100
5,700
200
2,500
4,500
800
900
7,300
8,100
3,900
500
3,500
4,100
20,000
4,500
24.000
700
200
200
200
200
300
400
1,000
900
100
800
200
70,200
600
100
400
2,000
1,500
700
200
600
2,700
1,400
300
1,700
1,000
100
196.000
90,000
85,000
22,800
23.200
6,600
200
4,000
1 ,900
5,200
6,600
37,400
100
2,700
34,900
1,000
488,000
1,917,000
4,200
15,100
21,000
85,300
4,500
83,500
518,000
465.000
327.000
170.000
511,800
80,600
37.600
1,400
49,200
5,300
113,200
110,000
188,000
10,500
103.000
346.000
87,800
2,101.000
NORTH COASTAL AREA
7.)
Mining. Mining operations in the North Coastal
Area are not expected to involve significant require-
ments for water. Future production of many min-
erals will probably utilize processes somewhat differ-
ent than those requiring excessive water utilization
which were employed in former years. The milling of
gold ore. the washing of sand and gravel, and refin-
ing of copper, silver ores, manganese, and chroniite
require only minor amounts of water. The quarrying
of building stone, and pumice and diatomaceous earth
production use only negligible amounts of water.
Requirements of a Consumptive Nature
Estimates of present and probable ultimate water
requirements of a consumptive nature within hydro-
graphic units of the North Coastal Area are presented
in Table 22. These mean seasonal values represent
the water other than precipitation needed to provide
for beneficial consumptive use of water on irrigated
land, urban and suburban areas, farm lots, and other
water service areas, and for irrecoverable losses of
water incidental to such use. The estimates were de-
rived from consideration of the heretofore presented
estimates of consumptive use of applied water, and of
water service area efficiencies of hydrographic units.
Supplemental Requirements
The probable ultimate supplemental water require-
ment for each hydrographic unit was measured as the
difference between the yield of presently developed
supplies and the estimated ultimate requirement for
water. In the North Coastal Area much of the water
utilized for irrigation, for municipal purposes, or for
other miscellaneous uses is diverted from the flowing
streams or pumped from the ground as needed. Posi-
tive action for development of water supplies has not,
in general, been required in the North Coastal Area
because of the great excess of supply over require-
ments. Estimates of yield of presently developed
water supplies in this area were, therefore, assumed
equivalent to present requirements. This assumption
could only be made in an area such as the North
Coastal Area, where water is far more abundant than
present utilization, and no known ground water over-
drafts exist.
Estimates of probable ultimate mean seasonal sup-
plemental water requirements of hydrographic units
of the North Coastal Area are presented in Table 23.
TABLE 23
ESTIMATED PROBABLE ULTIMATE MEAN SEASONAL SUP-
PLEMENTAL WATER REQUIREMENTS, NORTH COASTAL
AREA
Hydrographic unit
Reference
rrumbei
Name
Acre-feet
1 ..
Tule Lake
269,000
2
3
Shasta Vallev
Scott Valley
237,000
85,000
4
5
Upper Klamath .
Trinity
:;t,iMio
57,400
6
31,000
7
8
9
10
Rogue
Dei Norte . . . . .
Redwood Creek _ _ .... _ _
Mad River..
1,200
45,200
3,400
58,000
11 __
103,000
12
13
Humboldt . . .
Mattole. _ _ _ -_ -_ -
151,000
10,400
14
100,000
15
311.000
16
86,800
APPROXIMATE TOTAL
1,583,000
CHAPTER IV
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
The San Francisco Bay Area lies between latitudes
37° and 38.5° N. and consists of the drainage areas
of streams discharging' into the Pacific' Ocean inclu-
sive of Lagunitas Creek on the north and Pescadero
Creek on the south, as well as all stream basins drain-
ing into San Francisco, San Pablo, and Snisun Pays
below points on the Sacramento River near Collins-
ville and the San Joaquin River near Pittsburg. The
area is designated Area 2 on Plate 8, and includes
major portions of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin,
Xapa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma
Counties, all of San Francisco County, and a small
portion of Santa Cruz County. The principal urban
centers are the large metropolitan areas in and ad-
jacent to the City of San Francisco, and the Cities of
Berkeley, Oakland, Alameda, Richmond, Vallejp, Red-
wood City, Palo Alto, and San Jose.
For the purpose of hydrologic analysis, the San
Francisco Bay Area was subdivided into 10 hydro-
graphic units, as delineated on Plate 8. The bound-
aries of the units were established with consideration
to geography, size, climate, and grouping of political
subdivisions. Table 24 lists the 10 hydrographic units
and their areas, and Table 25 presents the areas of
the portion of each county included within the San
Francisco Bay Area. Land areas shown are neces-
sarily approximate, principally because of the con-
tinuing program of tideland reclamation. The areas
of San Francisco Bay and that portion of Tomales
Bay in the Marin-Sonoma Hydrographic Unit were
not included in the tabulated areas.
The climate of the San Francisco Bay Area has
long been noted for moderate temperatures, relatively
TABLE 24
AREAS OF HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS,
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
Hydrograph
ic
unit
Reference
number
Name
Acres
1
2___
Marin-Sonoma. _ _
436.000
266,000
3
220,000
4...
237,000
406,000
6...
219,000
7
Santa Clara Valley
San Mateo-Bavside.
San Mateo-Coastal
San Francisco.
APPROXIMAT
455,000
8...
9-
10__
"E
TOTAL
115,000
155,000
29,200
2,538,000
TABLE 25
AREAS OF COUNTIES WITHIN BOUND-
ARIES OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
County
Acres
431,000
289,000
256,000
275.000
29,200
267,000
597,000
3,400
210,000
180.000
APPROXIMATE TOTAL. _
2,538,000
light precipitation, and summer fog along the coast.
The mean seasonal temperature in San Francisco is
56.5° F., while that at San Jose is about 60° F. This
temperature differential is principally caused by
summer fog, resulting in about 10 per cent less sun-
shine hours at San Francisco than at San Jose.
Precipitation varies widely throughout the area,
generally increasing witli elevation, but decreasing
witli distance from the coast. Mean seasonal depth
of precipitation for the entire area is approximately
23.4 inches, while that on the valley and mesa land
is about 20 inches. Variations from mean seasonal pre-
cipitation of from 50 per cent to 200 per cent in in-
dividual seasons are not uncommon. Approximately
90 per cent of the precipitation occurs during the six-
month period of November through April.
The mean seasonal natural runoff of streams of
the San Francisco Bay Area is estimated to be about
1 .245, 000 acre-feet, or 1.8 per cent of that for the
entire State. About 30 per cent of the runoff occm-s
in the Napa River, and Alameda and Coyote Creeks.
The remainder is divided among the many small
streams of the area. The estimated mean seasonal
runoff of the Napa River, the largest stream, is about
186,000 acre-feet, Stream flow directly reflects the
amount and intensity of precipitation. Under mean
conditions, about 00 per cent of the natural runoff
occurs during the period from November through
April.
Eleven valley fill areas, which may or may not con-
tain usable ground water, have been identified in the
San Francisco Bay Area, and are shown on Plate 4.
The principal valley fill areas include the Petaluma.
Napa-Sonoma, Suisiui-Fairfield, Santa Clara, and
Livermore Valleys. Other smaller areas include the
Pittsburg Plain, and Clayton. Ygnacio, San Ramon,
(77)
Santa Clara Valley Orchard
Courtesy Son Jose Chamber
of Commerce
SAX FRANCISCO BAY AREA
79
Castro, and Sunol Valleys. In addition to the areas
shown on Plate 4, several smaller basins of minor
local importance are known to exist. Water from sub-
surface basins is presently used extensively for agri-
cultural and urban purposes. Ground water supplies
in some areas have only recently been developed,
while in other areas excessive withdrawals over long
periods of time have caused overdrafts, evidenced by
lowering of water tables and, in some cases, by degra-
dation of water quality. Ground water will be of
considerable importance in meeting future require-
ments for water, and detailed studies of ground water
conditions in the most important basins are currently
being made by the Division of Water Resources and
the United States Geological Survey.
From the earliest days, agricultural enterprises of
the San Francisco Bay Area have fallen into two
general groups, one supplying fresh fruit, vegetables,
flowers, poultry, and dairy products to the metro-
politan area, and the other producing fruit, grain,
wine, and cattle for nse throughout the State and
Nation. Historically, irrigation has been carried on
extensively in the first group, while seldom practiced
in the second. However, at present a large acreage of
fruit, formerly dry-farmed, receives irrigation. The
following quotations, taken from the first agricul-
tural census in 1890, pointed the way of things to
come :
"Alameda County . . . noted for the large quan-
tity of fruit produced . . . ."
"Contra Costa County . . . fruit culture is of
great importance .... Owing to its proximity to
the City of San Francisco considerable areas on the
lowlands are devoted to market gardening . . . ."
"Marin County .... The principal industry
is dairy farming, the City furnishing a constant
market . . . ."
"Napa County .... The chief source of wealth
is in the vineyards, whose products are known
throughout the country . . . also every variety of
the so-called deciduous fruits is produced."
"San Francisco County .... Agriculture can
hardly be said to be carried on within the county,
but enumerators have found a number of areas
under cultivation. These are principally devoted to
truck farming . . . raising crop after crop in as
rapid succession as conditions will permit."
"San Mateo County .... Agriculture is car-
ried on to a small extent . . . . "
"Santa Clara County .... Throughout the
broad Santa Clara Valley and along the adjoining
foothills the cultivation of fruit is carried on exten-
sively .... Among the fruits prunes are prob-
ably the most important, and next to these come
peaches, apricots, and then the vineyards ....
Much of the fruit is shipped to market in the un-
dried or what is known as green condition . . . ."
"Solano County . . . large quantities of fruit
are produced . . . ."
"Sonoma County . . . noted for its vineyards
and perhaps to a less extent for its fine or-
chards . . . ."
Today, land of unquestionable value for agricul-
tural pursuits is being used for urban types of de-
velopment. San Francisco's strategic location on the
west coast, as well as its outstanding natural harbor,
the principal inlet to and outlet from the great Cen-
tral Valley of California, will undoubtedly continue
to cause expansion of the area as a major industrial
center. For these reasons, water utilization and re-
quirements for the San Francisco Bay Area were
studied with a view to ultimate urbanization, rather
than to increased use of land for irrigated agricul-
tural piirposes. It is anticipated, however, that agri-
culture will continue to play a role, particularly in
the economy of the counties north of the bay.
The relatively high degree of iirbanization in the
San Francisco Bay Area is shown by the fact that, in
both 1900 and 1950, about 75 per cent of the total
population was found in incorporated cities of over
10,000. The recent increase in urbanization, particu-
larly since 1940, is not entirely reflected in this value,
since quite a large portion consists of the growth of
unincorporated suburban communities.
Growth of population in the San Francisco Bay
Area in recent years has been approximately propor-
tional to that in the State as a whole. The total popu-
lation of the area in 1940 has been estimated at 1,652,-
000, while the 1950 population was approximately
2,555,000, representing an increase of 55 per cent dur-
ing the decade. As of 1950, 86 per cent of the total
population was living within the San Francisco-Oak-
land and San Jose urbanized areas, as outlined by the
United States Bureau of the Census. The 1940 and
1950 populations of the 11 largest cities in the area
are presented in Table 26, together with the popula-
tions of such parts of the unincorporated urbanized
areas as are nearest each city. For the purpose of this
comparative illustration, it was necessary to estimate
the 1940 populations in unincorporated portions of
the urbanized areas.
The economic basis of the San Francisco Bay Area
has long been closely associated with shipping and
foreign commerce, but, until recently, there has not
been an extensive heavy manufacturing industrial
development. Lack of developed supplies of raw ma-
terials, except in the case of agricultural commodities,
has in the past largely restricted manufacturing ac-
tivity to the assembly of finished goods from parts
fabricated in the east. However, a greatly increased
population, together with the stimulation provided by
war production requirements, has recently given rise
to a very significant growth in basic industries.
The industries presently supporting the expanding
population are associated with the excellent sea, rail-
I n
Urban Growth in
San Francisco Bay Area
Courtesy Davis Photo Service
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
81
TABLE 26
POPULATION OF PRINCIPAL URBAN CENTERS,
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
1940
1950
City
Within
city
limits
In
suburbs
Total
Within
city
limits
In
suburbs
Total
San Francisco
Oakland
San .lose
Richmond _. -
Berkeley _
San Leandro
Vallejo - .
San Mateo
Palo Alto
Alameda . .
Redwood City
635,000
302,000
68,500
23,600
85,500
14,600
20,100
19,400
16,800
36,300
12,500
68,300
12,400
36.500
10,400
14,800
24.600
17,300
24,100
17,700
10,500
703,000
314,000
105,000
34,000
100,000
39,200
37,400
43,500
34,500
36,300
23,000
775,000
385,000
95,300
99.500
114,000
27,500
26,000
41,800
25,500
64,400
25,500
124.000
13,000
66,800
44,900
24,000
73,200
56,900
39,100
47,900
29,300
899,000
398,000
162,000
144,000
138,000
101,000
82,900
80,900
73,400
64,400
54,800
way, and highway transportation networks terminat-
ing in the San Francisco Bay Area. Oil refineries,
chemical enterprises, and paper mills are found along
Suisnn and San Pablo Bays, and salt reduction works
along the shores of South San Francisco Bay, while
fabricating, food product, and textile plants are dis-
tributed throughout the area. Military installations at
Hamilton Field, Mare Island, Benicia Arsenal, and
Travis Air Force Base provide major employment
opportunities in the area north of the bay. Other
installations providing defense employment oppor-
tunities are the Naval Training Center at Treasure
Island, the Alameda Naval Air Station, Moffett Field,
Hunter's Point Naval Shipyard, and the Oakland
Naval Supply Depot. In addition to those named,
many other defense installations are located in the
San Francisco Bay Area.
The increasing population of the San Francisco Bay
Area is causing an expansion of the urban area and an
intensified usage of previously developed urban lands.
Alluvial plains between the hills and the marshlands
were among the first lands to be occupied for urban
purposes. Urban developments have since expanded
into the adjacent foothills and marshlands, and into
nearby developed agricultural lands on the alluvial
plains. The marshlands, requiring extensive reclama-
tion prior to utilization for urban activities, were
among the last to be occupied. Most reclamation of
marshlands has been undertaken for commercial, in-
dustrial, or agricultural purposes, although finite
recently residential development has occurred in small
areas of reclaimed marshland in Marin and San Mateo
Counties.
In the area south of the San Francisco-Oakland
Bay Bridge, practically all marshlands have either
been reclaimed or are being held for future use as salt
evaporation ponds. Adjacent to the City of San Fran-
cisco and to the East Bay metropolitan area, reclama-
tion has already extended across the marsh- and tide-
lands into areas of submerged land. Nearlv all marsh
areas in Marin County have been reclaimed in the
past, or are presently being reclaimed. Extensive
areas of unreclaimed marshlands still exist along the
north shore of San Pablo Bay and on both sides of
Suisun Bay.
Prior to the gold rush of 1849, the ranches and
small settlements in the San Francisco Bay Area ob-
tained their necessary water supplies from nearby
springs and streams. During gold rush days in San
Francisco, water in barrels was brought by barge
across the bay from Sausalito, and was then dis-
tributed from wagons. The first imported water sup-
ply for San Francisco was received through a system
of flumes and tunnels constructed between the city
and Lobos Creek by the San Francisco Water Works
in 1857. A competing company, the Spring Valley
Water Company, began developing supplies on the
peninsula south of the city, and in 1865 absorbed the
San Francisco Water Works. By 1890, four reservoirs
had been constructed on the peninsula, and the pos-
sibility of further development of local water supplies
of the peninsula was essentially exhausted. Alameda
< "reek, on the easterly shore, was then tapped, first at
Niles Canyon, followed by the Pleasanton well field,
and finally by filter galleries near Sunol. Storage of
local runoff was developed in Calaveras Reservoir
by 1925.
Agitation for a municipally owned water system
in San Francisco grew out of dissatisfaction with
service rendered by the private company, and led to
the inclusion of authorization for such a system in
the charter of 1900. The first action taken under this
authorization was the investigation of available
sources of supply located outside the San Francisco
Bay Area. Many possible developments w'ere con-
sidered, and the Tuolumne River was chosen as being
the most advantageous under conditions then exist-
ing. The main storage sites selected, Heteh Hetchy
Reservoir and Lake Eleanor, are located within the
limits of Yosemite National Park. A lengthy and
arduous struggle, with recreation and naturalist in-
terests opposing the development, followed. The
Raker Act, passed by Congress in 1913, concluded
the controversy generally in favor of the city. Hydro-
electric power installations were included in the de-
velopment plan, in addition to the water storage and
conveyance features of the project. The primary stage
of the project was constructed and placed in use by
1934. The most recent expansion of the Heteh Hetchy
system is the Cherry Valley Reservoir project, cur-
rently under construction. In 1930, the City and
County of San Francisco purchased the properties of
the Spring Valley Water Company. The present safe
yield of the Heteh Hetchy system is limited by the
capacity of the two aqueduct lines crossing the San
Joaquin Valley to 140,000,000 gallons per day, or
about 157,000 acre-feet per year. The total right to
waters of the Tuolumne River claimed by the City
S2
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
and County of San Francisco is 400,000,000 gallons
per day, or 448,000 acre-feet per year.
The East Bay Municipal Utility District is the
principal water service agency in the East Bay area,
and serves an area extending from San Lorenzo and
Castro Valley in Alameda County on the south, to
the town of Rodeo on the north, and easterly to Wal-
nut Creek and Pleasant Hills in the center of Contra
Costa County. Early development of local supplies
in the service area was undertaken by private con-
cerns, the most prominent of which were the Contra
Costa Water Company, the Peoples Water Company,
and the East Bay Water Company. As the need for
imported supplies became evident, voters of the region
established the East Bay Municipal Utility District in
1923. The district decided that development of the
Mokelumne River represented the best source of
water supply for the area. In 1929 the district con-
structed Pardee Reservoir in the foothills of the
Sierra Nevada near Lancha Plana, and an aqueduct
crossing the Central Valley to the service area. Hydro-
electric power produced below Pardee Dam con-
tributes to the financing of the project. In 1928 the
district assumed control of the properties of the East
Hay Water Company. The district is able at present
to deliver 145,000,000 gallons per day, or 162,500 acre-
feet per year, from the Mokelumne River system. The
district presently claims rights in Mokelumne River
waters to a total of 200,000,000 gallons per day, or
224,000 acre-feet of water per year. An application
by the district for the right to expand the system
further so as to deliver an additional 125,000,000 gal-
lons per day, or 140,000 acre-feet per year, is pres-
ently under consideration by the Division of Water
Resources.
The Marin Municipal Water District, organized in
1912, supplies water to the most heavily populated
southerly portion of Marin County. Lagunitas Creek,
draining the slopes of Mount Tamalpais, is the source
of water supply. This district was also preceded by
several private water utilities, of which the Marin
County Water Company was the most important.
The Contra Costa County Water District was or-
ganized in 1936 to distribute water from the Contra
Costa Canal, built by the United States Bureau of
Reclamation as a feature of the Central Valley Proj-
ect. The present yearly rate of importation to that
portion of the district within the San Francisco Bay
Area is about 40,000 acre-feet. The canal is designed
to eventually deliver water at the rate of 270 second-
feet, equivalent to about 195,000 acre-feet per .year, to
I lie Sim Francisco Bay Area.
The City of Vallejo has recently commenced im-
portation of water from Cache Slough in the Central
V;illcy .\rc;i. It is estimated that this import will
amounl to about 21, OOO.OOO gallons per day, or about
2:!, 00!) acre-feet, of water per year.
In addition to the foregoing, several smaller mu-
nicipal systems serve communities in the area.
The San Jose Water AVorks, serving the City of
San Jose and surrounding territory, is a privately
owned public utility. The California Water Service
Company owns and operates water supply systems in
18 communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. At
the present time a total of 145 agencies were supply-
ing water in the area. Water service agencies in this
area are listed by counties in Appendix B. Plate 12
shows the location of the principal water supply
agencies and works of the San Francisco Bay Area,
and Plate 14 illustrates trends of historical importa-
tions of water to the area.
The history of the major water service agencies
operating in the San Francisco Bay Area indicates
a trend toward the consolidation of small agencies
into large public districts. It appears that, because
of the capital investment required, large-scale water
supply developments can best be accomplished through
the efforts of such public agencies.
At the present time approximately 17 per cent of
the land acreage in the San Francisco Bay Area is
included in water service areas. About 60 per cent
of these lands are used for urban and military pur-
poses and the remaining lands are used for irrigated
agriculture.
The principal water problems of the San Francisco
Bay Area result from rapidly increasing population,
together with intensification of agricultural activities
and expanding practice of irrigation. In general, the
requirement for water to meet the urban phase of
this problem has been met by increased importations
and by development of local supplies through con-
struction of new surface storage works. Since World
War II, nearly every major water service agency
has increased its storage or conveyance facilities
in order to satisfy demands for service. Despite these
increases in facilities, the available water supply has
barely kept pace with the demand.
Growing agricultural water requirements have been
met largely by increased ground water pumpage,
which in several localities has introduced the previ-
ously mentioned problem of ground water overdraft.
The effects of ovedraft have been experienced in
lowering of water tables and degradation in quality
of ground water.
The possibility of damage from floods has always
existed in certain portions of the San Francisco Bay
Area, but the expansion of residential development
along the bay shores and into areas of reclaimed
marshland has aggravated the problem of flood dam-
age and control. Much of the residential development
which took place in the relatively dry seasons of 1947,
1948, and 1949, without sufficient consideration being
given to drainage, was subjected to flooding in the
wetter seasons of 1950, 1951, and 1952.
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
83
Future development in the San Francisco Bay
Area will depend in large measure upon fulfillment
of the increased water requirements for all purposes.
There follows a presentation of available data and
estimates pertinent to the nature and extent of water
requirements in the San Francisco Bay Area, both
at the present time and under conditions of probable
ultimate development .
PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS
As a necessary step in estimating present water
requirements in the San Francisco Bay Area, deter-
minations were made of the location, nature, and
extent of presently irrigated and urban and suburban
water service areas. Remaining lands were not classi-
fied in detail with regard to their relatively minor
miscellaneous types of water service, although such
water service was given consideration in estimating
the present water requirement.
Irrigated Lands
It was determined that an average of about 103,000
acres in the San Francisco Bay Area are h*rigated
each year under present conditions of development.
This constitutes about 2.4 per cent of the total irri-
gated area in California. Orchards comprise approxi-
mately 55 per cent, and truck crops about 25 per cent
of the total irrigated acreage.
The field surveys upon which determinations of
irrigated acreage in the San Francisco Bay Area were
based were accomplished in 1949 by the State Division
of Water Resources, largely in connection with spe-
cial investigations covering portions of the area. On
the basis of available survey data, the irrigated lands
were classified into various crop groups with a view
to segregating those of similar water use. Detailed
segregation of individual truck and nursery crops
was found to be impracticable. A list of the various
crop groups into which irrigated lands of the San
Francisco Bay Area were classified follows :
Alfalfa _ Hay, seed, and pasture
Pasture Grasses and legumes, other than
alfalfa, used for livestock forage
Beans String, lima, wax, and other
Flowers Flowers, seed, and nursery crops
Grain Miscellaneous grains
Orchard Almonds and prunes
Orchard Walnut
Orchard Other deciduous, apricots, apples,
olives, peaches, and pears
Sugar beets
Truck crops Intensively cultivated fresh vege-
tables, including lettuce, celery,
brussels sprouts, broccoli, arti-
chokes, tomatoes, and corn
Vineyard All varieties of grapes
Dry-farmed land is used for grain, orchards, pas-
ture and hay, and vineyards, but is not considered
part of the present, water service area. The total
acreage of dry-farmed land is shown in subsequent
tabulations, to afford a comparison with the present
extent of irrigation. Farm lots, consisting of farm
buildings and areas immediately surrounding them,
are included as a part of other water service areas in
the San Francisco Bay Area.
Summaries of presently irrigated acreages within
the San Francisco Bay Area by the various crop
groups are presented in Tables 27 and 28. Table 27
lists the acreages by hydrographic units, and Table
28 by counties.
TABLE 27
AREAS OF PRESENTLY IRRIGATED AND DRY-FARMED LANDS WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS,
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Net irrigated
Refer-
ence
number
Name
Alfalfa
Pasture
Beans
Flowers
Grain
Orchard,
almond.
prune
Orchard,
walnut
Orchard,
other
decid-
uous
Sugar
beets
Truck
crops
Vine-
yard
Approx-
imate
total
Dry-
farmed
1
2
Marin-Sonoma .___.
100
700
800
2,500
1,200
900
100
800
2,400
2,900
200
1,300
1,100
e
500
400
300
1,100
200
100
300
100
200
600
400
100
100
200
1,800
300
100
43,500
100
100
100
2,900
600
500
6,000
200
5,500
1.100
300
3,900
27,400
100
900
2,900
3,000
400
1,100
200
1,200
2,000
11,200
16,800
1,200
4,300
500
300
500
2,200
2,200
2,600
8,300
6,000
7,000
23,800
105,000
2,400
5,200
29,600
50 000
3
4
Solano
38,200
25 500
5
6
Livermore Valley .
31,500
29.100
7
8
Santa Clara Valley
31.000
9 200
9
200
28,300
10
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS..
4.100
8,500
3,100
2,000
1,800
46,000
10,300
38,500
6,800
38,400
3,500
163,000
272,000
Urban Development in San Francisco
Courtesy Slate Division of Highways
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
85
TABLE 28
AREAS OF PRESENTLY IRRIGATED AND DRY-FARMED LANDS WITHIN COUNTIES, SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
(In acres)
Net irrigatec
County
Alfalfa
Pasture
Beans
Flowers
( train
Or-
chard,
almond,
prune
Or-
chard,
walnut
Or-
chard,
other
decid-
uous
Sugar
beets
Truck
crops
Vine-
yard
Ap-
proxi-
mate
total
Dry-
farmed
Alameda .
1,500
100
3,200
400
900
200
2,900
100
800
1,500
500
1,100
700
1,300
1,000
200
300
100
100
100
100
300
200
43,500
1.800
100
800
3.200
100
100
6,000
100
4,000
1,300
100
27,400
5,500
200
3,800
3,000
13,200
1,300
400
400
30,200
6,700
600
2,600
7,600
105,000
8,300
1,500
56,700
Contra Costa.
29,500
Marin _.
3.000
Napa .. . .
1,100
5,500
16,800
200
300
2,200
500
48.000
San Francisco
San Mateo
37.500
Santa Clara
2,500
31.000
Santa Cruz. __ _ _
Solano _ _ _ _
40,200
Sonoma- _ __
2 3,600
APPROXIMATE TOTALS. _
4,100
8,500
3,100
2,000
1,800
46,000
10,300
38,500
6,800
38,400
3,500
163,000
272,000
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas
It was determined that under present conditions of
development in the San Francisco Bay Area approxi-
mately 22."). 000 acres are devoted to urban and subur-
ban types of land use. For the most part the busi-
ness, commercial, and industrial establishments and
surrounding homes included in this areal classifica-
tion receive a municipal type of water supply.
Detailed land use surveys were made in this area,
with particular attention being given to the highly
urbanized metropolitan area. The results of the
survey are presented on Plate 10, "Present Land Use
in San Francisco Bay Area." Urban and suburban
areas were further divided into the broad classes of
residential, industrial, commercial, institutional, park,
and streets, including vacant lands. These classes of
land use were further subdivided as follows:
Residential types of land use were separated into
single and multiple occupancy. Although dwellings
designed to house not more than two families were
grouped in the "single" classification, single-family
residences were predominant in this type of use. Mul-
tiple residential uses included all structures housing
three or more family units. Both classes included
minor areas used for schools and parks such as are
normally found in residential developments.
Industrial types of land use were further divided
into three subclasses in accordance with their esti-
mated water requirements. General industrial uses,
designated as "industrial" on Plate 10, include man-
ufacturing, storage, transportation, and wholesale
distribution facilities. Industries with minor water
demands, shown on Plate 10 as "low water-using
industrial," include oil tank farms, powder and ex-
plosive storage, and salt evaporation ponds. Airfields
and appurtenant facilities are the third class of in-
dustrial use considered.
TABLE 29
PRESENT URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
(In acres
Hydrographic unit
Area requiring water service
Area not requir-
ing water service
Name
Residential
Industrial
Com-
mer-
cial
Insti-
tutions
Irri-
gated
parks
Sub-
total
Refer-
Streets
and
vacant
Nonirri-
gated
parks
Approx-
imate
ence
num-
ber
Single
Multiple
General
Low
water-
using
Air-
fields
gross
area
l._
4,600
3,100
500
7,400
600
17,500
10,300
7,300
800
7,200
600
400
200
2,400
15,000
7,900
5,600
100
800
100
200
1,000
200
1,100
100
500
300
100
500
100
2,000
800
300
100
1,200
500
500
400
100
1 .300
600
300
800
300
300
200
600
1,500
600
2,100
600
2,900
6,400
5,800
800
15.500
1,000
42.800
22,300
17,900
1 ,600
15,300
8,800
3,300
700
14,200
2.500
27,800
10.500
15.700
1,500
10,400
100
100
600
100
15 °00
2
9 ''00
3..
1,500
29,700
3,600
71 °00
4..
800
3,300
5.. .
Livermore Vallev
6__ .
1,100
300
200
3,400
1 ,600
1,000
7
3° 800
8_ _..
33 700
9
3,100
25 700
10
1,600
1,600
APPROXIMATE TOTALS
59,300
4,600
11,500
30,900
3,600
5,900
4,500
9,100
129,000
95,400
900
225,000
86
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 30
PRESENT URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS WITHIN COUNTIES, SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
(In acres)
Area requiring water service
Area not
requiring
County
Residential
Industrial
Com-
mercial
Insti-
tutions
Irrigated
parks
Sub-
total
water service
Approxi-
mate
Single
Multiple
General
Low
water-
using
Airfields
Streets
and
vacant
Non-
irrigated
parks
gross area
18,100
7,400
3,300
1,300
7,200
8,100
10,300
2,300
1,300
1,100
800
3,400
3,300
200
100
1,600
1,000
1,600
100
200
15,000
2,400
5,600
7,900
1,200
100
100
700
1,200
200
100
2,100
500
300
200
1,200
400
800
200
200
1,400
400
400
400
800
300
600
100
100
1.500
600
100
200
2,900
2,700
600
300
200
43,800
15,500
4,400
2,900
15,300
19,500
22,300
3,700
2,000
30,300
14,200
4,500
1,400
10,400
17,200
10,500
2,600
4,300
700
74,800
Contra Costa __ _ _
29,700
8,900
100
100
4,400
San Francisco
San Mateo
Santa Clara
Santa Cruz
1,600
200
300
600
25,700
36,800
3\800
6,300
Sonoma
0,300
.
APPROXI-
MATE
TOTALS
59,300
4,600
11,500
30,900
3,600
5,900
4,500
9,100
129,000
95,400
900
225,000
Commercial land uses include retail stores, office
buildings, garages, hotels, and miscellaneous types of
similar establishments. The institutional classification
includes land utilized for universities, hospitals,
homes for the aged, and miscellaneous.
Areas classified as parks were further divided into
subgroups designated as irrigated and nonirrigated.
This class also includes cemeteries. Municipal parks
only were included with the urban and suburban
types of land use. Street and sidewalk areas within
large parks were included in the park areas. The
"street and vacant" land use classification includes
streets, sidewalks, and vacant lots located within the
area classified as urban.
The acreages of urban and suburban water service
areas within each hydrographic unit of the San Fran-
cisco Bay Area are listed in Table 29 and within each
county in Table 30.
Unclassified Areas
Remaining lands in the San Francisco Bay Area,
other than those that are irrigated or urban and
suburban in character, were not classified in detail
with regard to present water service. Of a total of
about 2,150,000 acres of such remaining lands, about
50,000 acres actually receive water service at the
presenl time. These service areas consist of farm lots
and military reservations, and were not segregated
among hydrographic units or counties.
Farm lots consist of farm buildings and areas im-
mediately surrounding them receiving water service.
The lands devoted to this use amounted to about 13,-
iiiiii acres in 1949. The gross area of lands included
within military reservations was about 37,000 acres.
No breakdown in accordance with type of military
use, i.e., housing, industrial, etc., was made in this
classification.
State parks and similar areas were not included in
the unclassified areas receiving water service in the
San Francisco Bay Area. In most of these recrea-
tional areas the use of water is relatively minor, and
is confined principally to administrative areas and
public camp grounds.
Summary
Present water service areas within hydrographic
units of the San Francisco Bay Area are summarized
in Table 31, and within counties in Table 32.
TABLE 31
SUMMARY OF PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS WITHIN
HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Irrigated
Urban
and
suburban
areas
Approximate
total
Reference
number
Name
1
2
Marin-Sonoma
2,200
2,600
8,300
6,000
7,000
23.800
105,000
2,400
5.200
15,200
9,200
1,500
29,700
3,600
71,200
32,800
33,700
3,100
25,700
17,400
11,800
3
4—
Solano
9,800
35,700
5
6
7
8
9
10
Livermore Valley
Alameda-Bavside . . _
Santa Clara Valley
San Mateo- Bayside
San Mateo-Coastal
10,600
95.000
138.000
36,100
8,300
25.700
163,000
225,000
388,000
Unclassified areas re-
ceiving water service-
APPROXIMATE
TOTAL
50,000
438,000
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
TABLE 32
SUMMARY OF PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS WITHIN
COUNTIES, SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
(In acres)
County
Irrigated
Urban
and
suburban
areas
Approximate
total
Alameda
Contra ( losta __
Marin..
30,200
0,7(1(1
000
2,600
7,600
id:,, in in
8,300
1 ,500
74,800
29,700
8.900
4,100
25,700
30,800
32,800
0,300
0,300
105,
36, loo
9,500
7,000
San Francisco . . . ..
25,700
44,400
Santa Clara
Santa Cruz . . —
Solano . . —
Sonoma —
138.000
14,000
7,800
Subtotals - -
Unclassified arris receiving water
service
103,000
225,000
388,000
50,000
APPROXIMATE TOTAL..
438,000
PROBABLE ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE AREAS
To aid in estimating ultimate water requirements
in the San Francisco Bay Area, projections were first
made to determine the probable ultimate areal extent
of irrigated crops and of urban and suburban types of
land use. It was assumed that the remainder of the
area, referred to as "other water service areas," will
ultimately receive water service commensurate with
its needs. Tidelands and other submerged lands were
assumed to be reclaimed and developed to the most
practicable use, and estimates were made both with
and without such reclamation.
Tidelands and Submerged Lands
Susceptible of Reclamation
The reclamation of tidelands and other submerged
lands is a problem peculiar in California to the San
Francisco Bay Area, with its many square miles of
reelaimable lands bordering the great inland bays. In
order to define the problem and establish standards
for projecting ultimate development, three classifi-
cations of such lands were established. These classi-
fications were :
Marshlands
Tidelands
Submerged lands-
-Lands lying above ordinary high
tide levels and supporting vege-
tation, but which are flooded by
extreme high tides
-Lands comprising barren mud
flats lying between high and low
tide levels, alternately covered
and exposed by daily tidal fluc-
tuations
-Lands lying below ordinary low
tides, covered at all times by
water of the bay
All marshlands were assumed to be susceptible of
reclamation, generally for urban types of land use. It
was further estimated that large areas of tidelands
and submerged lands will, under conditions of ulti-
mate development, be reclaimed.
Reclamation of tidal or submerged areas can best
be accomplished with solid fills or levees constructed
to appropriate elevations above high tide levels. Rec-
lamation by solid fills results in costs which generally
can only be justified by industrial, commercial, or
similar uses of land. In the determination of suscep-
tibility of marshes and tidelands to reclamation, it
was assumed that reclamation would be effected by
the construction of levees whenever feasible. Many
successful projects for reclaiming tidal and sub-
merged lands have been effected through levee con-
struction. This method has been principally used in
the Netherlands where large areas have been con-
verted to productive lands through reclamation.
In a large portion of San Francisco, San Pablo,
and Suisun Bays a flat, gently sloping bottom lies
but a few feet below the water surface at low tide.
Deep, relatively narrow channels with almost pre-
cipitous banks cut through this sloping floor of the
bay. In most sections the edges of such channels lie
less than 12 feet below mean lower low water. Areas
susceptible of reclamation were assumed to extend
approximately to the channel edges, where the bottom
slopes change abruptly and further increments of re-
claimable land can be enclosed only by excessive and
uneconomic levee cross-sections. Exceptions to the
general delineation of reelaimable areas were made,
principally in San Pablo and Suisun Bays, in order
to maintain sufficient main channel for accommoda-
tion of flood flows in the Sacramento and San Joaquin
Rivers and to facilitate navigation.
Most of the levee construction required to effect
reclamation would be built upon a base six feet or
less below mean lower low water. At several locations,
however, base elevations as great as 12 feet below
mean lower low water would be necessary.
Pattern of Ultimate Development
The pattern of ultimate development in the San
Francisco Bay Area was first projected on the as-
sumption that no reclamation of tidelands would
occur, and secondly, that all feasible tidal and sub-
merged lands would be reclaimed. As stated hereto-
fore, reclamation of marshlands was implicit in both
assumptions. In both cases it was estimated for the
area as a whole that the ultimate development on all
habitable lands would be 95 per cent urban, and that
the remaining lands would be devoted to irrigated
agriculture. However, variations of this ratio were
assumed for ultimate development in individual hy-
drographic units.
It was recognized that reclaimed areas would prob-
ably be principally occupied by industry and basic
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
commercial activities, such as warehousing. It was also
assumed that other urban activities, and irrigated
agriculture, would expand into areas now vacant at
such rates and in such amounts as to attain ultimately
the proportional distribution set forth in the preced-
ing paragraph.
Irrigated Lands
It was assumed that ultimately all lands in the San
Francisco Bay Area that are suitable for irrigated
agriculture, and not then occupied by urban and sub-
urban developments, would be irrigated. Although no
surveys were made to determine the locations of ir-
rigable lands, the portion of the gross irrigable area
that would ultimately be irrigated was estimated to be
about five per cent of the total habitable area, after
deductions were made for otherwise irrigable lands
assumed to be ultimately urbanized. Of the ultimate
gross irrigated area, an estimated two per cent rep-
resents lands expected to be occupied by farm lots,
and an additional three per cent represents the in-
cluded nonwater-using lands, such as roads, rail-
roads, nonirrigable lands, etc. The remaining acreage
represents the average area estimated to be actu-
ally irrigated each year under ultimate conditions
of development. Table 33 lists the estimates of ulti-
mate irrigated areas in hydrographic units of the San
Francisco Bay Area, and Table 34 presents these
data by counties.
To aid in estimating the probable ultimate water
requirements, it was assumed that the irrigated lands
would ultimately be devoted almost exclusively to
truck crops, flower gardens and nurseries, dairies, and
poultry farms. However, no detailed crop pattern was
forecast.
TABLE 33
PROBABLE ULTIMATE AREAS OF IRRIGATED LANDS
WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, SAN FRANCISCO BAY
AREA
(In acres)
TABLE 34
PROBABLE ULTIMATE AREAS OF IRRIGATED LANDS
WITHIN COUNTIES, SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Gross
irrigated
area
Farm
lots
Included
nonwater
service
area
Ref-
erence
num-
ber
Name
Net
irrigated
area
l
2
3
Marin-Sonoma
Napa Valley
8,500
5,600
35,000
1 2,300
1,200
1 ,900
1,300
200
100
700
200
100
100
100
300
200
900
•400
100
8,000
5,300
33,400
l
5
6
7
s
9
( !on1 ra Costa
Livermore Valley__
Alainiwla Ba\ sidr
Santa Clara Valley
San Mateo-Bayside
San Mah., ( ,,a-fal
San l rancisco
VPPROXIMATE
1 1 ,700
1,100
1,700
1,200
m
65,800
1 .500
1,900
62,400
County
Gross
irri-
gated
area
Farm
lots
Included
nonwater
service
area
Net
irrigated
area
5,900
5,600
1,300
9,500
35,000
8,500
100
100
100
300
700
200
200
200
300
900
300
5,600
5,300
1,200
8.900
33,400
8,000
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS -
65,800
1,500
1,900
62,400
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas
It is considered probable that the present trend of
rapid urbanization in certain portions of the San
Francisco Bay Area will continue in the future. In
estimates for this bulletin, it was assumed that urban
and suburban types of land use ultimately will occupy
all lands in the Contra Costa, San Mateo-Bayside, and
San Francisco Hydrographic Units, except those lands
topographically unsuited for development. Considera-
tion of present trends in Marin and Contra Costa
Counties indicates that these regions will ultimately
be urban in character.
Areas estimated to be ultimately occupied by the
various urban land use types were determined by ap-
plying percentage factors to the determined ultimate
TABLE 35
PATTERNS OF PROBABLE ULTIMATE URBAN DEVELOP-
MENT WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, SAN FRAN-
CISCO BAY AREA
(In per cent of gross urban area)
Urban classification
San Francisco
Hydrographic
Unit
Other
hydrographic
units
Residential
Single -.-
Multiple
33.4
7.2
41.8
3.3
Subtotals
40.6
45.1
Industrial, including airfields
7.3*
10.6*
5.5
3.4
13.2
4.1
Institutions and parks
3.2
7.0
16.6
30.0
10.2
Area not requiring water service -.
30.0
TOTALS
100.0
100.0
* Does not include low water-using industrial area.
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
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WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
gross urban and suburban area, tbe factors being
based upon present urban land use patterns and ex-
pected future changes. Table 35 presents the factors
used in the estimate of ultimate urban development.
In the determination of probable ultimate water
service areas, the area occupied by farm lots was in-
cluded as a portion of the gross irrigable area.
In the determination of ultimate land use, certain
assumptions were made as to the ultimate disposition
of lands presently occupied by military reservations.
All such areas presently existing were included within
urban classifications. Water requirements within mili-
tary reservations are generally less, on a gross acre-
age basis, than in other urban classifications. The
estimates of ultimate gross water requirements in
these areas, therefore, should be generally conserva-
tive, dependent upon the degree of change in land
use due to establishment or abandonment of defense
installations.
Table 36 presents the probable ultimate pattern of
land use in urban and suburban water service areas
in hydrographic units of the San Francisco Bay Area.
and Table 37 presents the probable ultimate gross
urban and suburban areas in counties of the area.
Other Water Service Areas
The remaining 1,222,000 acres of the San Francisco
Bay Area, not included in either the ultimate irrigated
or urban and suburban water service areas, were not
classified in detail regarding the nature of their prob-
able ultimate water service. It was assumed that these
"other water service areas" will include developed
areas within the national and state parks, state
beaches, and scattered recreational, residential, and
industrial developments not included in the ultimate
urban and suburban water service area. The greatest
portion of these lands are in areas topographically or
otherwise unsuitable for intensive development. Other
water service areas within hydrographic units ami
within counties are presented in Table 38.
Summary
Table 39 presents a summary of probable ultimate
water service areas, segregated into irrigated, urban
and suburban, and other water service areas.
TABLE 38
OTHER WATER SERVICE AREAS UNDER PROBABLE
ULTIMATE CONDITIONS, SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
(In acres)
Location
Hydrographic unit
Approximate
gross area
Reference
number
Name
1_._
2
3
Marin-Sonoma.. ...
Napa Valley ...
198,000
135,000
61,800
4
77,900
5
310,000
7
8
9
Alameda-Bayside.
Santa Clara Valley
San Mateo-Bayside
64,200
236.000
18.000
1 "0.000
10
600
APPROXIMATE TOTAL _. .
1,222,000
County
202,000
ta ......
116,000
136,000
163.000
600
134,000
37 1 ,000
3,400
33,900
61,900
ROXIMATE TOTAL
APF
1,222,000
TABLE 39
SUMMARY OF PROBABLE ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE AREAS, SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Without reclamation of tidelands
With reclamation of tidelands
Irrigated
lands
L'rban
and
suburban
areas
Other
nilli'l
service
areas
Approxi-
mate
total
Irrigated
lands
Urban
and
suburban
areis
Other
water
service
areas
Reference
number
Name
Approxi-
mate
total
l
Marin-Sonoma
8,500
5,600
35,000
1 2,300
1,200
1,900
1,300
229,000
125,000
123,000
159,000
83,300
154,000
217,000
97,400
31,30(1
28,600
198,000
135,000
61,800
77,900
310,000
64,200
230,000
18,000
120,000
600
436,000
266,000
220,000
237,000
106,000
219.000
455,000
115,000
155,000
29,200
8,500
5,600
35,000
1 2.300
1 ,200
1,900
1,300
263,000
143,000
133,000
172.000
83.300
213,000
219,000
118,000
34,300
29,500
198,000
135,000
61,800
77,900
310.000
64.200
236,00(1
18,000
120,000
600
470,000
■
Napa \ dley
284,000
■■'.
Solano
230.000
1
( '•■ntia < !osta
250,000
S
6
7
8..
Livermore V allej
Uameda Bayside
Santa 1 lara \ alley . .
Mat* o- Bayside
406,000
278,000
457,000
136.000
9
.,■! tal
155,000
in
San 1 ranci i o
30,100
APPROXIM \TE TOTALS
65,800
1,250,000
1,222,000
2,538,000
65,800
1,408,000
1,222,000
2,096,000
SAX FRANCISCO BAY AREA
<)1
UNIT VALUES OF WATER USE
Unit seasonal values of water use in the San Fran-
cisco Bay Area were determined in accordance Avith
the methods and procedures described in Chapter II.
Unit values of urban water use were based upon spe-
cial studies conducted in various communities of the
area by the East Bay Municipal Utility District and
the San Francisco Water Department. Data employed
in determination of unit values of water use for irri-
gated crops included the results of studies conducted
by various public agencies.
Irrigation Water Use
Unit seasonal A r alues of consumptive use of water by
irrigated crops were, in general, determined in ac-
cordance with the methods of Chapter II. Estimated
unit seasonal values of consumptive use of applied
irrigation water and of precipitation by various crop
groups are presented in Table 40. The probable mean
seasonal consumptive use of water on lands ultimately
to be irrigated was estimated by applying the unit
value of water use for truck crops, considered repre-
sentative of average unit use for all irrigated crops, to
the net irrigated acreage.
Urban and Suburban Water Use
The unit seasonal value of consumptive use of water
in urban and suburban developments is influenced
largely by geographic and geologic aspects of the de-
veloped area. In a large part of the San Francisco
Bay Area, present urban developments overlie either
bedrock or impervious materials which prevent per-
colation of water to any underlying bodies of ground
water. Additionally, the sewage outflow is discharged
to San Francisco Bay from much of the urban area
overlying free ground water. In these areas, the con-
sumptive use of applied water was considered to be
equivalent to the unit net delivery of water, as only
minor ground water recharge from the applied water
occurs.
In the determination of present water requirements
in the free ground water zones of Liverrnore and
Santa Clara Valleys, ground water recharge from the
present urban area was estimated as a separate quan-
tity. The entire urban and suburban development in
the San Francisco Bay Area was assumed to be sew-
ered under conditions of probable ultimate develop-
ment, and no recharge to underlying ground water
from this source was considered to occur.
Present unit values of consumptive use of applied
water were determined for most types of urban land
use from studies of data collected in extensive field
sampling of actual water deliveries to consumers in
each land use classification. The sampling procedures
employed are discussed in Chapter II. The estimated
values where records of deliveries were not available
\ve re based upon estimates of consumptive use on
similar areas in other parts of California.
Ultimate unit values of consumptive use of applied
water were obtained by modifying present values in
certain classifications to account for indicated trends.
In this connection, a study of historical trends was
made in the City of San Francisco on a basis of use
of water per acre, and in the distribution areas of
several other large water service agencies on a basis of
per capita use. However, the results of this study were
unsatisfactory, as it was not possible to derive a maxi-
mum limitation on the ultimate unit value of use of
applied water.
In view of the foregoing, assumptions were made
concerning future increases in values of water use on
various urban types, and with regard to eventual land
use practices in different hydrographic units. It was
estimated that increasing use of modern water-using
appliances, such as automatic washers and garbage
TABLE 40
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT VALUES OF CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON IRRIGATED LANDS,
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
(In feet of depth)
Hydrographic unit
Alfalfa
Pasture
Beans
Flowers
Grain
Orchard,
almond-prunes
Refer-
ence
num-
ber
Name
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipita-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipita-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipita-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipita-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipita-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
eipita-
tion
Total
1
Marin-Sonoma
Napa Vallev -
2.0
1.6
3.6
2.1
2.1
2.4
2.3
2.3
2.1
2.2
2.1
1.9
1.3
1.3
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.3
1.2
3.4
3.4
3.6
3.5
3.5
3.3
3.4
3.4
3.1
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.1
0.9
1.0
1.0
1 .1
0.8
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1 .1
1.2
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.3
2.1
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.0
1.1
1.1
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.2
1.2
1.4
1.4
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.3
2.5
2
■> .-,
3
2 6
4____
( !ontra Costa
0.8
1.1
0.7
1.1
1.1
1.2
1.9
2.2
1.9
2.6
2.6
2 . 5
2.5
5
6
7
Liverrnore Valley
Alaineda-Bayside
Santa Clara Valley _ _
San Mateo-Bayside__
San Mateo-Coastal_ _
San Francisco
2.4
2.1
2.1
2.2
1.9
1.3
1.5
1.5
1 .5
1.5
3.7
3.6
3.6
3.7
3.4
0.4
0.6
0.7
1.2
1.2
1.1
1.6
1.8
1.8
8
0.7
0.5
1.2
1.2
1.9
1 .7
9
0.5
1.2
1.7
10
92
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 40— Continued
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT VALUES OF CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON IRRIGATED LANDS,
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
(In feet of depth)
Hydrographic unit
Orchard, walnut
Orcharc
other decid
JOUS
Sugar beets
Truck
Vineyard
Refer-
ence
number
Name
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
eipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
1
Marin-Sonoma .
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
1.9
1.7
1.2
1.7
1.4
1.4
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.3
1.3
1.4
3.0
3.1
3.0
3.1
3.1
3.0
2.5
3.1
1.4
1.4
2.8
1.1
1.1
1.2
1.2
1.1
1.1
1.2
1.0
1.1
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.1
1.2
1.1
2.0
1.7
2.3
2.3
2.4
2.4
2.2
2.3
2.3
3.0
2.8
0.9
1.2
2.1
2
3
Solano _ _ __
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.5
1.2
1.6
1.3
1.3
1.2
1.2
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.3
3.6
2.9
2.9
2.8
2.5
2.9
2.6
1.1
1.0
1.0
0.9
0.9
1.1
0.9
1.1
1.2
1.2
2.2
4
1.9
5
6
Livermore Valley
1.2
1.1
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.1
2.4
2.3
2.3
2.1
2.1
7
2.1
8__
9
10
disposal units, would result in an ultimate residential
use per acre of some 15 per cent greater than at
present. Unit values of present multiple residential
use of water were found to differ in the various hydro-
graphic units, being exceptionally high in the San
Francisco Hydrographic Unit. With the exception of
this hydrographic unit, therefore, it was assumed
that the ultimate multiple residential use would be
the same in all hydrographic units, and 15 per cent
greater than the highest present use. It was further
assumed that in the San Francisco Hydrographic
Unit ultimate multiple residential unit use of water
would be 15 per cent greater than the present rela-
tively high value.
In hydrographic units which at present have a rela-
tively minor degree of industrial development, ulti-
mate unit values of water use for the industrial
classification were generally assumed to be the same
as the present value in the more intensively developed
areas. In those hydrographic units presently some-
what more highly developed, adjustments were made
in the unit values of use of applied water where it was
believed that the distribution of industry would
change in the future.
In the remaining classes of land use, including
commercial, airfields, irrigated parks, and institutions,
the ultimate unit values of use of applied water were
assumed to be equal to the present values.
The present and probable ultimate values of net
delivery of applied water in urban and suburban
areas are presented in Table 41. Weighted mean unit
values applicable to net urban and suburban water
service areas within hydrographic units are also pre-
sented in Table 41. This table indicates that the prob-
TABLE 41
ESTIMATED PRESENT AND PROBABLE ULTIMATE MEAN SEASONAL UNIT VALUES OF WATER DELIVERY IN
URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS, SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
(In feet of depth)
Hydrographic unit
Residential
Industrial
Commercial
Instit
utions
Irrigated
Weighted
Reference
number
Name
Single
Multiple
General
Airfield
parks
mean*
Pres-
ent
Ulti-
mate
Pres-
ent
Ulti-
mate
Pres-
ent
Ulti-
mate
Pres-
ent
Ulti-
mate
Pres-
ent
Ulti-
mate
Pres-
ent
Ulti-
mate
Pres-
ent
Ulti-
mate
Pres-
ent
Ulti-
mate
1 .
2
Marin-Sonoma
Napa Valley.
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
4
2.3
2.3
2.3
2.3
2.3
2.3
2.3
2.3
2.3
4.6
7
4
4
(i
4
7
6
7
7
15
8.1
8.1
8.1
8.1
8.1
8.1
8.1
8.1
8.1
17.3
6
4
4
19
45
9
8
8
2
6
7
8
8
14
8
9
9
8
2
6
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
10
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
10
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2.3
2.1
2.0
5.5
3.6
2.0
1.8
1.6
1.7
5.1
3.0
2.8
3
1
5
6
7
Solano
' 'ontra ' V-ta ....
Livermore Valley
Al.imrda-Bayside
Santa ( lara Valley
3.1
3.7
3.1
2.7
3.0
s
9
San Mateo-Bayside
San Mateo ' loastal
2.8
2.4
10...
rancisco
« n .ii l l D MEAN
5.7
2.2
2.3
9.8
8.5
11.1
8.7
0.4
0.4
5.2
4.2
2.0
2.0
1.0
1.0
2.7
3.1
NOTE: Water delivery assumed equivalent t<i consumptive use of applied water.
* includes low water using industrial an i ii zero depth.
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
9:-!
able ultimate weighted mean unit values of consump-
tive use of urban water will not be significantly
greater than present values. Estimated increases in
single-family residential use will be offset by decreases
in other urban water use classifications. Particularly
in some hydrographic units, it was assumed that in
the future there would be a wider range of the types
of industry than occurs at present, resulting in a
decrease in the average unit water use value for
industry.
Use of Water in Other Water Service Areas
Unit values of water use on lands requiring water
service, but not included in the irrigated or urban
and suburban water service areas, were derived gen-
erally from measured or estimated present deliveries
of water to typical areas involved, or from records
and estimates of per capita use of water. Since the
quantity of water involved is small, and since recovery
of return flow is generally negligible, total deliveries
were considered to be consumptively used.
The present mean seasonal unit delivery of water
to farm lots was considered to be equivalent to the
consumptive use of applied water, except in free
ground water zones, where recharge was determined
separately. Both present and ultimate unit values of
delivery of water to farm lots were estimated to be
equivalent to a depth of two feet per season.
The present value of unit water delivery to military
areas was not determined. Instead, records of metered
total annual delivery to all installations were ob-
tained. Although a large percentage of military lands
lay idle during 1949, it was assumed that under con-
ditions of ultimate development substantially all mili-
tary lands will have been developed, either by mili-
tary authorities or by private enterprise. It was
further estimated that this development would result
in requirements equivalent to those of a similar acre-
age of balanced urban development.
Unit values of probable ultimate water use on
scattered residential, industrial, and recreational de-
velopments were determined on the basis of estimated
population densities varying from 5 to 40 persons
per square mile, and per capita water use of 70 gal-
lons per day. These factors were employed in esti-
mating the ultimate requirement of unclassified areas,
and this requirement was considered to be equivalent
to the consumptive use of applied water. The negli-
gible aggregate water requirement resulting from
these assumptions was not considered in determining
supplemental water requirements for the San Fran-
cisco Bay Area.
CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER
Consumptive use of water in water service areas
of the San Francisco Bay Area was generally deter-
mined by applying appropriate unit seasonal values
of consumptive use to estimated areas occupied either
by crops or by urban and suburban classes of land
use. Estimates of seasonal consumptive use of applied
water and precipitation in present water service areas
are given in Table 42.
TABLE 42
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL CONSUMPTIVE USE OF
WATER ON PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS, SAN
FRANCISCO BAY AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Irrigated
lands
Urban
and
sub-
urban
areas
Un-
classi-
fied
areas
Approx-
imate
total
con-
Name
sump-
Applied
water
Precipi-
tation
tive
Refer-
ence
number
Applied
water
Applied
water
use of
applied
water
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Marin-Sonoma. _ _ _
Napa Valley-
Solano _
Contra Costa
Livermore Valley __
Alameda-Bayside_-
Santa Clara Valley
San Mateo- Bayside
San Mateo-Coastal
San Francisco
APPROXI-
MATE
TOTALS _-.
3,700
3,800
13,000
9,700
10,100
30,800
130,000
2,000
5,500
2,800
3,300
10,700
7,100
8,200
29.600
133,000
3.800
8.400
15,000
12,400
2,000
85,200
3,500
85.800
39,500
28,700
2,700
77,600
4,200
5,200
3.600
2.700
2,300
5,700
5,200
500
1,200
5,000
22,900
21,400
18,600
97,600
15,900
122,000
175,000
31.200
9,400
82,600
209,000
207,000
352,000
35,600
597,000
Table 43 presents corresponding estimates for prob-
able ultimate conditions of development. These esti-
mates represent the seasonal values under mean con-
ditions of water supply and climate.
The consumptive use estimates for urban and sub-
urban and unclassified areas represent the gross de-
livery of water to lands so classified. Ultimate con-
sumptive use of water on all irrigated lands was
assumed to be equivalent to the estimated use of
water by truck crops, as heretofore stated.
During the course of the studies made for the pres-
ent bulletin, considerable data relative to the dis-
tribution of gross urban water requirements were
developed. These data, grouped by land use classifi-
cation, are presented in Table 44.
FACTORS OF WATER DEMAND
In the planning of water conservation projects and
accompanying distribution systems, certain factors
in addition to consumptive use of water must be
given consideration. Among these factors are neces-
sary rates, times, and places of delivery, quality of
water, losses of water, soil conditions, etc. The most
important of these factors in the San Francisco
Bay Area are those associated with the supply of
water for urban use, and include system water losses
and seasonal distribution of urban water demands.
94
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 43
PROBABLE MEAN SEASONAL CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE AREAS,
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Without reclamation of tidelands
With reclamation of tidelands
Refer-
I'lKC
num-
Name
Irrigated
lands
Farm
lots
Urban
and
subur-
ban
areas
Other
h ater
serv-
ice
areas
Approx-
imate
total
con-
sump-
tive
use of
applied
water
Irrigated
lands
Farm
lots
Urban
and
subur-
ban
areas
Other
water
serv-
ice
areas
Applied
water
Approx-
imate
total
con-
sump-
tive
ber
Applied
water
Precipi-
tation
Applied
water
Applied
water
Applied
water
Applied
water
Precipi-
tation
Applied
water
Applied
water
use of
applied
water
1
8,800
5,800
40,100
12.900
1,200
2.000
1,200
9,600
6,400
40,100
12,900
1,300
1,900
2,000
400
200
1,400
400
100
200
100
482,000
253,000
268,000
416,000
182,000
308,000
470,000
196,000
58,200
114,000
400
100
100
400
200
400
700
100
100
PC, (MM)
259.000
310,000
416,000
195,000
310,000
473,000
196,000
59,600
1 14,000
8.800
5,800
40,100
12,9011
1,200
2,000
1,200
9.600
6.400
40,100
12,900
1,300
1,900
2,000
400
200
1,400
400
100
200
100
552,000
292,000
291,000
449,000
182,000
443,000
176,000
240,000
58,200
117,000
400
300
400
200
300
800
100
100
562,000
2
298,000
3
332,000
4
449,000
5
195,000
6
445,000
7
479.000
8
9
10
San Mateo-Bayside _ . .
San Mateo-Coastal - —
240,000
59,600
117.000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS
72,000
74.200
2,800
2,747,000
2,500
2,824,000
72,000
74,200
2,800
3.100,000
2,600
3.177,000
At present, irrigation water demand factors are only
slightly less important than those related to urban
requirements. It is anticipated that in the future,
as urban development expands into the irrigable
lands of the San Francisco Bay Area, irrigation water
demand factors will decrease correspondingly in
importance.
The water demand factors most pertinent to water
utilization and requirements of the San Francisco
Bay Area are briefly discussed in the following
sections.
TABLE 44
DISTRIBUTION OF URBAN WATER DELIVERIES BY LAND
USE CLASSIFICATIONS, SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
(In per cent)
Land use
classification
Residential
Single
Multiple
Subtotals
Industrial, including airfield
Commercial
Iti-t itutiom and parks
Institutions
Pa 1 1 -
Silbtota Is
TOTALS
Water
deliveries
Present
Ultimate
36.9
42.7
12.9
12.6
49.8
r>o . 3
36.6*
31.3*
8.5
7. 5
2 . 5
2.8
2.6
3.1
5. 1
5.9
100.0
100.0
ui Include low watei using Indu trial areas.
Losses in Urban Water Utility Systems
Analysis of available records of urban water pro-
duction and metered delivery resulted in determina-
tions of transmission and distribution losses, expressed
as per cent of production, of from 5.5 per cent to
21 per cent. However, a majority of the system losses,
including those of all major water systems, fell within
a range of 8 to 12 per cent of production. Based on
these findings, a value of 10 per cent of net delivery
of water was estimated as representing a reasonable
allowance for both present and ultimate system losses
of water. It is believed that there will not be a signif-
icant difference in present and ultimate system losses.
Distribution of Urban Water Demands
An analysis of records covering 77 per cent of the
total estimated 1949 delivery of water to urban areas
resulted in the determination of monthly demands as
presented in Table 45. These values were determined
principally from weighted mean percentages of
monthly deliveries of water in urban areas of the
San Francisco Water Department, East Bay Munici-
pal Utility District, Contra Costa County Water Dis-
trict, San Jose Water Works, Marin Municipal AVater
District, and Vallejo Municipal Water Works. Deliv-
eries of water in Napa, Suisun, Fairfield, Mountain
View, Sunnyvale, Benicia, Petaluma, and Sonoma
were also included, as were the monthly requirements
of the Sonoma State Home, Veterans Home of ( "ali-
fornia, and Travis Air Force Base.
The mean seasonal distribution of monthly irriga-
tion water demand, based upon records of agricul-
tural power sales over a period of five years in the
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
95
North Bay, East Bay, and San .lose Divisions of the
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, is also presented
in Table 45.
TABLE 45
AVERAGE DISTRIBUTION OF MONTHLY
WATER DEMANDS, SAN FRANCISCO
BAY AREA
(In per cent of seasonal total)
Month
Irriga-
tion
demand
January
February
March
April
May
June .
July
August . .
September
October .
November
December
TOTALS
100.0
Irrigation Water Service Area Efficiency
"Water requirements in the San Francisco Bay
Area, were determined from consideration of total
water application in each bydrographic unit, con-
sumptive use of applied water, subsequent re-use of
a portion of the applied water, losses associated with
conveyance of water to places of use, and the final
loss by discharge to the ocean. The effect of irrecov-
erable losses upon the water requirements may be
measured by the water service area efficiency, defined
as the ratio of consumptive use of applied water in
a service area to the gross amount of water deliv-
ered to the area. Irrigation water service area effi-
ciencies were estimated for each bydrographic unit of
the San Francisco Bay Area.
Irrigation efficiency is defined as the ratio of con-
sumptive use of applied water to the total amount of
water applied to irrigated crops. In the San Fran-
cisco Bay Area there are significant variations in
irrigation efficiency, dependent upon crop, soil type,
topographic characteristics, cost and availability of
water, and local irrigation practice. Generally
throughout the area, present irrigation efficiencies
average about 50 per cent. This factor was applied
without adjustment in the areas overlying ground
water pressure zones, where the excess application
does not return to storage in the subsurface aquifers.
In free ground water zones, the re-use of water made
possible by its return to ground water through perco-
lation results in the attainment of relatively higher
efficiencies. The ground water recharge in each hydro-
graphic unit was estimated by determining the effec-
tive absorptive area occupied by agricultural devel-
opment and computing the probable recharge there-
from. The total net irrigation requirement in free
ground water zones was estimated by subtracting this
value for ground water recharge from the amount of
the gross application of water necessary in accord-
ance with the indicated 50 per cent efficiency factor.
Abundant supplies of surface water are not avail-
able for most irrigated localities in the San Francisco
Bay Area. Virtually all water supplies utilized for
irrigation are pumped from ground water basins, in
several of which the indications of overdraft are evi-
dent. It is anticipated that increased demands on the
limited local supplies will operate in the future to
enforce greater economy in the application of water
for irrigation. This factor, together with probable in-
creased costs for development of supplemental water
supplies, should result in a material increase in
future irrigation efficiency. The ultimate irrigation
water requirements in pressure zones were estimated
by assuming an eventual irrigation efficiency of 70
per cent. Probable ground water recharge in free
ground water zones was estimated in the same manner
as for present conditions, assuming, however, an irri-
gation efficiency of 70 per cent.
Table 46 presents estimated irrigation water service
area efficiencies under present and probable ultimate
conditions of development. It should be noted that
water service area efficiencies ultimately attained will
be dependent in great part on plans for ultimate
water service, and on the extent to which return flow
from irrigated lands and urban areas can be regu-
lated and re-used. For this reason the. predictions
may be subject to appreciable changes as planning
continues.
TABLE 46
ESTIMATED WEIGHTED MEAN IRRIGA-
TION WATER SERVICE AREA EFFI-
CIENCY WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC
UNITS, SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
(In per cent)
Hydrographic unit
Present
Refer-
ence
num-
ber
Name
Prob-
able
ulti-
mate
1
2
Marin-Sonoma
(10
GO
55
50
85
50
85
50
50
70
70
3
4
5
5
7
8
9
10
Solano
Contra Costa
Livermore Valley.
Alameda-Bayside.
Santa Clara Vallev
San Mateo-Bavside
San Mateo-Coastal.
70
90
70
85
70
WEIGHTED
MEAN
05
75
96
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
WATER REQUIREMENTS
Water requirements, as the term is used in this
bulletin, refer to the amounts of water needed to
provide for all beneficial uses of water and for any
irrecoverable losses incidental to such uses. Certain
requirements for water which are basically noncon-
sumptive in nature are discussed briefly in the fol-
lowing section in general terms. Following this, water
requirements of a consumptive nature are evaluated
for both present and probable ultimate conditions of
development.
Requirements of a Nonconsumptive Nature
The principal nonconsumptive water requirements
of the San Francisco Bay Area are those pertaining
to flood control, preservation and propagation of fish
and wildlife, repulsion of sea water from groiuid
water basins, and salt balance in irrigated areas.
Navigation is restricted to various arms of the bay
and to tidal channels of some of the tributary
streams.
In general, the fresh-water outflow provided from
the Central Valley Area for salinity control, naviga-
tion, maintenance and propagation of fish life, and
for other purposes, will provide for all necessary
fresh-water nonconsumptive uses in the San Fran-
cisco Bay Area. It is anticipated that future devel-
opments will not result in any fresh-water require-
ment for these purposes.
This bulletin does not evaluate the quantities of
water involved in satisfying these nonconsumptive
requirements, since these quantities in many instances
are dependent upon the evolution of definite plans
for the development of water resources. Their consid-
eration herein is limited to discussion of their impli-
cations as related to planning for future water
resource development.
Flood Control. The San Francisco Bay Area is
characterized by flood problems which are principally
of a local nature. Most of the presently existing de-
velopment has taken place on land of sufficient slope
to prevent accunudation of flood waters or in areas
not under the influence of large flood-producing
streams. There are, however, some areas where serious
inundations have taken place. Marshlands at the
mouths of most of the streams entering the bay are
covered by high water in almost all years. High tides
in these regions also contribute to the hazard of flood
damages. Flood problems are somewhat less severe
inland from the bay and ocean. Reservoirs on several
streams, notably Coyote Creek and the tributaries of
tin' Guadalupe River, provide incidental flood protec-
tion as a result of the impounding of water supplies
for conservation.
Levee systems have been built on the lower reaches
of mosl d' the Larger streams of the San Francisco Bay
Aica, tint they have not been as effective in reducing
flood damage as had been expected, principally due to
the recent intensive urban development in the affected
areas.
Several flood control and water conservation dis-
tricts have been organized in the area, and the forma-
tion of others is under consideration. Such districts
complement the work of the Corps of Engineers in the
planning, construction, and operation of flood control
works throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Most
additional works presently contemplated consist of
channel improvements, storm drains, and detention
reservoirs of small capacity in the tributary drainage
basins.
Additional urbanization in the San Francisco Bay
Area will create drainage and storm-water problems
that will require consideration in future planing, and
the construction of flood-protection works.
Fish and Wildlife. The San Francisco Bay Area
is limited with regard to fresh-water sport fishing,
but the marine and brackish waters of the area sup-
port both sport and commercial fisheries of consider-
able importance.
The principal commercial fishes are king salmon,
shad, and Pacific herring. Salmon and shad migrate
through San Francisco Bay into the Central Valley
for spawning purposes, while Pacific herring spawn
in San Francisco Bay. A commercial fishery of some
importance for shrimp also exists in the bay. The com-
bined landings of these species amount to an annual
quantity of several million pounds.
The principal sport fish of the area is the striped
bass, which is taken mainly in the bays and brackish
waters of the numerous sloughs and channels. Large
runs of steelhead rainbow trout use the bays and
delta as a passageway from the ocean to the streams
of the interior valley, although very little angling for
them takes place in the marine and brackish waters.
Steelhead trout also migrate into several of the local
streams tributary to San Francisco and San Pablo
Bays, such as San Francisquito, Stevens, Coyote, and
Alameda Creeks, and the Napa River. Steelhead trout
move annually from the ocean into several of the
coastal streams of San Mateo County, including Pes-
cadero and San Gregorio Creeks. The leading stream
fishery of the area is that for the adult steelhead trout.
Trout form resident populations in some of the
streams, and along with the young steelhead contrib-
ute to the fishery. Silver salmon migrate from the
ocean into suitable streams in the area, principally
Pescadero and San Gregorio Creeks, and provide some
sport fishing.
Several lakes in the San Francisco Bay Area are
stocked witli trout, including Phoenix Lake, Laguni-
tas, Alpine, Bon Tempe, Stevens Creek, and Lexington
Reservoirs, and Merced, Madigan, and Frey Lakes.
Warm-water game fishes, including the black basses,
sunfishes, crappies, and catfishes, are present in a
number of farm ponds and small reservoirs. Large-
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
97
mouth black bass are present in parts of the Napa
River. Reservoirs stocked with warm-water game
fishes include Anderson, Calero, and Coyote.
For large numbers of anadromous fishes, the salt
and brackish waters of the bay serve as an entryway
to spawning grounds. Sport and commercial fishing in
the San Francisco Bay Area are sustained primarily
by these migrations. Fresh-water demands of anad-
romous fisheries are a consideration in the Central
Valley Area, and do not constitute an additional de-
mand on the local water supplies of the San Francisco
Bay Area.
It is considered doubtful that the limited water re-
sources of the San Francisco Bay Area can meet
additional water requirements for the preservation
and enhancement of fish life, except when such re-
quirements do not decrease supplies available to meet
consumptive requirements. This does not, however,
signify that fisheries will not benefit by future water
development, particularly by importation of water
from outside sources. Reservoirs created to impound
water will provide additional habitat for game fish
populations. Water released in stream beds for down-
stream requirements will, if the water is drawn from
the deeper parts of the reservoir, provide conditions
suitable for the development of trout fisheries. It is
necessary only to provide minimum pool elevations in
the reservoirs, and assure public access to the created
waters, to realize fisheries benefits from water develop-
ment in the San Francisco Bay Area.
At present, virtually all water demands of migra-
tory waterfowl that frequent the marshy areas of the
bays are supplied from salt and brackish waters. It
is anticipated that the same condition will prevail
under ultimate conditions, and that the fresh-water
demand will be insignificant.
Repulsion of Salt-Water Intrusion From Ground
Water Basins. In portions of the San Francisco Bay
Area directly bordering the southern shores of the
bay, intrusion of saline water into shallow aquifers
has become a serious problem. In the area of southern
Alameda County centered about Niles, Irvington, and
Centeiwille, salt-water intrusion is a present critical
source of damage. There is danger of degradation of
water supplies in deeper confined aquifers by con-
tamination from overlying shallow strata. This may
occur through natural or man-made fissures in the
confining blanket, abandoned or defective wells, or by
possible intrusion of salt water from the bay if pres-
ent pumping rates, whereby depression of the hy-
draulic gradient occurs to the extent that a landward
slope results, should continue to prevail in the fu-
ture. In view of the extensive use being made of this
source of ground water supply at the present time,
the prospect of such degradation is very serious. Ex-
cept in a few local areas, however, such as at the edge
of the confining blanket in the Niles Cone region, the
4—99801
quality of water in the lower aquifer has so far re-
mained satisfactory.
Intrusion of salt water may be prevented by main-
taining pressure levels in these basins at elevations
above sea level. Determination of the quantities of
water required to prevent sea-water intrusion will be
dependent upon specific plans of development and
pumping draft. However, it appears that a substan-
tial amount of water will be unavoidably lost by out-
flow under such conditions, particularly from areas
in Santa Clara and Alameda Counties adjacent to the
bay. Studies conducted by the Division of Water Re-
sources in Alameda County indicate that if pumpage
from the presently overdrawn ground water basins
underlying the Niles Cone area were limited to the
safe yield of the basins, intrusion of salt water from
the bay would be eliminated.
Other areas of possible saline intrusion which have
been studied by the United States Geological Survey
in cooperation with the Division of Water Resources
are the Clayton and Ygnacio Basins in northern Con-
tra Costa County, the Fairfield region in Solano
County, and the Napa-Sonoma and Petaluma Basins
bordering San Pablo Bay. In part of the Fairfield
region, pressure levels approximately 20 feet below
sea level are indicative of possible imminent intrusion
of water from the bay. In the Napa-Sonoma Basin,
there is evidence that natural and man-made breaks
in the confining clay layers, and abandoned or de-
fective wells, have produced local pollution from
overlying brackish and saline sloughs.
Salt Balance. Local irrigation water supplies in
the San Francisco Bay Area are, for the most part,
obtained by pumping from ground water storage. The
estimates of requirements for water which are subse-
quently set forth are predicated upon utilization of
ground water storage capacity so as to facilitate the
re-use of local and imported water applied to lands
in excess of requirements for consumptive use. Na-
tural replenishment of many ground Avater basins in
the San Francisco Bay Area is derived from surface
drainage from tributary watersheds, and to a limited
extent from subsurface outflow from upstream basins.
The mineral quality of the ground water contained in
these basins must be protected from deterioration in
order to maintain the utility of the storage capacity.
This will require sufficient drainage from each basin
to remove a quantity of dissolved salts equivalent to
the amount of salt input to the basin. Quantitative
estimates of the amount of water required for this
purpose will necessarily depend upon the formulation
of specific plans for future development in each in-
stance.
Requirements of a Consumptive Nature
Requirements for water represent the quantities of
water, other than precipitation, which must be sup-
plied to provide for beneficial consumptive use of
lis
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
water on irrigated lands, urban and suburban areas,
and other water service areas, and to provide for
irrecoverable losses incidental to such use. Present
and probable ultimate water requirements in the San
Francisco Bay Area were determined by use of the
previously derived estimates of total water applica-
tion and consumptive use of applied water, giving
consideration to the possible re-use of a portion of
the applied water and to losses incurred in convey-
ance to the place of use.
In general it was assumed that, in irrigated water
service areas overlying or immediately adjacent to
major free ground water basins, re-use of all water
applied in excess of consumptive use could be accom-
plished. The irrigation water requirement for such
areas was therefore taken as equal to the consumptive
use of applied water. In water service areas adjacent
to the bay or overlying confined aquifers, it was as-
sumed that no re-use of applied water could be
effected in excess of consumptive use. The irrigation
water requirement in such cases was assumed to be
equal to the total water applied plus irrecoverable
conveyance losses.
Urban and suburban water requirements were
evaluated in the same general manner as those for
irrigated lands, except that consideration was given
to the effect of sewerage facilities with ocean dis-
charge on requirements in those urban areas overly-
ing free ground water basins. The present water re-
quirement for these urban areas was estimated as the
sum of the consumptive use of applied water, present
export to the ocean of sewage, and irrecoverable con-
veyance loss. The probable ultimate urban require-
ment was assumed to be the computed requirement
for applied water plus an additional 10 per cent for
irrecoverable conveyance losses. Since the entire ur-
ban development in the San Francisco Bay Area was
assumed to be sewered under ultimate conditions of
development, it was considered improbable that size-
able contributions to ground water would occur from
this source.
Ultimate water requirements in other water service
areas were estimated on the basis of expected utiliza-
tion of such areas for recreational and other purposes.
The water to meet this requirement is expected to be
developed from local supplies, and to be utilized prin-
cipally for domestic purposes.
No consideration was given to reclamation and re-
use of sewage which would otherwise be discharged
to the ocean. Large quantities of water in the San
Francisco Lay Area could be salvaged in this manner,
and experimental projects to determine the feasibility
of reclamation of sewage are presently being con-
ducts! in southern California. Sufficient data are not
presently available to evaluate the effect of such sew-
age reclamation on requirements for supplemental
water- supplies. Exploilalion of this potential source
of water supply is considered as development of new
water for purposes of this bulletin.
In several hydrographic units of the San Francisco
Bay Area the present application of water on ir-
rigated lands is somewhat less than the optimum
amount required for consumptive use for agriculture.
This condition is caused by the low transmissibility
characteristics of presently developed ground water
resources, and the consequent inability to produce the
required amounts of water from existing wells. It is
believed that crop production in these areas has been
adversely affected thereby.
Table 47 presents estimated present and probable
ultimate water requirements for each hydrographic
unit of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Estimates of ultimate water requirements, ex-
pressed as a function of the relative proportions of
the habitable area which may be devoted to urban
and suburban and agricultural development, are pre-
sented in Table 48. In deriving the quantities ex-
pressed in this table, the present irrigated crop pat-
tern was gradually modified so that truck crops,
flowers, and dairies constituted increasing percentages
of the lands available for irrigated culture.
Table 48 demonstrates that a relatively small effect
on the ultimate water requirement results from a
comparatively large variation in the degree of urbani-
zation. The change in seasonal water requirement for
and increase in urbanization from 50 to 100 per cent
amounts to only about 10 per cent of the average re-
quirement for the area. The assumption of practically
complete urbanization under conditions of ultimate
development provides a conservative basis for future
planning of projects to provide for necessary supple-
mental water requirements.
Ultimate urban and suburban water requirements
in the San Francisco Bay Area were also independ-
ently estimated on the basis of forecast ultimate popu-
lation. This procedure involved determination of the
areas ultimately susceptible of urban and suburban
development, the ultimate population densities in
these areas, and the ultimate per capita water require-
ment.
The general method of estimating ultimate popula-
tion was outlined in Chapter II, "Methods and Pro-
cedures." In most of the San Francisco Bay Area
it was assumed that future residential development
would take place in accordance with patterns indi-
cated by recent building trends, so that over-all densi-
ties would be somewhat less than the existing densities
in the present fully developed areas. An exception to
such a pattern Avas forecast for the northern portion
of Contra Costa County, where the expected concen-
tration of very heavy industry was assumed to require
the future development of housing with the present
heavier density characteristics.
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
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WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 48
ESTIMATED ULTIMATE MEAN SEASONAL WATER REQUIRE-
MENTS AS A FUNCTION OF TYPE OF LAND USE, SAN
FRANCISCO BAY AREA
Urban and
suburban
areas,
in percent
Irrigated
lands,
in percent
Ultimate consumptive requirements
for water, in acre-feet
Without
reclamation
of tidelands
With
reclamation
of tidelands
50
60
70
80
85
90
100
50
40
30
20
15
10
2,870,000
2,930,000
2,970,000
2,990,000
3,000,000
3,060,000
3,180,000
3,230,000
3,310,000
3,340,000
3,350,000
3,380,000
3,420,000
3,560.000
It was estimated that the ultimate population for
the San Francisco Bay Area will be about 13,450,000.
Based on available data on present use of water in
portions of the area, it was indicated that the ulti-
mate per capita water requirement will vary from
about 150 gallons to about 236 gallons per day, in-
cluding an allowance of 10 per cent for distribution
losses.
It was assumed that prospective reclamation of
tidelands had not occurred and, on this basis, the
ultimate urban and suburban seasonal water require-
ment was estimated to be about 2,600,000 acre-feet.
This may be compared with the estimated value of
about 3,020,000 acre-feet, as presented in Table 47,
based upon the land use type of determination. The
estimates of ultimate population, per capita use of
water, and urban water requirement are presented in
Table 49 for the portions of counties included within
the San Francisco Bay Area.
TABLE 49
ESTIMATED ULTIMATE POPULATION, PER CAPITA USE OF
WATER, AND URBAN WATER REQUIREMENT, SAN
FRANCISCO BAY AREA
Ultimate
population
Ultimate water requirements
County
Gallons per
capita per day
Acre-feet
per year
Alameda
Contra Costa
Marin . ..
2,430,000
1,970,000
545,000
1,100,000
845,000
1,205,000
2,180,000
1,980,000
1,195,000
151
236
156
172
106
163
172
175
169
411,000
521,000
95,000
212,000
San l ranci <"_ . . _ .
100,000
220,000
420,000
388,000
226,000
13,450,000
2,593,000
Supplemental Requirements
Supplemental water requirement, as the term is
used in this bulletin, refers to the quantity of water,
in addition to safe yield of the present water supply
development, which must be made available to satisfy
fully the present or probable ultimate water require-
ment. The present supplemental requirement repre-
sents the difference between the present water re-
quirement and the sum of presently developed safe
yield of local supplies and present import of water.
The difference between estimated present and prob-
able ultimate Avater requirements for each hydro-
graphic unit plus the present supplemental require-
ment was taken as the measure of the probable ulti-
mate supplemental water requirement.
As has been shown, water requirements in the San
Francisco Bay Area under conditions of ultimate de-
velopment will vary with the assumptions of ultimate
land use pattern. For the purpose of determining the
ultimate supplemental water requirement, the con-
sumptive water requirement with 95 per cent urbani-
zation and 5 per cent irrigated agriculture in the
ultimate water service area was assumed.
Safe Yield of Local and Imported Water Supplies
With Present Development. In connection with
studies to determine values of presently developed
safe seasonal local yield, use was made of data ap-
pearing in recent publications of the State Water
Resources Board, the Division of Water Resources,
and other organizations. Use was also made of unpub-
lished data compiled in conjunction with the investi-
gations currently being conducted by the Division of
Water Resources. Values of safe yield presented in
this bulletin in many instances must be considered as
approximations and only indicative of the general
order of magnitude. In those areas where detailed
data were not available and where water shortages
are not presently apparent, safe yield of the present
water supply development was assumed to be equal
to the estimated present water requirement.
The Division of Water Resources is presently con-
ducting a special investigation for the State Water
Resources Board in the Santa Clara Valley, the results
of which will be published as Bulletin No. 7, "Santa
Clara Valley Investigation." This investigation
covers the ground water basin underlying the north
Santa Clara Valley, which includes a substantial
portion of the Santa Clara Valley Hydrographic
Unit. It has been determined that of 165,000 acres in
the ground water basin, 86,000 acres are located in a
free ground water zone and 79,000 acres in a pi-essure
zone. It was estimated that in 1949 a mean seasonal
deficiency of about 20.000 acre-feet existed in the
pressure zone and 17,000 acre-feet in the forebay zone.
Subsequently, the Santa Clara Valley Water Conser-
vation District completed Anderson and Lexington
Reservoirs and numerous conduits designed to con-
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
K)l
serve and convey water to the forebay zone for re-
charge to ground water storage through percolation.
Operation of these works indicates that the waters
conserved are more than sufficient to meet the esti-
mated total 1949 mean seasonal deficiencies of about
37,000 acre-feet. However, recent experience indicates
that while depths to ground water have decreased in
the forebay zone there has not been a corresponding
decrease of pumping lift in the pressure zone. The
result is that a deficiency in ground water supplies
exists in the pressure zone, and will continue as long
as the amount pumped exceeds the safe yield of the
aquifers supplying this zone.
The present Avorks for importation of -water sup-
plies to the San Francisco Bay Area consist of the
Mokelumne Aqueduct of the East Bay Municipal
Utility District, the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct of the
City of San Francisco, the Contra Costa Canal, con-
structed by the United States Bureau of Reclama-
tion and serving the Contra Costa County Water
District, and the Cache Slough Aqueduct of the City
of Vallejo.
Estimates of presently developed safe seasonal
yield of local and imported water supplies available
to hydrographic units of the San Francisco Bay Area
arc presented in Table 50.
TABLE 50
ESTIMATED PRESENTLY DEVELOPED SAFE
SEASONAL YIELD OF LOCAL AND IM-
PORTED WATER SUPPLIES, SAN FRAN-
CISCO BAY AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Safe yield
Refer-
ence
number
Nan e
of presently
constructed
works
1
24,000
2...
26,000
3
4...
Solano . - --
29,000
219,000
5
6
7 .
Livermore Valley _
Alameda-Bavside
4,000
181,000
197,000
8
9
San Mateo-Bayside__ -
36,000
15,000
10
184,000
TOTAL
915,000
Allocation of Local and Imported Water Supplies.
Under ultimate conditions of development, water sup-
plies capable of importation to the San Francisco Bay
Area by presently constructed works were assumed to
be distributed to various hydrographic units in ac-
cordance with a schedule depending in part on the
extent of reclamation of tidelands. The entire capacity
of the Contra Costa Canal and a portion of that of the
Mokelumne Aqueduct were applied against ultimate
Mater demands of the Contra Costa Hydrographic
Unit. The remaining water imported through the
Mokelumne Aqueduct was applied to the Alameda-
Bayside Hydrographic Unit. The safe yield of pres-
ently constructed works of the City of San Francisco
not required to satisfy the ultimate requirements of
the city was apportioned to San Mateo and Santa
Clara Counties, with a small amount to Alameda
County.
The allocation of such local and imported water
supplies to the hydrographic units of the San Fran-
cisco Bay Area is presented in Table 51.
Supplemental Water Requirements. Present and
probable ultimate supplemental water requirements
in the San Francisco Bay Area generally were de-
TABLE 51
PROBABLE ULTIMATE ALLOCATION OF PRESENTLY AVAIL-
ABLE LOCAL AND IMPORTED WATER SUPPLIES, SAN
FRANCISCO BAY AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Allocation
without
reclamation
of tidelands
Allocation
with
reclamation
of tidelands
Refer-
ence
num-
ber
Name
1
24,000
26,000
29,000
219,000
4,000
181,000
222,000
67.000
18.000
125,000
24,000
2
26,000
3_.
29,000
4__
219,000
5
4,000
6
185,000
7
217,000
8
66,000
9 .
16,000
10
San Francisco
TOTALS -.
129,000
915,000
915,000
TABLE 52
ESTIMATED PRESENT AND PROBABLE ULTIMATE MEAN
SEASONAL SUPPLEMENTAL WATER REQUIREMENTS,
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Present
Probable ultimate
Refer-
ence
num-
ber
Name
Without
reclama-
tion of
tide-
lands
With-
reclama-
tion of
tide-
lands
1
3,000
14,000
15,000
519,000
261,000
325,000
239,000
211,000
159,000
298,000
149.000
47,900
596,000
2
304,000
3
350,000
4
275,000
5
6
Livermore Valley
211,000
304,000
7
309,000
8
198,000
9
49,900
10
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS
32.000
2,209,000
2,597,000
102 WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
termined as the difference between water require- of transmission and distribution facilities to serve that
ments, as presented in Table 47, and the sum of pres- area. Inasmuch as the total presently developed safe
ently developed safe local yield and present import. yield of local and imported supplies is in excess of
The resultant estimates are presented in Table 52. present requirements in the unit as a whole, the pres-
A present supplemental water requirement of 15,000 ent supplemental requirement is not a factor in the
acre-feet exists in the southerly coastal portion of the estimate of ultimate water requirements in the Ala-
Alameda-Bayside Hydrographic Unit, due to the lack meda-Bayside Hydrographic Unit.
CHAPTER V
CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
The Central Coastal Area lies along the Pacific
Ocean between latitudes 34.5° and 37° N., and consists
of those lands westerly from the drainage divide of the
coastal ranges, a series of mountains paralleling the
shore line in a general northwest to southeast direc-
tion. The area is designated Area 3 on Plate 8, and
includes the Counties of Santa Cruz, Monterey, San
Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara, as well as the south-
ern portion of Santa Clara County, the western por-
tion of San Benito County, and small portions of
Kern, Ventura, and San Mateo Counties. Among the
principal incorporated cities are Hollister, Santa
Cruz, Watsonville, Salinas, Monterey, Paso Robles,
San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, and Santa Barbara.
In order to facilitate the present studies, the Cen-
tral Coastal Area was subdivided into 12 hydrographic
units, the boundaries of which generally lie on the
watershed divides of the principal streams, as shown
on Plate 8. However, two of the stream basins, those
of the Salinas and Pajaro Rivers, were each divided
into two hydrographic units, an upper and a lower
basin. Table 53 lists the 12 hydrographic units and
their areas, and Table 54 presents the areas of the
portion of each county included within the Central
Coastal Area.
The climate of the Central Coastal Area is charac-
terized by light precipitation, relatively mild tempera-
tures, summer fogs along the coast, and an abundance
of sunshine in the interior valleys throughout the
greater part of the year. The Santa Cruz Mountains
at the northern end of the area receive the greatest
TABLE 53
AREAS OF HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS,
CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
Hydrographic unit
Reference
number
Name
Acres
1
251,000
2
782,000
3
69,900
4
2,483,000
5
376,000
6
182,000
7
343,000
8
319,000
9
273,000
10 .
1,195,000
11
714,000
12
233,000
APPROXIMATE
TOTAL
7,221.000
TABLE 54
AREAS OF COUNTIES WITHIN BOUND-
ARIES OF CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
County
Kern
Monterey
San Benito
San Luis Obispo
San Mateo
Santa Barbara
Santa Clara
Santa Cruz
Vent ura
APPROXIMATE TOTAL
Acres
6,400
2,129,000
689,000
2,025,000
24,300
1,625,000
225,000
279,000
218,000
7,221,000
rainfall. The mean seasonal depth of precipitation at
Ben Lomond, at an elevation of 500 feet in these
mountains, is approximately 50 inches, while at Santa
Cruz nearby on the coast it is a little over 28 inches.
Throughout the floors of most valleys, precipitation is
considerably lighter, averaging less than 15 inches per
season. Along the coast of Santa Barbara County a
greater quantity of rain falls, the seasonal mean depth
being about 18.5 inches at Santa Barbara. Precipita-
tion is extremely variable from year to year. At Sali-
nas, where an unbroken record has been maintained
since 1872 and the average seasonal depth of rainfall
is 13.75 inches, the maximum quantity recorded in one
season was 27.59 inches and the minimum was only
4.74 inches. Furthermore, over 90 per cent of rainfall
in a typical year occurs during the six months from
November through April, and only infrequent, scat-
tered showers occur during summer and fall.
The estimated mean seasonal natural runoff of
streams in the Central Coastal Area is about 2,448,000
acre-feet, or about 3.4 per cent of that for the entire
State. Approximately one-half of the runoff is pro-
vided by the Salinas, Pajaro, Santa Maria, and Santa
Ynez Rivers, and the remainder by a multitude of
small creeks and channels that drain directly into the
Pacific Ocean. The estimated mean seasonal natural
runoff of the Salinas River, largest of the streams, is
approximately 714,000 acre-feet, or about 29 per cent
of the total runoff of the area. The occurrence of any
substantial amount of precipitation has a direct and
immediate effect on the flow of streams. For the most
part the streams are quite short, and the characteristic
runoff after a rainstorm is of high intensity but short
duration. Following the pattern of precipitation
within the season, stream flow is greatly reduced after
about the first of May in an average year, and many
(103)
The Salinas Valley
Courtesy Salinas Chamber
of Commerce
Harvesting Lettuce in
Central Coastal Area
Courtesy Salinas Chamber
of Commerce
CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
105
streams are completely dry during the late summer.
The Arroyo Seco, a principal tributary of the Salinas
River, is fairly representative of other streams of the
area, and records show that approximately 80 per
cent of its runoff occurs during the months of Jan-
uary, February, March, and April.
As shown on Plate 4, a total of 19 valley fill areas,
which may or may not contain usable ground water,
has been identified in the Central Coastal Area. In
11 of these areas, ground water has been developed
and utilized in varying degrees for irrigation pur-
poses. The principal ground water basins in size and
importance as related to use are those underlying ir-
rigated lands of the Salinas, San Benito, Pajaro,
Santa Maria, Santa Ynez, and Cuyama Valleys. Most
of the present regulation of the water resources of
the Central Coastal Area is provided by natural stor-
age in the ground water basins. Generally speaking,
the aquifers are quite permeable and yield adequate
flows to deep-well turbine pumps. Those ground water
basins located adjacent to the coast have character-
istic confining impervious strata that overlie the
aquifers and extend inland from the ocean for several
miles. Studies indicate that overdrafts now exist in a
number of the basins. These overdrafts are generally
localized, and result from the inability of the aquifers
either to receive replenishment during wet periods
sufficient to meet seasonal requirements for water, or
to convey water to centers of pumping draft at rates
sufficient to meet peak demands. In certain of the
coastal basins, present extraction of water exceeds re-
plenishment, and resultant intrusion of sea water into
the confined aquifers is becoming a critical problem.
Investigations indicate that three such ground water
basins are presently being invaded, and that six more
are areas of potential sea-water intrusion.
Growth of population in the Central Coastal Area
during recent years has generally kept pace with the
phenomenal growth in other portions of the State.
The population of the area has increased from an
estimated 242,000 in 1940 to 373,000 in 1950, or some
54 per cent. Nearly all urban centers have correspond-
ingly grown in size and importance. Table 55 shows
the increase in population of seven of the principal
urban communities from 1940 to 1950. It may be
noted that a substantial part of the recent increase in
population has occurred in suburbs immediately out-
side of city limits.
Agriculture is the major economic activity of the
Central Coastal Area. In the large valleys between
ridges of the coastal ranges, and on the coastal plain
wherever ground water supplies are available, lands
have been extensively developed to irrigated agricul-
ture. Since 1900 the area devoted to irrigation has in-
creased from approximately 15,000 acres to about
338,000. Many of the smaller valleys and most of the
foothill grass lands constitute an important stock-
raising region. Certain of the irrigated localities have
been developed to specialty crops, notably seed and
nursery crops, and artichokes, brussels sprouts, let-
tuce, berries, and citrus.
Developments for providing water supplies were
initiated by the first settlers in the Central Coastal
Area. The* mild winters, long, dry summers, and
characteristic droughts sustained over several sea-
sons made it necessary from the beginning to con-
struct small diversion dams and ditches, and to dig
shallow wells in order to provide a dependable water
supply. The Spanish Padres, in the latter part of the
eighteenth century, made the first use of irrigation
water in the area. In order to irrigate fields sur-
rounding in the Missions of Soleclad, San Antonio, and
Santa Barbara, small ditches were dug to divert the
flow from adjacent streams. However, following the
secularization of the California Missions in 1833, irri-
gation was largely abandoned for approximately 50
years. In the Eleventh Federal Census, the first to
take irrigation into consideration, the following state-
ments summarize the status of irrigation in 1890 for
the counties indicated :
"Santa Cruz — On the lower grounds near the
coast a little irrigation is practiced, as in adjoining
counties, water being applied during late summer
to the gardens and trees. For this purpose there are
a few small ditches, and in a number of instances
water is pumped from wells or other sources of
supply. In the vicinity of Watsonville there are a
number of flowing wells, mainly on the low ground
TABLE 55
POPULATION OF PRINCIPAL URBAN CENTERS, CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
1940
1950
City
Within
city limits
In
suburbs
Totals
Within
city limits
In
suburbs
Totals
35,000
19,200
11,600
16,900
8,500
8,900
8,900
2,600
3,900
9,500
5,100
1,900
600
1,600
37,600
23,100
21.100
22,000
10,400
9,500
10.500
44,900
30,200
13,900
21,900
10,400
14,200
11,600
4,400
14,200
25,300
14,000
6,200
700
3,200
49,300
44,400
39,200
35,900
16,600
14,900
14,800
106
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
within a mile of the coast. The water from these
wells is used to a very small extent for irrigation.
"San Benito — Fruit raising- is profitably carried
on, especially in the vicinity of San Juan, Hollister
and other towns. Irrigation is little practiced, since
nearly all products are successful without the arti-
ficial application of water. Along San Benito River,
however, and other streams a number of small irri-
gating ditches have been dug, these being usually
from one to two miles in length. Water from arte-
sian wells is also used to a small extent for fruit
trees and alfalfa.
"Monterey — In Salinas and the smaller valleys
agriculture is carried on successfully without irri-
gation in spite of the fact that the annual rainfall
is very small, averaging probably from 10 to 15
inches. The small amount of the annual precipita-
tion is in part compensated by the relatively moist
winds from the ocean. Most of the best agricultural
land has been covered by land grants and is still
held in large bodies, used principally for grazing.
Irrigation, where practiced, is conducted on a small
scale, the waters of springs and rivulets being uti-
lized by individuals having land conveniently sit-
uated.
' ' The canal of the San Bernardo and Salinas Val-
ley Canal and Irrigation Company takes water
from Salinas River in the southern part of the
county, not far from the town of Sargent. It is
built on the east side of the river for a distance of
six miles. The average width is ten feet, and the
cost was $25,000. The canal, owned by a corpora-
tion, was begun in 1884 and first used in about
1888. The principal crop irrigated at present is
alfalfa. The water supply is fairly good, although
the river is dry at times, the water sinking in the
bed of the stream.
"San Luis Obispo — Irrigation is not practiced,
although the water supply of the county is large,
and in the interior valley, especially, water could
probably be applied to advantage during the sum-
mer months. Within the county there are reported
to be a number of flowing wells, these being on the
low lands near the mouth of Santa Maria River,
and at localities where it is not necessary to irri-
gate.
"Santa Barbara — This county has a moist clim-
ate, and irrigation is confined mainly to watering
orchards, vineyards, and gardens in the vicinity of
the towns along the southern coast, especially dur-
ing the latter part of the summer. The water supply
is small, being derived from the streams flowing
from the mountains bordering the coast. The greater
part of the land is irrigated by means of pumps or
engines, or by pipe lines laid from some spring or
mountain stream. North of the Santa Inez Moun-
tains, which stretch along the southern coast, are
several broad valleys in which agriculture is carried
on successfully. It is probable that irrigation may
be introduced to a small extent as development pro-
ceeds, as there are a number of streams whose
waters can be utilized at reasonable expense."
Irrigation development in the Central Coastal Area
has passed through three phases in reaching the
present state of high productivity. The first methods
of irrigation were by small diversions from streams,
rivulets, or springs, to lands conveniently situated.
Secondly, pumps driven by steam engines were in-
stalled along the rivers, and water was pumped out
onto the lands. The third phase was the beginning of
the method which is now used by the majority of
irrigators, that is, pumping directly from the ground
water. Originally, large centrifugal pumps were in-
stalled in deep pits, and water was pumped to the
surface for the irrigation of relatively large service
areas, as though from surface streams. As motor-
driven deep-well pumps came into general use, the
large installations were abandoned, and individual
wells and pumps serving local areas were provided
in their stead.
Up to the present time, surface water storage de-
velopments in the Central Coastal Area have been
constructed primarily to provide urban water sup-
plies. The California Water and Telephone Company
has two reservoirs on the Carmel River, San Clemente
and Los Padres, which provide water for Pacific
Grove, Monterey, and Carmel. The United States
Bureau of Reclamation is constructing Cachuma Dam
and Reservoir on the Santa Ynez River, which by a
tunnel diversion through the Santa Ynez Mountains
will deliver supplemental water to Santa Barbara and
to nearby agricultural and suburban areas. Gibralter
and Juncal Reservoirs on the Santa Ynez River con-
serve water which is diverted by tunnels through the
Santa Ynez Mountains, to provide the City of Santa
Barbara and the Montecito County Water District most
of their present water supplies. Salinas Dam on the
headwaters of the Salinas River serves water to San
Luis Obispo and to Camp San Luis Obispo, an adjoin-
ing military establishment. A conservation reservoir
at the Winchester Ranch site on the Nacimiento River
is proposed for construction by the Monterey County
Flood Control and Water Conservation District, and
a bond issue for construction has been approved by
voters of the county.
Remaining communities of the area, through mu-
nicipal or privately-owned water systems, utilize
ground water or direct stream diversion in serving
their municipal needs. The only water storage de-
velopment solely for irrigation purposes is the North
Fork Dam and Reservoir on Pacheco Creek, which is
so operated as to retain winter runoff for later re-
lease to supplement the ground water supply in the
Gilroy-Hollister area. A compilation of the principal
The Central Coast
Courtesy Siate Division of Highways
108
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
water service agencies in the Central Coastal Area is
included in Appendix B, together with the number of
domestic services and irrigated areas served by each
agency.
The mild, equable climate and outstanding scenic
attractions of the Central Coastal Area have resulted
in the establishment of many resorts and an im-
portant tourist trade. This development is largely
centered in the Santa Cruz Mountains and along the
coast in and adjacent to Santa Cruz, Monterey, and
Carmel, and in the vicinity of Santa Barbara. Aside
from this resort development and tourist trade,
most industry is closely allied with agriculture, and
consists principally of sugar refineries, refrigeration
plants, canneries, and other food processing and pack-
ing establishments, and steam-electric power generat-
ing plants. However, several oil fields have been de-
veloped in the area, the most important of which are
in the vicinity of Santa Maria and the Cuyama Val-
ley. Furthermore, there is some lumbering in the
Santa Cruz Mountains, and a commercial and sport
fishing industry operates out of Monterey Bay.
Six major and several minor military establish-
ments have been of varying importance to the
economy of the Central Coastal Area. The principal
present posts are Fort Ord, the Presidio of Monterey,
and Camp Hunter Liggett. The California Depart-
ment of Corrections is operating the hospital area at
Camp San Luis Obispo, and the United State Depart-
ment of Defense is maintaining the remainder of the
reservation in a caretaking status. Camp Roberts and
Camp Cooke were operated as training establishments
during World War II. Both camps were subsequently
placed in an inactive status by the Department of De-
fense and are retained in such status at the present
time. Deposits of oil in the Camp Cooke area are under
development.
The trend of agriculture in the Central Coastal
Area during the past few years has been toward more
intensive development of the highly productive soils
that overlie ground water basins. In the truck crop
producing regions, two and three crops are frequently
produced annually. However, of the relatively large
area of irrigable land not overlying ground water
readily obtainable by pumping from wells, only a very
small portion is irrigated at the present time. It is
anticipated that idtimately most of such land will be
developed for irrigated agriculture. Most urban cen-
ters in the area are still comparatively small, with low
population densities. While some increase in popula-
tion density has occurred with growth, the recent
trend has been toward construction of subdivisions
"ii lands immediately surrounding the existing towns.
In some eases this has encroached upon the area de-
voted to agricull are.
While mining is not a major factor in the economy
of the area as a whole, it is extensively developed in
some localities. The deposits of diatomite near Lompoc
provide more than 90 percent of the total quantity
used in the United States each year, for the manu-
facture of commercial abrasives, metal polishes, dental
powder, and other purposes. Silica sand is produced
in the Monterey area, and table salt and magnesium
are reclaimed from ocean water. Sand and gravel,
cement, and miscellaneous stones are produced in
small quantities throughout the Central Coastal Area.
Portions of the Central Coastal Area are now uti-
lized predominantly for recreational purposes, and it
is anticipated that the trend toward this type of de-
velopment will continue as the population of the State
increases. Desirable coastal recreational areas in Cali-
fornia are limited, and it is believed that nearly all
suitable locations will ultimately be devoted to this
type of development. Inland climates are not as de-
sirable for year-round recreational living as those
near the coast, but it is believed that ultimately the
interior valleys may support a substantial light in-
dustry.
In summary, it should be emphasized that water is
employed in the Central Coastal Area primarily for
the production of agricultural crops, and to a much
smaller extent for municipal purposes including do-
mestic and industrial. It is expected that water for
irrigation will remain predominant among the many
uses of water into the indefinite future. Insofar as is
known, no water is now utilized in the area for the
generation of hydroelectric power nor for navigation
purposes, nor is it foreseen that there will ever be ap-
preciable requirements of such nature. Flood control
structures, the operation of which involves rapid reg-
ulated disposal of flood waters, have not as yet been
constructed in the Central Coastal Area, although sev-
eral are in the planning stage, and it is probable that
more will be planned and constructed in the future.
The present use of water for recreation is limited to
water consumed for domestic purposes in resort and
recreational areas, and to water naturally utilized in
supporting stream flow in such areas. With antici-
pated growth of the State and increase in the demand
for recreational opportunity, it is probable that addi-
tional water supplies will be developed and utilized
for the preservation and propagation of fish and wild-
life, particularly in the streams of Santa Cruz County.
There follows a presentation of available data and
estimates pertinent to the nature and extent of water
requirements in the Central Coastal Area, both at the
present time and under conditions of probable ulti-
mate development.
PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS
As a necessary step in estimating the amount of the
water requirement in the Central Coastal Area, deter-
minations were made of the location, nature, and
extent of present irrigated and urban and suburhan
CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
109
water service areas. Remaining lands were not classi-
fied in detail with regard to their relatively minor
miscellaneous types of water service, although such
water service was given consideration in estimating
the present water requirement.
Irrigated Lands
It was determined that under present conditions
of development in the Central Coastal Area, about
338,000 acres are irrigated in a given year, on the
average. This constitutes approximately five per cent
of the land irrigated throughout California.
Irrigated truck and field crops are dominant in
acreage and value in the area. Cabbage, brussels
sprouts, broccoli, and artichokes are produced along
the cool coastal strip from Santa Cruz to Santa Maria,
while just inland are grown lettuce, cabbage, beans,
sugar beets, flowers, and nursery crops. In the inland
valley in the vicinity of Hollister, truck and field
crops dominate, but in addition there are extensive
areas of deciduous fruit orchards and walnuts. Along
the coast in Santa Barbara County the irrigated
lands produce Avalnuts, lemons, and truck crops. In
the upper drainage basins of the San Benito, Sa-
linas, Cuyama, and Santa Ynez Rivers, small areas
are devoted to irrigated pasture and alfalfa that sup-
plement the native range land used for spring pasture.
In the Salinas Valley approximately two-thirds of
the lands devoted to lettuce produce two crops dur-
ing the summer, and the remaining third a single
crop. Cover-cropping is the general practice for let-
tuce land during the winter. In the Pajaro Valley
about half of the lettuce acreage produces two crops
each year. Double-cropping is generally practiced on
land devoted to beans, peas, spinach, onions, and
other truck crops with a short growing season.
The field surveys upon which determinations of
irrigated acreage in the Central Coastal Area were
based were accomplished during the period from 1947
through 1950, by several agencies and with varying
standards and degrees of accuracy. Information re-
garding the dates of field mapping and sources of
data is contained in Appendix E. Based on the avail-
able survey data, the irrigated lands were classified
into various crop groups, with a view to segregating
those of similar water use. Detailed segregation of
individual truck and nursery crops was found to be
impracticable. In some localities, information on acre-
ages of a few of the dominant truck crops was avail-
able, but since the segregation was not consistent
throughout the entire area these acreages were re-
grouped simply as truck crops. In general, the acre-
ages of sugar beets were separately determined.
Throughout Santa Barbara County, however, such
detailed information was not available, and all field
crops including sugar beets were classified in one
group. A list of the various crop groups into which
irrigated lands of the Central Coastal Area were
classified follows :
Alfalfa Hay, seed, and pasture
Pasture Grasses and legumes, other than
alfalfa, used for livestock forage
Orchard Deciduous fruit, nuts, and olives
Citrus Oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and
avocados
Vineyard All varieties of grapes
Truck crops Intensively cultivated fresh vege-
tables, including tomatoes, lettuce,
artichokes, brussels sprouts, cab-
bages, carrots, peppers, broccoli,
flower seed, and nursery crops
Sugar beets
Miscellaneous
field crops Dry beans, milo, corn, hops, hay,
grain, etc., and unsegregated sugar
beets in Santa Barbara County
It was estimated that approximately 5,900 acres
in the Central Coastal Area are occupied by farm lots
at the present time. These consist of farm buildings
and areas immediately surrounding them that receive
water service.
Summaries of presently irrigated acreages within
the Central Coastal Area by the various crop groups
are presented in Tables 56 and 57. Table 56 lists the
acreages by hydrographic units, and Table 57 by
counties.
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas
It was determined that under present conditions
of development in the Central Coastal Area approxi-
mately 48,000 acres are devoted to urban and sub-
urban types of land use. For the most part, the busi-
ness, commercial, and industrial establishments and
surrounding homes included in this areal classifica-
tion receive a municipal type of water supply. Areas
of urban and suburban water service within each hy-
drographic unit of the Central Coastal Area are listed
in Table 58, and within each county in Table 59. It
should be noted that the areas shown are gross acre-
ages, as they include streets and intermingled un-
developed lands that are a part of the urban type
of community.
Unclassified Areas
Remaining lands in the Central Coastal Area, other
than those that are irrigated or urban and suburban
in character, were not classified in detail as regards
present water service. Of a total of about 6,820,000
acres of such remaining lands, less than 13,000 acres
actually receive water service at the present time.
These relatively minor service areas consist of scat-
110
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 56
AREAS OF PRESENTLY IRRIGATED LANDS WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Alfalfa
Pasture
Orchard
Citrus
Vine-
yard
Truck
crops
Sugar
beets
Miscel-
laneous
field
crops
Ap-
proxi-
mate
net
irri-
gated
area
Farm
lots
In-
cluded
non-
water
sevice
area
Ap-
Refer-
ence
num-
ber
Name
proxi-
mate
gross
area
1
2,900
200
1,300
15,900
100
300
5,100
4,800
300
200
5,100
700
1,600
9,200
100
400
2,700
2,600
1,900
28,700
3,200
100
2,600
300
400
200
1,000
1,800
10,300
3,000
4,400
11,700
11,700
52,600
600
3,300
33,600
10,200
1,200
8,300
1,500
16,500
300
10,500
800
700
45,100
100
500
12,200
3,500
2,200
4,900
70,200
18,100
3,700
142,000
1,200
4,900
53,800
22,100
17,700
100
1,400
400
2,000
100
1,000
400
500
200
2,200
600
100
4,500
100
200
1,800
600
500
5,200
73,800
3
19,100
4
3,800
5
148,000
6
1,300
7
8
5,200
9
10
56,600
11
23,100
12
18,700
APPROXIMATE TOTALS
30,900
24,500
38,300
10,300
3,000
129,000
26,300
75,900
338,000
5,900
10,800
355,000
TABLE 57
AREAS OF PRESENTLY IRRIGATED LANDS WITHIN COUNTIES, CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
County
Alfalfa
Pasture
Orchard
( litrus
Vine-
yard
Truck
crops
Sugar
beets
Miscel-
laneous
field
crops
Approxi-
mate net
irrigated
area
Farm
lots
Included
nonwater
service
areas
Approxi-
mate
gross
area
17,100
1,800
2,400
8,400
1,100
100
11,000
3,600
1,500
6,200
1,600
600
4,000
11,200
600
2,900
17,600
2,000
10,300
700
2,300
57,400
6,100
13,100
1,200
35,200
5,600
10.700
16,500
0,600
1,700
1,500
46,300
9,800
7,700
300
11.100
700
152,000
39,800
25,300
1,500
74,100
30,600
14,900
2,300
800
300
1 ,700
000
200
4,800
1,100
900
100
2,100
1,100
700
159,000
San Benito
San Luis Obispo
San Mateo
Santa Barbara
Santa Clara
Santa Cruz . -
41,700
26,500
1,600
77,900
32,300
15,800
APPROXI-
MATE
TOTALS
30,900
24,500
38,300
10,300
3,000
129,000
26,300
75,900
338,000
5,900
10,800
355,000
tered developed portions of national forests and mon-
uments, public beaches and parks, private recrea-
tional areas, military reservations, etc.
The Los Padres National Forest, extending along
the coast in Monterey County and including the San
Rafael and Santa Ynez Mountains, is the largest
national reservation in the Central Coastal Area. It
includes approximately 1,400,000 acres, much of
which is rough in topography and covered by native
brush, grass, and scattered trees. Some 2,900 acres of
the national forest lands are presently irrigated,
which acreage is included in the values listed in
Tables 56 and 57. Irrigation is practiced in several
ol' the smaller mountain valleys in the national forest.
but the major development is on the coastal plain
along the south edge of the Santa Ynez Mountains.
where it is estimated that about 2,700 acres are irri-
gated. "Within the national forest there are also ad-
ministration buildings, public camps, trailer parks,
and other accommodations for tourists, but the actual
water service area involved in these features is small.
The Division of Beaches and Parks of the State
Department of Natural Resources at present admin-
isters 29 public beaches and parks throughout the
Central Coastal Area. These recreational areas aggre-
gate nearly 15,000 acres, but Avater service primarily
consists of domestic supplies for the permanent build-
ings and surrounding grounds, and summer water
supplies for camp grounds and picnic areas. Pinnacles
National Monument in San Benito County, under
jurisdiction of the National Park Service, includes
some 12,800 acres of land, with Avater service similar
to that of the state beaches and parks.
Private recreational areas within the Central
Coastal Area are largely confined to the Santa Cruz
Mountains. Approximately 6.900 acres are included
in this category.
The area of military establishments within the Cen-
tral Coastal Area totals about 425,000 acres. In gen-
eral, the reservations consist of the base installation,
including quarters and administration buildings, and
large areas of undeveloped land utilized for training
CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
111
purposes. The boundaries of certain of the reserva-
tions extend into the national forest. The acreage of
lands presently irrigated within military reservations
is included in the values listed in Tables 56 and 57.
Summary
Table 58 comprises a summary of present water
service areas within hydrographic units of the Cen-
tral Coastal Area. A similar summary for counties
of the area is presented in Table 59.
TABLE 58
SUMMARY OF PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS WITHIN
HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Irri-
gated
lands
Urban
and
sub-
urban
areas
Approxi-
Reference
number
Name
mate
total
1
5,200
73,800
19,100
3,800
148,000
1,300
5,200
56,600
23,100
18,700
8,100
2,100
1,900
1,700
5,500
16,100
4,000
1,600
800
6,600
13,300
2
75,900
3
21,000
4
5 .
Upper Salinas- _
5,500
154,000
6
7.. -
Carmel _
17,400
8
9,200
9
10
11
12
Carrizo Plains... ...
Santa Maria
Santa Ynez .
58,200
23,900
25,300
Subtotals..
Unclassified areas receiving wa
APPROXIMATE TOTA
355,000
48,400
404,000
12,200
L,
416,000
TABLE 59
SUMMARY OF PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS WITHIN
COUNTIES, CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
(1
n acres)
County
Irrigated
lands
Urban
and
suburban
areas
Approximate
total
159,000
41,700
26,500
1,600
77,900
32,300
15,800
23,300
2,100
4,800
8,200
10,000
183,000
San Benito _
43,800
31,300
San Mateo .. ..
1,600
Santa Barbara .
86,100
Santa Clara _ _
32,300
25,800
Subtotals -
355,000
48,400
404,000
12,200
APPROXIMATE TOTAL
416,000
PROBABLE ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE AREAS
To aid in estimating the amount of water that ulti-
mately will be utilized in the Central Coastal Area,
projections were first made to determine the prob-
able ultimate irrigated and urban and suburban
water service areas. It was assumed that the remain-
ing lands, for convenience referred to as ' ' other water
service areas, ' ' ultimately will be served with water
commensurate with their needs.
Irrigated Lands
Based on data from land classification surveys, it
was estimated that a gross area of approximately
1,368,000 acres in the Central Coastal Area is suitable
for irrigated agriculture. Excepting farm lots and
certain lands within the gross area that experience
indicates will never be served with water, such as
lands occupied by roads, railroads, etc., it was esti-
mated that under ultimate conditions of develop-
ment a net area of approximately 1,166,000 acres will
actually be irrigated. Table 60 presents these esti-
TABLE 60
PROBABLE ULTIMATE AREAS OF IRRIGATED LANDS
WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, CENTRAL COASTAL
AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Gross
irrigable
area
Farm
lots
Included
nonwater
service
area
Approxi-
mate net
irrigated
area
Ref-
erence
num-
ber
Name
1
13,100
168,000
36,500
352,000
268,000
7,400
15,400
73,500
86,500
181,000
121,000
45,800
200
3,000
500
3,800
4,100
100
200
1,000
1,200
2,700
1,800
900
3,400
18,800
9.100
52,500
28,100
800
2,100
10,000
10,900
24,500
17.500
5,300
9,500
2
146,000
3
26,900
4
5
6
Upper Salinas
Lower Salinas
296,000
236,000
6,500
7
8
9
10
11
Monterey Coast
San Luis Obispo
Carrizo Plains
Santa Maria
13,100
62,500
74,400
154,000
102,000
12
Santa Barbara
APPROXI-
MATE
TOTALS.. _
39,600
1,368,000
19,500
183,000
1,106,000
TABLE 61
PROBABLE ULTIMATE AREAS OF IRRIGATED LANDS
WITHIN COUNTIES, CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
County
Gross
irri-
gable
area
Farm
lots
Included
nonwater
service
area
Approxi-
mate net
irrigated
area
800
420,000
126,000
438,000
5,500
286,000
55,500
35,700
400
6,200
1,900
5,700
100
4,000
800
800
100
56,900
15,500
57,500
1,700
39,900
7,400
3,900
100
700
357,000
109.000
375,000
3,700
242,000
47,300
31,000
300
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS
1,368,000
19,500
183,000
1,166,000
112
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 62
PROBABLE ULTIMATE PATTERN OF IRRIGATED CROPS, CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Reference
number
Name
Alfalfa
Pasture
Orchard
Citrus
Vineyard
Truck
crops
Sugar
beets
Miscel-
laneous
field
crops
Hay and
grain
Approxi-
mate
total
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Santa Cruz
San Benito
Pajaro
Upper Salinas
Lower Salinas. _
Carmel
Monterey Coast
San Luis Obispo
Carrizo Plains
Santa Maria
Santa Ynez
Santa Barbara
APPROXIMATE TOTALS
8.000
2,000
5,000
30,000
1,000
200
15,300
11,100
3,000
1,500
6,800
1,500
77,400
6,100
2,000
5,000
23,800
19,100
13,600
5,100
1,900
48,500
4,500
10,000
10,000
2,000
3,100
8,100
8,000
12.600
6.200
8,000
24,600
10,000
27,000
1,700
2,500
4,000
28,600
15,000
2,500
93.200
1,500
1,500
1,800
2,100
54,300
12,300
2,100
18,600
35,000
4,800
10,600
2,000
9,300
3,900
95,100
38,000
2,400
11,400
14,000
15,000
10.300
1,000
2,000
16,300
78,700
23,900
4,200
20,500
31,100
40,800
31,700
800
9,500
146,000
26,900
296,000
236,000
6,500
13,100
62,500
74,400
154,000
102,000
39,600
75,600
164,000
113,000
32,600
41,200
•J 1 '.1,000
69,000
202,000
250,000
1,166,000
mates for hydrographic units of the Central Coastal
Area, and Table 61 for the various counties.
The probable ultimate crop pattern for irrigated
lands of the Central Coastal Area is presented in
Table 62. The crop grouping parallels that used in
the case of present development, except for the added
group titled ' ' Hay and grain. ' ' This group was of
minor importance and not segregated in the case of
the present crop pattern, but is expected to be of
greater significance in the future.
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas
While it is expected that urban and suburban
growth in the Central Coastal Area generally will be
associated with further development of agriculture,
the favorable climate and scenic attractions will prob-
ably influence growth of certain population centers.
Population increase may also be brought about by
expansion of present and new industries. It was esti-
mated that under ultimate conditions of development
the urban and suburban water service areas will have
increased to approximately 138,000 acres. Urban and
suburban types of land use are expected to occupy the
same localities as at present, but vacant lands will be
filled and densities increased. In addition, it is prob-
able that encroachment will occur on surrounding
lands in an estimated amount of about 90,000 acres.
For the purposes of the present studies no attempt
was made to delineate the boundaries of such en-
croachment, nor to determine what proportion will be
on irrigable lands. The estimate of probable ultimate
urban and suburban water service areas is included in
Table 64. It should be noted that the areas shown are
"Toss acreages, including streets, vacancies, etc.
Other Water Service Areas
Remaining lands of the Central Coastal Area, not
classified as irrigable or urban and suburban under
conditions of ultimate development, aggregate about
5,715,000 acres, or 80 per cent of the area. As pre-
viously mentioned, it was assumed that ultimately
these lands will be served with water in amounts suf-
ficient for their needs. No attempt was made to segre-
gate these "other water service areas" in detail in
regard to the nature of their probable ultimate water
service. However, as shown in Table 63 they were
broken down for convenience in estimating water re-
quirements into those portions inside and outside of
national forests, monuments, and military reserva-
tions, and above and below an elevation of 3,000 feet.
The lands classified as "other water service areas"
include recreational developments, both public and
private, military establishments, residential and in-
dustrial types of land use outside of urban communi-
ties, etc. Most of these lands are situated in rough
mountainous terrain, much of which is presently un-
accessible. It is expected that even under conditions of
ultimate development this large portion will be only
sparsely settled, and will have only very minor re-
quirements for water service.
Summary
Table 64 comprises a summary of probable ultimate
water service areas, segregated into irrigable lands,
urban and suburban areas, and other water service
areas.
UNIT VALUES OF WATER USE
Recent investigations of the water resources of
Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Santa Bar-
bara Counties provided much of the data used in esti-
mating unit values of water use in the Central Coastal
Area. These data were modified by standard methods
to provide complete coverage of the area.
Irrigation Water Use
Tn general, unit seasonal values of consumptive use
of water on lands devoted to the various irrigated
CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
113
TABLE 63
OTHER WATER SERVICE AREAS UNDER PROBABLE ULTIMATE CONDITIONS, CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Inside national forests, monu-
ments, and military reservations
Outside national forests, monu-
ments, and military reservations
Approximate
total
Reference
number
Name
Above
3,000-foot
elevation
Below
3,000-foot
elevation
Above
3,000-foot
elevation
Below
3,000-foot
elevation
1
69,700
17.800
31,700
392,000
136,000
7,100
371,000
11,400
18,800
103,000
45,500
229,000
156,000
85,400
69,600
52,000
8,100
1,600
32,700
39,200
1,400
191,000
539,000
28,500
1,633,000
77,900
113.000
191,000
191,000
153,000
348,000
297,000
73,900
191,000
2
609,000
3
28,500
4
2,126,000
5
89,300
6
158,000
7
327,000
8
236,000
9
186,000
10
1,008,000
11
590,000
12
166,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS...
654,000
1,020,000
205,000
3,836,000
5,715,000
TABLE 64
SUMMARY OF PROBABLE ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE
AREAS, CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Irrigable
lands
Urban
and
suburban
areas
Other
water
service
areas
Refer-
ence
num-
ber
Name
Approxi-
mate
total
1
2
Santa Cruz
13,100
168,000
36,500
352,000
268,000
7,400
15,400
73,500
86,500
181,000
121,000
45,800
46,500
5,300
4,900
4,900
18,500
16,100
200
9,800
800
6,000
3,500
21,700
191,000
609,000
28,500
2,126,000
89,300
158,000
327,000
236,000
186,000
1,008,000
590,000
166,000
251,000
782,000
3
4
5
6
Pajaro. . -
Upper Salinas
Lower Salinas
69,900
2,483,000
376,000
182,000
7
8
9
10
11
Monterey Coast
San Luis Obispo.
Carrizo Plains .
Santa Maria .
343,000
319,000
273,000
1,195,000
714.000
12
Santa Barbara..
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS
233,000
1,368,000
138,000
5,715,000
7,221,000
crops were computed by the methods outlined in
Chapter II. However, as was pointed out in the prior
discussion of irrigated lands, it is the practice in some
localities to raise two or three crops on the same land
in a given year. To account for this multiple land and
water use, available results of actual field plot studies
of application and use of water for irrigation were
employed where applicable.
Significant climatic variations, as related to con-
sumptive use of water, occur even within certain
hydrographic units of the Central Coastal Area. For
example, prevailing fogs and cool temperatures along
the coast tend to reduce the consumption of water. In
order to facilitate the estimating of irrigation con-
sumptive use, therefore, the Lower Salinas and Santa
Maria Hydrographic Units were divided into coastal
and interior isoclimatic zones. Table 65 presents the
estimated unit values of mean seasonal consumptive
use of applied irrigation water and of precipitation on
lands devoted to crops of the various groups.
Unit mean seasonal consumptive use of applied
water on farm lots was estimated to be about 0.5 foot
of depth. Estimates of unit mean seasonal consumptive
use of precipitation on farm lots varied from 0.8 foot
to 1.4 feet in the various hydrographic units of the
Central Coastal Area, and averaged about 1.2 feet of
depth. These estimates were employed for both pres-
ent and probable ultimate conditions of development.
Urban and Suburban Water Use
Present unit seasonal values of use of water on
urban and suburban water service areas of the Central
Coastal Area were estimated largely on the basis of
available records of delivery of water to the areas, as
compiled by municipalities and other public water
service agencies. Probable ultimate values of water
deliveries were estimated by applying to the present
values derived percentage factors to account for ex-
pected future increase in population densities and in
per capita water use. Table 66 presents the estimates
of present and probable ultimate unit seasonal values
of gross water deliveries in urban and suburban
water service areas. These values were assumed to be
equivalent to consumptive use of applied water.
Use of Water in Other Water Service Areas
Unit values of water use on the miscellany of serv-
ice areas grouped in this category were derived gen-
erally from measured or estimated present deliveries
of water to the typical development involved. In most
cases the estimates were made in terms of per capita
use of water, and the actual acreage of the service
114
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 65
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT VALUES OF CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON IRRIGATED LANDS,
CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
(In feet of depth)
Hydrographic unit
Alfalfa
Pasture
Orchard
Citrus
Vineyard
Refer-
ence
number
Name
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
1
1.9
2.3
1.9
2.3
2.2
2.5
2.0
2.1
2.1
2.8
2.0
2.6
2.2
2.2
1.4
1.2
1.3
1.1
0.9
0.9
1.2
1.2
1.2
0.8
1.2
0.9
1.1
1.1
3.3
3.5
3.2
3.4
3.1
3.4
3.2
3.3
3.3
3.6
3.2
3.5
3.3
3.3
2__ .
2.2
1.7
2.2
2.2
2.5
1.7
1.3
1.5
1.2
1.0
0.9
1.5
3.5
3.2
3.4
3.2
3.4
3.2
1.0
0.6
1.1
1.0
1.3
0.6
1.3
1.3
1.2
0.9
0.9
1.3
2.3
1.9
2.3
1.9
2.2
1.9
0.5
1.1
1.6
3
4
0.5
1.1
1.6
5
Lower Salinas
6
7
Monterey Coast . . . _
8
1.9
2.8
2.0
2.6
2.1
1.4
0.8
1.2
0.9
1.2
1.4
3.3
3.6
3.2
3.5
3.3
3.3
1.4
2.1
1.5
1.9
1.5
1.4
1.2
0.8
1.2
0.9
1.1
1.2
2.6
2.9
2.7
2.8
2.6
2.6
0.8
1.1
1.9
9
10
Santa Maria
1.1
0.9
2.0
11
1.1
1.0
1.1
1.2
2.2
2.2
12
1.9
TABLE 65— Continued
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT VALUES OF CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON IRRIGATED LANDS,
CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
(In feet of depth)
Hydrographic unit
Truck crops
Sugar beets
Miscell
aneous field crops
Hay and grain
Refer-
ence
number
Name
Applied
water
Precipi-
tation
Total
Applied
water
Precipi-
tation
Total
Applied
water
Precipi-
tation
Total
Applied
water
Precipi-
tation
Total
1
0.5
1.0
0.6
1.0
0.8
1.1
0.6
0.7
1.4
2.0
1.5
1.6
1.5
1.4
1.2
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.9
0.9
1.1
1.0
1.1
0.8
1.0
0.9
1.0
1.0
1.7
2.0
1.6
2.0
1.7
2.0
1.7
1.7
2.5
2.8
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.4
0.7
1.2
0.6
1.1
0.9
1.2
0.8
0.9
1.4
2.0
l..->
1.1
1.5
1.4
1.1
0.9
1.0
1.0
0.9
0.9
1.0
1.0
1.1
0.8
1.0
0.9
1.0
1.0
1.8
2.1
1.6
2.1
1.8
2.1
1.8
1.9
2.5
2.8
2.5
2.0
2.5
2.4
0.4
0.4
1.2
1.2
1.6
2
1.3
0.9
1.0
1.1
2.3
2.0
1.6
3__ __
4___ .
0.4
0.4
0.4
1.2
0.9
0.9
1.6
5
Lower Salinas
1.1
1.3
0.9
0.9
2.0
2.2
1.3
1.3
6
7
0.4
0.7
0.6
0.7
0.5
0.7
0.8
1.0
1.1
0.8
1.0
0.9
1.0
1.0
1.4
8
San Luis Obispo _
1.8
9
1.4
10
Santa Maria
1.0
1.0
2.0
1.7
Interior
1.4
11
1.1
1.0
2.1
1.7
12
1.8
area was not a significant factor. In such cases the
aggregate amount of water deliveries is relatively very
small, and negligible recovery of return flow is in-
volved. For purposes of study, therefore, the esti-
mated unit values of delivery of water to these facil-
itirs were considered to be also the measures of con-
sumptive use of applied water.
Both the National Forest and Park Services pro-
vided estimates of present and probable ultimate unit
deliveries of water to all facilities within their juris-
diction. The estimates were generally in terms of per
capita use <>r water, and were based on actual meas-
urcnients ami experience. They varied widely from
place to place and in type of use, and for this reason
are not detailed herein.
Records of delivery of water to private recreational
areas in the Santa Cruz Mountains were available
from local water service agencies. On an areal basis,
unit values of water delivery are extremely low,
averaging only about 0.05 foot of depth per season.
Recovery of return flow is negligible, and unit de-
liveries of water were considered to be also the
measures of consumptive use of applied water.
The value of unit use of water by military estab-
lishments was derived on a per capita basis, from
available records of delivery of water and estimates
CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
115
TABLE 66
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT VALUES OF WATER
DELIVERY IN URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS, CENTRAL
COASTAL AREA
(In feet of depth)
Hydrographic unit
Gross delivery of water*
Reference
number
Name
Present
Probable
ultimate
1
2
3
Santa Cruz . _ _
San Benito.. .
0.9
1.2
1.4
1.5
1.7
0.5
1.2
1.3
1.7
1.0
0.7
2.2
1.7
4
5
Upper Salinas
2.0
2.2
6
7__
Carmel __ _
2.0
1.7
8
9__
San Luis Obispo _
1.5
1.5
10
11
Santa Maria
1.5
1.5
12
1.5
* Assumed equivalent to consumptive use of applied water.
of population of the camps involved. On these bases
it was estimated that present consumptive use of ap-
plied water by such establishments averages about
75 gallons per capita per day. It was assumed that
this value would hold in the future.
For other Avater service areas not encompassed by
the foregoing specific types of water service, unit
values of consumptive use of applied water under
probable ultimate conditions of development were
assigned on a per capita basis. In such areas, sparse
residential, industrial, and recreational development
is expected in the future. For areas outside national
forests, monuments, and military reservations, it was
estimated that the ultimate population density will
average about eight persons per square mile, and
that the per capita consumptive use of water will be
about 70 gallons per day. In areas inside national
forests, monuments, and military reservations the
same per capita use estimates were made, but the
population density was assumed to average about
four persons per square mile. The period of water use
was assumed to be of only three months' duration
during the summer for areas above 3,000 feet in
elevation, while water service for areas below 3,000
feet in elevation was assumed to be throughout the
year.
CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER
In general, estimates of the amounts of water con-
sumptively used in the Central Coastal Area were de-
rived by applying appropriate unit values of water
use to the service areas involved. The estimates repre-
sent the seasonal amount of consumptive use of water
under mean conditions of water supply and climate.
Table 67 presents estimates of present consumptive
use of applied water and precipitation in areas hav-
ing water service, and Table 68 presents correspond-
ing estimates for probable ultimate conditions of de-
velopment.
FACTORS OF WATER DEMAND
In addition to the amount of water consumptively
used in a given service area, certain factors relating
to the water requirements, such as necessary rates,
times, and places of delivery of water, quality of
water, losses of water, etc., have to be given, con-
sideration in the design of water development works.
In the Central Coastal Area the most important of
these demand factors are associated with the supply
of water for irrigation. Of secondary importance are
those related to the supply of water for urban, sub-
urban, recreational, and other uses. The demand
factors most pertinent to design of works to meet
water requirements of the Central Coastal Area are
discussed in the following sections.
TABLE 67
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS,
CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Irrigated lands
Farm
lots
Urban and
suburban
areas
Unclassified
areas
Approximate
Refer-
Name
total
consumptive
ence
number
Applied water
Precipitation
Applied water
Applied water
Applied water
use of
applied water
1
2,700
82,000
11,900
7,400
171,000
1,100
negligible
7,200
82,100
37.800
22,400
5,800
81,300
19,500
4,300
128,000
1,400
negligible
5,600
47,100
23,400
20,500
100
700
200
1,000
100
500
200
300
7,300
2,500
2,700
2,600
9,300
8,100
negligible
4,800
2,100
1,400
6,600
300
1,500
7,200
100
200
500
2,600
2,200
10,400
85,200
1 I.SIKI
11,500
189,000
9,200
100
12,300
85,200
42,000
31,500
2..
3
4
5
6
8
9
10
11
12
APPROXIMATE TOTALS. ..
426,000
337,000
3,100
47,400
14,600
491,000
116
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 68
PROBABLE MEAN SEASONAL CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE AREAS,
CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Irrigated lands
Farm
lots
Urban and
suburban
areas
Other water
service areas
Approximate
total
consumptive
use of
applied water
Refer-
Name
ence
number
Applied water
Precipitation
Applied water
Applied water
Applied water
1
Santa Cruz - _ _ . _ __ . __ _
7,100
163,000
19,700
352,000
270,000
7,800
15,400
88,900
121,000
209,000
130.000
48,000
10,500
166,000
29,700
325,000
220,000
8,100
14,100
71,700
59,500
154,000
108,000
47,100
100
1,400
300
2,100
2,000
100
100
500
600
1,300
800
500
32,600
1 1 ,700
8,300
9,800
40,700
32,200
300
14,700
1,200
9,000
5,300
32,600
3,600
600
2,100
7,300
200
500
400
200
1,500
2,400
4,400
43,400
2
176,000
3
Pajaro ___
28,300
4
366,000
5
320,000
6
40,300
7
Monterey Coast. . . _ _____
16,300
8
104,000
9
123,000
10
Santa Maria _
221,000
11
Santa Ynez
139,000
12
85,500
APPROXIMATE TOTALS
1,432,000
1,214,000
9,800
198,000
23,200
1,663,000
Monthly Distribution of Water Demands
"Within the season, demand for irrigation water in
the Central Coastal Area varies from little or none
during the winter rainy months to more than 20 per
cent of the seasonal total during dry summer months.
Available information indicates that considerable
variation in water demand also occurs with crop and
soil types, and with distance from the coast. Urban
water demands, while substantially higher in summer
than in winter months, are far more uniform through-
out the season than are those for irrigation. They
vary from five to six per cent of the seasonal total
during the months of December through March, to
over ten per cent from June through September. Rep-
resentative data on monthly distribution of irriga-
tion and urban water demands in the Central Coastal
Area are presented in Table 69.
Irrigation Water Service Area Efficiency
In study of irrigation water requirements of the
Central Coastal Area it was found to be desirable to
estimate the over-all efficiency of irrigation practice
in the various service areas. Irrigation water service
area efficiency was measured by the ratio of consump-
tive use of applied irrigation water to the gross
amount of irrigation water delivered to a service
area. Present irrigation water service area efficiencies
were estimated after consideration of geologic condi-
tions of the service areas involved, their topographic
position in relation to sources of water supply and to
other service areas, consumptive use of water, irriga-
tion efficiency, usable return flow, and urban and
suburban sewage outflow. Irrigation efficiencies, or
the ratios of consumptive use of applied water to the
total water applied, were determined from studies
conducted by the Division of Water Resources for
the Salinas Valley and the Pajaro area. Available
information on irrigation practice in the Central
Coastal Area indicates that present irrigation efficien-
cies generally range from 50 to 60 per cent. Addi-
tional factors affecting the estimates of probable ulti-
mate irrigation water service area efficiencies were
related to the location and extent of presently unde-
veloped irrigable lands, as well as to the increased
cost of developing water. For purposes of illustra-
TABLE 69
DISTRIBUTION OF MONTHLY WATER DEMANDS, CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
(In per cent of seasonal total)
Locality and purpose
January
Feb-
ruary
March
April
May
June
July
August
Sep-
tember
( Ictolil'l
Novem-
ber
Decem-
ber
Total
Irrigation demand
Pajaro Valley, 1947 and 1949
Salinas Valley Pressure Area, 1945_
Santa Maria Valley, 1938
Urban demand
Santa Cruz, 1946 through 1948
Salinas, 1944
Monterey, 1949. . .
0.4
1.3
4.7
6.7
5.2
6.0
0.1
0.4
4.9
5.7
4.3
5.7
0.5
1.7
5.9
6.0
4.7
5.9
11.3
10.7
4.6
6.5
7.5
5.7
6.9
15.0
14.5
9.4
9.0
9.6
7.7
8.0
22.3
16.1
13.9
10.0
10.5
10.6
9.7
23.8
18.0
17.3
12.8
10.6
10.1
10.9
16.7
16.8
17.3
13.5
10.4
12.1
11.6
8.1
13.1
13.4
11.8
9.8
11.1
11.2
1.6
9.9
8.0
9.4
8.8
12.4
9.4
0.1
0.9
7.5
6.7
7.6
8.6
8.3
0.1
5.2
4.8
6.8
7.5
6.4
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Santa Barbara, 1946 through 1952.
100.0
CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
117
tion, the weighted mean values of all irrigation water
service area efficiencies within each hydrographic
unit of the Central Coastal Area are presented in
Table 70.
TABLE 70
ESTIMATED WEIGHTED MEAN IRRIGATION
WATER SERVICE AREA EFFICIENCY WITHIN
HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, CENTRAL COASTAL
AREA
(In per cent)
Hydrographic unit
Present
Prob-
Refer-
ence
number
Name
able
ulti-
mate
1
50
65
50
65
65
50
50
2
50
3
50
4
60
5
6
7
Lower Salinas
Carmel .
65
50
50
8
60
50
9
65
10
70
80
70
70
11
65
12
50
WATER REQUIREMENTS
As the term is used in this bulletin, water require-
ments refer to the amounts of water needed to pro-
vide for all beneficial uses of water and for irrecov-
erable losses incidental to such uses. Those water
requirements of the Central Coastal Area that are pri-
marily nonconsumptive in nature are discussed in
general terms in the ensuing section. Following this,
water requirements of the area that are consumptive
in nature are evaluated, both for present and for
probable ultimate conditions of development.
Requirements of a Nonconsumptive Nature
The principal nonconsumptive water requirements
of the Central Coastal Area are associated with the
preservation and propagation of fish and wildlife,
flood control, and repulsion of sea water from ground
water basins. For the most part, such requirements
for water are extremely difficult to evaluate other
than in conjunction with definite plans for water
resource development. Their consideration in this
bulletin, therefore, is limited to discussion of their
implications as related to planning for future devel-
opment of water resources.
So far as is known, there are no present require-
ments in the Central Coastal Area for water for gen-
eration of hydroelectric power nor for purposes of
navigation. In view of prevailing water supply and
topographic conditions, it cannot be foreseen that
appreciable requirements of such nature will ever
develop in the future.
Fish and Wildlife. The fresh-water fishery of the
Central Coastal Area is limited as compared to that
of some other parts of California. Nevertheless, it is
important to the recreational economy of the area,
and the fishing enjoyed by sportsmen contributes sub-
stantially to the State's recreational facilities.
Sport fishing is largely confined to the streams.
However, there are several reservoirs and a number
of farm ponds that also offer considerable fishing
opportunities. The reservoirs and farm ponds are
stocked for the most part with warm-water fishes,
principally black bass, bluegill, and catfish, although
a few contain trout.
The principal fishing is for adult steelhead rainbow
trout that migrate annually from the sea to their
spawning beds on the riffles of the fresh-water streams.
Trout form resident populations in some of the suit-
able permanent stretches of streams in this area, and,
along with the young of the steelhead and some silver
salmon, contribute to the fishery. Adult silver salmon
migrate into several of the streams from the Monterey
Bay area northward, and provide some sport fishing,
particularly in the San Lorenzo River. Adult silver
salmon reared in these streams are also taken by both
sport and commercial fishermen in the ocean.
The sport fishery in the streams of the Central
Coastal Area could be greatly improved by mainte-
nance of a suitable stream flow throughout the year.
The runoff pattern of streams of the southern portion
of the area is extremely erratic. Under present condi-
tions, flow in some of the southern streams does not
reach the ocean for periods up to several years. Main-
tenance of fish life sufficient for sport fishing in such
streams as the Santa Ynez, Santa Maria, and Carmel
Rivers would require the upstream impoundment of
flood flows and their release during summer and fall
to sustain stream flow. Whether this possible water
requirement can be met, in view of the limited avail-
able water resources, is problematical. On the other
hand, in the northern portion of the area, particu-
larly in northern Santa Cruz County, local water
resources considerably exceed probable ultimate re-
quirements, and it is possible that flood flows may be
conserved and later released to sustain stream flow
for fishing during dry periods, without adversely
affecting the economy of the area.
At the request of the Division of Water Resources,
a series of estimates was made by the California De-
partment of Fish and Game of the stream flow at
certain points in the more important streams of the
Central Coastal Area required for the protection and
maintenance of fish life. These streams were divided
into four classes by the Division, according to the
anticipated degree of water development for various
beneficial purposes that might compete with recrea-
tional or commercial fishing requirements. The sum-
mer and Avinter stream flow requirements for fish
life in Central Coastal Area streams of the appropri-
I1H
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
ate classes, as estimated by the Department of Fish
and Game, are listed in Appendix F.
Although the mountains of the Central Coastal
Area support a substantial wildlife and afford sport
hunting to many tourists, the related water require-
ments are quite small. This condition is expected to
be maintained in the indefinite future. Migratory
waterfowl frequent the coastal lagoons, and provide
minor opportunities for sport hunters. It is probable
that such fresh water as is required to maintain this
habitat will always be available from waste and return
flows.
Flood Control. There is at present a material
need for flood control in several localities of the Cen-
tral Coastal Area, and it is anticipated that this
need will increase with growth of the area. Only
minor flood control works exist, and their effects on
the developed water supply are extremely small.
However, at least one major surface storage develop-
ment involving flood control, the multipurpose San
Lucas Project on the Salinas River, has been pro-
posed. The presently authorized Winchester Ranch
Reservoir, on the Nacimiento River, would offer sub-
stantial flood control benefits if operated as a multi-
purpose project. The Santa Maria Project is in the
advanced planning stage. It includes the Vaquero
Reservoir utilized for conservation and flood control,
and the Santa Maria Valley levees for flood control.
It is probable that additional projects of these types
will be planned and constructed in the future. The
nonconsumptive requirements for water imposed by
such flood control works may be substantial, and must
be given consideration in plans to meet water re-
quirements.
Subsurface Outflow From Ground Water Basins to
Ocean. In recent hydrologic studies in the Salinas
and Pajaro Valleys it was found that during periods
of little or no pumping draft on the confined aquifers
of the coastal ground water basins there is substantial
surface outflow to the ocean. This constitutes an un-
avoidable loss of the fresh-water supplies, and for
purposes of inventory in the present investigation was
construed as a nonconsumptive water requirement.
It was estimated that the average subsurface outflow
from the Salinas Valley, under the present pattern of
pumping draft, is approximately 19,000 acre-feet per
season, and from the Pajaro Valley approximately
2,000 acre-feet per season.
Overdrafts are known to exist in coastal ground
water basins of the Pajaro and Salinas Valleys, and
resultant sea-water intrusion into the confined aqui-
fers is becoming a critical problem. Other coastal
ground water basins of the Central Coastal Area have
present or potential overdrafts, and are in danger of
similar sea-water intrusion. Studies now in progress
indicate that subsurface outflow of fresh water from
the confined aquifers to the ocean must be maintained
in order to control this invasion of the economically
important ground water basins, and to prevent de-
gradation of quality of the ground water. Evaluation
of the magnitude of this water requirement must
await detailed hydrologic analysis under a specific
plan of development and pattern of pumping draft.
Requirements of a Consumptive Nature
Estimates of present and probable ultimate water
requirements of a consumptive nature within hydro-
graphic units of the Central Coastal Area are pre-
sented in Table 71. These mean seasonal values rep-
resent the amount of water other than precipitation
needed to provide for beneficial consumptive use of
water on irrigated lands, farm lots, urban and sub-
urban areas, and other water service areas, and for
TABLE 71
ESTIMATED PRESENT AND PROBABLE ULTIMATE MEAN SEASONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR WATER,
CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Irrigated lands
Farm lots
Urban and
suburban areas
Other water
service areas
Approximate
totals
Name
Refer-
ence
number
Present
Probable
ultimate
Present
Probable
ultimate
Present
Probable
ultimate
Present
Probable
ultimate
Present
Probable
ultimate
1
Santa Cruz .__
5,400
126,000
23,800
11,400
263,000
2,200
12,000
117,000
47,200
32,600
14,200
325,000
39,400
587,000
415,000
15,600
30,800
178,000
187,000
299,000
200,000
96,000
100
1,400
400
2,000
200
1,000
400
600
200
2,800
600
4,200
4,000
200
200
1,000
1,200
2,600
1,600
1,000
7,300
2,500
2,700
2,600
9,300
8,100
4,800
2,100
1,400
6,600
32,600
11,700
8,300
9,800
40,700
32,200
300
14,700
1,200
9,000
5,300
32,600
300
1,500
7,200
100
200
500
2,600
2,200
3,600
600
2,100
7,300
200
500
400
200
1,500
2,400
4,400
13.100
130,000
26,900
15,500
281,000
10,300
100
17,200
121,000
51,600
42,000
50,600
2
San Benito
340,000
3
48 300
4
603,000
5
467,000
6
48 200
7 „.
Monterey Coast
31,800
8 _.
San Luis Obispo
194,000
9 __
Carrizo Plains- . _
190,000
10
Santa Maria .
312,000
11
Santa Ynez . _ _ .
209,000
12
Santa Barbara .
134,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS.-
641,000
*2,217,000
6,100
19,600
47,400
198,000
14,600
23,200
709,000
*2,458,000
* Total reduced by 170,000 acre-feet of return water in bower Salinas Hydrographic Unit.
CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
119
irrecoverable losses of water incidental to these uses.
The estimates were derived from consideration of the
heretofore presented estimates of consumptive use of
applied water, and of water service area efficiencies
of hydrographic units. In the Salinas Hydrographic
Unit, extensive re-use in the lower unit of return
water from the upper unit reduces the total require-
ment for the hydrographic unit as a whole.
Supplemental Requirements
The present supplemental water requirement in
each hydrographic unit of the Central Coastal Area
was taken as equivalent to the estimated ground water
overdraft when such was known to exist. Deficiencies
in surface stream flow or surface storage capacity
were not considered in the estimates of present
supplemental requirements. The difference between
estimated present and probable ultimate water re-
quirements for each hydrographic unit plus the pres-
ent supplemental requirement was taken as the meas-
ure of the probable ultimate supplemental water
requirement.
Results of prior studies of the use of ground water
in the Central Coastal Area indicate that overdrafts
exist in ground water basins of the San Benito, Pa-
jaro. Lower Salinas, Santa Maria, and Santa Barbara
Hydrographic Units. In all these instances the use
of ground water has intensified since the date of
studies, and probably the overdrafts in most basins
have increased. However, lacking specific knowledge
of the amount of such increases, the original estimates
were used in this bulletin. The present use of water
in the Santa Cruz, Upper Salinas, Carmel, Monterey
Coast, Carrizo Plains, and Santa Ynez Hydrographic
Units is primarily by stream diversion or by ground
water pumpage, without apparent overdraft. In these
instances the yield of the present water supply de-
velopment was assumed to be equal to the present
requirement for water. The Upper and Lower Salinas
Hydrographic Units are unique in the Central Coastal
Area because an increase in consumptive use of water
in the upper unit will decrease water supplies natur-
ally flowing to the lower unit. Therefore, for pur-
poses of this bulletin, the values of supplemental
water requirement for the Upper and Lower Salinas
Hydrographic Units were estimated under the as-
sumption that each unit is a separate entity, and
that water is now imported from the upper unit to
the lower unit to meet present requirements in the
latter. Such an assumption permits ready modifica-
tion of the estimates of supplemental requirements
as future water resource development may be planned
or occur. However, 70 percent of the water lost in
transportation to and deep percolation from the Up-
per Salinas Hydrographic Unit would be available
for re-use in the lower unit. Therefore, the total sup-
plemental water requirement for the Salinas Basin
is not necessarily the total of the supplemental re-
quirements of the individual units.
Construction of the Cachuma Project in the Santa
Ynez Hydrographic Unit is in progress. By storage
of flood waters of the Santa Ynez River, it was esti-
mated that an additional 33,000 acre-feet of safe sea-
sonal yield of water will be made available for im-
port to the Santa Barbara Hydrographic Unit. For
purposes of this bulletin, present supplemental water
requirements were estimated without consideration of
this import. However, it was assumed that under con-
ditions of ultimate development the Cachuma Project
would furnish the indicated import to the Santa Bar-
bara Hydrographic Unit.
Presented in Table 72 are the estimates of present
and probable ultimate mean seasonal supplemental
water requirement of hydrographic units of the Cen-
tral Coastal Area.
TABLE 72
ESTIMATED PRESENT AND PROBABLE ULTIMATE MEAN
SEASONAL SUPPLEMENTAL WATER REQUIREMENTS,
CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Present
Reference
number
Name
Probable
ultimate
1
Santa Cruz. . . _ -
15,000
4,000
80,000
55,000
30,000
38,000
225,000
25,000
588,000
266,000
38,000
32 000
2
3
4
5
6_
7
8,
177,000
190,000
246,000
158,000
89,000
9
10_
11
12
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS
184,000
*1 ,902,000
* Total reduced by 170,000 aere-feet of return water in Lower Salinas Hydrogiaplilc
Unit.
CHAPTER VI
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
The South Coastal Area, designated Area 4 on Plate
8, lies between latitudes 32.5° N. and 35° N., and com-
prises the drainage areas of those streams discharg-
ing into the Pacific Ocean between the southeastern
boundary of the Rincon Creek watershed near the
Santa Barbara-Ventura county line on the north and
the Mexican boundary on the south. The portion of
the drainage basin of the Tia Juana River lying
within Mexico is not included in the area. All of
Orange County and portions of the Counties of Kern,
Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego,
Santa Barbara, and Ventura lie within the boundaries
of the South Coastal Area. The principal urban cen-
ters constitute the large metropolitan areas within
and adjacent to the Cities of Los Angeles and San
Diego.
To aid in hydrologic analyses, the South Coastal
Area was subdivided into 10 hydrographic units, as
delineated on Plate 8. The boundaries of these units
generally follow topographic divides, with the excep-
tion of certain boundaries of the Los Angeles and
San Diego Hydrographic Units, also termed the Los
Angeles and San Diego Metropolitan Areas, which
were selected on the basis of the probable ultimate
limits of intensive urbanization. Table 73 lists the 10
hydrographic units and their areas, and Table 74
presents the area of the portion of each county in-
cluded within the South Coastal Area.
The climate of the South Coastal Area is character-
ized in the coastal regions by relatively mild tempera-
tures and light precipitation, and in the more inland
regions by somewhat wider temperature variations
TABLE 73
AREAS OF HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS,
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
TABLE 74
AREAS OF COUNTIES WITHIN BOUND-
ARIES OF SOUTH COASTAL AREA
Hydrographic unit
Reference
number
Name
Acres
1
Ventura..
168,000
2
3
Santa Clara-Calleguas
Malibu ..
1,286,000
137,000
4
5
6...
San Gabriel Mountains _ _
Upper Santa Ana.
Los Angeles .. _
307,000
1,450,000
1,186,000
7
8
San Juan Capistrano
Santa Margarita-San Luis
Rey
322,000
849,000
9
10
San Dieguito-Cottonwood
San Diego
973,000
317,000
APPROXIMATE
TOTAL
6,995,000
County
Kern
Los Angeles
Orange
Riverside
San Bernardino
San Diego
Santa Barbara
Ventura
APPROXIMATE TOTAL
Acres
1,300
1,768,000
503,000
1,198,000
647,000
1 ,939,000
5,100
934,000
6,995,000
and greater precipitation. Precipitation generally in-
creases with elevation. The mean seasonal depth of
precipitation at Los Angeles is about 15 inches, while
at Kelly's Camp, at an elevation of 8,300 feet in the
San Bernardino Mountains near the Los Angeles-San
Bernardino county line, it is over 40 inches. Depth
of seasonal precipitation on valley floor areas aver-
ages about 15 inches, varying from about 10 inches to
20 inches, with valley floor areas adjacent to the
mountains receiving the higher rainfall. Variation
of precipitation from season to season is quite pro-
nounced. At Los Angeles an unbroken precipitation
record has been maintained since 1877. During this
period the seasonal depth of precipitation has varied
between extremes of 5.59 inches and 38.18 inches,
averaging 15.43 inches. Precipitation occurs princi-
pally during the winter months, about 90 per cent of
the seasonal total generally occurring from November
through April.
The estimated mean seasonal natural runoff of
streams in the South Coastal Area is about 1,227,000
acre-feet, or approximately 1.7 per cent of that for
the entire State. The principal streams are the Ven-
tura, Santa Clara, Los Angeles, San Gabriel, Santa
Ana, Santa Margarita, San Luis Rev, San Dieguito,
San Diego, and Tia Juana Rivers, which contribute
a seasonal runoff of about 1,000,000 acre-feet on the
average, or over 80 per cent of the total for the area.
The largest stream, the Santa Ana River, has a mean
seasonal runoff of 322,000 acre-feet, or about 26 per
cent of the total for the South Coastal Area. Runoff
is derived principally from rainfall and is character-
ized by high peak flows of short duration. Many
streams are intermittent, with practically all runoff
occurring during the winter and spring months. For
the area as a whole approximately 70 per cent of the
(121)
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
123
runoff occurs during the four months from January
through April on the average.
As shown on Plate 4, a total of 43 valley fill areas,
which may or may not contain usable ground water,
has been identified in the South Coastal Area. The
most important of these from the standpoint of
ground water utilization, are the basins located in the
Upper Santa Ana. San Gabriel, and San Fernando
Valleys, along the Santa Clara River and in the coastal
plain at its mouth, and in the coastal plains of Los
Angeles and Orange Counties. Practically all of the
present regulation of runoff of the Santa Clara, Los
Angeles, San Gabriel, and Santa Ana Rivers is pro-
vided by these ground water basins. In general,
aquifers of economic significance in ground water
basins adjacent to the coast are confined by overlying
impervious strata, while those in basins farther inland
contain free ground water. Many of the ground water
basins have experienced overdraft for many years
past, and in most of the important basins adjacent to
the coast overpumping has lowered piezometric levels
below sea level, with resultant intrusion of sea water.
Today the South Coastal Area is characterized by
a rich and intensively irrigated agricultural develop-
ment, by very large urban centers, and by an indus-
trial development of national significance. The history
of these developments dates back to the founding of
the Spanish missions nearly two centuries ago.
The first practice of irrigation in the South Coastal
Area came with the founding of San Diego Mission by
the Franciscan Fathers in 1769. Water from the San
Diego River, originally obtained by surface diversion
and later supplemented by wells dug in the river
gravels, was used to irrigate fields surrounding the
mission. Similar agricultural developments accom-
panied the establishment of the Missions San Luis
Rey, San Juan Capistrano, San Gabriel, San Fer-
nando, and San Buenaventura in ensuing years. In
1833 the missions were secularized by the Mexican
Government and the mission holdings and other lands
were given to individuals in the form of large land
grants, which were used primarily for raising live-
stock. For many years after the secularization of the
missions, there was no significant increase in the prac-
tice of growing irrigated crops. It was not until the
latter half of the nineteenth century that significant
expansion of irrigated lands commenced. In 1851 the
Mormons purchased the Rancho San Bernardino and
soon were irrigating several hundred acres. During
the following years, plantings of irrigated crops were
made in many other parts of the South Coastal Area.
Citrus crops were first raised commercially in the
Upper Santa Ana Valley, and shipment of oranges to
the east began in the 1880 's. Walnuts were first
planted in Ventura County about 1880, and bean pro-
duction began in the Oxnard Plain of this county in
the 1890 's. Winter truck crops were first produced
commercially near San Diego about 1910, and in about
1915 avocados and other subtropical fruits were in-
troduced to this county. Figures published by the
United States Bureau of the Census indicate that over
200,000 acres were irrigated in the South Coastal
Area in 1900. By 1930, this figure had increased to
over 600,000 acres. Since 1930 the area devoted to
irrigated agriculture has remained fairly constant,
the present gross irrigated area being about 650,000
acres, located chiefly on the coastal plains and in the
interior valleys where water supplies have been avail-
able. The most important crops presently include
citrus and subtropical fruits, truck, nuts, alfalfa, and
pasture.
The principal centers of urban development are the
Cities of Los Angeles and San Diego and adjacent
areas, and the urban zone in the Upper Santa Ana
Valley from Pomona to San Bernardino. Table 75
presents the 1940 and 1950 populations of the eight
largest cities in the South Coastal Area according to
the federal census, and 1954 population estimates. The
1954 populations shown for San Diego and San
Bernardino are estimates by the planning commissions
of these cities. The 1954 populations shown for the
remaining cities are estimates by the Los Angeles
County Regional Planning Commission, as of July,
1954. It should be noted that the estimated 1954 popu-
lation of the City of San Diego includes about 63,000
military personnel.
The historical growth of the City of Los Angeles is
generally indicative of urban growth in the South
Coastal Area. In 1850, four years after the occupation
of Los Angeles by Americans, the population was
only 1,610. However, by 1880 the population had in-
creased to over 10,000. As a result of many factors,
including the mild climate, a direct rail connection to
the east, and the construction of Los Angeles Harbor
in the 1880 's, the population grew to over 50,000 in
1890, and to over 100,000 in 1900. The rate of growth
accelerated during the early decades of the present
century, and, as shown in Table 75, the 1954 popula-
tion of Los Angeles was estimated to be over 2,000,000.
TABLE 75
POPULATION OF PRINCIPAL URBAN CENTERS,
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
City
1940
census
1950
census
1954
estimate
Los Angeles
1,504,000
203,000
164,000
81,900
82,600
34,300
53,500
43,600
1,970,000
334,000
251,000
105,000
95,700
78,600
71,600
63,100
2,138,000
459 000
Long Beach.
283,000
Pasadena
Glendale ...
116,000
114,000
Burbank
91,000
Santa Monica
76,000
San Bernardino.
81,000
Construction of excellent rail and port facilities, the
discovery of oil, and the availability of a large labor
pool, were important factors in the development of
Los Angeles Harbor
The Petroleum Industry in the
South Coastal Area
Courtesy State Division of Highways
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
125
Los Angeles as an industrial center. Industrialization
commenced largely in the years following the first
World War, and was given even greater impetus by
World War II. The 1947 Census of Manufactures by
the United States Department of Commerce indicated
that Los Angeles ranked fifth among cities of the
United States in value added by manufacturing. It
has been estimated that in 1953 the Counties of Los
Angeles and Orange ranked third among industrial
areas of the Nation, and that nearly one-third of the
over two million employed persons in the two counties
were engaged in manufacturing enterprises. Among
the principal industries are automobile assembly, mo-
tion picture production, food processing, petroleum
production and refining, and the manufacture of air-
craft, tires, apparel, and furniture. Associated with
this industrial growth has been the growth of Los
Angeles Harbor, which presently handles a total ton-
nage exceeding that of any other Pacific Coast port.
The historical population growth of the City of
San Diego followed a similar pattern to that of Los
Angeles. The growth was slow until the latter part of
the nineteenth century, being in large part retarded
by lack of sufficient firm water supplies and adequate
transportation facilities. The population of the city
in 1880 was less than 3,000. However, in the ensuing
decade the entrance of the first railroad into the area,
and the initiation of several water development plans,
overcame these handicaps, and the population had
grown to over 16,000 by 1890. After about 15 years
of relative stability, the city then began a generally
steady but frequently accelerated growth. This growth
was influenced by the efforts of ' ' booster ' ' clubs which
were first organized about 1900, by the publicity cre-
ated by the world expositions held there in 1915 and
1935, and by the expansion of military establishments
and aircraft manufacturing occasioned by World
War II.
The large population centers of the South Coastal
Area, and the tourist trade attracted to these cen-
ters, have occasioned the establishment of many resort
and recreational areas, principally in the mountains
and along the coast. Many of the mountain recrea-
tional areas are located within the boundaries of the
Los Padres, Angeles, San Bernardino, and Cleveland
National Forests, and many of the beach areas are
under the jurisdiction of the Division of Beaches
and Parks of the State Department of Natural Re-
sources.
There are numerous military reservations in the
area, the most important of which are under Depart-
ment of the Navy jurisdiction. These include training,
air, and repair facilities at San Diego, several marine
bases, the largest of which is Camp Pendleton, and
two major base's in Ventura County, the larger being
a guided missile test center. Army and Air Force
establishments are distributed through the area, and
the principal installation is March Air Force Base
in Riverside County.
The most significant recent trend in land use within
water service areas of the South Coastal Area has
been the urbanization which is still occurring at a
rapid rate. This development has largely taken place
on agricultural lands immediately adjacent to exist-
ing urban areas. It is considered probable that most
of the future urbanization will also occur on lands
presently devoted to agricultural use. Increase in the
area of irrigated lands will probably be dependent
upon the availability of additional water supplies
developed outside the South Coastal Area, and will
occur both by application of water to areas presently
dry farmed, and by bringing under cultivation lands
not presently farmed due to lack of an adequate water
supply. A proportional increase in areas devoted to
recreation will undoubtedly accompany future in-
creases in population.
At the present time the principal water supplies
in the South Coastal Area are obtained by pumping
from underlying ground water basins, diversion from
surface reservoirs, and importation of water from
the Colorado River and from the Owens River and
Mono Basin. Although large amounts of water are
obtained by individuals who pump from ground
water, most of the lands requiring water are served
by a multitude of agencies, both large and small.
The principal water service agencies in the South
Coastal Area, and the number of domestic services
and irrigated areas served by each, are listed in
Appendix B.
The earliest development of water supplies in the
South Coastal Area consisted of the diversion of
natural flow of streams, supplemented by wells dug
in the river gravels. The water so obtained was con-
veyed to nearby places of use by ditch systems, of
which remnants still exist. Because of the erratic
nature of the natural stream flow, these unregulated
sources of supply were found to be inadequate to
serve the increasing needs for water in the latter
years of the nineteenth century. In 1884, Bear Valley
Reservoir was constructed on a tributary of the Santa
Ana River. This marked the first significant use of
surface storage to regulate water supplies in the
South Coastal Area. Although extensive control of
surface supplies has taken place subsequently, the
underlying ground water basins have become the
most important source of supply in the Upper Santa
Ana, San Fernando, and San Gabriel Valleys, in the
coastal plains of Los Angeles and Orange Counties,
and throughout Ventura County. Prior to 1900 thou-
sands of wells, many of them artesian, were developed
to supply both irrigation and domestic needs. As
draft on the ground water supplies increased, the
limits of artesian areas decreased in size and ground
water levels began dropping, resulting in an increas-
126
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
ing use of deep-well turbine pumps to extract water
from greater depths. At the present time, by far the
largest portion of local supplies used in the Santa
Clara-Calleguas, Los Angeles, and Upper Santa Ana
Hydrographic Units continues to be obtained by
pumping from ground water.
Ground water basins in San Diego County are of
lesser importance as a source of water supply, be-
cause of their insufficient storage capacity to provide
the desired degree of regulation of the erratic stream
flow. Therefore, water users were soon forced to
turn to surface storage developments to supply their
increasing needs. The first plans for storage develop-
ments were initiated by numerous small companies,
which seldom had a life of more than a few years.
Cuyamaca Reservoir was constructed in 1887 by the
San Diego Flume Company, and Sweetwater Reser-
voir in 1888 by the San Diego Land and Town Com-
pany. Since that date, Morena, Lower Otay (formed
by Savage Dam), Hodges, Barrett, Henshaw, El
Capitan, San Vicente, Loveland, and Sutherland
Reservoirs have been constructed by various organ-
izations to meet increasing water requirements. At
the present time, Cuyamaca Reservoir is owned by
the La Mesa, Lemon Grove and Spring Valley Irriga-
tion District ; Sweetwater and Loveland Reservoirs
by the California Water and Telephone Company,
and Lake Henshaw by the Vista Irrigation District.
Of the remaining cited reservoirs, all of which are
presently owned by the City of San Diego, Morena
and Lower Otay were purchased from the Southern
California Mountain Water Company in 1913,
Hodges was purchased from the San Diego County
Water Company in 1925, and Barrett, El Capitan,
San Vicente, and Sutherland were constructed by
the city. The smallest of the foregoing reservoirs in
San Diego County, Cuyamaca, has a storage capacity
of about 11,600 acre-feet, and the largest, Lake Hen-
shaw, has a capacity of about 194,000 acre-feet. Their
aggregate storage capacity is about 677,000 acre-feet.
As early as 1900 it became apparent that local
water supplies would not be sufficient to satisfy the
needs of the rapidly growing City of Los Angeles,
and studies were begun to locate additional sources
of water. After several years of investigation, the
city authorized construction of an aqueduct from
the Owens River in the Lahontan Area. Construction
of the Los Angeles Aqueduct was initiated on Sep-
tember 20, 1907, and was completed on November 5,
1913. The initial project included diversion struc-
tures and a 233-mile conduit to the San Fernando
Valley. In 1910, additional bonds were issued for the
purpose of financing the generation of electric power
along the aqueduct. In 1940, the system was extended
northward to the Mono Basin, and subsequently water
from this watershed has been conveyed through the
aqucdiicl. The prcsenl average capacity of the Los
Angeles Aqueduct is estimated to be about 320,000
acre-feet per season.
During the decade from 1920 to 1930, the City of
Los Angeles and other communities in southern Cali-
fornia foresaw the need of additional supplemental
water for their rapidly expanding service areas.
Studies of the possibilities of importing Colorado
River water were initiated by the Los Angeles De-
partment of Water and Power, and in 1928 were
turned over to the newly formed Metropolitan Water
District of Southern California. After extensive
studies of possible alternative conduit routes to the
South Coastal Area, a final alignment was selected
and construction was started in 1933. First delivery
of water from the Colorado River Aqueduct was made
in 1941 to the City of Pasadena. Waters of the Colo-
rado River, regulated by Lake Mead created by
Hoover Dam, are diverted to the aqueduct from Lake
Havasu behind Parker Dam. From Lake Havasu, the
conduit extends in a generally westerly direction a
distance of 242 miles to terminal storage in Lake
Mathews, near Riverside, and thence northwesterly
about 38 miles to the La Verne softening plant in
Upper San Gabriel Valley.
Under the provisions of the Colorado River Com-
pact and the Boulder Canyon Project Act, the State
of California claims the right to 5,362,000 acre-feet
of water from the Colorado River each year. By the
terms of the 1931 Seven-Party Water Agreement,
executed by California agencies using Colorado River
water, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern
California was allotted 1,100,000 acre-feet of this
amount, and an additional 112,000 acre-feet were
allotted to the City and County of San Diego. A con-
tract with the Secretary of the Interior, signed in
1930, and amended in 1931, provides for delivery to
the district of their entitlements under the pro-
visions of the Seven-Party Water Agreement. Dur-
ing the fiscal year 1949-50, which is the period upon
which present requirements tabulated in this bulletin
are based, about 165,000 acre-feet of Colorado River
water were delivered to member agencies by the dis-
trict. The rights of the City and County of San
Diego were merged upon the formation of the San
Diego County Water Authority on June 9, 1944,
which latter agency became a member of the Metro-
politan Water District on December 17, 1946. The
year 1947 saw the completion of the first barrel of
the San Diego Aqueduct. The aqueduct takes water
from the Colorado River Aqueduct at a point in San
Jacinto Valley, and conveys it to San Vicente Reser-
voir on a tributary of the San Diego River. The second
barrel of the San Diego Aqueduct was dedicated on
October 2, 1954, and it is estimated by the San Diego
County Water Authority that the capacity of the
aqueduct is now approximately 215 second-feet.
Plate 15 depicts the historical import of water to
the South Coastal Area by the City of Los Angeles
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
127
and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern Cali-
fornia.
In summary, it should be emphasized that despite
the presence of a tremendous urban and industrial
development, agriculture remains a major economic
activity of the South Coastal Area. Water require-
ments for other uses, however, are expected to sur-
pass that for agriculture in the near future. The cur-
rent encroachment of urban types of development
onto agricultural lands will undoubtedly continue in
the future. In addition, large areas of irrigable lands
presently in the native state will probably be brought
under cultivation if and when new sources of water
supply become available. In order for the South
Coastal Area to be able to realize its large potential,
additional water must be made available, probably
from sources outside the area.
In this connection, it has been found that urbaniza-
tion of an area previously occupied by irrigated agri-
culture significantly affects the water requirements of
the area. When irrigated agriculture is superseded by
an unsewered urban area, and there is opportunity
for re-use of the unconsumed portion of the applied
water, urban requirements may be slightly less than
those for the formerly irrigated area. Export of
sewage to the ocean, however, may increase the urban
requirement substantially over that previously neces-
sary for the maintenance of irrigated agriculture.
At present, there is no water utilized in the South
Coastal Area for navigation, and but negligible
amounts are utilized for hydroelectric power genera-
tion and for the preservation and propagation of fish
and wildlife. These conditions are expected to main-
tain in the future. There have been large public
expenditures for flood protection, and there is in
excess of 400,000 acre-feet of storage capacity in exist-
ing flood control reservoirs, the largest being Prado
on the Santa Ana River with a storage capacity of
223,000 acre-feet. Many miles of stream channel are
lined for flood control purposes, and the extension
of such improvement is planned for the future. Addi-
tional flood control works will be necessary in the
future to protect the intensive urban and agricultural
developments.
The remainder of this chapter presents available
data and estimates concerning the nature and extent
of present and probable ultimate water requirements
in the South Coastal Area.
PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS
As a necessary step in estimating present water
requirements in the South Coastal Area, determina-
tion was made of the location, nature, and extent of
present irrigated and urban and suburban water
service areas. In the remainder of the area, relatively
minor miscellaneous water service areas were not
classified in detail regarding area and type of use,
but consideration was given to this water service in
estimating the present water requirement.
Irrigated Lands
It was determined that an average of about 617,000
acres in the South Coastal Area are irrigated each
year under present conditions of development. This
constitutes about 9 per cent of the total irrigated
lands in California. There are large acreages of citrus
and subtropical fruits throughout the area, these
crops occupying nearly half of all the irrigated lands.
Truck crops are produced in large quantity in the
Upper Santa Ana Valley and in the Los Angeles
Metropolitan Area, and to a lesser extent in the re-
mainder of the South Coastal Area. Other important
irrigated crops are nuts, alfalfa, pasture, and beans.
The determination of areas devoted to irrigated
agriculture was based upon land use surveys con-
ducted by the Division of Water Resources during
the years from 1948 to 1951, and recent land use
surveys made by other public agencies. Dates of field
mapping and sources of data are included in Ap-
pendix D. The crop grouping employed to segregate
crops of similar water use varied somewhat in the
various surveys. For purposes of presentation in this
bulletin, the crops were generally grouped as follows :
Alfalfa
Pasture
Walnuts
Hay, seed, and pasture
-Grasses and legumes, other than
alfalfa, used for livestock for-
age, and irrigated grass in
parks, cemeteries, golf courses,
etc.
Orchard Deciduous fruit, olives, and nuts
other than walnuts
Citrus and
subtropical Oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and
avocados
Truck crops
Beans
Hay and grain
Miscellaneous _
.Intensively cultivated fresh veg-
etables, including tomatoes,
lettuce, artichokes, brussels
sprouts, cabbages, carrots, pep-
pers, broccoli, corn, beets, and
berries.
_A11 varieties of dry beans
_Hay other than alfalfa and all
grain crops
.Other crops, including nursery,
flowers, and vineyards.
A deviation from the above crop grouping occurs in
the Upper Santa Ana Valley and the Los Angeles
Metropolitan Area, where beans were included as a
part of the truck classification.
The areas presently devoted to irrigated agricul-
ture in hydrographic units of the South Coastal Area
Urban Development and
Agriculture Near
San Bernardino
Courtesy San Bernardino
County Board of Trade
Irrigated Lands in
Ventura County
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
129
are summarized in Table 76. Table 77 lists the irri-
gated areas by counties. Areas presented in the two
tables include irrigated agricultural lands within the
boundaries of federal reservations, such as military
reservations, Indian reservations, and national forests.
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas
The gross area presently occupied by urban and
suburban types of land use in the South Coastal
Area was determined to be about 550,000 acres. In
most hydrographic units of the area detailed surveys
were made as to the lands devoted to the various
urban and suburban types of land use. However, in
the San Juan Capistrano, Santa Margarita-San Luis
Rey, and San Dieguito-Cottonwood Hydrographic
Units no detailed segregation of the urban and sub-
urban lands by land use type was made, and only
the total urban and suburban area was determined.
The San Gabriel Mountains Hydrographic Unit lies
entirely within the Angeles National Forest, and
area! figures for land use other than irrigated agri-
culture were not obtained.
Since in most of the area a differentiation between
farm lots and the suburban type of land use was
almost impossible, farm lots were included in the
area mapped as rural residence, and were tabulated
with the present urban and suburban area. Also, since
in many cases the urban and suburban areas in mili-
tary reservations were mapped in accordance with
their specific type of land use, these areas were tabu-
lated with urban and suburban water service areas.
Tables 78 and 79 list the areas presently occupied
by urban and suburban types of land use in hydro-
graphic units and counties, respectively, of the South
Coastal Area. Due to the varying land use classifica-
tions employed in different surveys, these classifica-
tions were combined into the categories of residential,
commercial, industrial, miscellaneous, and lands not
requiring water service, for presentation in this bulle-
tin. The miscellaneous areas include lands occupied
by schools, institutions, rural residences, dairies, hog
farms, chicken ranches, and urban types of military
areas. Areas listed as not requiring water service
consist of inclusions in the gross urban area of streets,
vacant lands, oil fields, etc.
TABLE 76
AREAS OF PRESENTLY IRRIGATED LANDS WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, SOUTH COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
Refer-
ence
num-
ber
Hydrographic unit
Name
Alfalfa
Pasture
Orchard
Wal-
nuts
Citrus
and
sub-
tropical
Truck
crops
Beans
Hay
and
grain
Miscel-
laneous
crops
Ap-
proxi-
mate
net
irri-
gated
area
In-
cluded
non-
water
service
areas
A P -
proxi-
mate
gross
area
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Ventura
Santa Clara-Calleguas
Malibu
San Gabriel Mountains
Upper Santa Ana
Los Angeles
San Juan Capistrano
Santa Margarita-San Luis Rey__.
San Dieguito-Cottonwood
San Diego
APPROXIMATE TOTALS
200
8,600
12,900
15,200
300
2,800
1,000
1,500
300
1,400
300
16,900
16,600
100
2,300
1,700
1,600
200
600
100
13,900
2,700
600
1,200
400
600
17,300
13,600
10,100
100
600
400
200
2,400
40,500
100
81,000
122,000
2,800
8,000
14,700
8,000
200
10,200
500
200
32,200
67,300
1,100
4,300
1,600
7,100
33,300
1,300
100
300
800
12,200
3,600
3,100
100
400
6,000
3,500
300
700
300
400
3,900
113,000
900
300
189,000
241,000
6,000
22,500
21,000
19,500
200
5,900
100
9,700
12,700
600
1,800
2,100
1,900
4,100
119,000
1,000
300
198,000
254,000
6,600
24,300
23,100
21,400
42,500
41,200
19,700
42,900
279,000
125,000
35,000
19,800
11,600
617,000
35,000
652,000
TABLE 77
AREAS OF PRESENTLY IRRIGATED LANDS WITHIN COUNTIES, SOUTH COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
County
Alfalfa
Pasture
Orchard
Walnuts
Citrus
and
sub-
tropical
Truck
crops
Beans
Hay and
grain
Miscel-
laneous
crops
Approxi-
mate net
irrigated
area
Included
nonwater
service
areas
Approxi-
mate
gross
area
14,400
5,800
11,600
3,200
3,300
4,200
14,200
3,600
10,900
6,600
4,500
1,400
2,700
500
7,400
6,600
2,000
500
9,700
2,000
6,300
6.000
1,100
17,800
59,000
73,300
26,300
47,300
30,700
43,000
27,700
43,300
18,100
14,100
13,400
8,100
3,400
700
12,000
2,800
100
800
3,400
300
2,800
3,200
1,700
200
135,000
129,000
95,400
89,800
58,500
109,000
7,100
7,000
4,700
4,700
5,700
5,800
142,000
136,000
1,700
33,300
100,000
San Bernardino
94,500
64,200
Ventura
115,000
APPROXI-
MATE
TOTALS....
42,500
41,200
19,700
42,900
279,000
125,000
35,000
19,800
11,600
617,000
35,000
652,000
5— 99S01
130
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 78
PRESENT URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, SOUTH COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Area
requiring water service
Area
not requiring
water service
Approximate
gross
area
Refer-
ence
number
Name
Residential
Commercial
Industrial
Miscellaneous
Subtotal
1
2 -
Ventura .. .
1,600
4,000
500
200
600
100
400
400
500
3,300
100
2,700
8,300
700
4,800
13,500
800
7,500
21,800
3
4
Malibu _ . . . ..
1,500
5 - -
6
7. ...
Upper Santa Ana
Los Angeles
28,000
163,000
4,000
19.600
3.100
20,200
1.100
41,500
1,800
3,100
2,700
5,300
36,200
244,000
1.800
3,100
2,700
25,200
26.700
155,000
700
1,400
1,200
18,100
112,900
399,000
2,500
8
4,500
9-.
3,900
10.--
17,800
1.800
300
43.300
APPROXIMATE TOTALS
215,000
26.300
24,400
59,400
325,000
222,000
547,000
TABLE 79
PRESENT URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS WITHIN
COUNTIES, SOUTH COASTAL AREA
(1
n acres)
County
Area
requiring
water service
Area not
requiring
water service
Approximate
gross
area
237,000
15,300
14,200
19,300
31,000
8,600
148,000
12,700
9,100
15.200
20,600
16,400
385,000
Orange .
28.000
23,300
34,500
51,600
25,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS..
325,000
222,000
547,000
Unclassified Areas
The remainder of the South Coastal Area, compris-
ing- those lands not included in either the irrigated
or urban and suburban classifications as regards
water service, constitutes about 5,800,000 acres, or
over 80 per cent of the total land area. Included in
these remaining lands are about 1,200 acres actually
requiring water service at the present time, but which
were not classified in detail as to the nature of their
water utilization.
Portions of the Los Padres, Angeles, San Bernar-
dino, and Cleveland National Forests, occupying an
area of about 3,200 square miles, or about 2,000,000
acres, are included within the boundaries of the
South Coastal Area. An estimated 5,900 acres of irri-
gated agriculture in the national forests, lying pri-
marily along the lower slopes of the mountains and
within the mountain valleys, are included in the
figures of Tables 76 and 77. Unclassified lands in the
national forests requiring water service include camp
grounds and other developed areas, which may have
substantial water requirements during the summer
inont lis.
There are 31 beaches and parks, including about
37,000 acres, in the South Coastal Area maintained
by the Division of Beaches and Parks of the State
Department of Natural Resources. The relatively
small developed areas of these recreational facilities,
like the recreational areas in the national forests,
do not have a sustained annual demand for water
but do require a supply during the summer months
for domestic service for camp and picnic areas.
Summary
Present water service areas within hydrographic
units of the South Coastal Area are summarized in
Table 80, and present water service areas within
the counties in Table 81.
TABLE 80
SUMMARY OF PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS WITHIN
HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, SOUTH COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Reference
number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Name
Ventura
Santa Clara-Calleguas
Malibu
San Gabriel Mountains
Upper Santa Ana
I .i is Angeles
San Juan Capistrano
Santa Margarita-San Luis Rey
San Dieguito-Cottonwood
San Diego
Subtotals-
Irri-
gated
lands
4,100
19,000
1,000
300
98.000
54,000
6,600
24,300
23.100
21,400
652.000
LJrban
and
sub-
urban
areas
7,500
21.800
1,500
62,900
399,000
2,500
1,500
3,900
43,300
547,000
Unclassified areas receiving water service -
APPROXIMATE TOTAL
Approxi-
mate
tc.tal
11,600
141,000
2,500
300
261,000
653,000
9,100
28,800
27,000
64,700
1,199,000
1,200
Jin o
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
131
TABLE 81
SUMMARY OF PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS
WITHIN COUNTIES, SOUTH COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
County
Los Angeles
Orange
Riverside
San Bernardino.
San Diego
Ventura
Irrigated
lands
142,000
136,000
100,000
94,500
64,200
115,000
Subtotals 652,000
Unclassified areas receiving water service
APPROXIMATE TOTAL
Urban
and
suburban
areas
385,000
28,000
23,300
34,500
51,600
25,000
547,000
Approximate
total
527,000
164,000
123,000
129,000
116,000
140,000
1,199,000
1,200
1,200,0(1(1
PROBABLE ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE AREAS
To aid in estimating ultimate water utilization in
the South Coastal Area, projections were first made
to determine the probable ultimate areal extent of
irrigated crops and of urban and suburban types of
land use. It was assumed that the remainder of the
area, referred to as "other water service areas," will
ultimately received water service commensurate with
its needs.
In the determination of ultimate land use, certain
assumptions were made as to the ultimate disposition
of lands presently within military reservations. Mili-
tary bases in and adjacent to metropolitan areas
which are now occupied by predominately urban
types of land use were assumed to remain intact,
and the land use was tabulated with the gross urban
area. Irrigable lands within military reservations in
other areas were included with the tabulations of
total irrigable area, and any lands suitable for urbani-
zation were included with the gross urban area.
Irrigated Lands
It was assumed that ultimately all lands in the
South Coastal Area that are suitable for irrigated
agriculture, and not then occupied by urban and sub-
urban developments, would be irrigated. This gross
irrigable area was estimated, with the aid of data
from the land classification surveys, to be about
1,156,000 acres, after deductions were made for other-
wise irrigable lands assumed to be ultimately urban-
ized. An estimated 36,000 acres of the gross area rep-
resent lands expected to be occupied by farm lots,
and an additional 96,000 acres represent the included
nonwater-using lands such as roads, railroads, non ir-
rigable lands, etc. The remaining 1,021,000 acres rep-
resent the average area estimated to be irrigated each
year under ultimate conditions of development. Table
82 lists the estimates of ultimate irrigable areas in
TABLE 82
PROBABLE ULTIMATE AREAS OF IRRIGATED LANDS
WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, SOUTH COASTAL
AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Gross
irrigable
area
Farm
lots
Included
nonwater
service
area
Approxi-
mate net
irrigated
:ilr;i
Ref-
erence
num-
ber
Name
1
2
3
4
Ventura.
Santa Clara-Calle-
guas
Malibu
San Gabriel
Mountains .
Upper Santa Ana
Los Angeles -
San Juan Capistrano-
Santa Margarita-San
5,600
161,000
3,000
300
371,000
50,300
91,100
222,000
230,000
22,200
300
8,000
200
4,700
11,200
11,400
600
13,800
300
4,700
139,000
2,500
300
5
6
33,200
338,000
50,300
7
8
8,100
19.900
20,500
78,300
191,000
9
10 .
San Dieguito-
Cottonwood
198,000
"",200
APPROXI-
MATE
TOTALS
1,156,000
35,800
96,400
1,024,000
Included in "Urban and Suburban Area."
TABLE 83
PROBABLE ULTIMATE AREAS OF IRRIGATED LANDS
WITHIN COUNTIES, SOUTH COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
County
Los Angeles
Orange
Riverside
San Bernardino
San Diego
Ventura
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS
Gross
irri-
gable
area
82,700
61,600
337.000
110,000
437,000
128,000
1,156,000
Farm
lots
2,100
2,500
4.000
20.800
6,400
35,800
Included
nonwater
service
area
3,900
4,300
31,000
9,100
37,000
] 1,100
96 100
i.pproxi
mate net
irrigated
area
76.700
54,800
302,000
101.000
379.000
111,000
1,024,000
» Included in "Urban and Suburban Area."
hydrographic units of the Smith Coastal Area, and
Table 83 presents these data by counties.
It will be noted that in the Los Angeles, San Diego,
and San Gabriel Mountains Hydrographic Units the
net ultimate irrigated area is the same as the gross
irrigable area. It is anticipated that in the two metro-
politan areas the ultimate irrigated areas will prob-
ably consist of inclusions within predominately ur-
banized areas. Under these circumstances farm lots
and the inclusions cited in the preceding paragraph
will be a part of the urban area. In the San Gabriel
Mountains Hydrographic Unit the forecast of ulti-
mately irrigated lands was based upon estimates of
the United States Forest Service, which indicated net
irrigated areas only.
From historical collection of Union
Title Insurance and Trust Company,
San Diego, California
Urban Growth in San Diego
Metropolitan Area
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
133
To aid in estimating the probable ultimate water
requirements, a crop pattern applicable to the prob-
able ultimate net irrigated area was forecast. It is
recognized that future developments may indicate
that this crop pattern may be somewhat in error, both
as to the portion of the probable ultimate irrigable
area in the South Coastal Area devoted to each crop
group, and as to the distribution of the area of each
crop group between hydrographie units. However,
it is felt that the magnitude of the ultimate water
requirement would not be seriously affected. Table 84
presents this estimated crop pattern for the South
Coastal Area.
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas
It is considered probable that the present trend of
rapid urbanization in certain portions of the South
Coastal Area will continue in the future. In estimates
for this bulletin, it was assumed that urban and sub-
urban types of land use ultimately will occupy all
lands in the Los Angeles and San Diego Hydro-
graphic Units, except for scattered small agricultural
areas and those lands topographically unsuited for
development. Consideraton of present trends in Ven-
tura County and in the Upper Santa Ana Valley
indicates that large portions of these regions will ulti-
mately be urban in character. It was assumed that this
urbanization will take place almost entirely on lands
classified as irrigable. With increasing population in
the South Coastal Area, it is probable that there will
be a proportionate increase in urban beach communi-
ties, such as those presently expanding along the
southerly portion of the coast line of Orange County.
It was assumed that in the future more of this type
of development will take place along the coast line
adjacent to the Santa Monica Mountains, and all
along the coast between Los Angeles and San Diego.
It is probable that in the remainder of the South
Coastal Area, urban and suburban development will,
in general, be associated with agricultural pursuits,
and it was assumed that such urban growth in the
future will be proportional to increase in adjacent
agricultural areas. Areas estimated to be ultimately
occupied by the various urban land use types were
determined by applying percentage factors to the de-
termined ultimate gross urban and suburban area,
the factors being based upon present urban land use
patterns and expected future changes. As has been
previously mentioned, estimates of the areas in mili-
tary reservations occupied by urban types of land
use are included in those of the gross urban area. In
the determination of probable ultimate water service
areas, the area occupied by farm lots was included as
a portion of the gross irrigable area. Therefore, the
estimate of probable ultimate gross urban and subur-
ban water service area does not, as was the case in
the present land use pattern, include farm lots.
Table 85 presents the probable ultimate pattern of
land use in urban and suburban water service areas
in hydrographie units, and Table 86 presents esti-
mated probable ultimate gross urban and suburban
areas in counties of the South Coastal Area.
Other Water Service Areas
The remaining 4,228,000 acres of the South Coastal
Area, not included in either the ultimate irrigated
or urban and suburban water service areas, were not
classified in detail regarding the nature of their
probable ultimate water service. It was assumed that
these "other water service areas" will be ultimately
served with water commensurate with their needs.
Included in ' ' other water service areas ' ' are developed
areas within the national forest boundaries (except
for irrigated lands, the areas of which are included
in Tables 82, 83, and 84), state beaches and parks,
and scattered recreational, residential, and indus-
trial developments not included in the probable ulti-
mate urban and suburban water service area. The
TABLE 84
PROBABLE ULTIMATE PATTERN OF IRRIGATED CROPS, SOUTH COASTAL AREA
(In
acres)
Hydrographie unit
Alfalfa
Pasture
Orchard
Walnuts
Citrus
and sub-
tropical
Truck
crops
Beans
Hay and
grain
Miscel-
laneous
crops
Approxi-
Reference
number
Name
mate
total
1
Ventura _
800
10,000
800
47,300
5,700
9,000
36,100
35,000
1,900
700
1,000
100
30,500
800
2,700
8,900
14,800
400
900
16,900
100
23,500
2,500
300
2,900
5,700
200
2,300
47,800
200
105,000
23,600
32,500
36,500
67,700
9,100
4,700
2
Santa Clara-Calleguas.
9,600
100
31,100
6,700
3,500
3,200
4,200
1,700
15,900
1,300
200
67,200
6,600
16,000
37,800
39,900
8,100
20,700
200
16,900
139,000
3
Malibu
2,500
4
San Gabriel Mountains __
2,000
10.400
17,100
22,400
300
28.100
300
900
37,700
1,400
4,700
2,100
3,000
11.200
6,600
500
300
5
Upper Santa Ana
338,000
6
7
Los Angeles
50,300
78,300
8
9
10
Santa Margarita-San Luis Rey__
San Dieguito-Cottonwood
San Diego
191.000
198,000
22,200
APPROXIMATE TOTALS. _
60,100
146,000
59,900
53,000
325,000
193,000
72,900
68,600
45,000
1,024,000
134
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 85
PROBABLE ULTIMATE URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, SOUTH COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Area
equiring water service
Area
not requiring
water service
Approximate
gross
area
Refer-
ence
number
Name
Residential
Commercial
Industrial
Miscellaneous
Subtotal
1 .
11,800
49,500
14,000
1.100
4,800
1,100
600
5,000
800
4,400
500
14.300
63,700
15,600
6,200
24,700
7,200
20,500
2
88,400
3
Malibu -
22,800
4
5..
131,000
443,500
17,600
22,200
17,200
97,200
8,600
61,200
1,500
2,000
1,600
9,600
13,700
74,700
1,900
7,400
119,000
700
1,000
800
21,800
161,000
698,000
19,800
25,200
19,600
131,000
73,300
255,000
8,200
9,500
6,900
72,200
234,000
6
7 . ...
8
9
10
Los Angeles
San Juan Capistrano
Santa Margarita-San Luis Rey _
San Dieguito-Cottonwood
953,000
28,000
34,700
26,500
203.000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS
804,000
91,500
95,900
156,000
1,148,000
463,000
1,611,000
TABLE 86
PROBABLE ULTIMATE URBAN AND SUB-
URBAN AREAS WITHIN COUNTIES,
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
County
Los Angeles
Orange
Riverside
San Bernardino
San Diego
Ventura
APPROXIMATE TOTAL
Gross area
726,000
271,000
89,800
147,000
269,000
108,000
1.611.000
greatest portion of these lands are in areas topo-
graphically or otherwise unsuitable for intensive de-
velopment. As shown in Table 87, "other water serv-
ice areas" were divided for convenience in estimating
water utilization into those portions inside and out-
side of national forests, and above and below eleva-
tion 3,000 feet.
Summary
Table 88 presents a summary of probable ultimate
water service areas, segregated into irrigated, urban
and suburban, and other water service areas.
UNIT VALUES OF WATER USE
Unit seasonal values of water use in the South
Coastal Area were determined in accordance with the
methods and procedures described in Chapter II.
Unit values of urban water use were based upon spe-
cial studies conducted in the Los Angeles and San
Diego Hydrographic Units. Data employed in de-
termination of unit values of water use for irrigated
crops included the results of studies conducted by
various public agencies and records of water deliver}-
supplied by numerous water service agencies.
TABLE 87
OTHER WATER SERVICE AREAS UNDER PROBABLE ULTIMATE CONDITIONS, SOUTH COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Reference
Dumbei
1
2
3
4
6
7
8
9
10
Name
i
Santa Clara-Calleguas
Malibu
San Gab] iel Mountains
Upper Santa Ana
Los \i)"il'
■' i apistrano.
i ii gai ita San I iuis Rey...
San 1 >ieguito-< lottonwood
APPROXIMATE TOTALS
Inside national forests, monu-
ments, and military reservations
Above
3,000-foot
elevation
40,700
457,000
212,000
419,000
8,100
13,200
91,400
155,000
1,397,000
Below
3,000-foot
elevation
41,200
181,000
95,300
76,000
20,800
75,200
21,400
127,000
i;:;n,[)[io
Outside national forests, monu-
ments, and military reservations
Above
3,000-foot
elevation
52,600
400
33,700
1,000
131,000
95,500
314,000
Below
3,000-foot
elevation
59,700
346,000
1 1 1 ,000
316,000
153,000
115,000
348,000
339,000
91,600
1,879,000
Approximate
total
142,000
1 ,037,000
111,000
307,000
845.000
183,000
203,000
592,000
716,000
111,600
4,228,000
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
135
TABLE 88
SUMMARY OF PROBABLE ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE
AREAS, SOUTH COASTAL AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographio unit
Irrigable
lands
Urban
and
suburban
areas
Other
water
service
areas
Refer-
ence
num-
ber
Name
Approxi-
mate
total
1
2
Ventura .
Santa Clara-
5.600
161.000
3,000
300
371,000
50,300
91,100
222,000
230,000
22,200
20,500
88,400
22,800
142,000
1 .037,000
111,000
307,000
xi;,, ni in
183,000
203,000
592,000
716,000
91,600
168,000
1,286,000
137,000
307,000
3
4
Malibu
San Gabriel Moun-
5
6
7
8
9....
10
Upper Santa Ana
Los Angeles
San Juan ( 'apistrano.
Santa Margarita-
San Luis Rey
San Dieguito-
Cottonwood
San Diego
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS
234,000
953,000
28,000
34,700
26,500
203,000
1,450,000
1,186,000
322,000
849,000
973,000
317,000
1,156,000
1,611,000
4,228,000
6,995,000
Irrigation Water Use
Unit seasonal values of consumptive use of water
by irrigated crops were in general determined in ac-
cordance with the methods of Chapter II. In certain
cases, it was necessary to take into account the prac-
tice of raising' more than one crop on the same land
in a given vear.
Except for Malibu, San Gabriel Mountains, and
Upper Santa Ana, the hydrographio units were sub-
divided into coastal and interior isoclimatic zones, in
order to account for variations in consumptive use of
water. Estimated unit seasonal values of consumptive
use of applied irrigation water and of precipitation
by various crop groups are presented in Table 89.
In the determination of the probable ultimate water
requirement on farm lots, unit seasonal values of
water use were assumed to be the same as the unit
values determined for rural residence in Tables 90
and 91.
Urban and Suburban Water Use
In all hydrographio units except San Diego, the
estimates of present unit seasonal values of consump-
tive use of water on urban and suburban land use
classifications were based upon estimates of consump-
tive use on the percentage of the area of each classifi-
cation occupied by impervious areas, bare lands,
lawns, shrubs, etc.. and upon estimates of other urban
consumptive uses, such as household use, air condi-
tioning, etc. It was assumed that these present unit
values would remain unchanged ultimately. In the
San Diego Hydrographio Unit, urban and suburban
water requirements were estimated on the basis of
total water delivery, and unit values of consumptive
use of applied water were not estimated for individual
urban and suburban land use classifications.
TABLE 89
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT VALUES OF CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON IRRIGATED LANDS,
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
(In feet of depth)
Hydrographio unit
Alfalfa
Pasture
Orchard
Walnuts
Citrus and
subtropical
Refer-
ence
number
Name
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
1
2
Ventura
Interior
Santa Clara-Calleguas
? 1
2.5
2.1
2.4
2.0
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.3
3 . 2
3.0
3.2
3.5
3.3
2.1
2.5
2.1
2.3
2.1
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.2
3.2
3.6
3.2
3.4
3.3
1.3
1.5
1.3
1.5
1.3
1.2
1.3
1.2
2.6
2.7
2.6
2.7
1.6
1.6
1.6
1.7
1.5
1.1
1.3
1.1
1.1
1.3
2.7
2.9
2.7
2.8
2.8
1.3
1.6
1.3
1.4
1.2
0.9
0.9
0.9
1.0
1.1
2.2
2.5
2.2
2.4
3
Malibu -_____.
2.3
4__
1.4
1.6
1 .6
1.5
1.5
1.5
1 . 6
1.4
1 .5
1.5
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.1
1.3
1.2
1.2
1.0
1.3
1.2
1.2
0.8
1.1
2.8
2.8
2.7
2.8
2.7
2.7
2.6
2.7
2.7
_'.7
2.6
2.7
5
6
L'pper Santa Ana - - _ _
Los Angeles
2 . 5
2.4
2.3
2.2
2.4
2.3
2.1
2.1
2.2
2.4
2.5
1.2
1.1
1.3
1.2
1.2
1.0
1.4
1.2
1.4
0.9
1.0
3.7
3.5
3.6
3.4
3.6
3.3
3.5
3.3
3.0
3.3
3.5
2.5
2.4
2.5
2.3
2.5
2.3
2.3
2.2
2.4
2.4
2.5
1.2
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.0
1.2
1.1
1.2
0.9
1.0
3.7
3.5
3.6
3.4
3.6
3.3
3.5
3.3
3.6
3.3
3.5
1.8
1.8
1.6
1.7
1.7
1.8
1.6
1.6
1.6
1.9
1.8
1.2
1.1
1.3
1.2
1.2
1.0
1.2
1 ..'
1.3
0.9
1.1
3.0
2.9
2.9
2.9
2.9
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.9
2.8
2.9
1.5
1.3
1.4
1.2
1.4
1.3
1.3
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.1
1.1
1.2
1.1
1.1
1.0
1.2
1.1
1.2
0.9
1.0
2.6
2.4
7
Interior .
San Juan Capistrano
Coastal . ...
2.6
2.3
2.5
8
Santa Margarita-San Luis Rey
Coastal _
2.3
•'.5
9
10
San Dieguito-Cottonwood
Coastal . . . _ .
Interior . . .
San Diego
Coastal
Interior ......... ...
2.3
2 . 5
2.3
136
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 89— Continued
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT VALUES OF CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON IRRIGATED LANDS,
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
(In feet of depth)
Hydrographic unit
Truck crops
Beans
Hay and grain
Miscellaneous
crops
Refer-
ence
numbei
Name
Applied
water
Precipi-
tation
Total
Applied
water
Precipi-
tation
Total
Applied
water
Precipi-
tation
Total
Applied
water
Precipi-
tation
Total
1
Ventura
Coastal
1.0
1.2
1.0
1.1
1.0
1.2
1.3
1.3
1.2
1.2
1.4
1.3
1.2
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.4
1.1
1.0
1.1
1.0
1.1
1.0
0.8
0.9
0.9
0.9
0.7
0.8
0.8
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.7
2.1
2.2
2.1
2.1
2.1
■> ■>
Interior
2
Santa Clara-Calleguas
Coastal ..
1.1
1.1
1.0
1.1
2.1
2. 2
o.r,
0.7
0.9
0.9
1.5
l.G
Interior
1.1
1.0
2.1
3
Malibu .
4
San Gabriel Mountains
5
Upper Santa Ana . ..
2.1
2.2
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.0
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.1
0.7
0.7
0.7
1.0
0.9
1.0
1.7
1.6
1.7
1.3
1.3
1.2
1.3
1.3
1.4
1.2
1.4
1.2
1.4
1.5
0.8
0.9
0.9
0.8
0.8
0.6
0.8
0.6
1.1
0.6
0.6
2.1
6
Los Angeles
Coastal . .
1.3
0.9
2.2
9 2
Interior
2.1
7
San Juan Capistrano
Coastal . .
1 .2
1.3
1 . 2
1 .2
1 .2
1.3
1.3
0.8
0.7
0.7
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.7
0.7
2.0
2.0
1.9
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.1
Interior __
0.4
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
1.2
1.0
1.1
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.6
2.1
8
Santa Margarita-San Luis Rey
Coastal
2.0
Interior .
2.0
9
San Dieguito-Cottonwood
Coastal . _ __
2.0
Interior-.
2.3
10
San Diego
Coastal
2.0
Interior
2.1
Present unit values of net delivery of water to ur-
ban and suburban types of land use classification
were based upon field surveys made in the Los An-
geles and San Diego Hydrographic Units. In accord-
ance with the methods described in Chapter II, total
water deliveries to known areas occupied by the var-
ious classifications were determined, and unit values
of delivery of water were derived from these data. In
the determination of ultimate unit values of delivery
of water, present unit values were modified somewhat
in certain of the classifications to account for trends
tending to alter the present values.
Table 90 presents unit seasonal values of consump-
tive use of water on, and net delivery to, land use
classifications in the Los Angeles Hydrographic Unit.
Table 91 lists estimated net delivery of water to
various classifications used in the San Diego Metro-
politan Area survey.
Tables 90 and 91 indicate that the present seasonal
delivery of water to downtown types of commercial
areas in Los Angeles is 10.2 feet of depth, and that it
is 28.6 feet in San Diego. The difference is due to the
fact that in the downtown type of commercial area
in San Diego the development consists almost entirely
of large buildings with relatively high water use,
while in Los Angeles, one- and two-story buildings
with a comparatively low water use represent a pro-
portionately large part of the area.
Weighted mean unit values of seasonal delivery
and consumptive use of water applicable to gross
TABLE 90
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT VALUES OF WATER
DELIVERY AND CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON
URBAN AND SUBURBAN LAND USE CLASSIFICATIONS,
LOS ANGELES HYDROGRAPHIC UNIT
(In feet of depth)
Delivery
Con-
sumptive
Land use classification
Present
Ultimate
use of
applied
water
Residential, single .
2.6
4.5
2.0
1.8
3.4
10.2
9.2
0.9
1.9
1.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
2.8
1 3
Residential, multiple. .
5 3
Residential, estate .
2.2 1.5
Residential, rural
1.8 8
Commercial, strip ..
Commercial, downtown .. ...
4.0
11.0
8.5
1.1
1.9
1.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.4
1.1
Industrial, manufacturing.
Schools ....
1.4
4
Dairies.
1
Livestock and poultry ranches. __
Oil fields... __
0.6
Subdivided, not occupied
0.0
Vacant
Airports
no
Streets and roads ...
0.0
urban and suburban water service areas within hydro-
graphic units, for both present and probable ulti-
mate conditions of development, are presented in
Table 92. Weighted mean unit values of consumptive
use of water in the San Diego Hydrographic Unit
were estimated from the relationship of consumptive
use and delivery in the Los Angeles Metropolitan
Area.
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
137
TABLE 91
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT
VALUES OF WATER DELIVERY TO
URBAN AND SUBURBAN LAND USE
CLASSIFICATIONS, SAN DIEGO HY-
DROGRAPHIC UNIT
(In feet of depth)
Land use classification
Unit
delivery
2.4
Residential, single, without lawns
2.5
3.4
Public housing, multiple story
Residential, multiple
Residential, rural
Commercial, strip
6.2
7.4
2.2
3.7
28.6
11.8
1.8
1.8
1.1
Livestock and poultry ranches
0.6
1.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Table 92 indicates that probable ultimate mean
unit values of urban water use will be significantly
larger than the corresponding present unit values.
This results largely from the assumption that the
percentage of the gross urban area occupied by lands
not requiring water service will decrease under ulti-
mate conditions of development, due to occupancy of
lands now vacant.
The difference between the ultimate mean unit
urban delivery values for the Los Angeles Hydro-
TABLE 92
ESTIMATED WEIGHTED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT VALUES
OF WATER DELIVERY AND CONSUMPTIVE USE OF
WATER ON GROSS URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS,
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
(In feet of depth)
Hydrographic unit
Present
Probable
ultimate
Refer-
ence
num-
ber
Name
De-
lh-ery
Con-
sump-
tive use
of
applied
water
De-
livery
Con-
sump-
tive use
of
applied
water
1
1.0
1.2
1.2
0.4
0.4
0.5
2.2
2.5
2.0
0.8
2
3
Santa Clara-Calleguas
0.8
0.8
4 _..
5
1.9
2.0
1.4
1.9
1.0
1.8
1.9
0.7
0.6
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.6
0.6
2.4
2.8
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.0
2.5
0.8
6
0.8
7
0.8
8
9
10
Santa Margarita-San Luis Rey
San Dieguito-Cottonwood
0.8
0.8
0.6
Weighted averages, South
0.8
graphic Unit and the corresponding value for the
San Diego Hydrographic Unit is primarily due to
the relatively smaller industrial area in the San
Diego Metropolitan Area. It was assumed that future
growth in San Diego will be similar to that which has
taken place to the present time, and that industrial
areas will continue to occupy a relatively small per-
centage of the gross urban area.
Use of Water in Other Water Service Areas
Unit values of water use on lands requiring water
service, but not included in the irrigated or urban
and suburban water service areas, were derived gen-
erally from measured or estimated present deliveries
of water to typical areas involved, or from records
and estimates of per capita use of water. Since the
quantity of water involved is small, and generally
the recovery of return flow is negligible, total deliv-
eries were considered to be consumptively used.
Unit values of water use within national forest
boundaries were estimated by the United States For-
est Service for both present and probable ultimate
conditions of development. These estimates were gen-
erally in terms of per capita use of water, and were
based on actual measurements and experience.
Unit values of probable ultimate water use on
scattered residential, industrial, and recreational de-
velopments were determined on the basis of estimated
population densities varying from 4 to 40 persons
per square mile, and a per capita water use of 70
gallons per day. Water use in areas above an eleva-
tion of 3,000 feet was assumed to occur during the
three summer months, while below an elevation of
3,000 feet, the water service was assumed throughout
the year.
CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER
Consumptive use of water in water service areas
of the South Coastal Area was generally determined
by applying appropriate unit seasonal values of con-
sumptive use of water to estimated areas occupied
by crops of the various groups or to the urban and
suburban classes of land use. Estimates of seasonal
consumptive use of applied water and precipitation
in present water service areas are given in Table 93.
Table 94 presents corresponding estimates for prob-
able ultimate conditions of development. These values
represent the seasonal value of consumptive use of
water under mean conditions of water supply and
climate. In some hydrographic units of the South
Coastal Area, actual present consumptive use of
water is somewhat less than the optimum values from
Table 93, due to existing deficiencies in water supply
in portions of those hydrographic units.
138
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 93
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL CONSUMPTIVE USE OF
WATER ON PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS, SOUTH
COASTAL AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Irrigated
lands
Urban
and
sub-
urban
areas
Un-
classi-
fied
areas
A pprox-
imate
total
Name
sump-
Refer-
ence
number
Applied
water
Precipi-
tation
tive
Applied
water
Applied
water
use of
applied
water
1
6,400
157,000
1,400
400
299,000
355,000
7,900
31,100
29,800
31,000
3,900
116,000
1,100
300
201,000
253,000
6,000
24,900
24,100
16,500
3,200
8,800
700
42,600
250,000
1,900
3,200
2,500
24,800
100
200
200
1,400
100
100
300
9,700
166,000
2,100
600
2
Santa Clara-Cal-
3
Malibu.-.
4
San Gabriel Moun-
5
6
7
8
9
10
Upper Santa Ana-
Los Angeles
San Juan Capis-
trano
Santa Margarita-
San Luis Rey
San Dieguito-Cot-
tonwood
San Diego
APPROXI-
MATE
TOTALS- -.
343,000
605,000
9,800
34,400
32,600
55,800
919,000
647,000
338,000
2,400
1,259,000
FACTORS OF WATER DEMAND
In the planning of water conservation projects
and accompanying' distribution systems, certain fac-
tors in addition to consumptive use of water must
be given consideration. Among these factors are nec-
essary rates, times, and places of delivery of water,
quality of water, losses of water, soil conditions, and
other pertinent considerations. The most important
of these factors in the South Coastal Area are those
relating to the monthly distribution of water demands
and the effciency of water utilization. These demand
factors are briefly discussed in the following sections.
Monthly Distribution of Water Demands
Monthly demand for irrigation water may vary
from little or none during the winter months to more
than 15 per cent of the seasonal total during a dry
summer month. The monthly distribution of seasonal
water demand varies with the crop, soil type, and
distance from the coast. Urban water demands are
substantially higher during the summer months, but
exhibit greater uniformity throughout the season than
those for irrigation. Table 95 presents estimates of
the average monthly distribution of seasonal water
demands for urban lands and for irrigated agriculture
in the South Coastal Area. The values for urban de-
mands are based on delivery records of the Los
Angeles Department of Water and Power during the
period from 1944 through 1951. The values for irriga-
tion demands are based on records of several water
service agencies throughout the area, and are indica-
tive of current practice.
Water Service Area Efficiency
Determination of seasonal water requirements in
the South Coastal Area involved evaluation of the
consumptive use of applied water, and also the un-
avoidable and irrecoverable losses incurred in the con-
veyance and utilization of the water. Water require-
ments in the South Coastal Area were determined
from consideration of total water application in each
hydrographic unit, consumptive use of applied water,
irrigation efficiency, subsequent re-use of a portion of
the applied water, losses associated with conveyance
of water to places of use, and the final loss by dis-
charge to the ocean. The effect of irrecoverable losses
upon the water requirement may be measured by the
TABLE 94
PROBABLE MEAN SEASONAL CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE AREAS,
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Irrigated lands
Farm
lots
Urban and
suburban
areas
Other water
service areas
Approximate
Refer-
Name
total
consumptive
use of
applied water
ence
number
Applied water
Precipitation
Applied water
Applied water
Applied water
1 _
Ventura __ ._
8,500
205,000
3,700
400
563,000
80,800
121,000
25 1,000
300,000
34,900
5,000
144,000
3,000
300
352,000
54,100
75,400
201,000
212,000
18.800
200
6,400
200
16,400
73,900
17,900
500
2,701)
400
900
4,500
1,300
1,000
1,700
2,600
400
25,600
2„-
Santa Clara-C'alleguas .
288,000
3
M.ilil.ii
22 200
4
San Gabriel Mountains
1,300
5
6
Upper Santa Ana _
Los Angeles. .
187,000
770,000
22,800
29,100
22,700
124,000
755,000
852,000
7
San Juan Capistrano
3,800
8,900
9,100
149,000
8
Santa Margarita-San Luis Rey .
291,000
9
San 1 lieguito-Cottonwood
334,000
in
San Diego .
159,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS
1,508,000
1 ,065,000
28,600
1,264,000
16,000
2, 877.000
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
139
TABLE 95
DISTRIBUTION OF MONTHLY WATER DEMANDS,
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
(In per cent of seasonal total)
Month
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
TOTALS
Irrigation
demand
100.0
Urban
demand
6.4
6.4
7.0
8.0
9.1
9.8
10.8
10.6
9.6
8.4
7.3
6.6
100.0
water service area efficiency, denned as the ratio of
consumptive use of applied water in a service area
to the gross amount of water delivered in the area.
Water service area efficiencies were estimated for each
hydrographic unit of the South Coastal Area, after
consideration of both irrigated and urban and sub-
urban lands therein.
Irrigation efficiency is defined as the ratio of con-
sumptive use of applied water to the total amount of
water applied to irrigated crops. In the South Coastal
Area there are significant variations in irrigation
efficiency, dependent upon crop, soil type, topographic
characteristics, cost and availability of water, and
local irrigation practice, Generally throughout the
area, irrigation efficiencies average about 70 per cent.
The relatively high efficiency is principally attributed
to existing water deficiencies and the high cost of
water supplies in some portions of the area. Compari-
son of the total pumpage of ground water for irrigated
lands on the coastal plain of Ventura County with
the estimated total consumptive use of applied water
on these lands, for the period from 1944-45 through
1951-52, provided further substantiation for the de-
rived values for average irrigation efficiency.
Table 96 presents the estimated water service area
efficiencies under present and probable ultimate condi-
tions of development. Predictions of ultimate water
service area efficiencies are obviously subject to ma-
terial change, and such efficiencies will be dependent
in great part on ultimate plans for water service, and
the extent to which return flow from irrigated lands
and urban areas can be regulated and re-used.
WATER REQUIREMENTS
Water requirements, as the term is used in this
bulletin, refer to the amounts of water needed to
provide for all beneficial uses of water and for any
irrecoverable losses incidental to such uses. Certain
requirements for water which are basically noncon-
sumptive in nature are discussed briefly in the follow-
ing section in general terms. Following this, water
requirements of a consumptive nature are evaluated
for both present and probable ultimate conditions of
development.
Requirements of a Nonconsumptive Nature
The principal nonconsumptive water requirements
of the South Coastal Area are those pertaining to
preservation and propagation of fish and wildlife,
flood control, repulsion of sea water from ground
water basins, and salt balance in irrigated areas. This
bulletin does not evaluate the quantities of water
involved in satisfying these requirements, since the
quantities in many instances are dependent upon the
evolution of definite plans for development of water
resources. Their consideration herein is limited to
discussion of their implications as related to planning
for future water resource development.
TABLE 96
ESTIMATED WEIGHTED MEAN WATER SERVICE AREA EFFICIENCY WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS,
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
(In per cent)
Hydrographic unit
Present
Probable ultimate
Refer-
ence
number
Name
Irrigated
Urban
and
suburban
Weighted
mean
Ii i in;itt'i]
Urban
and
suburban
Weighted
mean
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Ventura
Santa Clara-Calleguas
Malibu
San Gabriel Mountains
Upper Santa Ana
Los Angeles
San Juan Capistrano
Santa Margarita-San Luis Rey
San Dieguito-Cottonwood
San Diego
Weighted averages, South Coastal Area
90
95
90
100
85
75
95
80
05
90
55
50
50
90
35
50
45
55
30
40
75
90
70
95
55
70
90
75
40
65
100
80
80
95
80
80
80
80
65
85
45
50
65
65
55
35
70
90
30
30
40
70
50
75
55
75
30
35
50
140 WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
Navigation, although a factor in the water prob- ments do not decrease supplies available to meet re-
lems in some other portions of the State, is not a con- quirements of a consumptive nature. This does not,
sideration in the water resource development of the however, signify that fisheries will not benefit by
South Coastal Area. Similarly, there is but negligible future water development, particularly by importa-
generation of hydroelectric power in the South Coastal tion of water from outside sources. Reservoirs created
Area. The present installed power capacity of hydro- to impound water will provide additional habitat for
electric power plants utilizing local water supplies is game fish populations. Water released in stream beds
less than 15,000 kilowatts. Additionally, hydroelectric for downstream requirements will, if the water is
power plants in the South Coastal Area, operated in drawn from the deeper parts of the reservoir, pro-
conjunction with the Los Angeles Aqueduct from the vide conditions suitable for the development of trout
Owens River, have an installed power capacity of fisheries. It is necessary only to provide minimum pool
about 100,000 kilowatts. The limited and erratic oc- elevations in the reservoirs, and assure public access
currence of runoff in streams of the South Coastal to the created waters, to realize fisheries benefits from
Area makes it improbable that there will be any sig- water development in the South Coastal Area,
nificant future increase in hydroelectric power gen- Water requirements for game species in this area
eration. are estimated to be less than 0.5 acre-foot per day.
■n- i. -i wi irr -n i j- i • -l! Development of water for this purpose has consisted
Fish and Wildlife. Fresh-water fishing m the „ -, . , ,, , „ ,, ,,. ^ ^ ,,,■*«
~ ,, r , , , , . , , , , of the installation of gallinaceous guzzlers (self-
South Coastal Area is characterized bv many anglers ... . , . . ., „ \ ,
-, -,. .,-,/. i ■ mi * xi j. ' sustaining watering devices) primarilv for upland
and limited fishing waters. The waters that are pres- . r. . -T ■, ' »
, n ,.,. -, , ,, . ., game species, Future water development for paine
ent, however, are utilized to their maximum capacity. . . , , , , . ., ,. &
' ,. „ ,, „ ,, , , , i , species is expected to be along similar lines.
Practically all of the headwater streams, lakes, and
reservoirs are planted regularly with catchable trout Flood Control. Many projects designed to protect
by the California Department of Fish and Game. It property adjacent to stream channels from damage
is in this area that the catchable trout program has by flood flows have been constructed in the densely
reached its greatest development, with angling pres- developed portions of the South Coastal Area, and
sures so great that the majority of the planted trout particularly in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area,
are caught. During the 1954 trout angling season Large reservoirs, including Lopez, Sepulveda, and
approximately 1,500,000 eatchable-size trout were Hansen on the Los Angeles River and tributaries;
planted here, and it is estimated that at least two- San Gabriel No. 1, San Gabriel No. 2, Santa Fe. and
thirds of them were caught. Whittier Narrows on the San Gabriel River and trib-
Reservoirs located at low and moderate elevations utaries; and San Antonio, Prado, and others on the
in the South Coastal Area support excellent popula- Santa Ana River and tributaries, have been, or are
tions of warm-water game fish. Favorable climatic being constructed to impound flood flows for later re-
conditions and heavy angling pressures contribute to lease. Many miles of channel in the Los Angeles River
high yields from these reservoirs. Angling catch esti- and San Gabriel River systems have been lined with
mates for 1953, based on post card surveys by the impervious materials. Levees have been constructed
Department of Fish and Game, show the following along the San Gabriel and Santa Ana Rivers, and to
catches of warm-water fish in this region: a lesser degree along the Ventura and San Diego
Number ca u ght in Per cent of Rivers. Many debris basins have been constructed,
Species South Coastal Area State total principally on tributaries of the Los Angeles and San
Black bass !?*5'299 2 2 Gabriel Rivers. Extensive storm drain systems have
Catfish 450,000 6 , x x -, , «. „ „ -, »
Oappie _ 1,430,000 40 been constructed to carry off valley floor runoff from
Sunfish 1,760,000 28 intensively urbanized areas.
The municipal water supply reservoirs owned by the The Cor P s of Engineers, United States Army, in
City of San Diego are examples of those supporting cooperation with local agencies, is engaged in a con-
successful warm-water fisheries in this area. Numer- tinuing program of planning and construction for
ous farm ponds also provide warm-water fishing. flood protection in the South Coastal Area, In 1952
Several streams in the South Coastal Area, such as tlie people of Los Angeles County provided $179,000,-
the Ventura and Santa Clara Rivers, and, to a lesser 00 ° for expenditure by the Los Angeles County Flood
degree, Malibu and San Juan Creeks, support minor Control District in the construction of additional
runs of steelhead trout when sufficient flow is avail- storm drain facilities for protection of urban areas,
able in the streams. Sufficient water is seldom avail- Alteration of the natural regimen of streams and
able, however, and this fishery is only of minor value. channels in the South Coastal Area has significantly
It is considered doubtful that the limited water re- affected the recharge of ground water basins. The
sources of the South Coastal Area can meet addi- operation of reservoirs for flood control purposes
tional water requirements for the preservation and involves the temporary storage of flood flows and
enhancement of fish life, except when such require- subsequent rapid release. Many of the channels and
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
141
outflow areas from which water previously perco-
lated have been paved or otherwise altered so as to
expedite discharge of water to the ocean. Lands which
formerly were flooded at frequent intervals have been
improved for urban, industrial, and agricultural uses
and provided with drains for rapid disposal of flood
waters. Conservation of a portion of the flood waters
which would otherwise be wasted is accomplished by
construction and operation of spreading grounds for
ponding of flood control reservoir releases. The Los
Angeles County Flood Control District has operated
spreading grounds for several years, and is now con-
structing- additional water-spreading areas concur-
rently with the construction of flood protection works.
Subsurface Outflow From Ground Water Basins to
Ocean. In the South Coastal Area several confined
ground water basins adjacent to the coast have been
experiencing deterioration in water quality by intru-
sion of sea water. This intrusion may be prevented
by maintaining pressure levels in these basins at ele-
vations such that subsurface outflow of fresh water
will occur during periods of little or no pumping
draft. Determination of the quantities of water re-
quired to prevent sea-water intrusion will be depend-
ent upon specific plans of development and pumping
draft. However, it appears that a substantial amount
of water will be unavoidably lost by such outflow,
particularly from the coastal plains of Ventura, Los
Angeles, and Orange Counties. Studies conducted by
the Division of Water Resources in Ventura County
indicate that if pumpage from the presently over-
drawn ground water basins underlying the coastal
plain were limited to the safe yield of the basins, sub-
surface outflow to the ocean from these basins would
be about 20,000 acre-feet per season.
The Los Angeles County Flood Control District is
currently conducting a field experimental project in
the Manhattan Beach-Hermosa Beach area to investi-
gate the hydraulic feasibility of creating a pressure
ridge in confined aquifers by means of injection wells,
and the effectiveness of such a ridge in preventing
sea-water intrusion. The project was initially financed
from a state appropriation in the amount of $750,000,
but since July 11, 1954, funds for this project have
been furnished from a Flood Control District ad
valorem zone tax.
Salt Balance. Local irrigation water supplies are,
for the most part, obtained by pumping from ground
water storage. The estimates of requirements for
water of a consumptive nature, which are subsequently
set forth, are predicated upon utilization of ground
water storage capacity so as to facilitate the re-use
of local and imported water applied to lands in ex-
cess of consumptive use. Natural replenishment of
many ground water basins in the South Coastal Area
is derived from surface drainage from tributary
watersheds, and by subsurface outflow from upstream
basins. The mineral quality of the ground water con-
tained in these basins must be protected from exces-
sive deterioration in order to maintain the utility of
the storage capacity. This will require sufficient drain-
age from the basins to remove a quantity of dissolved
salts equivalent to the amount of salt input to the
basins. Quantitative estimates of the amount of water
required for this purpose will necessarily depend
upon the formulation of specific plans for future de-
velopment in each instance.
Requirements of a Consumptive Nature
Requirements for water represent the quantities
of water, other than precipitation, which must be
supplied to provide for beneficial consumptive use
of water on irrigated lands, urban and suburban
areas, and other water service areas, and to provide
for irrecoverable losses incidental to such use. Present
and probable ultimate water requirements in the
South Coastal Area were determined by use of the
previously derived estimates of total water applica-
tion and consumptive use of applied water, giving
consideration to the possible re-use of a portion of
the applied water and to losses incurred in convey-
ance to the place of use.
In general, in irrigation water service areas over-
lying or immediately adjacent to major free ground
water basins, it was assumed that re-use of all water
applied in excess of consumptive use could be accom-
plished. The water requirement for such areas was
therefore taken as equal to the consumptive use of
applied water plus any irrecoverable conveyance loss.
In those irrigation water service areas adjacent to
the coast or overlying confined aquifers, it was as-
sumed that no re-use of applied water could be effected
in excess of consumptive use. The water requirement
in these cases was assumed to be equal to the total
water applied plus irrecoverable conveyance losses.
In inland areas overlying nonwater-bearing forma-
tions, or ground water basins of relatively small stor-
age capacity in comparison with the potential water-
using development, studies were made in order to
estimate the portion of return flow from applied
water that would be susceptible of re-use, and which
would be irrecoverably lost. For such areas the water
requirement was taken as the summation of consump-
tive use of applied water and irrecoverable losses
Urban and suburban water requirements were
evaluated in the same general manner as those for
irrigated lands, except that consideration was given
to the effect on requirements in urban areas overlying
free ground water basins of construction of sewerage
facilities with ocean discharge. The present water re-
quirement for these urban areas was estimated as
the sum of consumptive use of applied water, present
export to the ocean of sewage, and irrecoverable con-
142
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
veyance loss. The probable ultimate urban require-
ment in inland areas overlying- free ground water
basins was assumed to be the sum of consumptive use
of applied water on the portion of the area without
ocean discharge of sewage, total applied water on the
portion of the area with such disposal, and irrecover-
able conveyance losses. It was assumed that in the
Los Angeles Hydrographic Unit, 85 per cent, and in
the Santa Ana Hydrographic Unit. 20 per cent of
the probable ultimate urban and suburban area over-
lying free ground water would use ocean disposal of
sewage.
No consideration was given to reclamation and re-
use of sewage which would otherwise be discharged
to the ocean. Large quantities of water could be
salvaged in this manner. Experimental projects to
determine the feasibility of reclamation of sewage are
presently being conducted in portions of the Los An-
geles Hydrographic Unit, Sufficient data are not
presently available to evaluate quantitatively the
effect of such sewage reclamation, and exploitation of
this potential source of water supply is considered as
development of new water in this bulletin.
Table 97 presents estimated present and probable
ultimate water requirements for each hydrographic
unit of the South Coastal Area.
Ultimate urban and suburban water requirements
in the Los Angeles and San Diego Metropolitan Areas
were also independently estimated, on the basis of
forecast ultimate population. This procedure in-
volved determination of the areas ultimately sus-
ceptible of urban and suburban development, the ulti-
mate population densities in these areas, and the
ultimate per capita water requirement,
In the Los Angeles Hydrographic Unit the bound-
ary of the area ultimately to be devoted to urban and
suburban land uses was determined with reference
to topographic suitability and residual agricultural
development. The boundary as determined included
an area of about 905,000 acres. The ultimate popula-
tion density in this area was estimated to be about
13.6 persons per acre, based upon a detailed study of
approximately the northern half of the Los Angeles
County portion of the metropolitan area. This indi-
cated an ultimate population for the entire hydro-
graphic unit of about 12,300,000. The present use of
Avater, based on available data in portions of the ulti-
mate area, indicated that the ultimate per capita
water requirement would be about 190 gallons per
day. The ultimate urban and suburban seasonal water
requirement was, on this basis, estimated to be about
2,600,000 acre-feet.
The San Diego Hydrographic Unit was subdivided,
for purposes of analysis, into areas corresponding to
census tracts or enumeration districts. Within each
subdivision two topographical zones were delineated,
one assumed to be ultimately fully developed and the
other, of intermediate topography, assumed to be
ultimately deA'eloped to one-half maximum density.
The effective habitable area for each subdivision was
assumed to be equivalent to the total area of the first
zone plus one-half the area of the latter zone. Deduc-
tions from the effective habitable area were made for
ultimate industrial areas and residual agriculture,
prior to applying estimated population densities. Ulti-
mate population densities applicable to the urban
area, exclusive of industry, were estimated for each
subdivision. The result of this analysis indicated that
the total ultimate urban area (exclusive of industry)
would be about 150.000 acres, and that the ultimate
population would be about 1,990,000. Ultimate per
capita water use in this hydrographic unit, including
industrial use of water, was estimated to be about 160
gallons per day. The ultimate urban and suburban
seasonal water requirement was, therefore, estimated
to be about 360,000 acre-feet,
TABLE 97
ESTIMATED PRESENT AND PROBABLE ULTIMATE MEAN SEASONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR WATER,
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Reference
number
Name
Irrigated lands
Present
Probable
ultimate
Farm lots
Probable
ultimate
Urban and suburban
areas
Present
Probable
ultimate
Other water service
areas
Present
Probable
ultimate
Approximate totals
Present
Probable
ultimate
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Ventura
Santa Clara-Calleguas
Malibu
San Gabriel Mountains
Upper Santa Ana
Los Angeles
San Juan Capistrano
Santa Margarita-San Luis Rey__
San Dieguito-Cottonwood
San Diego
APPROXIMATE TOTALS
7,100
165,000
1,600
800
299,000
418,000
10,500
32,800
37,300
47,700
8,500
256,000
4,600
9,000
5,800
17,600
1,400
29,800
164,000
35,800
100
200
593,000
101,000
151,000
313,000
375,000
53,700
6,000
15,000
15.000
47,300
716,000
3,800
7,100
4,500
81,700
267,000
2,568,000
57,000
58,200
41,300
414,000
200
1,400
100
100
300
500
2,700
400
1,000
4,500
1,300
1,000
1,700
2,600
400
13,000
183,000
3,000
1,000
348,000
1,134,000
14,300
40,000
42,100
129,000
38,800
432,000
40,800
1,000
864,000
2,670,000
215,000
388,000
434,000
468,000
1,020,000
1,856,000
45,000
885,000
3,635,000
2,400
16,100
1,907,000
5,552,000
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
143
Supplemental Requirements
The supplemental water requirement, as the term
is used in this bulletin, refers to the quantity of water,
in addition to safe yield of the present water supply
development, which must be made available to fully
satisfy the present or probable ultimate water re-
quirement. The present supplemental requirement
represents the difference between the present water
requirement and the sum of presently developed safe
yield of local supplies and present import of water.
The difference between estimated present and prob-
able ultimate Avater requirements for each hydro-
graphic unit, plus the present supplemental require-
ment, was taken as the measure of the probable
ultimate supplemental water requirement.
The existence of a present supplemental require-
ment is indicative of one or more of several condi-
tions. In certain portions of the South Coastal Area,
irrigated crops are being supplied with amounts of
water which are insufficient to provide for optimum
consumptive use, with resultant decrease in crop yield
and damage to plants. In San Diego County surface
reservoirs have been operated in excess of safe yield,
with the result that in the latter years of the recent
drought period many of the reservoirs were dry.
Except for the timely importation of Colorado River
water, the San Diego Hydrographic Unit would be
experiencing a water deficiency aggregating approxi-
mately 50 per cent of the present requirement for the
unit. In the Santa Clara-Calleguas, Upper Santa Ana,
and Los Angeles Hydrographic Units, and to a lesser
extent in other units, extractions from ground water
storage have exceeded safe yields of the underground
reservoirs, resulting in appreciable overdrafts on
existing supplies. Indications of possible ground water
overdraft in the South Coastal Area include perennial
lowering of ground water levels, sea-water intrusion,
and dewatering of the ground water basins with
limited storage capacity to the extent that overlying
users are deprived of water supplies during drought
periods.
Safe Yield of Local Water Supplies With Present
Development. In connection with studies to deter-
mine values of presently developed safe seasonal local
yield, use was made of data appearing in recent publi-
cations of the State Water Resources Board, the
Division of Water Resources, and other organizations.
Use was also made of unpublished data compiled in
conjunction with the investigations currently being
conducted by the Division of Water Resources. Values
of safe yield presented in this bulletin in many
instances must be considered as approximations, and
only indicative of the general order of magnitude. In
those areas where detailed data were not available
and where water shortages are not presently appar-
ent, safe yield of the present water supply develop-
ment was assumed to be equal to the estimated present
water requirement. Estimates of presently developed
safe seasonal local yield in hydrographic units of the
South Coastal Area are presented in Table 98.
TABLE 98
ESTIMATED PRESENTLY DEVELOPED SAFE
SEASONAL YIELD OF LOCAL WATER
SUPPLIES, SOUTH COASTAL AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Refer-
ence
number
Name
Safe
yield
1
2
3
4
5—. .
Ventura
Malibu
San Gabriel Mountains
9,000
115,000
3,000
1,000
266,000
6
7
8
9
10
Los Angeles
San Juan Capistrano
Santa Margarita-San Luis Rey
San Dieguito-Cottonwood
San Diego
TOTAL
509,000
13,000
29,000
34,000
62,000
1,041,000
Imported Water Supplies. The City of Los An-
geles imports water from the Mono Basin and Owens
River watersheds in the Lahontan Area through the
Los Angeles Aqueduct. Such import of water supple-
ments local supplies for only a portion the Los
Angeles Metropolitan Area, as the City of Los An-
geles restricts the delivery to the incorporated area
of the city. During the 1949-50 season, the imported
water supply was about 305,000 acre-feet. The capacity
of the aqueduct is estimated by the Los Angeles De-
partment of Water and Power to be about 320,000
acre-feet annually.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern Cali-
fornia imports supplemental water from Lake Havasu
on the Colorado River through an aqueduct terminat-
ing at Lake Mathews in Riverside County. Cities
and water districts forming the district are shown
on Plate 13. Water is distributed by the Metropolitan
Water District to all member cities and water districts
except those in San Diego County. Colorado River
water is supplied to San Diego County through an
aqueduct which joins the the Colorado River Aque-
duct near the City of San Jacinto and terminates in
San Vicente Reservoir. From that point the water
is distributed to member agencies by the San Diego
County Water Authority. During the 1949-50 season
about 166,000 acre-feet of water were distributed to
member cities and water districts, and to the San
Diego County Water Authority, by the Metropolitan
Water District. This import had increased to 246,000
acre-feet during the 1953-54 season.
144
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
Table 99 presents estimates of water supplies im-
ported to the South Coastal Area during the 1949-50
season.
In accordance with the 1931 Seven-Party Water
Agreement, the Metropolitan Water District of South-
ern California, including the San Diego County
Water Authority, is allotted 1,212,000 acre-feet per
year of California 's rights to water from the Colorado
River. It has been estimated that due to conveyance
losses the amount actually available for consumptive
use in the South Coastal Area will be about 1,150,000
acre-feet per season. Thus a quantity of about 975,000
acre-feet of water from this source, over and above
actual 1949-50 import, remains available to the area
to assist in meeting the estimated ultimate water re-
quirements. This amount of water, distributed among
the areas requiring a present supply of supplemental
water, would be more than adequate to eliminate the
estimated present deficiencies.
Supplemental Water Requirements. Present and
probable ultimate supplemental water requirements
in the South Coastal Area were determined as the
difference between water requirements, as presented
in Table 97, and the sum of presently developed safe
TABLE 99
ESTIMATED PRESENT SEASONAL
IMPORT, SOUTH COASTAL AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Refer-
ence
number
Name
1949-50
1
2
3
Santa Clara-Calleguas -
Malibu.
4
San Gabriel Mountains
1,000
6
399,000
7
2 000
8
9
10
Santa Margarita-San Luis Rey
San Dieguito-Cottonwood .
3,000
66,000
TOTAL
471,000
local yield and present import, as presented in Tables
98 and 99. Estimated supplemental water require-
ments for each hydrographic unit of the South Coastal
Area are given in Table 100. In some cases the in-
dicated supplemental water requirement for a given
hydrographic unit is less than the sum of the supple-
mental requirements for small subdivisions of the
unit, due to localized ground water overdrafts of re-
latively small magnitude. These local overdrafts could
be eliminated with modification of the pattern of dis-
tribution of available water supplies within the unit.
TABLE 100
ESTIMATED PRESENT AND PROBABLE ULTIMATE MEAN
SEASONAL SUPPLEMENTAL WATER REQUIREMENTS,
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Present
Probable
ultimate
Reference
number
Name
1
4,000
H8.000
'9,800
9
317 000
3
Malibu.-- _ ._ -. _ _
37,800
4
81,000
2211,000
5
597,000
6
1,7(12,000
7
'00,000
8
9
10
Santa Margarita-San Luis Rey_-
San Dieguito-Cottonwood
8,000
8,000
356,000
400,000
340,000
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS
395,000
4,040,000
In order to satisfy estimated ultimate water re-
quirements, about 4,040,000 acre-feet of water per
season will be necessary, in addition to the presently
available supplies. This requirement can only be met
by further conservation of local supplies and by addi-
tional importation of water from sources of supply
outside the South Coastal Area. About 975,000 acre-
feet of the indicated ultimate seasonal supplemental
requirement will be met when water supplies from
the Colorado River available under existing rights are
fully utilized.
CHAPTER VII
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
The Central Valley Area comprises all of the stream
basins tributary to the Sacramento and San Joaquin
Rivers. It occupies about one-third of the total area
of California, and contains sixty per cent of the
State's irrigable land. This large area includes lands
making up the westerly drainage of the Sierra Nevada
and the Cascade Range, the easterly drainage of the
Coast Range, and the floor of the great Central Val-
ley between latitudes 35° and 42° N. It is approxi-
mately 500 miles in length and 120 miles in width.
The Central Valley Area is designated Area 5 on
Plate 8, and includes all or part of 39 of the State's
58 counties. Among the principal incorporated cities
are Redding, Chico, Marysville, Sacramento, Stockton,
Fresno, Modesto, Merced, Tulare, and Bakersfield.
In order to facilitate the present study, the Central
Valley Area was: subdivided into three principal
basins : the Sacramento River Basin, where there is
a surplus of water with only localized areas of de-
ficiency ; the San Joaquin River Basin, where for the
most part the water supply balances the requirements
under present conditions of development ; and the
Tulare Lake Basin, where the local water supply is
insufficient to meet present requirements.
Each of the principal basins was further subdivided
into hydrographic units, the boundaries of which are
for the most part coincident with watershed divides
of the tributary streams, or along water service area
boundaries. The hydrographic units were generally
segregated into two types, mountain and valley. Each
mountain unit consists of the total drainage area of
one or more tributary streams above the foothill line.
There is usually a A'alley unit associated with each
mountain unit. The mountain units were named with
reference to streams in the tributary area, and names
of the valley units correspond to principal towns or
to geographical locations. Table 101 lists the 63 hydro-
graphic units and their areas, and Table 102 presents
the areas of counties, or portions of counties, included
within the Central Valley Area.
The climate of the valley floor of the great Central
Valley is characterized by hot summers and mild
winters, light precipitation decreasing from north to
south, and a summer and autumn period of nearly
unbroken sunshine. The valley areas are free from
frost during the normal growing season, from seven
to eight months in length. Mean seasonal depth of
precipitation at Red Bluff, at the northern end of the
Central Valley floor, is approximately 20.3 inches,
while at Bakersfield at the southerly extremity of the
valley it is about 6 inches. At Modesto, approximately
midway of the length of the valley, the mean seasonal
precipitation depth is approximately 11 inches. Pre-
cipitation is extremely variable from year to year.
At Sacramento, where an unbroken record has been
maintained since 1849 and the average seasonal depth
of rainfall is 18.08 inches, the maximum quantity
recorded in any one season was 36.35 inches, and the
minimum was 4.71 inches. Over 90 per cent of the
rainfall in a typical year at Sacramento occurs dur-
ing the six months from November through April, and
only infrequent scattered showers occur during sum-
mer and fall.
The bordering mountains to the north and east of
the Central Valley floor rise rapidly from the foothill
line to an elevation of about 5,000 feet, above which
a generally Alpine climate prevails, characterized by
short summers, cold winters, and a frost-free period
of only three months. The Cascade Range and the
Sierra Nevada receive the greatest precipitation, with
slightly less falling on the northern Coast Range. At
elevations above 5,000 feet nearly all winter precipi-
tation occurs as snow. Depth of snowfall in the Sierra
Nevada is among the greatest experienced in the
United States. Norden, at Donner Summit, which is
a fairly representative station at an elevation of
6,871 feet, has a mean seasonal snowfall depth slightly
greater than 400 inches, having a water content of
approximately 50 inches. The snow accumulates dur-
ing the winter and spring months, gradually melting
so as to maintain stream flow into the warmer months
of the summer.
It is estimated that mean seasonal natural runoff
of streams in the Central Valley Area is about 33,-
640,000 acre-feet, about 48 per cent of that for the
entire State. Approximately two-thirds of the runoff
is provided by the Sacramento River and its tribu-
taries, and the remainder by streams of the San Joa-
quin River and Tulare Lake Basins. Flow in streams
of the Central Valley Area is dependent upon the
extent of the drainage basins and upon the quantity
and distribution of seasonal precipitation. Substan-
tial winter rainfall in the Coast Range and the lower
foothills of the Sierra Nevada causes immediate
stream runoff. In the higher mountains the winter
precipitation, which occurs as snow, usually remains
on the ground until warmer temperatures in the
spring and summer months induce melting of the
snowpack. In general, the greatest volume of stream
flow occurs in the spring and early summer, diminish-
(145)
Mt. Shasta
Courtesy Siafe Division of Highways
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
147
TABLE 101
AREAS OF HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS,
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
Hydrographic unit
Arli'.s
Hydrographic unit
Reference
number
Name
Reference
number
Name
Acres
Sacramento River Basin
Mountain Units
264,000
3,440.000
438,000
396,000
815,000
819,000
536,000
529,000
630,000
204,000
267,000
2,395,000
1,102,000
732,000
1,313,000
405,000
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
:»i
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
Valley Units
701,000
1
1,161,000
2
Pit River - - - - - - -
Earlimart ........
Visalia. _ ......... .
434,000
3
McCloud River .
469,000
4
Sacramento River above Shasta Dam
West Side, Shasta Dam to Cottonwood Creek
East Side, Cow Creek to Paynes Creek
Red Bluff to Thomes Creek... . _
1,125,000
5
256,000
6
7
Subtotal, Vallev Units . . . .
4,146,000
8
9
APPROXIMATE TOTAL, TULARE
LAKE BASIN
San Joaquin River Basin
Mountain L'nits
Mount Diablo..
10
9,552.000
11
12
13 .
14
15
16
Putah Creek
102,000
Altamont to San Luis Creek .
West Side, Los Banos Creek to A venal Creek-
483,000
863,000
14,280,000
37,800
129,000
136,000
145,000
111,000
126,000
579,000
341,000
81,900
217,000
201,000
307,000
217,000
197,000
Valley Units
1,117,000
417,000
17
944,000
18
1,032,000
19
Stanislaus River
705,000
20
734,000
21
489,000
22
Subtotal, Mountain Units ...
Valley LTnits
23...
6,886,000
24
25
26
27
28
94,400
29..
Delta-Mendota.
74,500
30
Yolo
793,000
484,000
2,826,000
523,000
APPROXIMATE TOTAL, SACRA-
MENTO RIVER BASIN
Tulare Lake Basin
Mountain LJnits
413,000
452,000
17,110,000
306,000
2,837,000
466,000
611,000
1,186,000
86,100
254,000
574,000
272,000
481,000
Subtotal, Valley Units
31
4,501.000
32
33
Kern River and Tehachapi Mountains
APPROXIMATE TOTAL, SAN JOA-
QUIN RIVER BASIN
34
11.390,000
35
APPROXIMATE TOTAL, CENTRAL
VALLEY AREA..
5,406,000
38,050,000
nig in amount to little or no flow during the flnal
quarter of the season. Records of stream flow for the
American River, which is generally representative
of streams of the Sierra Nevada, show that over 65
per cent of the seasonal runoff occurs during- the
four-month period from March through June, and
93 per cent during the period from December through
June. Total seasonal runoff varies from year to year
in the same general pattern as precipitation. A 43-year
record of flow in the American River at Fair Oaks
shows that the seasonal runoff has varied from a low
of 20 per cent of the average seasonal runoff in 1923-
24, to a high of 216 per cent in 1906-07.
As shown on Plate 4, a total of 29 valley fill areas,
which may or may not contain usable ground water,
has been identified in the Central Valley Area, of
which those of the Sacramento River, San Joaquin
River, and Tulare Lake Basins are by far the most im-
portant, both in size and in the extent to which they
have been developed. The estimated gross subsurface
storage capacity of the Sacramento River Basin is esti-
mated to be nearly 33,700,000 acre-feet in the depth
zone between 20 and 200 feet. Very little of this stor-
age capacity is presently utilized. About 1,000,000
acre-feet of water is pumped from ground water stor-
age during the average season, which water consti-
tutes about 25 per cent of the amount consumptively
used in the Sacramento River Basin in the average
season under present conditions of development.
148
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 102
AREAS OF COUNTIES WITHIN BOUND-
ARIES OF CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
County
Acres
Alameda
52,500
161.000
383,000
1,072,000
665,000
740,000
180,000
999,000
3,843,000
792,000
3,598,000
893,000
660,000
911,000
2,600
1,378,000
934,000
1,270,000
1,513,000
220,000
518 000
Alpine ...
Amador
Butte . ..
Calaveras . . _
Colusa
Contra Costa .
El Dorado
Fresno
Glenn.
Kern .
Kings . .. _.
Lake... ..
Lassen.
Los Angeles .
Madera- .
Mariposa
Merced .
Modoc
Napa
Nevada
Placer
799 000
Plumas
1,670,000
638 000
Sacramento
San Benito _ _
205 000
San Joaquin
911 000
San Luis Obispo
106 000
Shasta
2,468,000
477 000
Sierra
Siskiyou.
698 000
Solano . .
342 000
Stanislaus . .
973 000
Sutter
390 000
Tehama .
1 910 000
Tulare
3 102 000
Tuolumne
1 471 000
Ventura
30 000
Yolo
662,000
412 000
Yuba
APPROXIMATE TOTAL
38,050,000
The ground water basins of the San Joaquin River
Basin and the Tulare Lake Basin, with estimated
gross subsurface storage capacities in the depth zone
between 20 and 200 feet of about 47,500,000 acre-feet
and 51,400,000 acre-feet, respectively, provide sea-
sonal and cyclic storage to regulate the water supplies
of those basins. Ground waters on the east side of the
Tulare Lake Basin have been developed to such an
extent that in localized areas their rate of use on
overlying lands exceeds the rate of ground water
replenishment from stream flow and return drainage,
resulting in overdrafts in local sub-basins. The local
overdrafts are now being replenished to some extent
by water from the Friant-Kern Canal.
In the San Joaquin River Basin, the eastern por-
tion of the ground water basin south of the Sacra-
mento-San Joaquin Delta is extensively utilized to
provide a partial water supply, used in conjunction
with surface diversions. Except in localized areas, the
use of water from this portion of the basin does not
exceed replenishment. Since about 1942 the western
side of the San Joaquin Valley has experienced a
phenomenal expansion in agricultural development,
which has caused greatly increased demand on the
ground water in storage. This demand far exceeds the
replenishment. During a recent 5-year period, average
ground water levels in the western side of the San
Joaquin River Basin dropped at a rate of approxi-
mately 8 feet per year in the northern section, and
21 feet per year in the southern section. It is antici-
pated that ground water will continue to be utilized
in this area in the future, but that an increasing
proportion of the requirement for water will neces-
sarily be met by imported surface water supplies.
During recent years the Central Valley Area has
led all other major areas of the State in growth of
population on a percentage basis. The expanding
agricultural economy and related industrial growth
brought an increase of population from 400,000 in
1900 to 1,900,000 in 1950, or some 375 per cent. Nearly
all urban centers have grown correspondingly in size
and importance, with growth in the surrounding
suburban areas being particularly noticeable. Table
103 illustrates the increase in population of 14 of the
principal urban communities and their associated
suburbs from 1940 to 1950. It may be noted that the
suburban populations of most of the cities have nearly
doubled in the 10-year period, while those of Sacra-
mento and Stockton have tripled, and that of Modesto
has quadrupled.
TABLE 103
POPULATION OF PRINCIPAL URBAN CENTERS,
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
1940
1950
City
Within
city
limits
In
suburbs
Total
Within
city
limits
In
suburbs
Total
Sacramento
Fresno
106,000
60,700
54,700
29,200
16,400
11,600
10,100
8,900
6,300
9,300
8,100
8,200
11.100
8,200
22,100
22,100
14,200
23,100
5,700
6,000
3,300
6,600
5,200
3,100
5,800
2,100
1,200
2,000
128.000
82,800
68,900
52,300
22,100
17,600
13,400
15,500
11,500
12,400
13,900
10.300
12,300
10.200
138,000
91,700
70,800
34,800
17,400
15.700
15,300
11,800
6,900
12,300
10,300
12,400
13.800
10,000
74,200
38,900
42,000
66,900
25,000
12,000
8,100
11,600
12,300
6,500
7.500
4,300
1,900
5,500
212,000
131,000
1 13,000
102,000
42,400
27,700
23,400
23,400
19,200
18,800
17,800
16,700
15,700
15,500
Stockton
Bakersfield
Modesto . .
Marysville-Yuba
City
Merced. .
Visalia. .
Porterville _ _
Chico
Redding.
Tulare ..
Lodi
Hanford
Agriculture, principally based on irrigation, is the
major economic activity of the Central Valley Area,
while the industry associated with agriculture pro-
vides a substantial portion of the income. Lands
devoted to irrigated agriculture have increased con-
tinuously since the decade following 1850, when crops
were first irrigated. By 1889, the first year in which
the United States Census included data on irrigated
agriculture, it was reported that approximately 635,-
000 acres were irrigated in the Central Valley Area.
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
149
At present about 4,750,000 acres, or approximately 57
per cent of the presently cultivated land in the area,
are irrigated annually. The valley floor of the Central
Valley is the largest and most important agricultural
region of the State, producing a large variety of crops,
while in the surrounding foothills are found im-
portant fruit-growing and stock-raising regions.
Prior to 1849, there was little activity in the Cen-
tral Valley Area, the large ranchos being either un-
developed or devoted almost exclusively to stock
raising. Captain John Sutter's New Helvetia, in the
general area of present-day Sacramento, was the most
highly developed of the ranchos, although the only
field crop produced was dry-farmed wheat. The
mining boom of 1849 and 1850 gave impetus to agri-
culture, the demand for agricultural produce and
livestock increasing in direct ratio to the growth in
population. Dry-farming methods provided much of
the necessary grains and hay for a number of years,
although irrigation was utilized for truck crops, and
to some extent for alfalfa and pasture.
The first developments providing water to the irri-
gable lands of the Central Valley were simple earth
ditches, conveying the summer flows of streams onto
the adjacent lands. Later, as the mining ditches were
abandoned, they were also utilized to serve lands far-
ther removed from the flowing streams. One of the
first irrigation diversions in the valley was a ditch
constructed by James Moore in 1856, which delivered
a flow of water at the rate of 2| second-feet from
Cache Creek to a tract of land in Yolo County. Serious
interest in irrigated farming did not develop until
1864, which was a year of severe drought. Individual
efforts dominated the first attempts to divert water
onto the land, followed by the construction of irri-
gation canals for joint use through cooperative efforts
by groups of farmers. As the population and the num-
ber of farms increased and the requirements for water
grew, costly and complicated irrigation systems were
built to supply the water necessary for successful
agricultural developments. Stock companies were
formed, and large amounts of capital were invested in
irrigation enterprises. Nearly all of the summer flow
of the streams was appropriated for use, and the
necessity for storage of winter flood waters became
evident.
In 1887 the Legislature passed the Wright Act,
which was the forerunner of the present laws govern-
ing irrigation districts. This act and subsequent
amendments provided the legal framework for the
development of major irrigation water supply systems,
as are now exemplified by many large and successful
irrigation districts.
The majority of present water storage developments
in the Central Valley Area have been constructed in
the Sierra Nevada, although two reservoirs, East Park
and Stony Gorge, are located on Stony Creek in the
Coast Range. Shasta Reservoir on the Sacramento
River, the key structure in the Central Valley Project,
is another exception, as it is located in the Cascade
Range. Two of the major structures in the Sierra
Nevada were built primarily to provide urban water
supplies for the San Francisco Bay Area. Hetch
Hetchy Reservoir on the Tuolumne River serves the
City of San Francisco, and Pardee Reservoir on the
Mokelumne River provides a water supply for the
Cities of Oakland, Berkeley, and other east bay com-
munities.
Many of the major surface storage developments
constructed in the Sierra Nevada, located on the
principal streams of the area, have been planned
primarily for irrigation water storage. The majority,
however, have additional provisions for the develop-
ment of hydroelectric power and for flood control.
Major reservoir projects in use or under construction
are Isabella on the Kern River, Pine Flat on the
Kings River, Friant on the San Joaquin River, Ex-
chequer on the Merced River, Don Pedro on the
Tuolumne River, Melones on the Stanislaus River,
Hogan on the Calaveras River, Folsom on the Ameri-
can River, and Lake Almanor on the North Fork of
the Feather River. Many smaller reservoirs in the
Sierra Nevada provide stream regulation for hydro-
electric power development, and for irrigation in the
mountain and foothill areas.
Irrigation districts, formed under enabling acts of
the Legislature, are the principal irrigation water
service agencies in the Central Valley Area. The 78
irrigation districts in the area reported approximately
1,650,000 acres irrigated in 1950. Despite the growing
number of public water service agencies, there still
remain several private agencies serving water to large
tracts of land. These include such companies as the
Kern County Land Company, Clear Lake Water
Company, and Sutter Butte Canal Company. In re-
cent years additional water developments, govern-
mentally financed, have been provided by the United
States Bureau of Reclamation, and to a lesser degree
by other federal agencies such as the Corps of Engi-
neers, the Indian Service, Soil Conservation Service,
and Forest Service.
The Central Valley Project is the most recent com-
prehensive project for the irrigation of lands in the
Central Valley. The original plans were made by the
State of California, but the project is being con-
structed and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation.
The project develops surplus waters in the Sacra-
mento Valley for use on certain lands in the San
Joaquin Valley that formerly used water from the
San Joaquin River. This permits the diversion of the
San Joaquin River water southward into the Tulare
Lake Basin and northward to the Madera area. The
principal features of the project are Shasta and Fol-
som Reservoirs in the Sacramento River Basin, and
Friant Reservoir on the San Joaquin River ; the Delta
Cross Channel and the Delta-Mendota Canal, includ-
Harvesting Celery
in the Delta
Agriculture in
Sacramento Valley
Courtesy Siate Division of Highways
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
151
sng the Tracy Pumping Plant, utilized to transfer
water developed by the Sacramento River Basin reser-
voirs to the San Joaquin River area; and the Friant-
Kern and Madera Canals to convey and distribute
the water developed by Friant Reservoir. The sale of
power from hydroelectric power plants at Shasta and
Folsom Reservoirs will assist in financing- the project.
Other federally authorized units of the project are
the Sacramento Valley Canals, the Sly Park Project
in the Cosumnes River Basin, and the Contra Costa
Canal which serves lands in Contra Costa County in
the San Francisco Bay Area.
The outstanding- characteristic of agricultural de-
velopment in the Central Valley Area during recent
decades has been the increasing utilization of ground
water in the development of irrigated lands. In 1929
approximately 1,300,000 acres in the area were irri-
gated from ground water, portions of which also
received a limited surface water supply. The 1950
United States Census of agriculture reported that
land irrigated from ground water in the Central
Valley Area amounted to 2,425,000 acres in 1949,
while an additional 1,155,000 acres were served by
combined surface and ground water supplies. A sub-
stantial part of the increased use of ground water
has occurred on the west side of the San Joaquin
Valley, where, during the period from 1929 to 1949,
the irrigated area increased from 50,000 to 542,000
acres.
Lumbering and basic timber industrial installations
in the Central Valley Area are centered in the Sierra
Nevada, Cascade Range, Modoc Plateau, and a por-
tion of the Coast Range. Plants for processing logging
and milling residues to form timber by-products are
located throughout the valley areas. Plywood, fiber-
board, and pressed fireplace logs are among the prod-
ucts of the processing industry. A fiberboard products
plant near Antioch produces about 325 tons of paper
products daily, utilizing cull logs and mill residues
from the Central Valley Area as well as from the
North Coastal Area. Processing of lumber and timber
by-products which result from logging operations in
the Modoc Plateau generally takes place in the North
Coastal Area and in Oregon.
The principal mineral producing activity in the
Central Valley Area consists of the extraction of oil
and gas in several fields in the southern San Joaquin
Valley. Natural gas is found in widely scattered areas
throughout the entire Central Valley. Gold mining,
the early source of California's growth and develop-
ment, which was centralized in the lower ranges of
the Sierra Nevada, is no longer an important activity,
largely because of the unfavorable price of gold. How-
ever, several large dredging operations are still main-
tained. Other mining activities in the Central Valley
Area include the production of tungsten east of
Fresno, mercury in the Coast Range west of Fresno,
pyrites in the Redding area, gypsum near Fresno,
and copper, lead, zinc, chromite, limestone, and cement
in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Sands and
gravels for aggregates are obtained commercially at
many points in the valley.
The principal public utilities producing and dis-
tributing electric energy in the Central Valley Area
are the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, with serv-
ice extending throughout the major portion of the
valley, and the Southern California Edison Company,
serving Tulare County and small portions of Kings
and Kern Counties in the southern portion of the val-
ley. The California-Oregon Power Company provides
service to a few communities in the area north of
Shasta Dam. The Pacific Gas and Electric Company
has hydroelectric generating plants on Sierra Nevada
streams and on the Pit River, with an installed power
capacity of 1,424,000 kilowatts, or 51 per cent of the
total hydroelectric power development of the Central
Valley Area. The Southern California Edison Com-
pany, with developments on the San Joaquin, Kaweah,
Tide, and Kern Rivers, and the Bureau of Reclama-
tion, with plants on the Sacramento and American
Rivers, operate the remainder of the Central Valley
Area's hydroelectric power installations.
The outstanding scenic attractions of the Sierra
Nevada and other mountainous portions of the Central
Valley Area, with their magnificent forests, lakes, and
streams, have provided impetus for the establishment
of innumerable commercial and private recreational
areas. Major resorts are centered around such local-
ities as Yosemite Valley, Clear Lake, Highways 40
and 50, and Lassen National Park, with smaller re-
sorts and summer homes scattered throughout the
entire mountain region.
Over the years there has been a notable develop-
ment of industrial activity in the Central Valley
Area. Much of this increase is closely allied with
agriculture, but population growth has also given
rise to many service industries. There is a present
trend for industrial concerns based in the eastern
United States to establish subsidiary plants in Cali-
fornia. Such plants now produce a sizeable percentage
of the requirements of the Pacific Coast states. Some
of these plants have located in the Central Valley be-
cause of its strategic location as regards markets and
transportation, the availability of raw materials, and
the exceptional climate and living conditions. The
area is believed to have a great potential for further
development of industry.
The trend in urban development in the Central
Valley Area has been toward centralizing the various
commercial and industrial activities required for the
economy of the surrounding farming areas in a
number of strategically located communities. New ur-
ban centers have come into being with the growth in
agriculture and population, and are expanding into
the surrounding countryside. Cities such as Bakers-
field, Fresno. Stockton, and Sacramento serve not
Harvesting Cotton
Near Bakersfield
Courtesy California State
Chamber of Commerce
Vineyards in
San Joaquin Valley
Courtesy toe//' Chamber
of Commerce
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
153
only their surrounding agricultural areas, but the en-
tire economy of California.
In summary, it should be emphasized that the pri-
mary use of water in this area is for the production of
agricultural crops. However, in the Central Valley
Area, water is also utilized by urban communities,
industrial plants, and for many additional purposes.
In the mountains and foothills a large amount of
hydroelectric power is generated at locations that
combine appreciable heads with adequate water sup-
plies. The streams and lakes constitute outstanding
natural resources for recreational development and
for propagation of fish life. Navigation on the Sacra-
mento River forms an important part of the transpor-
tation facilities of the valley. River barges move agri-
cultural produce from the valley, and import such
items as gasoline, oil, and manufactured merchandise.
Repulsion of sea water from channels of the Sacra-
mento-San Joaquin Delta by release of stored fresh
water has kept some 372,000 acres of rich, fertile farm
land in the Delta from destruction. The Sacramento
River Flood Control Project constitutes a comprehen-
sive system of levees, overflow weirs, and by-pass
channels that controls and conveys flood waters to the
sea as rapidly as possible. An expected future in-
crease in upstream water storage facilities, and a
greater use of water for irrigation, will increase the
degree of protection provided by the present system
of flood control works. There is a demand for ade-
quate sustained flows in the principal streams enter-
ing San Francisco Bay to permit the propagation of
fish both for recreational and commercial catches.
Although commercial fishing takes place off the coast
and in the San Francisco Bay Area, the spawning
and growth of the young of several important species
take place in the Central Valley streams. Fish hatch-
eries are being provided to replace upstream spawn-
ing areas to which access is no longer possible.
There follows a presentation of available data and
estimates pertinent to the nature and extent of water
requirements in the Central Valley Area, both at
the present time and under conditions of probable
ultimate development.
PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS
As a necessary step in estimating the amount of the
water requirement in the Central Valley Area, de-
terminations were made of the location, nature, and
extent of irrigated and urban and suburban water
service areas. Remaining lands were not classified in
detail with regard to their relatively minor miscel-
laneous types of water service, although such water
1 service was given consideration in estimating the
present water requirement.
Irrigated Lands
It was determined that under present conditions of
! development in the Central Valley Area, about
4,751,000 acres are irrigated in a given year, on the
average. This constitutes approximately 70 per cent
of the land irrigated throughout California. Some 22
per cent of this total, or 1,032,000 acres, is in the
Sacramento River Basin ; 41 per cent, or 1,957,000
acres, is in the San Joaquin River Basin ; and the re-
maining 37 per cent, or 1,762,000 acres, is in the
Tulare Lake Basin.
The irrigated crops produced in the Central Valley
Area are illustrative of the extreme diversification of
agriculture in California. A substantial acreage of
rice is produced in the trough of the Sacramento
Valley, while cotton has become the dominant crop in
the San Joaquin Valley and the Tulare Lake Basin.
Irrigated orchards and vineyards are found through-
out the entire area wherever soils are sufficiently deep
or properly drained. Citrus fruits are produced in an
extensive orchard belt on the east side of the Tulare
Lake Basin, and to a small extent in Glenn and Butte
Counties in the northern portion of the Sacramento
Valley. Improved farming equipment and greater
profit margins in the last decade have made possible
the levelling and irrigation of land formerly consid-
ered too rough for successful agricultural develop-
ment. Considerable acreages of foothill and mountain
lands are now irrigated by sprinklers, a method found
to be successful for applying water to orchards and
pasture on lands of rolling topography. Although ex-
tensive areas are devoted to so-called truck or "cash"
crops, a substantial portion of the irrigated land in
the Central Valley Area is used for production of
forage. Livestock raising continues to be one of the
important agricultural pursuits of the area.
The field surveys providing the basis for determi-
nation of irrigated acreage in the Central Valley
Area were accomplished during the period from 1946
through 1950, by several agencies and with varying
standards and degrees of accuracy. Information re-
garding the dates of field mapping and sources of
data are contained in Appendix D. Based on the
available survey data, the irrigated lands were classi-
fied into various crop groups, with a view to segre-
gating those of similar water use. The detailed
segregation of individual truck and nursery crops
was found to be impracticable. In some localities, data
on the acreage planted to a few of the dominant truck
crops were available. However, as similar data were
not available throughout the area, all crops of this
nature were grouped under the general heading of
truck crops. In the San Joaquin River and Tulare
Lake Basins, acreages of irrigated hay and grain
crops were segregated from the acreage of other field
crops, but in the Sacramento River Basin such segre-
gation was not possible in all cases. Requirements for
applied water were computed, however, on the actual
area cropped to hay and grain, where applicable data
were available, and are reported in the appropriate
tables. Therefore, all field crops including hay and
Urban Development in
Central Valley Area
Courtesy State Division of Highways
Irrigation in the Delta
Courtesy Armco Drainage and
Metal Products, Inc.
*4
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
155
grain were classified as one group for that basin. A
list of the various crop "roups into which irrigated
lands of the Central Valley Area were classified
follows :
Alfalfa Hay, seed, and pasture
Pasture Grasses and legumes, other than
alfalfa, used for livestock forage
Orchard Deciduous fruit, nuts, and olives
Citrus Oranges, grapefruit, lemons
Vineyard All varieties of grapes
Truck crops Intensively cultivated fresh vege-
tables, including tomatoes, let-
tuce, melons, potatoes, and nurs-
Rl ,„ ery crops
Cotton
Hay and grain__Barley, wheat, and other grains
used as cereal or forage
Miscellaneous field crops — Dried beans, milo, corn,
hops, sugar beets, and unsegre-
gated hay and grain in Sacra-
mento River Basin
It is estimated that approximately 108,000 acres in
the Central Valley Area are occupied by farm lots at
the present time. Of this total, 45,200 acres lie in the
San Joaquin River Basin, 41,500 in the Tulare Lake
Basin, and 21,400 in the Sacramento River Basin.
These consist of farm buildings and areas immediately
surrounding them that receive water service.
Summaries of presently irrigated acreages within
the Central Valley Area by the various crop groups
are presented in Tables 104 and 105. Table 104 lists
the acreages by hydrojjraphic units, and Table 105
by coxmties.
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas
It was determined that under present conditions of
development in the Central Valley Area, approxi-
mately 191,000 acres are devoted to urban and subur-
ban types of land use. On the floor of the valley, the
urban and suburban areas were determined as part
of the field surveys of irrigated lands previously
mentioned. In the more mountainous regions, how-
ever, such areas were determined by examination of
maps and plates, and by the application of appro-
priate density factors to available population data.
For tlie most part, the business, commercial, and in-
dustrial establishments and surrounding homes in-
cluded in this areal classification receive a municipal
type of water supply. Areas of urban and suburban
water service within each hydrographic unit of the
Central Valley Area are listed in Table 106, and
within each county in Table 107. It should be noted
that areas shown are gross acreages, as streets and
intermingled undeveloped lands that are a part of
the urban type of community are included.
Unclassified Areas
Remaining lands in the Central Valley Area, other
than those that are irrigated or urban and suburban
in character, were not classified in detail as regards
present water service. However, of a total of about
32,930,000 acres of such remaining lands less than
85,000 acres actually receive water service at the pres-
ent time. These relatively minor service areas consist
of scattered developed portions of national forests and
monuments, public parks, private recreational areas,
military reservations, wild fowl refuges, etc.
Migratory waterfowl reserves, feeding areas, and
"•un clubs occupy approximately (12,000 acres in the
Central Valley Area, of which about 15,000 acres are
federal and state wild fowl management areas.
The remaining acreage is composed of land utilized
throughout the growing season to produce rice, but
flooded late in the fall to attract wild fowl during the
hunting season.
National forests, monuments, and parks include
nearly 13,000,000 acres of land in the Central Valley
Area. For the most part, this land is in the mountain-
ous regions and is covered by timber, native brush,
and grass. A small portion, estimated to be about
PKI. 000 acres, is presently irrigated, and is included
in the values listed in Tables 104 and 105. There are
many minor water service areas, consisting of scat-
tered developments such as public camp and picnic
areas, summer residences, trailer camps, administra-
tion buildings, etc., in the forests and parks. It was
estimated that approximately 5,000 acres in the Cen-
tral Valley Area are devoted to these types of devel-
opment, in which the use of water is minor in amount.
The Division of Beaches and Parks of the State De-
partment of Natural Resources at present administers
20 parks and historical monuments throughout the
area. These aggregate nearly 10,000 acres, but only
small portions are devoted to permanent buildings,
grounds, and camping and picnic areas requiring
domestic water service. The area of privately owned
recreational developments in tin 1 Central Valley Area
was not estimated, as it is scattered generally through-
out the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade and Coast
Ranges, principally in the form of summer cabins
and camps.
Military establishments within the Central Valley
Area total about 175,000 acres, but the water-using
portion is relatively small, consisting principally of
administration buildings, warehouses, and quarters
for personnel. The use of water in such establishments
is similar to the domestic and industrial requirements
of urban areas, and the requirements were established
on that basis.
156
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
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Navigation on
Sacramento River
Hydroelectric Power Plant
on the Feather River
Photograph by State Division
of Water Resources
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
159
TABLE 105
AREAS OF PRESENTLY IRRIGATED LANDS WITHIN COUNTIES, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(In acres)
County
Alfalfa
Pasture
Orchard
Citrus
Vine-
yard
Truck
crops
Rice
( 'ottoll
Hay
and
grain
Miscel-
laneous
field
crops
Net
irri-
Farm
lots
In-
cluded
non-
water
sen ice
areas
Approx-
imate
gross
area
Alameda
Alpine
Amador
Butte
Calaveras
Colusa
Contra Costa
El Dorado
Fresno
Glenn
Kern
Kings
Lake
Lassen
Madera
Mariposa
Merced
Modoc
Napa
Nevada
Placer
Plumas
Sacramento
San Benito
San Joaquin
San Luis Obispo.
Shasta
Sierra
Siskiyou
Solano
Stanislaus-
Sutter
Tehama
Tulare...
Tuolumne
Ventura
Yolo
Yuba
800
100
ir.,900
1, til III
10.800
57,700
12,900
55,900
27,400
1,700
2,600
28,000
109,000
7,900
500
400
1,000
18,300
44,800
3,900
700
100
7,300
53,900
9,100
5,200
75,700
19,200
3,600
400
500
17.700
1,300
11.400
7.500
1,500
42,600
33,900
30,000
39,700
2,500
10.000
22.500
200
95,200
19,400
4,900
9.700
49.100
36,800
100
70,400
23,100
19.000
2,900
10,400
104,000
16.400
13,100
71,000
400
10,400
17,300
300
29,100
600
15,200
12.400
6,500
42,100
9,3Q0
3,400
7.300
4,400
5,800
300
29,300
300
700
1,500
23,200
100
8,200
30,400
1,500
7,600
44,300
39,000
9,900
32,500
1,000
11,500
9.600
o
1,300
3.900
1 ,400
1 ,500
30,900
100
200
900
196,000
100
27,400
13,400
23,900
16,100
o
100
1.900
5,900
57,900
200
21,400
700
80,400
800
100
100
100
1.600
100
1,800
18,100
35.400
400
59,800
400
1,100
2,300
15.900
200
400
14,900
100
118.000
800
6,600
14.700
8,900
400
16,300
26,100
1,200
47,100
63,400
100
4,500
35,500
o
700
10,400
4,400
6,000
6,800
3,500
56. 31 III
44,900
12,100
o
o
o
199,000
210,000
120.000
58,100
34,700
100
100
9 I. soo
10,800
264,000
46,300
145,000
15.400
52,200
36,500
62,900
12,200
54.400
49,000
7,600
800
200
3,000
8,000
6,900
15,200
4,000
24,100
18,500
1.000
10,800
4,300
20,200
41.100
200
1,400
2,100
25,600
1,200
48,600
11,200
4. 91 III
16,900
16,600
39,600
1,500
3,700
29,600
8.500
2,400
900
116.000
2.000
105,000
73,500
8.000
859.000
96,100
464,000
372,000
10,700
23,400
161.000
500
383,000
68,900
1,200
6,700
41,400
52,300
154,000
1,500
440,000
40,700
24,600
3,000
61,000
314,000
170,000
30,100
460.000
1,400
150,000
52.40(1
100
200
2,300
2,600
1,400
100
17,200
1,900
11.900
7,100
100
300
7,900
9.500
800
100
600
700
4.500
10,000
1,000
300
2,700
7,300
3,000
1,400
9,700
2,200
1,200
200
400
10,300
10,700
4,400
300
5,900
7,400
23,000
49.700
500
500
15,400
21,100
1,800
200
2,100
1,500
13,600
27,400
700
600
200
6,600
15,900
11,100
9,200
13,000
6,900
4.100
2,700
1,500
129,000
2,000
118,000
79,300
8,400
882,000
105,000
499,000
429,000
11,300
24,200
184,000
500
414,000
71,500
1,200
7,000
44,100
54,500
172,000
1,500
477,000
42,400
25,500
3,200
70,300
337,000
184,000
40,700
483,000
1,400
159,000
57,700
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS. CENTRAL
VALLEY AREA
585.000
795,000
387,000
45,000
I IS .000
346,000
295,000
723,000
757.000
370,000
4,751.000
108,000
265,000
5,123,000
Summary
Table 106 comprises a summary of present water
service areas within hydrographie units of the Cen-
tral Valley Area. A similar summary for counties
of the area is presented in Table 107.
PROBABLE ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE AREAS
To aid in estimating' the amount of water that will
ultimately be utilized in the Central Valley Area,
projections were first made to determine the probable
ultimate irrigated and urban and suburban water
service areas. It was assumed that the remaining
lands, for convenience referred to as "other water
service areas," ultimately will be served with water
commensurate with their needs.
Irrigated Lands
Based on data from land classification surveys, it
was estimated that a gross area of approximately
11,750,000 acres in the Central Valley Area is suitable
for irrigated agriculture. Excepting farm lots and
certain lands within the gross area that experience in-
dicates will never be served with water, such as lands
occupied by roads, railroads, etc. it was estimated
that under ultimate conditions of development a net
area of approximately 10,040,000 acres will actually
be irrigated. Table 108 presents these estimates for
hydrographie units of the Central Valley Area, and
Table 109 for the various counties.
The probable ultimate crop pattern for irrigated
lands of the Central Valley Area is presented in
Table 110. The crop grouping parallels that used
in the case of present development except for the
added group titled ''Sugar beets." This group was
of minor importance and not segregated in the case
of the present crop pattern, but is expected to be of
greater significance in the future.
160
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 106
SUMMARY OF PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Irri-
gated
lands
Urban
and
sub-
urban
areas
Approxi-
mate
total
Hydrographic unit
Irri-
gated
lands
Urban
and
sub-
urban
areas
Approxi-
Reference
number
Name
Reference
number
Name
mate
total
Sacramento River Basin
Mountain Units
8,400
108.000
1,900
1.700
1,600
4,600
1,600
600
2,200
86,200
23,600
9,000
27,200
3,500
100
1,700
900
1,200
200
1,000
100
600
5,700
2,200
1,300
3,600
200
8,500
1 10.000
2,800
2,900
1,800
5,600
1,600
700
2,800
91,900
25,800
10,300
30,800
3,700
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
Valley Units
Antelope Plain
48,200
482.000
162.000
261.000
723,000
198.000
1,600
18.800
1,500
6,700
20,500
300
49,800
501 ,000
1
163,000
2
Pit River
268,000
3
McCloud River
Sacramento River above
744,000
4
198,000
Subtotals, Valley Units
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS, TU-
LARE LAKE
BASIN
San Joaquin River Basin
Mountain Units
Mount Diablo
5
West Side, Shasta Dam to
Cottonwood Creek
East Side, Cow Creek to
Paynes Creek
Red Bluff to Thomes Creek
Antelope to Mud Creek
1.874.000
49,400
1,924,000
6
7
8
9
1.886,000
1,500
2,700
500
700
1,400
900
1.300
200
50,000
100
100
300
1,000
400
1,000
1,200
1,936,000
10_.
11
12
Butte and Chico Creeks
Cortina Creek
13
Yuba and Bear Rivers. .
14
Altamont to San Luis Creek.
Wist Side, Los Bancs Creek
15
16
Putah Creek _ .
1,600
Subtotals, Mountain
2,700
600
1.000
280.000
18,500
18,100
26,000
37.800
36,500
26,900
251,000
111,000
48,900
64,600
67,300
53,500
28,000
61,700
18,800
2,500
1.300
1,800
1,100
5,400
200
1,600
1,800
1.900
3,300
3,300
55,000
2,100
500
299,000
21,000
19,400
27,800
38,900
41,900
27,100
253,000
113,000
50,800
67,900
70,600
108,500
30,100
62,200
Chowchilla-Fresno Rivers
Valley Units
Anderson-Cottonwood
Tehama ..
2,400
1,300
17
Mokelumne-Calaveras
2,300
18
19
Cosumnes River
Subtotals, Mountain
1,400
20
9,200
57,200
21,500
381,000
182,000
206,000
191,000
244,000
61,700
152.000
197,000
8,600
396,000
4,100
2,700
100
1,400
2,700
4.700
1.600
4,800
400
3,100
12,900
300
1,100
21
13,300
22
23
Arbuckle.
Valley LTnits
Antioch _
Delta-Mendota
24
Feather River to Butte
Slough . _ . _ _
Yuba-.
59,900
21,600
25
West Side, San Joaquin
Valley
26
Marysville-Sheridan .. ..
Woodland
382,000
27
185,000
28
Merced
211,000
29
Dixon.
193,000
30
Yolo_.
249,000
Subtotals, Valley Units.
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS, SACRA-
MENTO RIVER
B\SIN
62.100
155,000
850,000
81,800
932,000
210,000
8,900
1,130,000
9,600
1,400
100
800
101,000
500
100
1,231.000
10,100
1,500
100
800
Sacramento-San Joaquin
Delta.
Subtotals, Valley Units.
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS, SAN
JOAQUIN RIVER
BASIN..
397,000
Tulare Lake Basin
Mountain Units
West Side, Kern County
Kern River and Tehachapi
2,098,000
35,800
2,134,000
2.107,000
39,900
2,147,000
31
32
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS, CEN-
TRAL VALLEY
AREA
5,123,000
191,000
33
Tule River
34
Kaweah River
5,314,000
35
Unclassified areas receiving wa
APPROXIMATE T(
WATER SERVIC
Subtotals, Mountain
84,700
11,900
600
12,500
)TAL, PRE
E AREA
SENT
5,399,000
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas
It is expected that urban and suburban growth in
the Central Valley Area generally will be associated
with furl her development of agriculture, and that
the problems of producing, processing, and exporting
the diversity of agricultural commodities will con-
tinue to be the basic source of business activity. Popu-
lation increase may also be brought about by expan-
sion of present and new industries. The greatest
development is expected to occur in those cities
adjacent to transportation facilities importing and
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
161
TABLE 107
SUMMARY OF PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS WITHIN
COUNTIES, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(In acres)
County
Irrigated
lands
Urban
and
suburban
areas
Approximate
total
2,700
1,500
129,000
2,000
118,000
79,300
S, 1(1(1
882,000
105,000
499,000
429,000
11,300
24.200
184,000
500
414,000
71,500
1,200
7,000
44,100
54,500
172,000
1,500
477,000
42,400
25,500
3,200
70,300
337,000
184,000
40,700
483,000
1,400
159,000
57,700
1,500
10,000
1,000
1 ,300
1,800
1,400
19,300
1,500
20.100
3,200
1,400
700
2,800
300
5,800
1,000
100
1,300
4,900
1,800
.53,300
1.5,700
4,500
200
1,900
2,400
7,000
2,400
3,100
9,100
1,400
4,500
3,400
2,700
3,000
Butte -. .
140,000
3.000
119,000
81,100
9,800
901,000
Glenn .-- -
107,000
519.000
432,000
12,700
24,900
187,000
800
420,000
72.500
1 ,300
8,300
49,000
56,300
225,000
1,500
493,000
46,900
25,700
5,100
Solano
72,700
344,000
186,000
43,800
Tulare -..
492,000
2,800
Yolo
164,000
Yuba
61,100
APPROXIMATE TOTALS,
CENTRE VALLEY
AREA
5,123,000
191,000
5,314,000
Unclassified areas receiving water s
84,700
RESENT "WA
TER SERV-
APPROXIMATE TOTAL, P
ICE AREA
5,399,000
exporting commodities to and from the great Central
Valley. It was estimated that under ultimate condi-
tions of development the urban and suburban water
service areas will increase to approximately 292,000
acres.
Urban and suburban types of land use are expected
to occupy the same localities as at present, but vacant
lands will be filled and densities increased. In addi-
tion, it is probable that encroachment will occur on
surrounding lands in an estimated amount of about
105,000 acres. For purposes of the present studies
no attempt was made to delineate the boundaries of
such encroachment, nor to determine what proportion
will be on irrigable lands. The estimate of probable
ultimate urban and suburban water service areas is
included in Table 112. It should be noted that the
areas shown are gross acreages, including streets,
vacancies, etc.
Other Water Service Areas
Remaining lands of the Central Valley Area, not
classified as irrigable or urban and suburban under
conditions of ultimate development, aggregate about
26,010,000 acres, or 68 per cent of the area. As previ-
ously mentioned, it was assumed that ultimately these
lands will be served with water in amounts sufficient
for their needs. No attempt was made to segregate
these "other water service areas" in detail in regard
to the nature of their probable ultimate water service.
However, as shown in Table 111, they were broken
down for convenience in estimating water require-
ments into those portions inside and outside of na-
tional forests, monuments, and military reservations,
and above and below an elevation of 3,000 feet. The
lands classified as "other water service areas" include
recreational developments, both public and private,
military establishments, residential and industrial
types of land use outside of urban communities, wild
fowl refuges, etc. Most of the lands are situated in
rough mountainous terrain, much of which is pres-
ently inaccessible. It is expected that even under
conditions of ultimate development these lands will
be only sparsely settled, and will have very minor
requirements for water service.
Summary
Table 112 comprises a summary of probable ulti-
mate water service areas, segregated into irrigable
lands, urban and suburban areas, and other water
service areas.
UNIT VALUES OF WATER USE
Information obtained during recent investigations
of the water resources of Sutter, Yuba, Placer, and
San Joaquin Counties, and experimental data from
the University of California at Davis, provided much
of the basis for estimating unit values of water use
in the Central Valley Area. These data were modified
by standard methods to provide complete coverage
of the area.
Irrigation Water Use
In general, unit seasonal values of consumptive use
of water on lands devoted to the various irrigated
crops were computed by the methods outlined in
Chapter II. Individual analysis was made in order
to determine the unit seasonal values of consump-
tive use for rice, hay and grain, and winter potatoes,
for which the growing seasons and cultural practices
were not readily adaptable to the standard procedure.
The methods used for these crops are described in
Chapter II.
6—99801
162
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 108
PROBABLE ULTIMATE AREAS OF IRRIGATED LANDS WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(In acres)
Hydrograplue unit
Ref-
erence
num-
ber
9.
10_
11.
12_
13_
14-
15.
16.
17_.
18..
19-.
20_ .
21..
22..
23-.
24_ .
25..
26..
27_ .
28..
29..
30..
31.
32
33
34
35
Name
Sacramento River
Basin
Mountain Units
Goose Lake
Pit River
McCloud River
Sacramento Ri ver
aboveShastaDam
West Side, Shasta
Dam to Cotton-
wood Creek
East Side, Cow
Creek to Paynes
Creek
Red Bluff to
Thomes Creek.
Antelope to Mud
Creek
Stony Creek
Butte and Chico
Creeks
Cortina Creek
Feather River
Yuba and Bear
Rivers
Cache Creek
American River..
Putah Creek
Subtotals,
Mountain
Units
Valley Units
Anderson-Cotton-
wood
Tehama
Vina
Orland
Chico
Arbuckle
Colusa Trough
Feather River to
Butte Slough
Yuba
Marys ville-Sheri-
dan
Woodland
Carmichael
Dixon.. _.
Yolo
Subtotals,
Valley
Units
APPROXI-
MATE
TOTALS,
SACRA-
MENTO
RIVER
BASIN
Tulare Lake Basin
Mountain Units
West Side, Kern
County
Kern River and
Tehachapi
Mountains
Tule Rn er
Kaweah River
Kings River
Subtotals,
Mountain
Units
Gross
irrigable
area
29,400
400,000
25,100
10,900
41,100
105,000
52,200
13,000
.52,700
19,400
52,400
246,000
160,000
77,200
110,000
43,100
1,444,000
28,400
101,000
82,300
137,000
91,300
119.000
507,000
245,000
74.200
200,000
180,000
236,000
105,000
180.000
2,346,000
3,790,000
I 1,700
181,000
31,800
15,800
1 1 ,900
252,000
Farm
lots
300
4,300
300
100
500
1,100
500
100
600
200
500
2,500
1,800
1,000
1,400
400
15,600
400
1,300
1,200
1,700
2,300
1,400
5,900
3,100
1,200
2,400
2,100
2,800
2,300
2,000
30,100
45,700
200
\400
500
200
100
3,400
Included
nonwater
service
area
4,000
49,500
3,200
1,500
4,500
13,300
6,800
1,600
7.200
2,800
6,900
50,900
29.400
9,500
17,100
5,300
213,000
3,500
12,400
9,400
15,500
10,100
13,300
65,300
33,700
8,600
33,900
21,100
37,700
19,400
24,500
308,000
521,000
1 ,500
19,500
3,800
1,900
1 ,300
28,000
Approxi-
mate net
irrigated
area
25,100
346,000
21,000
9,800
36,100
90,300
44,900
1 1 ,300
44,900
16,400
45,000
193,000
135,000
66,700
91,800
37,400
1,215,000
24,500
87.700
71,700
120,000
78,900
104,000
436,000
208.000
64,000
164,000
157.000
196,000
143,000
153,000
2,008,000
3,223,000
10,000
159,000
27,500
13,700
10,500
221.000
Hydrograpliic unit
Ref-
erence
num-
ber
36...
37...
38...
39. ..
40...
41., .
42.
43.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
Name
Valley Units
Antelope Plain...
Kern.
Earlimart
Visalia
Fresno-Hanf ord . .
Tulare Lake
Subtotals,
Valley
Units
APPROXI-
MATE
TOTALS,
TULARE
LAKE
BASIN...
San Joaquin River
Basin
Mountain Units
Mount Diablo
Altamont to San
Luis Creek
West Side, Los
Banos Creek to
Avenal Creek
San Joaquin River
Chowchilla-Fresno
Rivers
Merced River
Tuolumne River..
Stanislaus River..
Mokelumne-Cala-
veras Rivers
Cosumnes River..
Subtotals,
Mountain
Units
Valley Units
Antioch
Delta-Mendota...
West Side, San
Joaquin Valley-
Madera
Merced
Los Banos
Modesto
Vernalis
Oakdale
Stockton
lone
Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta .
Subtotals,
Valley L T nits
APPROXI-
MATE
TOTALS,
SAN
JOAQUIN
RIVER
BASIN
APPROXI-
MATE
TOTALS,
CENTRAL
VALLEY
AREA
Gross
irrigable
451,000
962,000
394,000
419,000
1 ,005,000
254,000
3,485,000
3,737.000
12,000
33,800
50,400
5,000
24,500
44,600
37,900
20,100
68,900
62,200
365,000
67,200
72,100
785,000
422,000
463,000
293,000
384,000
82,100
214,000
489,000
150,000
439,000
3,860,900
4,225,000
1 1 ,750,000
Farm
lots
7,600
15,000
6,300
5,400
17,200
3,900
55,400
58,800
200
400
700
300
400
500
300
1,100
800
4.700
1,300
1,000
11,400
6,200
6,100
4,100
r,,300
1,200
3,500
6,900
1,900
6,400
50,300
61,000
166,000
Included Approxi-
nonwater mate net
service i irrigated
area area
56,500
118.000
48,700
47,400
1 25,000
33,600
429,000
387,000
829,000
339,000
366,000
863,000
216,000
3,000,000
157,000 3,221,000
1.300 I 10,500
3,900 29,500
6,200
100
3,800
9,600
5,700
5,100
14,100
10,400
60,200
7,400
7,500
91,000
56,500
70,200
37,600
52,200
8,600
27,500
80,200
33,000
37.400
43,500
4,900
20,400
34,600
31,700
20,700
53,700
51,000
509.000
569,
300,000
58,500
63,600
683,000
359,000
387,000
251,000
320,000
72,300
183,000
402,000
115,000
395,000
3,295,000
3,595,000
1.547.000 10,040,000
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
163
TABLE 109
PROBABLE ULTIMATE AREAS OF IRRIGATED LANDS
WITHIN COUNTIES, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(In acres)
County
Gross
irri-
gable
area
Farm
lots
Included
nonwater
service
area
Approxi-
mate net
irrigated
area
3,900
300
08,000
393,000
98,900
373,000
86.000
91,700
1,470,000
318,000
1,411,000
695,000
78,700
104,000
445,000
47,700
787,000
228.000
25,600
59,500
213,000
133,000
438.000
24,200
822,000
5,200
2 14,000
17,1(10
46,400
227.000
567,000
323,000
223,000
1.017.000
49,100
200
389,000
197,000
100
700
4,300
900
4.300
1,500
1,000
18,900
3,700
18,100
20,900
900
1 ,300
8,000
400
1 1 ,000
2,300
300
600
1,900
1,200
5,900
300
1 1 ,400
100
2,600
600
500
3,200
7,900
4,600
3,200
14,100
700
5,500
2,600
500
13,000
65,400
19,300
48,100
2,100
15.. ".00
181,000
37,000
175,000
74,900
9,500
14,200
55,900
10,400
109.000
27.000
2,900
10,200
36,600
24,100
71,200
3,000
118,000
600
26,300
1 1 ,500
5,100
27,900
78,000
40,200
26,100
119,000
7,800
46,600
34,600
3,300
Alpine-- - —
Amador
Butte
300
54,300
323,000
78,700
321,000
82,400
75,200
1,270,000
Glenn
277,000
1.218,000
599,000
68,300
88,500
Madera -
381,000
36,900
667,000
Modoc ... .
199,000
Napa- ... —
Nevada.
Placer . . . - ..
22,400
48,700
175,000
108,000
Sacrament j-
San Benito
361,000
20,900
693,000
4,500
215,000
35,300
40,800
Solano- . _
Stanislaus- . .
Sutter- . . ._ - -
196,000
481,000
278,000
194,000
Tulare
Tuolumne- _ . -
884,000
40,600
200
Yolo
337,000
160,000
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS, CENTRAL
VALLEY AREA
11,750,000
166,000
1,547,000
10,040,000
An appreciable difference in the average precipita-
tion between the northern and southern ends of the
Central Valley has a profound effect on the require-
ment for irrigation water. Grain, for example, is
successfully produced without irrigation in the Sacra-
mento Valley, whereas irrigation is necessary through-
out most of the San Joaquin River and Tulare Lake
Basins. Temperature differences throughout the Cen-
tral Valley Area also have an appreciable effect on
the water requirement. The short, mild winters and
long, warm growing seasons in the southern portion
of the valley floor permit year-round production of
crops. Potatoes and grain are grown during the win-
ter, and diverse field and truck crops during the sum-
mer season. In the mountain valleys the short grow-
ing seasons generally limit crops to alfalfa or pasture.
Table 113 presents the estimated unit values of mean
seasonal consumptive use of applied irrigation water
and of precipitation on lands devoted to crops of
the various groups.
Unit mean seasonal consumptive use of applied
water on farm lots was estimated to be about 0.5 foot
of depth. Estimates of unit mean seasonal consump-
tive use of precipitation on farm lots varied from
0.5 foot to 2.0 feet in the various hydrographic units
of the Central Valley Area, and averaged about 1.1
feet of depth. These estimates were employed for
both present and probable ultimate conditions of
development.
Urban and Suburban Water Use
Present unit seasonal values of use of water on
urban and suburban water service areas of the Cen-
tral Valley Area were estimated largely on the basis
of available records of delivery of water to the areas,
as compiled by municipalities and other public water
service agencies. Probable ultimate values of water
deliveries were estimated by applying to the present
values derived percentage factors to account for ex-
pected future increase in population densities and in
per capita water use. Table 114 presents the estimates
of present and probable ultimate unit mean seasonal
values of gross water deliveries to and consumptive
use of water in urban and suburban water service
areas.
Use of Water in Other Water Service Areas
Unit values of water use on the miscellany of serv-
ice areas grouped in this category were derived gen-
erally from data on measured or estimated present
deliveries of water to the typical development in-
volved. In most cases the estimates were made in
terms of per capita use of water, and the actual
acreage of the service area was not a significant fac-
tor. In such cases the aggregate amount of water
deliveries is relatively very small, and negligible re-
covery of return flow is involved. For purposes of
study, therefore, the estimated unit values of delivery
of water to these facilities were considered to be also
the measures of consumptive use of applied water.
Both the National Forest and Park Services pro-
vided estimates of present and probable ultimate unit
deliveries of water to all facilities within their juris-
diction. The estimates were generally in terms of per
capita use of water, and were based on actual measure-
ments and experience. They varied widely from place
to place and in type of use, and for this reason are
not detailed herein.
The value of unit use of water by military estab-
lishments was derived on a per capita basis, from
available records of delivery of water, flow through
sewage plants, and estimates of population of the
camps involved. The average daily per capita use at
McClellan Field near Sacramento in 1950-51 was ap-
proximately 190 gallons. It was assumed that this
value will hold in the future.
164
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 110
PROBABLE ULTIMATE PATTERN OF IRRIGATED CROPS, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Alfalfa
Pasture
Orchard
Citrus
Vine-
yard
Truck
crops
Rice
Cotton
Sugar
beets
Hay
and
grain
Miscel-
laneous
field
crops
Approxi-
mate
total
Refer-
ence
number
Name
1
Sacramento River Basin
Mountain Units
10,600
18,000
1,000
5,000
2,000
2,000
18,200
3,000
2,000
9,400
172,000
12,400
5,500
18,400
53,100
21,400
7,500
21,000
8,100
14,000
136,000
71,400
24,400
38,200
13,000
200
200
1,000
600
1,000
2,500
1,000
13,400
11,200
9,000
25,200
1,200
500
1,000
5,000
300
200
100
3,000
3,000
4,900
94,900
9,200
3,400
16,500
35,600
15,400
2,800
11,800
5,800
14,400
12,400
41,000
14,100
17,700
10,200
61,000
200
100
3,100
10,100
13,600
12,100
10,400
13,200
5,700
8,000
25,100
2
Pit River
346,000
3
McCloud River -
21,600
4
Sacramento River above Shasta
9,300
5
West Side, Shasta Dam to Cotton-
36,100
6
East Side, Cow Creek to Paynes
90,300
7
g
Red Bluff to Thomes Creek
44,900
11,300
9
44,900
10
16,400
11
45,000
12
193,000
13
135,000
14
66,700
15
91,800
16
37,400
Subtotals, Mountain Units
Valley Units
17
61,800
3,000
22,200
10,000
35,000
5,000
10,000
40,900
25,500
4,000
7,300
30,000
15,100
37,300
19,000
626,000
11,700
17,900
16,000
12,000
10,000
11,000
35,600
16,000
7,000
26,300
10,000
36,000
13,900
11,000
66,500
1,200
6,500
21,000
9,000
18.000
12,000
22,000
31,300
26,000
20,000
14,100
9,000
10,300
6,500
500
2,000
500
1,000
6,000
1,000
5,000
2,000
4,500
5,000
4,500
6,000
4,500
15,600
4,000
6,600
600
1,000
400
1,000
5.000
12.000
7,000
4,000
12,000
12,000
7,000
8,800
10,000
7,000
20.000
5,000
160,000
68,100
10,000
48,000
33.000
26,000
61,000
10,100
15,000
25,000
1,000
5,000
3,000
65,000
30,000
7,000
29,700
14,400
24,500
20,000
310,000
7,000
15,000
13,700
1 1 ,000
8,800
16,100
30,500
15,000
3,900
17,800
11,200
38,300
12,500
8,200
138,000
26,100
9,000
29,000
11,100
25.000
40,000
9,000
5,000
20,000
12,300
34.100
35,700
10,000
1,215,000
24,500
18
87,700
19
71.700
20
120,000
21
78,900
22
104,000
23
436,000
24
25
Feather River to Butte Slough
Yuba
208,000
64,400
26
164,000
27
157,000
28
196,000
29
143,000
30
Yolo
153,000
Subtotals, Valley Units
APPROXIMATE TOTALS,
SACRAMENTO RIVER
BASIN -
264,000
234,000
207,000
3,500
52,100
83,800
438,000
50,100
209,000
209,000
266,000
2,008,000
326,000
2,000
20,300
1,200
3,500
1,100
860,000
1,800
40,800
2,900
3,300
5,700
273,000
6,200
2,200
2,000
4,000
58,100
2,000
13,000
5,000
1,000
90,400
1,000
13,000
1.000
1,000
438,000
50,100
33,900
9,100
200,000
519,000
3,200
29,200
6,100
3,900
2,700
404,000
3,000
3,223,000
31
32
Tulare Lake Basin
Mountain Units
West Side, Kern County
Kern River and Tehachapi Moun-
10,000
159,000
33
Tule River --
27,500
34
13,700
35
10,500
Subtotals, Mountain Units
Valley Units
Antelope Plain.
36
37
28.100
42,000
106,000
40,000
55,000
70,000
15,000
54,500
18,400
56,500
21,600
11,700
20,600
22,700
10,400
6,000
12,900
9,000
38,000
75,000
15,000
30,300
34,700
20,000
21,000
10,000
45,000
!.->.( Kill
50,000
234,000
16,000
30,000
51,700
20,000
10,800
12,000
5,600
10,000
10,000
43,000
225,000
497,000
140,000
125,000
310,000
130,000
5,000
10,000
8,000
5,600
45,100
25,300
34,700
18,000
21,200
36,900
12,200
3,000
25,100
14.900
20,000
66,200
14,800
221,000
387,000
829,000
38
339.000
39
366,000
40
863,000
41
216,000
Subtotals, Valley Units
APPROXIMATE TOTALS,
TULARE LAKE BASIN_
328,000
152,000
141,000
100,000
384,000
130,000
20,000
1,427,000
28,600
148,000
141,000
5,000,000
356,000
207,000
151,000
100,000
405,000
146,000
20,000
1,470,000
28,600
193,000
144,000
3,221,000
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
TABLE 110— Continued
PROBABLE ULTIMATE PATTERN OF IRRIGATED CROPS, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(In acres)
165
Hydrographic unit
Alfalfa
Pasture
Orchard
Citrus
Vine-
yard
Truck
crops
Rice
Cotton
Sugar
beets
Hay
and
grain
Miscel-
laneous
field
crops
Refer-
ence
number
Name
Approxi-
mate
total
42
San Joaquin River Basin
Mountain Units
Mount Diablo
2,000
7,000
2,000
900
9,100
9,000
4,900
11,400
25,100
16,800
12,200
30,100
26,600
2,600
5,000
4,000
1,000
2,000
8,000
2,200
3,600
8,300
1,000
1,000
5,000
2,000
2,000
3,000
3,100
6,100
6,000
2,000
2,300
2,000
10,000
2,000
1,000
1,000
5,100
10,500
3,900
4,500
2,900
2,100
12,100
7,000
1,000
1,000
100
1,000
1,100
1,800
3,100
10,500
43
44
Altamont to San Luis Creek
West Side, Los Banos Creek to
A venal Creek .
29,500
43,500
45
San Joaquin River _
4,900
46
47
Chowchilla- Fresno River
Merced River..
20,400
34,600
48
Tuolumne River
31,700
49
Stanislaus River
20,700
50
51
Mokelumne-Calaveras Rivers
Cosumnes River
53,700
51,000
Subtotals, Mountain Units
Valley Units
Antioch
52
11,000
15,900
13,000
80,500
36,000
35,000
50,000
51,000
23,300
21,500
56,000
6,000
30,500
146,000
3,000
14,000
34,700
25,200
28,800
15,000
42,000
6,000
15.000
36,900
54,300
25,200
36,700
14,800
5,000
30,000
15,000
27,100
14,000
25,000
6,000
50,500
50,000
4,000
5,700
29,200
2,000
3,000
20,000
35,000
27,000
1,000
36,000
1,000
25,000
63,000
5,000
6,300
6,500
6.000
32,000
5,000
13,000
8,000
15,800
13,000
10,000
29,600
7,000
136,000
5,000
40,500
78,600
40.000
20,400
5.000
15,000
75,000
700
13,000
5,000
361,000
156,000
100,000
75,000
30,900
4,600
3,000
2,800
16,000
3,500
9,800
4,000
3,000
10,000
35,000
49,100
2,700
7,600
32,500
12,900
21,600
10,600
26,500
3,100
7,000
25,100
30,400
111,000
9,100
4,000
10,000
88,900
31,000
39.600
34,000
68,500
10,900
35,500
56,200
8,100
51,000
300,000
58,500
53
Delta-Mendota
63,600
54
55
West Side, San Joaquin Valley
Madera
683,000
359,000
56
Merced
387,000
57
Los Banos
251,000
58
Modesto ...
326,000
59
Vernalis
72,300
60
Oakdale
183,000
61
Stockton.
402,000
62
lone
115,000
63
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Subtotals, Valley Units
APPROXIMATE TOTALS,
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER
BASIN
395,000
419,000
300,000
247,000
218,000
282,000
280,000
728.000
91,700
291,000
438,000
3,295,000
430,000
446,000
284,000
247,000
288.000
280,000
741,000
91,700
340,000
447,000
3,595,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS,
CENTRAL VALLEY
AREA
1,112,000
1,513,000
708,000
104,000
710,000
524,000
738,000
2,261,000
320,000
1,052,000
995,000
10,040,000
The water requirement for milling- of lumber was
determined on the basis of units of production. It
was estimated that the milling process uses one gallon
of water per board-foot of lumber produced, that pulp
processing requires 56,000 gallons per 1,000 board-
feet of chips, and that the manufacture of fiberboard
utilizes 2,300 gallons per 1,000 board-feet of material
processed. In addition to the foregoing, the consump-
tive use of water by evaporation from logging ponds
was estimated to be about 3 acre-feet per 10,000,000
board-feet of lumber produced.
The California Department of Fish and Game, the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and private
individuals operating duck clubs provided informa-
tion on the quantity of water used for migratory
waterfowl refuges and hunting clubs in the Central
Valley Area. Federal and state refuges are operated
throughout the year, and the estimated seasonal con-
sumptive use of water is 3.0 acre-feet per acre. This
figure was based on estimates of total applied water,
which varied from 4.5 acre-feet to 6.0 acre-£«>et per
acre per season. Most private clubs are operated only
during the hunting season, and it was estimated that
the mean seasonal consumptive use of applied water
is 1.0 acre-foot per acre per year.
For other water service areas not encompassed by
the foregoing specific types of water service, unit
values of consumptive use of applied water under
probable ultimate conditions of devlopment were as-
signed on a per capita basis. In such areas, sparse
residential, industrial, and recreational development
is expected in the future. For areas outside national
forests, monuments, and military reservations, it was
estimated that the ultimate population density will
average about eight persons per square mile, and that
per capita consumptive use of water will be about 70
gallons per day. In areas inside national forests,
monuments, and military reservations the same per
capita use estimates were made, but the population
density was assumed to average about four persons
per square mile. The period of water use was assumed
to be of only three months' duration during the sum-
166
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 111
OTHER WATER SERVICE AREAS UNDER PROBABLE ULTIMATE CONDITIONS, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographie unit
Inside national forests, monu-
ments, and military reservations
Outside national forests, monu-
ments, and military reservations
Approximate
total
Reference
number
Name
Above
3,000-foot
elevation
Below
3,000-foot
elevation
Above
3,000-foot
elevation
Below
3,000-foot
elevation
1
Sacramento River Basin
Mountain Units
222,000
1,855,000
248,000
155,000
144,000
88,000
131,000
161,000
156,000
29,500
1,553,000
517.000
52,200
818,000
130,000
53,000
27,400
22,000
10,900
15,900
78,300
116,000
95,800
52,400
65,800
77,300
12,400
977,000
78,400
69,100
91,800
161,000
4,100
43,000
58,200
314,000
30,100
4,400
15,200
700
74,300
32,400
132,000
516,000
452,000
332,000
234,000
305,000
95,800
214,000
177,000
330,000
531,000
286,000
300,000
234,000
2.-
Pit River
3,036,000
3
McCloud River _ __
412,000
4
383,000
5
774,000
6
712,000
7
483,000
8
516,000
9 _
577,000
10
183,000
11 .
214,000
12
2,140,000
13
930,000
14..
653,000
15
1,197,000
16
Putah Creek
361,000
Subtotals, Mountain Units - . . -_
Valley Units
17
6,130,000
745,000
1,859,000
4,071,000
5,900
25,900
52,300
6,800
13,800
5,900
70,200
94,900
5,300
13,400
17,500
10.800
49,900
16,900
12,800,000
5,900
18
19 -
Tehama, ------ - - —
25,900
52,300
20
6,800
21. ___ .
13,800
22
5,900
23
70,200
24..
94,900
25
Yuba
5,300
26
Marysville-Sheridan . _
13,400
27
17,500
28
29
Carmichael _ .
10,800
49,900
30
Yolo
10,900
389,000
389,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS, SACRAMENTO
RIVER BASIN
Tulare Lake Basin
Mountain Units
31
6,130,000
1,282,000
185,000
250,000
872,000
745,000
30,000
23,000
9,400
83,700
1,859,000
19,000
737,000
25,600
59,800
12,200
4,460,000
275,000
605,000
200,000
276,000
206,000
13,190,000
294,000
32
2,654,000
33 .
Tule River .
434,000
34
595,000
35
1,174,000
2,589,000
146,000
854,000
1,562,000
247,000
175,000
36,800
38,600
81,900
600
5,151,000
36
Valley Units
247,000
37
38
39
40
Kern -
Earlimart
Visalia _._ _ _ _
175,000
36,800
38,600
81,900
41
Tulare Lake __.
600
580,000
580,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS, TULARE LAKE
BASIN
2.589,000
146.000
854,000
2,142,000
5,731,000
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
167
TABLE 111 -Continued
OTHER WATER SERVICE AREAS UNDER PROBABLE ULTIMATE CONDITIONS, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Inside national forests, monu-
ments, and military reservations
Outside national forests, monu-
ments, and military reservations
Approximate
total
Reference
number
Name
Above
3,000-foot
elevation
Below
3.000-foot
elevation
Above
3,000-foot
elevation
Below
3,000-foot
elevation
42
San Joaquin River Basin
Mountain Units
898,000
49,600
483,000
770,000
486,000
250,000
104,000
41,800
1,300
41,800
36,100
31,200
2,900
1,000
4,000
85,900
3,600
22,200
15,300
17,300
1,300
87,300
51,100
88,800
445,000
726,000
168,000
319,000
359,000
168,000
159,000
320,000
207,000
89,800
43
449,000
44 ..
812,000
45-
1,112,000
46
392,000
47..
899,000
48--
991,000
49
678,000
50
663,000
51
425,000
3,041,000
155,000
289,000
3,026,000
13,600
1,900
3,000
58,100
54,900
117,000
59,200
3,400
36,800
61,000
121,000
39,000
6,511,000
52
Valley Units
13,600
53
Delta-Mendota -
1,900
54
3,000
55
Madera .. . . . _
58,100
56
Merced . . . . . .
54,900
57
117,000
58
59,200
59
3,400
60
Oakdale _ _. -
30,800
61
Stockton . _. .-
61,000
62
lone . _ _.
121,000
63
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta _ . .
Subtotals, Valley Units
APPROXIMATE TOTALS, SAN JOAQUIN
RIVER BASIN
39,000
569,000
569,000
3,041,000
155,000
289,000
3,595,000
7,080,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS, CENTRAL VALLEY
AREA.
11,760,000
1,046,000
3,002,000
10,200,000
26,010,000
mer for areas above 3,000 feet in elevation, while
water service for areas below 3,000 feet in elevation
was assumed to be throughout the year.
CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER
In general, estimates of the amounts of water con-
sumptively used in the Central Valley Area were
derived by applying appropriate unit values of water
use to the service areas involved. The estimates repre-
sent the seasonal amount of consumptive use of water
under mean conditions of water supply and climate.
Table 115 presents estimates of present consumptive
use of applied water and precipitation in areas having
water service, and Table 116 presents corresponding
estimates for probable ultimate conditions of develop-
ment.
FACTORS OF WATER DEMAND
In addition to the amount of water consumptively
used in a given service area, certain factors relating
to the water requirements, such as necessary rates,
times, and places of delivery of water, quality of
water, losses of water, etc., have to be given consider-
ation in the design of water development works. In
the Central Valley Area the most important of these
demand factors are associated with the supply of
water for irrigation. Of secondary importance are
those related to the supply of water for urban, sub-
urban, recreational, hydroelectric power generation,
and other uses. The demand factors most pertinent
to design of works to meet water requirements of the
Central Valley are discussed in the following sections.
Monthly Distribution of Water Demands
Within the season, the demand for irrigation water
in the Central Valley Area generally varies from
little or none during the winter rainy months to more
than 15 per cent of the seasonal total during dry
summer months. In a portion of the west side of the
San Joaquin Valley, off-season potatoes require the
greatest amounts of irrigation water during the
winter period. Available data indicate that consider-
able variation in water demand also occurs with crop
and soil types, as well as with latitude and elevation
above sea level. Urban water demands, while sub-
168
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 112
SUMMARY OF PROBABLE ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE AREAS, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Refer
ence
num-
ber
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
:;t
35.
Name
Irrigable
lands
Sacramento River
Basin
Mountain Units
Goose Lake
Pit River
McCloud River..
Sacramento River
above Shasta
Dam
West Side, Shasta
Dam to Cotton-
wood Creek
East Side, Cow
Creek to Paynes
Creek
Red Bluff to
Thomes Creek _
Antelope to Mud
Creek
Stony Creek
Butte and Chico
Creeks
Cortina Creek
Feather River
Yuba and Bear
Rivers
Cache Creek
American River
Putah Creek
Subtotals,
Mountain
Units
Valley Units
Anderson-
Cottonwood
Tehama
Vina
Orland
Chico
Arbuckle
Colusa Trough-..
Feather River to
Butte Slough ..
Yuba
Marysville-
Sheridan
Woodland
Carmichael
Dixon
Yolo
Subtotals, Valley
Units
APPROXI-
MATE
TOTALS,
SACRA-
MENTO
RIVER
BASIN ...
Tulare Lake Basin
Mountain Units
West Side, Kern
County
Kern River and
Tehachapi
Mountains
Tule River
Kaweah River
Kings River
Subtotals,
mluin
Units
29,400
400,000
25,100
10,900
41,100
105,000
52,200
13,000
52,700
19,400
52,400
246,000
166,000
77,200
110,000
43,100
Urban
and
suburban
areas
1,444,000
28,400
101,000
82,300
137,000
91,300
119,000
507,000
245,000
74,200
200,000
180,000
236,000
165,000
180,000
2,346,000
3,790,000
11,700
181,000
31,800
15,800
11,900
300
3,900
1,400
2,11(10
Other
water
service
areas
400
1,500
500
100
500
1,200
500
8,900
6,000
2,000
6,400
400
234,000
3,036,000
412,000
383,000
774,000
712,000
483,000
516,000
577,000
183,000
214,000
2,140,000
930,000
653,000
1,197,000
361,000
Approxi-
mate
total
36,000
3,500
2,200
1,800
1,400
5,400
600
2,000
1,800
2,400
3,300
3,500
60,000
2,200
500
90,600
12,800,000
5,900
25,900
52,300
6,800
13,800
5,900
70,200
94,900
5,300
13,400
17,500
10,800
49,900
16,900
389.000
264,000
3,440,000
438,000
396,000
815,000
819,000
536,000
529,000
630,000
204,000
267,000
2.395.000
1,102,000
732,000
1,313,000
405,000
14,280,000
37,800
129,000
136,000
145,000
1 1 1 .000
126,000
579,000
341.000
81,900
217,000
201,000
307.000
217,000
197,000
2,826,000
127,000 13,190,000
100
1,800
400
200
100
252,000
2.600
294,000
2,654,000
434,000
595,000
1,174,000
5,151,000
17,110,000
306,000
5,406,000
Hydrographic unit
Refer-
ence
num-
ber
36.
37.
38.
39.
40-
41.
42 _
43.
44...
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53 _
54.
55.
56.
57.
58_
59.
60_
61.
62.
63 _
Name
Valley Units
Antelope Plain
Kern
Earlimart
Visalia
Fresno-Hanford _ .
Tulare Lake
Subtotals,
Valley Units.
APPROXI-
MATE
TOTALS,
TULARE
LAKE
BASIN. ._
San Joaquin River
Basin
Mountain Units
Mount Diablo
Altamont to San
Luis Creek
West Side, Los
Banos Creek to
Avenal Creek __
San Joaquin River
Chowchilla-Fresno
Rivers
Merced River
Tuolumne River . .
Stanislaus River . .
Mokelumne-Cala-
veras Rivers
Cosumnes River...
Subtotals,
Mountain
Units
Valley Units
Antioch
Delta-Mendota...
West Side, San
Joaquin Valley.
Madera
Merced
Los Banos
Modesto
Vernalis
Oakdale
Stockton
lone
Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta _
Subtotals, Valley
Units
APPROXI-
MATE
TOTALS,
SAN JOA-
QUIN
RIVER
BASIN...
APPROXI-
MATE
TOTALS,
CENTRAL
VALLEY
AREA |ll,750,000
Irrigable
lands
451,000
962,000
394,000
419,000
1,005,000
254,000
Urban
and
suburban
areas
Other
water
service
areas
Approxi-
mate
total
3.-IS.-I.0IMI
3,737,000
12,000
33,800
50,400
5,000
24,500
44,600
37,900
26,100
68,900
62,200
3,000
24.300
3,400
10,600
38,200
1.600
81,100
83.700
247,000
175,000
36,800
38,600
81.900
600
580.000
701,000
1,161,000
434,000
469,000
1,125,000
256,000
4.146,000
5,731,000 9.5.32,000
100 89.800
300 449,000
365,000
67,200
72,100
785,000
422,000
463,000
293,000
384,000
82,100
214,000
489,000
150,000
439,000
500
100
200
800
2,700
1,000
1,700
1.900
3,860,000
4,225,000
9,300
13,600
500
5,100
3,800
5,600
2,700
8,500
600
3,200
24,100
900
2,900
812,000
1,112,000
392,000
899,000
991,000
678,000
663,000
425,000
71,500
80,800
6,511.000
13.600
1,900
3,000
58,100
54,900
117,000
59,200
3,400
36,800
61,000
121,000
102,000
483,000
863,000
1,117,000
417,000
944,000
1,032,000
705,000
734.000
489,000
0,880,000
94,400
74,500
793,000
484,000
523,000
413,000
452,000
86,100
254,000
574,000
272,000
39,000 | 481,000
569,000
7,080,000
292,000 26,010.000
4,501,000
i i ::'.io.ooo
38,050,000
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
169
TABLE 113
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT VALUES OF CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON IRRIGATED LANDS,
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(lr
feet of depth)
Hydrographio unit
Alfalfa
Pasture
Orchard
Citrus
Vineyard
Cotton
Refer-
ence
num-
ber
Name
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipita-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipita-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipita-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipita-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipita-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipita-
tion
Total
1 ...
Sacramento River
Basin
Mountain Units
Goose Lake.
Pit River
1.7
1.4
1.1
1.6
2.8
3.0
1.8
1.6
1.5
1.7
2.5
2.2
2.6
1.5
2.6
1.7
2.6
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.1
2.3
2.5
2.7
2.5
2.7
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.7
2.5
2.6
2.5
3.1
3.3
3.1
2.7
3.1
3.1
3.1
2.9
2.9
2.8
2.9
1.0
1.4
1.7
1.6
1.5
1.5
1.3
1.6
1.2
1.9
1.2
1.4
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.5
1.3
1.4
1.3
1.3
1.2
1.2
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
0.6
0.7
0.8
1.2
0.7
0.5
0.5
0.7
0.9
0.7
0.5
2.8
3.0
3.2
3.3
4.0
3.7
3.9
3.1
3.8
3.6
3.8
3.5
3.5
3.6
3.4
3.6
4.0
4.0
3.9
4.0
3.9
3.8
3.8
3.9
3.9
3.9
3.9
3.7
3.8
3.7
3.7
4.0
3.9
3.9
3.8
3.6
3.6
3.6
3.8
3.5
3.4
1.2
0.8
1.1
1.5
2.3
2.3
2
2.3
3
McCloud River ..
4
Sacramento River
above Shasta
Dam.. ...
West Side, Shasta
Dam to Cotton-
wood Creek. ..
1.4
1.9
3.3
0.9
1.4
1.4
1.5
0.7
1.6
0.9
1.6
2.0
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.4
1.7
1.5
1.7
1.6
1.6
1.7
1.6
1.6
1.6
1.6
1.5
1.6
1.5
1.6
1.6
1.5
1.4
1.7
1.3
1.8
1.3
1.5
1.4
1.4
1.3
1.5
1.6
1.3
1.4
1.3
1.4
1.3
1.2
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.3
2.5
3.0
2.9
2.9
2.4
2.9
2.7
2.9
3.5
2.7
2.7
2.6
2.8
3.0
3.0
2.9
3.0
3.0
2.9
2.9
2.9
2.9
2.9
2.9
2.8
2.9
2.8
5
6
East Side, Cow
Creek to Paynes
Creek
Red Bluff to
Thomes Creek ..
Antelope to Mud
Creek
2.0
2.4
1.7
1.5
3.7
3.9
7
8
9
Stony Creek
Butte and Ghico
Creeks
2.3
1.4
2.4
1.8
1.5
2.2
1.4
1.4
3.8
3.6
3.8
3.2
10
11
( Hitina Creek
Feather River .
Yuba and Bear
Rivers .
12
2.1
1.4
1.3
1.2
3.4
2.6
13
0.9
1.2
2.1
14
Cache Creek-
American River
2.0
1.6
3.6
15
1.0
1.2
2.2
16
Putah Creek
Valley Units
Anderson-Cotton-
wood -
Tehama
Vina
2.0
2.2
2.4
2.3
2.6
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.3
2.5
2.3
2.5
2.3
2.4
2.4
3.1
3.3
3.1
2.7
3.1
3.1
3.1
2.9
2.9
2.8
2.9
1.6
1.8
1.6
1.6
1.4
1.6
1.4
1.3
1.6
1.4
1.6
1.4
1.4
1.4
1.3
0.6
0.7
0.8
1.2
0.7
0.5
0.5
0.7
0.9
0.7
0.5
3.6
4.0
4.0
3.9
4.0
3.9
3.8
3.8
3.9
3.9
3.9
3.9
3.7
3.8
3.7
3.7
4.0
3.9
3.9
3.8
3.6
3.6
3.6
3.8
3.5
3.4
17
0.9
1.2
1.4
1.2
2.3
2.4
18
19
1.8
1.2
3.0
20
Orland
1.8
1.2
3.0
1.2
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.2
1.1
2.5
2.5
1.5
1.2
1.2
1.1
1.0
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.1
1.2
0.6
0.7
0.8
2.4
2.3
2.3
2.3
2.3
2.3
1.4
1.1
2 5
21
( Iiico
22
23
24
Arbuckle
Colusa Trough
Feather River to
Butte Slough ...
Yuba
Marysville-
Sheridan
Woodland
' 'annichael
Dixon
Yolo
1.9
1.7
1.0
1.2
2.9
2.9
1.4
1.4
1.0
1.0
2.4
2.4
25
26
2.3
2.3
2.3
2.3
2.3
3.1
3.2
2.3
27
28
29
1.7
1.1
2.8
30
31
Tulare Lake Basin
Mountain Ljnits
West Side, Kern
County . .
Kern River and Te-
hachapi Moun-
32
2.3
2.1
1.7
2.2
2.3
2.3
2.1
2.0
2.1
0.7
0.8
1.2
0.7
0.5
0.5
0.7
0.9
0.7
3.0
2.9
2.9
2.9
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.9
2.8
2.3
2.1
1.7
0.7
0.8
1.2
3.0
2.9
2.9
2.2
2.0
0.7
0.8
2.9
2.8
33
34
Tule River
Kaweah River
Kings River. . .
Valley Units
Antelope Plain
Kern
Earlimart
35... .
1.5
2.5
2.5
2.3
2.2
2.2
0.7
0.5
0.5
0.7
0.9
0.7
2.2
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.1
2.9
36
37
38
39
2.3
2.1
2.0
2.1
6.5
0.7
0.9
0.7
2.8
2.8
2.9
2.8
2.3
2.3
2.1
1.9
2.0
2.2
0.5
0.5
0.7
0.9
0.7
0.5
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.7
2.7
40
41
Fresno-Hanford
Tulare Lake. ._
170 WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 113-Continued
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT VALUES OF CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON IRRIGATED LANDS,
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(In feet of depth)
Hydrographic unit
Alfalfa
Pasture
Orchard
Citrus
Vineyard
Cotton
Refer-
ence
num-
ber
Name
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipita-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipita-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipita-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipita-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipita-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipita-
tion
Total
42
San Joaquin River
Basin
Mountain Units
Mount Diablo
Altamont to San
Luis Creek.
West Side, Los
Banos Creek to
Avenal Creek
San Joaquin River
Chowchilla-Fresno
2.6
2.9
2.9
1.2
0.8
0.8
3.8
3.7
3.7
2.7
2.9
2.9
2.5
2.7
2.2
2.3
2.6
2.5
1.9
2.8
2.9
3.1
2.9
2.8
3.0
2.7
2.9
2.6
2.5
2.7
2.6
1.1
0.8
0.8
1.1
1.1
1.3
1.5
1.2
1.4
1.6
0.9
0.8
0.5
0.8
1.0
0.7
1.0
0.9
1.1
1.2
1.0
0.9
3.8
3.7
3.7
3.6
3.8
3.5
3.8
3.8
3.9
3.5
3.7
3.7
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.7
3.7
3.8
3.7
3.7
3.7
3.5
1.7
2.0
2.0
1.5
1.7
1.4
1.3
1.3
1.5
1.1
1.9
2.1
2.3
2.0
1.9
2.1
1.8
2.0
1.7
1.5
1.8
1.4
1.2
0.8
0.8
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.5
0.7
1.4
1.6
0.9
0.8
0.5
0.8
1.0
0.7
1.0
0.9
1.1
1.3
1 .1
1.1
2.9
2.8
2.8
2.7
2.9
2.6
2.8
2.0
2.9
2.7
2.8
2.9
2.8
2.8
2.9
2.8
2.8
2.9
2.8
2.8
2.9
2.5
1.2
1.1
2.3
43
44
2.4
0.8
3.2
2.3
0.8
3.1
45
46
1.2
1.0
0.9
1.2
1.1
0.9
1 .4
1.5
2.5
2.1
1.3
1.6
1.2
1.4
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.0
1.2
1.4
1. 1
1.2
1.3
0.9
0.8
0.5
0.8
1.0
0.7
1.0
0.9
1.1
1.1
1.1
2.2
2.2
2.3
2.3
2.3
2.2
2.3
2.3
3.0
2.9
2.3
2.3
2.2
2.3
2.3
2.3
2.3
1.9
1.7
1.1
1.4
3.0
47
3.1
48
49
50
Mokelumne-Cala-
51
52
Valley Units
Antioeh
Delta-Mendota
West Side, San Joa-
quin Valley
Madera
Merced
Los Banos
Modesto
Vernalis
Oakdale. -
Stockton
lone
Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta _ _
2.8
2.9
3.1
2.9
2.8
3.0
2.7
2.9
2.6
2.4
2.6
2.4
0.9
0.8
0.5
0.8
1.0
0.7
1.0
0.9
1.1
1.3
1.1
1.1
3.7
3.7
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.7
3.7
3.8
3.7
3.7
3.7
3.5
54
1.6
2.3
1.7
1.4
1.7
1.4
0.8
0.5
0.8
1.0
0.7
1.0
2.4
2.8
55
56
57
58
59
2.0
0.8
2.8
2.5
2.4
2.4
2.4
60
61
62
1.8
1.1
2.9
63
Hydrographic unit
Rice
Truck crops
Hay and grain
Miscellaneous field
crops
Sugar beets
Refer-
ence
number
Name
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
1... _.
Sacramento River Basin
Mountain Units
Goose Lake
0.5
0.4
0.4
0.5
0.8
0.8
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.6
1.6
1.7
1.7
2.0
2.0
1.0
0.7
0.8
1.0
0.4
0.7
0.5
0.3
0.5
0.3
0.7
0.3
0.8
0.5
0.6
0.4
1.0
1.2
1.3
1.1
1.3
1.2
1.2
1.3
1.2
1.7
1.1
1.1
1.0
1.1
1.1
1.2
2.0
1.9
2.1
2.1
1.7
1.9
1.7
1.6
1.7
2.0
1.8
1.4
1.8
1.6
1.7
1.6
0.6
0.5
1.1
1.2
1.7
1.7
2
Pit River
3
McCloud River _ _ _
4
Sacramento River above Shasta Dam
0.6
0.9
1.2
1.2
1.8
2.1
5
West Side, Shasta Dam to Cottonwood
Creek
r>
East Bide, ( !ow Creek to Paynes Creek.
Red Bluff to Thomes Creek
7
1.0
1.2
2.2
8
Antelope to Mud Creek
9
Stonv Creek . .
1.0
1.0
2.0
10
Butte and < !hico Creeks
0.5
1.5
2.0
11
' lortina ' 'reek
1.0
0.8
1.0
0.8
0.9
0.7
1.1
1.2
1.1
1.2
1.1
1.2
2.1
2.0
2.1
2.0
2.0
1.9
12
Feather River
13
Yuba and Bear Rivers ...
0.8
0.8
1.1
1.1
1.9
1.9
14
Cache Creek..
Lg
American River . _
16
Putah Creek
0.7
1.1
1.8
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
171
TABLE 113-Continued
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT VALUES OF CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON IRRIGATED LANDS,
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(1
n feet of depth)
Hydrographic unit
Rice
Truck crops
Hay and grain
Miscellaneous field
crops
Sugar beets
Refer-
ence
number
Name
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
17 ...
Sacramento River Basin — Continued
Valley Units
0.8
0.9
0.8
0.9
0.8
0.9
0.9
0.8
0.9
0.8
0.9
0.8
0.9
0.7
1.1
0.9
1.2
0.8
1.2
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.0
1.0
1.1
1.0
1.1
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.1
0.6
0.7
0.8
1.1
2.0
2.0
1.9
2.0
1.9
1.9
1.9
1.9
1.9
1.9
1.9
1.8
1.9
1.8
1.7
1.6
2.0
1.9
0.4
0.6
0.5
0.6
0.5
0.5
0.6
0.6
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.7
0.6
1.3
0.9
1.3
0.8
0.8
0.6
0.5
0.6
0.8
0.3
0.3
0.5
1.3
1.1
1.2
1.1
1.2
1.1
1.0
1.1
1.0
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.1
0.6
0.7
0.8
1.1
0.7
0.5
0.5
0.7
0.9
0.7
0.5
1.1
0.8
0.8
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.6
1.6
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.6
1.6
1.6
1.6
1.3
1.3
2.1
2.0
2.0
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.4
1.3
1.3
1.4
1.1
1.3
0.9
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.1
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.9
1.3
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.0
1.0
1.1
1.0
1.1
1.0
1.0
1.0
1. 1
2.2
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.0
2.0
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
18
19_
1.5
1.2
2.7 |
20
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.1
1.1
1.1
1.0
1.0
1.1
1.0
1.1
1.0
1.0
5.2
5.2
5.1
5.1
5.2
5.1
5.2
5.1
5.1
21
1.6
1.5
1.6
1.6
1.3
1.6
1.6
1.5
1.6
1.5
1.0
2.7
22
2.6
23
24
25
Colusa Trough
Feather River to Butte Slough
2.6
2.7
2.4
26
27
28
29
Marysville-Sheridan
Woodland
Carmichael
2.7
2.7
2.6
2.7
30.
Yolo
4.1
1.1
5.2
2.6
31
Tulare Lake Basin
Mountain Units
West Side, Kern County. _
32
Kern River and Tehachapi Mountains _
Tule River...
1.5
0.7
2.2
33
34
Kaweah River .
35
Kings River. _ .
36
Valley Units
Antelope Plain
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.7
0.8
1.0
0.7
0.8
0.7
0.5
0.5
0.7
0.9
0.7
0.5
1.1
0.8
0.8
1.5
1.5
1.2
1.6
1.5
1.5
1.8
1.6
1.5
1.6
1.5
1.3
1.2
1.3
1.5
0.9
0.5
0.5
0.7
0.9
0.7
0.5
1.1
2.1
2.0
2.0
2.1
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
1.8
1.6
1.7
1.9
0.5
0.5
0.7
0.9
0.7
0.5
2.5
37
Kern _ _
2.5
38
Earlimart
2 5
39
2 5
40
41
Fresno- Hanford
4.1
4.1
0.7
0.5
4.8
4.6
2.4
2 4
42
San Joaquin River Basin
Mountain Units
Mount Diablo
43
Altamont to San Luis Creek
44
West Side, Los Banos Creek to Avenal
Creek .
1.2
0.8
2.0
45
San Joaquin River .
46
Chowchilla-Fresno Rivers
0.8
0.6
0.6
1.1
1.3
1.3
1.9
1.9
1.9
0.9
0.7
0.8
1.3
0.9
0.6
0.4
0.5
1.2
0.5
0.4
0.6
0.4
0.5
0.3
0.3
0.4
1.5
1.1
1.3
1.2
0.7
1.2
1.3
0.9
0.8
0.5
0.8
1.0
0.7
1.0
0.9
1.1
1.3
1.1
1.1
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.1
1.9
1.3
1.3
1.7
1.3
1.4
1.3
1.4
1.4
1.4
1.6
1.5
2.6
0.9
1.1
2.0
47
Merced River.. . _
48
Tuolumne River
0.8
1.7
0.9
0.6
1.1
1.2
1.5
1.2
1.0
1.3
1.0
1.2
0.9
0.8
1.0
2.0
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.3
0.9
0.8
0.5
0.8
1.0
0.7
1.0
0.9
1.1
1.2
1.1
0.9
2.0
2.9
2.1
1.9
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.1
2.0
2.0
2.1
2.9
49
Stanislaus River
50
Mokelumne-Calaveras Rivers .
51
Cosumnes River __ _ _
52
San Joaquin River Basin
Valley Units
Antioch __
4.1
0.9
5.0
0.9
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.8
1.1
0.8
0.9
0.7
0.9
0.8
1.5
0.9
0.8
0.5
0.8
1.0
0.7
1.0
0.9
1.1
0.9
1.1
1.0
1.8
1.8
1.5
1.8
1.8
1.8
1.8
1.8
1.8
1.8
1.9
2.5
1.7
1.8
2.0
1.8
1.6
1.9
1.6
1.8
1.5
1.4
0.9
0.8
0.5
0.8
1.0
0.7
1.0
0.9
1.1
1.2
2 6
53
Delta-Mendota _ _
2 6
54
55
West Side, San Joaquin Valley
Madera .. ._ _
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.1
0.5
0.8
1.0
0.7
1.0
0.9
1.1
1.2
4.6
4.9
5.1
4.8
5.1
5.0
5.2
5.3
2.5
2 6
56
Merced. .
2 6
57
58
Los Banos
Modesto _
2.6
2 6
59
Vernalis
2.7
2 6
50
Oakdale
51
Stockton . _
2.6
52
lone ...
53
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
4.1
1.1
5.2
1.7
1.1
2.8
172
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OP CALIFORNIA
stantially higher in summer than in winter months,
are far more uniform throughout the season than are
those for irrigation. They vary from four to six per
cent of the seasonal total during the months of
December through March, to over 10 per cent from
June through September. Representative data on
monthly distribution of irrigation and urban water
demands in the Central Vallev Area are presented in
Table 117.
Irrigation Water Service Area Efficiency
In the study of irrigation water requirements of
the Central Valley Area it was found to be desirable
to estimate the over-all efficiency of irrigation prac-
tice in the various service areas. Irrigation water
service area efficiency was measured by the ratio of
consumptive use of applied irrigation water to the
gross amount of irrigation water delivered to a
service area. Present irrigation water service area
efficiencies were estimated after consideration of geo-
logic conditions of the service areas involved, their
topographic position in relation to sources of water
supply and to other service areas, consumptive use
of water, irrigation efficiency, usable return How, and
urban and suburban sewage outflow.
Extensive data concerning present irrigation prac-
tices in the Central Valley Area are available, and
provided the basis for the estimates of water service
area efficiencies which were formulated during the
current study. Data on seasonal quantities of surface
water diverted by present water service agencies are
available from records maintained by these agencies,
and from data compiled by the Sacramento-San Joa-
quin Water Supervision, an activity of the State
Division of Water Resources. Irrigation efficiencies
were computed by comparing recorded surface diver-
sions of water with calculated consumptive use values
for the areas served by various operating agencies.
It was indicated that the irrigation efficiencies range
from 40 to 65 per cent for most areas on the valley
floor, and are about 50 per cent in the areas lying
at higher elevations.
Studies conducted by the Division of Water Re-
sources in Sutter and Yuba Counties and in San
Joaquin County resulted in the conclusion that irriga-
tion efficiencies are somewhat higher when water
supplies are obtained by pumping from "round water
storage. In the Sutter- Yuba area during 1947-1948
the irrigation efficiency was approximately 48 per
cent. In San Joaquin County the average irrigation
efficiency attained with water supplies obtained from
ground water during the 1948-49 season was approxi-
mately 52 per cent. Data available from records of
power consumption by agricultural loads in the west
side of (he San Joaquin Valley in Fresno and Merced
Counties, for 1948-49, indicate that the average irri-
gation efficiency was approximately 60 per cent.
As a result of the analysis, irrigation water service]
area efficiencies for various portions of the Central
Valley Area under present conditions were found
to range from 40 to 90 per cent, with the higher effi-
ciencies occurring in areas principally supplied by
development of the ground water resources. It was
estimated that ultimate efficiencies would be some-
what higher, as a result of anticipated improved agri-
cultural technology. Additional factors affecting the
estimates of probable ultimate irrigation water serv-
ice area efficiencies were related to the location and
extent of presently undeveloped irrigable lands, as
well as the increased costs of water development.
For purposes of illustration, the weighted mean
values of all irrigation water service area efficiencies
within each hydrographic unit of the Central Valley
Area are presented in Table 118.
WATER REQUIREMENTS
As the term is used in this bulletin, water require-
ments refer to the amounts of water needed to pro-
vide for all beneficial uses of water and for irrecover-
able losses incidental to such uses. Those water
requirements of the Central Valley Area that are
primarily nonconsumptive in nature are discussed
in general terms in the ensuing section. Following
this, water requirements that are consumptive in
nature are evaluated, both for present and for prob-
able ultimate conditions of development.
Requirements of a Nonconsumptive Nature
The principal water requirements of a noncon-
sumptive nature in the Central Valley Area are asso-
ciated with the preservation and propagation of fish
and wildlife, flood control, salinity repulsion from
the delta, navigation, and hydroelectric power. For
the most part, such requirements for water are ex-
tremely difficult to evaluate other than in conjunc-
tion with definite plans for water resource develop-
ment. Their consideration in this bulletin, therefore,
is limited to discussion of their implications as re-
lated to planning for future development of water
resources.
Fish and Wildlife. The Central Valley Area is of
primary importance to hunting and fishing in Cali-
fornia. The spawning areas in the streams and the
numerous wild fowl refuges also contribute greatly
to the maintenance of these sports throughout the
Pacific Coast. A significant contribution to the econ-
omy of the State is made through expenditures by
fishermen and hunters, and through returns to com-
mercial fisheries. The recreational resources of the
area are particularly attractive to residents of crowded
metropolitan areas, many of whom come to the Cen-
tral Valley Area for hunting, fishing, and general
recreation. Most of the many species of fish and game
present in California can be found in this area.
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
173
TABLE 114
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT VALUES OF WATER DELIVERY AND CONSUMPTIVE USE
OF WATER IN URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(In feet of depth)
Hydrographic unit
Present
Probable
ultimate
Hydrographic unit
Present
Probable
ultimate
Refer-
ence
num-
ber
Name
Gross
delivery
Con-
sump-
tive use
of
applied
water
Gross
delivery
Con-
sump-
tive use
of
applied
water
Refer-
ence
num-
ber
Name
Gross
delivery
Con-
sump-
tive use
of
applied
water
Gross
delivery
Con-
sump-
tive use
of
applied
water
Sacramento River Basin
Mountain Units
Goose Lake
Pit River. . _
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.9
0.9
1.3
0.5
0.5
0.8
0.8
1.6
1.2
0.7
0.9
0.8
2.6
1.3
0.9
1.4
0.7
1.5
1.0
1.2
0.7
0.8
0.8
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.5
0.5
0.7
0.3
0.3
0.4
0.4
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.5
0.4
1.3
0.7
0.5
0.7
0.4
0.8
0.5
0.6
0.4
0. t
0.4
1.8
1.8
1.8
1.8
2.4
2.4
2.6
2.4
2.6
2.2
2.6
1.8
2.4
2.4
2.4
2.4
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.6
2.6
2.8
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.4
2.4
2.4
2.8
2.6
2.6
0.9
0.9
0.9
0.9
1.2
1.2
1.3
1.2
1.3
1.1
1.3
0.9
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.4
1.4
1.4
1.4
1.4
1.3
1.3
1.4
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.4
1.3
1.3
34
35
36... _
37
38
39
40
41
12
43
44
45
46. _.
47
48
49....
50..
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
Mountain Units — Continued
0.8
0.8
1.8
2.2
2.2
2.5
2.8
0.7
0.8
0.9
0.8
0.8
0.9
0.5
0.5
1.9
0.7
0.1
2.5
1.6
1.3
2.0
1.1
1.0
1.9
0.6
1.3
0.4
0.4
0.9
1.1
1.1
1.3
1.4
0.4
0.4
0.5
0.4
0.4
0.5
0.3
0.3
1.0
0.4
0.1
1.3
0.8
0.7
1.0
0.6
0.5
1.0
0.3
0.7
2.6
2.6
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.4
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.4
2.6
2.8
2.8
2.6
2.6
2.8
2.6
2.8
2.6
2.4
2.4
2.4
1.3
1
1.3
2
Valley Units
3
4 ...
Sacramento River above
1 .4
1.4
5
West Side, Shasta Dam to
1.4
1.4
6
East Side, Cow Creek to
1.4
1 4
7
8
9
Red Bluff to Thomes Creek
Antelope to Mud Creek
San Joaquin River Basin
Mountain LTnits
Mount Diablo
10
Butte and Chico Creeks
1 3
11
Altamont to San Luis Creek-
West Side, Los Banos
Creek to A venal Creek.
1 3
12
13
14
Yuba and Bear Rivers
Cache Creek ..
1.3
1 2
15
Chowchilla-Fresno Rivers..
1 3
16....
Putah Creek..
1 3
Valley Units
Anderson-Cottonwood .
Tehama. .
Tuolumne River.
1.3
1.3
17
18.._-
Mokelumne-Calaveras
1 3
19
Vina
1 2
20
Valley Units
21
Chico ...
22
Arbuckle . _ . _ _ .
1 3
23
Colusa Trough.. . .
1 4
24
25
FeatherRiverto Butte Slough
Yuba
West Side, San Joaquin
Valley
1 4
26....
Marysville-Sheridan
Woodland _
1 3
27
1.3
1 4
28
Carmichael..
29
Dixon .
1.3
1 4
30
Yolo
Tulare Lake Basin
Mountain Units
West Side, Kern County
Kern River and Tehachapi
Mountains _
Oakdale
1.3
Stockton ...
1.2
lone ..
1.2
31
32...
Sacramento-San Joaquin
Delta.. ...
1.2
33
Tule River..
The anadromous fishes found in the Central Valley
Area include striped bass, king salmon, steelhead,
shad, and sturgeon. A major portion of their lives is
spent in the ocean, although they return to fresh
water to spawn. With the exception of steelhead, the
bulk of the anadromous fishes of the State is pro-
duced in the Sacramento-San Joaquin river system.
Virtually all of the striped bass caught in California
are produced in this area, as are 70 per cent of the
salmon. Tn addition, salmon from the Central Valley
Area are caught at sea along the coasts of Oregon.
Washington, and British Columbia. The California
Department of Fish and Game estimates the mini-
mum animal value of these anadromous fishes to be
$27,500,000 in the Central Valley Area, based upon
sportsmen's expenditures and receipts of commercial
fishermen.
The fishery for these species is concentrated in the
Delta area, and in that portion of the Sacramento
River and its tributaries that lie in the valley or low
foothills. The San Joaquin River and its tributaries,
once of great importance to salmon spawning, are of
little value to these fisheries at the present time due
to insufficient stream flow.
Trout provide the principal form of angling in the
numerous streams and lakes of the mountainous por-
tions of the Central Valley Area. Rainbow trout are
the most numerous, but eastern brook trout are plen-
tiful at higher elevations. Golden trout, the Califor-
nia State fish, are found in the high lakes and streams
174
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
from Yosemite National Park south through the Kern
River. Brown trout are also taken in many streams
and lakes in the area, particularly those at lower
elevations.
The lakes, streams, and reservoirs of the foothill
areas and of the valley support populations of black
bass, crappies, catfish, and other warm-water fishes.
Clear Lake, in Lake County, and the Sacramento-San
TABLE 115
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS,
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Irrigated lands
Farm
lots
Urban and
suburban
areas
Unclassified
areas
Approximate
Refer-
Name
total
consumptive
ence
number
Applied water
Precipitation
Applied water
Applied water
Applied water
use of
applied water
1
Sacramento River Basin
Mountain Units
10,800
109,000
2,800
2,400
2,400
8,200
1,600
1,100
2,000
88,700
42,300
13,900
35,300
4,700
8,300
136.000
3,200
2,400
2,300
6,400
2,500
600
3,800
104,000
30,100
11,900
33,300
4,500
100
600
600
200
100
200
500
300
400
100
300
300
3,800
1,300
300
1,300
100
1,000
100
200
100
600
300
200
300
100
3,500
1,900
200
800
10,900
2
Pit River
111,000
3
McCloud River .
3,200
4
3,000
5
6
West Side, Shasta Dam to Cottonwood Creek.
2,600
9,100
7
Red Bluff to Thomes Creek
300
8
1,800
9
1,400
10
2,400
11
12
96,600
13
45.700
14
14,500
15
37,600
16
Putah Creek
4,800
325,000
40,100
30,800
34,400
79,500
90,600
41,900
717,000
292,000
100,000
142,000
161,000
104,000
45,900
150.000
349,000
25,700
18,300
28,700
42,700
40,100
26,500
245,000
126,000
54,000
71,200
70,000
57,600
29,600
63,700
1,800
100
400
300
600
400
400
2,000
1,100
400
700
700
800
600
600
8,700
2,000
800
600
500
2,200
300
1,000
800
1,300
1,100
2,400
28,800
1,200
200
9,300
700
44,200
13,500
700
2,000
100
345,000
42,200
17
Valley Units
18
Tehama
32,000
19
35,300
20
Orland
80,600
21
Chico -__-- . .
93,900
22
42,600
23
Colusa Trough . .
764,000
24
Feather River to Butte Slough _ _.
307,000
25
Yuba
102,000
26
144,000
27
Woodland
164,000
28
136,000
29
47,700
30
Yolo
151,000
2,029,000
899,000
9,100
43,200
61,200
2,142,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS, SACRAMENTO
RIVER BASIN
2,354,000
23,800
3,500
300
2,300
1,248,000
7,200
1,100
100
700
10,900
100
51,900
200
100
70,500
400
200
100
400
2,487,000
31
Tulare Lake Basin
Mountain Units
32
33
Kern River and Tehachapi Mountains. _
Tule River
24.500
3,800
34
400
35
2,700
Subtotals, Mountain Units .
Valley Units
36.
29,900
55,100
958,000
303,000
523,000
1,455,000
256,000
9,100
18,100
230,000
106,000
214,000
510,000
93,500
100
1,900
5,200
1,700
2,700
7,300
1,900
300
600
16,900
1,700
7,400
27,300
400
1,100
1,400
700
31,400
58,000
37
982,000
38...
306,000
39
Visalia .. . _.
533,000
40
Fresno-Hanford _
1,490,000
tl
Tulare Lake..
258,000
Subtotals, Valley Units .. _
3,550,000
1,172,000
20,700
54,300
2,100
3,627,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS, TULARE
LAKE BASIN
3,580,000
1,181,000
20,800
54,600
3,200
3,658,000
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
175
TABLE 115— Continued
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS,
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Irrigated lands
Farm
lots
Urban and
suburban
areas
Unclassified
areas
Approximate
total
consumptive
Refer-
Name
ence
number
Applied water
Precipitation
Applied water
Applied water
Applied water
use of
applied water
42
San Joaquin River Basin
Mountain Units
2,000
6,200
1,000
1,400
2,300
2,100
3,000
400
1,200
2,700
500
900
2,100
1,000
1,800
400
100
100
400
200
300
300
500
200
2,200
700
700
900
600
43
44
45
West Side, Los Banos Creek to Avenal Creek
2,000
6,800
46 .
1,200
47
3,700
48
3,400
49
3,000
50
4,200
51
1,300
18,400
103,000
24,800
566,000
317,000
398,000
401,000
394,000
114,000
289,000
321,000
9,000
619,000
10,600
47,200
16,100
185,000
134,000
184,000
134,000
236,000
50,500
157,000
209,000
4,900
410,000
100
600
300
3,900
1,900
2,900
1,500
3,100
600
1,300
2,700
700
3,100
1,300
2,600
100
3,300
3,700
1,100
5,000
200
1,600
12,200
100
700
5,800
100
3.600
21,500
100
25,600
52
Valley Units
106,000
53
Delta-Mendota. ... .. . _
25,100
54
570,000
55
Madera ______
322,000
56
408,000
57
425,000
58
402,000
59
60
61
62
Vernalis _
Oakdale
Stockton
115,000
292,000
336,000
9,800
63
623,000
Subtotals, Valley Units ..
3,556,000
1,768,000
22,600
30,600
25,300
3,634,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS, SAN JOAQUIN
RIVER BASIN
3,574,000
1,779,000
22,700
31,900
31,100
3,660,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS, CENTRAL
VALLEY AREA
9,508,000
4,208,000
54,400
138,000
105,000
9,805,000
Joaquiu Delta are especially important to warm-water
fishing. Irrigation canals and farm ponds also provide
significant numbers of these fish.
The great Central Valley is the most important
waterfowl area in California, and in addition plays
an important role in the welfare of waterfowl on the
entire Pacific Flyway. It is used mainly as a winter-
ing area, and to a lesser degree for breeding. Approx-
imately 3,500.000 ducks and geese are found in the
valley each winter, and an average of 115,000 birds
are produced there annually. The California Depart-
ment of Fish and Game and the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service maintain several waterfowl
refuges and management areas in the area.
The Central Valley Area far exceeds the other
parts of the State in opportunities for deer hunting.
An estimated deer population of almost 500,000 pro-
vides about one-half of the annual deer take of Cali-
fornia. Black bear are numerous in some localities,
and the Central Valley Area also supports several
herds of antelope. These latter are hunted only when
census figures indicate that such hunting is desirable.
Two small herds of elk, and a band of Sierra Nevadan
bighorn sheep for which hunting is prohibited, are of
particular interest to naturalists. Upland game birds
consist of ring-necked pheasants, quail, and mourning
doves. Sage hens and chukar partridges, when their
hunting is permitted, and band-tailed pigeons also
provide sport in local areas. Among the upland game
mammals are cottontail, brush, and jack rabbits, and
tree squirrels.
The quantities of water required to maintain or
enhance these resources vary among the different
groups. Auadromous fishes, particularly salmon and
steelhead which spawn farther upstream than the
others, require substantial flows of water in order that
they can spawn successfully, and that the eggs can
hatch. Such flows of water are necessary principally
during the fall and winter months. At low dams or
other barriers to migration, fishways are necessary in
order that the migrant fishes can cross the barriers.
Such fishways require a flow of water for their suc-
cessful operation.
Resident fishes usually require smaller quantities
of flowing water, but the requirement is year-round
rather than seasonal. Flowing streams are needed
176
WATER UTILIZATION x\ND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
throughout the year to insure satisfactory food pro-
duction and spawning conditions for trout. In fluc-
tuating reservoirs it is necessary to establish mini-
mum pool elevations, so that fish populations will
have sufficient water to support them at all times.
Water requirements for ducks and geese are sub-
stantial, and occur mainly during the fall and winter
months. It is probable that much of the fresh water
required to maintain waterfowl habitat in the future
will be available from waste and return flows,
TABLE 116
PROBABLE MEAN SEASONAL CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE AREAS,
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydro-graphic unit
Irrigated lands
Farm
lots
Urban and
suburban
areas
Other water
service areas
Approximate
Refer-
Name
total
consumptive
ence
number
Applied water
Precipitation
Applied water
Applied water
Applied water
use of
applied water
1
Sacramento River Basin
Mountain Units
39,700
398,000
26,000
13,000
54,200
144,000
78,500
12,800
75,300
17,800
66.900
361,000
216,000
94,600
134.000
47,200
26,300
458,000
33,100
13,000
50,900
125,000
55,900
17.400
52,500
29,800
51,200
240.000
162.000
83,800
114.000
47,100
100
2,100
100
100
200
500
300
100
300
100
300
1,500
900
500
700
200
300
3.500
1,300
1,800
500
1,800
700
100
700
1,300
700
8,000
7,200
2.400
7,700
500
14,000
500
600
800
1,200
900
600
1,000
200
200
12,400
15,100
1,000
4,600
400
40,100
2
Pit River -- . ..
418.000
3
McCloud River _ _
27,900
4
15,500
5
6
7
West Side, Shasta Dam to Cottonwood Creek .
East Side Cow Creek to Paynes Creek _
Red Bluff to Thomas Creek _ .
55,700
147,000
80,400
8
13,600
9
77,300
10
19,400
11
68 100
12
383,000
13
239,000
14
98,500
15
147,000
16
48,300
1,779,000
41,700
147,000
108,000
227,000
164,000
158,000
1,101,000
507,000
127,000
372,000
341,000
343,000
227,000
391,000
1,566,000
36,200
112,000
96,400
148,000
97,600
116,000
461,000
252,000
76,800
194,000
180,000
223,000
169,000
176,000
8,000
200
700
600
800
1,200
700
2,900
1,500
600
1,200
1,100
1,400
1,200
1,000
38,500
4,900
3,100
2,500
2,000
7,600
800
2,600
2,500
3,100
4,300
4,600
72,000
2,600
600
53,500
700
117,000
38,500
1,400
2,000
100
1.879,000
46,800
17 .
Valley Units
18
151 000
19
20 .
Vina .
1 1 1 ,000
230 000
21
174 000
22..
159,000
23.
1,223,000
550,000
132,000
24 .
25...
Yuba
26
377,000
27
347,000
28. _.
418 000
29
231,000
30
Yolo
393,000
4,255,000
2,338,000
15,100
113,000
160,000
4,543,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS, SACRAMEN-
TO RIVER BASIN
6,034,000
20,000
350,000
48,200
26,400
26.200
3,904,000
6,000
118,000
25,100
15,800
6,800
23,100
100
1,200
200
100
100
152,000
100
2,300
500
300
100
213,000
300
1,800
500
500
1,000
6,422,000
20 500
31
Tulare Lake Basin
Mountain Units
32
355 000
33
Tule River
49,400
27,300
27 400
34
35
Subtotals, Mountain Units
471,000
844,000
1,911,000
707,000
732,000
1,763,000
484,000
172,000
193,000
423,000
237,000
322,000
647,000
108,000
1,700
3,800
7,500
3,100
3,300
8,600
1,900
3,300
4,200
34,000
4,800
14,800
53,500
2,200
4,100
16,400
700
480,000
36. __ .
Valley Units
Antelope Plain ._ .
852,000
37
1,969,000
715 000
38
Earlimart ...
39
Visalia..
750 000
40
Fresno-Hanford _ . _. ....
1 826,000
41..
Tulare Lake . _ .
488 000
Subtotal*, Valley Units
6,441,000
1,930.000
28,200
114,000
17,100
6,600,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS, TULARE
LAKE BASIN...
6,912,000
2,102,000
29,900
117,000
21,200
7,080,000
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
177
TABLE 116— Continued
PROBABLE MEAN SEASONAL CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE AREAS,
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Irrigated lands
Farm
lots
Urban and
suburban
areas
Other water
service areas
Approximate
Refer-
Name
total
consumptive
ence
number
Applied water
Precipitation
Applied water
Applied water
Applied water
use of
applied water
42
San Joaquin River Basin
Mountain Units
Mount Diablo .
15,900
61,500
82,700
12,300
46,200
63,700
54,100
43,900
98,800
71,400
12,000
23,600
35,600
5,400
18,600
44,900
46,600
23,100
71,100
68,800
100
200
300
100
200
300
100
600
400
100
400
700
100
300
1,000
3,500
1,300
2,200
2,300
100
400
800
1,300
500
4,300
1,200
1,600
1,600
1,000
16,200
62 500
43. -
44
45..
West Side, Los Banos Creek to Avenal Creek
84,500
13 700
46
47,100
69,200
59,100
46,900
47.
48
49
Stanislaus River
50
Mokelumne-Calaveras Rivers
103,000
51
Cosumnes River
75,100
550,000
126,000
123,000
1,517,000
758,000
813,000
581,000
556,000
153,000
321,000
789,000
201,000
668,000
350,000
52,600
50,900
341,000
302,000
379,000
186,000
342,000
62,900
201,000
490,000
121,000
424,000
2,300
700
500
5,700
3,100
3,100
2,000
3,100
600
1,800
3,500
1,000
3,200
11,900
17,700
700
7,100
4,900
7,300
3,800
11,000
800
4,200
29,000
1,100
3,500
12,800
5,000
15,000
34,000
100
577,000
144,000
124,000
1,530 000
52
Valley Units
53
54
West Side, San Joaquin Valley
55
Madera .- .
771,000
838,000
621 000
56
57
Los Banos. .
58
Modesto . .
570 000
59
Vernalis _ .
154 000
60
Oakdale . _
327 000
61
822 000
62.
lone. _ _
203,000
675,000
63
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Subtotals, Valley Units
6,606,000
2,952,000
28,300
91,100
54,100
6,779:000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS, SAN
JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN..
7,156,000
3,302,000
30,600
103,000
66,900
7,356,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS, CENTRAL
VALLEY AREA
20,100,000
9,308,000
83,600
372 000
301,000
20,860,000
although additional supplies may be needed. The im-
portance of providing water for these natural re-
sources was recently recognized with the passage by
Congress of the Grasslands Water Bill, which will
provide water from the Central Valley Project, when
available, for flooding about 100,000 acres on the west
side of the San Joaquin Valley. The flooded area will
be operated as a fall and winter waterfowl concen-
tration area.
Although the other game species are quite numer-
ous, their water requirements are minor in amount.
The necessary water supplies are expected to be avail-
able from natural sources or small local developments.
At the request of the Division of Water Resources,
a series of estimates was made by the California De-
partment of Fish and Game of the stream flow at
certain points in the more important streams of the
Central Valley Area which would be required for the
protection and maintenance of fish life. The streams
were divided into four classes, according to the antici-
pated degree of water development for various bene-
ficial purposes that might compete with the require-
ments for fish. The summer and winter stream flow
requirements for fish life in Central Valley Area
streams, as estimated by the Department of Fish and
Game, are listed in Appendix F.
Flood Control. The protection of lowland areas
from floods has been a major consideration in the
management of water resources in the Central Valley
Area. Beginning with the influx of settlers during the
period following the discovery of gold, the agricul-
tural potential of the vast areas of swamp and over-
flow lands was realized, and the construction of low
levees to protect individual tracts of land commenced.
Competitive development led to extreme difficulties in
the control of flood waters, and eventually resulted
in governmental supervision and participation in
flood control works.
Federal participation in flood control works in Cali-
fornia first developed in connection with national
responsibilities for the improvement of rivers and
harbors for navigation. The California Debris Com-
mission Act, passed by Congress in 1893, provided
that the Commission "mature and adopt plans for
the purpose of improving the navigability, deepening
178
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 117
DISTRIBUTION OF MONTHLY WATER DEMANDS, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(In per cent of seasonal total)
Locality and purpose
Irrigation demand
Sacramento River Diversions, 1941
through 1951
Feather River Diversions, 1941
through 1951
Yuba River Diversions, 1941
through 1951
San Joaquin River Diversions
(Fremont Ford- Vernalis) , 1941
through 1951
Merced River Diversions, 1941
through 1951
Tuolumne River Diversions, 1941
through 1951
Stanislaus River Diversions, 1941
through 1951
Visalia to Delano Area, agricultural
pumping load, 1947 through 1951
Madera-Merced Area, 1947 through
1951
Fresno Area, 1947 through 1951 ...
Coalinga-Los Banos Area, 1947
through 1951
Corcoran-Kern Area, 1947 through
1951. __
Sacramento-Stockton Area, 1947
through 1951
Urban demand
Sacramento, 1946
Stockton, 1946
Sonora, 1946
Fresno, 1947
Bakersfield, 1947
January
2.0
0.8
0.9
5.9
2.3
1.9
5.5
4.9
6.7
4.2
4.7
Feb-
ruary
1.6
1.2
1.3
7.8
2.8
1.9
5.0
5.1
6.0
4.4
5.1
Marcli
0.5
0.1
0.2
3.7
1.4
2.7
2.2
3.0
2.5
3.1
9.9
5.8
2.6
6.1
5.1
6.7
4.5
6.6
April
7.4
5.0
5.4
12.4
7.1
8.7
9.2
6.5
5.3
6.8
8.1
9.6
4.3
7.8
6.4
6.7
5.8
8.1
May
17.6
18.0
14.9
15.3
13.9
14.6
14.9
8.6
8.8
7.6
6.3
7.8
10.1
9.2
9.5
9.5
10.3
9.9
June
18.7
19.4
16.9
15.3
18.8
17.4
17.5
9.6
12.3
9.8
5.2
8.4
14.2
11.8
10.1
8.7
10.9
10.6
July
20.9
20.7
17.8
21.3
23.3
19.1
19.4
13.3
18.0
17.2
9.0
13.0
17.9
12.8
11.7
12.6
12.2
August
19.7
18.9
17.4
18.3
19.1
19.2
18.5
16.5
20.1
23.0
10.4
17.5
19.3
12.2
13.0
10.7
13.7
12.1
Sep-
tember
11.3
12.1
15.0
10.9
12.6
13.3
12.8
16.4
17.5
17.1
10.8
16.8
15.5
10.1
12.3
7.6
12.3
10.8
October
3.9
5.8
12.4
2.8
3.8
5.0
5.5
12.0
8.6
7.5
9.4
8.3
7.2
7.7
9.2
9.6
8.9
8.7
Novem-
ber
6.0
3.4
3.8
9.2
4.3
3.1
6.1
7.3
9.8
6.7
5.9
Decem-
ber
4.5
1.5
1.9
8.0
2.8
2.0
5.7
5.4
8.8
5.7
5.3
Total
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
the channels, and protecting the banks of the rivers,
and affording relief from flood damages. ' ' Under this
act, which had as its primary purpose the regulation
of hydraulic mining and the deposition of debris in
outflow areas of the tributary streams, reports on
plans and projects for navigation, debris control, and
flood control were presented to and adopted by Con-
gress. The first comprehensive plan for flood control
along the Sacramento River was recommended by the
Chief of Engineers in 1911, and adopted by Congress
as a part of the Flood Control Act of 1917. In 1911
the State of California recognized the interest of the
State in the erection, maintenance, and protection
of reclamation works on the Sacramento and San
Joaquin river systems. The State Reclamation Board,
created by the 1911 statute, was authorized to pass
upon and approve plans for such reclamation. Since
1917, the State and Federal Governments have had
a joint interest in flood control in the Central Valley
Area.
The flood control acts approved by Congress have
provided for local participation in the construction
of authorized projects. The 1917 Flood Control Act
provided generally that local interests should pay at
least one-half of construction costs, furnish rights of
way, and maintain the completed project. The 1936
act freed local interests of responsibility for construc-
tion costs, but they were required to provide lands,
easements, and rights of way, hold the United States
free from damages, and maintain and operate com-
pleted projects. In 1938 the principle of local con-
tribution of rights of way was abandoned by Congress
for projects authorized under the 1936 and subse-
quent acts. In 1941, however, the federal acquisition
of rights of way was limited to those flood control
features involving dams and reservoirs, and local
interests were required to provide rights of way for
channel rectification or improvement.
The Sacramento River Flood Control Project is
a joint federal-state-local development. The Corps of
Engineers, United States Army, presently constructs
project works and maintains navigable river channels.
The State operates and maintains specified portions of
the completed works, other than navigable channels.
The remaining works are maintained by reclamation,
drainage, or levee districts, or by municipalities. The
Legislature, by Chapter 1528, Statutes of 1947, as-
sured adequate and proper maintenance of works as-
signed such local agencies. This act established the
procedure for annual inspection and report of condi-
tions of such works, and provided that the State
should accomplish the necessary maintenance in case
of failure of local agencies to do so, with costs assessed
against benefited areas. Construction costs of the
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
179
TABLE 118
ESTIMATED WEIGHTED MEAN IRRIGATION WATER SERVICE AREA EFFICIENCY WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS,
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(In per cent)
Hydrographic unit
Present
Probable
ultimate
Hydrographic unit
Present
Probable
ultimate
Reference
number
Name
Reference
number
Name
1
Sacramento River Basin
Mountain Units
45
45
45
45
50
50
50
50
60
50
50
50
60
50
25
60
60
60
60
60
50
40
90
70
65
65
65
65
50
70
50
50
50
50
50
50
60
60
50
75
50
60
60
50
50
75
80
75
80
70
70
75
80
90
85
GO
75
70
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
Tulare Lake Basin
Mountain Units
West Side, Kern County-
Kern River and Tehachapi
50
50
50
50
85
85
90
90
90
70
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
70
50
95
80
45
45
45
60
50
40
40
75
50
50
2
Pit River .
Tule River. __
50
3
McCIoud River ..
50
4
Sacramento River above
50
Valley Units
5
West Side, Shasta Dam to
90
C
East Side, Cow Creek to
Kern
80
85
7
8
9
Red Bluff to Thomes Creek...
Antelope to Mud Creek
Visalia
Fresno-Hanford .
85
80
80
10
11
Butte and Chico Creeks
San Joaquin River Basin
Mountain Units
Mount Diablo _ _
Altamont to San Luis Creek. _
West Side, Los Banos Creek
12
13
14
Yuba and Bear Rivers
50
50
15
16
50
Valley Units
Anderson-Cottonwood
50
Chowchilla-Fresno Rivers
50
50
50
17
50
18
Mokelumne-Calaveras Rivers -
50
19
50
20
Valley Units
21
■>o
70
23.
Colusa Trough
90
24
25
Feather River to Butte Slough
Yuba
West Side, San Joaquin Valley
90
85
26
Merced
80
27
Woodland .
Carmichael . . .
Dixon . _ _
Yolo
80
28
85
29
65
30
Oakdale . .
Stockton
90
85
lone . .
60
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
90
Sacramento River Flood Control Project as of 1955
were about $51,000,000 to the United States, and
about $85,000,000 to the State of California and to
local interests, making a total cost of approximately
$136,000,000.
In 1945 the State of California, recognizing' the
general state interest in the control of floods, estab-
lished the State Water Resources Board to formu-
late state policy and provide the necesary coopera-
tion on federal projects authorized by Congress and
adopted by the State Legislature. The State Water
Resources Act provided that appropriations would
be made by the State to pay for all lands, easements,
and rights of way required of local agencies in con-
nection with federally authorized flood control proj-
ects. The statute also charged local agencies with the
responsibility for the operation and maintenance of
completed flood control and other works in all cases
where the Federal Government requires such local
participation.
The Sacramento River Flood Control Project, as
presently approved, comprises about 450 miles of
stream channels and canals, 95 miles of by-passes, and
1,000 miles of levees for the passage of flood flows,
and numerous major control works. A comprehensive
plan has been adopted for flood control on the San
Joaquin River, and several major projects which
comprise portions of this plan have already been
authorized. Among these are the Little Johns Creek
and Calaveras River Stream Groups Project in San
Joaquin County, the Merced County Stream Group
Project, the Fresno County Stream Group Project,
and the project on the Lower San Joaquin River and
tributaries. The plan authorized by Congress includes
the reservation of a considerable acreage of lowland
area for excess flows along the San Joaquin River
180
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
upstream from the mouth of Merced River. Recent
development in this region, however, has greatly in-
creased land values and costs of acquisition, and
modification of the plan is in progress.
A flood control reservation of 1,300,000 acre-feet
is incorporated in the operating criteria for Shasta
Reservoir on the Sacramento River, and a reservation
of 400,000 acre-feet is allocated for flood storage in
Folsom Reservoir on the American River. In the San
Joaquin Valley, eight reservoirs have been built for
flood control purposes by the Corps of Engineers, on
projects authorized pursuant to the Flood Control
Acts of 1936 and 1944, and the companion state legis-
lation of 1945. Two of these, Pine Flat Reservoir on
the Kings River and Isabella Reservoir on the Kern
River, have just been completed. About 500,000 acre-
feet of flood control reservation is being provided in
Friant and Don Pedro Reservoirs. Hogan Reservoir,
on the Calaveras River, has been built by the City
of Stockton for the protection of that city from floods.
The levee system is not completely coordinated in the
San Joaquin River and Tulare Lake Basins, although
a general plan for protection has been authorized to
which future construction must substantially conform.
As of 1950. the Sacramento River Flood Control
Project was estimated to provide protection at Sacra-
mento against a flood expected to occur not more
frequently than once in 25 years, but the completion
of Folsom Reservoir should protect against floods
expected to occur at intervals of several hundred
years. In other parts of the project, the degree of
protection afforded varies from once in 15 years to
once in 170 years. Future adequate protection would
be provided by construction of additional flood con-
trol reservoirs, notably Black Butte on Stony Creek,
Table Mountain on the Sacramento River, and Oro-
ville Reservoir on the Feather River. An alternative
to the construction of a dam at Table Mountain is a
proposal for the reclamation of Butte Basin by a
system of levees and a by-pass channel. Present plans
for Oroville Reservoir on the Feather River include
a 500,000 acre-foot flood control reservation that will
provide a high degree of protection to lands and
communities along that stream.
The future construction of Success and Terminus
Reservoirs on the Tide and Kaweah Rivers, together
with the completion of Pine Flat and Isabella Reser-
voirs, will provide a substantial degree of flood pro-
tection in the Tulare Lake Basin. To attain sub-
stantial improvements in the protection from floods
in the San Joaquin River Basin, additional construc-
tion providing new or increased flood control reserva-
tions is needed at Hogan Reservoir on the Calaveras
River. .Melones on the Stanislaus, Don Pedro on the
Tuolumne, and on Bear Creek in Merced County.
Releases of water from multipurpose reservoirs for
the control of floods may be substantial in amount.
Flood control releases must be given consideration in
future plans to meet the water requirements of the
areas concerned. The plans must provide for methods
of operation of such reservoirs to meet the require-
ments of all functions without serious impairment
of any.
Navigation. Water-borne commerce in the Cen-
tral Valley Area is restricted largely to the Sacra-
mento River and the delta channels, including the
Stockton Deep Water Channel. Substantial invest-
ments have been made in ship channels, floating
equipment, docks, and storage terminals, and further
developments are presently contemplated.
Navigable channels may be provided by the installa-
tion of low dams across stream channels, with lockage
facilities in order to provide passage of vessels. Navi-
gable depths may also be provided by the maintenance
of stream flow in sufficient quantity. Both methods
involve the use of appreciable quantities of water,
which may or may not be provided from return flows
resulting from other uses of water. Determination of
the water supplies necessary for navigation can be
made only after definite project proposals have been
formulated. No estimates of future water require-
ments in the Central Valley Area for navigation were
made for the purposes of this bulletin.
Salinity Control. Intrusion of saline water from
San Francisco Bay has long been a problem in the
channels of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Dur-
ing periods of low stream flow and with increased
use of fresh water for upstream consumptive uses, the
natural fresh-water outflow is not sufficient to repel
saline waters. The tides further increase the problem
by forcefully propelling saline waters into the by-
passes and channels of the Delta. The tidal effects
act to impede fresh-water outflow by raising water
surface elevations, and by forming a barrier to flow
during periods of high tide.
The historical method of maintaining the quality
of the waters of the Delta for irrigation use involves
a continuous flow of fresh water through the channels
of the area and into Suisun Bay. It has been variously
estimated that to limit the salinity near Antioch to
an average content of not more than 100 parts of
chloride per 100,000 parts of water, with decreasing
salinity upstream, a flow of from 3,300 to 4,500 sec-
ond-feet is necessary. Recent measurements are cur-
rently being evaluated in an attempt to more precisely
define this figure. Proposals have been advanced for
a barrier in or below the Delta as a means of con-
serving a portion of this water requirement. The Divi-
sion of Water Resources has recently conducted an
investigation to determine the water requirements
and feasibility of these proposals.
Hydroelectric Power. The Central Valley Area
has by far the greatest amount of developed hydro-
electric power in California. The combination of
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
1ST
substantial stream runoff and favorable elevations in
the Sacramento River Basin lias made possible a more
intensive development than in the southern portions
of the Central Valley Area. In the San Joaquin and
Tulare Lake Basins, however, the greater ranges in
elevation, and the resulting greater possible heads,
have compensated in a large part for the lesser water
supplies in the development of hydroelectric power
facilities. These factors will probably continue to ex-
ert a similar influence in the future.
It is probable that the available water supply of
the Central Valley Area will ultimately serve a com-
bination of many beneficial uses, certain of which
will conflict with use of the water for generation of
energy. However, estimates were made of the poten-
tial hydroelectric power development under the as-
sumption that stream runoff would be used primarily
for power production, and with no consideration
given to use of the water for other purposes. Table
119 presents data on the present hydroelectric power
installations in the Central Valley Area, and on the
average seasonal water requirement of the plant with
the greatest water demand on a stream system. Table
120 presents estimates of the potential annual power
output, installed power capacity, and water demand
at the lowest plant on a stream system, under an as-
TABLE 119
PRESENT HYDROELECTRIC POWER DEVELOPMENT,
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
TABLE 120
EXISTING AND ESTIMATED POTENTIAL HYDROELECTRIC
POWER DEVELOPMENT, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
Stream
Number
of power
plants
Installed
power
capacity,
in 1,000
kilowatts
Present
annual
water
requirement,
in acre-feet
Sacramento River Basin
Pit River
6
2
2
4
10
3
9
4
383
450
5
31
410
44
121
202
1,644,000
5 915 000
Sacramento River .
Cow Creek _ .
52,000
196 000
Battle Creek
Feather River,
1 766 000
North Fork Yuba River. _.
Yuba and Bear Rivers.
454,000
381 000
American River
2 230 000
TOTALS, SACRAMENTO
RIVER BASIN
40
6
6
4
3
5
7
1,649
222
78
176
37
29
487
San Joaquin River Basin
Mokelumne River
442,000
618 000
Stanislaus River ._
Tuolumne River.
1 340 000
Merced River ..
805 000
Willow Creek
249 000
San Joaquin River.
1,305,000
TOTALS, SAN JOAQUIN
RIVER BASIN....
31
1
3
2
4
1,029
34
7
8
66
Tulare Lake Basin
Kings River
103,000
64,000
25 000
Kaweah River..
Tule River ..
Kern River _ .
327,000
TOTALS, TULARE LAKE
BASIN.
10
115
TOTALS, CENTRAL
VALLEY AREA...
81
2,793
Stream
Average
annual
power
output.
in
1,000,000
kilowatt-
hours
Installed
power
capacity,
in
1,000
kilowatts
Average
annual
wa ter
requirement
at lowest
plant, in
1,000
acre-feet
Sacramento River Basin
Sacramento River above Kesvi iek
Minor East Side Tributaries
Minor West Side Tributaries
5,670
780
260
6,470
3,000
100
3,000
1,180
160
55
1,345
625
20
625
3,450
770
1,110
2,640
1,430
200
American River .....
1,600
TOTALS, SACRAMENTO
RIVER BASIN
19,280
65
1,060
25
1,850
3,240
540
4,510
4,010
15
220
5
385
675
110
940
San Joaquin River Basin
215
450
95
710
Tuolumne River
Merced River below Yosemite
Park
San Joaquin River . _ .
1,150
615
1,080
TOTALS, SAN JOAQUIN
RIVER BASIN...
11,290
2,860
90
50
1,210
2,350
595
20
10
250
Tulare Lake Basin
1,020
260
Tule River...
85
440
TOTALS, TULARE LAKE
BASIN
4,210
875
TOTALS, CENTRAL
VALLEY AREA
34,780
7,235
sumed ultimate development of the water primarily
for this purpose.
Requirements of a Consumptive Nature
Estimates of present and probable ultimate water
requirements of a consumptive nature within hydro-
graphic units of the Central Valley Area are pre-
sented in Table 121. These mean seasonal values rep-
resent the amount of water other than precipitation
needed to provide for beneficial consumptive use of
water on irrigated lands, urban and suburban areas,
farm lots, and other water service areas, and for ir-
recoverable losses of water incidental to these uses.
The estimates were derived from consideration of the
heretofore presented estimates of consumptive use of
applied water, and of water service area efficiencies of
hydrographic units.
Table 122 presents estimates of the total water re-
quirements for each of the three major basins of the
Central Valley Area. This analysis gives considera-
tion to the re-use of water in those hydrographic units
which are geographically situated so as to enable
the rediversion of return now from upstream units.
182
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 121
ESTIMATED PRESENT AND PROBABLE ULTIMATE MEAN SEASONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR WATER IN
HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Refer-
ence
number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16.
17.
18.
19
20
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
12
43.
44.
I.",
16
17.
48.
I'.i
.Ml
51.
52
53
:,i
:,.-,
i6
57
-
59
mi
* i l
62
63
Name
Sacramento River Basin
Mountain Units
Goose Lake
Pit River
McCloud River
Sacramento River above
Shasta Dam
West Side, Shasta Dam to
Cottonwood Creek
East Side, Cow Creek to
Paynes Creek
Red Bluff to Thomes Creek__
Antelope to Mud Creek
Stony Creek
Butte and Chico Creeks
Cortina Creek
Feather River
Yuba and Bear Rivers
Cache Creek
American River
Putah Creek
Valley Units
Anderson-Cottonwood
Tehama
Vina
Orland
Chico
Arbuckle
Colusa Trough
Feather River to Butte Slough
Yuba
Marysville-Sheridan
Woodland
Carmichael
Dixon
Yolo
Irrigated lands
Present
Tulare Lake Basin
Mountain Units
West Side, Kern County
Kern River and Tehachapi
Mountains
Tule River
Kaweah River
Kings River
Valley Units
Antelope Plain
Kern
Earlimart
Visalia
Fresno-Hanf ord
Tulare Lake ._
San Joaquin River Basin
Mountain Units
Mount Diablo
Altamont to San Luis Creek. .
West Side, Los Banos Creek
to Avenal Creek
San Joaquin River
Chowchilla-Fresno Rivers
\ breed River
Tuolumne River
Stanislaus River
Mokelumne-Calaveras Rivera .
Cosumnes River
Valley Units
Antioch
Delta-Mendota
West Side, San Joaquin Valley .
Madera
Merced. ..
Loa Banos
Modesto
Vei nalis
Oakdale.
Stockton _
lone
mi mo San Joaquin I (elta
24,000
241,000
6,200
5,300
4,800
16,400
3,200
2,200
3,300
177,000
84,000
27,800
58,700
9,400
160,000
51,300
57,300
132,000
151,000
69,800
1,434,000
729,000
111,000
203,000
248,000
159,000
70,600
232,000
47,600
7,000
600
4,600
64,800
,127,000
337,000
582,000
,617,000
365,000
4,000
12,400
2,000
2,800
4,600
4,200
6,000
800
147,000
49,000
596,000
396,000
885,000
891,000
876,000
190,000
578,000
803,000
22,000
826,000
Probable
ultimate
79,400
569,000
52,000
26,000
108,000
288,000
157,000
25,600
126,000
29,700
134,000
481,000
432,000
158,000
223,000
94,400
83,400
196,000
135,000
303,000
204,000
225,000
1 ,574,000
676,000
159,000
413,000
401 ,000
571.000
303,000
559,000
40,000
700,000
96,400
52,800
52,400
937,000
2,389,000
832,000
861,000
2,204,000
006,000
31,800
123,000
165,000
24,600
92, 100
127,000
108,000
87,800
198,000
143,000
180,000
137,000
1,686,000
892,000
1,016,000
726,000
654,000
235,000
356,000
929,(100
336,000
742,000
Farm lots
Present
100
1,300
1,200
300
200
600
300
700
500
1,300
800
900
4,000
2,200
800
1,400
1,500
1 ,600
1,200
1,200
200
3,700
10,400
3,400
5,400
14,700
3,800
1,200
600
7,800
3,900
5,800
3,000
6,300
1,100
2,500
5,400
1,300
6,100
Probable
ultimate
300
4,200
300
100
500
1,100
500
100
600
200
500
3,000
1,800
1,000
1,400
400
400
1,300
1,200
1,700
2,300
1,400
5,800
3,000
1,200
2,400
2,100
2,800
2,400
2,000
200
2,400
400
200
100
7,600
15,000
6,300
6,700
17,200
3,900
200
400
700
300
400
500
300
1,100
800
1,300
1,000
11,400
6,200
6,100
4,100
6,300
1,200
3,600
6,900
2,000
6,400
Urban and
suburban areas
Present
1,100
600
800
200
600
500
7,700
2,500
600
2,700
200
4,000
1,600
1,200
1.000
4,500
600
2,000
1,600
2,500
2,200
4,800
57,600
2,400
400
400
200
1,200
33,800
3,400
14,800
54,600
800
200
800
400
600
600
5,200
200
0,600
7,400
2,200
10,000
500
3,200
24,400
200
1,400
Probable
ultimate
500
7,000
2,500
3,600
1,000
3,600
1,300
200
1,300
2,600
1,300
16,000
14,400
4,800
15,400
1,000
9,800
6,200
5,000
3,900
15,100
1,500
5,200
5,000
0,200
8,600
9,100
144,000
5,300
1,200
300
4,700
1,000
500
300
8,400
68,000
9,500
30,000
107,000
4,500
300
800
1,300
200
500
2,100
7,000
2,600
4,400
4,600
35,400
1,400
14,300
9,900
14,600
7,600
22,100
1,700
8,300
57,800
..•,209
7,000
Other water
service areas
Present
1,000
100
200
100
600
300
200
300
100
3,500
1,900
200
800
700
44,200
13,500
700
2,000
100
400
200
100
400
1,400
700
500
200
2,200
700
700
900
600
100
3,600
21,500
100
Probable
ultimate
14,000
500
600
800
1,200
900
600
1.000
200
200
12,400
15,100
1,000
4,600
400
700
116,000
38,500
1,400
2,000
100
300
1,800
500
500
1,000
16,400
700
100
400
800
1,300
500
4,300
1,200
1,600
1,600
1,000
5,000
15,000
34,100
100
Approximate
totals
Present
24,100
244,000
6,900
6,300
5,100
17,600
300
3,400
2,500
3,900
189,000
89,300
28,800
62,800
9,600
164,000
53,600
59,000
134,000
157,000
71,300
1,484,000
746,000
1 15,000
207,000
254,000
220,000
74,200
234,000
48,600
7,400
700
5,000
99,709
1,173,000
344,000
602,000
1,687,000
370,000
4,000
12,900
2,200
5,200
6,100
5,300
7,500
2,000
153,000
50,200
004,000
407.000
902,000
918,000
892,000
192,000
584,000
833,000
23,500
834,000
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
183
TABLE 122
ESTIMATED PRESENT AND PROBABLE ULTIMATE MEAN
SEASONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR WATER IN MAJOR
BASINS, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(In acre-feet)
Basin
Present
Probable
ultimate
3,819,000
4,280,000
5,093,000
7,720,000
8,657,000
San Joaquin River (including Delta)
7,648,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS. CEN-
TRAL VALLEY AREA
13,190,000
24,030,000
It may be noted that because of this re-use of water
tlic requirements shown in this table do not represent
the sum of the requirements of the individual hydro-
graphic units contained in the respective basins. Ra-
ther, the table indicates the depletion in the total
water supply of the respective basins caused by de-
velopment and use of the water.
is evident that in such cases the present subsurface
inflow cannot be considered a permanent water sup-
ply. The estimates of present supplemental water
requirement for this bulletin, therefore, were ad-
justed accordingly.
In the areas in which as the result of prior investi-
gations an overdraft is known to exist, the use of
ground water generally has intensified since the date
of the studies. On the other hand, since the time that
some of the earlier investigations were made, the
Friant-Kern Canal has been supplying water to a
portion of the San Joaquin Valley, in the varying
amounts shown in Table 123. In many instances the
distribution systems are still in the process of con-
struction in the irrigation districts concerned. Where
the facilities permit, a portion of the Friant-Kern
water has been applied to lands for the specific pur-
pose of recharging ground water basins. Specific data
regarding the amount of such water usage are not
available, and for the purpose of estimating present
supplemental requirements it was assumed that these
works were not in operation.
Supplemental Requirements
In general, the present supplemental water require-
ment in each hydrographic unit of the Central Val-
ley Area was taken as equivalent to the estimated
"round water overdraft, when such was known to
exist. The difference between estimated present and
probable ultimate water requirements for each hydro
graphic unit plus the present supplemental require-
ment was taken as the measure of the probable
ultimate supplemental water requirement, except for
adjustments made necessary by reason of supplies of
supplemental water expected to be delivered through
the Friant-Kern and Madera Canals.
Results of prior studies of the use of ground water
in the Central Valley Area indicated that overdrafts
exist in ground water basins of the Tehama, Arbuckle,
Yuba, Marysville-Sheridan, Carmichael, Antelope
Plain, Kern, Earlimart, Visalia, Fresno-Hanford,
Tulare Lake, Delta-Mend ota, West Side San Joaquin
Valley, Madera, Stockton, and lone Hydrographic
Units. In many of the ground water basins where
progressive lowering of the water table now occurs,
the indicated present overdraft is less than the esti-
mated present supplemental water requirement shown
in Table 124. This results from the excessive lowering
of ground water levels which has occurred in the
basins concerned, and which has induced a greater
than normal subsurface inflow of water from adja-
cent areas. The future import of supplemental water
to the areas will result in gradual accretion to the
ground water underlying the lands served. In the
course of time, the existing hydraulic gradients will
tend to approach stabilization at lessened slopes, or
the slopes may even become reversed in direction. It
TABLE 123
SEASONAL WATER DELIVERIES IN SAN JOAQUIN RIVER
AND TULARE LAKE BASINS THROUGH FRIANT-KERN
CANAL
(In acre-feet)
.Month
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
TOTALS
Season
1948-49
1,300
1,300
500
16,400
22,700
3,000
45,200
1949-50
15,200
22,400
17,800
52,900
45.000
41.500
100
195,000
1950-51
23,500
37.400
1 1 ,800
65,900
108,000
86,100
35,800
368,000
1951-52
14,400
8,800
4,700
2,800
12,100
28,900
55.700
126,000
138,000
69,900
401,000
1952-53
73,000
17,500
200
1,100
56,400
54,200
40,100
99,300
64,000
60,000
74,600
740,000
1953-54
22,500
7,400
1 1 .900
52,800
58,000
124,000
153,000
172,000
140.0C0
63,000
811,000
Present supplemental water requirements for valley
hydrographic units in the Tulare Lake Basin were
estimated by inflow-outflow studies, using available
water supply and utilization data. The use of water
in remaining hydrographic units, where no defi-
ciencies are known to exist, is primarily by stream
diversion, or by ground water pumpage without ap-
parent overdraft.
In the determination of ultimate supplemental
water requirements, the water supplied through the
Friant-Kern Canal from Friant Reservoir was allo-
cated to hydrographic units on the basis of modifica-
tion of the existing contracts, with the total deliverv
1S4
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
of water equal to the estimated safe yield of Friant
Reservoir. This allocation is set forth in the following
tabulation :
Estimated ultimate
supplemental
Hydrographic unit seasonal water
Refer- supply from F riant
ence Reservoir, in
number Name acre-feet
37 Kern 459,000
38 Earlimart 512,000
39 Visalia 227,000
40 Fresno-Hanford 6,100
Madera 418,000
TOTAL 1,622,000
It should be pointed out that estimated ultimate
surface water supplies available to the Antioch, Mo-
desto, Stockton, and lone Hydrographic Units are
less than the total probable developed water supplies
in the tributary watersheds by the amount of exporta-
tions to the San Francisco Bay Area. These exporta-
tions of water are made through the Contra Costa
Canal, the Mokelumne Aqueduct of the East Bay
Municipal Utility District, and the Hetch Hetchy
Aqueduct of the San Francisco Public Utilities Com-
mission. These systems, under conditions of presently
planned development, will export 195,000 acre-feet,
•224,000 acre-feet, and 448,000 acre-feet of water per
year, respectively, from the Central Valley Area.
In determining ultimate supplemental water re-
quirements, consideration was given to the recovery
of return flow from an upstream or mountain hydro-
graphic unit by a downstream or valley unit. Supple-
mental water available for re-use by a downstream
unit was evaluated by applying appropriate factors to
the amount of applied water required by the up-
TABLE 124
ESTIMATED PRESENT AND PROBABLE ULTIMATE MEAN SEASONAL SUPPLEMENTAL WATER REQUIREMENTS IN
HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Present
Probable
ultimate
Hydrographic unit
Present
Reference
number
Name
Reference
number
Name
Probable
ultimate
1
Sacramento River Basin
Mountain Units
3,000
9,300
15,000
70,000
27,000
56,100
350,000
48,400
24,000
105,000
276,000
160,000
23,100
127,000
28,800
136.000
323,000
374,000
136,000
181,000
86,600
153,000
82,000
175,000
65,000
166,000
217,000
68,000
287,000
158,000
527,000
237,000
328,000
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
43
44
45
46
47.
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56..
57
58
59
60
61
62
63..
Tulare Lake Basin
Mountain Units
West Side, Kern County
Kern River and Tehachapi
11.800
215,000
211.000
158,000
91,100
184,000
20,200
524,000
133,000
103,000
10,000
40,800
2
Pit River
3
McCloud River
660,000
4
Sacramento River above
Shasta Dam
Tule River
90,900
53,300
5
West Side, Shasta Dam to
48,800
Valley Units
6
East Side, Cow Creek to
Paynes Creek - . ...
895,000
7
Red Bluff to Thomes Creek . .
Antelope to Mud Creek
Stonv Creek,.
1,530,000
8
715,000
9
454,000
10
Butte and Chico Creeks
Cortina Creek
733,000
11
428,000
12
Feather River _____
San Joaquin River Basin
Mountain Units
Mount Diablo
13
14
Yuba and Bear Rivers
Cache Creek _
15
American River. _
16.
Putah Creek, _ __ __
32,400
Valley Units
Anderson-Cottonwood
Tehama _
Altamont to San Luis Creek __
West Side, Los Banos Creek
125,000
164,000
17
San Joaquin River ..
13,200
18
Chowchilla- Fresno Rivers
Merced River_
91 500
19
Vina _
129,000
111,000
87 000
20
Orland. ___ _ _
21
Chico
22
Arbuckle.
Mokelumne-Calaveras Rivers .
1 98 000
23
Colusa Trough. _ _.
147 000
24
25
Feather River to Butte Slough.
Yuba
Valley Units
26
Marysville-Sheridan.. .
64 000
27
Woodland
109 000
28
Carmiehael ...
West Side, San Joaquin Valley.
1,632,000
639 000
29
Dixon. . __
30
Yolo
150,000
Los Banos .
Vernalis _
46,000
Oakdale _
264,000
lone
326,000
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
185
stream unit but not beneficially used in that unit.
The summation of the supplemental water require-
ments in all hydrographie units deriving their water
supply from the same stream basin, less the supple-
mental return flow available for re-use within the
basin, was taken to be the supplemental water re-
quirement for the stream basin as a whole.
Table 124 presents estimates of present and prob-
able ultimate mean seasonal supplemental water re-
quirements of hydrographie units of the Central Val-
ley Area. Table 125 gives estimated basin supple-
mental requirements after consideration of re-use of
return flow.
TABLE 125
ESTIMATED PRESENT AND PROBABLE ULTIMATE MEAN
SEASONAL SUPPLEMENTAL WATER REQUIREMENTS IN
MAJOR BASINS, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
(In acre-feel)
Basin
Present
Probable
ultimate
124,000
871,000
790,000
4,157,000
4,044,000
3,539,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS, CEN-
TRAL VALLEY AREA
1,785,000
11,740,000
Courtesy State Division of Highways
CHAPTER VIM
LAHONTAN AREA
The Lahontan Area lies along the California-
JsTevada border between latitudes 35° 30' and 42° N.,
and consists of those lands generally easterly from
the drainage divide of the Sierra Nevada, and the
Tehachapi, San Gabriel, and San Bernardino Moun-
tains, including the drainage basins of Death Valley
and the Mojave River. The area is designated Area
6 on Plate 8, and includes the Counties of Mono
and Inyo, as well as parts of Modoc, Lassen, Sierra,
Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Alpine, Kern, Los An-
geles, and San Bernardino Counties. Although por-
tions of most drainage basins of the Lahontan Area
lie in Nevada, tabulations in this bulletin are limited
to the areas within the State of California. Among the
principal cities and urban communities are Lancas-
ter, Palmdale, Mojave, Barstow, Victorville, Bishop,
Bridgeport, Truckee, and Susanville.
Tn order to facilitate the present studies, the La-
hontan Area was subdivided into 12 hydrographic
units, the boundaries of which lie on the watershed
divides of the principal streams or interior drainage
basins, as shown on Plate 8. Table 126 lists the 12
hydrographic units and their areas, and Table 127
presents the areas of the portion of each county in-
cluded within the Lahontan Area. The water surface
area of Lake Tahoe, which lies in Hydrographic Unit
4 and in the Counties of Placer and El Dorado, is
not included in the tabulations.
TABLE 126
AREAS OF HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS,
LAHONTAN AREA
Hydrographic unit
' Reference
number
Name
Acres
1
505,000
2
3
Madeline Plains
486,000
1,499,000
4___
Truckee River . _ .
428,000*
287,000
6
7
8
Walker River . .
Mono Lake
582,000
438,000
188,000
9 _
Owens River . .
2,005,000
10
Death Valley .
9,868,000
11
Mojave River .
3,140,000
12
1,546,000
APPROXIMATE
TOTAL .
20,970,000
TABLE 127
AREAS OF COUNTIES WITHIN BOUND-
ARIES OF LAHONTAN AREA
( Jourity
Acres
305,000
109,000*
6,486,000
1,624,000
2.116,000
723,000
468,000
2,009,000
Nevada . _ ...
114,000
120,000*
San Bernardino _. . . ..
6,761,000
138,000
APPROXIMATE TOTAL
20,970.000
Does mil include water surface area of Lake Tahoe.
* Does not include water surface area of Lake Tahoe.
The climate of the Lahontan Area varies as widely
as its topography, which ranges from the lofty rugged
crags along the Sierra Nevada crest to the plateaus of
Madeline Plains, the deeply incised Owens Valley,
and the arid expanse of the Mojave Desert. Mount
Whitney and Death Valley, within 90 miles of each
other, are the highest and lowest spots in the United
States, emphasizing the contrast common to this area.
The highest temperature recorded in the United
States was 134° P. at Greenland Ranch in Death
Valley in July, 1913. Winter temperatures below
0° F. are common in the Sierra Nevada and the
northern valleys and plateaus. The mean seasonal
depth of precipitation varies from a maximum of
about 50 inches in the high elevations of the Sierra
Nevada to 1.7 inches or possibly less in portions of
the desert regions. Snowfall is characteristic of the
mountains and high plateaus and valleys during win-
ter. Generally, some 75 per cent of seasonal precipi-
tation occurs from November through April. Although
precipitation in the desert is light, local thunder-
storms have been known to contribute much more
than the equivalent of average seasonal precipitation
to local areas in less than two hours.
The estimated mean seasonal natural runoff of
streams in the Lahontan Area is about 3,177,000 acre-
feet, or about 4.5 per cent of that for the entire
state. The principal streams are the Susan, Truckee,
Carson, Walker, and Owens Rivers, draining the
easterly slopes of the Sierra Nevada, and the Mojave
(187)
188
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OP CALIFORNIA
River, draining the northeasterly slopes of the San
Bernardino Mountains. Streams in the desert por-
tions of the area are ephemeral in nature. A substan-
tial amount of the runoff from the Sierra Nevada
is derived from snowmelt of late spring and early
summer.
A relatively small amount of water is imported to
the Lahontan Area and stored in Tule Reservoir,
located in the Madeline Plains Hydrographie Unit.
This water comes from Cedar Creek, a tributary of
the Pit River in the Central Valley Area, and is used
for irrigation of grain and as a water supply for
waterfowl ponding areas operated by the California
Department of Fish and Game. Reservoir storage
records indicate an average seasonal import of about
11,000 acre-feet. An average of some 7,000 acre-feet
of water has been exported from the Lahontan Area
seasonally since about 1870 from the Little Truckee
River, for irrigation use in Sierra A^alley in the Cen-
tral Valley Area. Also, about 2,000 acre-feet of water
are diverted seasonally from Echo Lake in the
Truckee River Hydrographie Unit, for hydroelectric
power generation in the American River Basin of the
Central Valley Area.
The major export of water from the Lahontan Area
is that which is carried by the Los Angeles Aqueduct
to the South Coastal Area. The City of Los Angeles
diverts water in the Mono Lake Hydrographie Unit
and transports it by tunnel to the headwaters of the
Owens River. The Los Angeles Aqueduct, diverting
waters of both the Mono Lake and Owens River Hy-
drographie Units, then conveys the waters by conduit
some 233 miles to the City of Los Angeles, where it
is distributed and used. The capacity of the aqueduct,
about 320,000 acre-feet seasonally, presently limits
this export from the Lahontan Area.
As shown on Plate 4, a total of 58 valley fill areas,
which may or may not contain usable ground water,
has been identified in the Lahontan Area. Only those
in the Owens, Antelope, Mojave, and Indian Wells
Valleys have been extensively developed by wells, the
water being used principally for irrigation. Thirty-
eight of the foregoing valley fill areas each cover
more than 100 square miles.
Population in the Lahontan Area is characteristi-
cally sparse and widely scattered, and cities and
urban communities are relatively small. However,
population growth during recent years has generally
kept pace with the phenomenal rates experienced in
other parts of the State. The most notable recent in-
creases in permanent population have occurred in
and around Barstow and Lancaster in the southerly
I '"il ion of the area. In these localities the advent of
major military and related aircraft industrial instal-
lations has produced an influx of resident civilians.
who either assist in operation of the installations or
are employed in business ventures catering to the de-
mands of the increased military and civilian popula-
tion. In addition to the foregoing, there has been a
large increase in seasonal population of the recrea-
tional areas in the vicinity of Lake Tahoe, and in the
Owens Valley and Mono Basin. This increase has been
far greater proportionately than the increase in per-
manent residents in these predominantly recreational
localities. Table 128 shows the increase in population
of four representative urban communities from 1940
to 1950, as well as three representative unincorpo-
rated urban centers. Many of the more important
urban centers in the area are unincorporated and
without definite boundaries.
TABLE 128
POPULATION OF PRINCIPAL URBAN CENTERS,
LAHONTAN AREA
1940
1950
City
Within
city
limits
In
suburbs
Total
Within
city
limits
In
suburbs
Total
Barstow
2,100
1,600
1,500
2,000
3,600
1,500
2,100
5,200
3,000
2,000
2.100
1,200
700
6,100
5,300
2,900
3,200
4,300
1,700
2,800
10,400
7,000
5,700
Victorville .
3,200
3,600
2,100
1,000
* Unincorporated areas.
Agriculture is the major economic activity of the
Lahontan Area, and the raising of livestock predomi-
nates. In the mountain valleys where surface diver-
sion of water proved to be practicable, as well as in
other valley areas where ground water supplies were
found to be available, the lands have been developed
to irrigated agriculture. However, since about 1920
the aggregate irrigated acreage has remained sub-
stantially unchanged. In the high valley irrigation
developments, which are characteristic of the north-
ern portion of the Lahontan Area, the majority of
the irrigated lands has been devoted to pasture-type
crops. Field crops have prevailed where irrigation
water is available along the Mojave River and in
Antelope Valley.
The water supply development of the Lahontan
Area has been closely allied to the demands of irri-
gation. Early settlers diverted the flow of surface
streams to water their forage crops. Diversions from
the Mojave River were first recorded in 1872, and
this was followed by accelerated activities of land
development companies and promotional agencies in
the area. Apart from such surface diversions, a
supply of ground water was developed in lower
LAHONTAN AREA
189
Antelope Valley around 1880, from flowing' wells
which were drilled to depths of between 200 and 500
feet. The introduction of electric power to Antelope
Valley in 1914 resulted in a major increase in the use
of ground water for irrigation. The rate of pumping
has accelerated to this date, with attendant severe
lowering of ground water levels.
The fertile lands of the Owens Valley were first
developed by settlers in the late 1860 's. By 1910 some
50,000 acres were under irrigation, almost exclusively
from surface water sources, the principal crops being
alfalfa, pasture, and decidous fruits. An artesian well
was drilled at Keeler in 1902, but because of a large
content of hydrogen sulphide the water was not used
for domestic purposes. Several other artesian wells
were drilled in the vicinity during the next few years,
with unsatisfactory results. Other than the water ob-
tained from small domestic and stockwatering wells,
ground water received little attention in the valley
for many years, due to the ample surface supplies
readily available. By 1907 the growth of the City of
Los Angeles made search for an additional water
supply imperative. As a result, the city undertook
construction of the then unprecedented Los Angeles
Aqueduct, and by 1913 had started acquiring and
conveying to its service area in the South Coastal
Area a major portion of the available water supplies
in the Owens Valley. Development of the waters of
the Mono Basin by the City of Los Angeles was com-
pleted in 1940. These large exports have virtually
eliminated irrigated agriculture in the economy of
the Owens Valley and Mono Basin. During the
drought years of the early 1930 's the city drilled a
number of wells in the extensive ground water basins
underlying the Owens Valley, and for a few years
pumped a substantial amount of water for export
from that source.
Commencing in the latter decades of the last cen-
tury, the waters of the Truckee, Carson, and Walker
Rivers have been developed to create an important
agricultural and stockraising economy in both Cali-
fornia and Nevada. Among the larger of such irriga-
tion developments within California are those along
the East and West Walker Rivers.
As has been stated, in this century there has been
little change in the total irrigated acreage in the
Lahontan Area. Increases in irrigated agriculture in
the southerly portion, comprising Antelope and Mo-
jave Valleys, have been counterbalanced by marked
decreases in the Owens Valley and Mono Basin, re-
sulting from the cited export by the City of Los
Angeles.
The 82 reservoirs presently constructed in the La-
hontan Area have an aggregate storage capacity of
some 1,400,000 acre-feet, of which over 700,000 acre-
feet are provided by the high-level storage in Lake
Tahoe. The principal reservoirs are listed below.
Storage
Hydrographic capacity, in
Reservoir
Stream
unit
acre-feet
Tule Lake__.
..Cedar Creek
Madeline Plains
39,500
McCoy Flat-
Susan River
Honey Lake
17,300
Lake Tahoe_
Truckee River
Truckee River
732,000
Boca
.Little Truckee Rivet
Truckee River
41,200
Donner
Donner Creek
Truckee River
11,000
Independence. Independence Creek
. Truckee River
18,500
Topaz
West Walker River
Walker River-
59,000
Bridgeport- _
-East Walker River-
Walker River
42,000
< Irani Lake-
Hush Creek
Mono Lake.
47,500
Long Valley _
Owens River
Owens River
184,000
Tinemaha
( (wens River
( >wens River
16,600
Ha i wee
( >wens River
Owens River
60,000
Reservoirs in the Truckee River Basin, and Topaz
and Bridgeport Reservoirs on the Walker, are largely
used to conserve and regulate irrigation water sup-
plies for lands in both California and Nevada. The
reservoirs in the Truckee River Hydrographic Unit
are operated coordinately for irrigation, hydroelectric
power generation, and municipal uses. The last four
reservoirs listed in the tabulation provide regulation
for a municipal water supply for the City of Los An-
geles. This water is also utilized for power develop-
ment along the route of the aqueduct to terminal
storage in the San Fernando Valley of the South
Coastal Area. In addition to the principal reservoirs
listed in the foregoing tabulation, there are a number
of small storage developments in the Lahontan Area.
Several in the Mono Lake and Owens River Hydro-
graphic Units are essentially for the purpose of regu-
lation of water for hydroelectric power generation.
Most of the remaining small reservoirs serve to regu-
late irrigation water supplies.
The lack of adequate firm water supplies has limited
expansion of the irrigated acreage in the Lahontan
Area. It is probable, however, that in the future addi-
tional diversified irrigated crops will be produced,
particularly in the Mojave River and Antelope Val-
leys, utilizing water expected to be imported into
those areas. In addition, there will probably be fur-
ther development of local water supplies in the north-
erly portion of the area, and attendant increase in
irrigated agriculture. Present urban centers depend-
ent upon agriculture will expand, and new urban
centers will come into being to supply services and
materials in the vicinity of the new agricultural de-
velopments. Urban centers supported largely by mili-
tary or industrial installations may also experience
growth in the future. A compilation of the principal
water service agencies in the Lahontan Area, together
with the number of domestic services and irrigated
acres served by each agency, is included in Ap-
pendix B.
Outstanding scenic attractions and a climate favor-
able to winter and summer sports activity have com-
bined to make relatively large portions of the La-
hontan Area extremely attractive to vacationists,
sportsmen, and tourists. The lands around Lake Tahoe
,'■■ - . . ' ■'
■ m
Scene Near Susanville
JJBrtS*r-.«-i
m
^'HWfr-Uf MRIF!t^^f%HH||^
Courtesy Eastman's Studio
The Sierra Nevada
'S+rJiitFT :
Courtesy State Division of Highways
LAHONTAN AREA
]<n
and many other areas along- the easterly slopes of the
Sierra Nevada provide desirable locations for the
summer homes of residents of other parts of Cali-
fornia. Many resorts, motels, and camp grounds also
provide facilities for the recreation-seeking public.
During the winter season the snow-covered slopes
of the Sierra Nevada attract a growing number
of winter sports enthusiasts each year. The Tahoe,
Toiyabe, and Inyo National Forests serve visitors
Interested in the excellent facilities for hunting, fish-
ing, hiking, and camping. A number of alpine areas
remain in a primitive state and can be reached only
by foot or by pack train. Death Valley is nationally
recognized as a unique winter vacation area. Dne to
the opportunities offered, both in health fid surround-
ings and in meeting the increasing demands of visitors
to the region, it is probable that these recreational
areas, aided by improved transportation and com-
munication facilities, will attract a larger percentage
of permanent residents in the future. Of the water
requirements imposed by the recreational facilities
of the Lahontan Area, that related to the preserva-
tion and propagation of fish and wildlife is the most
significant. The aggregate use of water by summer
homes, resorts, and camps is small and largely of a
domestic nature. However, much of the recreational
value of the area is dependent upon maintenance of
adequate stream flows and lake levels to assure per-
petuation of fish and wild fowl. It is anticipated that
water supply development primarily for these pur-
poses will occur in the future.
Military lands in the Lahontan Area, situated
largely in the southern portion, are predominantly
used for experimental and training purposes. Only
minor parts of the total area of the military reserva-
tions actually receive water service, which water is
generally used for domestic or allied purposes. It is
considered probable that, barring another major war,
the military establishment will in the future stabilize
at about the present level.
Exploitation of the great Comstock Lode at Vir-
ginia City in Nevada in the 1860 's was directly
responsible for early development nearby in the La-
hontan Area. Mining activity in the Lahontan Area
itself commenced shortly after the Comstock dis-
covery, and has continued to be of economic signifi-
cance to the present day, with sporadic interruptions
due to fluctuating market conditions. Extensive tung-
sten deposits are now being mined in the vicinity of
Bishop. Borax mining is carried on near Kramer and
in the Owens Lake and Searles Lake areas. Tungsten
and manganese are found in the desert area between
Randsburg and the eastern boundary of the State.
Various other minerals of commercial importance are
found in scattered locations throughout the Lahontan
Area, notably sulphur in the Carson River Basin, lead
in the Darwin area, and limestone, from which cement
is manufactured, in the vicinity of Victorville and
Monolith. An important discovery of the group of
minerals known as "rare earth elements'' and radio-
active thorium was made in the southeastern portion
of the Lahontan Area in 1951, and these deposits are
presently under development. The water requirements
of the mining industry in the Lahontan Area are
quite small as related to the total requirement for
water. Available information indicates that future
mining activities probably will maintain at about the
present level, and that the aggregate ultimate water
requirement related to mining will impose only a
minor demand on the developed water supplies.
The timber and lumber manufacturing industries
constituted an important segment of the economy of
the Lahontan Area in the early days, largely in con-
nection with the demands of nearby mines and rail-
roads. However, extensive exploitation of the timber
resource has caused it to decrease in importance, a
position that will probably be maintained in the
future. The principal present centers for the timber
industry are Bishop, Ilobart Mills, and Snsanville.
The aggregate consumptive water requirement for
maintenance of this industry at the present time is
relatively small, and is not expected to impose a
significant demand on the developed water supplies
of the area in the future.
In summary, it should be emphasized that water is
developed and utilized in the Lahontan Area prima-
rily for the production of agricultural crops, and to a
lesser extent for municipal purposes, including a sub-
stantial export to Los Angeles. It is anticipated that
this predominance of the water requirement for irriga-
tion will maintain in the future. Domestic uses of
water, including that by recreational developments,
while important to the economy of the area, is now
and will continue to be small in amount. This is also
true of the water requirement of industries other than
in urban centers, including mining and lumbering.
There is a considerable hydroelectric power develop-
ment in the area, and a potential for additional future
development of this nature. Water is not employed
for navigation, other than the incidental use for that
purpose in connection with recreational boating on
Lake Tahoe and other lakes and reservoirs. Some
minor flood control projects have been constructed,
and as the country develops flood control may become
of increasing importance. With the anticipated con-
tinued growth of the State, and the consequent in-
crease in demand for recreational facilities, it is prob-
able that additional water supplies will be developed
and utilized for this purpose, including the waters
necessary for the preservation and propagation of
fish and wildlife.
There follows a presentation of available data and
estimates pertinent to the nature and extent of water
requirements in the Lahontan Area, both at the
192
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
present time and under conditions of probable ulti-
mate development,
PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS
As a necessary step in estimating the amount of
the water requirement in the Lahontan Area, deter-
minations were made of the location, nature, and
extent of present irrigated and urban and suburban
water service areas. Remaining lands were not classi-
fied in detail with regard to their relatively minor
miscellaneous types of water service, although such
water service was given consideration in estimating
the present water requirement.
Irrigated Lands
It was determined that under present conditions of
development in the Lahontan Area, about 228,000
acres are irrigated in a given year, on the average.
This constitutes approximately three per cent of the
land irrigated throughout California.
Alfalfa is the dominant irrigated crop in the La-
hontan Area, occupying over 40 per cent of all the
irrigated lands. Pasture is next in importance, fol-
lowed by hay and grain. Most of the alfalfa is grown
in Antelope Valley in the southern portion of the
area, while the irrigated pasture and grain are found
largely in the northern portion. Most of the alfalfa
grown in Antelope Valley is cut for hay for sale in
the vicinity of Los Angeles. The irrigated pasture
and hay and grain are utilized locally in connection
with the livestock industry, which predominates in
the northern portion of the area.
The field surveys upon which determinations of
irrigated acreage in the Lahontan Area were based
were accomplished during the period from 1947
through 1950, by several agencies and with varying
standards and degrees of accuracy. Information on
the irrigated crops in some of the northern hydro-
graphic units was supplied by the watermasters main-
tained by the State Division of Water Resources in
those areas. Information regarding the dates and
scales of field mapping and sources of data is con-
tained in Appendix E. There follows a list of the var-
ious crop groups into which irrigated lands of the
Lahontan Area were classified, with a view to segre-
gating those of similar water use:
Alfalfa— —Hay, seed, and pasture
Pasture— Grass and legumes, other than
alfalfa, used for livestock forage
Orchard Deciduous fruit and nuts
Truck crops— -Intensively cultivated fresh vege-
tables
Miscellaneous
field crops Corn, sunflowers, and rape
Hay and grain— All grains, and cultivated and
wild hay
It is estimated that approximately 2,800 acres in
the Lahontan Area are occupied by farm lots at the
present time. These consist of farm buildings and the
immediately adjacent yards and gardens receiving
water service.
In the West Walker River Basin, a portion of the
Walker River Hydrographic Unit, some 8,600 acres
were planted to irrigated crops at the time the field
surveys were accomplished. However, in years when
the unregulated water supply is adequate, approx-
imately 14,000 acres are irrigated in this basin, result-
ing in a total presently irrigated area of about 26,000
acres in the entire hydrographic unit.
Summaries of presently irrigated acreages within
the Lahontan Area by the various crop groups are
presented in Tables 129 and 130. Table 129 lists the
acreages by hydrographic units, and Table 130 by
counties.
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas
It was determined that under present conditions
of development in the Lahontan Area approximately
10,000 acres are devoted to urban and suburban types
of land use. For the most part, the business, commer-
cial, and industrial establishments, and surrounding
homes included in this areal classification receive a
municipal type of water supply. Areas of urban and
suburban water service within each hydrographic unit
of the Lahontan Area are listed in Table 131, and
within each county in Table 132. It should be noted
that the areas shown are gross acreages, as they in-
clude streets and intermingled undeveloped lands that
are a part of the urban type of community.
Unclassified Areas
Remaining lands in the Lahontan Area, other than
those that are irrigated or urban and suburban in
character, were not classified in detail as regards pres-
ent water service. Of a total of about 20,730,000 acres
of such remaining lands, less than 5,000 acres actually
receive water service at the present time. These rela-
tively minor service areas consist of scattered devel-
oped portions of national forests and monuments,
public beaches and parks, private recreational areas,
military reservations, etc.
Portions of 10 national forests, occupying some
2,444,000 acres, lie within the Lahontan Area. In
general, these federal forest reserves are situated in
the more mountainous regions, including most of the
easterly slopes of the Sierra Nevada, the White and
Inyo Mountains on the east side of the Owens Valley,
and the easterly slopes of the San Gabriel and San
Bernardino Mountains in the south. About 17,000
acres of national forest lands are presently irrigated,
which acreage is included in the values listed in
Tables 129 and 130. Most of this irrigation is prac-
ticed in mountain valleys, mainly for the culture of
irrigated pasture. Within the national forest there
LAHONTAN AREA
193
TABLE 129
AREAS OF PRESENTLY IRRIGATED LANDS WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, LAHONTAN AREA
(In
acres)
Hydrographic unit
Alfalfa
Pasture
Orchard
Truck
crops
Miscel-
laneous
field
crops
Hay and
grain
Net
irrigated
area
Farm
lots
Included
nonwater
service
areas
Approxi-
Reference
number
Name
mate
gross
area
[ 1
3
Surprise Valley — ._.
Madeline Plains .
6,300
700
8,700
200
200
4,800
5,700
7,500
62,100
21,000
5,800
14.700
2,000
7,500
19,900
2.000
2,300
4,600
100
1,700
100
300
100
200
100
400
4,500
100
100
200
1,600
2,100
100
100
100
1,600
200
13,500
1.000
14,700
300
600
100
1,700
1,900
4,200
41,200
7,600
38,200
2,000
8,100
20,800
2,000
2,300
9,900
10,800
1.3,600
71.200
500
100
500
100
300
100
100
200
900
800
200
800
100
200
400
100
100
200
200
300
1,500
42,500
7,900
39,500
4
2,100
6
Carson River _ _ .
8,400
21,500
8
Mono Lake
2,100
2,400
9
10,200
111
Death Valley
11,100
11
12
Mojave River
14,100
73,600
APPROXIMATE TOTALS..
96,200
81,700
5,600
4,200
2,000
38,000
228,000
2,800
4,900
236,000
TABLE 130
AREAS OF PRESENTLY IRRIGATED LANDS WITHIN COUNTIES, LAHONTAN AREA
(In
acres)
( 'ounty
Alfalfa
Pasture
Orchard
Truck
crops
Miscel-
laneous
field
crops
Hay and
grain
Net
irrigated
area
Farm
lots
Included
nonwater
service
areas
Approxi-
mate
gross area
Alpine ........
El Dorado
200
3,700
7,200
9,400
54,900
6,300
1,300
13,200
7,500
600
1,600
100
20,900
100
20,500
27,300
200
1,700
1,200
200
100
4,400
300
100
500
900
1,000
100
100
2,100
100
900
100
100
800
300
100
1,600
15,800
2,000
13,500
500
4,200
8,100
600
6,500
10,800
46,300
61,500
40,700
29,300
200
22,500
1,200
100
100
300
600
500
.500
300
400
200
100
300
1,000
1 ,300
800
600
500
100
8,400
600
6,700
1 1 ,400
47,900
Los Angeles _ . . ...
Modoc . _ _
63,300
42,000
Mono _ _ _ _ _
.30,200
200
23,400
1,300
APPROXIMATE TOTALS
96,200
81,700
5,600
4,200
2,000
38,000
228,000
2,800
4,900
236,000
are administration buildings, public camps, trailer
parks, and other accommodations for tourists, but
the actual water service area involved in these fea-
tures is small.
The Division of Beaches and Parks of the State
Department of Natural Resources administers three
public beaches and parks in the Lahontan Area, all
located in the vicinity of Lake Tahoe. These recrea-
tional areas aggregate about 1,300 acres, but water
service consists primarily of domestic supplies for
permanent buildings and surrounding grounds, and
summer water supplies for camp grounds and picnic
areas. Death Valley National Monument, under the
jurisdiction of the National Park Service, occupies
1,735,000 acres in Inyo and San Bernardino Counties.
Areas presently having water service in Death Valley
are small, and are mostly in the vicinity of Furnace
Creek and Stove Pipe Wells.
The greatest concentration of private recreational
developments within the Lahontan Area is in the
7—99801
vicinity of Lake Tahoe, but scattered resorts and
camps extend southward along the Sierra Nevada
from Lake Tahoe to the southern end of the Owens
Valley. Their greatest use is in the summer months,
but many also cater to winter sport enthusiasts. The
aggregate water service area is probably less than
5,000 acres.
The area of military establishments within the
Lahontan Area totals about 2,008,000 acres, located
mainly in the southern portion of the area. In general,
the reservations consist of the base installation, in-
cluding quarters and administration buildings, and
large areas of undeveloped land utilized for training
and experimental purposes.
Summary
Table 131 comprises a summary of present water
service areas within hydrographic units of the Lahon-
tan Area. A similar summary for counties of the
area is presented in Table 132.
194
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 131
SUMMARY OF PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS WITHIN
HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, LAHONTAN AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Irri-
gated
lands
Urban
and
sub-
urban
areas
Approxi-
Reference
number
Name
mate
total
1
2
Surprise Valley .
42,500
7,900
39,500
2,100
8,400
21,500
2,100
2,400
10,200
11,100
14,100
73,600
400
20
2,000
3,200
30
30
20
700
1,100
1,700
1,100
42,900
7,920
3
41,500
4
5,300
5
8,430
6
21,530
7
8
Mono Lake
2,120
2,400
9—
10,900
10
Death Vallev
12,200
11
15,800
12
74,700
Subtotals
Unclassified areas receiving wa
APPROXIMATE TOTA]
236,000
ter service
L
10,300
246,000
4,500
250,000
TABLE 132
SUMMARY OF PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS
WITHIN COUNTIES, LAHONTAN AREA
(1
n acres)
County
Irrigated
lands
Urban
and
suburban
areas
Approximate
total
Alpine . __ __ .
8,400
600
6,700
11,400
47,900
63,300
42,000
30,200
200
23,400
1,300
30
1,600
700
800
2,000
900
400
70
200
1,400
2,200
8,430
2,200
7,400
12,200
49,900
64,200
Modoc ..
42,400
Mono
30,270
400
Placer. . . .
1,400
25,600
Sierra . . _
1,300
236,000
10,300
246,000
4,500
APPROXIMATE TOTAL
250,000
PROBABLE ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE AREAS
To aid in estimating the amount of water that ulti-
mately will be utilized in the Lahontan Area, projec-
tions were first made to determine the probable ulti-
mate irrigated and urban and suburban water service
areas. It was assumed that the remaining lands, for
convenience referred to as "other water service
areas," ultimately will be served with water commen-
surate with their needs.
Irrigated Lands
Based on data from land classification surveys, it
was estimated thai a ".toss area of approximately
3,098,000 acres in the Lahontan Area is suitable for
irrigated agriculture. The field classification of lands
of the Mojave River Hydrographic Unit was supple-
mented with laboratory determinations of moisture-
holding capacities of soil samples taken from repre-
sentative areas throughout the desert. This was done
because it was found that the moisture-holding ca-
pacity, rather than depth of soil or topographic con-
ditions, was generally the limiting factor in determin-
ing irrigability of the lands.
Excepting farm lots and certain lands within the
»ross area that experience indicates will never be [
served with water, such as lands occupied by roads,
railroads, etc., it was estimated that under ultimate
conditions of development a net area of approxi-
TABLE 133
PROBABLE ULTIMATE AREAS OF IRRIGATED LANDS
WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, LAHONTAN AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Gross
irrigable
area
Farm
lots
Included
nonwater
service
area
Approxi-
mate net
irrigated
area
Ref-
erence
num-
ber
Name
1
2....
3
4
5
6
7
Surprise Valley
Madeline Plains -
Honev Lake
Truckee River.
Carson River _ .
Walker River.. . .
102,000
157,000
259,000
32,300
10,600
43,400
13,400
25,300
159,000
1,050,000
523,000
717,000
2,000
3,100
5,200
600
300
900
400
500
3,200
21,000
10,500
8,600
11,300
18,900
3.3,800
5,400
3,000
3,900
1,600
3,700
21,700
147,000
78,200
98,900
88,700
135,000
218,000
26,300
13,300
38,600
11,400
8
9
10
11
12
Adobe Valley .. _ .
Owens River. _
Death Vallev
Mojave River . .
Antelope Valley
APPROXI-
MATE
TOTALS
21,100
134,000
882,000
434,000
610,000
3,098,000
56,300
430,000
2.612,000
TABLE 134
PROBABLE ULTIMATE AREAS OF IRRIGATED LANDS
WITHIN COUNTIES, LAHONTAN AREA
(In acres)
County
Alpine
El Dorado
Inyo
Kern
Lassen
Los Angeles
Modoc_-_
Mono..
Nevada
Placer
San Bernardino
Sierra
APPROXIMATK
TOTALS
Gross
irri-
gable
area
16,600
9,500
217,000
507,000
413,000
427,000
98,300
135,000
12,400
700
1,245,000
16,300
3,098,000
Farm
lots
300
200
4,300
8,400
8,300
4,400
1,900
2,800
200
25,200
300
;,<;. :iii(i
Included
nonwater
service
area
3,000
1,400
30,200
70,800
54,100
59,800
10.900
16,000
2,300
100
178,000
2,600
430,000
Approxi-
mate net
irrigated
area
13,300
7,900
182,000
428,000
351,000
363,000
85,500
116,000
9,900
600
1,042,000
13,400
2.612,000
LAHONTAN AREA
1!C.
TABLE 135
PROBABLE ULTIMATE PATTERN OF IRRIGATED CROPS, LAHONTAN AREA
(In
acres)
Hydrographic unit
Alfalfa
Pasture
Orchard
Nuts
Vineyard
Truck
crops
Sugar
beets
Miscel-
laneous
field
crops
Hay and
grain
Approxi-
Reference
number
Name
mate
total
1
17,700
2.500
32,000
1,000
500
500
1,000
30,300
155,000
182,000
225,000
36,100
88,600
92.700
16,900
8,700
21,300
9,300
8,800
37,300
302,000
90,300
142,000
8,000
9,200
4,700
17,300
1,000
2,000
12,400
18,000
11,300
13,100
17,200
15,300
20,700
1,600
3,100
800
2,000
6,400
13,500
10,400
17,300
6,200
100
33,300
44,000
90,100
'.1 100
2,800
10,600
1,600
9,300
39.000
365,000
120,000
174,000
88,700
2
3
4
Madeline Plains
Honey Lake
135,000
218,000
26,300
5
6
Carson River
13,300
38,600
7
8
Mono Lake . . .
Adobe Valley
11,400
21,100
9
Owens River _
134,000
10
11
12
Death Valley
Mojave River
Antelope Valley
882,000
434,000
610,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS__
647,000
854,000
39,200
3,000
54,800
53,200
55,100
6,300
899,000
2,612,000
mately 2,612,000 acres will actually be irrigated. Table
133 presents these estimates for hydrographie units
of the Lahontan Area, and Table 134 for the various
counties. The probable ultimate crop pattern for irri-
gated lands of the Lahontan Area is presented in
Table 135. The crop grouping- parallels that used in
the case of present development, except for the added
groups titled "Nuts," "Vineyards," and "Sugar
beets." These groups are of minor importance and
were not segregated in the case of the present crop
pattern, but are expected to be of greater significance
in the future.
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas
"While it is expected that urban and suburban
growth in the Lahontan Area generally will be asso-
ciated with further development of agriculture, the
scenic attractions and recreational opportunities will
also influence the growth of certain population cen-
ters. Population increase may also be brought about
by expansion of industries, including manufacturing
and those related to mining, and possibly by further
development of military installations. It was estimated
that under ultimate conditions of development the
urban and suburban water service areas will have
increased to approximately 54,000 acres. In general,
urban and suburban types of land use are expected
to occupy the same localities as at present, but vacant
lands will be filled and densities increased. In addi-
tion, some future development of new urban areas to
conform with new irrigated agricultural areas is con-
sidered to be probable. It was forecast that such
urban encroachment on lands surrounding present
population centers and on new lands will amount to
about 43,000 acres ultimately. For the purposes of
the present studies no attempt was made to delineate
the boundaries of such encroachment, nor to deter-
mine what proportion will be on irrigable lands. The
estimate of probable ultimate urban and suburban
water service areas is included in Table 137. It should
he noted that the areas shown are gross acreages.
including streets, vacancies, etc.
Other Water Service Areas
Remaining lands of the Lahontan Area, not classi-
fied as irrigable or urban and suburban under condi-
tions of ultimate development, aggregate about
17,820,000 acres, or 85 per cent of the area. As pre-
viously mentioned, it was assumed that ultimately
these lands will be served with water in amounts suf-
ficient for their needs. No attempt was made to segre-
gate these "other water service areas" in detail in
regard to the nature of their probable ultimate water
service. However, as shown in Table 136, they were
broken down for convenience in estimating water re-
quirements into those portions inside and outside of
national forests, monuments, and military reserva-
tions, and above and below an elevation of 3,000 feet.
The lands classified as "other water service areas"
include recreational developments, both public and
private, military establishments, residential and in-
dustrial types of land use outside of urban communi-
ties, etc. By far the greater portion of the lands are
situated in rough mountainous terrain and barren
desert waste. It is expected that even under condi-
tions of ultimate development this large portion will
be only sparsely settled, and will have only very
minor requirements for water service.
Summary
Table 137 comprises a summary of probable ulti-
mate water service areas, segregated into irrigable
lands, urban and suburban areas, and other water
service areas.
196
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 136
OTHER WATER SERVICE AREAS UNDER PROBABLE ULTIMATE CONDITIONS, LAHONTAN AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Inside national forests, monu-
ments, and military reservations
Outside national forests, monu-
ments, and military reservations
Reference
number
Name
Above
3,000-foot
elevation
Below
3,000-foot
elevation
Above
3,000-foot
elevation
Below
3,000-foot
elevation
Approximate
total
1
122,000
24,800
303,000
270,000
257,000
409,000
229,000
115,000
1,025,000
2,074,000
170,000
19,200
884,000
145,000
140,000
280.000
302,000
933,000
103,000
13,400
129,000
195,000
47,500
819,000
2,896,000
725,000
343,000
2,954,000
1,572,000
320,000
402,000
2
327,000
3
1,236,000
4
373,000
5
270,000
6
538,000
7
424,000
8
163,000
9
1,844,000
10
8,808,000
11
2,612,000
12
822,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS
5,018,000
1,169,000
6,786,000
4,846,000
17,820,000
TABLE 137
SUMMARY OF PROBABLE ULTIMATE WATER
SERVICE AREAS, LAHONTAN AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Irrigable
lands
Urban
and
suburban
areas
Other
water
service
areas
Refer-
ence
num-
ber
Name
Approxi-
mate
total
1,—
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Surprise Valley
Madeline Plains
Honey Lake
Truckee River
Carson River ..
Wa lker River
Mono Lake
Adobe Valley. .
Owens River
Death Valley.
Mojave River. _
Antelope Valley .
APPROXI-
MATE
TOTALS
102,000
157,000
259,000
32,300
16,600
43,400
13,400
25,300
159,000
1,050,000
523,000
717,000
1,000
1,500
3,700
22,700
200
400
200
200
2,100
9,800
5,100
6,800
402,000
327,000
1,236,000
373,000
270,000
538,000
424,000
163,000
1,844,000
8,808,000
2,612,000
822,000
505,000
486,000
1,499,000
428,000
287,000
582,000
438,000
188,000
2,005,000
9,868,000
3,140,000
1,546,000
3,098,000
53,700
17,820,000
20,970,000
UNIT VALUES OF WATER USE
Studies of unit values of water use in the Lahontan
Area were conducted largely by reviewing- published
information applicable to the area, and by correlating
experimental data obtained from other similar areas.
The estimates so obtained were modified by standard
methods to provide complete coverage of the area.
Irrigation Wafer Use
In general, unit seasonal values of consumptive use
of water on lands devoted to the various irrigated
crops were computed by the methods outlined in
Chapter II. The wide climatic variations over the
Lahontan Area have a marked effect upon consump-
tive use of water, and more particularly on the
amount of water that must be applied to mature irri-
gated crops. A seasonal variance of more than one
foot in depth of applied water may occur between
similar crops grown in the northern portions of the
area and in the southern portions. The cooler climate,
higher precipitation, and shorter growing season of
the northern hydrographic units tend to reduce the
quantity of applied water necessary for plant growth.
Table 138 presents the estimated unit values of mean
seasonal consumptive use of applied irrigation water
and of precipitation on lands devoted to crops of
the various groups.
Unit mean seasonal consumptive use of applied
water on farm lots was estimated to be about 0.5 foot
in depth. The estimates of unit mean seasonal con-
sumptive use of precipitation on farm lots varied
from 0.4 to 1.1 feet in the various hydrographic units
of the Lahontan Area. The estimated unit values were
used in determining consumptive use of applied
water for both the present and probable ultimate
water service areas.
Urban and Suburban Water Use
Unit mean seasonal values of use of water on urban
and suburban water service areas of the Lahontan
Area were estimated on the basis of available records
of delivery of water to the areas, as compiled by
municipalities and other public water service agen-
cies. Probable ultimate values of water deliveries
were estimated by applying to the present values de-
rived percentage factors to account for expected
future increase in population densities and in per
capita water use. Table 139 presents the estimates of
present and probable ultimate unit seasonal values of
gross water deliveries to and consumptive use of
water on urban and suburban water service areas.
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT
LAHONTAN AREA
TABLE 138
VALUES OF CONSUMPTIVE
LAHONTAN AREA
(In feet of depth)
USE
OF WATER ON
IRRIGATED LANDS,
197
Hydrographic unit
Alfalfa
Pasture
Orchard
Nuts
Vineyard
Refer-
1 ence
number
Name
Ap-
plied
Water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
ripi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
eipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
Ap-
plied
water
Pre-
cipi-
ta-
tion
Total
1
Surprise Valley . . _...
1.7
1.5
2.3
0.9
1.1
1.1
2.6
2.6
3.4
1 .8
1.7
2.3
1 .6
1 .4
1.5
1 .4
1.5
1.8
2.8
2.7
2.8
0.8
0.9
1.1
0.8
1.1
0.9
0.9
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.4
0.6
2.6
2.6
3.4
2.4
2.5
2.4
2.3
2.3
2.4
3.2
3.1
3.4
1.2
1 .1
1.6
0.9
1.1
1.1
2.1
2.2
2.7
3
4
1.4
1.6
1.2
1.6
2.0
3.0
2.8
3.0
1.3
0.9
1.2
0.9
0.6
0.4
0.4
0.6
2.7
2.5
2.4
2.5
2.6
3.4
3.2
3.6
Mono Lake, _
Adobe Valley
8
1.5
2.2
2.1
2.2
0.6
0.4
0.4
0.6
2.1
2.6
" 5
2.8
1.5
2.2
0.6
0.4
2.1
2.6
1.1
2.4
2.3
2.4
0.6
0.4
0.4
0.6
1.7
1 10- - - -
11-
112
Death River
2.8
2.7
3.0
TABLE 138— Continued
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT VALUES OF CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON IRRIGATED LANDS,
LAHONTAN AREA
(In feet of depth)
Hydrographic unit
Truck crops
Sugar beets
Miscellaneous field crops
Hay and grain
Refer-
ence
number
Name
Applied
water
Precipi-
tation
Total
Applied
watrl
Precipi-
tation
Total
Applied
water
Precipi-
tation
Total
Applied
water
Precipi-
tation
Total
1
0.6
0.9
1.5
0.9
0.9
1.8
1.0
1.0
0.8
0.5
0.5
0.9
0.7
0.9
1.2
1.1
0.9
0.8
0.9
1.0
1.0
0.9
1.0
0.9
1 .1
0.9
0.6
0.4
0.4
0.6
1.9
2
2.0
3
Honey Lake _
0.8
1.1
1.9
1.1
1.0
2.1
1.8
4
1.4
5
0.8
1.2
2.0
0.8
0.9
1.2
0.9
2.0
1.8
1.5
6
Walker River . . . _
1.8
7
Mono Lake . . . _
1.8
8
Adobe Valley - . . .
0.9
1 .2
2. 2
■ i >
2.0
0.9
0.6
0.4
0.4
0.6
1.8
1.8
2.6
2.6
2.6
1.8
9
Owens River .
1.4
1.6
1.5
1.4
0.6
0.4
0.4
0.6
2.0
2.0
1.9
2.0
1.8
10
Death Valley.- _._
1.6
0.4
2.0
1.5
11
Mojave River
1.3
12
Antelope Valley
1.5
0.6
2.1
1.4
Use of Water in Other Water Service Areas
Unit values of water use on the miscellany of
service areas grouped in this category were derived
generally from measured or estimated present deliv-
eries of water to the typical development involved.
In most cases the estimates were made in terms of per
capita use of water, and the actual acreage of the
service area was not a significant factor. In such cases
the aggregate amount of water deliveries is relatively
very small, and negligible recovery of return flow is
involved. For purposes of study, therefore, the esti-
mated unit values of delivery of water to these facili-
ties were considered to be also the measures of con-
sumptive use of applied water.
Both the National Forest and Park Services pro-
vided estimates of present and probable ultimate unit
deliveries of water to all facilities within their juris-
diction. The estimates were generally in terms of per
8—99801
capita use of water, and were based on actual meas-
urements and experience. They varied widely from
place to place and in type of use, and for this reason
arc not detailed herein.
The total quantity of water used for migratory
waterfowl was determined from data furnished by
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and by
those private organizations which operate areas used
to feed or attract birds. Unit values of water use
were not obtained. The individual operations vary
considerably, depending upon the water supply and
whether the land is cultivated for crop growth.
For other water service areas not encompassed by
the foregoing specific types of water service, unit
values of consumptive use of applied water under
probable ultimate conditions of development were
assigned on a per capita basis. In such areas, sparse
residential, industrial, and recreational development
198
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 139
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT VALUES OF WATER
DELIVERY AND CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON
URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS, LAHONTAN AREA
(In feet of depth)
Hydrographic unit
Refer-
ence
num-
ber
1_
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Name
Present
( ; ross
delivery
Surprise Valley.
Madeline Plains
Honey Lake
Truckee River..
Carson River
Walker River. _
Mono Lake
Adobe Valley
Owens River
Deatli Valley
Mojave River. _.
Antelope Valley .
1.0
0.9
1.2
0.4
1.0
1.9
1.5
1.5
1.9
0.6
2.3
2.0
Con-
sump-
tive use
of
applied
water
0.5
0.5
0.6
0.2
0.5
1.0
0.8
0.8
0.9
0.3
1.2
1.0
Probable
ultimate
Gross
delivery
0.4
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.8
3.6
3.6
3.6
Con-
sump-
tive use
of
applied
water
1.1
1.1
1.4
0.2
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.4
1.8
1.8
1.8
is expected in the fixture. For areas outside national
forests, monuments, and military reservations, it was
estimated that the ultimate population density will
average about eight persons per square mile, and that
per capita consumptive use of water will be about 70
gallons per day. In areas inside national forests, mon-
uments, and military reservations the same per capita
use estimates were made, but the population density
was assumed to average about four persons per square
mile. The period of water use was assumed to be of
only three months' duration during the summer for
areas above 3,000 feet in elevation, while water service
for areas below 3,000 feet in elevation was assumed to
be throughout the year.
CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER
In general, estimates of the amounts of water con-
sumptively used in the Lahontan Area were derived
by applying appropriate unit values of water use to
the service areas involved. The estimates represent
the seasonal amount of consumptive use of water
under mean conditions of water supply and climate.
Table 140 presents estimates of present consumptive
use of applied water and precipitation in areas having
water service, and Table 141 presents corresponding
estimates for probable ultimate conditions of develop-
ment.
FACTORS OF WATER DEMAND
Certain factors relating to water requirements,
other than the amount of water consumptively used
in a given service area, such as necessary rates, times,
and places of delivery, quality, losses, and other perti-
nent requirements, must be considered in planning
water development projects. The most important of
these demand factors in the Lahontan Area are those
concerned with irrigation development. Those factors
related to the water supply for urban, suburban,
recreational, and other uses are of secondary im-
portance. The demand factors of principal importance
to planning for water resource development of the
Lahontan Area are discussed in the following sections.
Monthly Distribution of Water Demands
The demand for irrigation water in the Lahontan
Area varies from little or none during the winter
months to more than 20 per cent of the seasonal total
during dry summer months. Available information
indicates that the irrigation water demands in the
Truckee and Carson River Basins are heavily concen-
trated in the late spring and summer months. In the
TABLE 140
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS,
LAHONTAN AREA
(In acre-feet)
Refer-
ence
number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Hydrographic unit
Name
Surprise Valley
Madeline Plains
Honey Lake
Truckee River
Carson River
Walker River
Mono Lake
Adobe Valley
Owens River
Death Valley
Mojave River
Antelope Valley
APPROXIMATE TOTALS
Irrigated lands
Applied water Precipitation
61,600
12,000
65,400
3,200
11,000
30,300
2,800
3,300
18,200
25,000
31,400
200,000
464,000
35,800
7,100
40,300
1,600
8,900
18,500
1,900
1,900
6,000
4,100
5,300
41,300
173,000
Farm
lots
Applied water
200
100
200
negligible
100
100
negligible
negligible
100
100
100
400
1,400
Urban and
suburban
areas
Applied water
200
negligible
1,200
600
negligible
negligible
negligible
700
300
2,000
1,100
6,100
Other water
service areas
Applied water
200
7,400
300
100
100
negligible
500
4,300
500
700
14,100
Approximate
total
consumptive
use of
applied water
62,000
12.300
74,200
4,100
11,100
30,500
2,900
3,300
19,500
29,700
34,000
202,000
486,000
LAHONTAN AREA
199
TABLE 141
PROBABLE MEAN SEASONAL CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE AREAS,
LAHONTAN AREA
(In acre-feet)
Refer-
ence
number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
1 1\ drographie unit
Name
Surprise Valley
Madeline Plains
Honey Lake
Truckee River
Carson River
Walker River -
Mono Lake
Adobe Valley
Owens River
Death Valley
Mojave River
Antelope Valley.
APPROXIMATE TOTALS
Irrigated lands
Applied water Precipitation
1 28,000
198,000
360,000
31,200
15,000
47,000
14,700
24,400
205,000
,840,000
947,000
,339,000
5,151,000
78,000
127,000
229,000
22,300
I 1,600
34,300
11,100
18,200
82,000
335,000
109,000
353,000
1.473,000
Farm
lots
Applied water
1,000
1,600
2,600
300
200
400
200
300
1 ,600
10,500
5,200
4,300
28,200
Urban and
suburban
Applied w ;iPi
1,100
1 .600
5,200
3,700
200
500
200
300
3,000
17,200
8,900
11,800
53,700
Other water
service areas
Applied water
100
12,300
24,200
400
600
300
200
1,100
20,900
3,400
1,300
64,800
Approximate
total
consumptive
use of
applied water
130,000
214,000
392,000
35,600
16,600
48,800
15,300
25,000
211,000
I.SS9.000
965,000
1,356,000
5,298,000
Antelope Valley and Mojave River Hydrographic
Units the irrigation demand is more uniform through-
out the season, with appreciable use of water even in
the winter months. Urban water demands vary from
four to six per cent of the annual total during the
months of December through March, to over ten per
ccnl from June through September. Representative
data on monthly distribution of irrigation and urban
water demands in the Lahontan Area are presented
in Table 142.
Irrigation Water Service Area Efficiency
In order to determine the irrigation water require-
ments of the Lahontan Area, it was desirable to esti-
mate the over-all efficiency of irrigation practice in
the various service areas. Irrigation water service
area efficiency was measured by the ratio of consump-
tive use of applied irrigation water to the gross amount
of irrigation water delivered to a service area. Present
irrigation water service area efficiencies were estimated
after consideration of geologic conditions of the serv-
ice areas involved, their topographic position in rela-
tion to sources of water supply and to other service
areas, consumptive use of water, irrigation practice,
and usable return now. Irrigation practice was de-
termined from records of water diverted in the Sur-
prise Valley, study of present practice in the Carson
River Basin, and studies of the Antelope Valley
where water not consumptively used returns to ground
water storage. Additional factors affecting the esti-
mates of probable ultimate irrigation water service
area efficiencies were related to the location and extent
of presently undeveloped irrigable lands, as well as
the increased cost of developing water. For purposes
of illustration, the weighted mean values of all irriga-
tion water service area efficiencies within each hydro-
graphic unit of the Lahontan Area are presented
in Table 143.
TABLE 142
DISTRIBUTION OF MONTHLY WATER DEMANDS, LAHONTAN AREA
(In per cent of seasonal total)
Locality and purpose
January
Feb-
ruary
March
April
May
June
July
August
Sep-
tember
October
Novem-
ber
Decem-
ber
Total
Irrigation demand
Truckee River and Carson River
Hydrographic Units (Newlands
Project, 1909 through 1917)
Antelope Valley and Mojave River
2.0
5.6
5.0
2.0
4.8
5.0
2.1
5.0
4.5
0.0
13.6
6.0
5.0
7.0
20.1
9.0
7.1
9.0
18.7
12.0
10.0
11.0
18.9
14.0
11.9
12.0
13.4
16.0
15.3
12.0
9.7
13.0
14.1
11.0
2.7
11.0
9.9
9.0
0.8
6.0
6.8
7.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
100.0
100
Urban demand
SusanviUe, 1948 through 1952
Antelope Valley and Mojave River
100.0
100.0
1 Based on the average agricultural electric power use.
2 Based on the average domestic deliveries by water utilities.
200
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 143
ESTIMATED WEIGHTED MEAN IRRIGATION WATER SERV-
ICE AREA EFFICIENCY WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS,
LAHONTAN AREA
(In per cent)
Hydrographic unit
Present
Probable
ultimate
Reference
number
Name
1
60
50
50
50
30
50
50
50
50
70
70
90
60
2
50
3
70
4
50
5
50
6
70
7
50
8
90
9
70
10
Death Vallev
80
11
80
12
90
WATER REQUIREMENTS
Water requirement, as the term is used in this bul-
letin, refers to the amount of water needed to pro-
vide for all beneficial uses of water and for irre-
coverable losses incidental to such uses. Water re-
quirements of the Lahontan Area that are primarily
nonconsumptive in nature are discussed in general
terms in the ensuing section. Following this, water
requirements of the area that are consumptive in
character are evaluated for both present and probable
ultimate conditions of development.
Requirements of a Nonconsumptive Nature
The principal water requirements of a nonconsump-
tive nature in the Lahontan Area are associated with
the preservation and propagation of fish and wild-
life, and the generation of hydroelectric power. Other
requirements of lesser importance are those for min-
ing, timber, and industry. For the most part, such
requirements for water are extremely difficult to
evaluate other than in conjunction with definite plans
for water resource development. Their consideration
in this bulletin, therefore, is limited to discussion
of their implications as related to planning for future
development of water resources.
Fish and Wildlife. The Lahontan Area, excluding
the arid desert region in the southern portion, em-
bodies a large number of excellent trout fishing
streams and lakes. The principal game fish is the
rainbow trout, which is found in most streams and
lakes, but other species of trout also provide consid-
erable angling opportunities. Cutthroat trout are
taken primarily in the Walker and Carson Rivers
and in Crowley Lake. Eastern brook and brown trout
are well distributed, the Truckee and Owens Rivers
being the two greatest producers of brown trout.
Lake trout (Mackinaw) and kokanee red salmon are
found in Lake Tahoe and Donner Lake. Many of the
higher lakes and streams, particularly in the southerly
Sierra Nevada, contain golden trout. Eagle Lake, in
Lassen County, has a unique fishery for the Eagle
Lake rainbow trout, as this fish is not found elsewhere.
Although the southern and southeastern arid portions
of the Lahontan Area contribute very little to the
fishery values, some of the streams which flow north-
ward from the San Bernardino Mountains have pop-
ulations of rainbow trout which offer sport fishing.
Warmwater game fishes, including the black basses,
sunfish.es, crappies, and catfishes, are present in the
Lahontan Area, but the amount of angling for these
fishes is light compared to that expended in pursuit
of trout. The warmwater game fishes have been
stocked in various small reservoirs and farm ponds,
and largemouth black bass are also found in the
Owens River.
At the request of the Division of Water Resources,
a series of estimates was made by the California De-
partment of Fish and Game of the stream flow at
certain points required for the protection and main-
tenance of fish life in each of the important streams
of the Lahontan Area. These streams were divided
into four classes by the Division, according to the
anticipated degree of development for various pur-
poses that would compete with recreational or com-
mercial fishing requirements. These classes are de-
scribed, and the summer and winter water require-
ments for fish life, as determined by the Department
of Fish and Game, are listed in Appendix F.
The California Department of Fish and Game op-
erates two migratory waterfowl management areas
in the Lahontan Area, namely Madeline Plains and
Honey Lake. There are also several private gun clubs,
which have as their primary purpose the hunting of
migratory waterfowl. Many of these areas are also
cultivated, and their water requirements are included
in the requirements for water on agricultural lands.
No satisfactory means were devised for predicting an
increase or decrease of private gun clubs, and it was
assumed that the water requirements for such use,
other than where combined with agricultural use,
would be very minor in nature.
Hydroelectric Power. Estimates of the amount of
hydroelectric power potentially obtainable from
streams in the Lahontan Area under average condi-
tions of complete development, together with the non-
consumptive water requirements for this purpose, are
shown in Table 144. The power output was estimated
on the assumption that stream runoff will be used
primarily for power production. That is, no considera-
tion was given in the estimates to use of the water
for other beneficial purposes. It is probable, however,
that the streams ultimately will serve a combination
of beneficial uses. Accordingly, the actual hydro-
electric power output under such combined opera-
LAHONTAN AREA
201
TABLE 144
EXISTING AND ESTIMATED POTENTIAL HYDROELECTRIC
POWER DEVELOPMENT, LAHONTAN AREA
Stream basin
Average
annual
power
output,
in
1,000,000
kilowatt-
hours
Installed
power
capacity,
in
kilowatts
Average
annual
water
requirement
at lowest
plant, in
1,000
acre-feet
Truckee River, in California
Carson River, in California-
Walker River, in California
75
120
140
105
735
15,000
25,000
30,000
25,000
190,000
325
200
230
90
Owens River
305
Subtotals .
Los Angeles Aqueduct _
1,175
270
285,000
105,000
1.150
305*
TOTALS
1,445
390,000
1.150
Existing power plants and plants
931
279,000
* Owens River water.
tions would be reduced from the estimates presented
herein.
The greater part of the runoff of the Lahontan
Area occurs in many small, steep streams originating
in the high snow fields of the Sierra Nevada at eleva-
tions above 10,000 feet, and terminating on the inte-
rior plateau at elevations of from 4,000 to 6,000 feet.
While the streams are of only limited size, the topog-
raphy is favorable to many small hydroelectric power
developments. The estimated potential installed hy-
droelectric power capacity of the area is about 390,000
kilowatts, while existing plants and those under con-
struction have an installed capacity of nearly 280,000
kilowatts. Except for the South Coastal Area, where
the small amount of hydroelectric power available is
now nearly all developed, the Lahontan Area leads
the State in the proportion of present development,
which is about two-thirds of its estimated potential.
Mining. A small amount of mining is carried on
at the present time in the Lahontan Area, and the
necessary water for its production is minor in amount.
A major portion of the water used for this purpose
can be made available for re-use after treatment for
removal of acid wastes in order to maintain suitable
water quality.
Timber. Commercial timber production in the
Lahontan Area is minor in extent, and the water
requirements for this purpose are relatively small.
Most of the water used in production is available for
re-use after being returned to stream channels. This
condition is expected to be maintained under probable
ultimate conditions.
Requirements of a Consumptive Nature
Estimates of present and probable ultimate water
requirements of a consumptive nature within hydro-
graphic units of the Lahontan Area are presented
in Table 145. These mean seasonal values represent
the amount of water other than precipitation needed
to provide for beneficial consumptive use of water
on irrigated lands, urban and suburban areas, farm
lots, and other water service areas, and for irrecover-
able losses of water incidental to these uses. The esti-
mates were derived from consideration of the hereto-
fore presented estimates of consumptive use of applied
water, and of water service area efficiencies of hydro-
graphic units.
The water requirements for migratory waterfowl
management areas have been estimated by the Cali-
fornia Department of Fish and Game and the United
TABLE 145
ESTIMATED PRESENT AND PROBABLE ULTIMATE MEAN SEASONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR WATER,
LAHONTAN AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Irrigated lands
Farm lots
Urban and
suburban areas
Other water
service areas
Appro
tot
ximate
als
Name
Refer-
ence
number
Present
Probable
ultimate
Present
Probable
ultimate
Present
Probable
ultimate
1'resent
Probable
ultimate
Present
Probable
ultimate
1
2
Surprise Valley _ . .
102,000
24,000
131,000
6,300
36,700
60,600
5,600
6,700
36,500
35,700
44,800
222,000
214,000
397.000
515,000
(12,400
31,200
68,000
29,400
27,100
292,000
2,300,000
1,183,000
1,488,000
400
200
400
200
200
200
200
200
800
2,000
3,200
5,200
600
400
800
400
600
3.200
21,000
10,400
8,600
400
2,400
1,200
1,400
600
4,000
2,200
2,200
3,200
10,400
7,400
400
1,000
400
600
6,000
34,400
17,800
23,600
200
7,400
300
100
100
500
4,300
500
700
100
12,300
24,200
400
600
300
200
1,100
20,900
3,400
1,300
103,000
24,400
141,000
7,800
36,900
60,900
5,700
6,700
38,600
40,800
49,500
226,000
218,000
416,000
3
555.000
4
5.
Truckee River
70.800
32.600
6-
70.100
7
8
Mono Lake - _
30.400
28,300
9
10
Owens River
Death Valley
302,000
2,376,000
11
12
Mojave River .
Antelope Valley- _ . -
APPROXIMATE TOTALS. .
1,215,000
1,521,000
712,000
6,607,000
3,000
56,000
12,000
107.000
14.000
65,000
741,000
6,835,000
202
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
States Fish and Wildlife Service. Following is a sum-
mary of data as of September, 1952, secured from
these agencies, concerning- present and estimated
ultimate water requirements for this use.
Applied water,
in acre-feet
per season
Area inundated,
in acres
Present (1952) 3,500
Probable ultimate 10,500
8,200
46,700
These requirements are included in Table 145 under
the heading of "Other Water Service Areas."
Supplemental Requirements
The present supplemental water requirement in
each hydrographic unit of the Lahontan Area was
taken as equivalent to the estimated deficiency in sur-
faee water supply development, plus the estimated
ground Avater overdraft when such was known to
exist. The difference between estimated present and
probable ultimate water requirements for each hydro-
graphic unit, plus the present supplemental require-
ment, was taken as the measure of the probable ulti-
mate supplemental water requirement.
In the Lahontan Area the present deficiencies in
surface water supply development are of considerable
significance to the agricultural economy of the area.
In those places, particularly in northerly portions
of the area, where the lands are largely irrigated by
diversion from streams, late summer and fall stream
flows are frequently too small to meet the optimum
requirements of crops on developed lands. This en-
forced undesirable irrigation practice, resulting in
most cases from underdevelopment of regulatory
storage capacity on the stream systems, adversely
affects agricultural crop returns of the area. There-
fore, estimates of the amounts of supplemental water
necessary in the Lahontan Area to meet the optimum
requirements of lands presently irrigated from sur-
face water sources were included in the estimates of
supplemental water requirements. Unlike the Lahon-
tan Area, in most of the other major hydrographic
areas of the State any present deficiencies in surface
water supply development are of relatively minor
significance to the general economy of the areas, and,
for this reason, were not considered in estimating
supplemental water requirements.
Results of prior studies of the use of ground water
in the Lahontan Area indicate that an overdraft ex-
ists at present only in the Antelope Valley Hydro-
graphic Unit. It is known that the use of ground
water in that unit has been intensified substantially
since last studied by the Division of Water Resources
in 1946, and it is probable that the overdraft has in-
creased proportionately. However, lacking specific
knowledge of the amount of such increase in ground
water use, the estimates of water supply as developed
in 1946 were used in this bulletin.
Table 146 presents the estimates of present and
probable ultimate mean seasonal supplemental water
requirements of the hydrographic units of the La-
hontan Area.
TABLE 146
ESTIMATED PRESENT AND PROBABLE ULTIMATE MEAN
SEASONAL SUPPLEMENTAL WATER REQUIREMENTS,
LAHONTAN AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Present
Probable
ultimate
Reference
number
Name
1
2
3
Surprise Vallev. . .
Madeline Plains.
25,000
11,000
60,000
7,000
16,000
160,000
140,000
403,000
474,000
4
5
Truckee River .
63,000
2,700
6
25,200
7
24,700
8
9
10
Adobe Valley . .
Owens River _ .
Death Valley
21,600
263,000
2,335,000
11
1,166,000
12.
1,455,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS.
279,000
6,373,000
CHAPTER IX
COLORADO DESERT AREA
The Colorado Desert Area comprises the south-
eastern portion of California between latitudes 32.5°
and 35.5° N., and consists of lands draining directly
into the Colorado River and centrally drained desert
basins without outlet, such as the basin draining to
the Salton Sea. It is bounded on the north by the
watershed of the Mojave River, on the south by the
international boundary with Mexico, and on the west
by the San Bernardino Mountains and the San Ja-
cinto and Peninsular Ranges. The Colorado River and
the Nevada state line bound the area on the east. The
area is designated Area 7 on Plate 8, and includes all
of Imperial County as well as portions of San Diego,
Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. The Col-
orado Desert Area encompasses a range in elevation
from about 235 feet below sea level at Salton Sea to
over 11.400 feet above sea level in the San Bernardino
Mountains. Among the principal incorporated cities
are Banning, Palm Springs, Indio, Brawley, El
Centro. Blythe, and Needles.
The lands of the Colorado Desert Area having
rights in and to the waters of the Colorado River
were excluded from the presentations in this chapter
dealing with conditions of probable ultimate develop-
ment. Under their established rights these lands have
a large imported water supply available, sufficient in
quantity to meet their requirements under conditions
of probable ultimate development. In general, the
lands are highly developed to irrigated agriculture
at the present time, and plans have been made for their
complete development. In most instances the existing
canals and appurtenant water supply works have been
constructed with sufficient capacity to serve water to
meet the ultimate needs of the lands. Since one of
the principal purposes of this bulletin is to determine
the ultimate supplemental water requirements which
will have to be provided for under The California
Water Plan, the lands of the Colorado Desert Area
which are already completely planned for were ex-
cluded from consideration in this respect, The bound-
aries of the lands in the Colorado Desert Area having
rights in and to the waters of the Colorado River are
shown on sheets 25 and 26 of Plate 9.
In order to facilitate the present studies, the Colo-
rado Desert Area was divided into six hydrographic
units, the boundaries of which lie on the watershed
divides of the principal streams or enclose a geographi-
cally similar area, as shown on Plate 8. Table 147
presents the six hydrographic units and their areas,
as well as the area having rights in and to the waters
of the Colorado River. Table 148 similarly presents
TABLE 147
AREAS OF HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS,
COLORADO DESERT AREA
Hydrographic unit
Reference
number
Name
\i-ic ■
1
2
3
Twentynine Palms
Coachella Valley
3,867,000
1,087,000
1,898.000
4
5
6
Imperial Valley
113,000
2,095,000
2,035,000
APPROXIMATE
SUBTOTAL
Areas having rights in
and to the waters of the
Colorado River
APPROXIMATE
TOTAL -
11,100,000
1,321,000
12,420,000
1
TABLE 148
AREAS OF COUNTIES WITHIN BOUND-
ARIES OF COLORADO DESERT AREA
County
Acres
1,658,000
3,138,000
5,494,000
805,000
11,100,000
Areas having rights in and to the
waters of the Colorado River
1.321,000
APPROXIMATE TOTAL. _
12,420.000
the areas of the portion of each county included
within the Colorado Desert Area.
The arid climate of the Colorado Desert Area is
characterized by short, mild winters and exceptionally
hot, dry summers. The greatest rainfall in the area
is in the higher elevations of the Peninsular Range
and the San Bernardino Mountains. The mean sea-
sonal depth of precipitation at Raywood Flats in the
San Bernardino Mountains is 37.8 inches, part of
which mav occur in the form of snow. Seasonal pre-
cipitation' in the valley areas averages 3.6 inches m
depth at Indio, 3.2 inches at El Centro, 4.0 inches at
Blythe and 4.8 inches at Needles. The greater portion
of 'the 'rainfall in the valley areas is from localized
thunder storms, resulting in extreme variability m
( 203 )
Date Gardens Near Indio
Sgtfyk
'* ij>
. - -* 47*
*it
\J"J j..^ . .-»..,
Courtesy Spence Air Photos
Coachella Branch of
All-Amerian Canal
Courtesy State Division of Highways
fc - ■*'■
\«A
COLORADO DESERT AREA
21).")
distribution of precipitation. At several stations
within the area no precipitation has been recorded for
entire seasons. The rainfall on valley and mesa lands
is generally so minor in amount that it has little prac-
tical significance to the water resources of the area.
The estimated mean seasonal natural runoff of
streams in the Colorado Desert Area is about 221,000
acre-feet, or about 0.3 per cent of that for the entire
State. For purposes of this bulletin the flow in the
Colorado River was not included in this estimate.
Somewhat less than one-half of the runoff occurs in
the centrally drained basins. This runoff is not ordi-
narily available for surface diversion due to variability
in time and amount of its occurrence. The estimated
mean seasonal natural runoff of the Whitewater River
and its tributaries is approximately 61,800 acre-feet,
or about 28 per cent of the total runoff of the area,
and forms an important part of the water supply of
the Coaehella Valley. A few streams that originate in
the higher elevations of the Peninsular Range flow
perennially in portions of their headwater channels,
but the flow quickly seeps and evaporates upon reach-
ing - the valley floor. During the occasional periods of
extreme rainfall, surface stream flow reaches the
Salton Sea. Torrential floods of short duration, caused
by the characteristic cloudburst type of rainfall dis-
tribution, may occur at any place within the area.
The Salton Sea, about 345 square miles in area at
an elevation of 235 feet below sea level, has a present
mineral content slightly greater than that of sea
water, precluding its use for domestic or irrigation
purposes.
As shown in Plate 4, a total of 45 valley fill areas,
which may or may not contain usable ground water,
has been identified in the Colorado Desert Area.
Only two basins, underlying Coaehella and Borrego
Valleys, are appreciably developed for water supply
purposes. Ground water is pumped from these two
basins and used for domestic and irrigation purposes
in the valleys. Little information is available concern-
ing most of the other 43 valley fill areas, as they have
not been subject to extensive development.
Population in the Colorado Desert Area, with the
exception of urban and recreational areas in the
Coaehella Valley, has not kept pace with the large
over-all growth which has occurred in other portions
of the State. Urban developments are for the most
part adjuncts to the agricultural activity, which has
not changed greatly in areal extent in the decade
from 1940 to 1950. Population in the several desert
resort areas more than doubled in the 1940-1950
period. Table 149 presents the data on population in
eight of the principal urban communities from 1940
to 1950. It should be noted that population in resort
areas such as Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, and
Twentynine Palms is subject to seasonal variation.
The economy of the Colorado Desert Area is based
upon agricultural development in the Imperial, Coa-
TABLE 149
POPULATION OF PRINCIPAL URBAN CENTERS,
COLORADO DESERT AREA
1940
1950
City
Within
city
limits
In
suburbs
Total
Within
city
limits
In
suburbs
Total
El Centra __
10,000
11,700
3,900
2,300
3,400
5,400
2,400
3,600
1,000
700
1,200
600
600
11,000
12,400
3,900
3,500
3,400
6,000
3,000
3.600
12,600
11,900
7.000
5,300
7,700
6,400
4,100
4,100
3,000
1,500
2,100
2,700
1,800
15 600
Brawley
13 400
Banning . .
9 100
Indio
8 000
Palm Springs
7,700
6,400
5 900
Ely the ..
Needles
4,100
chella, and Palo Verde Valleys, and the Yuma Project.
The mild winter climate and consequently practically
year-round growing season, combined with ground
water development in localized areas and importation
of Colorado River water for irrigation, have per-
mitted the expansion of specialty produce, such as
off-season truck crops, citrus, dates, cotton, and table
grapes.
Irrigation in the Imperial Valley was first con-
ceived about 1860, but did not commence until the
last decade of the 19th century. The Colorado River
Irrigation Company was formed in 1892, and surveys
and plans were made to divert water from the Colo-
rado River north of the international boundary, and
convey it to the Alamo River by a canal through
Mexico. The water would flow through the Alamo
River channel to the Imperial Valley, where distribu-
tion of the imported supply would be made. The
original company failed to secure adequate financing-,
and the California Development Company was formed
in 1896, with its subsidiary, La Sociedad de Riego y
Terrenos de la Baja California, S. A., formed in 1898.
Construction of works by these companies between
1900 and 1902 made possible the delivery of water
to Mexico and to the Imperial Valley in 1901. Difficul-
ties were encountered in maintaining an adequate
flow of water in the canal and river channel, and the
companies petitioned the Mexican Government for
permission to divert 10,000 second-feet below the in-
ternational boundary. Under authority of the Mexi-
can Government, two dredger cuts were made in the
banks of the Colorado River below the international
boundary in 1905. Control gates were not installed at
the cuts, as they had not then been approved by the
Mexican Government. In the winter of 1905 the
Colorado River reached an unprecedented stage and
breached the lower dredge cut, the uncontrolled flow
reaching the Salton Sea through the New and Alamo
Rivers, which were eroded to their present depths at
that time. Closure of the break and confinement of
the Colorado River to its channel required six at-
tempts and three years to complete. Legal difficulties
Courtesy Blythe Phofo Shop
Diversion From Colorado River for Palo Verde Irrigation District
COLORADO DESERT AREA
207
beset the California Development Company, and judg-
ments for damages resulting from the flow of Colo-
rado River water through the dredge cut were in-
curred, forcing receivership of the company in 1909.
The company operated under a receivership from 1909
until 1916, during which time major development of
the Imperial Valley occurred. The Imperial Irrigation
District, which in 1950 comprised almost 894,000 acres
in the Imperial Valley, was formed in 1911, and in
1916 purchased the irrigation system, including the
properties of the California Development Company
and its subsidiary, the Compania de Terrenos y
Aguas de la Baja California, S. A. Imported water
supplies were delivered to Imperial Valley through
the Mexican canal system until 1942, when the All-
American Canal, heading at Imperial Dam on the
Colorado River, commenced operation. The Imperial
Irrigation District assumed operation of the All-
American Canal system on May 1, 1952.
The Main All-American Canal, constructed by the
United States Bureau of Reclamation, has a capacity
of 10,000 second-feet at the point above Drop 1 where
the canal divides into two branches. The branch to
the Coachella Valley has an initial capacity of 2,500
second-feet at the turnout, which is gradually re-
duced to 1,500 second-feet at the northern end of the
East Mesa area of the Imperial Irrigation District.
The Imperial Irrigation District has capacity to re-
ceive water at the rate of 7,500 second-feet through
the continuation of the Main Branch of the All-
American Canal. This branch supplies all of the dis-
trict with the exception of that portion of the East
Mesa supplied by the Coachella Branch.
The Coachella Valley, comprising the northern por-
tion of the Salton Basin, has developed for the most
part since 1900. Prior to 1900, the Southern Pacific
Company received alternate sections of the public
lands in consideration for the construction of a rail-
road through the valley, completed in 1879. Remain-
ing lands, other than Indian reservations, were ac-
quired in 1885 and 1886 by private parties, under
the provisions of the Desert Land Act. In 1894 the
Southern Pacific Company drilled a deep well at
Mecca, developing an abundant supply of good quality
artesian water. This discovery stimulated interest in
agricultural development, but the excessive cost of
the then available methods of well drilling forestalled
extensive development until 1900, at which time im-
proved methods of drilling became economical. Wells
were drilled throughout the southern portion of the
valley, and by 1907 over 400 wells existed between
Indio and the Salton Sea, of which about 300 were
artesian. Early farms were located close to the Salton
Sea, but many of these have since been abandoned
due to salinity resulting from poor drainage in the
fine-textured soils in the lower portion of the Coa-
ehella Valley. The northward movement of agriculture
away from the artesian area was made possible by im-
provement of pumping equipment.
Agricultural development in the Coachella Valley
was limited by an insufficient local water supply for
full development of irrigable lands. In 1918 the
Coachella Valley County Water District was organ-
ized to protect the existing water supply development
and to secure an imported supplemental water supply
from the Colorado River. The district assumed con-
trol of the Coachella Valley Storm Water District in
1937. The Coachella Valley County Water District
now includes about 268,000 acres, of which about
136,000 acres are within the service area of the All-
American Canal. In 1934, the district entered into
a contract with the United States Bureau of Reclama-
tion for the construction of facilities for importation
of Colorado River water to Coachella Valley, resulting
in the construction of the Coachella Branch of the
All-American Canal. The canal conveys Colorado
River water along the east side of Coachella Valley,
crosses the valley just north of the City of Indio, and
turns southerly along the west side of the valley.
Flood detention basins have been built on the up-
stream side of the canal in order to protect the canal
and to provide flood protection for developed lands.
Delivery of water to most of the developed lands is
accomplished by an underground distribution system.
Water rights for lands in Palo Verde Valley, lying
along the right bank of the Colorado River in the
vicinity of Blythe, date from 1877 when Thomas H.
Blythe filed for the water necessary for the irrigation
of 40,000 acres. Little development occurred until
1904, when the water rights were transferred to the
Palo Verde Land and Water Company. The rights
were subsequently assigned to the Palo Verde Mutual
Water Company in 1908. The agricultural develop-
ment of the valley was given impetus by the comple-
tion of the first railroad connection in 1915. The
present water service agency is the Palo Verde Irriga-
tion District, which included about 104,000 acres
within its boundaries in 1950. The irrigation water
distribution system was purchased by the district in
1923. The original headgate works for gravity diver-
sion of Colorado River water to the canal system were
located near the northeast corner of the valley. The
regimen of the Colorado River was changed after
Parker Dam and Headgate Rock Dam were con-
structed, and in 1945 the construction of a temporary
rock weir across the Colorado River immediately up-
stream from the old headgate works was necessary.
The diversion canal was extended to a point upstream
from the rock weir to permit continued gravity diver-
sion of irrigation supplies.
The Yuma Project, a United States Bureau of
Reclamation irrigation development, was authorized
in 1904, and is located in California and Arizona on
both sides of the Colorado River. The California por-
208
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
t ion of the project, the Reservation Division, consists
of the Bard and Indian Units. The portion of the
project in California, previously served by a canal
from Laguna Dam, is now served by the All-Ameri-
can Canal. It embraces about 15,000 acres, 8,000 of
which are allotted to Indians. The remaining 7,000
acres, which constitute the Bard Irrigation District,
are allotted to non-Indian operators.
The Colorado Desert Area has taken its place in
recent years as one of the nation's outstanding resort
areas. Resorts are principally located in and adjacent
to Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, and Twenty-
nine Palms. The development of "dude ranch" re-
sorts and other desert types of recreational facilities
has attracted thousands of seasonal visitors. While
the principal resort season occurs during the winter
months, there is an appreciable year-round influx of
tourists and visitors to the area.
Iron ore production in California was relatively
small until 1942, when heavy demands were placed on
the State's iron deposits by the Kaiser Steel Company
blast furnaces and steel plant at Fontana. This plant
secures its ore from the Eagle Mountains deposit lo-
cated about 40 miles east of Indio, the only current
California source of ore for pig iron. Scattered
mining operations in the Colorado Desert Area also
produce gold, silver, manganese, lead, pumice, copper,
gypsum, and sand and gravel.
The two military establishments of present im-
portance to the economy of the Colorado Desert Area
are the El Centro Naval Air Station and the Salton
Sea Experimental Station.
In summary, it should be emphasized that water is
employed in the Colorado Desert Area primarily for
the production of agricultural crops, and to a much
smaller extent for mining and for municipal purposes
including domestic and industrial. Insofar as is
known, no water is now utilized in the area for the
generation of hydroelectric power, except as a by-
product of water diverted through the All-American
Canal, nor for navigation excepting to a very minor
extent for recreation on the lower Colorado River,
nor is it foreseen that there will ever be appreciable
requirements of such nature. Flood control structures
have been constructed on the Whitewater River north
of the Salton Sea. A system of levees extending
through both Mexico and California was constructed
early in the 20th century to prevent a recurrence of
the break-through of the Colorado River to the Salton
Sea. The construction of Hoover Dam in 1935 greatly
reduced the threat of floods on the lower Colorado
River. The present consumptive use of water for
recreation is limited to water consumed for domestic
purposes in resort and recreational areas.
There follows in this chapter a presentation of
available data and estimates pertinent to the nature
and extent of water utilization and requirement in
the Colorado Desert Area, both at the present time
and under probable conditions of ultimate develop-
ment. The presentation does not include data and
estimates for the ultimate service areas in the Palo
Verde Irrigation District, the Yuma Project, and the
All-American Canal Project. These projects are cov-
ered, and their aggregate service area determined, by
the Boulder Canyon Project Act and related docu-
ments, including appropriative water rights and con-
tracts between the operating agencies and the Secre-
tary of the Interior for delivery of water to meet their
supplemental requirements from the Colorado River.
In view of these facts and for the purpose of this
bulletin, the named areas constitute a special entity
whose water supply and requirements need not be
considered in detail in connection with The California
Water Plan. Consideration of those areas in this
bulletin was limited to present conditions. The data
and estimates for ultimate conditions presented in
this chapter apply only to those parts of the Colo-
rado Desert Area outside the Boulder Canyon Project
service area.
PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS
As a necessary step in estimating the amount of
the water requirement in the Colorado Desert Area,
with the present pattern of land use and under mean
conditions of water supply and climate, determina-
tions were made of the location, nature, and extent of
presently irrigated and urban and suburban water
service areas. Remaining lands were not classified in
detail with regard to their relatively minor miscella-
neous types of water service, although such water
service was given consideration in estimating the
present water requirement.
Irrigated Lands
It was determined that under present conditions of
development in the Colorado Desert Area, about
565,000 acres are irrigated in a given year, on the
average. This constitutes approximately eight per cent
of the land irrigated throughout California.
Irrigated grain and hay, alfalfa, and truck crops
are dominant in acreage in the Colorado Desert Area.
In the Coachella Valley the principal crops are dates,
early grapes, citrus, and winter truck crops such as
tomatoes, corn, squash, and string beans. Approxi-
mately 90 per cent of all domestic dates marketed in
the United States are grown here. The largest acre-
ages of irrigated crops in the agricultural areas along
the Colorado River and in the Imperial Valley are
alfalfa, cotton, flax, sugar beets, truck, and grain.
The principal winter truck crops in the Imperial
Valley are lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, peas, and melons.
Cropping practices in the Colorado Desert Area
are somewhat different than in other areas of the
State in that the growing seasons are long, tempera-
tures are extremely high in midsummer, and all water
COLORADO DENKUT AREA
•JO! I
used in crop production is provided through irriga-
tion. Much of the land will produce three truck crops
in two years, or produce one crop of truck and one of
cotton or sugar beets in the same year. Interplanting
of dates and citrus is common practice. Alfalfa land
in the Imperial Valley commonly yields six cuttings
per year, even though the crop is held dormant during
a portion of the summer mouths.
The field surveys upon which determinations of
irrigated acreage in the Colorado Desert Area were
based were accomplished during the period from 1948
through 1951, by several agencies with varying stand-
ards and degrees of accuracy. Information regarding
the dates of field mapping and sources of data is
contained in Appendix D. Based on the available
survey data, the irrigated lands were classified into
various crop groups, with a view to segregating those
of similar water use. As a result of the double-crop-
ping that prevails in the area and the longer growing
seasons, the area of each crop produced annually is
necessarily approximate. A list of the various crop
groups into which irrigated lands of the Colorado
Desert Area were classified follows:
Alfalfa Hay, seed, and pasture
Pasture Grasses and legumes, other than
alfalfa, used for livestock forage
Orchard .-Deciduous fruit and nuts
Citrus Oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and
tangerines
Dates
Vineyard Principally Thompson seedless
grapes
Truck crops ..Intensively cultivated fresh veg-
etables, including lettuce, car-
rots, tomatoes, peas, beans,
onions, squash, melons, and
sweet corn
Cotton
Sugar beets
Hay and grain Barley, wheat, and oats
Miscellaneous
field crops __Milo, sesbania, hemp, flax, saf-
flower, corn, and beans.
It is estimated that approximately 8,000 acres in
the Colorado Desert Area are occupied by farm lots
at the present time. These consist of farm buildings
and the immediately adjacent yards and gardens re-
ceiving water service.
Summaries of presently irrigated acreages within
the Colorado Desert Area, by the various crop groups,
are presented in Tables 150 and 151. Table 150 lists
the acreages by liydrographic units, and Table 151
by counties.
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas
It was determined that under present conditions of
development in the Colorado Desert Area approxi-
mately 14,000 acres are devoted to urban and sub-
urban types of land use. For the most part, the busi-
ness, commercial, and industrial establishments and
surrounding homes included in this areal classification
receive a municipal type of water supply, although
some industries and many of the suburban homes
have individual pump and pressure water supply sys-
tems. Areas of urban and suburban water service
within each liydrographic unit of the Colorado Desert
Area are listed in Table 152, and within each county
in Table 153. It should be noted that areas shown are
gross acreages, as they include streets and inter-
mingled undeveloped lands that are a part of the
urban type of community.
Unclassified Areas
Remaining lands in the Colorado Desert Area,
other than those that are irrigated or urban and sub-
urban in character, were not classified in detail as
regards present water service. Less than 10,000 acres
of a total of about 12,300,000 acres of such remaining
lands actually receive water service at the present
TABLE 150
AREAS OF PRESENTLY IRRIGATED LANDS WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, COLORADO DESERT AREA
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Alfalfa
Pas-
ture
Or-
chard
Citrus
Dates
Vine-
yard
Truck
crops
Sugar
beets
Cotton
Hay
and
grain
Mis-
cel-
la-
neous
field
crops
Net
irri-
gated
area
Farm
lots
In-
cluded
non-
water
service
areas
Ap-
Refer-
ence
number
Name
proxi-
mate
gross
area
1
3
Tvventvnine Palms ..
Coachella Valley .
1,600
2,400
500
168,000
30,800
400
1,500
100
2,700
3,500
1,400
100
2,500
1,900
100
5,700
100
200
100
7,100
1,400
1,500
4,100
100
63,700
10,100
34,100
4,100
27,900
1,700
400
89,000
10.900
700
300
77,900
6,500
2,000
30,200
2,500
467,000
63,700
negli-
gible
700
100
4,500
2,1,00
negli-
gible
900
100
11.400
1,500
2,000
31,800
2,700
4
483,000
5
e
Colorado River _
Lanfair Valley. .
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS
67,800
203,000
8,200
1,500
4,500
6,100
10.000
78,000
34,100
34,000
Kill,
85,400
565,000
7,900
13,900
587,000
210
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OP CALIFORNIA
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a:
COLORADO DESERT AREA
211
time. These relatively minor service areas consist of
scattered developed portions of national forests and
monuments, public parks, private recreational areas,
and military reservations.
The San Bernardino and Cleveland National For-
ests extend into the Colorado Desert Area, and aggre-
gate •240.000 acres within the area boundaries. These
national forests are in the higher elevations of the
San Bernardino Mountains and the Peninsular Range.
Approximately 500 acres of the national forest lands
are presently irrigated, which acreage is included in
the values listed in Tables 150 and 151. Within the
national forests there are public camps, trailer parks,
and other accommodations for tourists, but the actual
water service area involved in these features is small.
Joshua Tree National Monument, under jurisdiction
of the National Park Service, includes some 687,000
acres of desert land, but only a few developed areas
adjacent to wells and springs require water service.
The Division of Beaches and Parks of the Cali-
fornia Department of Natural Resources at present
administers three state parks in the Colorado Desert
Area. Salton Sea. Anza Desert, and Borrego State
Parks aggregate approximately 460,000 acres, but
water service primarily consists of domestic sup-
plies for the permanent buildings and surrounding
grounds, and water supplies for camp grounds and
picnic areas. The area of land under control of the
military authorities within the Colorado Desert Area
is quite extensive. However, the water requirements
are minor, for the land is utilized for training and
experimental purposes.
Summary
Table 152 comprises a summary of present water
service areas within hydrographic units of the Colo-
rado Desert Area. A similar summary for counties of
the area is presented in Table 153.
TABLE 152
SUMMARY OF PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS WITHIN
HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, COLORADO DESERT AREA
(In acres)
TABLE 153
SUMMARY OF PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS WITHIN
COUNTIES, COLORADO DESERT AREA
Hydrographic unit
Irri-
gated
lands
Urban
and
sub-
urban
areas
Approxi-
Reference
number
Name
mate
total
1
2
Twentvnine Palms
2,000
31,800
2,700
483,000
67,800
800
4,200
200
7,700
1.300
2,800
36,000
3
2,900
4
491,000
5 .
69,100
6
587,000
lt.200
601,000
Unclassified areas receiving wa
APPROXIMATE TOTA]
10,000
L,
611,000
(1
n acres)
County
Irrigated
lands
Urban
and
suburban
areas
Approximate
total
Imperial _ _ .
492,000
90,600
2,000
2,700
7,700
4,800
1,500
200
500,000
95 400
Riverside
San Bernardino .
3,500
2,900
San Diego
Subtotals
587,000
14,200
601,000
10,000
Unclassified areas receiving water s(
APPROXIMATE TOTAL
611,000
PROBABLE ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE AREAS
To aid in estimating the amount of water that
ultimately will be utilized in the Colorado Desert
Area outside the prescribed service area of the Colo-
rado River, projections were made to determine the
probable ultimate irrigated and urban and suburban
water service areas. It was assumed that the remain-
ing lands, for convenience referred to as "other water
service areas," ultimately will be served with water
commensurate with their needs.
Irrigated Lands
A reconnaissance land classification survey was
made of the Colorado Desert Area during the period
from January to April, 1950, by the State Division of
Water Resources. For lands covered by this field
survey the irrigable areas were delineated on the
best available base maps, the Metropolitan Water
District of Southern California topographic sheets
with a scale of 1 : 120,000. Criteria utilized in segre-
gating the irrigable lands were identical with those
utilized throughout the State. Limiting factors in
the area were, in most cases, those relating to the
available moisture-holding capacities and inherent fer-
tility, topography, and degree of rockiness of the
soils. Soil samples were taken from 95 representative
locations throughout the area, and moisture retention
studies were made by the Soil Conservation Service,
United States Department of Agriculture, in its lab-
oratory at Pomona.
Based on data from the land classification survey,
excluding lands having rights in and to the waters
of the Colorado River, it was estimated that a gross
area of approximately 552,000 acres in the Colorado
Desert Area is suitable for irrigated agriculture. With
the exception of farm lots and certain lands within
the gross irrigable area that experience indicates will
never be served with water, such as lands occupied by
roads, railroads, etc., it was estimated that under
ultimate conditions of development a net area of
212
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OP CALIFORNIA
approximately 475,000 acres will actually be irrigated.
Table 154 presents these estimates for hydrographic
units of the Colorado Desert Area, and Table 155 for
the various counties.
TABLE 154
PROBABLE ULTIMATE AREAS OF IRRIGATED LANDS
WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS, COLORADO DESERT
AREA
(Excluding lands having rights in and to the waters of the
Colorado River)
(In acres)
The probable ultimate crop pattern for irrigated
lands of the Colorado Desert Area, excluding lands
having rights in and to the waters of the Colorado
River, is presented in Table 156. The crop grouping
parallels that used in the case of present development,
except that grain and sugar beets are included with
held crops.
As early as 1908, an organization planned develop-
ment of an area in excess of 130.000 acres in Chucka-
walla Valley. Congress passed an act authorizing a
diversion dam in the Colorado River for this develop-
ment, and an application was made to the State for
a water right. Efforts to secure private financing
wcic unsuccessful at the time, and the project was
finally abandoned due to the limitation placed on
California's use of Colorado River water. Most of
these lands were not included in the irrigable areas
in this bulletin.
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas
While it is expected that urban and suburban
growth in the Colorado Desert Area generally will be
associated with further development of agriculture,
favorable climate and scenic attractions will probably
influence growth of certain population centers. It
was estimated that under ultimate conditions of de-
velopment urban and suburban water service areas
will he approximately 14,000 acres, excluding lands
having rights in and to the waters of the Colorado
River. Urban and suburban types of land use are
expected to occupy the same localities as at present
for the most part, but vacant lands will be filled and
densities increased. In the case of irrigable lands
not now served with water, it was assumed that new
urban centers would develop as water supplies are
made available. The locations and boundaries of urban
communities were not delineated, but an estimate was
made of the probable area devoted to this use. In
addition, it is probable that urban encroachment will
occur on surrounding irrigable lands to some extent.
No attempt was made to delineate the boundaries of
TABLE 156
PROBABLE ULTIMATE PATTERN OF IRRIGATED CROPS, COLORADO DESERT AREA
(Excluding lands having rights in and to the waters of the Colorado River)
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Gross
irrigable
area
Farm
lots
Included
nonwater
service
area
Approxi-
mate net
irrigated
area
Ref-
I'lrliir
num-
ber
Name
1
2
3
4
5
(1
Twentynine Palms
Coachella Valley
Salton Sea.. _
Imperial Valley
Colorado River
Lanfair Valley
APPROXI-
MATE
TOTALS
1(1(1,000
43.700
86,500
1 2,500
28,600
215,000
3,700
700
1.300
200
500
3,700
21.300
5.400
9,900
1,300
3,200
26,000
141,000
37,600
75,300
11,000
24,900
185,000
552,000
10,100
67,100
475,000
TABLE 155
PROBABLE ULTIMATE AREAS OF IRRIGATED LANDS
WITHIN COUNTIES, COLORADO DESERT AREA
(Excluding lands having rights in and to the waters of the
Colorado River)
(In acres)
County
Gross
irri-
gable
area
Farm
lots
Included
nonwater
service
area
Approxi-
mate net
irrigated
area
Imperial _.
Riverside - ..
14,300
68,900
390,000
78,800
200
1,100
7,600
1,200
1,600
8,100
48,400
9,000
12,500
59,700
334,000
San Diego
68,600
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS
552,000
10,100
67,100
475,000
Hydrographic unit
Alfalfa
Pasture
Orchard
Citrus
Dates
Vine-
yard
Truck
crops
Sugar
beets
Cotton
Hay
and
grain
Miscel-
laneous
field
crops
Refer-
ence
number
Name
Approx-
imate
total
1
Twentynine Palms _
75,500
3,000
5,000
1,800
7,500
88,000
3,200
2,400
1,000
400
100
7,500
4,900
5,000
4,500
3,800
500
1,700
4,500
2,500
20.000
7,000
10,000
2,400
1,500
22,000
7,500
5,000
1,900
3,500
28.500
500
300
1,600
2,000
5,000
4,200
49,000
700
6,500
29,600
10,000
100
100
1.300
31,500
141,000
2
( loachella Valley
37,600
3
75,300
4
11,000
.">
Colorado River .... _.
24,900
6
Lanfair Valley
APPROXIMATE TOTALS..
185.000
181,000
14,600
14,400
10,500
2,500
40.900
68.400
800
3,600
95,000
43,000
475,000
COLORADO DESERT AREA
213
TABLE 157
OTHER WATER SERVICE AREAS UNDER PROBABLE ULTIMATE CONDITIONS, COLORADO DESERT AREA
(Excluding lands having rights in and to the waters of the Colorado River)
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Inside national forests, monu-
ments, and military reservations
Outside national forests, monu-
ments, and military reservations
Reference
number
Name
Above
3,000-foot
elevation
Below
3,000-foot
elevation
Above
3,000-foot
elevation
Below
3,000-foot
elevation
Approximate
total
1
306,000
248,000
5,500
319,000
48,600
677,000
182.000
313,000
12,200
419,000
2,396,000
558,000
1,493,000
101,000
2,053,000
1,399,000
3,698,000
l,037,0CO
1,811.000
101,000
2,065,000
1,818.000
2
3
4
5
6
APPROXIMATE TOTALS
559,000
368,000
1,603,000
8,000,000
10,530,000
such encroachment for the purposes of the present
studies, nor to determine what portion will be on
irrigable lands. The estimate of probable ultimate
urban and suburban water service areas is included
in Table 158, and the areas shown are gross acreages,
including streets, vacancies, etc.
Other Water Service Areas
Remaining lands of the Colorado Desert Area, not
classified as irrigable or urban and suburban under
conditions of ultimate development, aggregate about
10,530,000 acres, or 95 per cent of the area. This does
not consider lands having rights in and to the waters
of the Colorado River. As previously mentioned, it
was assumed that ultimately these other water service
areas will be served with water in amounts sufficient
for their needs. No attempt was made to segregate
these "other water service areas" in detail in regard
to the nature of their probable ultimate water service.
However, as shown in Table 157, they were broken
down for convenience in estimating water require-
ments into those portions inside and outside of na-
tional forests, monuments, and military reservations,
and above and below an elevation of 3,000 feet. The
lands classified as ' ' other water service areas ' ' include
recreational developments both public and private,
military establishments, residential and industrial
types of land use outside of urban communities, etc.
By far the greater portion of the lands are situated
below 3,000 feet in elevation, and are characterized
by rough topography interspersed with undrained,
alluvial-filled basins. It is expected that even under
conditions of ultimate development much of this large
area will be sparsely settled, and will have very minor
requirements for water service.
Summary
Table 158 comprises a summary of probable ulti-
mate water service areas, segregated into irrigable,
urban and suburban areas, and other water service
areas, and excluding lands having rights in and to the
waters of the Colorado River.
TABLE 158
SUMMARY OF PROBABLE ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE
AREAS, COLORADO DESERT AREA
(Excluding lands having rights in and to the waters of the
Colorado River)
(In acres)
Hydrographic unit
Irrigable
lands
Urban
and
suburban
areas
Other
water
service
areas
Refer-
ence
num-
ber
Name
Approxi-
mate
total
1
2
3
Twentynine Palms _ _
Coachella Valley
166,000
43,700
86,500
12,500
28,600
215,000
2,800
6,400
800
1,700
2,000
3,698.000
1,037,000
1,811,000
101.000
2,065,000
1,818,000
3,867,000
1,087,000
1,898,000
4
5
6
Imperial Valley _ ..
Colorado River _ .
Lanfair Valley
APPROXI-
MATE
TOTALS
113,000
2,095,000
2,035,000
552,000
13,700
10,530,000
11,100,000
UNIT VALUES OF WATER USE
Unit values of water use were determined in accord-
ance with methods as set forth in Chapter II, "Meth-
ods and Procedures." Available data from recent in-
vestigations in the Colorado Desert Area were utilized
whenever possible in order to refine estimates derived
or computed from climatological data.
Irrigation Water Use
Estimates of unit values of water use in the Coa-
chella Valley, Salton Sea, Imperial Valley, and Colo-
rado River Hydrographic Units of the Colorado Des-
ert Area were based on data resulting from actual
soil moisture depletion studies conducted in the
Coachella Valley, and upon a study of inflow to and
outflow of water from the Imperial Valley during a
recent period. Unit values of water use for Lanfair
•214
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
Valley were assumed to be the same as estimated for
hydrographic units on the lower Mojave River in the
Lahontan Area. As set forth in the discussion of land
use. it is the practice in some localities to raise two
or three crops on the same land in a given season.
The resulting increased use of water was considered
in estimating - average unit values of water use for
truck crops. Unit mean seasonal consumptive use of
applied water on farm lots was estimated to be
about 0.5 foot in depth, and of precipitation about
0.3 foot of depth. These estimates were employed for
both present and probable ultimate conditions of de-
velopment.
Climatic factors affecting consumptive use of water
were not sufficiently variable to justify the use of
different unit values of water use in each hydro-
graphic unit. Table 159 presents the estimated unit
values of mean seasonal consumptive use of applied
irrigation water and of precipitation on lands de-
voted to crops of the various groups.
TABLE 159
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT VALUES OF CON-
SUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON IRRIGATED LANDS,
COLORADO DESERT AREA
(In feet of depth)
Crop
Alfalfa
Pasture
Orchard
Citrus
Dates
Vineyard
Truck crops
Sugar beets
Cotton
Rice
Hay and grain
Miscellaneous field crops
Hydrographic units
Coachella Valley, Sal-
ton Sea, Imperial
Valley, and Colorado
River
Ap-
Precip-
plied
ita-
water
tion
4.2
0.3
5.0
0.3
2.3
0.3
4.0
0.3
6.0
0.3
3.0
0.3
3.0
0.3
2.5
0.3
3.0
0.3
5.0
0.3
1.8
0.3
2.4
0.3
Total
4.5
5.3
2.6
4.3
6.3
3.9
3.3
2.8
3.3
5.3
2.1
2.7
Twentynine Palms
and
Lanfair Vallev
Ap-
Precip-
plied
ita-
water
tion
2.9
0.3
2.7
0.3
2.2
0.3
2.4
0.3
1.5
0.3
1.0
0.3
1.6
0.3
Total
3.2
3.0
2.5
2.7
1.8
1.3
1.9
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas
Present unit seasonal values of use of water on
urban and suburban water service areas of the Colo-
rado Desert Area were estimated largely on the basis
of available records of delivery of water to the areas,
as compiled by municipalities and other public Avater
service agencies. Probable ultimate values of water
deliveries were estimated by applying to the present
values derived percentage factors to account for ex-
pected future increase in population densities and in
per capita water use. Table 160 presents the estimates
dl' present and probable ultimate unit seasonal values
TABLE 160
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT VALUES OF WATER
DELIVERY IN URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS, COLO-
RADO DESERT AREA
(In feet of depth)
Hydrographic unit
Gross delivery*
Refer-
ence
number
Name
Present
Probable
ultimate
1_
1.2
1.7
1.6
1.7
1.5
2.5
9
3.4
3
3.2
4
3.7
5
2.5
6
Lanfair Valley -
2.2
* Assumed equivalent to consumptive use of applied water.
of gross water deliveries to and consumptive use of
water on urban and suburban water service areas.
Other Water Service Areas
Unit values of water use on the miscellany of
service areas grouped in this category were derived
generally from measured or estimated present deliv-
eries of water to the typical development involved. In
most cases the estimates were made in terms of per
capita use of water, and the actual acreage of the
service area was not a significant factor. In such cases
the aggregate amount of water deliveries is relatively
very small, and negligible recovery of return flow is
involved. For purposes of study, therefore, the esti-
mated unit values of delivery of water to these facili-
ties were considered to be also the measures of con-
sumptive use of applied water.
Both the National Forest and Park Services pro-
vided estimates of present and probable ultimate unit
deliveries of water to all facilities within their juris-
diction. The estimates were generally in terms of per
capita iise of water, and were based on actual meas-
urements and experience. They varied widely from
place to place and in type of use, and for this reason
are not detailed herein.
The value of unit use of water by military estab-
lishments was derived on a per capita basis, from
available records of delivery of water and estimates
of population of the areas involved. Present consump-
tive use of applied water on these military bases is
estimated to average about 75 gallons per capita per
day. It was assumed that this value will hold in the
future.
For other water service areas not encompassed by
the foregoing specific types of water service, unit
values of consumptive use of applied water under
probable ultimate conditions of development were
assigned on a per capita basis. In such areas, a sparse
residential, industrial, and recreational development
is expected in the future. For areas below 3,000 feet
COLORADO DESERT AREA
215
in elevation it was estimated that the ultimate popu-
lation density will average about four persons per
square mile, and that per capita consumptive use of
water will be about 70 gallons per day for a period
of six months. In areas above 3,000 feet in elevation
the same per capita use and density estimates were
made, but it was assumed that the average period of
water use will be of only three months' duration.
CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER
Estimates of the amounts of water consumptively
used in the Colorado Desert Area were derived by
applying the appropriate unit values of water use
to the water service areas involved. The estimates
represent the seasonal amount of water use under
mean conditions of water supply and climate. Table
161 presents estimates of present consumptive use of
applied water and precipitation on areas having
water service. Table 162 presents the corresponding
estimates for probable ultimate conditions of develop-
ment, but excludes areas having rights in and to the
waters of the Colorado River.
FACTORS OF WATER DEMAND
In addition to the amount of water consumptively
used in a given service area, certain factors relating
to the water requirements, such as necessary rates,
times, and places of delivery of water, quality of
water, losses of water, etc., must be given considera-
tion in the design of water development works. In
the Colorado Desert Area the most important of these
demand factors are associated with the supply of
water for irrigation. Those factors related to the
supply of water for urban, suburban, recreational,
and other uses are of secondary importance. The
demand factors most pertinent to design of works to
meet water requirements of the Colorado Desert Area
are discussed in the following sections.
Monthly Distribution of Water Demands
Unlike nearly all other areas of the State, there is
a considerable demand for irrigation water during
the entire year in the Colorado Desert Area. The
effective precipitation is very minor in amount, and
irrigation water must be supplied on a continuous
TABLE 161
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON PRESENT
WATER SERVICE AREAS, COLORADO DESERT AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Irrigated lands
Farm
lots
Urban and
suburban
areas
Unclassified
areas
Approximate
Refer-
Name
total
consumptive
ence
number
Applied water
Precipitation
Applied water
Applied water
Applied water
use of
applied water
1
2
3
Twentvnine Palms -
Coaehella Valley
5,600
119,000
8,900
1,395,000
218,000
600
12,700
800
117,000
21,000
negligible
.300
negligible
2,300
1,300
900
7,200
300
13,100
2,000
300
47 600
6,800
126,000
9 200
4
1,458 000
5 .
221 000
6
APPROXIMATE TOTALS. ..
1,746,000
152,000
3,900
23,500
47,900
1,821,000
TABLE 162
PROBABLE MEAN SEASONAL CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER ON ULTIMATE
WATER SERVICE AREAS, COLORADO DESERT AREA
(Excluding lands having rights in and to the waters of the Colorado River)
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Irrigated lands
Farm
lots
Urban and
suburban
areas
Other water
service areas
Approximate
total
consumptive
Name
ence
number
Applied water
Precipitation
Applied water
Applied water
Applied water
use of
applied water
1
340,000
128,000
178,000
38,200
80,700
396,000
46,400
11,300
22,600
3,300
7,500
61,000
1,800
400
600
100
200
1,800
7,000
21,800
2,600
4,300
4,400
1,500
200
400
100
500
400
350,000
2
150,000
3 __
182,000
4
38,400
5
85,700
6
403,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS-
1,161,000
152,000
4,900
40,100
3,100
1,209,000
216
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 163
DISTRIBUTION OF MONTHLY WATER DEMANDS, COLORADO DESERT AREA
(In per cent of seasonal total)
Locality and purpose
January
Feb-
ruary
March
April
May
June
July
August
Sep-
tember
October
Novem-
ber
Decem-
ber
Total
Irrigation demand
Coachella Valley ground water
pumpage, 1936 through 1937
Coachella Canal diversion, 1951
through 1952 __.
3.0
4.0
6.1
5.4
6.7
4.5
7.7
5.0
5.8
6.7
6.2
7.1
4.8
7.0
7.0
7.4
9.5
9.5
7.6
5.6
7.8
10.0
8.5
10.1
10.5
9.8
7.4
7.3
12.0
11.3
9.7
10.6
8.9
11.6
8.3
12.0
10.8
9.4
10.1
7.9
12.0
10.1
13.0
11.4
9.4
10.6
8.9
14.3
12.2
12.0
11.8
8.0
9.7
9.1
12.8
11.0
11.0
11.2
8.0
9.1
9.2
11.2
9.4
7.0
8.6
10.3
7.4
9.3
6.5
6.7
5.0
5.5
7.4
5.7
8.4
4.9
5.9
3.0
3.7
5.4
5.2
7.1
4.4
6.6
100.0
100.0
Imperial Valley, 1946 through 1949-
Palo Verde Valley, 1946 through
1949
100.0
100.0
Urban demand
Palm Springs, 1938 through 1948- -
Indio, 1948 through 1949- .
El Centro, 1953
100.0
100.0
100.0
basis in order to meet the consumptive requirements
of the crops. Demand for irrigation water in the Colo-
rado Desert Area varies from about 5 per cent of the
seasonal total during the winter months to over 12
per cent in the summer months. Urban water demands
have a variation similar to demands for irrigation
supplies, although the gross amount of water in-
volved is considerably less. Variation in demand for
desert recreational areas has not been evaluated, but
it is estimated that this type of water use is greatest
during the desert vacation period from November
through February. Representative data on monthly
distribution of irrigation and urban water demands in
the Colorado Desert Area are presented in Table 163.
Irrigation Water Service Area Efficiency
In the determination of irrigation water require-
ments in the Colorado Desert Area it was found to
be desirable to estimate the over-all efficiency of irri-
gation practice in the various service areas. Irrigation
water service area efficiency was measured by the
ratio of consumptive use of applied irrigation water
to the gross amount of irrigation water delivered to
a service area. Present irrigation water service area
efficiencies were estimated after consideration of
geologic conditions of the service areas involved, their
topographic position in relation to sources of water
supply and to other service areas, consumptive use
of water, irrigation efficiency actually achieved,
usable return flow, and urban and suburban sewage
outflow.
Numerous studies and investigations have been
made by the United States Department of Agriculture
and the University of California College of Agricul-
ture of use of water and the resulting drainage prob-
lems in Coachella and Imperial Valleys. It has been
found that individual farm irrigation efficiencies, in
general, vary considerably with the crop, soil, and
quality of the water supply. In the Imperial Valley
all water is at the present time applied by surface
application, and because of high saline content of the
return water is, in most instances, used only once. The
irrigated lands in Palo Verde Valley and in the Reser-
vation Division of the Yuma Project, United States
Bureau of Reclamation, lie immediately adjacent to
the Colorado River. Irrigation water supplies are di-
verted into the distribution systems of the area by
gravity. Water not consumptively used returns to
augment the flow in the river. Under these circum-
stances water is somewhat lavishly used in accordance
with the desires of the individual farm operator.
Additional factors affecting the estimates of prob-
able ultimate irrigation water service area efficiencies
were related to the location and extent of presently
undeveloped irrigable lands and the increased cost of
developing water. For purposes of illustration, the
weighted mean values of all irrigation water serv-
ice area efficiencies within each hydrographic unit of
the Colorado Desert Area are presented in Table 164.
TABLE 164
ESTIMATED WEIGHTED MEAN IRRIGATION WATER SERV-
ICE AREA EFFICIENCY WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS,
COLORADO DESERT AREA
(In per cent)
Hydrographic unit
Present
Reference
number
Name
Probable
ultimate
1_
90
60
90
50
85
90
2
Coachella Valley - -
60
3
80
4
60
5
85
6
90
WATER REQUIREMENTS
As the term is used in this bulletin, water require-
ments refer to the amounts of water needed to
provide for all beneficial uses of water and for irre-
coverable losses incidental to such uses. Those water
COLORADO DESERT AREA
217
requirements of the Colorado Desert Area that are
primarily nonconsumptive in nature are discussed in
genera] terms in the ensuing section. Following this,
water requirements of the area that are consumptive
in nature are evaluated, both for present and for
probable ultimate conditions of development.
Requirements of a Nonconsumptive Nature
The principal nonconsumptive requirements for
water in this area are those for flood control, fish and
wildlife, mining, and hydroelectric power develop-
ment. All of these are minor in amount, particularly
with relation to the amount of water necessary to
meet requirements for irrigation water supplies. The
nonconsumptive uses listed above are individually dis-
cussed in subsequent paragraphs.
Flood Control. There is a present need for flood
control works in portions of the Colorado Desert Area,
and it is anticipated that this need will increase with
the growth of the area. Minor Hood control works
exist in the area at present, principally on the White-
water River and for protection against flooding on
the Colorado River. The effect of these works on the
developed water supply is negligible. It is probable
that other projects will be planned and constructed as
development takes place in the future. The noncon-
sumptive requirements for water imposed by such
flood control works will probably be minor in extent.
Fish and Wildlife. The fresh-water fishery of the
Colorado Desert Area is limited almost entirely to
that present in the Colorado River, but constitutes an
important recreational facility in that region. While
sport fishing - is available along the length of the Colo-
rado River in California, the major fishing areas are
in the reach between Needles and Imperial Dam. The
Colorado River and existing reservoirs are stocked
with warm-water fishes, principally black bass, chan-
nel catfish, bluegill, and crappie, although trout can
be found near the California-Nevada state line.
The California Department of Fish and Game has
recently planted a variety of salt-water species of
fish in the Salton Sea, in an attempt to augment the
meager fauna of this large body of water. Surveys to
date indicate that only one species, a croaker from the
Gulf of Lower California, has survived and multi-
plied. The prolific breeding habits and the limited size
of the croaker offer the possibility of an abundant
supply of food for a larger salt-water game fish, should
such be introduced. The Department of Fish and
Game and the University of California at Los Angeles
are cooperating in studies to develop the large recrea-
tional potential of this rich inland sea.
Under present conditions and with the limited
available water supplies, streams other than the Colo-
rado River rarely have perennial flow, thus definitely
limiting their potential for fishery recreational use.
Future development of storage reservoirs may expand
fishery opportunities in the area.
The higher elevations of the Colorado Desert Area
afford minor sport hunting of deer and small game.
Migratory waterfowl frequent the Salton Sea, as well
as the area of the Colorado River. At present there
are four wildlife management areas in the Colorado
Desert Area, of which the two in the Salton Sea area
are supervised by the California Department of Fish
and Game. The other two management areas, along
the Colorado River, are supervised by the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service. It is probable that
such water as is necessary to maintain these wildlife
management areas will be available from return flows
from other areas.
Mining. The production and refining of gold,
silver ores, lead, and copper in the Colorado Desert
Area require very minor amounts of water, most of
which is available for re-use. The amounts of water
used for the washing of sand and gravel, the produc-
tion of pumice, and mining of iron ore are negligible.
Hydroelectric Power. The nonconsumptive water
requirements for hydroelectric power generation on
the main stem of the Colorado River are not consid-
ered in this bulletin. Colorado River water conveyed
by the All-American Canal to the Imperial and
Coachella Valleys is used for the generation of power,
but such use is incidental to its principal purpose,
the import of water to the Colorado Desert Area for
agricultural and municipal uses. Appreciable water
requirements for generation of hydroelectric power
are not expected to develop in the future, in view of
prevailing water supply and topographic conditions.
Requirements of a Consumptive Nature
Estimates of present water requirements within
hydrographic units of the Colorado Desert Area are
presented in Table 165. Table 166 presents corre-
TABLE 165
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR
WATER ON PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS, COLO-
RADO DESERT AREA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Irrigated
lands
Farm
lots
Urban
and
sub-
urban
areas
Other
water
serv-
ice
areas
Refer-
ence
number
Name
Approxi-
mate
total
1
3
Twentynine Palms .
Coachella Valley
6,200
198.000
9,900
2,790,000
257,000
100
600
100
4,600
2.600
900
7,200
300
13,100
2,000
300
47,600
7,500
206,000
10,300
4
5
6
Imperial Valley
Colorado River. __
Lanfair Valley
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS
2,855,000
262,000
3.261,000
8,000
23.500
47,900
3,341,000
■2 IS
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 166
PROBABLE MEAN SEASONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR WATER
ON ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE AREAS, COLORADO
DESERT AREA
(Excluding lands having rights in and to the waters of the
Colorado River)
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Irrigated
lands
Farm
lots
Urban
and
sub-
urban
areas
Other
water
serv-
ice
areas
Refer-
ence
number
Name
Approxi-
mate
total
1
■>
3
4
5
Twentynine Palms .
Coachella Valley
Salton Sea
Imperial Valley
Colorado River
Lanfair Valley _
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS
378,000
213,000
223,000
03,700
94,900
441,000
3,700
700
1,300
200
500
3,700
7,000
21,800
2,f>00
4,300
4,400
1,500
200
400
100
500
400
390,000
23(1,000
227,000
(14,000
100,000
450,000
1,414,000
10,100
40,100
3,100
1,467,000
sponding estimates for ultimate conditions of develop-
ment, but excludes areas having rights in and to the
waters of the Colorado River. These mean seasonal
values represent the water other than precipitation
needed to provide for beneficial consumptive use of
water on irrigated lands, urban and suburban areas,
and other water service areas, and for irrecoverable
losses of water incidental to such use. The estimates
were derived from consideration of the heretofore
presented estimates of consumptive use of applied
water, and of water service area efficiencies of hydro-
graphic units.
Water requirements for the Twentynine Palms.
Salton Sea, and Lanfair Valley Hydrographic Units
take into consideration the re-use of portions of the ap-
plied water by storage and pumping from the subsur-
face basins. Present water requirements estimated for
the Colorado River Hydrographic Unit are the sum
of the beneficial consumptive use of Colorado River
water and the estimated irrecoverable loss accompany-
ing the diversion and use. The estimated water service
area efficiency in this unit was established on this
basis. At the persent time return Hows from the
Coachella Valley and Imperial Valley Hydrographic
Units drain into the Salton Sea and are not available
for subsequent use.
Supplemental Requirements
The probable ultimate supplemental water require-
ment in the Colorado Desert Area was evaluated as
the difference between the present and ultimate water
requirements.
The developed water supply available from the
Colorado River was assumed to be the amount for
which agencies within the State of California have
entered into contracts with the United States Depart-
ment of the Interior. Apportionment of this water
supply among hydrographic units in the Colorado
Desert Area was made on the basis of entitlements as
set forth in the 1931 Seven-Party Agreement. The
total annual quantity apportioned to this area in the
aforesaid agreement was 4,150,000 acre-feet. This is
believed to be sufficient to satisfy the ultimate water
requirements of the lands having rights in and to the
waters of the Colorado River.
Table 167 presents estimates of the probable ulti-
mate supplemental water requirements in the Colo-
rado Desert Area, except on lands having rights in
and to the waters of the Colorado River.
TABLE 167
ESTIMATED PRESENT AND PROBABLE ULTIMATE MEAN
SEASONAL SUPPLEMENTAL WATER REQUIREMENTS,
COLORADO DESERT AREA
(Excluding lands having rights in and to the waters of the
Colorado River)
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Present
Reference
number
Name
Probable
ultimate
1
382,000
2
Coachella Valley
176,000
3 .
217,000
4
64,000
5
99,100
6
450,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS.
1 ,388,000
CHAPTER X
SUMMARY
This chapter constitutes a summary, on a general-
ized state-wide basis, of the determinations of water
utilization and requirements presented in the preced-
ing chapters. It is prefaced by a brief description of
California, its characteristics, and its potential for
future growth and development, particularly as re-
lated to requirements for water. As has been stated,
the area of the State was divided into seven major
hydrographic areas in order to facilitate the present
state-wide studies. The land areas of each of the
seven hydrographic areas are given in Table 168.
Locations and boundaries of the areas are shown on
Plate 8.
TABLE 168
AREAS OF HYDROGRAPHIC AREAS,
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Refer-
ence
number
Hydrographic
area
Acres
1
12,500,000
2
San Francisco Bav
2,530,000
3
7,221,000
4
South Coastal
6,995,000
38,050,000
li
7
Lahontan
20,970.000
12,420,000
APPROXIMATE
TOTAL
100,690,000
The State of California, bordering the Pacific Ocean
over 10 degrees of latitude, occupies a commanding
position on the western coast of North America. The
towering peaks of the Sierra Nevada on the north
and the wide deserts on the south form the eastern
boundary of the State. With an average width of
about 275 miles, California has a land area of over
100,000,000 acres. A great agricultural economy oc-
cupies the rich valley lands and much of the lower
foothill area. Magnificent stands of timber are located
on the mountain lands of the northern half of the
State, and mineral resources, including construction
materials, ores, and oil and gas, are found in many
places. Excellent ports for world-wide commerce are
located along the coast, inducing the growth of major
industrial centers. About 7,000,000 acres are presently
devoted to irrigated agriculture, and over 1,000,000
acres are occupied by urban and suburban develop-
ments. Many thousands of visitors to the State each
year, as well as the majority of the resident popula-
tion, utilize the outstanding recreational and scenic
opportunities for vacationing, bunting, and fishing.
The population of California increased from some
93,000 to about 10,600,000 in the century between
1850 and 1950, and is estimated to be well over 12,-
()()(),()()() in 1955.
The general nature of the climate of California is
the result of three controlling factors, the latitude,
the influence of the Pacific Ocean, and the orienta-
tion and extreme range of topography. The situation
of the Pacific high-pressure area with respect to the
California coast determines the general effect of Pa-
cific storms upon the weather. The influence of the
ocean gives the immediate coastal areas a maritime
climate. However, the unusually wide variations and
abrupt discontinuities in the climate of California are
due principally to the mountain ranges. Climatic con-
ditions vary from mild and equable along the coast,
to alpine-like in the high mountain areas of the Cas-
cade Range and the Sierra Nevada, to hot and arid
in the deserts of the southeast.
Precipitation mainly occurs during winter months,
as rain at lower elevations and as snow in the higher
mountain regions. Seasonal precipitation at sea level
on the coast decreases from a depth of about 10 inches
in the north to about 10 inches in the south. In the
Central Valley it varies from about 38 inches at Red-
ding to little over 6 inches at Bakersfield. In the Colo-
rado Desert Area the average seasonal depth of pre-
cipitation on the valley floor is less than 4 inches.
"Wet and dry periods lasting for several years, in
which average precipitation departs far from the
mean, are frequently experienced in California. One
of the most severe recorded dry periods in most of
the State extended from 1928 through 1934, and an-
other severe drought was experienced in the southern
part of the State from 1895 through 1904. The seasons
of 1923-24 and 1930-31 were generally the driest
throughout California since adequate records have
been maintained.
The estimated mean seasonal natural runoff of Cali-
fornia's streams is about 71,000,000 acre-feet. The
major runoff contributions come from the North
Coastal Area, which furnishes about 41 per cent of
the total for the State, and from the Sacramento Val-
ley portion of the Central Valley Area, which fur-
nishes about 32 per, cent. Runoff from the coastal
streams closely follows the pattern of precipitation,
while a substantial part of that from inland moun-
tainous areas is delayed until the late spring and
summer snowmelt period. Estimated mean seasonal
runoff for the various hydrographic areas is pre-
sented in Table 169.
(219)
220
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 169
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL FULL NATURAL RUNOFF OF
HYDROGRAPHIC AREAS, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Refer-
Hydrographic area
Runoff
ence
num-
ber
In acre-feet
In percent of
total
1
2.. _..
North Coastal
28,890,000
1,245,000
2.448,000
1,227,000
33,640,000
3,177,000
221,000
40.8
1.8
3
Central Coastal .
3.4
4
South Coastal ..
1.7
5
Central Valley-.
47.5
6
4.5
7
0.3
APPROXIMATE TOTALS _
70,850,000
100.0
TABLE 170
ESTIMATED PRESENT AND PROBABLE ULTIMATE POPU-
LATION WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC AREAS, STATE OF
CALIFORNIA
The outstanding characteristic of natural stream
runoff in California is the maldistribution of this
basic resource. Over 72 per cent of the runoff occurs
north of a line drawn roughly through Sacramento.
In contrast, an estimated 77 per cent of the present
water requirement and 80 per cent of the forecast ul-
timate requirement is found south of the same line.
As shown on Plate 4, at least 223 valley fill areas,
which may or may not contain usable ground water,
have been identified throughout California. Exten-
sive ground water basins provide natural regulation
for more than half of the water presently used for
irrigation and urban purposes. Draft on many basins
now exceeds replenishment, "and in some instances
the overdraft is of such magnitude as to threaten
irreparable damage to these valuable storage reser-
voirs. However, the vast available underground stor-
age capacity, estimated to be about 133,000,000 acre-
feet in the Central Valley alone, will provide
regulation for sufficient water to meet California's
ultimate water requirement when operated coordi-
nately with available surface reservoirs.
The population of California has almost doubled
in the past 20 years, and has increased over 600 per
cent since 1900. The widespread distribution of urban
population is evidenced by the fact that in 1950 there
Avere 19 cities with populations in excess of 50,000.
Recent increases in population in suburban areas
have in many cases been proportionately greater than
within city limits. Table 170 presents the 1950 popula-
1 ions of the seven hydrographic areas and a forecast
of their populations under ultimate conditions.
Industrial activity is a major influence in urban
development of California, and is accelerating yearly.
Many industries from eastern and midwest areas have
established basic manufacturing plants here, and
many others have located branch installations for
final assembly of consumer products. Basic indus-
tries founded on local resources include the process-
ing of agricultural products, ores, petroleum, steel,
and timber. Aircraft production, utilizing materials
Refer-
ence
number
Hydrographic area
Present
(1950)
Probable
ultimate
1
217,000
2,555,000
377,000
5,388.000
1,830,000
98,000
121,000
750,000
2
3
4
San Francisco Bav -
1 3,4(10,000
1,400.000
18,950,000
5
0,750,000
6
600,000
7
500,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS.-
10.590,000
42,410,000
largely imported from others parts of the country,
is an outstanding processing industry.
Many outstanding projects for the purpose of de-
veloping and distributing the water supplies neces-
sary for maintenance of the urban and industrial
economy of California have been built in the past.
Among these are the works to provide municipal sup-
plies for the Cities of San Diego, Los Angeles, San
Francisco and Oakland, and their environs, importing
water from such distant sources as the Sierra Nevada
and the Colorado River to the several communities.
The indicated continuation of growth of population
and industry points to even more imposing develop-
ments to meet the future water requirements for
urban and industrial purposes.
Most of the commercial stands of timber in Cali-
fornia are found in the North Coastal Area, and
above an elevation of 3,000 feet on the western slopes
of the Sierra Nevada, while less important stands
occur throughout the State. These timbered areas
are shown on Plate 6. The rate of timber growth on
some 16,000,000 acres of lands susceptible of commer-
cial development is estimated to be about 1,200,000,-
000 board feet per year. Under ultimate conditions
and with adequate management, an annual sustained
yield of about 3,800,000,000 board feet is considered
possible. Many timber by-products are now processed
within California, and it is expected that eventually
most logging and milling residues will be used in
manufacturing processes. The use of water by the
timber industry constitutes only a relatively minor
requirement. However, with the establishment of cer-
tain timber by-product industries, such as the manu-
facture of pulp and rayon, serious problems relating
to waste disposal and its effect on water quality may
arise.
The discovery of gold in 1848, which so spectacu-
larly stimulated the development of the west, was
followed by widespread production of gold and many
other minerals in California. Because of recent un-
favorable economic conditions, the mining of gold
lias fallen from its former commanding position,
SUMMARY
221
although substantial production still results from the
working of auriferous gravels, largely by dredgers.
The location and extent of the auriferous gravel
deposits are shown on Plate 6. The early-day non-
consumptive water requirement for hydraulic mining
of gold was substantial, but has declined to practi-
cally nothing. A possible future revival of the indus-
try would impose a reservation on the available
reservoir storage capacity of the State to impound
debris and tailings.
Other than gold, the extractive industries of Cali-
fornia now include the production of many metals
and minerals, including a wide variety of industrial
and construction materials, as well as the production
of petroleum and natural gas. Iron ore processing
at the Kaiser plant near Fontana provides the State
with a basic steel industry. Petroleum extraction is
centered principally in the southern part of the Cen-
tral Valley and along the southern coast. Natural
gas is likewise produced in these localities, and also
in the north and central portions of the Central Val-
ley. The processing of petroleum is centered around
Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay. In general,
these extractive industries do not impose significant
water supply problems, their reqiiirements being rela-
tively small as related to other uses of water. How-
ever, as in the case of the timber industry, the prob-
lems of waste disposal inherent in some of these
industries impose a threat on the maintenance of
satisfactory water quality in streams and ground
water basins.
By far the largest use of water in California is for
agriculture, a condition that will continue to prevail
even under conditions of ultimate development. The
present use of water for all purposes other than agri-
culture is estimated to be only about 8 per cent of
the total, and will increase to about 14 per cent ulti-
mately. In 1950 there were 103 irrigation districts
within the State, with a gross area of about 3,960,000
acres, of which about 3,080,000 acres were considered
by the districts to be irrigable. In the same year
approximately 6,300,000 acre-feet of water were de-
livered by these districts to over 2,170,000 acres of
irrigated lands. The area of all irrigated lands in
California, comprising nearly 6,900,000 acres in 1950,
is approximately 25 per cent of the jtotal area irri-
gated in the United States. A very large portion of
the water to support irrigated agriculture in Cali-
fornia has been developed as a result of the enter-
prise of local public districts. The Central Valley
Project, which supplements irrigation supplies of the
San Joaquin Valley with exchanged water from the
Sacramento Valley, is an exception in this respect,
having been constructed by the Federal Government.
Major projects, surpassing the size and scope of any
existing developments, will be required to enable de-
sirable future expansion of irrigated agriculture in
the State.
Electric power to meet the rapidly growing de-
mands in California is produced by both fuel-electric
and hydroelectric generation. At the present time the
power demands of the State are being met principally
by three major public utilities and several large mu-
nicipal utilities. The production of these and other
smaller privately and publicly owned systems is sup-
plemented by power generated at several hydroelec-
tric installations operated by the Federal Govern-
ment. The total installed power capacity within the
boundaries of the State in 1953 was about 6,800,000
kilowatts, of which approximately 2,870,000 kilowatts
were for hydroelectric generation. The theoretical
possible hydroelectric power capacity within the
State is of* the order of 10,700,000 kilowatts. The de-
velopment of additional hydroelectric power is an
important consideration in future water resource
development planning.
The climatic advantages and wide variety of nat-
ural attractions of California provide unparalleled
opportunities for recreational development. However,
the amount of water actually consumed for domestic
and service facilities in recreational areas is a very
minor part of the aggregate requirement of the State.
Waters used for boating, swimming, and other water
sports are generally available naturally or as a result
of works constructed for other purposes. The most
substantial use of water in connection with recreation
relates to the preservation and propagation of fish
and wildlife, which use is nonconsumptive in nature.
The principal consumptive use of water for recrea-
tional purposes is in connection with the maintenance
of ponds and feeding areas for migratory wild fowl.
It is anticipated that public demand for the preserva-
tion and enhancement of recreational facilities will be
sufficient in most instances to assure provision of
water supplies necessary for such purposes.
Flood control is important as it relates to the de-
velopment of water resources in California. The
sporadic nature of rainfall is conducive to major
winter flood damage in many parts of the State.
Accelerated snowmelt due to unseasonable early
spring temperatures frequently creates problems in
conserving and controlling the resultant runoff. The
destruction and havoc caused by floods in California
have frequently been accompanied by the economic
anomaly of the wastage of huge amounts of water into
the ocean in areas of deficient water supply. Major
flood control activities include projects on the Sacra-
mento and San Joaquin Rivers and extensive works
in southern California, principally in the Los An-
geles metropolitan area. Flood control in the past has
been largely a joint endeavor between the United
States, represented by the Corps of Engineers, the
State, and local public interests. The magnitude of
the flood problem can be gaged by the expenditure to
date for such activities, which is estimated to be
about $335,000,000 in the Sacramento and San Joa-
222
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
quin River Basins and in Los Angeles County. Addi-
tional large sums have been expended in other areas.
A multiplicity of other problems is involved in the
development and use of the waters of California for
beneficial purposes. These include the repulsion of sea
water from underground basins, drainage of high
watertable lands, maintenance of satisfactory salt
balance in irrigated areas, and protection and mainte-
nance of the quality of fresh waters. Solutions to
these problems, and estimates of the amounts of water
necessary to satisfy their requirements, must be de-
veloped in conjunction with future proposals for
definite projects.
PRESENT AND ULTIMATE WATER
SERVICE AREAS
Determinations of the location, nature, and extent
of presently irrigated urban and suburban and other
water service areas were made in all hydrographic
areas of the State. At the same time, all lands were
classified as to their suitability for development under
probable ultimate conditions. The resulting data were
utilized in determining the present and probable ulti-
mate water requirements for all lands in California.
Since the lands of the Colorado Desert Area having
rights in and to the waters of the Colorado River have
available a sufficient water supply for their ultimate
development estimates of ultimate water service areas
and requirements for these lands were excluded from
this bulletin.
Irrigated Lands
It was determined that under present conditions
of development about 6,870,000 acres are irrigated in
California in a given year, on the average. It was
further estimated that a gross area of about 19,050,-
000 acres is suitable for irrigated agriculture, and that
under ultimate conditions of development in the State
a net area averaging about 16,250,000 acres will actu-
ally be irrigated.
On an areal basis, pasture, hay and grain, and al-
falfa now constitute the dominant irrigated crops in
California, and it was estimated that they will com-
prise about 43 per cent of the estimated ultimate crop
pattern. However, the aggregate of other crops such
as cotton, citrus, orchard, vineyard, and truck, is of
equal or more importance economically. A summary
of the presently irrigated acreage, segregated into
various crop groups, is presented in Table 171. A
similar crop pattern for probable ultimate conditions
of development is presented in Table 172.
Urban and Suburban Water Service Areas
Under present conditions approximately 1,055,000
acres in California are devoted to urban and suburban
types of land use. For the most part, the business,
TABLE 171
AREAS OF PRESENTLY IRRIGATED LANDS WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC AREAS,
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
(In acres)
Hydrographic area number and name
Crop
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Approximate
total
North
Coastal
San Francisco
Bay
Central
Coastal
South
Coastal
Central
Valley
Lahontan
Colorado
Desert
Alfalfa
24,400
67,500
97,500
4,400
16,000
2,800
4,100
1,800
8,500
6,800
3,100
38,400
84,500
10,300
3.600
2,000
30,900
24,500
75,900
26,300
129,000
38,300
10,300
3,000
42,500
19,800
41,200
11,600"
35.000
125,000
19,700
279,000
42,900
585,000
757,000
795,000
370,000
295,000
346,000
387,000
45,000
448,000
723,000
96,200
38,000
81,700
2,000
4,200
5,600
203,000
100,000
8,200
85,400
34,100
78,000
1,500
4,500
10,000
34,000
6,100
986,000
984 000
Hay and grain
Pasture
1,057,000
549,000
67,200
38,100
295,000
737,000
539,000
Miscellaneous field crops
Sugar beets
Beans .
Rice _ _
Truck..
Orchard, general
Citrus
339,000
53,200
465,000
Walnuts.
Vineyards
Cotton .
757 000
Dates . .
6 100
Flowers
2 100
Net irrigated areas
Farm lots
213,000
4,100
6,400
163,000
338,000
5,900
10,800
617,000
b
35,000
4,751,000
108,000
265,000
228,000
2,800
4,900
565,000
7,900
13,900
6,875,000
129,000
No n water service areas
336,000
APPROXIMATE GROSS
IRRIGATED AREAS..
223,000
163,000
355,000
652,000
5,124,000
236,000
587,000
7,340,000
" Not segregated.
b Included in urban and suburban areas.
c Includes miscellaneous crop types not otherwise segregated.
SUMMARY
223
TABLE 172
PROBABLE ULTIMATE AREAS OF IRRIGATED LANDS WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC AREAS,
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
(In acres)
Hydrographic area number and name
Crop
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Approximate
total
North
Coastal
San Francisco
Bay
Central
Coastal
South
Coastal
Central
Valley
Lahontan
Colorado
Desert d
Alfalfa .
124,000
317,000
297,000
34,200
75,600
164,000
250,000
202,000
69,000
60,100
1 16,000
68,600
45,000 b
1,112,000
1,513,000
1,052,000
995,000
320,000
647,000
854,000
899,00(1
6,300
55,100
181,000
14,600
95,000
43,000
800
2,200,000
3,009,000
2,662,000
Miscellaneous field crops. _ .
1,326,000
445,000
72,900
72,900
738,000
524,000
708,000
104,000
738,000
Truck
51,800
28,100
219,000
113,000
32,600
193,000
59.900
325.000
53.000
53,200
42,200
68.400
14.400
10,500
1,109.000
966,000
172,000
53
16,900
41,200
710,000
2,261,000
54,800
40.900
3,600
2,500
864.000
2 265,000
2,500
Net irrigated areas . . -
Farm lots . . _ _ _ .
Nonwater service areas . _ -
869,000
14,700
174,000
62,400"
1,400
2,000
1,166,000
19,500
183,000
1,024,000
35,800
96,400
10,040,000
166.000
1 .".47.000
2,612,000
56.300
430,000
475,000
10,100
67,100
16,250,000"
304,000
2,500,000
APPROXIMATE GROSS
IRRIGATED AREAS..
1,058,000
65,800
1,368,000
1,156,000
11.750.000
3,098.000
552,000
19,050,000
a Crop pattern not forecast. Total without reclamation of tidelands.
b Includes miscellaneous crop types not otherwise segregated.
c Total of segregated crop pattern, except San Francisco Bay Area, is 16,190,000 acres
11 Excluding lands having rights in and to waters of the Colorado River.
commercial, and industrial establishments and sur-
rounding homes included in this classification receive
a municipal type of water supply. It is anticipated
that future urban and suburban growth in most
regions of the State will parallel the development
of agricultural lands. Metropolitan areas, however,
particularly those bordering the Pacific Ocean, may
be expected to respond to national and world-wide
economic conditions, in addition to those created by
the expansion of California as an agricultural state.
It is estimated that urban and suburban water serv-
ice areas under ultimate conditions of development
will occupy about 3,435,000 acres.
Other Water Service Areas
The remaining lands of California, other than those
that are irrigated or urban and suburban in char-
acter, were not classified in detail with regard to water
service. Of a total of about 92,760,000 acres of such
remaining lands, approximately 182,000 acres actually
receive water service at the present time. These rela-
tively minor present water service areas, herein termed
''Unclassified," consist largely of scattered develop-
ments in national forests and monuments, public
beaches and parks, private recreational areas, wild fowl
refuges, and military reservations.
It is estimated that under probable conditions of
ultimate development, approximately 76,910,000 acres
of such lands will be served with water in amounts
sufficient for their needs. No attempt was made to
segregate these "other water service areas" in detail
with regard to the nature of their probable ultimate
water service. By far the greater portion of the lands
is situated in rough, mountainous terrain, much of
which is presently unaccessible. It is expected that
even under conditions of ultimate development this
portion will be only sparsely settled and will have
only very minor requirements for water service.
Summary
Table 173 summarizes data relative to present
water service areas in the various hydrographic areas
of California, classified by broad land usage group-
ings. Similar data relating to probable ultimate con-
ditions of development are given in Table 174.
UNIT VALUES OF WATER USE
It is anticipated that the values of water use and
requirement estimated for this bulletin will be used
in connection with long-range water resources plan-
ning. The unit values expressed, therefore, are those
that would occur under mean conditions of water sup-
ply and climate, and represent the average use of
water when an adequate water supply is available.
They do not reflect possible effects of any present
shortages in water supply.
224
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 173
SUMMARY OF PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS WITHIN
HYDROGRAPHIC AREAS, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
(In acres)
Refer-
ence
num-
ber
Hydrographic area
Gross
irrigated
area
Urban and
suburban
areas
Unclassi-
fied
areas
Approxi-
mate
total
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
North Coastal
San Francisco Bay _ .
Central Coastal
South Coastal
Central Valley
Lahontan
Colorado Desert. .
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS
223,000
163,000
355,000
652,000
5,123,000
236,000
587,000
18.500
225.000
48.400
547,000
191,000
10,300
14,200
19.500
50.100
12,200
1,200
84,700
4,500
10,000
261,000
438,000
416,000
1,200,000
5,399,000
250,000
611,000
7,339,000
1,054,000
182,000
8,575,000
TABLE 174
SUMMARY OF PROBABLE ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE
AREAS WITHIN HYDROGRAPHIC AREAS, STATE OF
CALIFORNIA
(In acres)
Refer-
ence
num-
ber
Hydrographic area
Irrigable
lands
Urban and
suburban
areas
Other
water
service
areas
Approxi-
mate
total
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
North Coastal
San Francisco Bay a _.
Central Coastal
South Coastal ._
Central Valley
Lahontan
Colorado Desert b
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS
1,058,000
65,800
1 ,368,000
1,156,000
11,750,000
3,098,000
552,000
53,000
1,250,000
138,000
1,611,000
292,000
53,700
13,700
11,390,000
1,222,000
5,715,000
4,228,000
26,010.000
17,820,000
10,530,000
12,500,000
2,538,000
7,221,000
6,995,000
38,050,000
20,970,000
11,100,000
19,050,000
3,411,000
76,910,000
99,370,000
a Without reclamation of tidelands.
b Excluding lands having rights in and to waters of the Colorado River.
A comprehensive study was made of available ex-
perimental data on consumptive use of irrigation
water and of records of irrigation water deliveries
and return flows. Investigation was also made of the
prevailing irrigation practices in the several parts of
the State. For most of California, unit seasonal values
of consumptive use of applied irrigation water for
the various crop groups were estimated by a method
developed mainly by Harry F. Blaney and Wayne D.
Criddle of the federal Soil Conservation Service.
However, the basic method of these authorities was
modified somewhat to meet the special needs of the
present investigation, and in the light of the cited
study of irrigation records and practices.
Unit values of water use in urban and suburban
areas, other than in the San Francisco Bay Area and
in most of the South Coastal Area, generally were
estimated from records of present delivery and dis-
posal of water, utilizing data from private and public
water service agencies. Although there are large varia-
tions in per capita water deliveries to various cities,
analysis disclosed no firm trends in the amount of the
deliveries as related to metered or unmetered water
service, or as related to the cost of water to the con-
sumer. More important factors in this respect seemed
to be the climatological characteristics, the abundance
or scarcity of water, and the nature and habits of
the communities. The records of water delivery indi-
cated that in recent years there has been an increase
in the per capita urban requirement, and that the
trend is continuing. A substantial part of the increase
probably results from development of modern water-
using appliances. In some communities, also, a grow-
ing industrialization accounts for part of the increase.
To provide for this trend, the probable ultimate unit
values of water deliveries to urban and suburban
areas generally were increased 10 per cent over
present values.
For tlic metropolitan areas in and around San
Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, as well as
for most of the remaining urban areas in the South
Coastal Area, unit values of present water use were
estimated by a sampling procedure. An inventory
was made of measured water deliveries in sample
areas representative of each urban type. In most
cases, the probable ultimate unit values were esti-
mated by adjusting the present values, the adjust-
ments being based upon indicated trends for each
urban type.
Estimates of unit values of water use in areas
other than irrigated, urban and suburban, or metro-
politan, were based largely on records or estimates
of present water delivery. By the nature of the activi-
ties involved, water utilization in most of these other
water service areas is not adaptable to areal classifica-
tion, and the unit values of water use consisted of
per capita or per unit of production values. In areas
outside of specifically classified types of development,
ultimate unit values were generally expressed on a
per capita basis, assumptions being made as to densi-
ties of ultimate population. For lands above an eleva-
tion of 3,000 feet it was assumed that occupancy
would be limited to a few months of the year, thus
reducing the effective seasonal unit value of water
use, while lands below that elevation were assumed to
be occupied for longer periods.
Evaluation of unit values of water use by urban
types' was generally based on the assumption that
water delivery constitutes an approximate equivalent
measure of consumptive use of applied water and the
unavoidable losses sustained in delivery and disposal.
Exceptions to this were made for unsewered absorp-
tive portions of the South Coastal Area, where allow-
ances were taken for return flow and re-use of sewage.
AVater deliveries to unclassified and other water serv-
ice areas were likewise considered to be the measures
of consumptive use of applied water.
Estimated weighted mean seasonal unit values of
consumptive use of applied water in the seven major
hydrographic areas of the State are presented in
SUMMARY
225
Tables 175 and 176, respectively, for present and
probable ultimate conditions.
TABLE 175
ESTIMATED PRESENT WEIGHTED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT
VALUES OF CONSUMPTIVE USE OF APPLIED WATER,
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
(In feet of depth)
Refer-
ence
num-
ber
Hydrographic area
Irrigated
lands
Farm
lots
Urban
and
suburban
areas
1
1.5
1.3
1.3
1.5
2.0
2.0
3.1
1.0
0.5
b
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.1
2
3
San Francisco Bay
i .6
1.0
4
0.6
5
0.7
6
0.6
7
1.7
WEIGHTED MEAN
2.0
0.5
0.9
« Included in "Unclassified Areas."
b Included in "Urban and Suburban Areas."
TABLE 176
PROBABLE ULTIMATE WEIGHTED MEAN SEASONAL UNIT
VALUES OF CONSUMPTIVE USE OF APPLIED WATER,
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
(In feet of depth)
Refer-
ence
num-
ber
Hydrographic area
Irrigated
lands
Farm
lots
Urban
and
suburban
areas
Other
water
service
areas
1
2
3
4
5
6
North Coastal _
San Francisco Bay - .
Central Coastal
South Coastal
Central Valley
1.3
0.9
1.2
1.5
2.0
2.0
2.7
0.8
2.0
0.5
0.8
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.6
2.2
1.4
0.8
1.3
1.0
2.9
less
than
0.01
in
all
7
Colorado Desert. .
WEIGHTED
MEAN
1.9
0.6
1.4
CONSUMPTIVE USE OF APPLIED WATER
The amount of applied water consumptively used
was estimated by applying the appropriate unit value
of water use to the acreage of each of the various
classes and types of land use, and totaling for each
service area. These estimates are summarized by
major hydrographic areas of the State in Tables 177
and 178, for present and probable ultimate conditions,
respectively.
WATER REQUIREMENTS
In broad generalization, the amount of the require-
ment for water of a consumptive nature was derived
by dividing the amount of consumptive use of applied
water by an appropriate efficiency factor, the factor
being chosen to account for unavoidable losses within
TABLE 177
ESTIMATED MEAN SEASONAL CONSUMPTIVE USE OF
APPLIED WATER ON PRESENT WATER SERVICE AREAS,
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
(In acre-feet)
Ref-
er-
ence
num-
ber
Hydrographic area
Irrigated
lands
1 ;n in
lets
Urban
and
sub-
urban
areas
Un-
classi-
fied
areas
Approxi-
mate
total
1 ...
2 ...
3...
4 ___
5
6
North Coastal
San Francisco Bay.
Central Coastal
South Coastal _
Central Valley
317,000
209,000
426.000
919,000
9.508,000
464.000
1,746,000
4.000
3,100
h
54.400
1.400
3,900
20,900
352,000
47.400
338.000
138,000
6,100
23,500
4,500
:;:,. coo
14,600
2,400
105,000
14.100
47,900
346.000
597,000
HI 1.000
1,259,000
9,805.000
486 000
7...
Colorado Desert
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS
1,821,000
13,590,000
66,800
926,000
224,000
14,810,000
■ Included in "Unclassified Areas."
b Included in "Urban and Suburban Areas.'
TABLE 178
PROBABLE MEAN SEASONAL CONSUMPTIVE USE OF
APPLIED WATER ON ULTIMATE WATER SERVICE AREAS,
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
(In acre-feet)
Ref-
Urban
Other
water
er-
Hydrographic
Irrigated
Farm
and
Approxi-
nu ru-
area
lands
lots
urban
service
total
ber
areas
areas
1 ...
North Coastal.
1,131,000
12,200
85,200
83,500
1,312,000
2...
San Francisco
Bay"
72,000
2,800
2.747,000
2,500
2.824.000
3 ...
Central Coastal
1,132,000
9,800
198,000
23,200
1,663,000
4 ...
Soutb Coastal.
1.568,000
28.600
1,264,000
16,000
2,877,000
5 ...
Central Valley .
20,100,000
83,600
372,000
301,000
20,860,000
6 ...
Lahonton
5,151,000
28,200
53,700
04,800
5,298,000
7 ...
Colorado
Desert b _ .
APPROXI-
1,161,000
4,900
40,100
3,100
1,209,000
MATE
TOTALS .
30,010,000
170,000
4,760,000
494,000
36,040,000
a Without reclamation of tidelands.
b Excluding lands having rights in and to waters of the Colorado River.
the service area under consideration. Most noncon-
sumptive requirements for water, however, are not
readily susceptible of evaluation except as they re-
late to actual water development projects, and sbould
be evaluated with consideration to all water require-
ments at the time projects are implemented. For this
reason, nonconsumptive water requirements are dis-
cussed only generally in this bulletin and are not sum-
marized in this chapter.
The requirement for irrigation water was estimated
as the sum of the products of appropriate unit values
of consumptive use of applied irrigation water and
the areas of the various irrigated crop types, divided
by estimated irrigation water service area efficiencies,
or by equivalent procedure. In many instances, data
available from agencies serving irrigation water per-
22(]
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
mitted direct derivation of the present efficiency
factor. AVhere such data were not available or appli-
cable, the efficiency of water use was estimated on the
basis of available information on conveyance and dis-
tribution losses, re-use of return flow, flushing water
required to maintain salt balance, and topographic
and geologic conditions affecting the application and
use of irrigation water. Of primary importance among
the topographic and geologic factors are the existence,
extent, and type of ground water basins, and their
positions with relation to sources of water supply and
to other water service areas.
The water requirements of urban and suburban
areas, other than in the South Coastal and San Fran-
cisco Bay Areas, were estimated as the sums of the
products of appropriate unit values of water delivery
and the determined total areas of urban and suburban
land use. Urban water requirements of the metropol-
itan areas in and around Los Angeles, San Francisco,
and San Diego were estimated as the sum of the
products of appropriate unit values of water delivery,
times the areas of the various types of urban land use,
multiplied by factors to account for water losses in
conveyance and delivery throughout the water systems.
Additionally, in portions of the South Coastal Area
the re-use of unconsumed urban water delivered on
absorptive lands was taken into account, involving
consideration of the status of sewerage.
For water service areas designated "unclassified"
under present conditions, and for those classed as
"other water service areas" under ultimate condi-
tions, water requirements were estimated as the sum
of the products (if derived unit values of water de-
livery and appropriate factors of population or unit
of production.
The total requirement for water in each service
area was taken as the sum of the individual require-
ments for the several classes of water use, due account
generally being taken of usable return flow from ap-
plied water within the area. Similar consideration was
made in evaluating total water requirements of larger
measures of land area. Estimates of the present and
probable ultimate mean seasonal consumptive require-
ments for water by major hydrographic areas are
presented in Table 179.
SUPPLEMENTAL WATER REQUIREMENTS
In areas with a present deficiency in water supply
development, standard procedures were utilized to
evaluate the present safe yield. By subtracting this
value from the determined present water require-
ment, the supplemental water requirement was de-
rived. Available data on which to base estimates of
present safe yield were often inadequate, and the
resulting estimates of supplemental requirement are
necessarily subject to error. However, they are be-
lieved to be sufficiently reliable for their particular
purpose, which is to provide information regarding
the magnitude of water supply surpluses or defi-
ciencies in the various parts of California in order to
permit development of the broad pattern of The Cali-
fornia Water Plan.
Ultimate supplemental water requirements were
evaluated as the difference between present and ulti-
mate requirements for water, plus the present supple-
mental water requirement in such areas as experience
a present deficiency. The possible additional yield of
the existing water supply works over the present re-
quirement of the area served was not credited to
reduction of the ultimate supplemental water require-
ment, except for the water allocated from the Friant-
Kern, Madera, and Contra Costa Canals. The diffi-
culties inherent in defining and determining accu-
rately the amount of present surface yield, and in
allocating the surplus to specific water service areas
TABLE 179
ESTIMATED PRESENT AND PROBABLE ULTIMATE MEAN SEASONAL REQUIREMENTS
FOR WATER, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
(In acre-feet)
Hydrographic unit
Irrigated lands
Farm lots
Urban and
suburban areas
Other water
service areas
Approximate
totals
Name
Refer-
ence
number
Present
Probable
ultimate
Present
Probable
ultimate
Present
Probable
ultimate
Present
Probable
ultimate
Present
Probable
ultimate
1
488,000
301,000
641,000
1,020,000
1 2,700,000
712,000
3,261,000
1,917,000
98,300"
2,217,000
1,856,000
22,820,000
6,607,000
1,414,000'!
4,200
b
6,100
109,000
3,000
8,000
15,400
2,800"
19,600
45,000
167,000
56,000
10,100')
21,000
388,000
47,400
885,000
277,000
12,000
23,500
85,300
3,021,000"
198,000
3,635,000
741,000
107,000
40, 100 d
4,500
35,600
14,600
2,400
105,000
14,000
47,900
83,500
2,500 »
23,200
16,100
300,000
65,000
3,100 d
518,000
725,000
709,000
1.907,000
13,190,000
741,000
3,341,000
2,101,000
3,124,000"
2,458,000
2
3
San Francisco Bay
4
5 ..
South Coastal
5,552,000
24 030 000
6
7
Lahontan
6,835,000
1 467 000 d
APPROXIMATE
TOTALS
19,120,000
36,930,000
130,000
316,000
1,654,000
7,827,000
224,000
493,000
21,130,000
45,570,000
' Without reclamation of tidelands.
h i,,',,i.f| W 'ith "Other \V;iicr Service Areas."
•■ Included with "Urban and Suburban Areas."
■' Excluding lands having rights in and to waters of the Colorado Kiver.
SUMMARY
227
prior to completion of a comprehensive ultimate plan,
were such as to preclude their consideration in studies
for the present bulletin.
It should be noted that the supplemental water
requirement for a major hydrographic area, or for a
stream basin within that area, is not necessarily
equal to the sum of the individual supplemental re-
quirements of the included areas. This follows from
the fact that there is usually opportunity for down-
stream re-use of return flows from water applied on
upstream areas, thus reducing the aggregate supple-
mental requirement for the hydrographic area or
stream basin taken as a whole.
Estimates of present and probable ultimate mean
seasonal supplemental requirements for water in the
major hydrographic areas of California are presented
in Table 180.
TABLE 180
ESTIMATED PRESENT AND PROBABLE ULTIMATE MEAN
SEASONAL SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR
WATER, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
(In acre-feet)
Refer-
ence
number
Hydrographic area
Present
Probable
ultimate
1
32,000
184,000
395,000
1,785,000
279,000
1,583,000
2
2,209,000
3..
1,902,000
4
5..
South Coastal _
4,040,000
11,740.000
6 . .
7..
Lahontan . _ _ .
6,373,000
1,388,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS..
2,675,000
29,230,000
* Excluding lands having rights in and to the waters of the Colorado River.
ULTIMATE EXPORT AND IMPORT OF WATER
Table 181 presents a summary of estimates of run-
off, yield, requirement, and surplus or deficiency of
water in the several parts of California under prob-
able ultimate conditions of development. As has been
stated, the estimates of safe yield of the ultimate
water supply development are necessarily very tenta-
tive at this stage of planning, and cannot be actually
fixed until final determination of The California
Water Plan. However, they are believed to be ade-
quate for present planning purposes.
The yield estimates in Table 181 contemplate the
full development of local water supplies for local
use, as well as the supplies developed I'm- export from
areas of surplus to areas of deficiency. In addition to
the full use of surface reservoir storage capacity for
regulation of stream flow, the estimates of safe yield
are based on a substantial coordinated use of ground
water storage capacity for this purpose.
The estimates of surplus and deficiency in Table
181 do not consider exports or imports of water be-
tween major hydrographic areas developed in con-
nection with present rights. Rather, they are based
on the inherent water resource and requirement char-
acteristics of the areas. However, existing develop-
ments and present rights will be given primary con-
sideration in The California Water Plan.
The data presented in Table 181 not only illustrate
the basic geographic problem of water supply develop-
ment in California, but indicate the nature of the
solution to that problem. The full amount of the
rights of California in and to the waters of the
Colorado River must be protected to meet require-
ments within the State. In addition, an average of
approximately 23,000,000 acre-feet of water per sea-
son ultimately must be developed from the North
Coastal Area and from the Sacramento River Basin
of the Central Valley Area, and exported to the re-
maining water-deficient portions of the State. This
conclusion provides the basis for the broad pattern
of The California Water Plan.
TABLE 181
SUMMARY OF ESTIMATED ULTIMATE MEAN SEASONAL EXPORTS AND IMPORTS OF WATER IN CALIFORNIA
(In acre-feet)
Refer-
ence
number
Hydrographic area
Mean
runoff
Safe
yield
Water
requirement
Surplus,
available
for export
Deficiency,
to be met
by import
1
28,890,000
1,245,000
2,448,000
1,227,000
22,390.000
11,250,000
1,843,000
1,334,000
321,000
13,860,000
439,000
1,109,000
1,190,000
19,040,000
9,560,000
448,000
726,000
78.000
5,362,000
2,101,000
3,124,000
2,458,000
5,552,000
7,720,000
16,310.000
1,361,000
5,474,000
5,617.000
11,760,000
11,320,000
5,362.000
2
2,685,000
3
1,349,000
4
5 ..
South Coastal .
Central Valley
Sacramento River Basin _ ....
4,362,000
6,750,000
6
Lahontan
Area north of Mono Lake Basin
913,000
4,748,000
7
5,539,000
California's rights in and to waters of the Colorado River.
Requirement for operation of works in Sacramento-San
2.093,000
2,093,000
APPROXIMATE TOTALS .
70,850,000
51,810,000
51,810,000
28,440,000
28,440,000
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
GOODWIN J. KNIGHT
GOVERNOR
PUBLICATION OF
STATE WATER RESOURCES BOARD
Bulletin No. 2
WATER UTILIZATION AND
REQUIREMENTS
OF CALIFORNIA
Volume II
APPENDIXES AND PLATES
June, 1955
9—99801
TABLE OF CONTENTS
APPENDIXES
Page
A. A Preliminary Projection of California Crop Patterns for Estimating
Ultimate Water Requirements - 231
B. Directory of Water Service Agencies in California - 257
C. Description of Hydrographic Units - 291
D. Sources and Dates of Land Use Survey Data 305
E. Sources of Land Classification Survey Data__ - 307
F. Water Requirements for Fish and Wildlife in California _ 311
G. Hydroelectric Power Installations in California 325
II. Major Reservoirs of California 331
I. Water Quality Considerations Affecting Use of the Waters of Cali-
fornia -^ 339
PLATES
(Plates 1 to 15 at end of Volume II)
Plate
No.
1 Water Service Areas for The California Water Plan
2 Growth of Population and Cultivated and Irrigated Lands of California
3 Irrigation and Water Storage Districts
4 Valley Fill Areas
5 Electric Power Development, 1954
6 Timber Lands and Auriferous Gravel Deposits
7 Recreational Areas
8 Major Hydrographic Areas and Hydrographic Units
9 Classification of Lands for Water Service From The California Water Plan
10 Present Land Use in San Francisco Bay Area
11 Present Land Use in Los Angeles and San Diego Metropolitan Areas
12 Principal Water Supply Agencies and Works of San Francisco Bay Area
13 Principal Water Supply Agencies and Works of Los Angeles and San
Diego Metropolitan Areas
14 Imported Water Supplies of San Francisco Bay Area
15 Imported Water Supplies of Los Angeles and San Diego Metropolitan
Areas
( 230 )
APPENDIX A
A PRELIMINARY PROJECTION OF CALIFORNIA CROP PATTERNS FOR
ESTIMATING ULTIMATE WATER REQUIREMENTS
BY DAVID WEEKS
Professor of Agricultural Economics
University of California
January 15, 1954
( 231 )
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Introduction 233
Scope and General Procedure 233
General Assumptions 233
Population 234
United States Population Growth — Historical
and Projected Trends 234
California Population Growth — Historical and
Projected Trends 235
Population and the Crop Pattern 237
Consequences of Under- or Overestimates of
Future Population 238
California Crop Pattern of the Late 1940 's 238
A Major Part as Indicator of the Whole 238
Irrigated Acreages ' 238
Projection of the Orchard and Vineyard Crop
Acreage 240
Basic Assumptions 240
Steps in the Procedure 241
Summary of Results 241
Notes on the Method Employed 242
Page
Projection of the Commercial Truck Crop and
Potato Acreage 243
Basic Assumptions 244
Steps in the Procedure 244
Results of the Projection 244
Projection of the Field Crop Acreage 244
Basic Assumptions 244
Steps in the Procedure 244
Results of the Field Crop Irrigated Acreage
Projections 245
Economic Implications of the Foregoing Projec-
tions 247
Price and Demand Analysis in Long-term Pro-
jections 248
Age Distribution of the California Orchard
and Vineyard Crops in Relation to Future
Acreage Requirements 249
Competition of the Different Crops for Land
and for Water 250
Price Controls in Relation to Long-term Acre-
age Trends 253
Acreage Allotments 254
Conclusions 256
LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
1 United States Population Trends 235
2 California Population Rate of Increase 236
3 California Crop Acreages, 1949, Total and Irrigated 239
4 Bearing and Harvested Acreages of California Crops,
Percentage Irrigated, 1909-1949 241
5 Total and Bearing Acreage of California Orchard and
Vineyard Crops, 1946-1949 241
6 Summary of Projected Crop Pattern for Assumption
of Initial Full Development of Irrigable Area of Cali-
fornia 242
7 Trend and Rate of Increase of Production of Cali-
fornia Deciduous Tree Fruit, 1920-1950, with Projec-
tions, 1950-1980 243
Trend and Rate of Increase of Production of Cali-
fornia Grapes, 1920-1950, with Projections, 1950-1980. 243
Trend and Rate of Increase of Production of Cali-
fornia Citrus Fruit, 1910-1950, with Projections, 1950-
1980
Trend and Rate of Increase of Production of Cali-
fornia Nut Crops, 1910-1950, with Projections, 1950-
1980
Trend and Rate of Increase of Commercial Truck
Crops in California, 1920-1950, with Projections from
1950-1980 244
Trend and Rate of Increase of Irrigated Harvested
Acreage of California Field Crops. 1910-1950, with
Projections from 1950-1980 245
Trend and Rate of Increase of Irrigated Harvested
Acreage of California Alfalfa, 1920-1950, with Projec-
tions from 1950-1980 245
8
9
10
11
12
13
243
24.-,
Table Page
14 Trend and Rate of Increase of Irrigated Harvested
Acreage of California Cotton, 1910-1950, with Projec-
tions from 1950-1980 245
15 Trend and Rate of Increase of Irrigated Harvest Acre-
age of California Rice, 1910-1950, with Projections
from 1950-1980 246
16 Trend and Rate of Increase of Irrigated Harvested
Acreage of California Miscellaneous Field Crops, 1920-
1950, with Projections from 1950-1980 246
17 Trend and Rate of Increase of Irrigated Harvested
Acreage of California Beans (Green and Dry), 1920-
1950, with Projections from 1950-1980 246
18 Trend and Rate of Increase of Irrigated Harvested
Acreage of California Sugar Beets, 1920-1950, with
Projections from 1950-1980 246
19 Trend and Rate of Increase of Irrigated Harvested
Acreage of California Miscellaneous Intensive Field
Crops, 1910-1950, with Projections from 1950-1980-
20 Trend and Rate of Increase of Irrigated Harvested
Acreage of California Small Grain Crops, 1920-1950,
with Projections from 1950-1980
21 Trend and Rate of Increase of Irrigated Harvested
Acreage of California Extensive Hay Crops, 1920-1950,
with Projections from 1950-1980—" 247
22 Yield Per Bearing Acre of Orchard and Vineyard
Crops 250
23 Average Yield Per Harvested Acre of Selected Field
Crops 251
24 Food Energy Yields of Irrigated Wheat and Rice in
the Sacramento Valley of California 252
25 Acreage of Irrigable Lands in California Suited Only
for Shallow-rooted Crops 253
247
247
Plate Al.
Fig. 1A.
Fig. IB.
Fig. 1C.
Fig. ID.
Plate A2.
Fig. 2A.
Fig. 2B.
Fig. 2C.
Fig. 2D.
Fig. 2E.
Fig. 2F.
Fig. 2C.
Fig. ?H.
Fig. 2T.
Fig. 2.T.
PLATES AND
(All plates for Appendix
Projected Population of United States and Cali-
fornia
Population of the United States (including mili-
tary forces overseas)
Percentage Increase per Decade of United States
Population
Population of California
Percentage Increase of California Population Over
the Population Ten Years Earlier
Total and Irrigated Acreage of California Crops
Citrus Fruits
Nut Crops
Deciduous Tree Fruits
Vineyard
Rice
Cotton
Alfalfa
Sugar Beets
Corn, Sorghums, Hays, and Flax
Beans. Green and Dry
( 232 )
FIGURES
A follow page 256)
Fig. 2K. Extensive Hay Crops (Wild, Grain, and Other
Tame Hav Excluding Alfalfa)
Fig. 2E. Small Grains
rinte A3. California Fruit. Grape, and Nut Production
Fig. 3A. Deciduous Fruit Trees
Fig. 3B. Grape
Fig. 3C. Citrus Fruit
Fig. 3D. Nut Crop
Plate A4. Irrigated Harvested Acreages of California Crops
Fig. 4A. Truck Crops
Fig. 4B. Field Crops
Fig. 4C. Alfalfa
Fig. 4D. Cotton
Fig. 4E. Rice
Fig. 4F. Miscellaneous Field Crops
Fig. 4G. Beans
Fig. 4H. Sugar Beets
Fig. 41. Miscellaneous Intensive Field Crops
Fig. 4.T. Small Grain Crops
Fig. 4K. Extensive Hay Crops
APPENDIX A
233
A PRELIMINARY PROJECTION OF CALIFORNIA CROP
PATTERNS FOR ESTIMATING ULTIMATE
WATER REQUIREMENTS
INTRODUCTION
The acreage, kind, and location of the different
agricultural crops grown in California may be called
the "California Crop Pattern." Similarly, any area
Avithin the State may have a crop pattern. The differ-
ent crop patterns will use different total amounts of
water per acre because each of the different crops
within a given pattern requires a specific amount of
water annually. Projection of the ultimate water re-
quired for irrigation in California, therefore, has
required a preliminary projection of the crop pattern.
Like most projections of this kind, much more knowl-
edge of the past, present, and future is necessary
than is available. Furthermore, like other work of this
nature, time and funds available usually are not ade-
quate to make an exhaustive analysis, and, if such an
analysis were made, there might be doubt as to how
much it would reduce the error always inherent in
such work. The analysis reported herein, therefore,
is not exhaustive.
In the course of the next few decades, most of the
land area of California now considered irrigable
probably will have been provided with irrigation
facilities. When water actually is applied to all of
these areas and when all urban areas "have been
expanded to a foreseeable limit," then the State land
and water resources may be said to have reached a
condition of initial full <h. rclopm.ent.
Beyond this initial stage, irrigated land area and
water supply will tend to become more and more
nearly constant. The concept of ultimate development
thus becomes one of a fixed land and water supply.
Actual water use will be limited by its supply. The
area irrigated will be limited by the amount of laud
available which is irrigable. Thus, in the long run,
water used at the stage of initial full development
will approximate the amount used at the stage of ulti-
mate development,
After the stage of initial full development has been
passed, changes undoubtedly will continue to take
place in the pattern and intensity of land and water
use. Increases in demand for products of irrigated
land will be met thereafter by increasing intensity
of production, introduction of new methods, or by
meeting increasing demand by the substitution of
other products. The crop pattern will be the result of
(1) land and water supply, (2) various costs, and (3)
demand for the products. In the long run, agricul-
tural prices may not be a determinant of land and
water use but may be determined in the same process.
But more on this point will follow later.
Scope and General Procedure
The point of departure in making the projections
of agricultural land uses in these studies has been the
irrigated crop pattern compiled by the State Division
of Water Resources during and pertaining to the
period 1946-1950.
Supplementing this irrigated crop compilation are
the statistics of crop acreages tabulated by the Cali-
fornia Crop Reporting Service. These statistics have
made possible a comparison and cheek with the com-
pilation mentioned above. Furthermore, they give a
basis, together with the census, for making an esti-
mate' of the total acreages of given crop groups which
have been irrigated. The Agricultural Census, which
is characteristically underestimated, nevertheless pro-
vides a fairly satisfactory sample from which trends
(1909-1952) * in percentage of the different crop
groups irrigated have been estimated.
From these trends in percentages or cropland irri-
gated and statistics of total crop acreages, the acre-
ages of the different crop groups which have been
irrigated have been calculated historically for a
period of three or four decades, the period depending
upon the availability of statistics. Trends of these
irrigated acreages have been projected on the basis
of assumptions, criteria, and reasoning given below.
General Assumptions
As indicated above, assumptions have been neces-
sary to bridge gaps in available information. Some
of these assumptions apply to the general pro-
cedure ; others pertain to specific crops or groups of
crops. The general assumptions may be enumerated
as follows :
1. It is assumed on the basis of reasoning previ-
ously expressed that the water requirements for
the "ultimate" crop pattern will be approxi-
mately equal to that required for the crop pat-
tern at the stage of initial full development of
the irrigable area.
2. The percentage distribution of crops for the
state as a whole at the stage of initial full de-
velopment has been assumed to be approximately
the same as that obtained from a tentative pro-
jection of the crop pattern for 1980. No specific
234
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
point of time, however, has been assumed at
which initial full development will be attained.
3. Although in the long run, irrigation develop-
ment and population growth in California are
interdependent, one upon the other, during the
next few decades — the years during which the
stage of full development of the irrigable area
is being attained — it is assumed that population
growth in California and in the United States
as a whole will be the dominant factor in the
demand for irrigated land. This assumption is
partially supported by statistics.
4. International trade becomes an important factor
in relation to cotton, sugar, rice, wheat, raisins,
and prunes.
5. Price regulations, acreage quotas, and special
state legislation are significant factors in ex-
plaining short-run changes in acreage but are
assumed to have little effect upon long-run
changes and trends. These factors could become
important, however, in establishing a long-term
trend — historical or projected.
6. It is assumed that present-day changes in yields
per acre, technological processes, and economic
efficiency are represented adequately in the
trends of acreages and production. Unforeseen,
revolutionary changes could upset these trends.
It is assumed, however, that future changes in
technological processes will be at the same rate
as those reflected in these trends.
POPULATION
There has been a growing tendency to try to avoid
projections to a specific stage in the future because
of the uncertainties involved. As this report is being
written, skepticism has reached a new high because
of the failure of many of the projections of United
States population which have been made during the
past three decades. Opinions have been held by cer-
tain population experts that the sharp decline in birth
rates characteristic of the late 1920 's and early 1930 's
would continue. These errors of judgment dominated
an important segment of professional thought but as
early as 1929 were rejected by specialists cooperating
with the Division of Water Resources. 1
Dr. Joseph S. Davis in 1949, looking back on the
results of recent population projections, stated that
the dominant source of error in projecting population
growth "has been the undue weight that has been
consistently given to past trends in fertility rates,
especially since 1920, and to what have proved ill-
founded opinions that these trends would continue,
or, if interrupted, soon be resumed. ' ' 2
Permissible
1930, p. 28.
1 See California Division of Water Resources.
Rates of Irrigation Development in California
(Bui. 35)
2 D ^X is ' J° se P h s - "Population Upsurge in the United States."
.Stanford University Food Research Institute, 1949. One leaf
pamphlet no. 12, p. 39.
Attention already has been called to the fact that
it is not so important to predict when the stage of
initial full development of the irrigable areas will be
reached as it is to determine the approximate pattern
of land use that is most likely to accompany that
stage. It is essential, however, to note the changes in
the different types of land utilization in terms of
their percentages of the total area under cultivation
and the total area irrigated and in relation to the
passage of time, at least approximately. Some assump-
tions, therefore, with respect to the rate of population
growth in the United States and in California, are
essential as a preliminary step in projecting the Cali-
fornia crop pattern.
United States Population Growth-
Historical and Projected Trends
As indicated previously, most of the recent projec-
tions of the United States population growth have re-
quired revisions upward. The United States popula-
tion at the end of each decade from 1910-1950,
together with a "medium" projection in 1980, is pre-
sented in Table 1 and is shown graphically in Figure
1A. Throughout eight decades up to 1950, the per-
centage rate of increase per decade had been declin-
ing. These declining rates of increase are the end
results of an intricate changing pattern of birth rates
and of death rates ; of marriage rates and of divorce
rates; of immigration rates and emigration rates;
of occupational and geographical distribution; of
changes in the age, sex, and nativity distribution
among the different age groups in the population ; and
of many other changing internal characteristics. They
also are the end results of conditions external to the
population itself. They reflect social trends, general
economic conditions, and, most important of all, basic
resources and their rates and manner of development
and utilization. Judgment on these important ex-
ternal influences is far more critical in a population
projection than meticulous precision on any one of the
internal factors. These more fundamental factors, the
external ones, are the causes of changes within the
population. They have been given very meager em-
phasis, however, in population analyses and projec-
tions. As a result, population estimates, even very
recent ones, have required continual revision.
Reference already has been made to a review of the
results of population forecasting written by Dr.
Joseph S. Davis. In a later report he gives, as a
minimum which he states certainly will be exceeded,
180,000,000 as the population of the United States
in 1980 and 193,000,000 for the same year which, he
states, does not look inherently improbable. 3
In May, 1950, the United States Bureau of the Cen-
sus released to the President's Water Resources
Policy Commission some preliminary projections of
3 Davis, Joseph S. "Agriculture and the New Population Out-
look." Paper read before the National Agricultural Credit
Commission, Chicago, Illinois, January 30, 1950.
APPENDIX A
235
TABLE 1
UNITED STATES POPULATION TRENDS
Population,
end of decade
Increase during decade
Decade
Enu-
mer-
ated
and
pro-
jected
Trend
Enumerated
and
projected
Trend
1
2
3
4
5
6
thousands
per-
cent
thou-
sands
per-
cent
1900-1910
91,972
105,711
122,775
131,669
151,132
91,972
107,070
122,180
137,284
152,388
1910-1920---
13,739
17,064
8,894
19,463
14.9
16.1
7.2
14.8
15,104
15,104
15,104
15,104
16.4
1920-1930
14.1
1930-1940
12.4
11.0
Projections
1950-1960
1900-1970--.
169.371
182,000
190,101
197,700
167,492
182,596
18,239
13,229
12.0
7.8
15,104
15,104
9.9
9.0
1975.- -..
1970-1980— .
197,700
15,100
8.3
15,104
8.3
SOURCES
Col. 1 :
Col. 2:
Col. 3 :
Col. 4 :
Col. 5 :
Col. 6 :
Population 1910-1940 from 16th Census of the United States, 1940, Popu-
lation, vol. I, p. 14. Table 3.
Population 1950 is total population = 150,697.361 plus estimates of
forces overseas. Bureau of the Census Release Series P-25, no. 46, February
19, 1951.
Projection for 1960 and 1975 from Hagood, Margaret Harmon, and Jacobs
Siegel. Projections of the Regional Population of the United States to 1975.
Agr. Econ. Research, vol. Ill, no. 2, April, 1951. "Medium Series" of Table
3, p. 47. "The Low Series" gives 105,616,000 and the "High Series,"
225.310.000 for 1975.
A straight line through the 1910 population and the 1975 projection to
1980 gives an approximate "fit" and is used here as the basis for the trend
1910-1980 and for projecting the 1980 population.
Trend of items of column 1.
Differences between items of column 1.
Items of column 3 divided by population at beginning of corresponding decade,
column 1 x 100.
Constant difference in trend of column 2.
Items of column 5 divided by trend at the beginning of corresponding decade,
column 2 x 100.
the United States population. These projections for 3
levels for 1960 were 161,000,000, 169,000,000, and
180,000,000, respectively, and for 1975 they were
165,000,000, 190,000,000, and 225,000,000, respec-
tively. 4
These projections were all in sharp contrast to those
used by the United States Department of Agriculture
in its report, "Long Range Agricultural Policy,"
presented to the Committee on Agriculture of the
House of Representatives as late as 1948. In 1951,
Jacob Siegel of the Bureau of the Census and Mar-
garet Hagood of the United States Department of
Agriculture published a projection for 1975, giving
a "low" of 165,616,000, a "medium" of 190,101,000,
and a "high" of 225,310,000. 5
The medium projection of this series extrapolated
from 1960 on a straight line through 1975 — five years
4 The President's W'ater Resources Policy Commission. "A Water-
Policy for the American People," vol. I, Washington, U. S.
Govt. Print. Off., 1950, p. 156, footnote 1.
r> Hagood, Margaret Harmon, and Jacob Siegel. "Projections of
the Regional Population of the United States in 1975." Agri-
cultural Economics Research, vol. Ill, no. 2, April, 1951.
to 1980 — constitutes the United States population
projection use in these crop pattern projections. Be-
fore these crop pattern projections were completed,
however, a new series of United States projections
was published. 6
The "low" projection for 1975 in this new series
gives a population for the United States of 198,632,-
000 which is higher than the medium projection
actually used as indicated above. The projection pre-
sented in Table 1, however, has been retained as the
basis of these studies, believing that the results ob-
tained are thus reasonably conservative. Furthermore,
it is believed that there is as much danger today in
believing that the high birth rates of recent years will
continue unabated as there was in 1930 of believing,
as many population experts did, that the low fertility
rates of that period would be continued.
California Population Growth— Historical and
Projected Trends
The choice of the method used herein for project-
ing the California population has been based upon the
belief that highly precise and involved methods of
analysis are impractical because of the large likeli-
hood of error involved in estimating the many differ-
ent elements usually comprising highly involved popu-
lation studies.
There are many other methods, of course, by which
California population growth lias been projected into
the future. Most notable among these various pro-
jections is that of Helen L. White and Jacob S.
Siegel of the United States Bureau of the Census
published in 1952. 7 This projection which employs a
so-called "ratio" method gives low. medium, and
high projections for 1960 of 13,380,000, 14,017,000,
and 14,919,000, respectively. Even the highest of these
projections is lower than the one presented in Table
2 of this report.
The projection presented in Table 2 and in Figure
1C, however, lias been designed especially for the
peculiar characteristics of California population
growth involving as it does a highly variable immi-
gration rate and a more rapid rate of total population
growth than that of any of the other states. In com-
parison with the White-Siegel projection mentioned
above, it projects for 1960 a "reasonable lower limit
of California population of 15,065,000 and for 1980 of
21,300,000. California population in 1950, according to
the census enumeration, was 10,586,000. This was an in-
crease of 53.3 per cent over the corresponding figure
in the 1940 census of 6,907,000. Two thirds of the in-
crease from 1940-1950 was by immigration of persons
" U. S. Bureau of the Census. "Illustrative Projections of the
Population United States by Age and Sex: 1955-1975." Cur-
rent Population Reports, Population Estimates. Series P-25,
no. 78. Washington, U. S. Govt. Print. Off., August 21, 1953.
7 U. S. Bureau of the Census. "Projections of the Population by
States: 1955 and 1960." Current Population Reports, Popula-
lUni Estimates. Series P-25, no. 56, Washington, U. S. Govt.
Print. Off., January 27, 1952,
236
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 2
CALIFORNIA POPULATION RATE OF INCREASE
Population,
end of decade
Increase during decade
Decade
As
enu-
mer-
ated
Trend
As
enu-
mer-
ated
Trend
As
enu-
mer-
ated
Trend
1
2
3
4
5
6
thousands
percent
1850-1860.
380
560
865
1,213
1 ,485
2,378
3,427
5,677
6,907
10,586
290
580
840
1,190
1,700
2,480
3,650
5,330
7,620
10,590
1860-1870
180
260
348
272
893
1,049
2,250
1.230
3,679
290
260
350
510
780
1,170
1 .680
2.290
2,970
47.4
54.5
40.2
22.4
60.1
44.1
65.6
21.7
53.3
1870-1880..
100
1880-1890.
44
1890-1900.
42
1900-1910
43
1910-1920
46
1920-1930
47
1930-1940..
46
1940-1950...
43
39
Projection
1950-1960.
15,057
17,744
21,294
14,090
17,750
21,300
4,471
2,687
3,550
3,500
3.660
3,550
42.2
17.8
20.0
1960-1970.
33
1970-1980
26
20
S0UKCES:
Col. 1
Col. 2:
Cols. 3
and 4:
Col. 5 :
Col. 6 :
1890-1950. U. S. Bureau of the Census. Statistical Abstract of the
United States, 1951. Washington, U. S. Govt. Print. Off ,
p. 31. (Table 38)
1960-1980. Projected— "reasonable lower limit."
Irend fitted to population as enumerated.
Items in these columns are the differences between the successive items of
columns 1 and 2. respectively.
e»S e '" P°P ulati , on . as enumerated for any decade expressed as a per-
centage of the population enumerated at the beginning of that decade
the r nm, ( !,, 1 'J- Pni I" Ia, 1 10 'll ren u d for any decade expressed as a percentage of
the population trend at the beginning of that decade.
who in 1950 were 10 years of age and older. One
third was natural increase and immigration of chil-
dren who in 1950 were under 10 years of age. Thus,
immigration is seen to be the most important element
of growth in California's population. Immigration is
a highly variable factor. In the decade ending in 1950,
nearly 2,500,000 persons immigrated to California.'
The previous decade less than 1,000,000 came. In the
post-World War I years, 1920-1930, 1,750,000 immi-
grated to California, whereas during the decade pre-
vious to that only a little more than 750,000 were in-
cluded in the estimated immigration. These highly
variable figures of immigration emphasize the pre-
carious nature of population projections especially for
a state that is growing as rapidly as is California.
The projection of Table 2, illustrated in Figure 1C,
is one of four which have been made for California.'
Historical numbers of population of California at the
end of each decade are shown from 1930-1950, in-
clusive, together with projections to 1980. California
population was projected on the basis of assumptions
of four rates of immigration. The projection presented
in Table 2 has been selected from the above four
projections for use in projecting the California crop
pattern because the assumptions of immigration for
this projection seem to be the most reasonable among
those used. These assumptions are stated below in the
discussion of net effective immigration.
Although no attempt has been made to project
minor variations in population from year to year or
deviations from the normal at any census period, the
extreme variation during the decade 1930-1940 and
again in 1940-1950 will undoubtedly be reflected in a
major way at the turn of the next generation. The
projection presented in Table 2 and Figure 1C ac-
cordingly contains adjusted immigration figures based
upon expected economic effects of important changes
in the age distribution of both California and the
United States.
The major elements in the method of population
projection that has been used in the current studies
may be enumerated as follows:
1. Survivors of the population 10 years of age and
over at the end of each decade who were living in
California at the beginning of the decade.
2. Net effective immigration.
3. Child population under 10 years of age living
in California at the end of each decade.
The sum of these three elements constitutes the
total population in the state at the end of any given
decade.
The use of t\\^ above elements has been dictated by
the availability of information and the form in which
it is available. The methods by which each of these
elements has been estimated historically and projected
were presented in detail in a publication by the State
Division of Water Resources, issued in 1930. 8 Exten-
sion of these earlier estimates up to 1950 with revised
projections to 1980 has been made in connection with
the current studies.
Survivors at the End of a Decade. The survivors
at the end of a decade of those of the population who
were living in California at the beginning of the
decade are all 10 years of age and older. Some of
them are living in California while others have moved
away. Those who have moved away represent a very
small part of the total of the survivors. Separation
of estimates of that portion of the survivors who have
emigrated from estimates of those who have remained
is very difficult. Therefore, estimates of the number
of survivors at the end of the decade of those who
were living in California at the beginning of the
decade contain an unknown but small percentage of
the total who have emigrated. This over-estimation
is compensated for in the next step.
Net Effective Immigration. Net effective immi-
gration during any decade, as used here, is equal
« Weeks, David. '•Permissible Economic Rates of Irrigation De-
velopment in California." State Department of Public Works
Publications of the Division of Water Resources, 1930*
APPENDIX A
237
to the difference between the California population
10 years and older at the end of that decade and the
number of survivors of the total population living in
California at the beginning of that decade. It is short
of being what is implied in the term net effective
immigration by an amount equal to the survivors
of the population living in California at the beginning
of the decade and who have emigrated during the
decade. The amount of this shortage is exactly equal
to the excess indicated above in estimates of the num-
ber of survivors. This excess is the number of sur-
vivors of those who were living in California at the
beginning of the decade and have moved away.
The sum of the number of survivors at the end of
the decade of those who were living in California at
the beginning of the decade, plus the California net
effective immigration as defined here, represents the
population 10 years of age and older at the end of
a decade. Thus, the deficiencies in the numbers of
survivors at the end of the decade and the excess
in the net effective immigration, each equal to the
survivors who have emigrated, exactly compensate
each other. Because of this compensation and the
fact that the emigration from California is small com-
pared with immigration, net effective immigration as
here calculated and projected becomes a useful though
not an absolute measure of net immigration.
Projections of net effective immigration to Cali-
fornia have been made on the assumption that it is
closely related to the increase in United States popu-
lation. Of course, it is also related to economic condi-
tions in the state of origin and opportunities for a
means of livelihood in California. In the absence of
more satisfactory measures of these respective eco-
nomic opportunities, which are both undoubtedly
reflected in historical trends of immigration, projec-
tions of net effective immigration have been made on
the basis of 4 different assumptions of the ratio of
net effective immigration to projected increase in
United States population 10 years of age and over.
The projected ratio of net effective immigration
to projected increase in United States population 10
years of age and over which has constituted a basic
assumption of the projection of California population
presented in Table 2 is more than a graphical extra-
polation of the historical trend of this ratio. This
assumption is that the high ratio, 22.8 per cent, the
actual rate during the decade 1940-1950, will have
declined to 18.7 per cent in the decade 1950-1960 and
to 13.4 per cent in the decade 1960-1970 but will
rebound to 16 per cent in the decade 1970-1980. This
change in the direction of trend of this ratio is based
upon an opinion that the upsurge in the number of
births expected in the decade 1970-1980 will react
upon the economic situation to the extent that the
rate of immigration will be stimulated. The expected
upsurge in the decade mentioned would result from
the fact that, early in the decade 1970-1980, the sur-
vivors of the 14,500,000 female children under 10
years of age in the 1950 United States population
will have reached the ages of maximum fecundity.
This age group in the 1950 population is 35 per cent
greater than the group 10-19 years of age in the same
population. After allowing for mortality, this group
is now and will continue to be of great importance
as it moves through the different phases of its growth.
Thus, it will be in the late 1960 's and early 1970's
when the present "upsurge" in population which
began in the 1940's will again make itself felt as
another upsurge in the next generation. These con-
siderations have made it seem necessary to depart
somewhat from the smooth trend which would have
resulted from a purely geometrical extrapolation.
Projection of the Child Population. As indicated
above, the child population under 10 years of age
living in California at the end of each decade is the
third and last element entering into the projected
California population. This child population under
10 years of age represents those who (a) have immi-
grated during a specific decade and (b) were born
in California.
In either case their number reflects changes in
fertility rates and, to some extent, survival rates.
The use of this kind of an element which is equivalent
to a crude birth rate is justified, as indicated above,
by the high likelihod of error in the immigration rate.
The use of highly refined birth rates would be in-
consistent with the necessarily rough projection of
immigration rates. The total child population has
been projected indirectly in the ratio of the popula-
tion 10 years of age and over to total population.
This ratio has been projected to 1980 on the basis
of an assumption of a slightly declining crude birth
rate, notwithstanding the expected upsurge in the
number of births indicated above.
Population and the Crop Pattern
The total acreage of California field crops irrigated
has shown a close relationship in its expansion to the
rate of increase of California population. This is a
logical consequence of the expanding livestock markets
on the Pacific Coast and of the recently demonstrated
advantages of California compared with competing
areas in the production of irrigated field crops. The
close relationship observed over many decades between
the rate of increase of the California irrigated field
crop acreage and the rate of increase of California
population growth suggests the projected rate of in-
crease of the California population as the best indi-
cator of the future rate of increase of the total irri-
gated field crop acreage.
California commercial truck crops, on the other
hand, have a nationwide market, and for more than 20
vears the rate of increase of their acreage has closely
238
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
paralleled the rate of increase of the United States
population. The acreage of these crops as a whole,
therefore, most of which are irrigated, should be ex-
pected to increase at the projected rate of increase of
the United States population.
The market for California orchard and vineyard
crops also is largely nationwide, and to some extent
the products of orchards and vineyards enter world
trade channels. It would be expected, therefore, that
the rate of increase of the total acreage of orchards
and vineyards combined would approximate the rate
of increase of United States population more closely
than it would approximate the rate of increase of
California population. The historical record of the
orchard and vineyard acreage of California, however,
does not conform to this expectation. An indirect
method of projection based upon United States popu-
lation growth rates and orchard and vineyard crop
production has been applied and described at a later
point.
Consequences of Under- or Overestimates
of Future Population
Although it will be observed that the percentage
distribution of the different crops within the Cali-
fornia crop pattern is expected to go through a grad-
ual change during the coming decades, the change is
not so rapid as to create great concern over the con-
sequences of error in judgment in the projection of
the rate of population growth. The projections which
have been made to 1980 in the present use of poptda-
tion growth rates constitute a preliminary assumption
only, on the basis of which the nature of changes in
the crop pattern can be observed. If the poptdation
projection for 1980, therefore, should not be attained
until 1990 or 2000, the changes in the relative propor-
tions of the projected crop patterns accompanying
such an extension of time for the attainment of a
given population would not materially change the
relative proportion of the different types of crops
within the pattern. Thus, as was stated at the outset;
high precision in population projection is not essential
for obtaining a fairly reasonable apportionment of
the different acreages of crops within the total.
CALIFORNIA CROP PATTERN OF THE
LATE 1940's
As previously stated, the California crop pattern
for 1946-1950 constitutes the starting point from
which projections have been made. Also, it has been
stated that three major sources of information have
constituted the basis upon which trends of acreage of
different groups of crops have been extended into the
future.
A Major Part As Indicator of the Whole
The 1946-1950 crop pattern, insofar as it is capable
of description by information from all 3 of the above
sources, is presented in Table 3. In view of the gaps
and limitations mentioned earlier, projections have
been made on the basis of historical analyses of a
major portion but not all of the crop acreages shown
in Table 3. It has been assumed that the percentage
rates of increase estimated for this incomplete total
may be applied to the entire acreage for projection
by a close examination of Table 3. The first part of
the table provides acreage statistics for 3 major
groups of California crops : orchard and vineyard,
commercial truck crops including potatoes, and field
crops. It will be noticed that the orchard and vineyard
acreage is subdivided into 4 subgroups : deciduous
tree fruits, vineyard, citrus and miscellaneous sub-
tropical fruits, and nuts. It also will be noticed that
the field crops are further subdivided into major field
crops (Group I) and miscellaneous field crops (Group
II). The total acreages irrigated and nonirrigated as
reported by the census for 1949 and by the Crop
Reporting Service as a 1946-1949 average are 7,948,-
000 and 8,398,000, respectively. In general, these
acreages represent the average degree of undernumer-
ation by the census when measured by the estimates of
the Crop Reporting Service. It must be observed, how-
ever, that the time periods of these 2 figures are not
exactly the same. Both of these estimates, moreover,
do not include a number of additional crops which are
reported on a noncomparable basis. On the other hand,
a certain amount of duplicated acreage is included,
representing interplanting and double cropping, mak-
ing possible the harvest of more than 1 crop from the
same land in a given year. The 1950 census made an
attempt at elimination of this duplicated acreage in
the reporting of summaries of cropland harvested.
Census reports, after deducting duplicated acreage,
give a total acreage of cropland harvested for 1949
of 7,957,000 acres, representing 57.8 per cent of the
total cropland area of 13,765,000 as estimated by the
1950 census for the year 1949.
Irrigated Acreages
Historical trends in the acreages of irrigated Cali-
fornia crops projected to an assumed stage of full
development provide percentage increases to be ap-
plied to the irrigated acreages of the 1946-1950 crop
pattern.
Percentages Irrigated. Table 3, in addition to
showing acreages and irrigated acreages, indicates
also the percentages irrigated for the different
groups of crops including bearing and nonbearing
acreages combined of the orchard and vineyard crops.
Of the total cropland harvested, including duplicated
acreage and excluding a small acreage of noncom-
parable items, 65.3 per cent was irrigated in 1949
according to 1950 census acreages irrigated and total.
Of the total orchard and vineyard acreage, 78.6 per
cent was irrigated in 1949.
APPENDIX A
239
For observing historical trends, however, informa-
tion on bearing acreages is more complete. The per-
centages irrigated of the bearing acreages of orchard
and vineyard and harvested acreages of other Cali-
fornia crops, as calculated from the census acreages,
total and irrigated, and presented in Table 4, have
been applied to the acreages of crops harvested re-
ported by the Crop Reporting Service for the pur-
pose of obtaining an approximate estimate of the
trend in irrigated acreage of individual crops and
TABLE 3
CALIFORNIA CROP ACREAGES, 1949, TOTAL AND IRRIGATED
Total acreage
Irrigated acreage
Percentage irrigated
Crop and crop group
Census,
1949
Crop Reporting
Service,
1946-1949
Census,
1949
Division of
Water Resources
Survey
Census,
1949
Division of
Water Resources
Survey and
California Crop
Reporting
Service
1
2
3
4
5
6
thousands of acres
Orchard and vineyard
428
489
223
331
471
544
238
337
288
393
145
331
482
485
128
371
67.4
80.4
64.8
100.0
Vineyard _ _ _ _ _ .
89.2
53.8
Citrus and miscellaneous
1,471
100
9
517
1,590
112
11
596
1,157
96
9
512
1,466
78.6
96. 0<i
100. 0J
99. 0*1
92.2
Commercial truck crops including potatoes
626
893
862
304
719
974
655
266
617
817
862
304
697
974
674
295
98. 6<i
91.6
100.0
100.0
96.9
Field crops
Major field crops (Group I)
Alfalfa
100.0
100.0
I
Total, Group I.
2,059
347
128
251
2,273
793
1,895
359
146
323
2,410
956
1,983
259
128
214
626
208
1,943
96.3
74.64
100.0
85.3d
27.5
26.2
Miscellaneous field crops (Group II)
Beans (green and drv)- -
Sugar beets .
Miscellaneous intensive field crops'
Small grains*
Total, Group II .
3,792
5,851
4,194
6,089
1,435
3,418
1,814
3,757
37.8
58.4
43.3
61.7
TOTAL CROPLAND HARVESTED
INCLUDING DUPLICATED ACRE-
AGE
7,948
5
30
215
8,398
5
103
5,192
5
30
5,920
65.3
100.0
100.0
70.5
Noncomparable items
Berries and other small fruits harvested for salei.
Other field crops '
Subtotal. . _
250
108
35
TOTAL CROPLAND HARVESTED
INCLUDING DUPLICATED ACRE-
AGE AND NONCOMPARABLE
ITEMS...
8,198
7,957
2,278
3,530
8,505
5,227
5,309
151
978
1,027
63.8
66.7
0.1
Cropland exclusive of duplicated area n
Cropland harvested (excluding duplicated acre-
age) _
Cropland not harvested and not pastured . . .
Irrigated pasture _
100.0
TOTAL CROPLAND EXCLUSIVE OF
DUPLICATED AREA
13,765
— -
6,438
6,947
46.8
240
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
a Includes bearing and nonhealing apples, peaches, pears, apricots, cherries, figs, plums,
prunes, olives, quinces, and nectarines.
b The following bearing and nonbearing nut trees are included in both Census and
California Crop Reporting Service compilations: almonds, walnuts, chestnuts,
filberts, hazelnuts, and pecans. Pistachios, tung nuts, and black walnuts are included
in the Census acreage but were not available in California Crop Reporting Service.
c The following bearing and nonhealing citrus and subtropical fruit trees were included
in both Census and California Crop Reporting Service compilations: oranges, lemons,
grapefruits, pomegranates, limes, avocados, dates, and persimmons. Guavas, loquats,
mangoes, citrons, kumquats, limequats, and tangelos were available in the Census
only.
d In rounding acreages to thousands, the percentage irrigated has varied as follows from
the percentages given in Work Table 4-P: potatoes, 96.2 to 96.0 per cent; sweet
potatoes, 99.9 to 100.0 per cent; miscellaneous intensive field crops, 85.1 to 85.3
per cent; other vegetables (except green beans), 98.9 to 99.0 per cent; commercial
truck crops (except green beans), 98.5 to 98.6 per cent; and beans (green and
dry) , 74.7 to 74.6 per cent.
e The following vegetables were common to both the Census and the California Crop
Reporting Service: artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupes and miscel-
laneous melons, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, garlic, honeydews, honey-
balls, lettuce, onions, peppers, peas, spinach, watermelons, tomatoes, and straw-
berries. The vegetables noted above comprise 95.3 per cent of the total harvested
vegetable acreage reported by the Crop Reporting Service and 93.4 per cent of the
Census reported harvested acreage. The balance of the vegetable acreage was not
specified by the Crop Reporting Service. The Census did enumerate other vegetables
to include kale, watercress, turnip greens, Swiss chard, salsify, rutabagas, rhubarb,
radishes, collards, table beets, sweet corn, eggplant, endive and escarole, horse-
radish, okra, green onions and shallots, pumpkins, squash, turnips, Brussels
sprouts, chayote, chicory. Chinese cabbage, dandelion greens, green cowpeas, mustard
greens, parsley, and parsnips.
1 Includes corn and sorghums harvested for grain, flax, and hops.
s Includes oats, barley, rye, and wheat threshed.
h Includes small grain hay, clover, timothy, clover and/or timothy mixed, all other
tame hay except alfalfa, and wild hay.
1 Duplicated acreages are considered to be due to double- and inter-cropping.
' Both the Census and the California Crop Reporting Service reported harvested
acreages for the following bush berries: raspberries, boysenberries, youngberries,
loganberries, and blackberries. In addition, currant and gooseberry acreages were
reported by the Census. The California Crop Reporting Service began estimating
commercially important bearing acreages of bush berries in 1948. For the
purposes of this study, an average of the 1948 and 1949 reported acreages was
used. See Work Table 3-1.
k This item noted in the Census only includes three groups: (1) nursery products
including trees, shrubs, vines, ornamentals, etc.; (2) flowers and flowering plants
grown for sale; (3) vegetables grown under glass, flower seeds, vegetable seeds,
vegetable plants, bulbs, and mushrooms. These three groups comprised 29,868
acres of which approximately 377 acres were cultivated under glass; all were
assumed to be irrigated.
1 Harvested acreages for alfalfa seed, Ladino clover, alsike clover, Sudan grass seed,
vetch seed, Austrian winter pea, mustard seed, and sunflower seed were reported
by both the Census and the California Crop Reporting Service. The latter also
distinguished purple vetch seed. See Table 3 -J. In addition to the foregoing
crops, the Census reported acreages for the following: dry field and seed peas
harvested for peas, sorghums cut for forage, etc., corn hogged or grazed, mixture
of small grains and other grains not specified, red clover, sweet clover, fescue,
Bermuda, bird's-foot trefoil, broomgrass, canary grass seed, root and grain crops
hogged or grazed, castor beans, fennel seed, fenugreek seed, gourds, hemp seed,
melons harvested for feed, pumpkins harvested for feed, rape seed, root crops for
feed, silage made from grass and hay, safflower, and all other field crops
harvested.
m Total alfalfa seed acreage was reported by the Census at 61,647 acres of which
49,715 acres or 80.6 per cent were irrigated. Information on other field crops
irrigated in this group was not available.
n Acreages shown in this group were compiled by the Census.
SOURCES:
Col. 1: Detailed tabulations, compilations, and sources of the data on orchard and
vineyard crops are presented in Work Table 3-A and on commercial truck
and field crops in Work Table 4-P. Strawberries (4.341 acres) are added to
the 513,230 acres of commercial truck crops of Work Table 4-F and rounded.
Col. 2: See Work Tables 3-B and 3-C for detailed data on orchard and vineyard crops
and Work Table 3-F for commercial truck and field crops.
Col. 3: See Work Table 3-A for method of estimating irrigated acreages of orchard
and vineyard crops not available in 1950 Census. Commercial truck crops
and field crops irrigated acreages are from the 1950 Census, County Table 5a,
p. 109. See Work Table 4-F.
Col. 4 : California Division of Water Resources Survey. See Work Table 3-H.
Col. 5: Derived by dividing column 3 by column 1.
Col. 6 : Derived by dividing column 4 by column 2.
groups of crops during the past few decades. For
1949, these percentages do not differ greatly from
those presented in Table 3 for the bearing and non-
bearing acreages combined. As originally calculated
in 1950 when these studies were initiated, the Census
of Agriculture for 1949 was not available. Further-
more, since that time, the Crop Reporting Service has
made a somewhat extensive revision of a large part
of its statistics. Percentages irrigated as presented in
Table 4 are the basis for recalculating annual per-
centages irrigated and acreages irrigated annually
for application to the revised Crop Reporting Service
annual statistics of total crops harvested. 9
Irrigated Acreages of the Different Crop Groups.
Figure 2A to 2L, inclusive, present total and irri-
gated acreages of the major crops and crop groups in
Since in 1949 when these studies were initiated the 1950
Census of Agriculture was not available, reliance had to be
placed upon the Division of Water Resources survey for the
irrigated area and the Crop Reporting Service statistics for
total cropland harvested. It has subsequently been found that
these two sources of data are not exactly comparable and,
therefore, the percentages obtained by that means were not
applied. In general, the percentages obtained thereby were
probably too high as indicated by the few that are presented
for comparison in Table 3. Those that are not presented
could not be calculated because in some cases the irrigated
acreage as reported by the Division of Water Resources was
greater than the total acreage as reported by the Crop Re-
porting Service. On the other hand, it is believed that the
percentages irrigated obtained from the use of census data
probably are slightly too low because of the particular man-
ner in which the irrigation schedule was made out and filled
in 1950 covering the 1949 crop year. It is believed that some
substantial areas of irrigated land were left out of the census
enumeration, particularly those items pertaining to orchard
and vineyard acreage. This omission probably was due to
the fact that enumerators were instructed not to report irri-
gation of crops which were not "wholly" irrigated, thus,
excluding the irrigated acreage of the crops in farms on
which only part of the crop was irrigated. In discussing this
omission, the Bureau of the Census has stated that the acre-
age omitted is undoubtedly small in most of the states. It can
be assumed, therefore, that the percentages presented in
Table 4 and used in the calculations of annual percentages
irrigated and irrigated acreages are somewhat underesti-
mated for the orchard and vineyard crops.
the California crop pattern. These illustrations are
based upon the application of the percentage irrigated
of Table 4 to the bearing and harvested acreages of
the different crop groups.
In most of these illustrations, it will be noticed that
the margin between irrigated and total acreage har-
vested is narrowing. On the whole, California agri-
culture is becoming more and more dependent upon
irrigation which accounts in large measure for the
rapidly increasing yields of the various crops in recent
decades. Even the small grains are showing an in-
creasingly larger acreage irrigated.
It is the irrigated portion of Figures 2A to 2L,
with the exception of commercial truck crops, that is
the basis of further processing in the projections of
the various crops and crop groups presented in the
following pages.
PROJECTION OF THE ORCHARD AND
VINEYARD CROP ACREAGE
Projection of the orchard and vineyard crop acre-
age is made as indicated above on the basis of his-
torical trends in production, together with rates of
increase in United States population growth.
Basic Assumptions
The total and irrigated acreages of the orchard and
vineyard crops of California have been steadily de-
clining since 1929. This trend is shown in Figures 2A
to 2D. Production trends, on the other hand, have
been climbing upward at a slightly greater rate than
that of the United States population increase, indi-
cating a rapidly increasing yield per acre. It is clear,
therefore, that the projection of the acreage of this
APPENDIX A
241
TABLE 4
BEARING AND HARVESTED ACREAGES OF CALIFORNIA
CROPS ■ PERCENTAGE IRRIGATED, 1909-1949
Irrigated acreage
as a percent of tota
acreage
Crop and crop group
1909
1919
1929
1939
1949
Orchard and vineyard
47.0
47.8
36.6
83.3
64.3
77.4
62.0
99.4
63.5
76.6
61.0
100.0
66.8
79.7
64.3
Citrus and miscellaneous
100.0
28.4
45.0
52.6
46.9
76.8
51.8
74.0
73.4
92.6
83.8
76.2
95.5
93.4
78.6
Commercial truck crops in-
cluding potatoes
96.2
99.9
Other vegetables (except
98.9
Subtotal
51.2
77.5
96.2
100.0
31.5
63 . 1
47.5
12.2
21.0
19.3
83.1
90.5
97.6
97 . 9
57.2
88.0
69.2
18.1
22.7
26.9
93.8
100.0
100.0
62.6
94.5
87.1
22.6
29.5
39.8
98.5
Field crops
Major field crops (Group I)
Alfalfa
75.7
96.0
91.6
100.0
100.0
Miscellaneous field crops
(Group II)
Beans (green and dry) c
Sugar beets _ .
Miscellaneous intensive
field crops d _
7.2
18.6
46.1
5.7
14.4
11.2
74.7
100.0
85.1
27.5
Extensive hay crops f
Total Group II _ _ _
26.2
37.8
Subtotal
17.8
30.5
44.5
45.4
100.0
58.4
100.0
a Estimates based on the U. S. Bureau of the Census. Census of Agriculture. (Percentages
italicized for orchard and vineyard, 1939 and 1949 are indirect estimates.) See
Work Tables 4-A to 4-F, inclusive.
b Includes apples, peaches, pears, apricots, cherries, plums, prunes, and olives. See
Work Tables 4-A and 4-B.
c In the survey and compilation of crops, 1946-1949, by the State Division of Water
Resources, dry and green beans were combined. Since the above percentages are an
important factor in projecting the above crop survey, green beans are eliminated
from the commercial truck crops and included with dry beans in field crops. See
Work Table 4-F.
'• Includes corn, sorghums, flax, and hops. See Work Table 4-G.
e Includes wheat, barley, oats, and rye. See Work Table 4-G.
' Includes grain hay, wild hay, and miscellaneous hay. See Work Table 4-G.
group of crops presents a most difficult problem. For
reasons presented later, tentative projections have
been made on the basis of the three following
assumptions :
1. That the trend in the rate of increase of the
future acreage of California orchards and vine-
yards combined will follow closely the rate of
increase of production of these crops.
2. That the present rapidly increasing yields per
acre are temporarily excessive and will be offset
by aging of trees and vines, replacement by
young orchards and vineyards, and expansion of
orchards into less productive areas.
3. That the future trend in the rate of increase of
production of California orchard and vineyard
crops will follow that of the United States popu-
lation increase.
Steps in the Procedure
Steps in the procedure of projecting the acreage
of California orchard and vineyard crops were as
follows :
1. Selection of the crops to be included in prelim-
inary projections. These crops included eight
deciduous fruits, all grapes, three citrus fruits,
and two nut crops. Their average bearing and
total acreages by crop groups for the period
1946-1949 are presented in Table 5. This table
indicates that the bearing acreages of the crops
represented in this preliminary projection were
a large percentage of the groups represented
by them.
2. Graphical analysis of histories of production,
fitting, and preliminary projection of trends for
the four crop subgroups.
3. Determination of percentage increases in the pro-
duction by crop groups from the 1946-1949 aver-
age to 1980.
4. Application of these percentage increases to the
irrigated acreages of the Division of Water Re-
sources preliminary compilation.
TABLE 5
TOTAL AND BEARING ACREAGE OF CALIFORNIA
ORCHARD AND VINEYARD CROPS, 1946-1949
Crop group
Average acreage, 1946-1949 1
Bearing
Total
Deciduous tree fruits
394,946
28,339
438,694
Not included in preliminary projections
31,756
423,385
470,450
Vineyard
Total included in preliminary projections _
Citrus and miscellaneous subtropical fruits
489,582
294,467
19,524
544,371
312,681
Not included in preliminary projections
24,348
313,991
206,200
1 .238
337,029
Nut crops
236,721
Not included in preliminarv projections
1,356
207,438
237,897
TOTAL
1,434,396
1,589,747
SOURCE: Work Table 3-B.
Summary of Results
In Table 6 is presented a summary of the projected
irrigated crop pattern of California on the basis of
the assumption of full development of the irrigable
areas. In the upper portion of this table is presented
the projection for the orchard and vineyard crops.
It is expected that the trend of the acreage of de-
242
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 6
SUMMARY OF PROJECTED CROP PATTERN FOR ASSUMPTION OF
DEVELOPMENT OF IRRIGABLE AREA OF CALIFORNIA
INITIAL FULL
Crop pattern
harvested acreage trend
1980
projection
as percent of
1946-1949
Division of
Water Resources
crop survey
Irrigated
acreage
Percent of
Crop and crop group
1946-1949
1980
projection
total
1
2
3
4
5
6
1,000 acres
125
162
152
135
1,000 acres
Orchard and vineyard
Deciduous tree fruits . _
482
485
128
371
600
790
190
500
4.4
Vineyard. - _
5.7
1.4
3.6
Subtotal . _
142
133
182
289
204
149
250
241
253
210
226
1,466
697
974
674
295
272
165
314
677
386
1,814
2,080
930
1,770
1,950
600
410
410
760
1,710
810
4,100
15.1
Commercial truck crops including potatoes-
Field crops
Major field crops (Group I)
Alfalfa
690
935
543
230
255
154
294
635
362
1,700
918
1,702
1,570
470
380
385
710
1,606
759
3,840
6.7
12.9
14.2
Rice . .
4.4
Miscellaneous field crops (Group II)
Beans (green and dry) .
3.0
3.0
5.5
12 4
Extensive hay crop_ .
Total Group II
5.9
29.8
3,408
7,582
222
226
3,757
1,027
8,420
2,320
61 2
16.9
Total .
198
6,947
13,750
100
SOURCES:
Col. 1 : Items in this column are the averages of the trend values for the four year
period, 1946-1949, determined graphically in Figures 10-20. inclusive.
Col. 2: The 1980 trend values determined graphically in Figures 10-20, inclusive.
Col. 3: Orchard and vineyard items from Work Table 6-A. All other items obtained
by dividing each item in column 2 by the corresponding item in column 1.
Col. 4: From Work Table 3-H. These are acreage estimates from the Division of
Water Resources preliminary compilation.
Col. 5: Rounded acreages obtained by multiplying items in column 4 by percentages
in column 3.
Col. 6: Each item in column 5 divided by its sum and multiplied by 100.
ciduous tree fruits will be roughly 25 per cent greater
in 1980 than in the base period 1946-1949; that the
trend of the acreage of vineyards will be 62 per cent
greater ; the trend of the acreage of nut crops, 52
per cent greater; and that of the citrus and miscel-
laneous subtropical fruits, 35 per cent greater. Taking
the entire orchard and vineyard acreage together, it
is estimated that the trend of the total acreage of
orchard and vineyards in 1980 will be 42 per cent
greater than it was in the above base period. This
expectation would result in the 1,466,000 acres of irri-
gated orchard and vineyard of the Division of Water
Resources crop survey, being extended to slightly
more than 2,000,000 acres by 1980. This orchard and
vineyard projected acreage would be 15.1 per cent of
the total acreage of irrigated crops, projected tenta-
tively for 1980, of 13,750,000.
Notes on the Method Employed
It will be noted that percentage rates of increase
estimated by projecting the total production irrigated
and unirrigated have been applied to total irrigated
acreages bearing and nonbearing on the assumption
that the rate of increase of the total acreage of or-
chard and vineyard crops will be at the same per-
centage rate of increase as total production. Justifica-
tion of this assumption has been reserved for later
discussion.
Percentage Rate of Increase in Production. In
column 3 of Table 6 are the percentages which repre-
sent the ratio of 1980 production to the average pro-
duction for 1946-1949, respectively. These ratios for
production presented in column 3 of Table 6 are as-
sumed to be the same as the corresponding ratios be-
tween the 1980 acreages of the respective orchard and
vineyard crop groups to the average acreages of these
crop groups during the period 1946-1949, inclusive.
These ratios reflect the rates of increase in production
derived from the graphical analysis of histories of
production.
Graphical Analysis of Histories of Production.
Histories of production of California deciduous tree
fruits, grapes, nuts, and citrus fruits were compiled.
APPENDIX A
243
Graphical trends have been drawn for each of these
four groups of production histories and are presented
in Figures 3A to 3D inclusive. These graphical
trends of production have been adjusted to a uniform
percentage increase which has been extended to 1980
at the same rate of increase as the projected United
States population. The historical and projected trends
resulting from this graphical projection are presented
in Tables 7, 8, 9, and 10, respectively. Their rates of
increase are brought forward to Table 6 and there
applied in the final step.
Histories of bearing acreages of California orchard
and vineyard crops were compiled. These acreages
have not been used directly in the calculated pro-
jections. They are an important guide to judgment,
however, in all steps of the analysis.
TABLE 7
TREND AND RATE OF INCREASE OF PRODUCTION OF
CALIFORNIA DECIDUOUS TREE FRUIT 1920-1950 WITH
PROJECTIONS 1950-1980
Decade
Trend in
production
at end of
decade
Increase in production
trend at end of decade
thousands of tons
percent
1910-1920
1,220
1.580
1 ,930
2,200
360
350
270
1920-1930
29.5
1930-1940
1940-1950
22.2
14.0
Projections 1950-1980
1950-1960 ..
2,400
2,550
2,690
200
150
140
9.1
1960-1970
6.3
1970-1980.
5.5
TABLE 8
TREND AND RATE OF INCREASE OF PRODUCTION OF
CALIFORNIA GRAPES 1920-1950 WITH PROJECTIONS
1950-1980
Decade
Trend in
production
at end of
decade
Increase in production
trend at end of decade
thousands of tons
percent
1910-1920
1,250
1,800
2,320
2,850
550
520
530
1920-1930
44.0
1930-1940
28.9
1940-1950
22.8
Projections 1950-1980
1950-1960
3,350
3,850
4,380
500
500
530
17.5
1960-1970...
14.9
1970-1980
13.8
TABLE 9
TREND AND RATE OF INCREASE OF PRODUCTION OF
CALIFORNIA CITRUS FRUIT 1910-1950 WITH PROJEC-
TIONS 1950-1980
Decade
Trend in
production
at end of
decade
Increase in production
trend at end of decade
thousands of tons
percent
1900-1910
450
850
1,380
1,880
2,220
400
530
500
340
1910-1920.. _
88 9
1920-1930
62 4
1930-1940
1940-1950
36.2
18 1
Projections 1950-1980
1950-1960...
2,490
2,700
2,900
270
210
200
12 2
1960-1970
8 4
1970-1980
7 4
TABLE 10
TREND AND RATE OF INCREASE OF PRODUCTION OF
CALIFORNIA NUT CROPS 1910-1950 WITH PROJEC-
TIONS 1950 TO 1980
Decade
Trend in
production
at end of
decade
Increase in production
trend at end of decade
thousands of tons
percent
1900-1910
11.4
28.1
49.4
72.8
94.6
16.7
21.3
23.4
21.8
1910-1920 ..
146 5
1920-1930
75.8
1930-1940
47.4
1940-1950
li'.i . 9
Projections 1950-1980
1950-1960
112.0
126.6
137.1
17.4
14.6
10.5
18.4
1960-1970...
13.0
1970-1980
8.3
PROJECTION OF THE COMMERCIAL TRUCK
CROP AND POTATO ACREAGE
Projection of the acreage of commercial truck crops
and potatoes presents two major difficulties. The first
of these difficulties arises from the fact that truck
crops more than almost any other irrigated crops are
produced at the rate of one, two, or sometimes three
crops from the same acreage in the same year. Fur-
thermore, some truck crops are developed as inter-
planted acreages within orchards. The second diffi-
culty is that complete irrigated acreages of truck
crops are not provided by the 1940 and 1950 censuses
from which calculations of percentage irrigated have
been made.
244
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
Basic Assumptions
Assumptions made as a basis of projecting the com-
mercial truck crop and potato irrigated acreage are as
follows :
1. As indicated earlier, the trends of these acreages
which are presented graphically in Figure 4A
are expected to increase to 1980 at the same
rate of increase as that of the United States pop-
ulation projection increase.
2. Notwithstanding gaps in the censuses of 1940
and 1950 from earlier observations and from
more complete information on irrigated acre-
ages, such as that provided by the 1930 census,
together with such information as is available
from the 1950 census, we are able to draw the
conclusion that a very large percentage of the
commercial truck crop acreage is irrigated, and
we can also make the assumption that by 1980,
for all practical purposes, all of the truck crop
acreages will be irrigated.
3. Another assumption that must be made is that
the actual net acreage of commercial truck crops
will increase at the same rate that the harvested
crop acreage increases, including all duplication.
The latter acreage is all that we have to guide
us in making the projection. It is considerably
greater than the actual acreage used in produc-
ing truck crops.
Steps in the Procedure
The procedure followed in the projection of the
commercial truck crop acreage may be indicated by
two steps as follows :
1. Preliminary projection of trends in harvested
acreage for the purpose of determining the per-
centage increase in harvested acreage from the
average 1946-1949 to 1980. This step is shown
in Table 11 and Figure 4A. It is based upon
historical data.
2. Application of the percentage increase obtained
in step 1 to the actual irrigated acreage of com-
mercial truck crops (including potatoes) of the
Division of Water Resources compilation. Step 2
is carried out and the results presented in
Table 6.
Results of the Projection
As presented in Table 6, the expected rate of in-
crease of the trend in the acreage of commercial
truck crops, having been projected at the same rate
of growth as the United States population, is expected
to expand from approximately 690,000 acres in the
1946-1949 base period to an acreage of 918,000 acres
in 1980 at which time it is expected that the entire
acreage will be irrigated. Relative to other cropland
uses, the commercial truck crop acreage in 1980 is
expected to be approximately 6.7 per cent of the total
acreage in irrigated crops.
TABLE 11
TREND AND RATE OF INCREASE OF COMMERCIAL TRUCK
CROPS IN CALIFORNIA 1920-1950 WITH PROJECTIONS
FROM 1950 TO 1980
Decade
Trend in
acreage
at end of
decade
Increase in acreage
trend at end of decade
thousands of acres
percent
1910-1920 .
223
457
613
707
234
156
94
1920-1930
1930-1940
104.9
34.1
1940-1950
15.3
Projections 1950-1980
1950-1960
1960-1970
1970-1980
778
848
918
71
70
70
10.0
9.0
8.3
PROJECTION OF THE FIELD CROP ACREAGE
The irrigated acreage of California field crops has
made a phenomenal expansion, extending over a num-
ber of decades. As stated previously, the acreage of
the group as a whole has expanded at about the same
rate as California population growth. While the total
harvested acreage of field crops has made little change
since 1910, the irrigated acreage has increased from
less than 1,000,000 acres in 1910 to more than 4,000,-
000 acres in 1952.
Basic Assumptions
The basic assumptions upon which the irrigated
field crop acreages have been projected are as follows:
1. It is assumed that the irrigated field crop acre-
ages as a whole will continue to expand up to
1980 at the rate of California population growth.
2. It is assumed that individual field crops will
expand at different and more or less unpredict-
able rates.
3. It is assumed that price control programs which
may cause important deviations from the trend
will not have permanent effects on the long-term
trend.
Steps in the Procedure
The major steps in the procedure were as follows :
1. The trend in the harvested acreage of a major
portion of all irrigated field crops was projected
at the same rate of increase as that of the pro-
jected California population. This projection is
APPENDIX A
245
shown in Table 12 and in Figure 4B. It is based
on historical data.
2. The trend acreage for 1980 of step 1 was ex-
pressed as a percentage of the average trend
acreage of the base period 1946-1949 and re-
corded in column 3 of Table 6.
TABLE 12
TREND AND RATE OF INCREASE OF IRRIGATED HAR-
VESTED ACREAGE OF CALIFORNIA FIELD CROPS 1910-
1950 WITH PROJECTIONS FROM 1950-1980
Decade
Trend in
acreage Increase in acreage
at end of trend at end of decade
decade
thousands of acres
percent
1900-1910
961
1,345
1.896
2,712
3.770
384
551
816
1,058
1910-1920
40
1920-1930 .
41
1930-1940 _
43
1940-1950 ..
39
Projections 1950-1980
1950-1960
5,014
6.318
7.582
1.244
1,304
1,264
33
1960-1970
26
1970-1980
20
3. The 1980 projected trend acreage recorded in
column 5 of Table 6 was obtained by multiplying
the percentage of step 2 by the irrigated field
crop acreages of the Division of Water Resources
compilation recorded in column 4 of Table 6.
4. Preliminary extrapolations of the historical irri-
gated acreage trends were made for eight indi-
vidual field crops or subgroups of field crops.
These extrapolations were made by a continua-
tion of established historical trends to 1980.
Subsequently, the 1980 extrapolated acreages
were adjusted proportionately so their sum
would equal the total projected irrigated field
crop acreage trends as obtained in step 1. For
each of these preliminary projections a table is
presented showing the historical and projected
trends. These are based on the historical crop
data and irrigated acreages. These are Tables
13 to 21, inclusive. In addition, these projected
trends are illustrated in Figures 4C to 4K,
inclusive.
5. The 1980 projected trend acreages of step 4
were expressed as percentages of the correspond-
ing average trend acreages for the base period
1946-1949 and recorded in column 3 of Table 6.
When multiplied by the corresponding acreages
in column 4, the projected acreages of column 5
were obtained.
Results of the Field Crop Irrigated
Acreage Projections
Irrigated field crop trend acreages are projected as
a group, according to Table 6, to a total of 8,420,000
in 1980 or at some period earlier or later at which
this stage of expansion has been reached. It is ex-
pected that at that time field crops will constitute
slightly more than 60 per cent of the entire irrigated
acreage of the state.
TABLE 13
TREND AND RATE OF INCREASE OF IRRIGATED HAR-
VESTED ACREAGE OF CALIFORNIA ALFALFA 1920-1950
WITH PROJECTIONS FROM 1950-1980
Decade
Trend in
acreage
at end of
decade
Increase in acreage
trend at end of decade
thousands of acres
percent
1910-1920
570
684
821
985
114
137
164
1920-1930
20.0
1930-1940
20.0
1940-1950
20.0
Projections 1950-1980
1950-1960 _. .
1,182
1,418
1,702
197
236
284
20.0
1960-1970 .
20.0
1970-1980
20.0
Major Field Crop Projection. The major field
crops, from the standpoint of irrigation, are alfalfa,
cotton, and rice. Projections of these major field crops
are shown graphically in Figures 4C, 4D, and 4E and
in Tables 13, 14, and 15, respectively. Calculations of
irrigated acreages of these major field crops were
based on historical data.
TABLE 14
TREND AND RATE OF INCREASE OF IRRIGATED HAR-
VESTED ACREAGE OF CALIFORNIA COTTON 1910-1950
WITH PROJECTIONS FROM 1950 TO 1980
Decade
Trend in
acreage
at end of
decade
Increase in acreage
trend at end of decade
thousands of acres
percent
1900-1910
10
75
185
360
620
65
110
175
260
1910-1920
650.0
1920-1930... __-
146.7
1930-1940
94.6
1940-1950
72.2
Projections 1950-1980
1950-1960 _
950
1,305
1,570
330
355
265
53.2
1960-1970 .
37.4
1970-1980 .
20.3
246
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 15
TREND AND RATE OF INCREASE OF IRRIGATED HAR-
VESTED ACREAGE OF CALIFORNIA RICE 1910-1950
WITH PROJECTIONS FROM 1950 TO 1980
Decade
Trend in
acreage
at end of
decade
Increase in acreage
trend at end of decade
thousands of acres
percent
1900-1910
45
105
175
250
45
60
70
75
1910-1920
1920-1930
133.3
1930-1940
1940-1950
66.7
42.9
Projections 1950-1980
1950-1960
1960-1970
1970-1980
328
400
470
78
72
70
31.2
22.0
17.5
TABLE 17
TREND AND RATE OF INCREASE OF IRRIGATED HAR-
VESTED ACREAGE OF CALIFORNIA BEANS (GREEN &
DRY) 1920-1950 WITH PROJECTIONS FROM 1950 TO
1980
Decade
Trend in
acreage
at end of
decade
Increase in acreage
trend at end of decade
thousands of acres
percent
1910-1920
1920-1930 .
105
168
220
267
63
52
47
60.0
1930-1940
1940-1950-..
31.0
21.4
Projections 1950-1980
1950-1960
310
347
380
43
37
33
16.1
1960-1970
11.9
1970-1980
9.5
TABLE 16
TREND AND RATE OF INCREASE OF IRRIGATED HAR-
VESTED ACREAGE OF CALIFORNIA MISCELLANEOUS
FIELD CROPS 1920-1950 WITH PROJECTIONS FROM
1950 TO 1980
Decade
Trend in
acreage
at end of
decade
Increase in acreage
trend at end of decade
thousands of acres
percent
1910-1920
725
1,008
1.383
1,840
283
375
457
1920-1930
1930-1940
1940-1950
39.0
37.2
33.0
Projections 1950-1980
1950-1960
2.392
3,050
3,840
552
658
790
30.0
1960-1970 ..
27.5
1970-1980
25.9
In Table 6 the projected acreage of alfalfa for 1980
is 1,770,000 acres compared with 974,000 acres during
the base period 1946-1949.
Cotton is projected to a total acreage of 1,950.000
acres compared with 674,000 acres in the base period
1946-1949. The projected trend of the cotton acreage,
although made prior to the 1954 acreage allotment
under the Agricultural Adjustment Act, is surpris-
ingly close to that allotment. But the 1953 trend acre-
age is far below the actual acreage harvested in 1953.
I J ice has been projected to an acreage of 600,000
acres in 1980 compared with 295,000 acres in the base
period 1946-1949. The rice acreage projected for 1980
will require the expansion to areas outside of the
Sacramento Valley, the major rice-producing area of
the state. Nevertheless, there are large areas of land
TABLE 18
TREND AND RATE OF INCREASE OF IRRIGATED HAR-
VESTED ACREAGE OF CALIFORNIA SUGAR BEETS 1920-
1950 WITH PROJECTIONS FROM 1950 TO 1980
Decade
Trend in
acreage
at end of
decade
Increase in acreage
trend at end of decade
thousands of acres
percent
1910-1920
41
71
114
171
30
43
57
1920-1930___
73.2
1930-1940
60.6
1940-1950
50.0
Projections 1950-1980
1950-1960
238
313
385
67
75
72
39.2
1960-1970
31.5
1970-1980
23.0
in the San Joaquin Valley which are probably better
adapted to rice production than they are to competing
crops but where it will probably meet greater competi-
tion with other crops for the use of higher priced
water.
These three major crops would constitute, under the
conditions of projection, 12.9 per cent, 14.2 per cent,
and 4.4 per cent, respectively, of the entire irrigated
crop acreage. Their combined acreages at that time
would amount to almost one third of the entire irri-
gated acreage of the state.
More about the economic implications of these ex-
tensions of acreage is presented in a later section of
this report.
Miscellaneous Field Crop Projection. Beans and
sugar beets which have been included in the miscel-
APPENDIX A
247
TABLE 19
TREND AND RATE OF INCREASE OF IRRIGATED HAR-
VESTED ACREAGE OF CALIFORNIA MISCELLANEOUS
INTENSIVE FIELD CROPS 1910-1950 WITH PROJEC-
TIONS FROM 1950 TO 1980
Decade
Trend in
acreage
at end of
decade
Increase in acreage
trend at end of decade
thousands of acres
percent
1900-1910...
63
101
155
228
319
38
54
73
«.
1910-1920
1920-1930.
60.3
53.5
1930-1940...
47.1
1940-1950
39.9
Projections 1950-1980
1950-1960
430
560
710
Ill
130
150
34.8
1960-1970.
30.2
1970-1980...
26.8
TABLE 20
TREND AND RATE OF INCREASE OF IRRIGATED HAR-
VESTED ACREAGE OF CALIFORNIA SMALL GRAIN
CROPS 1920-1950 WITH PROJECTIONS FROM 1950 TO
1980
Decade
Trend in
acreage
at end of
decade
Increase in acreage
trend at end of decade
thousands of acres
percent
1910-1920 :
1920-1930...
247
364
510
694
117
146
184
47.4
1930-1940...
40.1
1940-1950...
36.1
Projections 1950-1980
1950-1960..
928
1,223
1,606
234
295
383
33.7
1960-1970 .
31.8
1 970- 1980.. .
31.3
laneous field crop group might well have been in-
cluded along with the major field crops. The irrigated
acreage of beans, however, is considerably less than
that of rice, although the total acreage exceeds rice.
Although beans and sugar beets have been included
within the miscellaneous field crops, they have been
given special consideration in Figures 4G and 4H and
in Tables 17 and 18 are presented the historical trends
of their acreages and projections of these acreages to
1980. These are based on calculations of irrigated
acreages.
In Table 6, percentage rates of increase of Tables
17 and 18 have been applied to the Division of Water
Resources crop survey estimates for the base period
1946-1949 of 272,000 acres for beans and 165,000 acres
for sugar beets, projecting each to 410,000 acres in
1980 at which time each would constitute 3 per cent of
the total California irrigated acreage.
Miscellaneous field crops have been broken down
further into other subgroups including miscellaneous
intensive field crops, small grains, and extensive hay
crops. Calculations were made of the irrigated acreage
of each of these subgroups. Historical and projected
acreage trends may be found in Tables 19, 20, and 21,
respectively, while the projected acreage for 1980 in
comparison with the base period acreage may be found
in Table 6.
The projected irrigated acreage of the miscellaneous
field crop group for 1980 is 4,100,000 acres compared
with an average of 1,814,000 acres in the base period
1946-1949.
TABLE 21
TREND AND RATE OF INCREASE OF IRRIGATED HAR-
VESTED ACREAGE OF CALIFORNIA EXTENSIVE HAY
CROPS 1920-1950 WITH PROJECTIONS FROM 1950 TO
1980
Decade
Trend in
acreage
at end of
decade
Increase in acreage
trend at end of decade
thousands of acres
percent
1910-1920
231
250
311
389
19
61
78
1920-1930
8.2
24.4
25.1
1930-1940--.
1940-1950
Projections 1950-1980
1950-1960
486
607
759
97
121
152
25.0
25.0
25.0
1960-1970
1970-1980
ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF THE
FOREGOING PROJECTIONS
An alternative approach to that applied in the pre-
ceding sections of this report could have been followed
by making an economic analysis of each individual
commodity involved. The intensity and detail of such
an analysis could vary from occasional superficial ob-
servations to highly technical analyses of supply and
demand factors with a full consideration of the rela-
tion of prices to production and acreage trends. Not
only would such an alternative procedure involve an
extreme amount of time, making an exhaustive study
impossible, but, for a long-term analysis, measure-
ment of the various elements which would be neces-
sary in such a study probably would be quite impos-
sible. For these reasons, resort has been made to the
more rapid projection of the various elements on
the basis of their past trends and projected popula-
tion growth, modified where obviously needed or indi-
cated by available information In this section on
248
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
economic implications, therefore, it is proposed not to
make an exhaustive economic analysis of all of the
projections which have been presented but merely
to call attention to certain outstanding considerations
which have influenced decisions made in the process
of projection. A tentative list of such considerations
may be enumerated as follows: (1) price and demand
analyses in long-term projections, (2) age distribu-
tion of the California orchard and vineyard crops in
relation to future acreage requirements, (3) competi-
tion of the different crops for land and for water,
(4) costs of water as a determinant of land use,
and (5) price controls in relation to long-term land
utilization trends. These and other considerations
have been given careful thought in the appraisal of
historical trends which in the foregoing projections
have constituted, together with their relation to pro-
jected population growth, the major basis for esti-
mating rates of growth.
Price and Demand Analysis in
Long-Term Projections
Most of the price and demand studies of recent
years have been for short-term outlook purposes. Only
recently, notably in the studies leading to the report
of the President's Materials Policy Commission in
June 1952, 10 have price levels figured in an important
way in long-term projection. To some extent, they are
taken into account in the form of basic assumptions
in connection with the report of the Hope Committee
on a long-range agricultural policy presented to
Congress in 1948. u
The methods used by the President's Materials
Policy Commission in projecting the future demands
on land productivity are indicated by the following
quotation from its report :
"In order to estimate the 1975 price of each
major agriculture commodity which will be associ-
ated^ with the required production for that com-
modity in 1975 a series of supply-price equilibrium
analyses have been made. In these analyses, . .
the probable prices are expressed in percentages of
the projected 1975 parity prices. And . . . these
probable prices are compared with those prevailing
in mid-December 1951. " 12
The above quotation was the basis for "balancing
the estimates of consumption against the estimates of
potential output in order to determine the likely pat-
tern of agriculture production in 1975." 13
10 Black, John D., Henry Lee, and Arthur Maass. "Future De-
mands on Land Productivity." Resources for Freedom vol
V, pp. C3-75. Report to the President by The President's
Materials Policy Commission, June, 1952 (Report 7) "The
assumptions in this report are the same as those in vol II
chapter 22, Projections of 1975 Materials Demand."
11 I . S. Congress. House. Committee on Agriculture. Long-Range
Agricultural Policy. A study of selected trends and factors
relating to the long-range prospect for American agricul-
ture. Washington, U. S. Govt. Print. Off., March 10, 1948
p. 17 (80th Congress, 2d Session).
12 Black, Lee, and Maass, op. cit., p. 73.
"Ibid.
An inquiry regarding detailed methods used in
this type of projection disclosed the following:
1. "Within the framework of the assumptions given
... by the Commission . . . first approximations
[were made] of consumption requirements and
productive capacity for 1975 using the best
available data on technological change, resource
inventory, consumption patterns and so on. . . .
2. "The production side was developed from many
sources including the Land Grant College-B.A.E.
estimates for 1955; material furnished by such
agencies as the Bureau of Land Management,
the Indian Service, the Soil Conservation Serv-
ice, the P.M.A., the Forest Service, the state
experiment stations, and also by many inter-
views and conferences with various agricultural
scientists and research personnel from many
parts of the U.S.D.A.
3. "When the first approximations of consumption
and production for 1975 had been made, they
were tested internally and then against each
other for consistency so as to achieve a crude
general equilibrium model. Adjustments or re-
evaluation of the data was made where obvious
inconsistencies came tc light. This, of course, did
not necessarily as a first approximation give a
real 'equation' of demand and supply by com-
modity. It primarily pointed up what adjust-
ments seemed to be necessary if a real balance
was to be achieved in 1975.
4. "Between this point [the tests of consistency
and construction of the crude equilibrium model]
and the drawing up of the final equilibrium the
report was circulated to a number of critics
(Economists, Statisticians, and agricultural sci-
entists) so that the final draft of the model bore
the impact of criticism and advice from a large
number of well qualified men. . . .
5. "The computation of the 'supply-price equi-
librium analyses' . . . was far from a precise
statistical process. The data necessary for such
a computation technique is simplv not avail-
able." 14
In the Hope Committee report, although historical
trends were made an important part of the projec-
tion, certain assumptions were made with respect to
price levels and purchasing power under three sets
of possible future conditions, one of which was con-
sidered to be "most likely in a situation characterized
by relatively high employment over most of the years
ahead with nonemployment occasionally running as
high as 10 per cent." 15
14 Personal letter to David Weeks from James T. Bonnen, Grad-
uate School of Public Administration, Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts, November 26, 1952.
15 U. S. Congress. House. Committee on Agriculture. Loc cit
APPENDIX A
249
Another study was made of the agricultural pro-
ductive capacity of the United States attainable in
1955. This was accomplished by the integration of
special studies made in the various states by commit-
tees working in collaboration with the members of the
United States Department of Agriculture. In Cali-
fornia the report of this committee was made in June,
1952, by Trimble R. Hedges and Warren R. Bailey. 16
Distinction is made between the projections made
herein and those made in 1951 for the year 1955 by
the Joint Land-Grant College, Department of Agri-
culture. Committee on Appraisal of Agricultural Pro-
ductive Capacity. That study was to determine "Cali-
fornia's agricultural productive capacity" in 1955. It
was based upon consumption of "high level economic
activity, generally favorable farm prices, adequate
supplies of production materials, but a somewhat
smaller farm labor force. ' ' 1?
Although the results of that study were not avail-
able when the preliminary estimates of the crop pat-
tern for water requirements were made, they have
been useful in the complete recheck of those estimates
made in 1953 prior to publication.
It must be borne in mind, however, that this water
requirements study instead of attempting to project
productive capacity for a short period has attempted
to project a trend of most likely acreage of land use
by groups of crops over a long period. Instead of
being based upon an assumption of cost and income
prices as was the case in the 1951 projection of 1955
productive capacity, the long-term projection was
based upon a trend from which deviations above and
below trend would be expected. Instead of being pro-
jected from a single point of time as was the produc-
tive capacity study, these crop pattern projections
were based upon an analysis of historical trends and
of indicators that might best indicate the future
course of these historical trends.
Much effort has been made to appraise these differ-
ent approaches to long-term projections of the agri-
cultural crop pattern, and the conclusion has been
reached that to make an assumption of price levels
30 years in the future involves so many uncertain-
ties that possibility of error is increased by such
methods rather than being diminished. All of these
points of view, however, are highly valuable from the
standpoint of aiding the judgment since price equilib-
rium is a part of the process of land use determination.
It "is believed, however, that the projected trends in
the foregoing analysis have given due consideration
of these economic forces without any attempt to sepa-
rate them out from other factors causing variations in
production and acreage. Other factors of dynamic
10 Hedges, Trimble R. and Warren R. Bailey. Appraisal of Cali-
fornia Agriculture Productive Capacity Attainable in 1955.
Berkeley, 1952. 79p. (Calif. Agr. Exp. Sta. Mimeographed
Report 130)
17 Ibid., Summary, p. i.
character may be of even greater importance in the
projection of land use trends.
Age Distribution of the California Orchard and
Vineyard Crops in Relation to Future Acreage
Requirements
The peculiar characteristics of California agricul-
ture prevent the immediate response of supply to
prices of agricultural commodities or, the reverse, the
response of price to the estimation of the potential
supply. This sluggishness in the operation of the
forces of supply and demand is caused by the large
acreage of California crops which is planted to peren-
nials which require many years to come into full
production after they are planted. The orchard and
vineyard acreage of California was overexpanded in
the years immediately following World War I. This
overexpansion and the resulting depressed prices
were followed by tree-and-vine-pulling programs
which removed overaged trees and orchards and vine-
yards planted on unproductive lands, upsetting the
age distribution which had been in the process of
gradual readjustment since that time. In the second
place, an increasing percentage of irrigated and
maturing trees and vines has resulted in an abnormal
increase in yields per acre. Gross tonnage, therefore,
representing orchard and vineyard production, pre-
sents a much more rational basis of projection than
acreage itself. California production of orchard and
vineyard crops increased for several decades prior to
1950 at a slightly greater rate per decade than that
of the United States population. This greater rate
can be attributed to an increasing per-capita con-
sumption of fruit in the United States, an increased
consumption by an increasing California population
having a high per-capita consumption, and by a tend-
ency to overexpansion of orchard and vineyard crops
because of delayed response of production to the
demand of any particular time. This delay is caused
by the time required to bring orchards and vineyards
into production in response to a given demand. By the
time the trees come into full bearing and the acreage
in excess of that warranted by the demand has been
planted, overexpansion has resulted. This type of situ-
ation, however, seems to have been reversed for the
present and seems likely to continue during the next
few decades.
At the close of 1952, California orchards and vine-
yards appeared to have passed their prime produc-
tion age and were approaching a period in which
further increase in production by maturing young
orchards would be more than offset by declining pro-
duction of aging trees, many of which would soon be
replaced by nonbearing young orchards or other
crops. In 1936, 69 per cent of the California orchard
and vineyard acreage was comprised of trees and
vines 22 years of age or younger, indicating a heavy
250
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OP CALIFORNIA
production potential for the remaining years of their
economic life beyond 22 years. By 1952 this per-
centage had fallen to 42 per cent, indicating that 58
per cent of the acreage had now reached the end of its
economic life or had passed into a period of declining
yield.
California orchard and vineyard acreages are made
up of some relatively short-lived crops, other crops
having a medium economic life span and still other
crops which have a long life span. The age at which
it is more economical to remove an orchard or vine-
yard than to continue it in production varies because
of many environmental conditions and according to
the management under which such crops are operated.
However, the orchard and vineyard area in California
can be roughly grouped into the three above classes or
groups according to the economic life span.
Peaches and apricots are short lived, having an
economic life span as estimated by Professor R. L.
Adams of 20-30 years. In 1936, 78 per cent of the
peach and apricot acreage was comprised of trees and
vines 22 years of age and under compared with 43
per cent in 1952. With respect to prunes which have
a medium life span, the percentage in this age class
of 22 years and younger decreased from 59 per cent in
1936 to 22 per cent in 1952.
The balance of the fruit crops is long lived, the
length of life having been estimated by R. L. Adams
at from 40-50 years. These longer lived fruits also
show a marked decline in the younger age class.
Apples declined from 43 per cent of the acreage 22
years and younger in 1936 to 29 per cent in 1952 and
pears from 68 per cent to 23 per cent. Similarly, the
vineyard acreage declined in its percentage age dis-
tribution in the 22-years-of-age-and-younger class
from 70 per cent in 1936 to 44 per cent in 1952, nuts
from 77 per cent in 1936 to 51 per cent in 1952, and
citrus from 64 per cent in 1936 to 33 per cent in 1952.
Even with these longer lived crops, the percentage in
the younger age groups has declined markedly which
is significant in relation to Figures 2C and 2D show-
ing the marked decline in the acreage of deciduous
tree fruits and vineyards, particularly deciduous tree
fruits.
In this connection also, the trend in yields per acre
shown in Table 22 is significant. Citrus yields in Cali-
fornia increased from an average of 4.2 tons per
bearing acre in the 4-year period 1920-1923 to 7.7
tons per bearing acre in the 5-year period 1945-1949.
Grapes increased in yield from 4.4 tons per acre in
the period 1919-1923 to 5.6 tons in the period 1945-
1949. Deciduous tree fruits, excluding apples, in-
creased from 3 tons in the period 1919-1923 to 5.2
tons in the period 1945-1949. Apples made an even
more phenomenal increase in yield from 4.1 tons to
7.6 tons, respectively, in these 2 periods. These trends
in yield reflect increased acreages irrigated, increased
applications of fertilizer, other technological improve-
TABLE 22
YIELD PER BEARING ACRE OF ORCHARD
AND VINEYARD CROPS
Deciduous fruits
Calendar
year of
harvest
Citrus
Vines
Trees,
excluding
apples
Apples
Cal.
U. S.
Cal.
u. s.
Cal. U. S.
Cal. 1 U. S.
1
short tons per bearing acre
1919-1923
1920-1923
1924-1928
1929-1933
1934-1938
1935-1939
1940-1944
1945-1949
3.0
4.2
4.9
6.0
6.2
6.5
8.0
7.7
4.9
4.8
5.3
5.2
5.7
7.5
8.7
4.4
3.8
3.4
4.4
4.6
5.0
5.6
3.5
3.5
3.2
2.8
3.6
3.8
4.2
4.7
3.0
3.0
3.2
3.7
4.0
4.5
5.2
1.7
1.7
2.0
2.2
2.5
2.6
2.7
3.1
4.1
4.3
5.0
5.5
5.9
5.6
7.6
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
2.0
2.2
2.3
2.2
SOURCE : From data compiled from official sources by S. W. Shear, Giannini Foundation
of Agricultural Economics, University of California.
ments in management, and removal of low produc-
tion orchards and vineyards. However, probably the
biggest element in this increasing trend of yield is
represented above by the phenomenon characterized
by the declining percentages in the younger age
groups and the increasing average age of the
orchards.
Further increases in age, however, probably will
have an opposite effect. During the recent decades,
these orchards have been passing through their prime
production period. Judgment regarding future trends
in yield per acre and acreage requirement for
the maintenance of either constant production or
gradually increased production with the increase in
demand requires careful consideration of this factor.
Competition of the Different Crops for
Land and for Water
Hazards of Projecting a Single Crop. Although
each of the major field crops has been considered by
itself, it must be emphasized over and over again how
great the hazard is of projecting individual crop acre-
ages. The projected acreage of any single crop easily
could be upset by a plant disease, crop acreage con-
trol, or by successful competition by other crops. The
acreage changes of the last few years in cotton are
illustrations of the likelihood of error in projecting
the acreage of any individual crop which reflects year-
to-year changes in economic conditions and of price-
support measures. Alfalfa, cotton, and rice, therefore,
each considered separately, may merely symbolize
some substitute crop or crops which might suddenly
or gradually replace a portion of the acreage. Annual
crops as a group are more readily shifted in response
to changes in price outlook. Long-run trends, how-
ever, do not attempt to foretell these annual varia-
tions. But long-term trends, also, may vary widely
APPENDIX A
251
from expectations within a single crop agriculture.
The projections for individual crops, therefore, in the
foregoing pages are made merely as a basis of apply-
ing water requirement rates to specific acreages on the
assumption that shifts in land utilization in unex-
pected directions may follow roughly the same general
pattern of water requirement. Errors in the projec-
tion of the crop pattern, therefore, are likely to be
much greater than errors in estimates of water
requirements.
As precarious as the projection of the California
crop pattern into the future may be, an error one way
or another in the estimates made if the projection is
used for the purpose intended should not prove to be a
serious matter. If the acreage projection of a given
crop should in later years turn out to be too low in
comparison with actual acreages, some other crop with
the same or slightly higher or lower water require-
ment undoubtedly will have taken its place. The total
amount of the error of such a shift would be the dif-
ference between the water requirements of the crop
projected and the substitute crop which took its place.
Grouping of Crops Reduces Hazard. Groups of
crops may be projected with much greater certainty of
the projected acreage being realized than individual
crops because farmers are constantly on the lookout
for crops which will bring them the greatest return.
Shifts are constantly being made, particularly among
the annual crops, in response to price changes. The
economy of such shifts is complicated and requires
more complete treatment than is possible here. Al-
though prices serve as the inducement to change, they
tend to become such that there will be a sufficient
amount of each type of crop to supply the demand.
In this competition by crops for a given area, that
crop for which there is an active demand and which
will suffer greatest increase in cost of production if
produced elsewhere will gain in the competition for
the given area. Thus, demand, the physical char-
acteristics of the area, and technological factors de-
termine the crop pattern. The demand for a given
crop is quite variable from time to time. Technological
changes are less abrupt. Yields of the field crops as
shown in Table 23 reflect these technological changes
and irrigaton development. The major change in
physical character of an area is its water supply for
irrigation. These dynamic changes cause individual
crops to come and go, but changes in the general char-
acter of groups of crops are more gradual.
For the above reasons, projection of groups of crops
is far safer than projection of individual crops. Thus,
the projections in the foregoing pages for the crop
groups are much more reliable than for the indi-
vidual crops such as one of the major field crops :
alfalfa, cotton, or rice.
Water Requirements in Relation to Crop Shifts.
It will be noticed that the latter crop group covers
such broad acreages or utilizes such large amounts of
water that each individual crop falls within a group
by itself. The major field crops as a whole are heavy
users of water. A shift from alfalfa to irrigated pas-
ture, economically a logical shift, would be a shift to
another crop of high water requirements but to one
having different soil requirements. Such a shift, there-
fore, probably would be an indirect one. Good alfalfa
land has a deep soil, economically adaptable to many
types of intensive deep-rooted crops. Prom an eco-
nomic standpoint, however, there is a tendency to
substitute for alfalfa the more cheaply harvested irri-
gated pasture which may be grown on a wide variety
of shallow soil conditions. The great extent of such
soils within the state would tend to bring about their
utilization for this high water requirement crop to
which they are limited in their adaptation so far
as intensive irrigated agriculture is concerned. Such
a shift, therefore, would take the form of alfalfa land
TABLE 23
AVERAGE YIELD PER HARVESTED ACRE OF SELECTED FIELD CROPS
Alfalfa
Cotton
Rice
Beans (dry)
Sugar beets
Wheat
Barley
Grain hay
Wild hay
Crop years a
tons
pounds
bushels
pounds
tons
bus
hels
to
ns
1910-1914
b
377.0
951.2
9.8
15.3
24.7
b
1.1
1915-1919
b
290.8
59.9
968.2
9.0
15.3
26.8
b
1.1
1920-1924
3.6
237.6
52.4
807.2
8.8
17.2
25.9
1.3
1.0
1925-1929
3.6
368.8
55.7
1.033.2
9.5
18.2
27.3
1.4
1.2
1930-1934
3.9
493.4
68.7
1,165.8
13.6
17.7
25.6
1.3
1.0
1935-1939
4.3
582.4
70.6
1,243.6
13.7
19.3
27.5
1.5
1.2
1940-1944
4.3
586.4
64.7
1,274.0
15.8
17.4
27.5
1.6
1.3
1945-1949
4.5
610.2
67.6
1,337.4
17.5
18.1
30.6
1.4
1.4
1950
4.7
805.0
77.2
1,457.0
18.8
21.0
34.0
1.5
1.2
1951
4.6
640.0
75.6
1,495.0
18.9
17.0
30.0
1.4
1.2
1952 «
4.7
622.0
80.0
1,463.0
18.0
21.0
36.0
1.6
1.4
a Five-year periods, 1910-1949; annual yields. 1950. 1951, and 1952.
b Not estimated separately from all tame hay prior to 1919.
c Preliminary estimate.
SOURCES:
U. S. Bureau of Agricultural Economics and California Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, California Clop and Livestock Reporting Service:
California Field Crops Statistics, 1866-1946. Sacramento, July, 1947. Processed.
California Field Crops Statistics, 1944-1952. Sacramento, May, 1953. Processed.
252
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
shifting- to orchard and vineyard when the demand
requires, and the feed formerly supplied by the
alfalfa would be produced on shallower soils and roll-
ing land adapted to pasture. Prior to the availability
of water for extending the acreage of irrigated pas-
ture, however, and prior to the need of the deeper
soils for orchard and vineyard, the alfalfa acreage is
likely to be extended into areas recently producing
cotton.
A shift out of this group to either the orchard and
vineyard classification or to the miscellaneous field
crops would be a shift to a lower water requirement.
Similarly, a shift either from the major field crops
from orchard and vineyard to miscellaneous field
crops in general is a shift from a higher to a
lower water requirement with the exception possibly
of sugar beets, the water requirements of which ap-
proximate those of orchard and vineyard. The miscel-
laneous field crop groups as a whole, however, are
low water users. Shifts within such a group are not as
significant from the standpoint of water requirements
as shifts from one group to another. It is not a serious
matter, therefore, if the individual items within such
a group fall short or long in relation to the projected
acreage.
There has been considerable discussion of whether
land or water is the limiting factor in the determina-
tion of the California crop pattern. In other words,
will the crop pattern reach its full development before
the land available is exhausted because of limited
water supplies or will the crop pattern reach its full
development only when all of the irrigable land area
is exhausted because of the scarcity of land and the
greater abundance of water. Of these two possible
situations, preliminary studies have progressed suffi-
ciently far to indicate that availability of land will
place the ultimate limit on the expansion of the irri-
gated area and that additional supplies of water
will still be available after the available irrigable land
area has been exhausted. Water as a limiting factor,
however, may take the form of high costs of develop-
ment and distribution of water even before the avail-
able sources have been exhausted. At each extension
of the margin of irrigated area, therefore, demand
must have been strengthened to the extent that prices
may be sufficient to meet the increasing costs of
water development.
Examples of the situations just described may be
found in the competition of small grains and rice
on the lands adaptable to both and again in the exten-
sion of irrigated agriculture to certain parts of the
state for which water delivery will involve particu-
larly high costs. In the first example, consider the
competition between rice and wheat. Under present
and past conditions, California wheat has been vised
largely for poultry and livestock feed. Varieties for
use in the baking industry are not, on the whole, pro-
duced in California. Whether or not varieties for
direct human consumption could be produced in
the State would be a matter for further consideration
by plant breeders and special economic studies. At
any rate, it may be assumed that the price of wheat
ultimately will increase as the growth of population
in the Unted States continues to the point where
wheat ceases to be an export commodity. When that
point is reached, prices of wheat, even though there
may be other than direct Iranian uses, will rise to the
point where energy values produced per acre would
become an important consideration in its being main-
tained or expanded as an irrigated crop. Rice pro-
duces more energy units per acre than wheat. Wheat
produces more energy units per acre-foot of water
than rice. Table 24 presents comparative energy pro-
TABLE 24
FOOD ENERGY YIELDS OF IRRIGATED WHEAT AND RICE
IN THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA
Steps in the calculation of energy yields
Wheat
Rice
Step 1. Average yield per acre (pounds).
Step 2. Estimated percentage utilized as human
1,680
80.0
1,344
1,523
2,047
0-1
2,047
3,700
69.0
Step 3. Average food energy yield per acre
utilized as human food (pounds)
Step 4. Food energy per pound as purchased
(calories) . . -
Step 5. Food energy per acre (thousands of
2,553
1,644
4,200
Step 6. Irrigation requirements per acre (feet) _ _
Step 7. Food energy per acre-foot of water
5
840
SOURCES:
Step 1: State Department of Public Works. Division of Water Resources. "Irrigation
Requirements of California Crops." Sacramento, California State Print. Off.,
1945. Table 72, p. 123. (Bui. 51)
Step 2: The estimate of 80.0 per cent wheat utilized as human food was obtained
from the Food Research Institute, Wheat Studies, vol. XVII. 1940-41,
Stanford University Press, Stanford, California, 1941, pp. 278 and 285.
The 69.0 per cent yield of milled rice from rough rice is taken from Morris
B. Jacobs. The Chemistry and Technology of Food and Food Products, Inter-
science Publishers. Inc.. New York, 1951, p. 2049.
Step 2 x step 1.
U. S. Department of Agriculture, "Composition of Foods," Agriculture
Handbook, No. 8, pp. 82 and 89. Washington, D. C, June. 1950. Processed.
(The caloric value of white wheat was used as soft white wheat varieties
are grown almost exclusively in California. )
Step 4 x step 3.
Same as step 1.
Step 5 divided by step 6.
Step 3:
Step 4:
Step 5:
Step 6:
Step 7:
duction per acre and per acre-foot of water in the
interior valleys of California. Food energy per acre
of irrigated wheat has been estimated at 2,588,000
calories and for rice at 4,233,000 calories, whereas the
food energy produced per acre-foot of water has been
estimated at 2,588,000 calories for wheat and only
705,000 calories for rice. The reason for this difference
is due to the fact that only 1 acre-foot of water is
estimated as being required to complete the maturity
of wheat, whereas 6 acre-feet per acre are required for
rice. The projected acreage for rice of 600,000 acres,
as indicated in Table 6, therefore, may be attained in
competition with small grains, the most likely sub-
stitute crop on the heavy soils adapted to rice because
of the limited land area rather than because of the
limitation of water supply.
APPENDIX A
253
In a situation where land is the limiting factor in
the ultimate crop pattern under equal conditions
of demand for energy in cereal crops, rice would tend
to increase in price to the point that it would gain
possession of any given area of competition. Even
before the land supply is exhausted, however, the cost
of water will have become so high that small grains
may retain possession of the rice land potential area
for an indefinite period of time. Furthermore, the
small grains are an important supplementary crop in
a rice area as a means of weed control.
Costs of Water as a Determinant of Land Use. In
the consideration of the crop pattern in those parts of
the state where costs of water delivery are expected
to be very great, it may be assumed that a changing
demand may create prices that will induce develop-
ment of water supply for such areas. To forecast
competitive conditions between crops for such an
area in a remote period in the future is by far more
hazardous than consideration of expansion within par-
tially developed areas having more moderate water
costs. A low yield of food energy per acre of land
results when it produces livestock feed for the indirect
production of meat or dairy products for human
consumption. "When the revised projections of United
States population growth have been realized, energy
requirements may have to be met by giving greater
and greater consideration to cereal production as a
source of energy. These considerations, as vague as
they now are, have been given some thought in the
extension of irrigated cereals and livestock feed crops.
Geographical Distribution of the Crop Pattern. It
is necessary in its application to break down the fore-
going projections into the estimates of the crop pat-
tern for the different hydrographic areas of the state.
What has just been said about the relation of water
development costs in certain irrigated areas has a
very important bearing upon geographical crop dis-
tribution. In general, the smaller the area, the more
hazardous are the predictions for its future utiliza-
tion. Suggested procedure in making the best possible
geographical distribution, however, would be on the
supposition that the ceiling of irrigation development
in the area would be determined by the land classifica-
tion of that area. Land classification thus will become
an important element in the breakdown of the over-
all projection by areas. A brief summary of the gen-
eral characteristics of the land classification available
for such a purpose is quoted below.
"Approximately 12,000,000 gross acres of irriga-
ble lands have been segregated into land classes by
Bureau of Reclamation and Division of Water Re-
sources surveys. Another 8,000,000 gross acres have
been mapped as irrigable, but not segregated into
land classes. Of the segregated land classes, over
7,300,000 acres are Classes 1 and 2, 3,500,000 acres
are Class 3, and 1,000,000 acres are Class 4.
"Soil depth was not in all cases the limiting
factor in determining Class 3 lands. In the La-
hontan and Colorado Desert Areas, moisture-hold-
ing capacity was the limiting factor while in the
San Joaquin Valley, salinity and alkalinity often
determined the suitability. Approximately 50 per
cent of the 4(2) and 4(3) and all of the Class 4P
lands were assumed to be suited only for shallow-
rooted crops.
"For the unsegregated irrigable lands the esti-
mate was based upon a broad general knowledge of
the lands and soils. In the metropolitan areas it was
assumed that shallow irrigable lands will be ab-
sorbed by urbanization, and that those not so ab-
sorbed Avill be deep and of the highest quality." 18
A rough estimate of lands in California suited only
for shallow-rooted crops is presented in Table 25.
TABLE 25
ACREAGE OF IRRIGABLE LANDS IN CALIFORNIA SUITED
ONLY FOR SHALLOW-ROOTED CROPS
Major hydrographic divisions
1. North Coastal area
2. San Francisco Bay area .
3. Central Coastal area
4. South Coastal area
5. Central Valley area
Sacramento Valley
San Joaquin Valley
6. Lahonton area
7. Colorado 1 >cscrt uiva
TOTAL_
Acres
250,000
350,000
400,000
1,250,000
1,500,000
150,000
200,000
4.100,000
SOURCE:
California Division of Water Resources. Unpublished material, July 17, 1952.
Price Controls in Relation to Long-Term
Acreage Trends
Most of the great volume of discussion concerning
farm price control policy has generally avoided the
difficult question of their probable effects upon long-
term acreage trends. An appraisal of the foregoing
projections in the light of price controls may be
necessary. It will be difficult for many to reconcile the
huge surpluses of stored crops still in the hands of
the Commodity Credit Corporation with the rapidly
rising trends in acreage projected above for some of
the California crops.
Price stabilization has been sought through the use
of several devices. Among the more important of these
devices may be enumerated the following: (1) pay-
ments or grants-in-aid to farmers, (2) nonrecourse
loans, (3) acreage allotments, (4) marketing quotas
(domestic and international), (5) establishment of a
scale of prices for or a set of regulations of the
18 Personal letter to David Weeks from William L. Berry, State
Department of Public Works, Sacramento, California, July
17, 1952.
254
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
movement of different classes of the commodity (mar-
ket agreement and order programs), and (6) tariffs.
In addition to the above devices are the various
marketing activities carried on under the broad
powers granted the Commodity Credit Corporation
including various types and forms of subsidy pay-
ments, multiple price systems, commodity diversions,
etc.
Some of the above measures tend to expand the
acreage devoted to the production of the affected com-
modities while others tend to contract acreage. Recent
legislation has sought combinations of devices for
optimum regulation of acreage, production, price, and
income. The complex problems, however, of competi-
tion between crops for the use of the land and be-
tween different areas for the different crops have not
been solved. A definition and brief description of the
different control devices follow.
Payments or Grants-in-Aid to Farmers. Payments
directly to farmers are made in the interests of con-
servation and with a view to insuring to the farmer a
just share of the national production required for
domestic consumption and for export. Such payments
are made (1) for the performance of farm practices
that are presumed to restore soil productivity and
prevent erosion, (2) to change the use of land in the
interests of soil conservation and as a means of indi-
rect income stabilization, and (3) as payments in
direct support of farm prices and income.
In recent years the payments made for farm prac-
tices and for changes in land utilization have become
more truly a conservation program. They had been
introduced originally to avoid the legal difficulties of
acreage reduction as a means of price control. They
have lost much of their earlier significance, however,
in carrying out the price stabilization policy stated
and implied in the Soil Conservation and Domestic
Allotment Act. "Payments or Grants-in-Aid" di-
rectly to farmers currently remain the major means
of effectuating the Agricultural Conservation Pro-
gram of the Production and Marketing Administra-
tion. Although the existing price-support legislation
still provides for price-support payments, other de-
vices have in general taken the place of such pay-
ments in the broader objective of price support.
"Conditional Payments" directly to farmers, how-
ever, still constitute an important feature of the
Sugar Act of 1948.
Nonrecourse Loans. In lieu of payments for per-
formance and of direct purchase of commodities from
the producer, the Commodity Credit Corporation is
empowered to make loans to the producer on stored
and sealed commodities as collateral. Sale of the col-
lateral, even at a price below the amount of the loan
by the Corporation for the repayment of the loan,
does not obligate the producer to make up the loss.
On the other hand, if the price rises above the value
of the loan, it can be paid and the producer may
receive the higher market price for his product. The
loan thus becomes a means of price support for
"basic" commodities, for designated nonbasic com-
modities, and, if certain criteria are fulfilled, for
other "nonbasic" commodities. Basic commodities of
importance to California are wheat, cotton, and rice.
Nonbasic commodities of importance to California
include wool, Irish potatoes, and certain dairy prod-
ucts. Sugar beets are covered by the special Sugar
Act of 1948.
Acreage Allotments
An acreage allotment is an acreage determined in
advance as that required to produce the annual supply
necessary for the national domestic consumption and
export of a given commodity and adopted by those
in administrative responsibility as a basis of alloca-
tion among the states, counties, and farms. The cri-
teria for making these allocations have varied from
time to time according to the commodity and the
particular act under which the allotment has been
administered. Enforcement usually is by means of a
price penalty for violation of the allotment.
Acreage allotments have been a part of the Soil
Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act and of the
Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938. Their use has
been broadened by the Agricultural Act of 1949. They
have been introduced with the view to serving two
purposes in general: (1) as a direct means of main-
taining an adequate supply of agricultural commodi-
ties from domestic production adequate to meet
the domestic and foreign demand at prices fair both
to producers and consumers and (2) as a means of
administering and supplementing marketing quotas
designed for the same purpose.
Marketing Quotas. A farm marketing quota is a
quantity of a given agricultural commodity deter-
mined in advance as that required to supply the
nation 's domestic consumption and export needs with-
out excess and adopted by those in administrative
responsibility as a basis of determining the amounts
to be allocated for marketing among the states, coun-
ties, and farms. The criteria for determining these
quotas have varied from time to time according to the
commodity and particular act under which the quota
has been administered. Enforcement is by means of a
price penalty for violation of the quota.
Marketing quotas have been promulgated as have
acreage allotments as a direct means of maintaining a
continuous and stable supply of agricultural com-
modities at prices assumed to be fair to both pro-
ducers and consumers. Furthermore, marketing quotas
have been made a condition, acceptance of which by
producers has been a requirement for a given level
of price support.
APPENDIX A
255
Marketing Agreements. A marketing agreement
may be either state or federal. In California it is a
contract entered into voluntarily between either the
State Department of Agriculture or the United States
Secretary of Agriculture on the one hand and handlers
of the commodity on the other. While surplus control
and price stabilization are major objectives of the
marketing agreement, its functions are to regulate
both quantity and quality of a commodity reaching
the market. The marketing' agreement applies to a
limited area.
Marketing Orders. Marketing orders like market-
ing agreements apply to limited areas. They may or
may not establish minimum prices. Their major dif-
ference from a marketing agreement is that they
apply by law to all of the handlers of the commodity
within the area to which they apply. The marketing-
order and marketing agreement may both be features
of the same program. The California Milk Marketing-
Act has many features similar to those of a mar-
keting order.
Other Devices. A number of other activities such
as purchase and diversion of surpluses, subsidy pay-
ments to exporters, consumer subsidies or price dif-
ferentials, and tariffs all seek to improve producers'
incomes.
Price Stabilization and Crop Acreage Trends. Of
the above devices applied for the purpose of stabiliz-
ing and improving farm income, the acreage allotment
and the marketing quota are the only ones that limit
acreage expansion. The others may or may not be
combined with marketing quotas, acreage allotments,
or both for the purpose of preventing runaway acre-
age expansion in response to improved farm income.
It is not the purpose here to express an opinion re-
garding the merits of the legislation which embodies
various combinations of the above devices as applied
to the different crops. The basic question here is :
How arc the long-term projections presented in Table
6 likely to be affected by different possible lines of
political action? The three most likely alternative pol-
icies expressed in broad terms are assumed as follows :
1. Retention of the main body of price stabilization
legislation with further refinements in the di-
rection of marketing quotas and/or acreage
allotments, combined with each price-support
measure.
2. Gradual removal of all price stabilization
measures.
3. Expansion of voluntary types of control meas-
ures within the various agricultural industries.
Effective price stabilization, it would seem, would
tend to concern itself with the variations about the
trend and not with the trend itself. Any attempt to
hold down a natural trend by rigid control measures
would seem to be likely to result ultimately in a
forced adjustment. A tentative assumption can be
made, therefore, that long-term national trends will
be the same with and without price stabilization legis-
lation.
Some qualification of the above assumption must be
made, however, in regard to trends in California com-
pared with national trends. The state acreage allot-
ment for any basic commodity will determine its
share in the national allotment. There is some pos-
sibility that adherence to existing formulae may
prevent natural shifts in production to areas in Cali-
fornia which recently have demonstrated a superior
advantage with respect to quality of product and
economy of production. Retention of existing price
stabilization legislation, therefore, may cause the acre-
age of a basic commodity like cotton to fall below the
projected trend and to approach more nearly a rate
of increase in accord with projected United States
population increase modified by trends in per-capita
consumption and projected demand for export. The
1954 projected trend for cotton, however, is well below
the 936,408 acres approved January 7, 1954, for allot-
ment to California by the United States Senate Com-
mittee on Agriculture. It would seem that, in the light
of uncertainty of future legislation, a recalculation of
the cotton projection would not be justified. The ele-
ment of uncertainty, however, thus injected by politi-
cal action and competition between the states cannot
be entirely ignored.
The other two "basic" crops of importance to Cali-
fornia are rice and wheat. Each like cotton is affected
by the hazards of an export market. In the legislation
providing price support for these crops, there are
provisions for trend, but each like cotton must share
any increase in trend with the other states. In fact,
the small percentage increase allowed for trend in
most of the acts is generally allocated to the small-
scale producers of other states.
The nonbasic crops, on the other hand, while sub-
ject in many cases to the acceptance of marketing-
quotas and acreage allotments as conditions for price
support, either represent crops which are highly spe-
cialized in California where a large part of the total
national production is centered or are feed crops not
affected directly by price-support programs. For most
of these crop groups, trend values should not be ex-
pected to be greatly changed by price stabilization
legislation. Some of them seek price stabilization
through marketing agreements which apply to limited
areas. Trend values should not be affected by such
localized price-support measures, especially if accom-
panied by marketing quotas. Many of the feed crops
are affected indirectly through various state legisla-
tion affecting the dairy industry. These also have local
or regional significance but should not affect long-term
trends.
256
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
The general conclusions with respect to this imme-
diate question of the probable effect of price stabiliza-
tion upon long-term acreage trends are : ( 1 ) there is
no indication that there will be sufficient certainty of
legislation which will affect trends which would war-
rant making allowance for it; (2) in general, price
stabilization if accomplished should affect variations
from the trend more than the trend itself; and (3) in
relation to some basic crops, a long continued acreage
allotment policy, such as that implied by existing
legislation, could affect the long-term trend in Cali-
fornia's share in the national allotment and thereby
affect the trend as projected.
CONCLUSIONS
Conclusions may be drawn with respect to the
California projected statewide crop pattern by again
calling attention to Table 6 which itself is a one-page
summary of the entire study. In referring to the per-
centage distribution of that table, however, it must be
emphasized again that, although it was tentatively
assumed to be applicable for 1980, it may better be
considered as applicable to a stage of development
which is expected to be reached as California ap- !
proaches the full utilization under irrigation of her
irrigable area. That time may be 1980 or before or
after that time. It represents not a specific date but a
given stage of agricultural development. This stage in i
agricultural development also represents an impor-
tant stage in the development of California's water
resources. Although the crop pattern is presented as
that which may be assumed for an initial stage of full
development, the water requirement for that crop pat-
tern is assumed to be the same as that for a later stage
that has been referred to as a stage of "ultimate
development. ' '
"""
EXTRAPOLATED
1975- 1960
"MEC
OF M
IUM PROJECTION"
ftGOOO AND SIEGEL
APRIL. 1951
CENSUS ENUMERATION
1910- I9S0
1910 1920 1930 1940 I9S0 I960 1970
YEAR
Fig. IA. POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES (including military forces overseas)
1 ! 1 1 1
CENSUS ENUMERATION
\
1910 -
1950
^
TREND, 1910-1950
^
^
AS PROJECTED
EXTRAPOLATEO
1975-1980
PROJECTED TREND
— ■
fi
1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 I960 1970
Fig. IB. PERCENTAGE INCREASE PER DECADE OF UNITED STATES POPULATION
^
-"
PROJECTED
REASONABE
. 1950-
_OWER
I960
c
ENSL
S EN
1860-
UMEF
1950
AT 10
M
1920 1940
Fig. IC. POPULATION OF CALIFORNIA
PERCENTAGE INCREASE OF
POPULATION AS ENUMERATED
Fig. ID. PERCENTAGE INCREASE OF CALIFORNIA POPULATION OVER THE POPULATION TEN YEARS EARLIER
PROJECTED POPULATION OF UNITED STATES AND CALIFORNIA
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
L-
— .
TOTAL
^~ ?
"" ■'
^< IRRIGATED
1930 1940
YEAR
Fig. 2A. CITRUS FRUITS
TOTAL
—
. — "
IRRIGATED
1930 1940
Fig. 2B. NUT CROPS
/
"">.
TO
"AL
/
/
s
> — ,
>
/
/
•-.
/
/
1RR
GATE
D
~ —
/
'
1920 1930 1940 1950
Fig. 2C. DECIDUOUS TREE FRUITS
TO"
- AL
X
*
/
'"N
J
/
1
^
■ —
IRR
GATE
D
\
/
/
/
/
/
/
J
1930 1940
YEAR
Fig. 2D. VINEYARD
ALL IRRIGATED
. 1 1
1930 1940
YEAR
Fig 2E. RICE
1200
800
A
M
\
400
/
V-
J
t
\
J
ALL IRRIGATED
1 1 1
1920 1930 1940
Fig. 2F COTTON
_L
//
\
s/aV
TOTAL
v ;
V
~K\
y/ K/
600
y
^/
IRRIGATED
S
1920 1930 1940
Fig. 2G. ALFALFA
i
TOTAL
-^"^
^
V
/
V
V
nst^
IRRIGATED
1 1
V_/
1930 1940
Fig. 2H. SUGAR BEETS
k
A
V
TO!
AL
7
\\
*\
\
s
./
V
\
.VI
V
v
-.
s"
IRR
GATE
3
v>-
Fig. 21. CORN, SORGHUMS, HOPS AND FLAX
400
\
TOTAL
/
\
\
V
"*\
A
200
w '
'
\
/
-y
S/\
\
y
>,•
•""
r s
\-
IRRIGATED
1920 1930 1940
YEAR
Fig. 2J. BEANS, GREEN AND DRY
TOTAL
_
IRRIGATED
1 l
1920 1930 1940 1950
Fig. 2K. EXTENSIVE HAY CROPS (WILD
GRAIN AND OTHER TAME HAY EXCLUDING ALFALFA)
< 3000
\
;
\ j
"V
S
\f"
V
1
•^ --
- —
J
\J
TOTAL
V
\
V
V
r~~'
v,"
v"
"-"
—^
\r
— /'^
IRRIGATED
-\/
1930 1940
YEAR
Fig. 2L SMALL GRAINS
TOTAL AND IRRIGATED ACREAGE
OF
CALIFORNIA CROPS
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
—
2000
, /
\
,r
- — .
A
'\
d
r V
V.
^
^
-\
7*-
-j
1000
*
rf
=><?
r~
V
1940 I960
YEAR
Fig. 3A. DECIDUOUS FRUIT TREE
—
'Ill
ANNUAL PRODUCTION
—
PRO
JECT
:d TREND
--'
1940 1950
Fig. 3B. GRAPE
/
V
- ~~~ ""
/
V
v
*x
A
J
h
l^-
— ■*■
V
<<~\
T
A
\
^7
V
^
*>x
\
/ \
/
1940 1950
Fig. 3C. CITRUS FRUIT
1940 1950
YEAR
Fig. 3D. NUT CROP
CALIFORNIA FRUIT, GRAPE AND NUT PRODUCTION
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PLATE A4
800
—
— '
L — '
GOO
400
1940 195
TEAR
Fig. 4A TRUCK CROPS
Fig 4B FIELD CROPS
1940 1950
FIG. 4C. ALFALFA
1940 1950
YEAR
Fig. 4D. COTTON
400
_ J- —
- —
300
500
"
.—
"-
500
1500
___^.
-~
tooo
500
A
l
^
«— ■ -
^^
1940 1950
YEAR
Fig 4E. RICE
^
3000
,^-
-"
2000
1000
^
^
r ,
^-—_
\^
1930 1940 1950 I960
Fig 4F MISCELLANEOUS FIELD CROPS
--
300
200
—C
—
100
1940 1950
Fig 4G BEANS
--'
300
200
«
V
V'
100
:/
V
—T"
Vy
>
Fig 41. MISCELLANEOUS, INTENSIVE FIELD CROPS
600
S
200
**
800
400
1930 1940 1950 I960
Fig. 4J. SMALL GRAIN CROPS
*>*
600
200
1940 1950
YEAR
Fig. 4K. EXTENSIVE HAY CROPS
IRRGATEO HARVESTED ACREAGE
TREND OF IRRIGATED HARVESTED ACREAGE
PROJECTED TREND
Fig 4H SUGAR BEETS
IRRIGATED HARVESTED ACREAGE
OF
CALIFORNIA CROPS
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
APPENDIX B
DIRECTORY OF WATER SERVICE AGENCIES IN CALIFORNIA
(257)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DIRECTORY OF WATER SERVICE AGENCIES IN CALIFORNIA
Page
Introduction - 259
Commercial Water Companies - 259
Mutual Water Companies - 259
Public Water Districts— - 259
Municipal Waterworks - 261
Directory of Water Service Agencies in Cali-
fornia - 261
North Coastal Area - 262
Del Norte County - 262
Humboldt County - 262
Marin County - 262
Mendocino County - 262
Modoc County - 262
Siskiyou County - 262
Sonoma County — 262
Trinity County 263
San Francisco Bay Area - 264
Alameda County - 264
Contra Costa County 264
Marin County - 264
Napa County - 264
San Francisco County - 264
San Mateo County - 264
Santa Clara County - 265
Solano County 265
Sonoma County 265
Central Coastal Area - 266
Monterey County - 266
San Benito County - 266
San Luis Obispo County 266
Santa Barbara County 266
Santa Clara County__ - 267
Santa Cruz County 267
South Coastal Area 268
Los Angeles County 268
Orange County 271
Riverside County 272
San Bernardino County 273
San Diego County 275
Ventura County 276
Central Valley Area 278
Alameda County 278
Amador County 278
Butte County 278
Calaveras County 278
Colusa County 278
Page
Contra Costa County 278
El Dorado County 279
Fresno County 279.
Glenn County 280
Kern County 280.
Kings County 281
Lake County 281,
Lassen County 281
Madera County 281
Mariposa County 282
Merced County 282
Modoc County 282
Napa County - 282
Nevada County 282 I
Placer County 282 •
Plumas County 282
Sacramento County 282
San Joaquin County 283
Shasta County 284 :
Sierra County 284 '
Siskiyou County 284 '
Solano County 284
Stanislaus County 284
Sutter County 285
Tehama County ,. 285
Tulare County 285
Tuolumne County 286
Yolo County 286
Yuba County 287
Lahontan Area 288
El Dorado County 288 j
Inyo County - 288
Kern County 288
Lassen County 288
Los Angeles County 288
Modoc County 288 I
Mono County 288
Nevada County 288 -■
Placer County 288 i
San Bernardino County 289
Colorado Desert Area 290
Imperial County 290
Riverside County 290
San Bernardino County 290
San Diepo Countv 290
( 258 )
APPENDIX B
259
DIRECTORY OF WATER SERVICE AGENCIES IN CALIFORNIA
INTRODUCTION
One of the major factors contributing to the phe-
nomenal growth of California has been the favorable
[political climate for local community water develop-
jment. This environment, expressed through laws and
(policies of the State Government, has permitted the
[formation of local organizations to cope with and
^resolve water problems, and to meet as they occurred
[the many municipal, industrial, and agricultural
water demands. Presently there are more than 2,500
such organizatons in the State.
As a part of the investigation of present water
utilization in California, a list was compiled of the
"agencies which serve, distribute, or sell water for
,'domestic, irrigation, or other uses. This directory is
presented hereinafter in tabular form.
Introductory to the directory, there follows a brief
description of the principal classes and types of local
| community water service agencies in California. There
tare two principal types of such agencies, privately
owned and public. The privately owned agencies may,
[in turn, be divided into two general classes, commer-
i cial water companies and mutual water companies.
i The principal classes of publicly owned agencies are
public water districts and municipal waterworks.
Commercial Water Companies
Commercial water companies are organized for the
purpose of building and operating waterworks for
the profit of persons who will provide the capital
for and own the systems. They differ from mutual
J water companies and public agencies in that both of
, the latter are nonprofit cooperative enterprises under
j local ownership and control. Ownership of the assets
of a commercial water company may be held by per-
; sons who live outside of the water service area. Such
j companies are usually incorporated, although an
! individual may engage in public utility service of
; water. Most commercial water companies in California
: operate under the jurisdiction of the State Public
Utilities Commission, and must serve water to all
applicants within their service areas, as specified in
certificates of convenience issued by the Public Utili-
ties Commission.
Mutual Water Companies
Mutual water companies, sometimes called "co-
operatives," are private associations of people, organ-
ized for the purpose of providing water at cost,
primarily for the use of their members. Such com-
panies are voluntary, nonprofit enterprises, and are
controlled by their members or stockholders. They
have no obligation to serve water to any but their
members and stockholders. This contrasts with the
obligations of water districts and commercial com-
panies, under which service must be extended to all
consumers within such agency's service area if water
is available. Mutual water companies may or may not
be incorporated, and do not come within the jurisdic-
tion of the Public Utilities Commission.
Public Water Districts
Early in the statehood of California the people
recognized that privately owned and operated water
service organizations could not cope with all the water
problems that were developing. Through their Legis-
lature, therefore, they enacted the first of many laws
providing for public districts to accomplish certain
desirable purposes. It is notable that nearly all public
water districts, unlike mutually owned enterprises,
have the power of assessment of the lands of the dis-
tricts and of eminent domain. The first of the water
district laws was the Reclamation District Act of
1867. The first law authorizing formation of irrigation
districts was enacted by the Legislature in 1872. How-
ever, the Wright Act of 1877 has formed the basis for
virtually all irrigation district legislation subse-
quently enacted in California. Since that time, as new
or more pressing water problems arose requiring
public action, the Legislature has passed many acts
authorizing formation of different types of districts
to meet different circumstances.
There are at present two principal methods in this
State of forming water districts. One is the enactment
by the Legislature of a general act, under which any
number of districts may be formed in accordance with
a procedure set forth in the act. The other method is
by a special act of the Legislature creating a partic-
ular district and prescribing its powers. Under the
general water district acts, there are specific provi-
sions requiring notice and hearing of petitions for
formation, which for the most part are conducted by
county boards of supervisors. Under the second
method, notice and hearing are afforded by the legis-
lative process, whereby the authorizing bills are heard
in committee and on the floor of the Legislature.
California statutes presently authorize the forma-
tion of more than 30 types of districts relating to the
development, conservation, use, disposal, and avoid-
ance of water, and most of these districts may provide
water service. There follows a list of general water
district acts, together with the year of the original
authorizing legislation.
Community Services Districts (1951)
County Recreation Districts (1931)
260
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
County Water Authorities (1943)
County Water Districts (1913)
County Waterworks Districts (1913)
Drainage Districts (1885)
Drainage Districts (1903)
Drainage Districts (1919)
Flood Control and Flood Water Conservation
Districts (1931)
Irrigation Districts (1897)
Levee Districts (1905)
Metropolitan Water Districts (1927)
Municipal Utility Districts (1921)
Municipal Water Districts (1911)
Municipal Water Districts (1935)
Protection Districts (1880)
Protection Districts (1895)
Protection Districts (1907)
Public Utility Districts (1921)
Reclamation Districts (1867)
Resort Districts (1931)
Storm Drain Maintenance Districts (1937)
Storm Water Districts ( 1909 ) ,
Water Districts (1913)
Water Conservation Districts (1927)
Water Conservation Districts (1931)
Water Replenishment Districts (1955)
Water Storage Districts (1921)
Water Storage and Conservation Districts (1941)
Most but not all of the foregoing listed acts have
been used by interested groups to form water dis-
tricts. The purposes, powers, restrictions, and privi-
leges, which vary with each act, are briefly described
and compared in a periodic publication of the Divi-
sion of Water Resources entitled "General Compari-
son of California Water District Acts."
In addition to the water districts formed pursuant
to the foregoing general district acts, more than 30
districts have been formed under special acts of
the Legislature. The Legislature has constitutional
authority to organize taxation districts with bound-
aries defined in the legislative act, without submitting
the question to a vote of property owners within the
area. Most of such special water districts are county-
wide in area, and may be regarded as a natural out-
growth of the local district organization movement
as the water problems became more and more com-
plex. Inasmuch as most of these districts have been
created of recent years, only a few to date have ac-
tively entered into water development activities. The
following list is indicative of the districts formed
under special acts, whose powers include the develop-
ment, disposal, and/or sale of water. The year shown
for each district is that in which it was created by the
Legislature. These likewise are briefly described and
compared in the publication cited in the preceding
paragraph.
Alameda County Flood Control and Water Con-
servation District (1949)
American River Flood Control District (1927)
Avenal Community Services District (1955)
Brisbane County Water District (1950)
Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water
Conservation District (1951)
Contra Costa County Storm Drainage District
(1953)
Del Norte County Flood Control District (1955)
Donner Summit Public Utility District (1950)
Humboldt County Flood Control District (1945)
Kings River Conservation District (1951)
Lake County Flood Control and Water Conserva-
tion District (1951)
Los Angeles County Flood Control District
(1915)
Marin County Flood Control and Water Con-
servation District (1953)
Mendocino County Flood Control and Water
Conservation District (1949)
Montalvo Municipal Improvement District (1955)
Monterey County Flood Control and Water Con-
servation District (1947)
Morrison Creek Flood Control District (1953)
Napa County Flood Control and Water Con-
servation District (1951)
Olivehurst Public Utility District (1950)
Orange County Flood Control District (1927)
Orange County Water District (1933)
Riverside County Flood Control and Water Con-
servation District (1945)
Sacramento County Water Agency (1952)
San Benito County Water Conservation and
Flood Control District (1953)
San Bernardino County Flood Control District
(1939)
San Diego County Flood Control District (1945)
San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and
Water Conservation District (1945)
Santa Barbara County Flood Control and Water
Conservation District (1955)
Santa Barbara County Water Agency (1945)
Santa Clara County Flood Control and Water
Conservation District (1951)
Santa Cruz County Flood Control and Water
Conservation District (1955)
Solano County Flood Control and Water Con-
servation District (1951)
Sonoma County Flood Control and Water Con-
servation District (1949)
Vallejo Sanitation and Flood Control District
(1952)
Ventura County Flood Control District (1944)
Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conserva-
tion District (1951)
APPENDIX B
261
Municipal Waterworks
One of the major classes of publicly owned water
service agencies in California consists of municipally
owned waterworks, which, in general, serve water
within the municipal boundaries. Approximately 200
! cities in California now own and operate their own
waterworks.
DIRECTORY OF WATER SERVICE AGENCIES
IN CALIFORNIA
The following tabulation of water service agencies
in California presents the data by counties in each
hydrographie area. Information on the number of
domestic consumers and on the number of irrigated
acres, as well as the approximate location of the
service area of each agency, is included in the tabula-
tion. The period during which this information was
collected was from 1950 through 1954.
Inasmuch as there is a continuing process of forma-
tion of private and public water service agencies, and
also a process of dissolution or annexation of such
agencies, the directory, although the most complete
and comprehensive known to have been made to date,
is not warranted to include all such agencies that may
exist in California.
10—99801
262
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, NORTH COASTAL AREA
Name of water agency
Del Norte County
Commercial Water Companies
Crescent City Water Company
Hunter Water Company
Klamath Glen Subdivision Water
Service
Klamath Water Company
McBeth Acres Water System
Smith River Water Service
Mutual Water Companies
Gasquet Mutual Water Company
Humboldt County
Municipal Waterworks
Areata
Blue Lake
Eureka
Fortuna
Trinidad
Commercial Water Companies
Benbow Water Company
Camp ton Heights Water Service
Fields Landing Water Works
Francis Land and Water Company _
Garberville Water Company, Inc.-_
Humboldt Hill Water Service
Loleta Water Works
Myers Water Works
Phillipsville Water Company
Red way Water Company
Rio Dell Water System
Riverside Water Works
Rohnerville Water Works
Weott Water Company
Willow Creek Water Works
Mutual Water Companies
Areata Airport Water Supply
Big Lagoon County Water Supply
Carlotta Water Supply
East Highway Water Company
Fickle Hill Water Supply
Fort Seward Water Supply
Hagwood's Orick Water Supply
King Salmon Mutual Water Company
Korbel Water Supply
Orick Water Company
Port Kenyon Water Supply
Samoa Water Supply
Scotia Water Supply
Marin County
Commercial Water Companies
Coast Springs Water Company.
Mendocino County
Municipal Waterworks
Fort Bragg
Ukiah
Commercial Water Companies
Brown's Water Works
Dos Rios Water Works
Pacific Gas and Electric Company ...
Point Arena Water Works
Rogina Water Company
Mutual Water Companies
Caspar Lumber Company
Laytonville Mutual Water Company
Oak Knolls Mutual Water Company .
County Water Districts
Willow County Water District
Round Valley County Water District-
Location,
in or
near
Area
irri-
gated,
Crescent City.
Crescent City_
Klamath
Klamath
Klamath
Smith River.
Crescent City-
Area ta
Blue Lake.
Eureka
Fortuna
Trinidad- .
Benbow
Rohnerville
Fields Landing-
Ferndale
Garberville
Bucksport
Loleta
Myers Flat....
Phillipsville
Redway
Rio Dell
Ferndale
Rohnerville
Weott
Willow Creek..
30
Areata
Trinidad
Carlotta
Eureka
Fickle Hill
Fort Seward
Orick
Fields Landing.
Korbel
Orick
Ferndale
Eureka
Scotia
Dillon Beach-
Fort
Ukiah
Albion
Dos Rios
Willi ts
Point Arena _
Talmage
Caspar
Lavtonville.
Ukiah
Ukiah-_
Covelo-
25
150
28
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
1,154
10
125
125
39
105
28
1,585
255
7,615
930
100
30
175
134
480
233
3
142
70
34
180
359
67
139
120
50
30
79
14
4
30
2
14
20
104
17
71
135
354
1,291
2,375
12
10
914
111
145
126
Name of water agency
Mendocino County — Continued
Irrigation Districts
Potter Valley Irrigation District-.
Public Utility Districts
Hopland Public Utility District-
Modoc County
Irrigation Districts
Tule Lake Irrigation District
United States Bureau of Reclamation
Projects
Klamath Project
Siskiyou County
Municipal Waterworks
Dorris
Etna
Montague
Tulelake
Yreka
Commercial Water Companies
Ball Water Company
Cottonwood Irrigation and Mining
Company
Dunsmuir Water Corporation
Hornbrook Water Company
Macdoel Water Works
Shastina Water Service
Mutual Water Companies
Champion Park Water Agency
Farmers Ditch Company
Forks of Salmon Water Supply
Hilt Water System
Klamath River Cooperative Ditch ...
Shasta River Water Association
Tennant Water Supply
Van Fossen and Mason Water System
Irrigation Districts
Big Springs Irrigation District
Butte Valley Irrigation District
Grenada Irrigation District
Montague Water Conservation Dis-
trict
Scott Valley Irrigation District
Tule Lake Irrigation District
United States Bureau of Reclamation
Projects
Klamath Project
Sonoma County
Municipal Waterworks
Cloverdale
Healdsburg
Santa Rosa
Sebastopol
Commercial Water Companies
Armstrong Valley Water Company..
Bressie, V. L
Camp Meeker Water System
Camp Rose Company
Cazadero Water Company
Citizens Utilities Company of Cali
fornia
Del Rio Water Company
Geyserville Water Works
Location,
in or
near
Tulelake.
Tulelake.
Dorris
Etna
Montague -
Tulelake. -
Yreka
Weed.
Hornbrook.
Fort Jones -
Hornbrook -
Macdoel
Shastina
Dunsmuir
Etna
Etna
Hilt
Klamath River-
Montague
Weed
Dunsmuir
Grenada
Mt. Hebron.
Grenada
Montague-
Fort Jones -
Tulelake...
Tulelake-
Cloverdale-.
Healdsburg.
Santa Rosa.
SebastopoL.
Area
Num-
irri-
ber of
gated,
do-
in
mestic
acres
services
Potter Valley 3 , 900
Hopland
30,000
(See Sis
Coun
75
5,000
50
325
3,895
Guerneville
Bodega Bay
Camp Meeker
Camp Rose
Cazadero
El Bonito
Monte Rio
Guerneville
Rio Nido
Guernewood ParkJ
Del Rio__
Geyserville
2,100
3,647
1,394
3,450
3,650
(See Mo
Coun
79,352
kiyou
ty)
277
225
179
490
1,136
56
200
198
56
9
375
24
2
150
4
128
46
doc
ty)
600
1,424
8,894
1,238
73
52
302
93
121
2,279
152
136
APPENDIX B
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, NORTH COASTAL AREA— Continued
263
Name of water agency
Sonoma County — Continued
Commercial Water Companies —
continued
Hacienda Water Company
Horgan Water Company, C. J
Jenner Water Works
Mountain Avenue Water Company...
Occidental Water Works
Rio Dell Water Company
Russian River Terrace Water Com-
pany
Summer Home Park Water Company
Vacation Beach Water Company
Windsor Utility Corporation
Mutual Water Companies
Branger Mutual Water Company
Broadmoor Acres Water Supply
Carmet by the Sea Water Company. _
East Austin Mutual Water Company.
Fircrest Mutual Water Company
Forest Home Park Water Supply
Graton Waterworks Company
Holland Heights Mutual Water Com-
pany
Kelly Mutual Water Company
Lancaster Water Supply
McChristian Water Supply
Location,
in or
near
Hilton
Hilton
Jenner
Fetters Springs
Occidental
Rio Dell
Russian River
Terrace
Sebastopol
Guerneville
Windsor
Santa Rosa..
Santa Rosa..
Bodega Bay.
Cazadero
Sebastopol- ..
Forest ville--.
Graton
Santa Rosa..
Sebastopol- _.
Santa Rosa..
Bodega Bay.
Area
irri-
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
126
7
66
191
56
131
310
138
128
54
7
19
14
40
38
135
32
100
40
8
35
Name of water agency
Sonoma County — Continued
Mutual Water Companies — continued
Mission Higldands Mutual Water
Company
Morton Water Service
Preston Heights Water Company
Russian River Mutual Water Com-
pany
Salmon Creek Water Company
West Beach Mutual Water Company.
Willis Mutual Water Company
Public Utility Districts
Bodega Bay Public Utility District-
Camp Rose Public Utility District _
Cotati Public Utility District
Special Water Service Districts
Sonoma County Flood Control and
Water Conservation District
Trinity County
Commercial Water Companies
Weaver ville Water Works
County Waterworks Districts
Hayfork Water Works District No. 1.
Location,
in or
near
Sonoma
Glen Ellen.
Cloverdale
Healdsburg..
Bodega Bay.
West Beach .
Santa Rosa..
Bodega Bay_
Healdsburg..
Cotati
Weaverville.
Hayfork.
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
(Sells at
sale;
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
10
11
1
10
54
11
5
110
whole-
358
300
2G4
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
Name of water agency
Alameda County
Municipal Waterworks
Hay ward
Pleasant on
Commercial Watei Companies
California Water Service Companj
Citizens Utilities Company of Cali-
fornia
Gallegos Waterworks- -
Mutual Water Companies
Baumberg Well Water System--.
Cerros Estrellados Water Company -
Highland Mutual Water Company
Mohrland Mutual Water Association,
Inc
Norris Canyon Mutual Water Com-
pany
Counts Water Districts
Alameda County Water District.
Pleasanton Township County Water
District
Municipal Utility Districts
East Hay Municipal Utility District-
Contra Costa County
Municipal Waterworks
Martinez
Pittsburg
Walnut Creek
Commercial Water Companies
Bay Water Company
California Water Service Company.
Clyde Company
Hercules Wat<- Company
Sobrante Water Company
Webb Waterworks
Mutual Water Companies
Concord Boulevard Irrigation Group -
Diablo Estates Water Corporation .-.
El Monte Water Association, Inc
Fifty-six Water Group
Oak Hill Irrigation Association
County Water Districts
Anderson Grove County Water Dis-
trict
Contra Costa County Water District.
Lafayette County Water District*
Orinda County Water District*
Pleasant Hill County Water District*.
San Miguel County Water District
Saranap County Water District*
Public Utility Districts
Diablo Public Utility District
Municipal Utility Districts
East Bay Municipal Utility District. .
United States Bureau <>f Reclamation
Projects
Central Valley Project
Location,
in or
near
Hay ward--
Pleasanton
Livermore
I Decoto
[Niles
Mission San .lose .
Hayward-
Oakland.-
Hayward.
Hayward-
Hayward-
\\ ashington Town-
ship
Pleasanton .
Oakland -
Martinez
Pittsburg
Walnut Creek.
Pittsburg-..
Bay Point
Concord
Crockett
Danville
Martinez
Oleum
Port Costa
Valona
Clyde
Pinole
Richmond..
Pittsburg . .
Concord _.
Concord-.
Concord - -
Concord- .
Martinez -
Pacheco
Pittsburg
Lafayette
Orinda
Lafayette
Walnut Creek-
Lafayette
I (anville.
Oakland-
Area
Num-
irri-
ber of
gated.
do-
in
mestic
acres
services
40
500
10
130
7
18
5,501
240
400
(See Ala
Coun
(Sells at
sale I
7,671
754
1,889
1,401
10
242
SO
2,500
77
187,000
3,310
3,500
939
1,555
15,658
115
645
91
98
60
2,743
2,134
1,063
40
1,340
meda
ty)
whole-
Name of water agency
Marin County
Commercial Water Companies
Inverness Park Water Company
Inverness Water Works
Muir Beach Company
Olerna Water System
Point Reyes Water Company
Seahaven Water System
Stinson Peach Water Company
Mutual Water Companies
Hamilton Air Force Base
County Water Districts
North Marin County Water District .
Public Utility Districts
Bolinas Public Utility District
Bolinas Beach Public Utility District
Municipal Water Districts
Marin Municipal Water District
Napa County
Municipal Waterworks
Calistoga
Napa
St. Helena
Commercial Water Companies
Hacienda Water Company. _
Luccliesi, F., Water System
Mutual Water Companies
Bar 49 Ranch Water Supply
Bentley Home Sites Water Company
Pacific Union College Association
Tucker Acres Water Company
County Water Districts
Congress Valley Napa County Water
District
Yountville Napa County Water Dis-
trict
Special Water Service Districts
Napa County Flood Control
Water Conservation District. _
and
San Francisco County
Municipal Waterworks
San Francisco
San Mateo County
Municipal Waterworks
Burlingame
Daly City. .
Hillsborough
Millbrae
Redwood City
San Bruno
Commercial Water Companies
Butano Land and Development Com-
pany
California Water Service Company .
Citizens Utilities Company of Cali-
fornia
Location,
in or
near
Inverness Park
Inverness
Muir Beach
Olema
Point Reyes Station
Inverness
Stinson Beach
Ignacio
Nova to -
Bolinas
Bolinas Beach.
Fairfax
Mill Valley
San Anselmo
San Rafael
Sausalito, etc.
I 'alistoga
Napa
St. Helena.
Napa-
Napa
St. Helena.
Calistoga-.
Angwin
Calistoga
Napa
Vouiitville.
San Francisco.
Burlingame
Daly City
Hillsborough
Millbrae
Redwood City.
San Bruno
Butano Falls Tract
Atherton
Broadmoor
Menlo Park
San Carlos
San Mateo
South
San Francisco
Woodside
Montara
Moss Beach
Area
Num-
irri-
ber of
gated,
do-
in
mestic
acres
services
350
10
90
(Sells su
water o
distric
15
66
276
22
31
130
7
237
1,712
175
120
23.K72
580
5,435
923
350
47
10
7
100
7
19
120
rplus
utside
t)
146.326
5,540
1,186
1 ,320
9,614
3,980
49
30.288
282
APPENDIX B
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA-Continued
265
Name of water agency
San Mateo County — Continued
( lommercial Water < tompanic?
— Continued
Friendly Acres Water Company..
San Carlos Manor Water System
Trout mere Utilities
Visitacion City Water Companj
Mutual Water Companies
Bay View Mutual Water Company. .
Brookside Water Company
Butano Canyon Mutual Water Com-
pany
Cuesta La Honda Guild
East Almond Cooperative Water
Company
Kings Mountain Park Water Com-
pany
Ladera Water Company
La Honda Vista Water Company No. 1
Loma Mar Mutual Water and Im-
provement Company
Los Trancos Water Company
Martins Beach Water Supply
Marwel Water Company
Millbrae Hills Mutual Water Com-
pany
O'Connor Tract Cooperative Water
Company
Olds Water Company
Palo Alto Park Mutual Water Com-
pany
Rancho Canada Mutual Water < lom-
pany
Searview Water Company, Inc
Sky L'Onda Mutual Water Company,
Inc
Ware Acres Mutual Water Company .
Woodside Mutual Water Company-..
County Water Districts
Belmont County Water District
Brisbane County Water District
Coastside County Water District
North Coast County Water District
County Waterworks Districts
San Mateo County Waterworks Dis-
trict No. 1 (Ravenswood)
San Mateo County Waterworks Dis-
trict No. 2 (East Palo Alto).-.
San Mateo County Waterworks Dis-
trict No. 3 (Palomar Park)
Municipal Improvement Districts and
County Maintenance Districts
Willow Road Water Maintenance
District
Public Utility Districts
Diamond Public Utility Districl
Millbrae Public Utility Districl
Santa Clara County
Municipal Waterworks
Palo Alto
Mountain View
Santa Clara
Sunnyvale
Commercial Water Companies
Agnew Water Works
Aldercroft Heights Company, Inc..
Almaden Water Company
Blacks Almaden Water System
California Water Service Company.
Campbell Water Company
Criswell Water System
Peninsula Service Corporation
Puccetti Water System
Putnam, Tarrant, Estate of
Ryan, Water System, H
Location,
in or
near
Redwoml < ii\
San Carlos
La Honda
Brisbane
Palo Alt.
Redwood ( lity
Pescadero
Redwood City
Palo Alto
W.l lil-lil;'
Menlo Park...
Redw I ' !itj
irri-
gated.
20
Loma Mar
Menlo Park-
Half Mooti Bay
Woodside
Millbrae.
Palo Alto...
Redwood ( lity
Palo Alto.
Redwood ( 'rty
Redwood City.
Redwood < 'itv
Woodside
Woodside
Belmont
Brisbane
El Granada
Half Moon Bay
Sharp Park
Palo Alto.
Palo Alto
Palo Alto.
Palo Alto.
San Francisco
Millbrae
Palo Alto-
Mountain View .
Santa Clara
Sunnyvale
Agnew
Los Gatos
Los Gatos
Almaden
Los Altos
Campbell
Los Gatos
Mountain View.
Mountain View. _
Cupertino
Alma
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
.: i
70
400
140
2
579
Name oi wa tei agency
1,015
120
24
427
5
37
49
275
10
22
50
7
12
91
50
4
200
4
410
24
3
124
13
30
1,774
650
675
1,800
528
913
60
3,700
625
267
11,575
2,832
3,157
3,250
92
110
100
11,026
1,611
10
31
5
11
Santa Clara County — Continued
Commercial Water ( lompanies
— Continued
San Jose Water Works
Locatio
in or
Santa Teresa Water Service. .
Water Works of Monte Vista, Ltd..
Mutual Water Companies
Berryessa Water Company
Blanco Rancho Water Company
Briscoe-Emery Water Company
( ihemeketa Park Mutual Water Com-
pany
Hamilton Water Company
Holv City Brotherhood
Kirk Ditch..
Laco Mutual Water Company
Lake Canyon Mutual Water Com-
pany
Lyndale Knolls Mutual Water Com-
pany
Melody Woods Water Company
Oak Hill Mutual Water Company
Oaknoll Water System
Rancho Water Trust
Redwood Mutual Water Company,
Inc
Robleda Water Association
Rolling Hills Mutual Water Companj
Saratoga Heights Mutual Water Com-
pany
Spinsk Water System
University Park Improvement Asso-
ciation
fSan .In e
I Campbell
1 Los ( ratos
Saratoga
Sim .1"
Sunnyvale
Sim Jose
I, us Utos
San Jose .
Area
irri-
in
130
County Water Districts
Milpitas County Water District
Special Water Service Districts
Santa Clara County Flood Control
and Water Conservation District
Solano County
Municipal Waterworks
Fairfield
Suisun
Valle.jo
Los Cat os
Sunnj \ id'
Holy City.
Campbell-.
Los Altos
Los Gatos _
Los Altos
Holy City
Palo Alto
Mountain View.
San Jose
Redwood Estates.
Los Altos
Cupertino
138
20
1,210
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
sen ices
49,791
30
718
7
42
27
151
12
Saratoga.
Los Altos.
Mountain View
Milpitas.
Commercial Water Companies
California-Pacific Utilities Company .
Irrigation Districts
Solano Irrigation District
Reclamation Districts
Reclamation District 1607.
Special Water Service Districts
Solano County Flood Control and
Water Conservation District
United States Bureau of Reclamation
Projects
Solano Project
Sonoma County
City Waterworks Municipally Owned
Sonoma.
Privately Owned Water Companies
California Water Service Compnaj
Donaghy, Water Company
Glen Ellen Waterworks
Penngrove Water Company ....-
Sonoma Water and Irrigation Com-
pany
Special Water Service Districts
Sonoma County Flood Control and
Water Conservation District
Fairfield.
Suisun. -
Vallejo..
Benieia.
Fairfield
( lollinsville
Sonoma.
100
(Sells su
water ii
districl
15
00
9
19
12
10
20
290
28
2
900
(See Ta
2,461
(Sells at
sale)
(Sells at
sale)
rplus
utside
)
1,031
775
i: ;i
1 ,600
l,l«. :,)
/Sonoma Vista
\Boyes Springs
whole-
whole-
840
' Operated as part of the East Bay Municipal Utility District.
266
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
Name of water agency
Monterey County
Municipal \\ aterworks
Gonzales
Greenfield
Soledad
Commercial Watei Companies
Ale. j Water Service
Alisal Heights Water Company.
Ambler Park Water Utility
Arroyo Seco Water Company..
Baird Water Company
Bolsa Knolls Water Company _ _
California Water and Telephone < "< . 1 1 1-
pany .
Chualar Water Works
East Monterey Water Service
Fruitland Water Company
Los Lomas Water Company
Pacific Gas and Electric Company...
Rancho Del Monte Water Company.
Mutual Water Companies
Acacia Park Water and Improvement
Association
Aneste Water Supply
( 'assenelli Water Supply
Castroville Subdivision Water Supply
Chetmore Acres Water Association __
Clark Colony Water Company
Coastlands Mutual Water Company.
Del Monte Ice Company
Del Monte W r ater Company
Fort Romie Water Company
Gabilan Water Company
Laguna Seca Water Company, Inc
Larson Water Supply
McKanna Water Supply
Mountain Springs Water Company...
Orchard Lane Water Association
Partington Mutual Water Company. .
Phillips Water Supply
Pierri Water Supply
Reliz Water Company
Rizzo Mutual Water Company..
Roberti Water Supply
Rolling Hills Ranchos Water Associa-
tion
Snyder and Biddle Water Supply
Spreckels Sugar Company
Springfield Mutual Water Company
Tierra Verde Mutual Water Company
Union Water Company of Greenfield
Virginia Acres Water Company, Inc.
West Side Water Company of Green-
field
White Tract Water Company
Wildwood Water Company
San Benito County
Municipal Waterworks
Hollister
San Juan Bautista
' Commercial Water Companies
Tres Pinos Water System
Mutual Water Companies
Hepsedam Mutual Water Company.
San Justo Mutual Water Company..
Irrigation Districts
Hollister Irrigation District
Location,
in or
near
Gonzales. .
< [reenfield
Soledad
Alisal
Salinas
Ambler Park
Soledad
Salinas
Salinas
( larmel
Carmel Highland
Monterey
Pacific Grc\ e
Chualar
Monterey
Watsonville
Watsonville
King City
Salinas /
Carmel ....
Area
Num-
irri-
ber of
gated,
do-
in
mestic
acres
services
60
Salinas
Salinas
Soledad
Castroville..
Watsonville.
Greenfield..
Carmel
Castroville
Salinas
Soledad
Salinas
Salinas
San Lucas
Bradley
60
5
110
120
Salinas
Monterey. .
Castroville .
Castroville.
Greenfield.
Castroville.
Castroville.
Salinas
Castroville.
Spreckels. _
Castroville.
Salinas
Greenfield.
Salinas
50
3,600
220
3,020
Greenfield _
Salinas
Salinas
Hollister
San Juan Bautista
Tres Pinos .
Hollister.
Hollister.
30
530
12
427
Hollister I 17,500
357
375
482
2,134
256
70
53
290
114
15,615
66
1,675
16
145
762
49
165
10
5
15
60
10
200
3
17
1,900
322
40
Name of water agency
San Luis Obispo County
Municipal Waterworks
Arroyo Grande
Paso Robles
Pismo Beach
San Luis Obispo
Commercial Water Companies
Avila Water Company
Oceano Water Company
Mutual Water Companies
Atascadero Mutual Water Company
Branch's Mill Water Company
Cambria Pines Service Corporation. _.
Garden Farms Mutual Water Com-
pany
Green River Mutual Water Company
Grieb-Taylor Ditch Company
McNeill Pump Company
Morro Rock Mutual Water Company
Paso Robles Beach Water Association
County Water Districts
Grover City County Water District _.
County Waterworks Districts
San Luis Obispo County Waterworks
District No. 1 (San Miguel)
San Luis Obispo County Waterworks
District No. 2 (Morro Bay)
San Luis Obispo County Waterworks
District No. 4 (Morro Bay)
San Luis Obispo County Waterworks
District No. 5 (Templeton)
San Luis Obispo County Waterworks
District No. 6 (Santa Margarita) ...
San Luis Obispo County Waterworks
District No. 9 (Bay wood)
Santa Barbara County
Municipal Waterworks
Lompoc
Santa Barbara
Santa Maria
Commercial Water Companies
Campodonico Water Works
Carpinteria Water Company, Inc
Casitas Road Water Company
Evergreen Service Company
Mayer Tract Waterworks
Ocean Oaks Water Company
Orcutt Town Water Company
Sol vang Water Works
Toro Canyon Company, Inc
Mutual Water Companies
Anderson Water Supply
Betteravia Water Supply
Carneros Water Company
Cathedral Oaks Mutual Water Com-
pany
Dow Tract No. 1
Dow Subdivision Water Company
Erickson Subdivision Association
Gobernador Land and Water Com-
pany
Hyland Mutual Water Company. __
Ivydene Mutual Water Company. _
La Cumbre Mutual Water Company
Las Positas Mutual Water Company
Mesa Associates Mutual Water Com-
pany
Miramar Addition Improvement Com-
pany J
Location,
in or
near
Area
Num-
irri-
ber of
gated,
do-
in
mestic
acres
services
Arroyo Grande..
Paso Robles
Pismo Beach
San Luis Obispo.
Avila _ _
( Iceano
Atascadero
Arroyo Grande.
Cambria
Atascadero
Paso Robles
Arroyo Grande
Arroyo Grande.
Cayucos
Cayucos
Grover.
San Miguel
Morro Bay
Morro Bay
Templeton. _.
Santa Margarita
Morro Bay
200
110
38
Lompoc
Santa Barbara
Santa Maria
Guadalupe...
Carpinteria-.
Carpinteria __
Santa Maria.
Santa Maria.
Carpinteria
Orcutt
Solvang
Suniinerland.
10
225
Santa Ynez.
Betteravia .
Goleta
Santa Barbara
Goleta
Goleta
Santa Barbara
Carpinteria
Santa Barbara
Montecito
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara
7,000
564
500
1.004
1,671
945
5,000
150
1,280
410
54
17
138
280
750
175
1.075
480
189
157
145
1,406
13,270
3,924
574
1,060
4
143
10
348
306
168
16
66
16
3
56
40
15
75
18
369
44
APPENDIX B
267
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, CENTRAL COASTAL AREA-Continued
Name of water agency
Santa Barbara County — Continued
Mutual Water Companies — continued
Montecito Creek Water Company. ..
More Mesa Mutual Water Company
Newlove Water Company. .
Painted Cave Mutual Water Com-
pany _---
Paradise Improvement Association. .
Patterson Road Mutual Water Corn-
Location,
in or
near
Santa Barbara .
Santa Barbara.
Santa Maria...
pany
Ranchoil Mutual Water Company ..
Rancho Sueno Mutual Water Com-
pany
Rincon Del Mar Mutual Water Corn-
Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara .
Orcutt..
Cuyama.
Santa Barbara.
pany
Rosario Park Water District ...
Riven Rock Mutual Water Company.
Santa Maria Air Base Water Supply. .
Serena Mutual Water Company
San Marcos Trout Club
Shepard Mesa Mutual Water Com-
pany
Sunset Road Mutual Water Company.
Sykes Water Supply
Terrace Mutual Water Company...
Todmorden Mutual Water Company
County Water Districts
Carpinteria County Water District. .
Goleta County Water District
Montecito County Water District. .
Suuimerland County Water District.
County Waterworks Districts
Santa Barbara County Waterworks
District No. 1
Carpinteria
Santa Barbara .
Santa Barbara .
Santa Maria —
Santa Barbara .
Santa Barbara .
Carpinteria
Santa Barbara .
Santa Barbara .
Santa Barbara .
Goleta
Municipal Improvement Districts and
County Maintenance Districts
Solvang Municipal Improvement
District
Special Water Service Districts
Santa Barbara County Water Agency
United States Bureau of Reclamation
Projects
Cachuma Project
Santa Clara County
Municipal Waterworks
Gilroy
Morgan Hill
Commercial Water Companies
Mecchi Water Company
San Martin Water Works. .
Buellton.
Solvang.
Gilroy
Morgan Hill.
Morgan Hill.
San Martin..
Mutual Water Companies
Carpignano, James. ..
Cox, Agnes, Water Supply -
Special Water Service Districts
Santa Clara County Flood Control
and Water Conservation District-
Santa Cruz County
Municipal Waterworks
Santa Cruz
Watsonville
Commercial Water Companies
Beltz Water System
Ben Lomond Redwood Park Water
Company
Big Basin Water Company
San Martin.
Los Gatos.-
Santa Cruz.
Watsonville.
Twin Lakes.
Ben Lomond. .
Boulder Creek .
( larpinteria
Goleta
Santa Barbara —
Summerland
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
109
00
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
155
3
23
4,700
16,000
2,325
(Sells at
sale)
(Sells at
sale)
16
93
19
18
6
110
17
33
15
31
50
50
11
Name of water agency
1 ,000
1,422
145
105
371
whole-
whole-
tSee San
( 'iiunt
1,442
705
45
ta Cruz
y)
Santa Cruz County — Continued
Commercial Water Companies —
continued
Citizens Utilities Company of Cali
forma
Felton Water Company
Forest Glen Water Company ..
La Selva Beach Water Company.-.
Location,
in or
near
Monterey Baj Water Company.
Riverside Grove Water Company, Inc.
Zay ante Water Company
(Sells su rplus
wate r outside
distric
1 ,200
11,100
5,861
757
115
45
Mutual Water Companies
Assemblies of God
Bauer Water Company
Beulah Park Mutual Water Company
Big Redwood Park Mutual Water
Company
Bracken Brae Corporation...
California Conference of the Free
Methodist Church
Camp Evers Store Water Supply—
Cathedral Woods Mutual Water
Company
Cox, Agnes, Water Supply- -
Davenport Water Supply. -
Duffield Acres Water Supply- -
Forest Lakes Mutual Water Com-
Ben Lomond
Boulder Creek
Brookdale
Felton
Aptos
La Selva Beach . .
Aptos
Capitola
Rio del Mar
Seacliff
Soquel
Riverside Grove.
Zayante
Santa Cruz.
1 elton
Santa Cruz.
Felton
Boulder Creek.
pany —
Forest Springs Mutual Water Com-
pany
Gold Gulch Mutual Water Company
Highland Park Water Service...
Larita Woods Mutual Water Com-
pany, Inc
Laurel Community League, Inc...
Lompico Cooperative Water Associa-
tion
Love Creek Heights Mutual Water
Association
Manana Woods Mutual Water Com-
Santa Cruz.
Soquel
Los Gatos--
Davenport.-
Watsonville
Felton
Boulder Creek .
Watsonville .
Felton.
Laurel .
Felton
Ben Lomond-
pany
Mountain Springs Water Service. _.
Mount Hermon Association. .
New Freedom Mutual Water System.
Olympia Mutual Water Company...
Paradise Park Masonic Club
Ramona Woods Mutual Water Com-
pany
San Lorenzo River Park Mutual
Water Company
San Lorenzo Woods Mutual Water
Company
Santa Hacienda Mutual Water Com-
pany
Sunset Beach Mutual Water Com-
pany
Terrace View Water Company
Vine Hill Mutual Water and Im-
provement Company
Santa Cruz
Ben Lomond
Mount Hermon .
Watsonville
Olympia
Santa Cruz
Boulder Creek.
Boulder Creek-
Boulder Creek .
Santa Cruz —
County Water Districts
( 'mitral Santa Cruz County Water
District
San Lorenzo Valley County Water
District
County Waterworks Districts
Santa Cruz County Waterworks
District No. 1
Special Water Service Districts
Santa Cruz County Flood Control and
Water Conservation District
Watsonville .
Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz.
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
Aptos
Boulder Creek, etc.
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
35
640
20
Davenport.
2,138
711
35
193
3,076
98
167
15
30
14
24
25
12
7
11
80
27
132
108
27
12
30
27
238
20
11
432
95
30
375
23
79
47
30
30
5
24
(Sells at
-ali'l
75
whole-
268
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, SOUTH COASTAL AREA
Name of water agency
Los Angeles County
Municipal Waterworks
AJharabra
Arcadia
Avalon
Azusa
Beverly Hills
B ii rbank
Con ip ton
Covina
El Monte
El Segundo
Glendale
Glendora
Hawthorne
Huntington Park
Ingle wood
La Verne
Long Beach
Los Angeles
Ly nwood
Manhattan Beach
Monrovia
Monterey Park
Pasadena
Pomona
San Fernando
Santa Monica
Sierra Madre
Signal Hill
South Gate
South Pasadena
Torrance
Vernon
Whittier
Commercial Water Companies
Azusa Valley Water Company.
Berlu Water Company
Bouquet Canyon Water Company
California Michigan Land and Water
Company
California Water Service Company,.
California Water and Telephone
Company
Central Gardens Water Company...
Coast Water Company
Conservative Water Company.
Dominguez Water Corporation.
Duarte Domestic Water Company. _
East Gardena Water Company
East Pasadena Water Company, Ltd.
Fairacres Water Company
Ideal Petroleum Company
Investment Water Corporation, Ltd.
Junior Water Company, Inc
Lakewood Waterand Power Company.
La Mirada Water Company
Malibu Watei ( Jompany
Montebello Land and Water Company
Narbonne Ranch Water Company
No. 2
Newhall Water Company
Orchard Dale Service Company
Location,
in or
near
Area
irri-
gated.
in
acres
Alhambra
Arcadia
Avalon
Azusa
Beverly Hills
Burbank
Compton
Covina
El Monte
Kl Segundo.
Glendale
< rlendora
Hawthorne
Huntington Park.
Inglewood
La Verne
Long Beach
Los Angeles
Lynwood
Manhattan Beach
Monrovia
Monterey Park...
Pasadena
Pomona
San Fernando
Santa Monica
Sierra Madre
Signal Hill
South Gate
South Pasadena
Torrance
Vernon
Whittier
/Covina
I, West Covina
Bellflower
Saugus
Lamanda Park
East Pasadena
East Los Angeles
Eastmont
Hermosa Beacli
Redondo Beach
Torrance
Azusa
El Monte
Rosemead
San Gabriel
San Marino
South Gate
\Lynwood
Bell Gardens
Watts
fRedondo Beach
{ Wilmington
Duarte
Gardena
Lamanda Park
East Pasadena
North Long Beach
Bellflower
Los Angeles
Norwalk
Lakewood
La Mirada
Rancho Topanga
Malibu
Montebello
400
56
23
Lomita
Newhall
Luitweiller
Orchard Dale
2,000
800
56
60
1.200
360
650
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
15,042
8,964
1,000
3,23<i
9,577
21,991
9,846
2,010
2,364
2,522
25,448
1,610
5,663
6,026
12,850
1,230
56,846
421,229
8,525
7,194
6,779
7,296
36,609
10,417
3,699
15,687
2,484
1,387
1L' 721
4,839
5,832
652
8,602
2.200
384
55
1,433
38,953
10,687
967
932
8,667
5,600
4,000
Name of water agency
Location,
in or
near
131
702
42
5,013
1,145
19.261
12
987
2,434
575
818
849
Los Angeles County — Continued
Municipal Waterworks — Continued
Pacific Water Company
Palos Verdes Water Company
Park Water Company
Peerless Land and Water Company..
Plunkett Water Company
Ranchito Water Company
San Dimas-Charter Oak Domestic
Water Company
San Gabriel Valley Water Company.
Southern California Water Company _
Sparling Water Company
Suburban Mutual Water Company.
fBurbank Tract
j Hawaiian Gardens
Independence
Square
Orangewood
Palos Verdes
El Monte
Bellflower
Long Beach
Pico
Suburban Water Systems.
Sunshine Water Company
Uehling Water Company, Inc
Watson, Burl, Domestic Water Com-
pany
Mutual Water Companies
Adams, J. Q., Mutual Water Com-
pany
Adams Ranch Mutual Water Com-
pany
Alta Canada Mutual Water Company.
Alvin Poore Water Service
Amarillo Mutual Water Company
Angelus Heights Water Company
Annexation for Water, Inc
Arroyo Ditch and Water Company. _
Artesia Garden Water Association
Artesia Ice Service
Atlantic Boulevard Water Users
Association
Avenue Line Water Association
Azusa Agricultural Water Company.
Azusa Irrigating Company
Baker Cooperative Company
Baker, I.F., Mutual Water Company
Baldwin Park Water Company
Banta Ditch Association
Base Line Water Company
Baughman Water Company
B-B Water Company
Beck Tract Mutual Water System
Bellflower Home Garden Water
Company
Bellflower Water Company
Belvedere Mutual Water Company. _.
Ben Sher Mutual Water Company,
Inc
Berggren-Robinson-Gagliaro Water
Company
Beverly Acres Mutual Water Users
Association
B.F.S. Mutual Water Company..
Bigby Townsite Water Comp>any. _
Big Rock Beach Water Company..
Blue Ribbon Community Water
Company
Bonita Water Company
fSan Dimas
^Charter Oak
Baldwin Park
El Monte
Whittier
Area
Num-
irri-
ber of
gated,
do-
in
mestic
acres
services
1,646
2,037
24,326
500
22
198
1,480
27,453
[Culver City
I Lennox
[and 25 others
Topanga Can von .
1.070
69,491
545
Nor walk .
941
fCovina
Downey
Glendora
J Los Nietos
Puente
South Covina
West Covina
Whittier
Santa Fe Springs .
1,550
7,587
1.1.30
1.280
493
Compton
El Monte
Puente
Rosemead.
77
97
La Canada ..
El Monte
50
4
60
Garvey . .
171
324
1,000
20
380
La Crescenta .
("La Crescenta
Montrose \
[Verdugo
Downey
126
6,000
Artesia
22
Artesia
30
Long Beach ...
320
Claremont
Azusa ..
200
1,200
4,000
7
Azusa
El Monte
20
El Monte
18
Baldwin Park
Whittier
135
La Verne
402
1.001
87
Claremont..
Puente
Artesia .. _
35
Bellflower
Bellflower _
Redondo Beach
Mint Canyon
Puente.
120
195
3
300
50
250
1,606
112
43
1
Whittier..
75
Whittier. _
200
Bell flower .
178
Malibu
10
101
El Monte
105
Claremont
160 1
APPENDIX B
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, SOUTH COASTAL AREA-Continued
269
Name of water agency
Location,
in or
near
Area
Num-
irri-
ber of
gated,
do-
in
mestic
acres
services
Name of water agency
Location,
in or
near
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
Num-
ber of
do-
in. ■-tic
services
Los Angeles County — Continued
Mutual Water Companies — Continued
Bonnie Brae Water Company
Botello Water Company
Boulder Water Company
Boulevard Water Company No. 2
Briggs Terrace Mutual Water
Company
California Domestic Water Company
Canon Water Company of Pomona _
Cantrill Mutual Water Company
Canyon View Water Company
Cassel Water Company
Castaic Mutual Water Company
Cate Ditch Company
C and C Mutual Water Company...
Cedar Avenue Mutual Water < 'omps
ny, Inc
Center City Water Company
Century Center Mutual Water As
sociation
Century City Mutual Water ( 'mnpau\
Cerritos Park Mutual Water Company
Cerro del Oro Water Company
Chatsworth Lake Mutual Water
Corporation
Cherryvale Water Users Association.
Chrisco Mutual Water Association..
Christian Acres Mutual Water Com-
pany
Cienega Springs Water Company
Citrus Grove Heights Water Com-
pany
City Farms Mutual Water Company.
Claremont Basin Mutual Water Com-
pany
Claremont Cooperative Water Com-
pany
Claremont Heights Irrigation Com-
pany
Colima Tract Water Company
College Way Mutual Domestic Com-
pany
Columbia Land and Water Company.
Community Water Supply
Comstock Water Company
Connemara Mutual Water Company
Contract Water Company of Azusa _
Cook Tract Water Company
Corona Del Malibu
Corral Canyon Mutual Water Com-
pany
Covina Highlands Water Company _ .
Covina Irrigating Company
Crescenta Mutual Water Company
Cross Water Company
Crystal Mutual Water Company
Deerpath Mutual Water Company
Del Monte Irrigation Company
Del Rio Mutual Water Company
Didier Farms Mutual Water Company
Downey Valley Water Company
Dreher, E. L., Agent
Duarte Mutual Water Company
Durward Well Company
East End Irrigation Company
East Gardena Water Company
Edgemont Water Company
El Camino Water Company
El Campo Mutual Water Company _.
El Monte Community Association
El Segundo Land and Improvement
Company
Eureka Water Company
Fairview Mutual Water Company
Farm Mutual Water Company
Fickewirth Mutual Water Company,
Ltd
Flintridge Heights Mutual Water
Company
Francisquito Water Company
( 'laremonl
San Dimas
Claremont
Baldwin Park.
La Crescenta
Whittier
Pomona
El Monte
Baldwin Park.
< 'm ilia
Castaic
Pico
Baldwin Park.
F.l Monte. .
Paramount .
( 'learwater.
Hollydale..
Bellflower. .
La Verne
Chatsworth
Long Beach
Mint ( 'imyiiii
Hawaiian Gardens
Glendora
Whittier.
Artesia .
* In remont-
i Lip'mont.
( llaremont
Whittier
La Verne
San Dimas .
Norwalk
Puente .
Azusa
Azusa
Paramount _
Mahbu
Malibu
Covina
( lovina
Me nt rose
Puente
Whittier
Santa Monica-
Pomona
El Monte
Puente
Downey
Claremont
Duarte
La Verne
Pomona
Gardena
La Verne
Claremont
San Marino
El Monte
El Segundo.
Claremont __
Claremont. _
El Monte...
Puente
Glendale.
Puente
190
110
300
50
4,700
3,100
250
180
200
300
140
80
330
21
1,000
600
300
500
510
150
55
1,200
60
3,500
1,000
1,800
155
25
170
74
175
250
40
300
15
70
188
30
330
:>s
75
65
125
300
78
125
100
28
48
127
3
150
46
2,960
450
318
84
169
20
53
54
130
Los Angeles County — Continued
Mutual Water Companies — Continued
Franklin Avenue Water Company,
Inc
Fruit Street Water Company
Gardena Water Supply Company
Giano Mutual Water Company
Glendora Independent Water Com-
pany
Glendora Irrigating Company
Golden Poppy Park Water Tiu-t
Grazide Rancho Mutual Water Com-
pany
Harrison Avenue Water ('<nnpan\
Haskin, Claire R., Water Company _ .
Hemlock Mutual Water Company
Hepner Water Company
Herbert Mutual Water Company
Hidden Hills Mutual Water Com-
pany
Highway Highlands Wain Company
Hilgartner Mutual Water Company
H..I.S. Mutual Water Company
Hollenbeck Street Water Companj
Home Water Company
Howell Road Mutual Water Companj
Indian Hill Water Company
Irrigation Company of Pomona
Jenkins Realty Mutual Water Com-
pany
Jones- Yorba Mutual Water Company
Kingsley Tract Water Co., Ltd
Kinneloa Water Company
Kwis Mutual Water Company
La Grande Source Water Company ...
Lacuna Maywood Mutual Water
Company No. 1
La Habra Heights Mutual Water
Company
Lake Hughes Water Supply
Lambert Mutual Water Compain
La Merced Heights Land and Water
Company
La Puente Cooperative Water Com-
pany
Las Flores Mesas Water System
Las Flores Water Company
Las Tunas Water Company, Ltd
La Verne Heights Water Association
La Verne Mutual Water Company
La Verne Water Association
Leffingwell Rancho Pipe Line Associa-
tion
Lexington Boulevard Mutual Water
Company
Lincoln Avenue Water Company, Ine
Live Oak Water Company
Loma Mutual Water Company
Los Nietos Irrigation Company
Lowell Avenue Mutual Water Com-
pany
Lowell Tract Water Company
Lynwood Gardens Mutual Water
Company
Lynwood Park Mutual Water Com-
pany
Maechtlen and Nusbickel
Main Avenue Mutual Water Com-
pany
Mahbu Lake Mountain Club, Ltd
Malibu Lakeside Mutual Water Com-
pany
Mahbu Mar Vista Mutual Water Com-
pany
Maple Mutual Water Company
Maple Water Company
Maxson-Neely Water Company
Mavwood Mutual Water Company
No. 1
Maywood Mutual Water Company-
No. 2
Pomona..
I, a Verne
Gardena.
Puente
Glendora.
Glendora .
i pton
Puente
Claremont.
Compton..
El Monte..
Covina
El Monte..
< lalabs ;i
Glendale
Vernon
I 'ompton
\\ .'-i ( lovina.
Compton
Puente
Claremont
Pomona
Artesia
La Verne.
Pomona. _
Pasadena
Puente
Puente
Maywood.
La Habra
Lake Hughes .
El Monte
Montebello.
Covina
Mahbu...
Pasadena.
Malibu...
La Verne.
La Verne.
La Verne.
Whittier.
E 1 Monte.
Pasadena..
Pomona. _
El M.uite
Whittier..
Los \ngeles.
Whittier
Lynwood .
( ' ptuii
La Verne .
Baldwin Park.
Agoura
Agoura.
Malibu
Bellflower .
Puente
Covina
Maywood.
Maywood .
66
120
125
1,500
2,500
300
375
100
50
320
100
90
1,000
145
350
183
885
2,8011
20
::on
1,800
111
900
309
10
10
100
1,200
200
40
15
15
140
250
100
25
33
134
72
44
1,002
6
76
19
60
12
12
93"
52
185
56
570
175
60
19
1 ,057
50
46
62
28
3,009
26
13
350
354
100
100
1
38
96
1,200
1,710
•270
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, SOUTH COASTAL AREA-Continued
Name of water agency
Los Angeles County — Continued
Mutual Water Companies — Continued
Mavvvood Mutual Water Company
No. 3
McCauley Well Company, Ltd
Meadows Mutual Water Company...
Mesa Mutual Water Company
Metcalf Mutual Water Company, Inc.
Michigan Avenue Farms Mutual
Water Company
Midland Park Water Trust
Midway Gardens Mutual Association.
Mills Tract Water Company
Mint Canyon Village Water ( Company
Mini Loma Mutual Water Company
Mission Gardens Mutual Water Com-
pany
Moneta Water Company
Mont Antonio Water Company
Monte Mutual Water Company, Inc.
Monterey Acres Mutual Water Com-
pany, Inc
Monte Vista Pipe Line Association..
Monte Vista Water Company
Mountain View Gardens Mutual
Water Association
Mountain Water Company of La
Crescenta
Mount Wilson Hotel Company
Murphy Ranch Mutual Water Com-
pany
Narbonne Ranch Water Company No. 3
Neighbors Water Association
New Mint Water System
North El Monte Water Company
North Gate Gardens Water Company
North Long Beach Extension Water
Company
North Palomares Irrigation Company-
North Side Water Company of Walnut
Old Baldy Water Company
Olivita Mutual Water Company
Omaha Water Company
Orange Belt Water Company
Orange Grove Tract Water Company
Orchard Park Water Club, Inc
Packard Mutual Water Company
Packers Mutual Water Company
Palomares Irrigation Company
Park Avenue Well Association
Park, Sherman and Taylor
Pearson's Mutual Water Company
Piedmont Heights Water Club
Pomona Ranch Water Company
Potrero Heights Water Company
Property Owners Water System
Puddingstone Water Company
Purity Mutual Water Company
Ramona Avenue Irrigation Company.
Rancho Green Valley Water Company
Rancho Mutual Water Company
Rancho Santa Gertrudes Mutual
Water System
Reeves Tract Water Company
Richards Irrigation Company
Richland Farms Water Company
Richwood Mutual Water Company...
Rincon Ditch Company
Riverwood Ranch Mutual Water
Company
Rowland and Foster Water Company
Rowland Manor Mutual Water Com-
pany
Rubio Canon Land and Water Associ-
ation
R urban Homes Mutual Water Com-
pany, Inc
San Dimas Land and Water Com-
pany
San I inn.,- \\ :i ti-i i 'ompatij
Santa Catalina Island Company
Santa Gertrudes Irrigation Company
Location,
in or
near
May wood _
Pomona
Whittier...
Pasadena..
El Monte.
Paramount.
Compton...
Paramount.
La Verne
Newhall
Pasadena
Garvey
Torrance. _
Claremont.
El Monte..
Artesia..
Sunland.
Pomona.
Long Beach.
Glendale
Mount Wilson.
Whittier. _.
Torrance
Compton
Newhall
El Monte
North Long Beach
North Long Beacli
Claremont
Walnut
La Verne
Ingle wood
Covina
Covina
Pomona
Long Beach
Pomona
Los Angeles
Pomona
Pomona
Malibu
Covina
Long Beach
Claremont
San Gabriel
Newhall
La Verne
El Monte
Pomona
Saugus
Rolling Hills
Downey
BellHower.
Claremont.
Compton. _
El Monte..
Whittier...
Area
irri-
90
28
150
46
90
1,250
400
123
400
1,200
650
4
150
084
750
357
230
300
\jr,
104
150
220
30
101
100
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
40
Los Angeles.
Puente
Walnut...
Altadena.
El Monte.
La Verne .
Covina
Avalon
Whittier. _
400
203
527
250
340
2,800
15
1,830
13
23
9
136
104
112
121
155
300
40
133
30
2,200
7
286
246
59
150
400
283
320
125
115
10
524
40
30
155
289
45
20
315
135
25
75
102
2,370
132
850
Name of water agency
Los Angeles County — Continued
Mutual Water Companies — Continued
Santa Gertrudes Water Company
Sepulveda, R. D., Estate
Simons Brick Company
Somerset Mutual Water Company ...
Sorenson Mutual Water Association _.
Southland Water Company
Standefer Ditch Company
Stanton Water Company
Sterling Mutual Water Company
Studebaker Mutual Water Company .
Sunny Slope Water Company
Sunset Mutual Water Company
Swan Ranch Water Company
Swenson Mutual Water Company
Sylvia Park Mutual Water and Serv-
ice Company
Temple Avenue Mutual Water Com-
pany
Templeton Water System
Topanga Beach Water Association
Topanga Oaks Mutual Water Com-
pany
Topanga Park Mutual Water Com-
pany, Inc
T P K & B Water Company
Tract 180 Water Company
Tract 349 Mutual Water Company...
Tract 6192 Water Company
Twin Lakes Park Company
Upper Kagel Canyon Mutual Water
Association
Valencia Heights Water Company
Valencia Water Company
Valencia Water Company
Valhalla Water Association
Valley View Mutual Water Company
Valley View Water Company
Valley Water Company
Val Verde Park Water Company
Veteran Springs Mutual Water Corn-
Location,
in or
near
pany
Victoria Mutual Water Company
Walnut Mutual Water Company
Walnut Park Mutual Water Company
Walnut Place Mutual Water Com-
pany No. 17
Walnut Place Mutual Water Com-
pany No. 36
Walnut Place Mutual Water Com-
pany No. 42
Weldon Canyon Cooperative Water
Association No. 1
Werner Tract Mutual Water Com-
pany
West Coast Water Company
West Gateway Mutual Water Com-
pany
West Newhall Mutual Water Company
Whittier Extension Mutual Water
Company
Wood Mutual Water Company
Woodland Mutual Water Company _.
County Waterworks Districts
Los Angeles County Waterworks
District No. 1 , (Woodcrest)
Los Angeles County Waterworks
District No. 2, (Norwalk)
Los Angeles County Waterworks
District No. 5, (Belle- Vernon)
Los Angeles County Waterworks
District No. 10, (Willowbrook)
Los Angeles County Waterworks
District No. 13, (Lomita)
Los Angeles County Waterworks
District No. 16, (Miramonte Park).
Los Angeles County Waterworks
District No. 21, (Kagel Canyon)...
Los Angeles County Waterworks
District No. 22, (Liberty Acres)
Whittier
San Pedro
Montebello...
BellHower
Whittier
Norwalk
Pico
Puente
El Monte
Norwalk
San Gabriel
Puente
Walnut
Baldwin Park.
Topanga
Puente
El Monte
Santa Monica.
Topanga
Topanga
Puente
Bell
Huntington Park.
Whittier
Chatsworth
San Fernando.
Covina
Puente
Covina
Tujunga
Baldwin Park.
Claremont
Pasadena
Saugus
Veteran Springs ..
Puente
Walnut
Huntington Park-
Baldwin Park.
Baldwin Park-
Baldwin Park-
San Fernando.
Area
Num-
irri-
ber of
gated,
do-
in
mestic
acres
services
400
60
990
40
155
100
200
138
10
800
310
425
40
175
1,080
300
640
12
Baldwin Park.
Rosemead
Whittier.
Newhall _
Puente
El Monte-
El Monte.
Los Angeles. ..
Norwalk
Compton
Los Angeles
Lomita
Los Angeles
San Fernando.
Hawthorne
55
2,200
33
100
APPENDIX B
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, SOUTH COASTAL AREA-Continued
271
Name of water agency
Los Angeles County — Continued
Municipal Water Districts
Foothill Municipal Water District..
Pomona Valley Municipal Water Dis-
trict
Torrance Municipal Water District
No. 1
Torrance Municipal Water District
No. 3
West Basin Municipal Water District
County Water Districts
Baldwin Park County Water District
Crescenta Valley County Water Dis-
trict
Downey County Water District
La Puente Valley County Water Dis-
trict
Newhall County Water District
Paramount County Water District
Pico County Water District
San Gabriel County Water District-..
Sativa Los Angeles County Water
District
Val Verde County Water District
Irrigation Districts
La Canada Irrigation District
South Montebello Irrigation District
Walnut Irrigation District
Location,
in or
near
La Crescenta, etc
Pomona, etc
Torrance
Torrance
Inglewood, etc. _.
Baldwin Park
Glendale.
Downey- -
Puente
Newhall
Paramount.
Pico
San Gabriel -
Comptoii-
Saugus .
Metropolitan Water Districts
Metropolitan Water District of South-
ern California
Orange County
Municipal Waterworks
Anaheim
Brea
Fullerton
La Habra
Newport Beach
Orange
San Clemente
Santa Ana
Seal Beach
Commercial Water Companies
Clark Pumping Plant
Dyke Water Company
Jones Water Company
Martinez, J , Water System
Pacific Water Company
Park Lane Water Company
San Juan Water Company
Southern California Water Company
Sunset Land and Water Company
Tustin Water Works
Mutual Water Companies
Anaheim Eucalyptus Water Company
Anaheim Union Water Company
Arovista Mutual Water Company
Atwood Water Company
Benedict Water Company
Boulevard Gardens Water Company .
Brookhurst Water Company
Capistrano Acres Mutual Water Com-
pany
Capistrano Heights Water Company .
Capistrano Water Company. _
Catalina Street Pump Owners
Cerritos Water Company
Pasadena
Montebello.
Downey
Area
Num-
irri-
ber of
gated,
do-
in
mestic
acres
services
14,000
8,500
125
2,000
(Sells :<>
s:dcl
2,400
440
190
Anaheim
Brea
Fullerton
La Habra
Newport Beach.
Orange
San Clemente.-.
Santa Ana
Seal Beach
Garden Grove
Garden Grove
El Modena
Garden Grove
Barber City
New Westminster
and 7 others
Garden Grove
Laguna Beacli
Huntington Beach
and 6 others
Sunset Beacli
Tustin
Placentia
Anaheim
Brae
Atwood
Anaheim
Boulevard Gardens
Anaheim
San Juan Capis-
trano
San Juan Capis-
trano
San Juan Capis-
trano
Santa Ana
Anaheim
(Sells at
sale)
20,250
7,800
v\ hole-
5,100
3,900
7,500
1,721
4,150
7,125
1,126
186
1,610
1,525
750
Name of water agency
45
740
8,500
500
210
101
6
100
415
195
432
108
\\ hole-
4,764
1,350
4,808
2,000
6,800
3,541
1,100
15,418
1 ,035
391
91
2,713
46
650
4,452
499
1,375
107
3
13
Orange County — Continued
Mutual Water I Companies — Continued
C'itnis Water Association
( 'i t ins Water Company
Colonia Mutual Watei I Company
Dalewood Mutual Water Association
Dawn Water Company
Diamond Park Mutual Water Com-
l lany
Eastside Water Association
El Aguador Irrigation Company
El Caniino Water Company
El Modena Mutual Irrigation Com-
pany
El Toro Mutual Water Company No.
1
Kim it-able Water ( 'ompany
Fairview Farms Water Company
Fardale Mutual Water Company
Fardale Pump Company
Frances Mutual Water Company
Garden Grove Acres Mutual Water
( lompany
Garden Grove Irrigation Company
No. 1
' raj Street Water Association
Goodwin Mutual Water Company
Grandview Mutual Water Company..
Greenwald Mutual Water Company-.
Hall, Hellis, and Bradford, and Holtz
Hansen Water Company
Harding Water Users
H and M Water Company
Homewood Mutual Water Company.
Hualde Mutual Water Company
Idea] Water Company
Katella Water Company
Kellogg Water Company
La Habra Water Company
La Paz Mutual Water Company
Lemon Heights Mutual Water Com-
pany
Liberty Park Water Association
Loma Vista Mutual Water Company.
Lomita Land and Water Company —
Magnolia Mutual Water Company —
Magnolia Pumping Plant
Magnolia Union Water Association...
Midway < !ity Mutual Water Company
Miller Manor Mutual Water Com-
pany
Mine Camp Water System
Mirallorcs Mutual Water Company _.
M.O.B. Mutual Water Company
Modjeska Service Company
Moore Mutual Water Company
Mutual Water Company of Goode
Subdivision
Mutual Water Company of Lands-
down
Newhope Water Company
North East Water Company
North Street Copartnership Pumping
Plant
Nutwood Mutual Pumping Plant
Association
Orange Avenue Water Company
Orange County Water Service Com-
pany
Orange Grove Water Company
Orange Magnolia Water Company ...
Orange Park Acres Mutual Water
Company
Orangewood Water Company
P. A. Stanton Water Company
Palm Mutual Water Company
Panorama Heights Mutual Water
Company
Parsons Mutual Water Company
Paw Paw Mutual Irrigation Company .
Peralta Hills Water Company
Pilot Water Company
I ication
in or
near
Orange
Santa Ana
Anaheim
Garden Grove
1 irange
Santa Ana-
Santa Ana-
Anaheim. _
Fullerton..
Santa Ana.
El Toro...
Anaheim..
Santa Ana.
Anaheim
Anaheim ..
Tustin
Santa Ana.
Garden Grove
Cypress
Placentia
La Habra
Santa Ana
Santa Ana
Stanton
Anaheim
Stanton
North Buena Park
La Habra
Anaheim
Anaheim
Anaheim
La Habra
Garden Grove
Tustin
Huntington Beach
Tustin
Seal Beach
Anaheim
Anaheim
Anaheim
Midway City
Orange
Orange
Anaheim-
200
Oceanview. —
36
80
Santa Ana
20
90
85
120
71
10
119
800
70
123
70
4
Garden Grove.
2
80
Olive
354
Placentia
300
Area
irri-
E ii.- I
in
acres
157
290
62
100
400
300
103
400
70
90
1,227
40
160
52
120
60
100
98
10
350
143
107
105
3,000
275
35
300
75
120
120
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
26
110
77
11
'it
250
8
50
41
22
4
12
26
498
1
365
59
48
7
1
12
165
3
35
4
106
60
19
220
6
10
3
2
14
15
200
4
3
18
9
21
272
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, SOUTH COASTAL AREA-Continued
Name of water agency
Orange County — Continued
Mutual Water Companies — Continued
Placentia Mutual Water Company. .
Red Hill Water Company
Richfield Mutual Water Company
Rio Vista Water Company
Romenya Drive Mutual Water Com-
pany, Inc
Saamae Land and Water Company.
San Juan Heights Water Company. .
Santa Ana Heights Water Company .
Santa Ana Street Water Company . . .
Santa Ana Valley Irrigation Company.
Santiago Mutual Water Company
Savanna Mutual Water Corporation
Schneider Water Company
Section Two Water Company
Section 13 Water Company
Seven Hills Mutual Water Company
Shady Brook Water Company
Silverado Mutual Water Company .
South Main Mutual Water Company,
Inc.
Southwestern Mutual Water Com-
pany, Inc
Stanky Pumping Plant
Sunny Hills Mutual Water Company.
Sunset Land and Water Company
Trabuco Oaks Mutual Water Com-
pany
Trabuco Water ( lompany
Tract 868 IMutual Water Company-..
Tract 1022 Mutual Water Company..
Tract 1052 Mutual Water Association
Turner Mutual Water Company
Tustin Mutual Water Company
Tye W 7 ater Company
Valencia Irrigation Company, Inc.
Valencia Water < lompany
Villa Park Mutual Water Company,
Inc
Vista Del Rio Rancho Water Group
Walnut Canyon Mutual Water Com-
pany
Webster Tract Water System
West Anaheim Water Company
Wilminedi Water Company
Yorba Irrigation Company
Yorba Linda W r ater Company
County Water Districts
Fairview County Water District
Laguna Beach County Water District
Orange County Water District No. 2
Orange County Water District No. 3
Orange County Water District No. 4
Orange County Water District No. 5
Orange County Water District No. 7
Orange County Water District No. 8
South Coast County Water District
Irrigation Districts
Carpenter Irrigation District
Newport Heights Irrigation District
Newport Mesa Irrigation District
Serrano Irrigation District
Municipal Water Districts
Coastal Municipal Water District..
Orange County Municipal Water Di
trie!
Metropolitan \\ ater Districts
Metropolitan \\ atei District of South-
ern ( lalifornia
Location,
in or
near
Placentia.
Tustin...
Atwood..
Anaheim.
Anaheim
Huntington Beach
San Juan Capis-
trano
Santa Ana
Anaheim
Orange
Orange
Stanton
Anaheim
Anaheim
Anaheim
Tustin _.
Silverado
Silverado
Santa Ana
Santa Ana..
Anaheim
Fullerton...
Seal Beach.
Santa Ana
San Juan Capis-
trano
Stanton
Santa Ana
Garden Grove
Tustin
Tustin
Anaheim
Anaheim
Anaheim
Orange
Anaheim _
Anaheim
Anaheim
Anaheim
Anaheim
Yorba Linda .
Yorba Linda-
Costa Mesa
Laguna Beach..
Buena Park
Garden Grove..
San Juan Capis-
t rano
Westminster
Anaheim
El Modena
South Laguna. .
Orange
Newport Beach _ _
Newport Beach
Orange
Laguna Beach, etc.
Placentia, etc.
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
97
1,085
200
123
87
60
80
194
144
15,800
30
15
25
250
176
600
65
2,000
440
20
40
85
131
103
128
266
100
250
360
100
1,150
2,540
1,200
60
50
1,316
(Sells at
sale)
(Sells at
sale)
(Sells at
sale)
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
12
4
867
150
54
384
141
4
120
505
71
530
809
3,850
1,492
2,906
220
407
193
llli
970
2,397
434
whole-
w hole-
wholc-
Name of water agency
Riverside County
Municipal Waterworks
Elsinore
Perris
Riverside
San Jacinto
Commercial W'ater Companies
Anza Water Company
Citizens Domestic Water Company. ..
Corona City Water Company
Good Hope Water Company
Idyllwild Water Company
Inter-County Water Company
Jurupa Heights Water Company
Lake Hemet Water Company
Mission Water Company
Romoland Water System
Rubidoux Vista Water System
Sunny Slope Heights Water Company
West Riverside Canal Company
Mutual Water Companies
Agua Mansa Water Company
Alamo Water Company
Alta Mesa Mutual Water Company ..
Anza Water Company
Aqua Copia Mutual Water Company-
Arlington Mutual Water Company
Babtiste Mutual W T ater Company
Billick Mutual Water Company
Bonita Vista Mutual Water Company
Box Springs Mutual Water Company
Brownlands Mutual Water Company.
Cajaleo Mutual Water Company
Cherry Valley Mutual Water Com-
l lany
Clayton Mutual Water Company
Clearview Mutual Water Company __
Clear Water Company, Inc
Corona Heights Water Company
Corona Mesa Water Company
Coronita Mutual Water Company
Crestmore Heights Mutual Water
Company
East Riverside Water Company
Edgemont Gardens Mutual Water
Company
Elsinore Valley Mutual Water Com-
pany
Eryl Water Company
Fairview Land and Water Company. _
Fairview Pumping Plant
Fairway Mutual Water Corporation. _
Felspar Gardens Water Company
Fern Valley Mutual Water Company
Foothill Mutual Water Company
Fort Fremont Mutual Water Company
Fruitvale Mutual Water Company..
Gage Canal Company
Girard Street Mutual Water Company
Glass-Gilmore Mutual Water Com-
pany
Glen Eyrie Heights Mutual Water
Company
Grand Avenue Mutual Water Com-
pany
Grand View Mutual Water Company
Hannon Mutual Water Company
Highline Mutual Water Company
Home Gardens Water Company
Idyllmont Mutual Water Company __
Jewell and Clemens Pumping Plant ..
Jurupa Ditch Company
Jurupa Water Company
Kilmeny Lot Owners Water Associa-
tion
La Cadena Mutual Water Company..
Laguna Mutual Water Company...
Location,
in or
near
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
Elsinore
Perris
Riverside
San Jacinto.
Arlington
Arlington
La Sierra
La Sierra Heights ,
I ' ia.
Perris
Idyllwild
Crestmore
Sparrland
Hemet
West Riverside
Romoland
West Riverside
West Riverside
Riverside
120
Riverside —
Riverside
Arlington
Arlington
Mira Loma.
Arlington
Hemet
Hemet
Edgemont
Lakeview..
Coroiui
Beaumont
Clayton
Riverside..
Riverside..
Corona
Corona
Corona
Riverside
Riverside.
Sunnymead
Elsinore
Hemet
Hemet _
Hemet
San Jacinto .
Riverside
Idyllwild...
Hemet
Riverside
San Jacinto.
Riverside
Hemet
Perris
Beaumont
Elsinore
Beaumont-
Beaumont.
Hemet
Corona
Idyllwild. -
Hemet
Riverside. _
Riverside. _
Elsinore..
Riverside.
Hemet
7,200
620
250
160
750
1,200
1,200
188
158
78
480
1,800
200
7
260
300
3,350
430
110
165
200
60
240
5,368
6,394
125
310
6
44
60
175
145
600
988
12
200
APPENDIX B
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, SOUTH COASTAL AREA-Continued
273
Name of water agency
Location,
in or
near
Area
Num-
irri-
ber of
gated,
do-
in
mestic
acres
services
Name of water agency
Location,
in or
near
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
Riverside County — ( Continued
Mutual Water Companies — Continued
Lakeview Mutual Water Company
Landowners Mutual Water Company
La Sierra Water Company
Lemona Heights Water Company
Lincoln Heights Pumping Company. _
Lincoln Heights Water Company
Little Lake Mutual Water Company .
L.T.J. Water Company
Madison Park Pump Association
Mayberry Avenue Mutual Watei
Compa ny
Meridian Mutual Water Company
Merryman Water Company
Midway Mutual Water Company
Mockingbird Pumping Company
Monte Rue Acres Mutual Water Com-
pany
Moreno Mutual Irrigation Company
Moreno Water Company
Mountain Mutual Water Company...
.Mutual Water Company of Glen Vvon
Heights
Nuevo Water Company _. . . ..__.
Orange Heights Water Company
Park Hill Mutual Water Company
Penis Mutual Water Company
Perris Valley Irrigation Company
Pine Cove Mutual Water Company __
Plantation Mutual Pumping Company
Prado Basin Water Company
Prenda Pumping Company
Ramona Mutual Water Companj
Riverside Highlands Water Company
Riverside Water Company
Hi vino Water Company
Salazar Water Company
Santa Ana River Water Company
Santa Fe Mutual Water Company
Soboba Mutual Water Company
Soboba Water Company .
South Elsinore Mutual Water Com-
pany
South Valley Mutual Water Company
Sunnymead Mutual Water Company
Tahquitz Mutual Water Company
Temescal Water Company
Trujillo Water Company
Twin Buttes Water Company
Valencia Mutual Water Company
Walcot Mutual Water Company
Welles Mutual Water Company
West End Irrigation Company
West Riverside Mutual Water Com-
pany of Belltown
West Riverside 350-Inch Water Com-
pany
Whiffing Pumping Company
Wineland Vineyards Mutual Water
Company
Yale Mutual Water Company
Irrigation Districts
Beaumont Irrigation District
Municipal Water Districts
Eastern Municipal Water District
Western Municipal Water District
Metropolitan Water Districts
Metropolitan Water District of South-
ern California
Elsinore.,
Elsinore. _
Riverside.
Riverside.
Riverside.
Riverside.
Hemet
Hemet
Riverside.
Hemet
Hemet
Hemet
Hemet
Riverside-
Riverside.
Moreno . _
Moreno
Hemet
Riverside...
Penis
Norco
Hemet
Perris
Perris
Idyll wild
Corona
Corona
Riverside
Hemet
Highgrove
Riverside...
Riverside.. _
Riverside
Mna Loiua.
Hemet
Hemet
Hemet
Elsinore
Hemet
Sunnymead.
I In net
( lorona
Riverside
Arlington
Riverside
l [emet .
Hemet
Elsinore -
Riverside.
Riverside
Arlington Heights
Mira Loma.
Hemet
Beaumont.
Hemet, etc...
Riverside, etc.
1,500
190
255
355
300
70
65
200
297
175
1,000
350
4,000
2,000
2,500
200
130
3,200
750
120
90
2.000
8,700
186
200
1,351
160
120
210
1,000
275
168
255
5,000
200
1,500
83
150
115
75
40
1.400
75
40
200
2,101
150
48
450
220
800
56
149
165
225
640
265
54
82
1,817
(Sells at
sale)
San Bernardino County
Municipal Waterworks
Chino
Colton
Ontario
Chino...
Colton . .
Ontario .
whole-
1,671
4,181
7,783
San Bernardino County — Continued
Municipal Waterworks — Continued
Redlands
Rialto
San Bernardino
Upland
Commercial Water Companies
Big Bear Pines Water Company
Crestmore Village Water Company
Delmann Water Company
East Highlands Domestic Water Com
pany
East San Bernardino Water Company
Estates Water Company, Ltd.
Fontana Ranchos Water Company .
Godfrey Heights Water Company
Inter-County Water Company
Meadowbrook. Water Association
Mentone Domestic Water Company.
North Cucamonga Water Company _.
Pacific Water Company
Park Water Company
Peterson \\ ater < 'ompanj . I nc
Pioneer < iardens Water Company
Pomona Valley Water Company
Running Springs Forest Water < !om-
pany
San Bernardino Water Utilities Cor-
poration
Southern California Water Company.
Yucaipa Domestic Water Company ..
Mutual Water Companies
Alta Loma Domestic Water Company.
Alta Loma Mutual Water Company..
Anderson Mutual Wells < 'ompany, Inc.
Archibald Avenue Water Company
Arena Mutual W T ater Association
Arrow Route Water Company
Arroyo Verde Mutual Water
Company
Banyan Heights Water Company
Barnhill Mutual Water Company
Base Mutual Water Company
Bear Valley Extension Water and
Pipe Line Company
Bear Valley Mutual Water
Company
Beaumont- Yucaipa Water Con
tion Assocaition
Big Bear City Mutual Service
Company
Big Pine Tract Improvement and
Water Association, Inc
Blue Mountain Mutual Water
Company
Bon View Mutual Water Association _
Boulder Water Company
Brookings Pipe Line Mutual Water
Company
Bryn Mawr Mutual Water
Company
Canyon Ridge Water Company
Cardiff Farms Mutual Water
Company
Cedarpines Park Mutual Water
Company
Century Water Company
Chino District No. 1 Water
Company
Chino Water Company, The
Church Street Mutual Well
Company
Redlands
Rialto
San Bernardino.
Upland
Big Bear Lake
Crestmore
San Bernardino.
East Highlands
East San Bernar-
dino
Upland
Fontana
Highgrove
more
25
Lake Arrowhead ..
Mentone
onga
Rimforest
Bloomington
Chino
Crestmore
Loma Linda
San Bernardino
Chino
(See Hi
< .mill
(See Ta
10
6,655
1,152
20,699
2,794
248
165
17
110
178
248
83
12
verside
y)
ble6)
170
289
36
is
San Bernardino.
Verdemont
Big Bear Lake
Bloomington
Highland
Redlands
l ucaipa
Alta Loma..
I lucamonga
Highland
Cucamonga.
Ontario
1 '<<<■: una
150
135
1,512
191
9
514
3,051
457
187
123
90
280
325
210
San Bernardino.
Upland
Colton
l lighland
101
Bryn Maw r . .
Redlands
5 ucaipa
Big Bear City-
Forest Honie.-
135
160
10
1 ,200
7,600
200
20
62
Colton
Ontario
Claremont.
Fredalba . .
707
135
12
220
150
19
Redlands.
LTpland...
San Bernardino.
Cedarpines.
Chino
288
180
48
Chino. _.
Ontario.
Ml
68
1,000
168
470
9
Redlands .
70
L'74
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, SOUTH COASTAL AREA-Continued
Name of water agency
Location,
in or
near
San Bernardino County — Continued
.Mutual Watei Companies — Continued
Citizens Land and Water Company of
Bloomington
Citrus Water Company-
City Creek Water Company
Colton Avenue Water Company
( lommunity Water Association of
Highland
Conejo Ranchos -Mutual Water
Company
Corwin Well Company
Crafton Heights Pipe Line
( 'ompany
Crafton Mesa Mutual Water
( Company
Crafton Water ( 'ompany
Crawford Canyon Mutual Water
Company
Cucamonga Water Company
Cuttle, R. l'\. Ine
Daley Canyon Mutual Water
Company
Del Rosa Mutual Water Company
Devore Mutual Water Company
Dillson Mutual Water Company
East Hart m Water Company.
East Colton Avenue Water
Company
East Colton Heights Mutual Water
Company. .
East Lugonia Mutual Water
Company
East Pioneer Mutual Well Company _
East Redlands Water Company
Eastwood Acres Community Water
Company
Etiwanda Domestic Water
Association
Etiwanda Water Company
Eucalyptus Street W r ater Company..
Euclid Water Company of Upland ...
Fairview Water Company
Fallsvale Service Company
Fawnskin Mutual Water Company
Fifth Street Mutual Water
Company
Fontana Union Water Company
Foothill Irrigation Company
Gaylord Mutual Water Company
Gladysta Well and Water Company..
Grand Avenue Pump Company
( Irant Company Well
Greenspot Mutual Water Company ..
Greenspot Mutual Well Company
Haws McKinley Well Company
Hedges Well, Inc
Hellman Water Company
Hermosa Water Company
Highland Avenue Water Company
Highland Haven Mutual Water
Company
Highland Well Company
Hillside Wells Company
Holden Mutual Water Company
Home Mutual Water Company
Hope Springs Eternal Well, Inc
Inter-City Mutual Water Company ..
loamosa Water Company
Jewel Water Company
Joya Mutual Water Company
Judson Mutual Water Company
Jumal Water Company
Kansas Street Water Company
King Street Mutual Well Company ..
Ladera Mutual Improvement
Company
Lakeside W 7 ell Company
Lankershim Street Mutual Well
I ompany
Las I'almas Water Company
Bloomington.
( lucamonga.-
Highland
Redlands
Highland-
San Bernardino .
Highland .
Redlands-
Redlands-
Redlands.
Fontana
Cucamonga
San Bernardino..
San Bernardino. .
Del Rosa
San Bernardino. .
Del Rosa 1 [eights
Redlands
Mentone
( loll m
Redlands
Redlands.
Redlands.
San Bernardino.
Etiwanda.
Etiwanda.
Highland-
L'pland...
Redlands.
Fallsvale..
Fawnskin.
Ontario
Fontana
Alta Loma.
Ontario
Redlands- _
Ontario
Redlands. .
Greenspot..
Mentone
Highland- .
Alta Loma.
Alta Loma.
Alta Loma.
Fontana
Fontana
Highland
Alta Loma
San Bernardino .
Ontario
Pomona
San Bernardino .
Alta Loma
Redlands
Upland
Redlands
Colton
Redlands
Redlands
Loma Linda .
Redlands
Highland.
Redlands-
Area
Num-
irri-
ber of
gated,
do-
in
mestic
acres
services
1,771
105
400
50
150
390
225
1,400
4,000
84
256
100
130
22
120
155
440
51
1,000
40
90
175
12,500
600
120
100
84
100
2,000
75
90
250
250
480
25
100
100
240
70
80
580
130
120
150
130
75
100
35
35
600
21
30
109
19
.'.x
Name of « ater agency
165
20
350
721
26
42
107
35
123
118
20
San Bernardino County — Continued
Mutual Water Companies — Continued
Lemon Heights Water Company
Limited Mutual Water Company
Linda Vista Water Company
Loma Linda Home Tract Water
Company
Loma Linda Mutual Service
Company
Longacres Mutual Water Company ..
Lower Yucaipa Water Company
Lugonia Park Water Company
Lugonia Water Company
Lugo Water Company
Lytle Creek Water and Improve-
ment ( 'ompany
Marabrae Mutual Water Company..
Marygold Mutual Water Companj
Mascart Water Company
Meeks and Daley Water Company .
Mentone Aims Mutual Well Company
Mentone Groves Company
Merryfield Water Company
Mesa Linda Water ('ompany
Mill Creek Mutual Service Company
Monte Vista Irrigation Company. ..
Monte Vista Water Company
Moonridge Mutual Water Company.
Mountain View Mutual Water Com-
Location,
in or
near
pany
Mountain View Park Mutual Water
Company — .
Mountain View Water Company
Mount Harrison Mutual Water Com-
pany
Mount Vernon Water Company
MuscoyMutualWater Company No. 1
Mutual Well Company
Myrtle Mutual Water Company
Nickerson Water Company No, 1
North Brae Water Company
North Fork Water Company
North Shore Mutual Water Company.
North Side Water Company
Noyes Water Company
Oakglen Domestic Water Company _.
Old Settlers Water Company
Olive Tree Lane Mutual Water Com-
pany
Ontario Water Company
Orange Park Water Company
Peach Park Water Company
Penn Well Company
Pepper Curve Mutual Water Company
Perris Hill Mutual Water Company
Pharoah and Powell Water Company.
Pioneer Mutual Water Company
Pomona Home Acres Mutual W T ater
Company
Pomona Valley Water Company
Ramona Avenue Irrigation Company.
Rancheria Water Company
Raught Mutual Well Company
Redlands Heights Water Company
Redlands Water Company
Rex Mutual Water Company
Rialto Mutual Land and Water Com-
pany •
Rochester Water Company
Rocky Comfort Mutual Water Com-,
pany
Rosedale Water Company
San Antonio Canyon Mutual Service
Company
San Antonio Water Company
San Bernardino Avenue Water Com-
pany
Sapphire Mutual Water Company
Schowalter Mutual Water Company.
Section 30 Mutual Water Company _.
Seeley Well Company
Lfpland.
Ontario.
Colton. .
San Bernardino-
Loma Linda _
Fontana
Redlands
Redlands
Redlands
Redlands
Rialto
1 1 ighland
Bloomington
Redlands
Colton
Mentone
Mentone
Colton
Alta Loma
Mentone
Ontario
Pomona
Big Bear Village-
Ontario
Chino
Upland
East Highland _.
San Bernardino.
San Bernardino.
Highland
San Bernardino .
Redlands
Redlands
Highland
Fawnskin
Redlands
Ontario
Oakglen
Cucamonga
Highland
Upland
Ontario
Ontario
Redlands
Highland
San Bernardino .
Redlands
Redlands
Pomona
Chino
Pomona
San Bernardino .
Redlands
Redlands-
Redlands
Alta Loma
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
Rialto
Cucamonga.
Redlands.
Colton
Upland.
LTpland.
Redlands..
Alta Loma.
Alta Loma.
Yucaipa
Highland...
300
320
400
50
250
100
1,100
1 30
3,200
450
105
200
240
122
170
900
300
30
210
850
110
320
1,100
130
60
145
3,200
110
235
140
250
77
135
116
45
90
80
90
100
110
105
310
145
1,000
1,300
125
500
50
83
4,000
110
100
640
80
APPENDIX B
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, SOUTH COASTAL AREA-Continued
275
Name of water agency
San Bernardino County — Continued
Mutual Water Companies — Continued
Slover Mutual Water Company
Smith Tract Water Company
South Mesa Water Company
South Mountain Water Company
Southside Mutual Water Company
Stovve Water Company
Strawberry Lodge Mutual Water
Company
Sunset Water Company of Cuca-
monga
Tennessee Water Company
Terrace Water Company
Tioga Mutual Water Company
Treasure Island Mutual Water Com-
pany
Tri-City Mutual Water Company
Trible Falls Water Company
Upland Foothill Water Company
Upland Water Company
Valencia Drive Mutual Water Com-
pany
Valley Farms Mutual Water Company
Valley View Park Mutual Water
Company
Victoria Farms Mutual Water Com-
pany
Vista Grande Mutual Water Com-
pany
Walnut Street Pumping Plant
Webster Mutual Water Company
West End Consolidated Water Com-
pany
Western Heights Water Company
West Fourth Street Water Company .
West Highlands Water Company .
West Highland Well Company
West Ontario Mutual Water Com-
pany
West Redlands Water Company
West Twin Creek Water Company
Williams Well Corporation, Ltd
Woehr Mutual Water Company
Wrach Water Company .
Yucaipa Little Farms
Yucaipa Valley Mutual Water Com-
pany
Yucaipa Water Company No. 1
County Water Districts
Bloomington County Water District. _
Crest Forest County Water District-.
Monte Vista County Water District..
County Waterworks Districts
San Bernardino County Waterworks
District No. 8
Municipal Water Districts
Chino Basin Municipal Water District-
San Bernardino Municipal Water
District
Metropolitan Water Districts
Metropolitan Water District of
Southern California
San Diego County
Municipal Waterworks
Escondido
Oceanside
San Diego
Location,
in or
near
Rial to
Redlands-
Calimesa.
Redlands-
Ontario.-
Redlands-
San Bernardino.
Cucamonga-
Redlands
Col ton
Upland
Pine Knot
San Bernardino.
Yucaipa
Upland
Upland
San Bernardino.
San Bernardino.
Crestline
San Bernardino _
Colton
Chino
San Bernardino _
Upland. __
Redlands-
Ontario _ _
Patton
Del Rosa-
Ontario
Redlands
San Bernardino.
Redlands
Redlands
Chino
Yucaipa
Yucaipa.
Yucaipa.
Bloomington.
Crestline
Ontario
Chino
Ontario, etc.
San Bernardino
Redlands, etc.
Escondido.
Oceanside.
San Diego _
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
90
2,000
500
210
105
185
145
150
300
300
300
100
50
1,700
1,350
210
800
150
160
800
290
120
75
62
90
4
1,000
(Sells at
sale)
(Sells at
sale)
(Sells at
sale)
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
19
725
93
275
130
171
148
105
12
18
625
2
1,600
160
2
109
whole-
1 1< ili ■
whole-
2,012
3,100
76,662 I
Name of water agency
San Diego County — Continued
Commercial Water Companies
California Water and Telephone Com-
pany
Del Mar Utilities
Descanso Park Water Company
Felicita Water Service
Jesmond Dene Water System
Moro Water Company
Rock Springs Utility District
Valley Center Water Company
Whispering Pines Water Company.
Mutual Water Companies
Bailey Mutual Water Company
Bennett Mutual Water Company
Bernita Mutual Water Company
Campo Water System
Canyon Ranch Mutual Water Com-
pany _
Carlsbad Mutual Water Company
Chase Heirs Mutual Water Company
Del Dios Mutual Water Company
Do-It Mutual Water Company
East San Pasqual Water Company
Escondido Mutual Water Company. .
Green Mutual Water Company of
San Diego
Harbison Canyon Mutual Water
Company
Harmony Grove Spiritualist Associa-
tion
High Valley Mutual Water Company
Julian Mutual Water Company
Lake Henshaw Resort Water System .
Lake Morena's Oak Shores Mutual
Water Company, Inc
Lake Morena Views Mutual Water
Company
Lakeside Farms Mutual Water Com-
pany
La Mesa Mutual Water Company
Long View Mutual Water Company.
Los Tulas Mutual Water Company..
Monserate Water Company
Pala Indian Reservation
Palomar Mountain Mutual Water
Compa ny
Pauma Valley Water Company
Pine Hills Mutual Water Company...
Pine Valley Mutual Water Company.
Pratt Mutual Water Company
Riverview Farms Mutual Water
Company
San Luis Rey Heights Mutual Water
Company
San Marcos Water Developers
Santa Margarita Mutual Water Com-
pany
S.E.R..I. Mutual Water Company
Tavern Water System
Terramar Water Company
Vista Manor Mutual Water Com-
pany
Willows Water System
Willowside Terrace Water Association.
Winterwarm Mutual Water Company.
County Water Districts
San Marcos County Water District...
Location,
in or
near
Chula Vista
Coronado
National City
and 8 others
Del Mar
Descanso
Escondido
Escondido
Fall brook
Escondido
Valley Center.
Julian
Escondido _
Escondido.
El Cajon. .
Campo
Fallbrook..
( 'arKbad
El Cajon..
Escondido .
Bonsall
Escondido.
Escondido.
Escondido.
El Cajon. .
Escondido
Po way
Julian
Santa Ysabel.
Campo
Lake Morena Vil-
lage
Lakeside
La Mesa
Escondido
Warner Hot
Springs
Fallbrook
Pala
Escondido.
Julian
Pine Valley.
Fallbrook...
San Diego .
Bonsall
San Marcos.
El Cajon.
Alpine
Carlsbad .
Vista
Alpine
El Cajon.
Fallbrook.
San Marcos.
Area
irri-
gated,
3,100
26
700
23
20
45
2,000
12
110
237
7,806
300
184
700
3
30
89
600
460
4
1,000
600
30
250
240
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
12,016
506
60
12
24
4
2
4
96
21
11
10
75
2
1,490
10
150
727
75
225
26
6
250
29
75
34
110
11
18
7
72
100
37
51
155
1
465
35
40
25
17
18
40
276
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, SOUTH COASTAL AREA-Continued
Name of water agency
San Diego County — Continued
Irrigation Districts
Lakeside Irrigation District
La Mesa, Lemon Grove and Spring
Valley Irrigation District
Ramona Irrigation District
San Dieguito Irrigation District
Santa Fe Irrigation District
San Ysidro Irrigation District
South Bay Irrigation District
Vista Irrigation District
Water Districts
Belfort Village Water District..
Bonsall Heights Water District .
Las Posas Water District
Moosa Water District
Orchard Water District
Public Utility Districts
Fallbrook Public Utility District.
Municipal Water Districts
Bueno Colorado Municipal Water
District
Carlsbad Municipal Water District...
Poway Municipal Water District
Rainbow Municipal Water District. _.
Ramona Municipal Water District . _ .
Rincon del Diablo Municipal Water
District
Valley Center Municipal Water
District
County Water Authorities
San Diego County Water Authority.
Metropolitan Water Districts
Metropolitan Water District of
Southern California
Ventura County
Municipal Waterworks
Fillmore
Oxnard
Port 1 Iueneme
Ventura
Commercial Water Companies
Farmers Irrigation Company
Gardens Water Corporation
Santa Clara Water and Irrigating
Company
Santa Paula Water Works, Ltd
Saticoy Water Company
Southern California Water Company
Warring Brothers Domestic Service.
Warring Brothers Irrigating Service.
Yerba Buena Water Company
Mutual Water Companies
Agee's Farms Mutual Water Com-
pany
Vliso Mutual Water Company
Alta Mutual Water Company
Arnaz Mutual Water Company
Bardsdale Water Supply
Berylwood Heights Mutual Water
Company
Brownstone Mutual Water Company
Caaita Mutual Water Company
Cicncga W ater Company
I 'iti us Mutual Walei t ' pany .
Cloverdale Mutual Water Company .
i Community Mutual Water Company
Conejo Mutual Water Company
Cozj Dell Eucalyptus Company
Crestvicw Mutual Water Company
Location,
in or
near
Lakeside-
La Mesa
Ramona
Encinitas...
Encinitas...
San Ysidro.
Vista
Bonsall .
Bonsall.
Fallbrook.
Vista, etc. . .
Carlsbad
Poway
Rainbow, etc.
Ramona
Escondido
Valley Center.
Fillmore
Oxnard
Port Hueneme.
Ventura
Santa Paula .
Oak View
Saticoy
Santa Paula
Saticoy-Montalvo
Ojai
Piru
Piru
Solromar
Oxnard
Saticoy
Saticoy
Oak View.
Fillmore. _-
Somis
Fillmore
Casitas
Fillmore
Santa Paula .
El Rio
Santa Paula.
( 'amarillo
Ojai
Camarillo
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
12,008
14
1,670
2,470
400
3,782
9.000
8.192
(Sells at
(Sells at
sale)
GOO
760
400
40
110
1,800
33
700
125
15
290
250
101
432
212
48
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
500
18,000
359
2,023
923
823
1,2.50
whole-
whole-
1,093
4. Hi.",
750
6,124
124
3,367
906
1,091
256
Name of water agency
Location,
in or
near
15
Ventura County — Continued
Mutual Water Companies — Continued
Cyprus Mutual Water Company
Del Norte Water Company
Dempsey Road Mutual Water Com-
pany
Elmobo Mutual Water Company
El Rio Mutual Water Company
Epworth Mutual Water Company
Fillmore Irrigation Company
Garden Acres Mutual Water Company
Hardscrabble Water Company
Hollywood Beach Mutual Water
Company
Hollywood by the Sea Mutual Water
Corporation
Kadota Mutual Water Company
Lake Sherwood Mutual Water Com-
pany
La Placentia Mutual Water Company.
Las Posas Water Company
Los Encinos Mutual Water Company
Lucky Seven Mutual Water Company
Mesita Mutual Water Company
Mini Monte Mutual Water Company.
Montalvo Mutual Water Company
Montgomery Mutual Watei Conip:in\
Moorpark Home Acres Mutual Water
Company
Moorpark Mutual Water Company __
Mound Mutual Water Company
Mutual Water Company of Vineyard
Avenue Estates
North Oxnard Mutual Water Com-
pany
Ocean View Mutual Water Company.
O'Conner-Camarillo Ranches Mutual-
Water Company
Olive Mutual Water Company
Oxnard Mutual Water Company
Pleasant Valley Mutual Water Com-
pany
Ranchitos Mutual Water Company . .
Rancho Santa Ana Vista Water Com-
pany
Rissman Mutual Water Company
San Cayetano Mutual Water Company
San Miguel Mutual Water Company
Santa Clara Mutual Water Company.
Santa Rosa Mutual Water Company..
Senior Canyon Mutual Water Com-
pany
Sherwin Acres Mutual Water Com-
pany
Siete Robles Mutual Water Com-
pany JL
Silver Strand Mutual Water Company
Simi Hills Development Association .
Simi Mutual Water Company
Simi Valley Mutual Water Company
Sinaloa Mutual Water Company
Sisar Mutual Water Company
Skyline Mutual Water Company
Southside Improvement Company
South Slope Mutual Water Company.
Stork Mutual Water Company
Susana Water Company
Tapo Mutual Water Company
Teal Club Mutual Water Company _ .
Thermal Belt Water Company
Thermic Mutual Water Company
Tico Mutual Water Company
Timber Canyon Mutual Water Com-
pany
Turner Ditch Company
Ventura River Mutual Water Com-
pany
Vineyard Avenue Acres Mutual Water
Company
Vineyard Mutual Water Company
Zone Mutual Water Company No. 1
and No. 2
Port Hueneme .
Saticoy
Oxnard
Fillmore
El Rio
Moorpark
Fillmore
Camarillo
Santa Paula.
Oxnard
Oxnard
Santa Susana.
Camarillo.
Simi
Somis
Ojai
Oak View.
Oak View.
Ojai
Montalvo.
Simi
Moorpark.
Moorpark .
Ventura. ..
Oxnard.
Oxnard.
Camarillo.
Ojai
Oxnard
Camarillo.
Ojai
Oak View
Piru
Santa Paula-
Ventura
Saticoy
Camarillo
Ojai
Ventura.
Ojai
Oxnard
Canoga Park.
Simi
Simi
Simi
Ojai
Ojai
Fillmore
Simi
Santa Paula. _
Ventura
Santa Susana .
Oxnard
Santa Paula. _
Moorpark
Ojai
Santa Paula .
Santa Paula .
Ojai.
Oxnard.
Oxnard.
Area
irri-
gated,
1.200
150
70
875
252
319
60
6
40
250
900
400
180
600
853
435
50
!,800
40
83
350
210
200
557
115
27
90
500
100
1,478
257
15
1,113
4
1.380
500
52
60
259
Somis-
122
200
3,351
APPENDIX B
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, SOUTH COASTAL AREA-Continued
277
Name of water agency
Location,
in or
near
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
Name of water agency
Location,
in or
near
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
Ventura County — Continued
County Water Districts
Meiners Oaks County Water District-
County Waterworks Districts
Meiners Oaks.
200
574
375
100
90
420
330
Ventura County — Continued
County Waterworks Districts
— Continued
County Waterworks District No. 7,
Live Oak Acres
85
County Waterworks District No. 1,
Water Conservation Districts
Simi Valley Water Conservation Dis-
Simi Valley
Santa Paula
10,000
68,000
County Waterworks District No. 3,
Simi
60
County Waterworks District No. 4,
united Water Conservation District. .
Special Water Service Districts
Montalvo Municipal Improvement
13,500
County Waterworks District No. 5,
County Waterworks District No. 6,
Thousand Oaks
Thousand Oaks -_
Ventura County Flood Control District
278
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
Name of water agency
Location,
in or
near
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
Name of water agency
Location,
in or
near
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
Alameda County
Irrigation Districts
Byron-Bethany Irrigation District-. -
Amador County
(See Co
ta Cou
ntra Cos-
nty)
222
16
45
727
32
844
151
30
297
45
1,170
9,181
367
112
21
22
19
166
1,015
2,814
1,000
534
40
45
4
Calaveras County — Continued
Public Utility Districts
Calaveras Public Utility District
Union Public Utility District .
Valley Springs Public Utility District.
Colusa County
Municipal Waterworks
/Mokelumne Hill (
\San Andreas
401
600
530
120
Municipal Waterworks
Colusa
Commercial Water Companies
Plymouth .-
100
974
Williams
420
Mutual Water Companies
(Amador City
I lone
(Sutter Creek J
River Pines - -
5
8
Pacific Gas and Electric Company _ . .
Colusa Irrigation Company. .
Roberts Ditch Irrigation Company —
Swinford Tract Irrigation Company..
Irrigation Districts
Compton-Delevan Irrigation District.
Glenn-C'olusa Irrigation District
1,200
1,400
136
3,022
73,687
1,730
(See Gle
Count
(See Gle
Count
25
e
Colusa . .
Mutual Water Companies
Maxwell . .
Butte County
Municipal Waterworks
Biggs --
Delevan
Princeton-Codora-Glenn Irrigation
Provident Irrigation District
County Waterworks Districts
Princeton County Waterworks Dis-
y)
Chico Municipal Airport Water Sup-
Chico
y)
Gridley -.
Commercial Water Companies
California Water Service Company..
Diamond Match Company, The
(Chico
(Oroville
85
Reclamation Districts
12,661
11,460
3,500
Reclamation District 1004
Water Districts
Colusa ....
Maxwell
Pacific Gas and Electric Company. ..
Sutter Butte Canal Company...
17,586
16,997
5
450
1,868
Gridley-Biggs
Mutual Water Companies
Ayers Mutual Water Company
Public Utility Districts
Arbuckle Public Utility District
Maxwell Public Utility District . ..
Contra Costa County
Municipal Waterworks
Arbuckle ...
285
Dayton Mutual Water Company
Chico
238
Durham Mutual Water Company,
Ltd
5,800
Water Users Association Gridley Col-
1,200
3,490
Commercial Water Companies
Irrigation Districts
Durham Irrigation District- .
Oroville-Wyandotte Irrigation Dis-
97
Mutual Water Companies
Bethel Island Mutual Water Company
Farrar Park Property Owners Water
Bethel Island
Oroville. __
Paradise .
Richvale -
4,450
450
13,475
450
1,670
10,000
11,837
17,000
160
20
50
Paradise Irrigation District
Richvale Irrigation District
Table Mountain Irrigation District. _
Thermalito Irrigation District..
50
Loreto Megna Water Company
River View Water Association
Sandmound Mutual Water Company.
County Water Districts
Contra Costa County Water District-
Irrigation Districts
Byron-Bethany Irrigation District
East Contra Costa Irrigation District-
County Waterworks Districts
Contra Costa County Waterworks
District No. 1 . .
Antioch
30
50
Oroville -
9
72
Reclamation Districts
Pittsburg
Byron ...
Brentwood
(See Ta
9,030
16,125
Water Districts
Biggs West Gridley Water District. ..
Butte Water Company
Calaveras County
Commercial Water Companies
ble 2)
Gridley...
(Altaville \
\ Angels Camp
Angels Camp _ _.
West Point
325
Reclamation Districts
Oakley
Brentwood
Brentwood
3,500
2,200
2,369
2,000
(Sells at
sale)
Angels Water Users Associations . .
750
Reclamation District 2024
( !ounty V\ ater Disti ii ts
United States Bureau of Reclamation
Projects
Farmington.
700
Rock Creek Watei District ..
APPENDIX B
279
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA-Continued
Name of water agency
El Dorado County
Municipal Waterworks
Placerville
Commercial Water Companies
Farmers Ditch Company
Georgetown Divide Water Company,
Ltd
Juckes, J. W., Water and Ditch Sys-
tem
Randall Ditch Company
Mutual Water Companies
Caldor Lumber Company
Mosquito District Mutual Water Com-
pany
West Spring Mutual Water Company-
Irrigation Districts
El Dorado Irrigation District. ..
Public Utility Districts
Georgetown Divide Public Utility
District
Pollock Pines-Fresh Pond Public
Utility District
United States Bureau of Reclamation
Projects
Central Valley Project-Sly Park Unit
Fresno County
Municipal Waterworks
Clovis
Coalinga
Firebaugh
Fowler
Fresno
Kerman
Kingsburg
Mendota -
Orange Cove
Parlier
Reedley
San Joaquin
Sanger
Commercial Water Companies
Bakman Homesites Water Utility
Biola Water Company
Bowen Land Company Water System
Calwa City Water Company
Caruthers Water Company
Cedar Heights Water System
Del Rey Water Works
East Mendota Water Company
Fresno Suburban Water Service Com-
pany
Gardenview Water System
Highway City Water System
Huron Utility Company
Kavanagh Vista Water Company
Laton Water Company
Mendocino Heights Water Company..
Mouren Water Service
Northeast Gardens Water System
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Pinedale Water Company
Spangler Water System
Walker Water Company
Whitener Heights Water Company. .
Yosemite Garden Water Company . .
Mutual Water Companies
California Cotton Compress and
Warehouse
Columbia Canal Company
Location,
in or
near
Placerville
Coloma
Georgetown.
Pleasant Valley .
Folsom
Diamond Spring
Placerville
Pollock Pines _
Placerville.
Georgetown...
Pollock Pines.
Clovis
Coalinga
Firebaugh
Fowler
Fresno
Kerman
Kingsburg
Mendota
Orange Cove.
Parlier
Reedley
San Joaquin _
Sanger
Fresno
Biola
Fresno
Calwa
Caruthers _
Fresno
Del Rey..
Mendota . .
Fresno
Fresno
Highway Citj
Huron
Fresno
Laton
Kingsburg
Huron
Fresno
Selma
Pinedale
Fresno
Parlier
Parlier
Pinedale
Pinedale. _.
Firebaugh.
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
90
400
5,700
1.600
(Sells at
sale)
20
30
(See Ma
Count
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
1 ,374
3 1
.385
102
112
whole-
850
1,810
293
527
39,177
400
872
250
547
368
1,490
122
1,789
140
143
72
871
161
35
174
90
62
140
349
108
61
182
2
73
61
1 ,773
504
31
30
37
60
57
dera
y)
Name of water agency
Fresno County — Continued
Mutual Water Companies — Continued
Crescent Canal Company
Dennis-Byrd Ditches
Eagle Field Water Association
Firebaugh Canal Company
Hanke Ditch Association
Kill .1 trick Water Supply
Kings River Bottoms Water Users
Association
Kings River Mutual Water Company.
Las Deltas Mutual Water Company..
Liberty Canal Company
Liberty Mill Race Company
Music Meadows Mutual Water Com-
pany
New Auberry Water Association
North Elderwood Water Company
Ora Loma Water Association
Orange Vale Water Company
Reed Ditch Company
Round Mountain Water Association..
South Reedley Mutual Water Com-
pany
Widren Water Users' Association
Irrigation Districts
Alta Irrigation District-
Central California Irrigation District-
Consolidated Irrigation District.
Fresno Irrigation District
Hills Valley Irrigation District..
James Irrigation District
Laguna Irrigation District
Mendota Irrigation District
Orange Cove Irrigation District-
Riverdale Irrigation District
Stinson Irrigation District
Tranquillity Irrigation District-
County Waterworks Districts
Fresno County Waterworks District
No. 1
Fresno County Waterworks District
No. 2
Fresno County Waterworks District
No 3
Fresno County Waterworks District
No. 4
Fresno County Waterworks District
No. 5
Fresno County Waterworks District
No. 6
Fresno County Waterworks District
No. 7
Fresno County Waterworks District
No. 8
Reclamation Districts
Reclamation District 779
Reclamation District No. 1003-
Water Districts
Borland Water District
Farmers Water District
International Water District.
Oro Loma Water District
Panoche Water District
Westlands Water District
Water Conservation Districts
Kings River Water Conservation
District
Community Services Districts
Wahtoke Community Services Dis-
trict
Location,
in or
near
Lanare
Reedley
So. Dos Palos -
Firebaugh
Sanger
Orange Cove.
Sanger
Reedley
Firebaugh.
Burrel
l!i\ er.lale.
Fresno
New Auberry.
Fresno
Dos Palos
Reedley
Burrel
Clovis
Reedley
Firebaugh.
Reedley.
Selma
Fresno
Orange Cove.
San Joaquin.
Laton
Tranquillity.
Orange Cove.
Riverdale
Burrel
Tranquillity .
Fresno.
I 1 1 -ii. .
Fresno .
Fresno .
Fresno .
Fresno.
Fresno.
Fresno.
Fresno.
Laton _.
Mendota
Mendota
( llovis
South Dos Palos .
Dos Palos
Helm
Fresno.
Orange Cove-
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
12,500
1,200
(See Me
Count
23,675
1,390
reed
y)
9,000
130
4,000
21,120
70
431
96
6.000
135
10
850
(See Tul
Count
(See Me
Count
140.000
169,800
16,917
30,000
(Inactiv
15,532
13,380
6,000
8,112
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
4
14
8
2
31
12
37
20
are
y)
reed
y)
25,309
1,500
3,499
2,300
160
622
41,000
III )(),()( 10
4,468
175
570
254
170
1,400
14
32
80
100
13
280
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA-Continued
Name of water agency
Fresno County — Continued
United States Bureau of Reclamation
Projects
Central Valley Project
Glenn County
Municipal Waterworks
Orland
Commercial Water Companies
California Water Service Company..
Pacific Gas and Electric Company _.
Sacramento River Farms, Ltd
Mutual Water Companies
Butte City Water Works
Davis Water Service
Loam Ridge Mutual Water Company
Orland Unit Water Users' Association-
Willow Creek Mutual Water Com-
pany
Irrigation Districts
Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District.
Jacinto Irrigation District
Princeton-Codora-Glenn Irrigation
District .
Provident Irrigation District
Reclamation Districts
Reclamation District 1004.
Kern County-
Municipal Waterworks
Delano
Maricopa
Tehachapi
Commercial Water Companies
Arden Water Company
Arvin Water Company
Buena Vista Canal, Inc
California Water Service Company.
Calimar Water Company
Central Canal Company (Calloway) _
Commercial Land Company
East Side Canal Company
Farmers Canal Company
( larden Acres Water Company
Hicks, E. B., Water Company
Kern Island Canal Company
Kern River Canal and Irrigating
Company
Kernville Domestic Water System...
Lebee Water Works
Lost Hills Water Company
McKittrick Water Company
Pacific Water Company
Sage Brothers Water Service
Stine Canal, Inc
Western Water Company
Mutual Wat. i ( Companies
Airport Mutual Water Company
Alt 'tit Mutual Water Company..
Alta Sierra Mutual Water Company
Anderson i anal, Inc
Baldwin Diary
Barnes Water Supply.
Bear Mountain Or, igi < iimpany. - -
Broce Mutual Water Company
(as: I, ulna Water ( 'ompatly
Location,
in or
near
Orland.
Willows
Butte City.
Hamilton City.
Butte City.
Willows
Orland
Orland
Willows -
Delevan.
Willows.
Willows
Glenn
Delano
Maricopa. .
Tehachapi.
Kernville
Arvin
Bakersfield .
Bakersfield.
Bakersfield _
Bakersfield _
Tupman
Bakersfield.
Bakersfield .
Bakersfield.
Bakersfield .
Bakersfield .
Bakersfield
Kernville
Lebec
Lost Hills
McKittrick...
Bakersfield
Lamont
Wasco
South Shaffer.
Bakersfield
Fellows
Ford City
Maricopa
Taft
Bakersfield.
Lamont
Bakersfield .
Bakersfield .
Bakersfield .
Bakersfield.
Arvin
McFarland.
Bakersfield
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
(Sells at
sale)
(See But
County)
1,000
22,430
750
(See Col
County)
9,095
0,848
10,579
(See Col
County)
17,300
63.1 i.-,
6,293
10.211)
53,720
9,190
170
3
21,900
2, 120
2,300
560
121
100
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
wholc-
708
1 ,339
150
2,100
450
43
1,055
23,905
200
62
350
100
36
73
106
62
2,064
94
5,406
190
Name of water agency
Kern County — Continued
Mutual Water Companies — Continued
Castro Ditch Company
Chanslor-Canfield Midway Oil Com-
pany
Comanche Point Water Company
DeWitte's Auto Court
DiGiorgio Fruit I 'orporation
Dos Pinos Mutual Water Company .
East Buttonwillow Mutual Water
( lompany
Edison Mutual Water Company
Edmondson Acres Mutual Water
Company
First Edison Well Company
Foothill Citrus Farms Company
Fox Trailer Court —
Garfield Community Water Supply
Company
Green Acres Mutual Water Users
James and Dixon Canal Company,
Inc
Jellison, F. D
Johnson Canal Company
Joyce Canal Company, Inc
Kern Mutual Water Company
Lamont Mutual Water Company
Lerdo Canal Company, Inc
Lerdo Mutual Water Company No. 9
Loma Park Water Company
Los Patos Land and Water Company.
Mi I arland Mutual Water Company.
Mettler Mutual Water Company
Mexican Colony Water Association.. .
Minnie Hot Springs Resort
Montal Mutual Water Company
Monte Vista Mutual Water Company
Nightingale, C. E
Norris Terrace Mutual Water Com-
pany
Oildale Mutual Water ( lompany
old South Fork Company
Pioneer Canal Company
Plunket Canal. Inc
Richards, Pauly and Tupman
Rag Gulch Mutual Water Company.
Riverkern Mutual Water Company. .
San Marino Mutual Water Company.
Second Edison Well Company
Shady Acres Auto Camp
Stockdale Mutual Water Company
Sunny Street Mutual Water Com-
pany
Vaughn Water Company, Inc
Wild wood Farm
Williams, Peter M
Willowood Mutual Water Company.
Wilson Ditch
Wise, H. H
Irrigation Districts
Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District.
Shaffer- Wasco Irrigation District— -
Water Storage Districts
Arvin-Edison Water Storage District.
Buena Vista Water Storage District. _
North Kern Water Storage District. _
Public Utility Districts
Frazier Park Public Utility District
Highland Park Public Utility I listrict
Lamont Public Utility District
Plainview Public Utility District
Wasco Public Utility District
United States Bureau cf Reclamation
Projects
Central Valley Project
Location,
in or
near
Bakersfield.
Bakersfield .
Arvin
Shaffer
Bakersfield .
Lamont
Buttonwillow .
Bakersfield
Arvin
Bakersfield.
Arvin
Bakersfield .
Bod fish.
Delano.
Bakersfield
Bakersfield
Bakersfield
Bakersfield
Buttonwillow
Lamont
Lerdo
Lerdo
Bakersfield
Bakersfield
McFarland
Mettler Station.
Shaffer
Bakersfield
Lamont
Bakersfield
Shaffer
Bakersfield.
Oildale
Bakersfield .
Bakersfield
Bakersfield.
Arvin
Delano
Kernville
Bakersfield .
Bakersfield
Bakersfield .
Shaffer
Bakersfield.
Bakersfield .
Bakersfield.
Bakersfield .
Bakersfield .
Bakersfield .
Eai'liinait .
Shaffer
Arvin
Bakersfield
Famoso
Bakersfield .
Bakersfield.
Lamont
Bakersfield .
Wasco
Area
irri-
gated.
250
240
10,000
15
112
225
74
2.240
100
1.200
1.920
40
20,835
300
140
60
20
1
1,700
12,190
1,420
320
732
300
500
30
18
250
10
(See Tul :
( 'oillltV)
30,407
95,011
40,291
50,000
(Sells at
sale)
APPENDIX B
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA-Continued
281
Name of water agency
Location,
in or
near
Area
irri-
gated,
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
Name of water agency
Location,
in or
near
Area
Num-
irri-
ber of
gated,
do-
in
mestic
acres
services
Kern County — Continued
Municipal Utility Districts
Southern San Joaquin
Utility District
Municipal
Kings County
Municipal Waterworks
Corcoran
Lemoore
Commercial Water Companies
California Water Service Company.
Kettleman City Water Company
Lone Oaks Canal Company
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Mutual Water Companies
Bayou Vista Ditch Company
Burke Ditch Company
Gates-Jones Mutual Water Company.
Hamblin Mutual Water Company
Hardwick Water Works
John Heinlen Mutual Water Company
Lakeside Ditch Company
Last Chance Water Ditch Company..
Lemoore Canal and Irrigation Com-
pany
Liberty Farms Mutual Water Com-
pany
Melga Canal Company
Peoples Ditch Company
Riverside Ditch Company
Settlers Ditch Company
Tulare Lake Canal Company
York Drop Ditch Company
Irrigation Districts
Alta Irrigation District .
Consolidated Irrigation District.
Corcoran Irrigation District
Empire West Side Irrigation District
Island No. 3 Irrigation District
Kings River Delta Irrigation District
Laguna Irrigation District
Lemoore Irrigation District..
Lucerne Irrigation District- .
Stratford Irrigation District .
Reclamation Districts
Reclamation District 739 (Lovelace)..
Reclamation District 761 (Cohn Cen-
tral Consolidated)
Reclamation District 780 (Homeland)
Reclamation District 2069 (Clark's
Fork)
Water Districts
Nunes Water District.
Water Storage Districts
Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage
District
Delano .
Corcoran.
Lemoore..
Hanford
Kettleman City.
Hanford
A venal
Corcoran _
Hanford ..
Corcoran _
Hanford . .
Hanford . .
Lemoore .
Hanford . .
Hanford ..
Lemoore .
Corcoran.
Corcoran.
Hanford- _
Hanford . .
Hanford __
Stratford _
Lemoore.
Reedley -
Selma
Corcoran.
Hanford __
Traver
Hanford..
Laton..
Lemoore.
Hanford.
Hanford.
Stratford.
Stratford.
Alpaugh
Lemoore .
Corcoran.
Special Water Service Districts
Avenal Community Services District
Lake County
Municipal Waterworks
Lakeport
Avenal .
Lakeport .
Commercial Water Companies
Anderson Springs Water Company.
53,000
920
875
4,020
95
5,000
1 ,309
8,500
640
III
9,010
:in.
50,000
16,410
30,000
65,872
3,615
2,600
37,000
2,700
(See Tul
Count
(See Fre
Count
32,975
6,400
30
are
y)
sno
y)
2.700
(Sec I IV
Count
(Inactiv
(Inactiv
9,846
5.959
is.
24,290
2,300
IS '.Hill
sno
sO
e)
e)
56
Anderson Springs
Middletown
S.Vi
92
Lake County — Continued
Commercial Water Companies
— Continued
Clear Lake Park Water Company
Cobb Mountain Water Company
Lucerne Water Company
Mutual Water Companies
Clearlake Oaks Water Company
Crescent Bay Improvement Company.
Glenhaven Mutual Water Company. _
Highlands Water Company
Jago's Resort Water Supply
Lakewood Resort Water Supply
Loch Lomond Mutual Water Com-
pany
Manakee Mutual Water Company,
[nc
Nice Mutual Water Company
Sulphur Bank Mine
< lounty Waterworks Districts
Lower Lake County Waterworks
District No. 1
Kelseyville County Waterworks Dis-
trict No. 3
Lassen County
Commercial Water Companies
Hunt, W. H., Estate Company
Northern Counties Utility Company..
Irrigation Districts
Big Valley Irrigation District
Madera County
Municipal Waterworks
Cho wchilla
Madera
Commercial Water Companies
Cunningham, Bessie L
Raymond Water Works
Mutual Water Companies
Ashview Mutual Water Company
Bliss Ranch Company
Bonita Mutual Water Company
Columbia Canal Company
First Ventura-Madera Water Com-
pany
Gravelly Ford Water Association, Inc..
Heer Camp
Justin Mutual Water Company
Kilcrease Camp Water Supply
Midvale Addition Water System
Redwood Acres Mutual Water Com-
pany
Sierra Linda Mutual Water Company
Sierra Vista Mutual Water Company.
Sugar Pine Properties Water Supply.
Weatherly Mutual Water Companj
Irrigation Districts
Madera Irrigation District
Water Districts
Chowchilla Water District.
United States Bureau of Reclamation
Projects
Central Valley Project
Austins
Clearlake Park
Pine Dell
Cobb
Lucerne
Clearlake Oaks.
Lower Lake
Glenhaven
Clearlake High-
lands
Lower Lake
Kelseyville
Kelseyville.
Clearlake High-
lands
Nice
Clearlake Oaks.
Lower Lake.
Kelseyville
Adin
Westwood _
Bieber Station.
Chowchilla
Madera
Central Camp.
Raymond
Chowchilla-
Chowchilla.
Madera
Firebaugh..
Madera
Madera
Chowchilla _
Chowchilla _
Madera
Madera
Madera
North Fork
( IhowehiUa.
Sugar Pine.
North Fork.
Madera
Chowchilla .
in
70
I us
1
177
400
28
54
416
10
14
122
55
30
12
107
140
5
1,087
2,100
1.050
3,200
38
44
8,000
920
9,202
16,560
160
2,500
160
4.510
320
1
80
3,600
10
40
18
SS.6SS
62,574
(Sells at
sale
whole-
282
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA-Continued
Name of water agency
Mariposa County
Mutual Water Companies
Fisli Camp Mutual Water Company
Wawona Mutual Water Company.,.
Public Utility Districts
Mariposa Public Utility District
Location,
in or
near
Mariposa,
Wawona,
Merced County
Municipal Waterworks
Atwater
Dos Palos
Gustine
Livingston
Los Banos
Commercial Water Companies
Crocker-Huffman Land and Water
Company
East Side Canal and Irrigation Com-
pany
Le Grand Water Company
Myrtle Acres Water Service
Snelling Water Works
South Dos Palos Water Works...
Winton Water Works
Mutual Water Companies
Castle Garden Homes, Inc
Eagle Field Water Association
Hilmar Water Works
Occidental Canal Company
Planada Water Company
Red Top Camp Ranch
San Luis Canal Company
Santa Nella Water Company
Sierra Vista Mutual Water Company.
Irrigation Districts
Central California Irrigation District
El Nido Irrigation District
Merced Irrigation District
Turlock Irrigation District
Mariposa.
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
Atwater
Dos Palos.
Gustine
Livingston.
Los Banos.
Merced .
Stevinson.
Le Grand.
Winton
Snelling _ _ .
Dos Palos.
Winton
Atwater
South Dos Palos
Hilmar
Gustine
Planada
Merced
Los Banos
Gustine
Chowchilla
West Stanislaus Irrigation District.
Water Districts
Grass Lands Water District.
Mustang Water District
Panoche Water District
Quinto Water District
Romero Water District..
San Luis Water District..
Stevinson Water District.
United States Bureau of Reclamation
Projects
Central Valley Project
Modoc County
Municipal Waterworks
Alturas
Commercial Water Companies
Hunt, W. H., Estate Company
Thomas and Bayne Ditch Company.
Mutual Water Companies
Willow Ranch Company
Irrigation Distric -t-
Kig Valley Irrigation District
Los Banos.
El Nido...
Merced
Turlcck...
Westley.
5,935
6,038
50
Gustine
Dos Palos.
Gustine
Volta
Los Banos.
Stevinson, _
Alturas,
Adin
Alturas,
Willow Ranch.
Hot Springs Valley Irrigation District
South Fork Irrigation District
Bieber Station .
Canby
Alturas I
5,000
42,979
73
(See Ma
Count
132,436
7,295
145,348
(See Sta
Count
(See Sta
Count
150
910
520
610
440
1,300
4,723
85
24
37
80
125
501
Mi
325
20
281
(See Fre
Count
538
544
13,152
20.000
(Sells at
sale)
(See Las
Count
560
dera
y)
14
nislaus
y)
nislaus
y)
sno
y)
83
whole-
sen
y)
52
(Sec Las
Count
4,000
12,404
sen
y)
Name of water agency
Napa County
Mutual Water Companies
Haus Water Supply
Nevada County
Municipal Waterworks
Grass Valley
Nevada City
Commercial Water Companies
Graniteville Water Works
Mutual Water Companies
Washington Water Supply.
Irrigation Districts
Nevada Irrigation District.
Public Ut'lity Districts
Donner Summit Public Utility District
Placer County
Municipal Waterworks
Lincoln
Roseville
Commercial Water Companies
Dutch Flat Water Works...
Frey Water Company
McGee Irrigation Company.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
Mutual Water Companies
Morgan Tract Water Users Associa-
tion
Timber Hills Water Users
Irrigation Districts
Camp Far West Irrigation District-,.
Citrus Heights Irrigation District
Nevada Irrigation District
Water Districts
Meadow Vista Water District,
Public Utility Districts
Donner Summit Public Utility Dis-
trict
Foresthill Public Utility District.
Community Services Districts
San Juan Suburban Water District.
Plumas County
Commercial Water Companies
Bidwell Water Company
Meadow Valley Guest Ranch.
Portola Water Company, Inc.
Quincy Water Company
Sorsoli Water Company
Sacramento County
Municipal Waterworks
Sacramento
Commercial Water Companies
American River Water Service
Ben Ali Water Company
Capitol Accommodations, Inc
Citizens Utilities Company of Cali-
fornia
Location,
in or
near
Pope Valley.
Grass Valley,
Nevada City.
Graniteville..
Washington, _
Grass Valley.
Soda Springs.
Lincoln. _
Roseville .
Dutch Flat.
Weimar
Applegate..
Auburn
Colfax
Loomis
Newcastle
Rocklin
Auburn.
Weimar.
Sheridan
Citrus Heights.
Grass Valley.
Applegate
Soda Springs.
Foresthill
Citrus Heights
Greenville
Meadow Valley
Portola
Quincy
Crescent Mills
Sacramento.
Sacramento
North Sacramento.
North Sacramento.
North Sacramento.
Area
Num-
irri-
ber of
gated,
do-
in
mestic
acres
services
20
19,807
40
20
2,085
I Sit Sac
County)
(See Ne
County)
(See Ne
County)
300
(See Sac
County)
26
207
1,800
900
21
2,493
850
3 339
92
24
8
2,304
20
10
125
vada
379
10
680
477
56
39,794
70
4,350
1,050
4,932
APPENDIX B
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA-Continued
283
Name of water agency
Location,
in or
near
Area
Num-
irri-
ber of
gated,
do-
in
mestic
acres
services
Name of water agency
Location,
in or
near
Area
Num-
irri-
ber of
gated,
do-
in
mestic
acres
services
Sacramento County — Continued
Commercial Water Companies
— Continued
Del Paso Water Company
El Camino Water Company
Elk Grove Water Works
Freeport Water Company
Fruitridge Vista Water Company
Hannum, Max, Water Service
Isleton Water Works
K. P. Tract Water Company
Natomas Water Company
Roland Water Company
Southern California Water Company
Southland Water Company
Tallac Village Water Company
Mutual Water Companies
Cosumnes Water and Irrigation Asso-
ciation
Dunmovin Heights Mutual Water
Company
Elkhorn Mutual Water Company
Hidden River Vista Water Company
Natomas Central Mutual Water
Company
Natomas Riverside Mutual Water
Company
Noonans South Land Park Water
Supply
Orangevale Water Company
Riverside Mutual Water Company. _
South Land Park Terrace
Tokay Park Water Company, Inc ,
County Water Districts
Gait County Water District
Rio Linda County Water District
Irrigation Districts
Carmichael Irrigation District
Citrus Heights Irrigation District
Elk Grove Irrigation District
Fair Oaks Irrigation District
Gait Irrigation District
Reclamation Districts
Reclamation District 3
Reclamation District 136
Reclamation District 341
Reclamation District 364
Reclamation District 407
Reclamation District 532
Reclamation District 551
Reclamation District 556
Reclamation District 563
Reclamation District 744
Reclamation District 755
Reclamation District 807
Reclamation District 824
Reclamation District 1601
Reclamation District 2067
Water Districts
Cosumnes River Water District
Municipal Improvement Districts and
County Maintenance Districts
Arcade Oaks Terrace Maintenance
District
Arden Park Vista Maintenance District
Land Park Water Maintenance Dis-
trict
Planehaven Water Maintenance Dis-
trict
Riverside Village Maintenance Dis-
trict
Sierra Oaks Unit No. 1 Maintenance
District
Sierra Oaks Units 2 and 3 Mainte-
nance District
Del Paso Manor. .
North Sacramento,
Elk Grove
Freeport
Sacramento
Walnut Grove
Isleton
Sacramento
(Folsom
\ Natomas
Sacramento
South Sacramento.
Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento.
1,000
Sacramento
5,300
Sacramento .
Sacramento
7,799
20,174
Sacramento. .
1,767
Gait...
1,200
Elk Grove
Fair Oaks
23,200
Gait.
Ryde
Walnut Grove
Rio Vista
Walnut Grove
Isleton
Isleton
Courtland
Walnut Grove
Walnut Grove
Sacramento
Courtland
Walnut Grove
Sacramento
Rio Vista
Rio Vista
Michigan Bar.
16,000
437
10,348
1,369
1,539
1,969
8,500
2,234
4,584
1,500
384
199
464
3,617
7,049
631
Sacramento.
Sacramento.
Sacramento.
Sacramento .
Sacramento.
Sacramento.
Sacramento.
979
60
398
439
364
88
298
11
500
16
3,286
30
1,200
25
650
400
260
2,027
1,565
1,535
50
50
18
1,500
220
100
115
65
80 i
Sacramento County — Continued
Community Services Districts
San Juan Suburban Water District.
Special Water Service Districts
Sacramento County Water Agency.
San Joaquin County
Municipal Waterworks
Lod i .,
Manteca
Ripon
Tracy
Commercial Water Companies
California Water Service Company. . .
Escalon Water and Light Company...
Mayfair Water Company
Oak Park Court Water Company
Stockton Land Association, The
West Lane Heights Water Company .
Mutual Water Companies
Fremont Irrigation Association
Independent Mutual Water Company
Munro Orchard Water Company
Mutual Water Company No. 1 and
No. 3
Paradise Mutual Water Company
San Joaquin River Water Users Com-
pany
Silva Gardens Mutual Water Com-
pany
Thornton Water Company
Union Island Mutual Water Com-
pany
Woodbridge Water Users Association
Woods Irrigation Company
County Water Districts
Ripon County Water District
San Joaquin County Water District
No. 1
San Joaquin County Water District
No. 2
Irrigation Districts
Banta-Carbona Irrigation District
Byron-Bethany Irrigation District
Naglee-Burke Irrigation District
Oakdale Irrigation District
South San Joaquin Irrigation District
Tracy-Clover Irrigation District
West Side Irrigation District
West Stanislaus Irrigation District
Woodbridge Irrigation District
Reclamation Districts
Reclamation District 404
Reclamation District 2023
Reclamation District 2027
Reclamation District 2028
Reclamation District 2030
Reclamation District 2041
Reclamation District 2042
Reclamation District 2058
Reclamation District 2062
Reclamation District 2064
Reclamation District 2072
Reclamation District 2074
Reclamation District 2075
Water Districts
Plain View Water District
Orangevale, etc.
Lodi
Manteca.
Ripon
Tracy
Stockton.
Escalon. .
Stockton.
Stockton _
Stockton
Stockton.
Tracy
Tracy
Stockton.
Banta.
Tracy.
Manteca.
Stockton.
Thornton.
Tracy
Woodbridge.
Stockton
Ripon
Lockeford.
Victor
Vernalis.
Byron. .
Tracy
Oakdale.
Manteca.
Tracy
Tracy
Westley. .
Lodi.
Stockton .
Rio Vista.
Stockton .
Stockton.
Stockton.
Stockton.
Stockton _
Banta
Banta
Manteca..
Stockton.
Stockton.
Ripon
Sells at
(Sells at
sale)
whole-
whole-
4,479
1,250
538
2,225
27,700
490
131
63
263
137
667
1,286
413
44
864
1,415
1,500
1,400
7,500
li.J'IS
550
190
77
14,491
(See Co
Costa C
2,455
(See Sta
County)
63,842
400
11,826
(See Sta
County)
15.177
860
3,150
5,400
5,624
4,400
1,205
2,200
7,990
3,939
3,000
1,856
ntra
ounty)
nislaus
nislaus
Tracy.
2,773
4.147
100
14
9
284
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA-Continued
Name of water agency
San Joaquin County— Continued
Municipal Improvement Districts and
County Maintenance Districts
Colonial Heights Maintenance Dis-
trict
Lincoln Village Maintenance District
Water Conservation Districts
North San Joaquin Water Conserva-
tion District
Stockton and East San Joaquin"
Water Conservation District
Location,
in or
near
Shasta County
Municipal Waterworks
Redding
Commercial Water Companies
Anderson Water Company.
Cast ella Water Works
Cottonwood Water Works
Fall River Mills Water Companj
French Gulch Ditch System
Happy Valley Water Company
Johnson Park Water Works.
Mutual Water Companies
Bee Creek Ditch and Water Company
Bunker Hill Water System.
Burney Subdivision Water Assotial ion
No. 1
Excelsior Di tch
Grover and Wjlcox Ditch. ~~~
Millvilje Ditch Company Inc
Townsend Flat Water Ditch Company
Verde Vale Water Company
Wren Water System
County Water Districts
Buckeye County Water District
Burney County Water District
Irrigation Districts
Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation Dis-
trict.
Public Utility Districts
Enterprise Public Utility District
Shasta Dam Area Public Utility Dis-
trict
Summit City Public Utility" Districtl '.
Sierra County
Municipal Waterworks
Loyalton
Commercial Water Companies
Bachels Water Right
■Mutual Water Companies
Sierra Valley Water Company
Public Utility Districts
DownieviUe Public Utility District.
Siskiyou County
Municipal Waterworks
Mount Shasta
' ommercial Water Companies
Dunsmuir Water Corporation
Shasta Retreat Water System.
Mutual Water Companies
M ci 'loud Water Surply..
Pondosa Water Supply."!"
Stockton.
Stockton.
Area
irri-
Lodi
Stockton.
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
lie. Mills;
Anderson
Castella
Cottonwood
Fall River Mills.
French Gulch...
Olinda
Burney
40,000
42,700
Ono___
Burney .
Burney
Oak Run
Anderson
IMillville
Redding
Anderson
Cottonwood .
150
250
.-,,001)
3,654
497
41
116
185
5,000
5
250
85
150
175
340
20
Redding.
Burney. _
Anderson.
Redding.
Project City..
Summit City.
Loyalton
Goodyear Bar.
Sierraville
DownieviUe
i:
HI
19,320
14,500
125
427
125
950
116
263
10
Mount Shasta.
Dunsmuir.
Dunsmuir.
McCloud.
Pondosa. _
100
840
1,254
58
600
60
Name of water agency
Solano County
Municipal Waterworks
Rio Vista
Commercial Water Companies
California Water Service Company.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Mutual Water Companies
Collinsville Water Supply.
Davis Ranches
Rockville Water Supply. ..
Location,
in or
near
Rio Vista.
Dixon
Vacaville.
Area
irri-
gated,
Irrigation Districts
Solano Irrigation District.
Reclamation Districts
Reclamation District 501..
Reclamation District 999..
Collinsville.
Winters
Fairfield
Reclamation District 2060.
Reclamation District 2068.
Special Water Service Districts
Solano County Flood Control and
Water Conservation District
United States Bureau of Reclamation
Projects
Solano Project
Vacaville.
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
660
Uio Vista
Walnut Grove.
Rio Vista.
Dixon
Stanislaus County
Municipal Waterworks
Modesto
Oakdale
Turlock
Commercial Water Companies
Bumgardner, George, Water Com pain
Ceres Water Works
College Gardens Water Company-
Crows Landing Water Company..
Del Este Water Company.
17,283
11,962
(See Vol
t.v)
4,301
9,913
(Sells at
sale)
i Sells at
sale)
601
794
Hi
20
Modesto _
Oakdale..
Turlock..
o Coun-
Denair Water Works
El Solyo Water Company
Keyes Water Company
Knights Ferry Water Company
McQuary Water Company
Mission Manor Water Company
Moore, Joseph A., Water Company
Morrow Water Company
Newman Water Works Company...
Osterberg Water Works
Patterson City Water Company
Riverbank Water Company
Vincent Water Company.
Mutual Water Companies
Blewett Mutual Water Company
El Terino Mutual Water Company..
Patterson Farm Labor Camp
Patterson Water Company
Twin Oaks Irrigation Company
Westley Farm Labor Camp
White Lake Mutual Water Company
Irrigation Districts
Central California Irrigation District.
Modesto Irrigation District
Oakdale Irrigation District
Turlock Irrigation District
Waterford Irrigation District
West Stanislaus Irrigation District
Modesto
Ceres
Modesto
Crows Landing.
("Empire
Modesto
Salida
Turlock
[Waterford
Denair
Westley
Keyes
Knights Ferry. .
Ceres
Modes to-Ceres. .
Modesto
Ceres
Newman
Modesto
Patterson
Hughson
Riverbank
Ceres
4,000
wliolc-
whole-
7,500
1,600
2,488
1,467
631
163
130
6,413
170
Vernalis..
Modesto . .
Patterson.
Patterson.
Patterson.
Westley. _ .
Westley
1,064
13,910
2,400
Modesto..
Oakdale
Turlock
Waterford _
Westley
1,408
(See Me
Coun
70,038
56,918
163,735
6,700
24,861
192
21
75
35
296
56
603
460
709
1,368
135
22
144
248
reed
ty)
APPENDIX B
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA-Continued
285
Name of water agency
Stanislaus County — Continued
Reclamation Districts
Reclamation District 2031
Water Districts
Davis Water District
Del Puerto Water District . .
Foothill Water District
Hospital Water District
Kern Canon Water District -
Orestimba Water District.-.
Rock Creek Water District..
Salado Water District
Sunflower Water District...
United States Bureau of Reclamation
Projects
Central Valley Project
Location,
in or
near
Modesto _
Newman .
Patterson
Newman
Westley
Westley
Crows Landing-
Farmington
Patterson
( 'rows Landing-
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
Sutter County
Municipal Waterworks
Live Oak
Yuba City
Commercial Water Companies
Sutter Butte Canal Company.
Mutual Water Companies
Butte Slough Irrigation Company
Garden Highway Mutual Water Com
pany
Hillcrest Mutual Water Company
Meridian Farms Water Company..
Natomas Central Mutual Water Com-
pany
Natomas Riverside Mutual W T ater
Company
Live Oak..
Yuba City.
Colusa .
Yuba City.
Yuba City.
Meridian..
Sutter Mutual Water Company
Tisdale Irrigation and Drainage Com-
pany
Reclamation Districts
Reclamation District 817.
Reclamation District 1004.
Water Districts
Oswald. Water District
Sutter Extension Water District.
Municipal Improvement Districts and
County Maintenance Districts
Hillcrest Tract Improvement District.
Tehama County
Municipal Waterworks
Corning
Red Bluff
Tehama
Commercial Water Companies
Gerber Water Works
Las Flores Water Works
Los Molinos Water Works...
Mineral Water System
(See Sac
( !oun
Robbins... .1 47,785
:i,i)( id
100
3,408
1 , 1 23
5,260
1,200
4,320
700
2,220
500
(Sells at
sale)
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
10
Srr lill
Coun
4,712
3,100
8.284
(See Sac
Coun
whole-
211
3,102
Name of water agency
15
ramento
ty)
ramento
ty)
Grimes
Wheatland _
Yuba City.
Yuba City.
Corning . . .
Red Bluff.
Tehama-..
Mutual Water Companies
Bend Water Users
Coneland Water Company
Corning Irrigation Company
Los Molinos Mutual Water Company
Stanford Vina Ranch Irrigation Com-
pany
Gerber
Las Flores
Los Molinos .
Mineral
Bend
Los Molinos.
Corning
Los Molinos.
1,155
(See Yu
Coun
(See Co
Coun
640
10,683
ba
ty)
lusa
ty)
Vina.
360
350
1,000
18,000
5,412
15
850
1,575
75
21.5
30
166
50
Tehama County — Continued
Irrigation Districts
Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation Dis
trict
Deer Creek Irrigation District
El Camino Irrigation District
Tulare County
Municipal Waterworks
Dinuba
Exeter
Lindsay
Porterville
Tulare
Woodlake
Commercial Water Companies
Berrysen Water Company
California Water Service Company .
Cook's Water System
Ducor Water Company
Farmersville Water Company
Foothill Ditch Company
Ivanhoe Water Company
Lemon Cove Water Company
Marshall Water Company
North Tulare Water Company
Phillips Water Company
Pine Flat Water Company
Wilson Water System _
Mutual Water Companies
Alta Vista Water Company
Antelope Heights Water and Irrigat-
ing Company
Ball and Harris Ditch Company
Bedel Mutual Water Company--
Berrysen Mutual Water Company
Big Stump Trailer Court
Blachern Water Company
Bliss Ditch Company
Bonnie Brae Ditch
Brundage Ditch
Bynum, Roy
Campbell Moreland Ditch Company .
Canby Mutual Water Company. -
Cedar Slope Mutual Water Company
Central Mutual Water Company
Churchill Camp
Consolidated Peoples Ditch Company
Copo De Oro Water Company
Cottonwood Ditch Association
Covina-Ducor Water Company
Deer Creek Water Company...
Dennison Ditch Company
Douglas Drive and Belleview..
Earlimart Mutual Water Company,
Inc
East Orosi Water System __
Elderwood Water Company
Elk Bayou Ditch Company
Evans Ditch Company
Fairways Tract Water Company
Farmers Ditch Company
Fleming Ditch Company
Garden City Irrigation Company. .-
Gilliam-McGee Ditch
Goshen Ditch Company
Graham and Osborne Ditch Company
Grant, Martin, Cabins
Hamilton Ditch
Hawkeye Ditch Company. ..
Hillside Mutual Water Company
Hilo Water Company
Honora Water Company. . .
Hubbs and Miner Ditch
Jack Ranch Summer Resort
Location,
in or
near
1 linuba
Exeter
Lindsay
Porterville
Tulare
Woodlake
Visalia
Visalia
Poplar
Ducor
Farmersville —
Exeter
Ivanhoe
Lemon Cove —
Farmersville —
Tulare
Earlimart
California Hot
Springs
Earlimart
Porterville -
Woodlake
Porterville
Visalia
Visalia
Porterville
Porterville
Tulare
Exeter
Three Rivers -
Porterville
Porterville
Canby
Porterville
Porterville —
Tulare
Exeter
Porterville. ._
Ivanhoe
Ducor
Porterville—
Springville—-
Porterville .. .
Earlimart
Orosi
Woodlake
Tulare
Visalia
Porterville -
Tulare
Visalia
Porterville
Porterville
Goshen
Springville-—
Tulare
Woodlake
Lemon Cove.
Woodlake
Porterville —
Lemon Cove.
Porterville
Posey
Anderson
Corning -
Tehama
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
(See Sh
Coun
1,890
I .Mill
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
gen ices
a>ta
ty)
:;iiii
35
2,100
185
380
480
50
1,375
132
1,205
20
20,000
109
504
80
100
167
4.000
2,670
10
8,500
1,290
177
308
530
500
170
300
85
90
500
1,810
5
1,595
1,264
1,650
2,163
3,838
700
47
5,514
171
41
90
179
33
70
30
87
312
36
47
12
64
19
14
24
20
3
12
160
40
40
100
30
16
l'm;
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA-Continued
Name of water agency
Tulare County — Continued
Mutual Water Companies — Continued
Jennings Ditch Water Company
Kaweah Lemon Company
Kaweah River Acres Mutual Water
Company
Kelly Ditch Company
Laspina Mutual Water Company
Lemon Cove Ditch Company
Lindsay Heights Water ( lompany
Linnell Housing Water Supply
Little Pioneer Ditch Company...
Lois Water Company
Long's Canal
Lovelace Ditch Company
Marks-Rice I >itch
Matheny Mutual Water Company."
Mathews Ditch Company
Miami Well Company, Inc
Modoc 1 >itch Company
Monache Water Company
Mount Whitney Ditch and Water
Company
North Tulare Subdivision
Oakes Ditch Company
Oro Water Company
Persian Ditch Company
Pioneer Water Company
Pleasant Valley Canal Company.]
Poplar Irrigation Company
Porter Slough Ditch Company.
Redbanks Mutual Water Company...
Rhodes and Fine Ditch Company
Richgrove Mutual Water Company ..
Riverside Water Company
River Way Ranch
Rosedale Water Company .
Saint Johns Ditch Company. __
Saint Johns River Mutual Water
Company
South Tule Independent Ditch Com-
pany
Stivers Water Agency
Stockton Ditch Company
Sunnyside Water Company
Sweeney Ditch ^ _
Thermal Water Company
Tipton Mutual Water Company. __]
Tooleville Non-Profit Water System
Tract 99 Mutual Water Company...
Tulare Irrigation Company
Tule River Riparianists, Inc..
I'phill Ditch Company
Visalia and Kaweah Water Company
Wallace Ranch Water Company
Watson Ditch Company
Williams Mutual Water Company
Woodlake Valley Mutual Water Com-
pany
Wutchumna Water Company.""
Yettem Seville Water Association. _.
Irrigation Districts
Alpaugh Irrigation District
Alta Irrigation District ".
Consolidated Irrigation District..!
Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District.
Exeter Irrigation District
Hills Valley Irrigation District..]"]"
[vanhoi Irrigation District..
Lindmore Irrigation District.
Lindsay-Strathmore Irrigati
''let
Lower Tuli Hive Irrigation District]
Dis-
Location,
in or
near
Visalia
Lemon Cove.
Three Rivers.
Three Rivers.
Tulare
Lemon Cove-
Lindsay
Linnell
Woodville
Porter ville
Woodlake
Three Rivers.
Lemon Cove..
Tulare
Visalia
Porterville
Visalia
Porterville
Springville
Tulare
Visalia
Porterville
Tulare
Porterville
Porterville...
Porterville
Porterville. __
Woodlake
Porterville . .
Richgrove
Porterville
Three Rivers.
Porter ville ...
Visalia
Woodlake.
Porterville
Woodlake
Woodville
Porterville
Woodlake
Ducor
Tipton
Tulare
Porterville
Visalia
Porterville
Visalia
Visalia
Lemon Cove.
Visalia
Porterville
Woodlake .
Visalia
\ I'tteni
Earlimart _
Reedley
Selma
Earlimart
Exeter
Orange Cove.
Ivanhoe
Strathmore.
Lindsay.
Pixley
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
2,300
G50
150
10
1,200
183
25
209
20
325
100
100
2
2,000
120
5,000
171
300
920
59
3,350
1,738
700
8,308
1,038
800
1,034
100
12
172
590
558
500
M II I
145
165
182
3,000
5,909
3,000
10.000
1,000
3,400
40
135
30,000
3,290
8,131
110,103
(See Fre
Count
8,506
11,000
(See Fre
Count
9,762
21,100
9,465
74.685
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
170
1
72
150
10
225
65
134
24
_'iil
sno
y)
sno
y)
1,011
Name of water agency
Tulare County — Continued
Irrigation Districts — Continued
Orange Cove Irrigation District.
Porterville Irrigation District
Saucelito Irrigation District
Stone Corral Irrigation District.
Terra Bella Irrigation District..
Tulare Irrigation District
Vandalia Irrigation District
Public Utility Districts
Cutler Public Utility District
Strathmore Public Utility District.
Woodlake Public Utility District _.
Woodville Public Utility District . .
Community Services Districts
London Community Service District
Lovell Community Services District.
United States Bureau of Reclamation
Projects
Central Valley Project
Tuolumne County
Commercial Water Companies
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Mutual Water Companies
Lilac Terrace Subdivision
Long Barn Property Owners Corpora-
tion
Pinecrest Permittees Association
Schoettgun Water Supply
Slide Inn Mutual Water Association.
County Water Districts
Tuolumne County Water District
No. 1
Location.
in or
near
Orange Cove.
Porterville. _
Terra Bella.
Orosi
Terra Bella.
Tulare
Porterville. _
Cutler
Strathmore.
Woodlake..
Woodville. _
Dinuba.
Visalia..
Jamestown
Sonora
Tuolumne
Sonora
Long Barn.
Pinecrest. _
Columbia..
Long Barn.
Yolo County
Municipal Waterworks
Davis
Winters
Woodland
Commercial Water Companies
Clear Lake Water Company.
Washington Water and Light Com-
pany
West Sacramento Water Company
Mutual Water Companies
Capay Valley Ditch Company.
Linden Acres Water Supply
Rumsey Ditch Company
Sweetwater Company
County Waterworks Districts
Yolo County Waterworks District
No. 1
Reclamation Districts
Reclamation District 108.
Reclamation District 150..
Reclamation District 307..
Reclamation District 999. _
Reclamation District 2035.
Reclamation District 2068.
Twain Harte.
Davis
Winters
Woodland.
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
(See Fre
Count
14,351
15,965
4,045
3,018
66,313
1,100
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
300
3,500
(Sells at
25
Esparto, etc
Broderick
Bryte
West Sacramento
West Sacramento
Capay
West Sacramento
Rumsey
Dixon
Esparto .
Dunnigan.
Sacramento.
Clarksburg.
Clarksburg.
Woodland . .
Dixon
sno
y)
484
42
225
250
700
160
31
whole-
12
90
387
9
30
692
1,290
418
2,998
26,090
1,280
158
2,440
2,129
412
82
183
(See Col
usa
Count
y)
5,000
83
6,000
23,335
300
7,418
(See Sol
ano
Count
y)
APPENDIX B
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, CENTRAL VALLEY AREA-Continued
287
Name of water agency
Yuba County
Municipal Waterworks
Wheatland
Commercial Water Companies
California Water Service Company.
Camptonville Water Service
Dententers Water Service
Linda Center Water System
Yuba Investment Company
Mutual Water Companies
Challenge Water Supply
Halhvood Irrigation Company
Plumas Mutual Water Company.
Location,
in or
near
Wheatland .
Camptonville. .
Marys ville
Marys ville
Browns Valley .
Challenge . .
Marysville.
Marysville.
Area
Num-
irri-
ber of
gated,
do-
in
mestic
acres
services
20
7,036
1,244
300
2,051
50
180
52
7
G5
Name of water agency
Yuba County — Continued
Irrigation Districts
Browns Valley Irrigation District.
Camp Far West Irrigation District
Cordua Irrigation District
Reclamation Districts
Reclamation District No. 10
Reclamation District 817
Water Districts
Wheatland Water District
Public Utility Districts
Olivehurst Public Utility District.
Area
Num-
Location,
irri-
ber of
in or
S-Mtcd,
do-
near
m
mestic
acres
services
Browns Valley.
Sheridan
Marysville.
3,300
(See Placer
County)
5,090
Marysville.
Wheatland .
Wheatland.
'.I. MM)
4,000
8,000
40
Marysville.
li.V,
1>SS
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, LAHONTAN AREA
Name of water agency
El Dorado County
Commercial Water Companies
Globin, Frank
I akeside Lodge Utility
Pinewood Water Company
Tahoe Cedars Water Company
Tahoe Sierra Water Company
Mutual Water Companies
Camp Richardson Water Supply
Fallen Leaf Mutual Water Company-
Lakeside Park Association
Meeks Bay Resort
Tahoe Fifty Subdivision
Water Districts
Rubicon Water District
Inyo County
Municipal Waterworks
Bishop
Commercial Water Companies
Independence Water Company
Lone Pine Water Company
Smith, A. T., Water Company
Mutual Water Companies
Bishop Creek Ditch Company
Bishop Creek Water Association
Tecopa Water Supply
Kern County
Commercial Water Companies
Inyokern Water Service
Randsburg Water Company
Ridgecrest Water Supply
Rocket Town Water Company, Inc.__
Rosamond Water Company
Mutual Water Companies
China Lake Mutual Water Company.
Citizens Mutual Water Company
Desert Sands Water Cooperative, Inc..
Ridgecrest Mutual Water Company. _
Surplus Water Company
Valley Acres Mutual Water Company.
Community Services Districts
Boron Community Services District. _
Lassen County
Commercial Water Companies
California-Pacific Utilities Company. _
Mutual Water Companies
Lassen Irrigation Company
Irrigation Districts
Tule Irrigation District
Los Angeles County
Commercial Water Companies
B. V. Water Company, Inc
Bagstad, Chester C
Mutual Water Companies
Altura Tract Association
Antelope Center Water Association..
Antelope Mutual Water Company
Antelope Park Mutual Water Com-
pany
Averydale Mutual Water Company ..
Bellview Mutual Water Company
Big Rock Mutual Water Company. _
Location,
in or
near
[Al Tahoe
iBijou Pines
Stateline
Bijou
Tahoma
Bijou
Camp Richardson
Fallen Leaf
Placerville
Meeks Bay
Tahoe
Rubicon Beach.
Bishop .
Independence .
Lone Pine
Keeler
Bishop.
Bishop .
Tecopa.
Inyokern
Randsburg
Johannesburg
Ridgecrest
Ridgecrest
Rosamond
Ridgecrest.
Boron
Ridgecrest.
Ridgecrest.
Boron
Inyokern..
Boron.
Susanville.
Standish _
Susanville.
Lancaster- Palm-
dale
Littlerock
Palmdale
Palmdale..
Lancaster.
Lancaster.
Lancaster .
Lancaster.
Llano
Area
Num-
irri-
ber of
gated ,
do-
in
mestic
acres
services
22K
18
10
8,000
600
25
5,000
120
60
304
27
14
92
68
10
coo
296
430
37
30
140
259
468
2
134
84
9
125
68
9
62
1,871
196
12
Name of water agency
Los Angeles County — Continued
Mutual Water Companies — Continued
Calivalli Mutual Water Company
Deep River Water Company
Desacres Water Company
El Dorado Mutual Water Company. .
Fifty-eight Mutual Water Company..
Lake Elizabeth Mutual Water Com-
pany
Lancaster Water Company
Land Projects Mutual Water Com-
pany
Landale Mutual Water Company
Leona Valley Mutual Water Company
Mountain View Farms Water Com-
pany
Palmdale Ranchos Mutual Water
Company
Palm Ranch Mutual Water Company
Pearblossom Heights Mutual Water
Company, Inc
Rock Creek Water Corporation
Section 29 Mutual Water Company _.
Shadow Mountain Mutual Water
Company
Sierra Mutual Water Company. Inc.
Sunnyside Farms Mutual Water Com-
pany
Sunnyvale Mutual Water Company..
West Side Park Mutual Water Com-
pany
White Fence Farms Mutual Water
Company
White Fence Farms Mutual Water
Company No. 2
Wilsona Gardens Mutual Water Com-
pany
Irrigation Districts
Littlerock Creek Irrigation District. _
Palmdale Irrigation District
County Waterworks District
Los Angeles County Waterworks
District No. 4 (Lancaster)
Los Angeles County Waterworks
District No. 23 (Lancaster Heights) .
Modoc County
Mutual Water Companies
Patterson Water Company
Mono County
Mutual Water Companies
Antelope Valley Mutual Water Com-
pany
Sierra Land and Water Company
Public Utility Districts
June Lake Fire District
Nevada County
Commercial Water Companies
Sanders and Gebhart Water Company.
Public Utility Districts
Truckee Public Utility District
Placer County
Commercial Water Companies
Carnelian Bay Water Company
Fulton Water Company
Lake Forest Water Company
Linkford Water Company
Madden Creek Water Company
Mountain Springs Water Company. _
Tahoe Cedars Water Company
Tahoe Tavern Heights Water System.
Location,
in or
near
Littlerock
Palmdale
Littlerock
150
Lancaster
50
Palmdale
Lancaster.
Palmdale.
Lancaster.
Pearblossom .
Pearblossom.
Lancaster
Palmdale
Lancaster.
Lancaster.
Littlerock.
Palmdale..
Lancaster.
Lancaster _
Lancaster.
Littlerock.
Palmdale .
Lancaster.
Lancaster.
Cedarville.
Coleville..
Leevining.
June Lake.
Truckee.
Truckee.
Carnelian Bay_.
Lake Forest
Lake Forest
Tahoe Vista
Homewood
Agate Bay View.
Tahoma
Tahoe Tavern. __
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
1 ,225
300
37
1,040
11
500
180
50
180
150
640
640
1,036
180
200
1,750
6,129
1 2,000
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
APPENDIX B
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, LAHONTAN AREA-Continued
289
Name of water agency
Location,
in or
near
Area
irri-
N'jm-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
Name of water agency
Location,
in or
near
irea
Num-
irri-
ber of
gated.
do-
in
mestic
acres
services
Placer County — Continued
Commercial Water Companies
— Continued
Tahoe Park Water System
Tahoe Pines Water Company
Mutual Water Companies
Brockway Water Company
Cedar Flat Improvement Association.
Lake Forest LInit No. 3 Property Own-
ers Association
Murray Water Company
Ridgewood Water System
Short Water System
Squaw Valley Mutual Water Company
Sugar Bowl Mutual Water Company
Timberland Subdivision Water System
Ward Creek Water Company
Ward Well Water Company
San Bernardino County
Commercial Water Companies
Apple Valley Ranehos Water Company
Arrowhead Manor Water Company ..
Arrowhead Utility Company
Hesperia Water Company
Lake Brook Park Water System
Lake Gregory Water Company
Meadowbrook Water Association
Pacific Water Company
Randsburg Water Company
Running Springs Forest Water Com-
pany
Searles Domestic Water Company
Tahoe City
Tahoe Pines
Brockway. .
Tahoe City.
Lake Forest .
Tahoe Vista .
Tahoe City..
Tahoe City..
Tahoe City..
Truckee
Tahoe City.
Tahoe City,.
Tahoe City,.
300
Apple Valley
Lake Arrowhead -
Lake Arrowhead .
Hesperia
Lake Brook Park.
Lake Gregory
Lake Arrowhead .
Arrowhead View
Victorville
Wags Tract
Red Mountain
Running Springs
fArgus
i Point of Rocks
[Trona
100
123
84
368
100
22
13
28
4
87
16
33
15
51
233
88
975
101
263
387
77
490
(See Ke
Coun
ty)
792
San Bernardino County — Continued
Commercial Water Companies
— Continued
Smithson Springs Water Company. _
Southern California Water Company
Sturnacle Water Company
Swarthout Valley Water Company. .
Westside Water Company
Yermo Water Company
Mutual Water Companies
Adelanto Mutual Water Company __
Agua Fria Mutual Service Company.
Alpine Water Users Association
Arrow Bear Mutual Water Company,
Inc
Arrowhead Highlands Mutual Service
Company
Arrowhead View Water Corporation.
Arrowhead Villas Mutual Service
Company
Crestline Village Mutual Service Com-
pany
Desert Knolls Mutual Water Com
pany
Green Valley Mutual Water Company
Mountain Pioneer Mutual Water Com-
pany
Sheep Creek Water Company
Valley of Enchantment Mutual Water
Company
County Water Districts
Victorville County Water District
County Waterworks Districts
San Bernardino County Waterworks
District No. 2
Desert Springs .
Barstow
Barstow
Wrightwood
Barstow
Yermo
Adelanto
Agua Fria
T\\ in Peaks.
Arrow-bear. _
Arrowhead High-
lands
Blue Jay
Sky Forest.
Crestline
Victorville
Green Valley Lake
Rimforest.
Phelan
190
150
Crestline -
Victorville.
Adelanto-
54
1,829
10
558
140
60
400
70
300
150
100
121
263
1,700
30
325
18
30
400
806
223
290
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
WATER SERVICE AGENCIES, COLORADO DESERT AREA
Name of water agency
Imperial County
Municipal Waterworks
Brawley
Calexico
El Centra
Holtville
Imperial
Westmorland
Commercial Water Companies
Seeley Water System . .
Southern California Water Company
Mutual Water Companies
Ocotillo Mutual Water Company.
Winterhaven Water Company
Irrigation Districts
Bard Irrigation District
Imperial Irrigation District
Palo Verde Irrigation District-
Public Utility Districts
Heber Public Utility District
United States Bureau of Reclamation
Projects
Yuma Project
Riverside County
Municipal Waterworks
Blythe
Coachella
Indio --
Commercial Water Companies
Bubbling Wells Water System, Inc. ..
Cabazon Water Company
Cathedral City Water Company
City Water Company of Banning,
California
Garnet Gardens Water Company
Menu Water and Development Com-
pany
Midway Water Service
Palm Desert Water Company
Palm Springs Outpost Water Company
Palm Springs Water Company
Rancho Mirage Water Company...
Thermal Water System
Thunderbird Water Company
Mutual Water Companies
Acres Mutual Water Company
Auroratowne Mutual Water Company
Banning Heights .Mutual Water Com-
pany
Banning Heights Water Company
Banning Water Company
l at he.lral ( 'an. in Mutual Water Com-
pany
Country Club Water Company
Cowgjll Mutual Water Company
Date Development Water Company..
Datclund Mutual Water Company
Date Palm Road Mutual Water Com-
panj
i Moor Mutual Water Company
Del Sol Mutual Water Company
Desert Date Gardens Irrigation Com-
pany
Do Pahnas Mutual Watei I'ompauj
II-. II Mutual Water Company
Location,
in or
near
Brawley
Calexico
El Centra
Holtville
Imperial
Westmorland .
Seeley
Calipatria
Niland
El Centra. _ _
Winterhaven.
Bard
El Centra .
Blythe
I Icher
Yuma.
Blythe- _.
Coachella.
Indio
Desert Hot Springs
Cabazon
Cathedral City-
Banning.
Garnet..
North Palm Springs
Banning
Palm Springs
Palm Springs —
Rancho Mirage
Thermal
Palm Springs
Indio
Auroratowne.
Banning.
Banning
Banning.
Cathedral City
Palm Springs
Thermal
Coachella
Indio
Palm Springs .
Indio
Indio
Indio
Desert Hot Springs
Cathedral City..
Area
irri-
gated,
in
acres
5,400
391,714
(See Riv
Coun
2,080
8,559
(Also se
whole
20
120
635
672
1,000
50
80
160
80
295
160
33
Num-
ber of
do-
mestic
services
2,171
1,275
2,937
700
360
85
568
175
erside
ty)
lis at
sale)
900
573
1,077
2
133
374
2,381
48
59
40
145
19
3,018
160
88
17
69
100
35
2,260
22
Name of water agency
Riverside County — Continued
Mutual Water Companies — Continued
Hidden Springs Ranch Mutual Water
Company
Los Ranchitos Mutual Water Com-
pany, Ltd
North Indio Mutual Water Corpor-
ation
One Twenty Mutual Water Company
Palm Dell Mutual Water Company __
Palm Desert Water Company
Palm Springs Vista Mutual Water
Company
Panorama Mutual Water Company _.
Rancho Myoma Mutual Water Com-
pany
Rancho Vista Mutual Water Com-
pany
San Jacinto Mutual Water Company.
Santa Carmelita Mutual Water Com-
pany
Shangri-la Palms Mutual Water Com-
pany
Whitewater Mutual Water Company.
Wontam Mutual Water Company
County Water Districts
Coachella Valley County Water Dis-
trict
Desert Hot Springs County Water
District
Irrigation Districts
Palo Verde Irrigation District-
Community Services Districts
Palm Desert Community Services Dis-
trict
San Bernardino County
Municipal Waterworks
Needles
Commercial Water Companies
Abell Water Company
Joshua Tree Service Company
Pacific Water Company
Sunfair Water Company
Vidal Water Company
Yucca Water Company, Ltd
Mutual Water Companies
Condor Mutual Water Company, Inc._
Desert Rancho Mutual Water Com-
pany
Hesperia Water Company
Lucerne Valley Mutual Water Com-
pany
Mesa Land and Water Company
Paradise. Valley Mutual Water Com-
pany
San Diego County
Commercial Water Companies
Borrego Springs Water Company
Jacumba Water Company
Live Oaks Spring Water and Power
Company
Mutual Water Companies
Borrego Village Mutual Water Com-
pany
Rancho Borrego Mutual Water Com-
pany
Tub Canyon Mutual Water Company-
Location ,
in or
near
Thousand Palms -_
1,400
Cathedral City
25
Palm Springs
Palm Desert
40
40
100
Palm Springs
Indio
120
80
Palm Springs
Palm Springs .
Cathedral City
113
725
130
27,312
Desert Hot Springs
Blythe
59,571
Palm Village
220
Needles
Twentynine Palms
Joshua Tree
Morongo-Twenty-
nine Palms
Joshua Tree
Vidal
Yucca Valley
Twentynine Palms
Joshua Tree.
Hesperia
Lucerne Valley.
Joshua Tree
Paradise Valley
Borrego Valley.
Jacumba
Pine Valley .
Borrego Springs
Borrego Springs.
Borrego Valley. _
Area
Num-
irri-
ber of
gated,
do-
in
mestic
acres
services
75
300
to
APPENDIX C
DESCRIPTION OF HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS
( 291 )
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
North Coastal Area__ 293
San Francisco Bay Area 293
Central Coastal Area 294
South Coastal Area 295
Central Valley Area 296
Lahontan Area 303
Colorado Desert Area 304
( 292 )
APPENDIX ('
293
DESCRIPTION OF HYDROGRAPHIC UNITS
NORTH COASTAL AREA
Hydrographic Unit 1 — Tule Lake — This unit con-
sists largely of the California portion of areas tribu-
tary to the Klamath River Basin, above the U. S.
Geological Survey gaging station near Copco. The
portion of the natural watershed of the Klamath
River in this unit is not large. A more important seg-
ment consists of the California portion of the Lost
River drainage basin, which has been artificially con-
nected with the Klamath River by a canal for the
purpose of reclaiming the bed of Tule Lake. Further-
more, certain other entirely self-contained basins are
included in this unit, since these would drain into the
Klamath River under conditions of extremely high
runoff. These are Butte Valley, Red Rock Basin, and
Oklahoma Basin.
Hydrographic Unit 2 — Shasta Valley — This unit
consists of the drainage basin of the Shasta River
above the IT. S. Geological Survey gage near Yreka,
0.5 mile above its mouth.
Hydrographic Unit 3 — Scott Valley — This unit
consists of that portion of the Scott River Basin
above the U. S. Geological Survey gage near Fort
Jones.
Hydrographic Unit 4 — Upper Klamath — This unit
consists of the California portion of the Klamath
River Basin between the U. S. Geological Survey
gaging stations near Copco and near Seiad Valley,
with the exception of the Shasta and Scott River
drainage basins above the U. S. G. S. gaging stations
on those streams.
Hydrographic Unit 5 — Trinity — This unit consists
of the entire drainage basin of the Trinity River
above its mouth.
Hydrographic Unit 6 — Klamath — This unit con-
sists of the California portion of the Klamath River
Basin downstream from Seiad Valley, with the excep-
tion of the drainage basin of the Trinity River.
Hydrographic Unit 7 — Rogue — This unit consists
of those lands in California draining northward into
the Rogue and Winchuck Rivers in Oregon, together
with the drainage basin of Gilbert Creek flowing di-
rectly into the Pacific Ocean north of the Smith
River.
Hydrographic Unit 8 — Del Norte — This unit in-
cludes the California portion of the Smith River
Basin, as well as minor drainage basins directly trib-
utary to the Pacific Ocean between the Smith and
Klamath River Basins, including Jordan, Elk, Gush-
ing, Nickel, Damnation, and Wilson Creeks.
11—99801
Hydrographic Unit 9- Redwood Creek- This unil
includes the drainage basin of Redwood Creek, as well
as the drainage basins of smaller streams between the
Klamath River and Redwood Creek Basins, including,
Ossagon, Butler, Home, and Squashan Creeks.
Hydrographic Unit 10— Mad River— This unit in-
cludes the drainage basin of the Mad River, as well as
the drainage basins of smaller streams directly tribu-
tary to the Pacific Ocean between the Redwood Creek
and Macl River Basins, including Freshwater, Stone.
and Big Lagoons (Maple Creek), Luffenholz Creek.
Little River, and Strawberry and Widow White
( 'reeks, as well as the City of Areata.
Hydrographic Unit 11— Upper Eel— This unit con-
sists of that portion of the drainage basin of the Eel
River and its tributaries upstream from the U. S.
Geological Survey gage at Scotia.
Hydrographic Unit 12 — Humboldt — This unit con-
sists of the Eel River drainage basin below Scotia,
including that of the Van Duzen River, areas tribu-
tary to Humboldt Bay from the drainage basin of
James Creek to that of Salmon Creek, and basins of
other streams draining directly into the Pacific Ocean
between the Mad and Mattole River Basins, from
Fleenes Creek on the north to Peter B Gulch on the
south, with the exception of the City of Areata.
Hydrographic Unit 13 — Mattole — This unit in-
cludes the drainage basin of the Mattole River, as well
as the basins of the Fourmile Creek group, consisting
of streams directly tributary to the ocean south of the
Mattole River from Fourmile Creek to Quail Gulch.
Hydrographic Unit 14 — Mendocino Coast — This
unit consists of several river and stream group basins,
from the basin of Jackass Creek in the Tenmile River
group on the north to that of Russian Gulch in the
Stewart's Point group on the south.
Hydrographic Unit 15 — Russian River — This unit
consists of the entire drainage basin of the Russian
River to its mouth.
Hydrographic Unit 16 — Bodega — This unit con-
sists of the watersheds of minor streams entering
either the Pacific Ocean or Bodega or Tomales Bays,
between the Russian River and the south drainage
boundary of Grand Canyon near Point Reyes Station.
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
Hydrographic Unit 1 — Marin-Sonoma — This unit
consists of those drainage basins in Marin and So-
noma Counties lying within the San Francisco Bay
Area from that of Tomasini Canyon, a tributary of
294
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OP CALIFORNIA
Laguuitas Creek, to and including that of Sonoma
Creek.
Hydrographic Unit 2 — Napa Valley — This unit
consists of the drainage basin of the Napa River.
Hydrographic Unit 3 — Solano — This unit consists
of that portion of the San Francisco Bay Area east of
the Napa River drainage basin and north of Suisun
Bay, from the drainage basin of an unnamed stream
tributary to Glen Cove on the west to that of Monte-
zuma Slough on the east.
Hydrographic Unit 4 — Contra Costa — This unit
consists of that portion of Contra Costa County drain-
ing directly into San Francisco, San Pablo, and Sui-
sun Bays, from El Cerrito Creek to the basin of
Kirker Creek, inclusive.
Hydrographic Unit 5— Livermore Valley— This
unit consists of the drainage basin of Alameda Creek
above the U. S. Geological Survey gaging station near
Niles.
Hydrographic Unit 6 — Alameda-Bayside — This
unit includes that portion of Alameda County di-
rectly bordering on San Francisco Bay, from El Cer-
rito Creek on the north to Scott Creek on the south,
including that portion of the drainage basin of Ala-
meda Creek below the U. S. Geological Survey gaging
station near Niles. The portions of the drainage basins
of San Leandro and San Lorenzo Creeks in Contra
Costa County are also included in this unit.
Hydrographic Unit 7— Santa Clara Valley— This
unit consists of all of Santa Clara County in the San
Francisco Bay Area, except the portion tributary to
Alameda Creek.
Hydrographic Unit 8— San Mateo-Bayside— This
unit consists of that portion of San Mateo County
draining into San Francisco Bay.
Hydrographic Unit 9— San Mateo-Coastal— This
ii nil includes that portion of San Mateo County
draining into the Pacific Ocean, south to and includ-
ing the drainage basin of Pescadero Creek. This unit
also includes the portion of the Pescadero Creek Basin
in Santa Cruz County.
Hydrographic Unit 10— San Francisco— This unit
consists of the City and County of San Francisco.
CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
Hydrographic Unit 1— Santa Cruz— This unit con-
sists of the drainage basins of streams tributary to the
Pacific Ocean and Monterey Bay from the basin of
A novo de los Frijoles in San Mateo County on the
north to the northerly boundaries of the basins of
Watsonville and Harkins Sloughs on the south.
Hydrographic Unit 2— San Benito — This unit con-
sists of the drainage basins tributary to the Pajaro
River above the U. S. Geological Survey gage near
Chittenden, including those of the San Benito River,
and Santa Anita, Pacheco, Llagas, and Uvas Creeks.
Hydrographic Unit 3— Pajaro— This unit consists
of those lands draining to the Pajaro River between
the gage near Chittenden and the mouth of the river,
including the basins of Watsonville and Harkins
Sloughs on the north and McClusky Slough on the
south.
Hydrographic Unit 4— Upper Salinas— This unit
includes the entire drainage basin of the Salinas
River above the railroad station of Wunpost, as well
as the foothill and mountainous portions downstream
from Wunpost, lying above the contact between the
erosion surfaces of the hills, and the terrace, bench,
and valley fill depositional areas, with the exception
of the drainage basin of Toro Creek near Spreckels.
Hydrographic Unit 5— Lower Salinas— This unit
includes the floor of the Salinas River Valley down-
stream from Wunpost, lying below the contact be-
tween the erosion surfaces of the hills, and the terrace,
bench, and valley fill depositional areas, the drainage
basins of Toro Creek, a tributary of Salinas River
near Spreckels, and of Elkhorn Slough north of the
Salinas River, and lands directly tributary to Monte-
rey Bay from the Salinas River south to the northerly
boimdary of the Canyon Del Rey group at Fort Ord.
Hydrographic Unit 6— Carmel— This unit consists
of the drainage basins of the Carmel River and the
Canyon Del Rey stream group. The streams of the
latter group enter Monterey Bay and the Pacific
Ocean between Fort Ord and the Carmel River.
Hydrographic Unit 7— Monterey Coast— This unit
consists of the drainage basins of streams tributary to
Carmel Bay and the Pacific Ocean south of the Car-
mel River Basin, from San Jose Creek on the north to
an unnamed creek just north of Estero Point, on the
south.
Hydrographic Unit 8— San Luis Obispo— This unit
consists of drainage basins tributary to the Pacific
Ocean from the basins of Ellysly and Villa Creeks on
the north to that of Black Lake Canyon on the south.
Hydrographic Unit 9— Carrizo Plain— This unit
consists of drainage basins of streams in southeastern
San Luis Obispo County tributary to Soda Lake, usu-
ally a dry lake bed, with no outlet to the sea.
Hydrographic Unit 10— Santa Maria— This unit
consists of the drainage basin of the Santa Maria
River and of its major tributaries, the Cuyama and
the Sisquoc Rivers, as well as the basin of Oso Flaco
Creek which is tributary to a dune-locked lake some-
what north of the mouth of the Santa Maria River.
APPENDIX C
295
Hydrographic Unit 11 — Santa Ynez — This unit
consists of the drainage basins of the Santa Ynez
River and San Antonio Creek, as well as those of cer-
tain minor streams directly tributary to the Pacific
Ocean between the Santa Maria and Santa Ynez
Rivers, from an unnamed creek entering the ocean
at Mussel Rock to Canyon Tortuga.
Hydrographic Unit 12 — Santa Barbara — This unit
consists of the drainage basins of streams directly
tributary to the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Barbara
Channel from the basin of Bear Creek at Weser Spur
to the southeastern boundary of the Rincon Creek
Basin.
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
Hydrographic Unit 1 — Ventura — This unit con-
sists of the drainage basin of the Ventura River, as
well as those of smaller streams directly tributary
to the Pacific Ocean between Rincon Point (but not
including the basin of Rincon Creek) and the easterly
drainage boundary of Hall Canyon. The unit includes
all of the City of Ventura.
Hydrographic Unit 2 — Santa Clara-Calleguas —
This unit consists of the drainage basins of the Santa
Clara River and Calleguas Creek and their tribu-
taries, as well as the Oxnard Plain lying between
those streams, but draining directly to the Pacific
Ocean. The upper part of the Santa Clara River Basin
extends into Los Angeles County, and includes the
Newhall-Saugus area.
Hydrographic Unit 3 — Malibu — This unit consists
of the drainage basins of streams in Ventura and Los
Angeles Counties directly tributary to the Pacific
Ocean, between Point Mugu and Topanga Beach, from
La Jolla Canyon to Tuna Canyon.
Hydrographic Unit 4 — San Gabriel Mountains —
This unit consists of those portions of the drainage
basins of the San Gabriel River and its tributaries,
and of tributaries of the Los Angeles River, lying
within the Angeles National Forest. There is an excep-
tion where the City of Los Angeles overlaps the
national forest. In this area the city boundary is
the southerly limit of the unit.
Hydrographic Unit 5 — Upper Santa Ana — This
unit includes the drainage basins of the Santa Ana
River and its tributaries (including the San Jacinto
River) above the Santa Ana Narrows at the River-
side-Orange county line. In addition, certain areas in
eastern Los Angeles County are included, whose sur-
face drainage is tributary to the San Gabriel River,
but whose ground water basins are more intimately
connected with the Santa Ana River Basin. These
areas have been identified in the South Coastal Basin
Investigation of the Division of Water Resources
as the Claremont Heights, Live Oak, Pomona, and
Spadra Basins.
Hydrographic Unit 6— Los Angeles— This unit
consists essentially of the City of Los Angeles and
neighboring cities and county areas from Santa
Monica to Newport Beach, inclusive. It includes the
portions of the drainage basins of the Los Angeles
and San Gabriel Rivers and their tributaries lying
south of the Angeles National Forest boundary except
where the City of Los Angeles overlaps the national
forest. In this area, the limit of the unit is the north-
erly boundary of the city. In addition, the unit
includes the drainage basin of the Santa Ana River
downstream from the Santa Ana Narrows, as well as
areas directly tributary to the Pacific Ocean from the
drainage basin of Topanga Canyon to Pelican Point
two miles south of the entrance to Newport Bay. It
does not include the Claremont Heights, Live Oak,
Pomona, and Spadra Basins.
Hydrographic Unit 7 — San Juan Capistrano — This
unit consists of areas directly tributary to the Pacific
Ocean from Pelican Point to, but not including, the
drainage basin of the Santa Margarita River, includ-
ing basins from Los Trancos Canyon on the north to
Cockleburr Canyon on the south.
Hydrographic Unit 8 — Santa Margarita-San Luis
Rey — This unit consists of the drainage basins of the
Santa Margarita and San Luis Rey Rivers and their
tributaries, with the exception that the southerly
boundary was drawn so as to exclude the Vista Irri-
gation District and to include the service area of the
Carlsbad Mutual Water Company.
Hydrographic Unit 9 — San Dieguito-Cottonwood —
This unit consists of the drainage basin of Agua
Hedionda Creek and the portions of the drainage
basins of all streams in southern San Diego County
tributary to the Pacific Ocean, from San Marcos
Creek to the Tia Juana River, inclusive, east of
the boundary of the San Diego Metropolitan Area.
This boundary is delineated on sheets 7 and 8 of Plate
11. The northerly boundary of the unit is extended to
include all of the Vista Irrigation District.
Hydrographic Unit 10 — San Diego — This unit con-
sists of the City of San Diego and neighboring cities
and suburbs, as well as other nearby areas expected
to be occupied by future expansion of the urban
development centering on San Diego. The boundary
of the unit was drawn on a series of rancho, township,
section, and connecting lines so as to include the
service areas of the San Dieguito and Santa Fe Irri-
gation Districts ; most of El Cajon Valley ; all of the
gently rolling land east of San Diego, National City,
and Chula Vista; and the Otay Mesa, east of San
Ysidro. This boundary is delineated on sheets 7 and 8
of Plate 11.
296
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
Hydrographic Unit 1 — Goose Lake — This unit con-
sists of the lands in California draining to Goose
Lake. This drainage basin is tributary to the Pit
River only in t lie case of an extremely wet series of
years.
Hydrographic Unit 2 — Pit River — This unit con
sists of the Pit River drainage basin to the junction
of the Sacramento River, with the exception of the
Goose Lake and McCloud River drainage basins.
Hydrographic Unit 3 — McCloud River — This unit
consists of the entire McCloud River drainage basin
;ihove the mouth of the river.
Hydrographic Unit 4 — Sacramento River above
Shasta Dam — This unit consists of the drainage basin
of the main Sacramento River upstream from Shasta
Dam, and exclusive of the Pit and McCloud River
drainage basins.
Hydrographic Unit 5 — West Side, Shasta Dam to
Cottonwood Creek — This unit consists of the drainage
basins of the tributaries entering the Sacramento
River from the west between Shasta Dam and the
U. S. Geological Survey gage near Red Bluff, exclud-
ing the City of Redding and the Anderson-Cotton-
wood Irrigation District.
Hydrographic Unit 6 — East Side, Cow Creek to
Paynes Creek — This unit consists of the drainage
basins of those streams entering the Sacramento River
from the east between Shasta Dam and the U. S.
Geological Survey gage near Red Bluff, with the ex-
ception of a minor area in the Anderson-Cottonwood
Irrigation District.
Hydrographic Unit 7 — Red Bluff to Thomes Creek
—This unit consists of the foothill and mountainous
portions of drainage basins of streams from Dibble
Creek to Moore Creek, inclusive, the latter a minor
stream draining the base of the western foothills and
entering the Sacramento River next upstream from
Stony Creek. The easterly boundary of this unit is
longitude 121° 15' west.
Hydrographic Unit 8— Antelope Creek to Mud
< 'reek This unit consists of the mountainous and
foothill portions of drainage basins tributary to the
Sacramento River from the east, from Salt Creek to
.Mud Creek. The westerly boundary is approximately
;it I he 300-foot contour.
Hydrographic Unit 9— Stony Creek— This unit in-
cludes all of the Stony Creek drainage basin above the
Black Butte 'lam site;, as well as the foothill portions
of drainage basins south to the drainage boundary
between Hunters Creek and Funks Creek. The east-
erly limit Follows the line between Ranges 3 and 4
West to the line between Townships 20 and 21 North,
i hence along a series of section lines one and two miles
west of the foregoing range line to the Glenn-Colusa
county line.
Hydrographic Unit 10 — Butte and Chico Creeks —
This unit includes the mountainous and foothill por-
tions of the drainage basins of Butte and Chico
Creeks, as well as those of minor streams from Little
Chico Creek to and including Ash Creek in Butte •
County. The easterly limit of the unit was drawn so
as to follow the southern and eastern boundaries of
the Paradise Irrigation District, thus placing all of
the district in the unit. From north to south, the
westerly limit of this unit follows section lines, longi- ;
tude 121° 45' west, the Chico-Oroville Road, and a
line approximately following the Magalia Road.
Hydrographic Unit 11 — Cortina Creek — This unit
consists of the upstream portions of stream basins of
the western foothills south from Funks Creek to, but
not including, Cache Creek. The easterly limit of this
unit was drawn to exclude the presently irrigated
land on the floor of the Sacramento Valley. This line
lies to the west of Highway 99W at a distance varying
from less than one to more than six miles.
Hydrographic Unit 12 — Feather River — This unit
includes the entire drainage basin of the Feather
River to and including Oroville (except that portion
in the Paradise Irrigation District) as well as portions
of the lower foothills directly tributary to the Sacra-
mento Valley floor from the basin of Clear Creek
(Butte County) to that of Schirmer Ravine, and an
area including the Oroville-Wyandotte Irrigation
District. The westerly limit of this unit follows the
eastern and southern boundaries of the Paradise Irri-
gation District, the westerly boundary of the Clear
Creek drainage basin, and the Lower Miocene Canal
from the Coal Canyon Power House to the vicinity of
Oroville. South of Oroville, this limit follows the
Feather River and the line of a possible canal divert-
ing from the river at an elevation of 125 feet. The
southerly limit through the foothills coincides with the
Butte- Yuba county line along Honcut Creek.
Hydrographic Unit 13 — Yuba and Bear Rivers—
This unit includes the entire drainage basins of the
Yuba River above Englebright Dam and the Bear
River above the Camp Far West Dam, as well as foot-
hill areas directly tributary to the valley floor. Be-
tween the Yuba and Bear Rivers the westerly limit
of this unit coincides with a possible canal line divert-
ing from the Yuba River at an approximate elevation
of 500 feet. South of the Bear River, the limit of this
unit coincides with the westerly boundary of the
Nevada Irrigation District. In the foothills, the south-
erly limit of Hydrographic Unit 13 coincides with the
southerly boundary of the Auburn Ravine drainage
basin. The northerly limit of the unit through the
APPENDIX C
297
1 foothills follows the Yuba-Butte county line along
Honcut Creek.
Hydrographic Unit 14 — Cache Creek — This unit in-
cludes the Cache (-reek drainage basin above the point
of diversion of the Capay Valley Ditch near Rumsey,
i as well as the mountain and foothill portions of minor
; stream drainage between the Cache and Putah Creek
Basins lying above the service area of the "Winters
Ditch of the Clear Lake Water Company.
Hydrographic Unit 15 — American River — This
unit includes the drainage basin of the American
River above Polsom Dam, as well as the Placer
County portion of the foothill area directly tributary
to the Sacramento Valley floor, above the service
: area of a possible Folsom North Canal diverting from
the American River at an elevation of approximately
200 feet and extending to the south boundary of the
Auburn Ravine drainage basin.
Hydrographic Unit 16 — Putah Creek — This unit
includes the drainage basin of Putah Creek above the
proposed diversion point of the Solano Project main
canal, at an elevation of about 175 feet, as well as those
portions of foothill and mountain areas lying above
the service area of that projected canal, south to the
boundary of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Hydrographic Unit 17 — Anderson-Cottonwood—
This unit consists essentially of the City of Redding
and the Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District.
Hydrographic Unit 18 — Tehama — This unit con-
sists of that portion of the west side Sacramento
Valley floor lying between longitude 121° 15' west
and the Sacramento River. The southern limit of the
unit coincides with the Tehama-Glenn county line.
Hydrographic Unit 19 — Vina — This unit consists
of that portion of the east side Sacramento Valley
floor lying between the approximate 300-foot contour
and the Sacramento River. The southerly limit of this
unit lies along the course of Big Chico Creek.
Hydrographic Unit 20 — Orland — This unit con-
sists of the service area of the Orland Project
constructed by the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, and
the remainder of the Sacramento Valley floor in
Glenn County lying west of the Glenn-Colusa Irriga-
tion District. The westerly limit of this unit follows
the line between Ranges 3 and 4 West, south to the
line between Townships 20 and 21 North, thence along
a series of section lines one and two miles west of the
range line mentioned, to the Glenn-Colusa county line.
Hydrographic Unit 21 — Chico — This unit consists
of that portion of the east side Sacramento Valley
floor lying between the foothills and the Sacramento
River. The easterly limit follows section lines, longi-
tude 121° 45' west, the Chico-Oroville Road, and a
line approximately following the Magalia Road. The
southerly limit of the unit lies along the Butte-Glenn
county line from the Sacramento River to a point
about five miles east of the river, thence along a road
running easterly to the community of Nelson, and
another running northeasterly to a junction with the
Magalia Road.
Hydrographic Unit 22 — Arbuckle — This unit con-
sists of portions of the Avest side Sacramento Valley
floor lying between the westerly boundary of the
Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District and the Colusa
Trough on the east, and the foothills on the west. The
westerly limit of this unit follows an irregular line
from one and more than six miles west of Highway
99W. The southerly limit of this unit lies along
Cache Creek Slough between Yolo and Knights
Landing.
Hydrographic Unit 23 — Colusa Trough — This unit
consists of that portion of the Sacramento Valley
floor on both sides of the Sacramento River, from the
point of diversion of the Central Irrigation Canal to
the confluence of the Sacramento and Feather Rivers,
whose main source of irrigation water is the Sacra-
mento River itself. The westerly limit of this hydro-
graphic unit coincides with the westerly boundary of
the Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District to a point south
of Williams, thence along the west line of lands served
by water pumped from the Back Borrow Pit of the
Colusa Trough, to Knights Landing, thence along
the southwestern levee of the Knights Landing Ridge
Cut to a point south of Grays Bend. The easterly
limit lies somewhat east of Angel Slough from the
Glenn-Butte county line to a point near the intersec-
tion of the Mt. Diablo Meridian with the line between
Townships 18 and 19 North, thence along the Mt.
Diablo Meridian to the channel of Butte Creek, along
Butte Creek and Butte Slough to the east levee of the
Sutter By-pass, and thence along that levee to Nelson
Slough, near Nicolaus, where the line changes to the
west levee of the by-pass.
Hydrographic Unit 24 — Feather River to Butte
Slough — This unit consists of that portion of the east
side Sacramento Valley floor which receives the
majority of its water supply from the Feather River
between Oroville and Live Oak. The Sutter Buttes lie
wholly within Unit 24. The northerly limit of this unit
lies along the Butte-Glenn county line from the Sac-
ramento River to a point about five miles east of
the river, thence along a road running easterly to the
community of Nelson, and another running north-
easterly to the Magalia Road. The easterly limit fol-
lows a line approximately along Magalia Road, the
lower Miocene Canal, the Feather River from Oroville
to a possible canal diversion to the east at an eleva-
tion of 125 feet, thence along this possible canal, the
Butte-Yuba county line westerly along Honcut Creek,
2! is
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
and the Sutter- Yuba county line along Feather River.
The southerly limit coincides with the base of the foot-
hills to the south of Sutter Buttes, with the west and
east intercepting- canals north of Sutter City, and with
an extension of the line of these canals east to the
Feather River. The westerly limit lies along the Mt.
Diablo Meridian south to the channel of Butte Creek,
and along Butte Creek and Butte Slough to the south-
erly limit.
Hydro-graphic Unit 25— Yuba— This unit consists
of that portion of the east side Sacramento Valley
floor lying between Sutter By-pass and the Feather
River. This unit receives its major water supply from
ground water. The northerly limit of this unit lies
along the base of the foothills south of Sutter Buttes,
along the west and east intercepting canals north of
Sutter City, and along an extension of the line of
these canals to the Feather River. The easterly limit
is the Feather River and the westerly limit is the
Sutter By-pass.
Hydrographic Unit 26— Marysville-Sheridan— This
unit consists of that portion of the east side Sacra-
mento Valley floor lying between the Feather River
and the base of the eastern foothills. The northerly
limit is Honcut Creek. The southern limit is a line
two miles south of the line between Townships 12 and
13 North. The northern part of the easterly limit con-
sists of the southerly part of a possible canal line
diverting from the Feather River at an elevation of
125 feet. The central part is the line of a possible
canal from the Yuba River diverting at an elevation
of approximately 500 feet. The southern part of the
easterly limit coincides with the westerly boundary
of the Nevada Irrigation District. The westerly limit
of this unit is the Feather River.
Hydrographic Unit 27 — Woodland — This unit in-
cludes that portion of the west side Sacramento Val-
ley floor, as well as the Capay Valley, receiving irri-
gation water from Cache Creek as well as from ground
water. The easterly limit of this unit is the westerly
boundary of Reclamation District 2035 and the west
levee of Yolo By-pass. The southerly limit coincides
with the Yolo-Solano county line along Putah Creek.
The westerly limit is the limits of the service areas of
the Clear Lake Water Company canals and of the
Capay Valley Ditch. The northerly limit of the unit
follows the northeasterly boundary of Rancho Canada
de Capay, the foothill line above Hungry Hollow,
Cache Creek, and Cache Creek Slough to Knights
Landing.
Hydrographic Unit 28 — Carmichael — This unit in-
cludes that portion of the east side Sacramento Val-
Ley floor lying within the probable service area of the
possible Folsom North and Folsom South Canals, the
City <>f Sarramento, and that portion of Sacramento
County lying above the Folsom North Canal. The
northern limit is a line two miles south of the line
between Townships 12 and 13 North. The westerly
limit follows the easterly boundaries of Reclamation
Districts 1001 and 1000 from the northwest corner of
the unit to the American River, and along the Ameri-
can and Sacramento Rivers north and west of the
City of Sacramento. South of the city it conforms to
the easterly limit of the Sacramento-San Joaquin
Delta as outlined in the "Report of Sacramento-San
Joaquin Water Supervision for 1948," issued by the
Division of Water Resources. The eastern part of the
southerly limit of this unit is the northerly boundary
of the Cosumnes Rancho. West of Highway 99 the
limit follows an irregular line to the northeast corner
of Reclamation District 1002. In Placer County the
easterly limit of the unit follows the line of a possible
Folsom North Canal at an elevation of approximately
200 feet. In Sacramento County, it follows the north-
erly and easterly county boundaries north of the
American River, and, south of the river, the line of
the proposed Folsom South Canal at an elevation
of approximately 100 feet.
Hydrographic Unit 29 — Dixon — This unit consists
of that portion of the service area of the Solano Proj-
ect lying in the Sacramento River Basin. The easterly
limit of this unit coincides with the west levee of the
Yolo By-pass, the westerly boundary of Reclamation
District 2068, the westerly limit of the Sacramento-
San Joaquin Delta as outlined in the "Report of
Sacramento-San Joaquin Water Supervision for
1948," and a line through the northeastern corner of
the Montezuma Hills. The southerly limit is the Sac-
ramento River between Rio Vista and Collinsville. The
westerly limit consists of the easterly limit of the San
Francisco Bay Area and the westerly limit of the
service area of the Solano Project main canal at an
elevation of approximately 175 feet. The northerly
limit consists of Putah Creek from Winters to the
northeast corner of the Yolo-Solano county line,
thence along a line east to the west levee of the Yolo
By-pass.
Hydrographic Unit 30 — Yolo — This unit consists
of that portion of the Sacramento Valley floor, from
Nicolaus to a point 11 miles south of Dixon, which
area obtains its water supply from the lower Feather
River, from the Sacramento River between Grays
Bend and Sacramento, and from return flow in the
Yolo By-pass. Reclamation District 2068, which con-
stitutes the southernmost part of this unit, obtains its
irrigation supply from Haas Slough, a tributary of
Cache Slough.
The northern part of the easterly limit of this unit
consists of the easterly boundaries of Reclamation
Districts 1001 and 1000. Below the City of Sacra-
mento the easterly limit of Unit 30 conforms to the
westerly limit of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
as outlined in the "Report of Sacramento-San Joa-
APPENDIX C
299
quin Water Supervision for 1948." The westerly limit
of this unit follows the westerly limit of the Sutter
By-pass, the westerly boundary of Reclamation Dis-
trict 2035, the west levee of the Yolo By-pass, the
westerly boundary of Reclamation District 2068, and
thence by an irregular line to the southern limit 11
miles south of Dixon.
Hydrographic Unit 31 — West Side, Kern County—
This unit consists of the mountainous and foothill
portions of the San Joaquin Valley slope of the Coast
Range in San Luis Obispo, Kern, and Kings Counties.
The easterly limit of this unit is, in general, the
western edges of the alluvial fills of the Kettleman
and Antelope Plains. The northerly limit lies along the
Kings-Fresno county line and the northerly drainage
boundary of Avenal Creek. The southerly limit is a
line between the drainage basins of Sandy and Bitter-
water Creeks near Taft.
Hydrographic Unit 32 — Kern River and Tehachapi
Mountains — This unit includes the mountainous and
foothill portions of the named regions, as well as the
Greenhorn Mountains and minor portions of the valley
floor from the Kern-Tulare county line to a point
near Maricopa. In addition to the drainage boundary
of the upper Kern River, the northerly limit of the
unit lies along the south boundary of the White River
drainage basin. Prom the Tulare-Kern county line to
the vicinity of Bakersfield, the westerly limit follows
a series of section lines representing a division be-
tween lands presently irrigated and those not irri-
gated, from a point 11 miles east of Delano to a point
2 miles east of Bakersfield. From Bakersfield south
the limit coincides with the northerly, easterly, and
southerly boundaries of the Arvin-Edison Water
Storage District. From the southwest corner of that
district, the limit follows a series of section lines
roughly corresponding to the southern limit of
present irrigation development, from 1 to 2| miles
south of Highway 33 to a point 1| miles southwest of
Maricopa. The westerly limit is a line between the
drainage basins of Sandy and Bitterwater Creeks.
Hydrographic Unit 33 — Tule River — This unit con-
sists of the mountainous and foothill portions of
drainage basins of streams from the Tule River
to White River, inclusive. The westerly limit follows
a series of section lines from a point four miles east of
Strathmore to a point five miles east of Richgrove,
excluding all of the presently irrigated area on the
San Joaquin Valley floor from this unit. Surprise
and Pleasant Valleys, just east of Porterville, in this
unit, are irrigated by ditches diverting water from
both the north and south forks of the Tule River.
Hydrographic Unit 34 — Kaweah River — This unit
consists of the mountainous and foothill portions of
the Kaweah River drainage basin and of minor stream
basins from Lewis Creek to Sand Creek near Orange
Cove. The westerly limit of this unit follows the east-
erly boundaries of the irrigation districts along the
eastern edge of the valley floor, from Hills Valley
and Orange Cove Irrigation Districts on the north to
the Lindmore Irrigation District on the south.
Hydrographic Unit 35 — Kings River — This unit in-
cludes the mountainous and foothill portions of the
Kings River drainage basin above the point of diver-
sion of the Alta Canal, as well as those of minor
stream basins from Dry Creek near Clovis on the
north to Wahtoke Creek on the south. Between
the northwesterly corner of the unit and the Kings
River, the westerly limit of this unit follows the
Friant-Kern Canal, while south of the river it coin-
cides with the easterly boundary of the Alta Irriga-
tion District and the northerly boundary of the
Orange Cove Irrigation District.
Hydrographic Unit 36 — Antelope Plain — This unit
consists of the western portion of the valley floor
tributary to Tulare Lake, which obtains irrigation
supplies from ground water basins replenished by the
streams of Hydrographic Unit 31, immediately to
the west. Contained within this unit are the Kettle-
man Hills and the Buena Vista Hills. The westerly
limit of this unit is, in general, the westerly edges of
the alluvial fills of the Kettleman and Antelope Plains.
The northerly limit is the Fresno-Kings county line
and the line between Townships 20 and 21 South. The
northern portion of the easterly limit coincides with
the westerly boundary of the Tulare Lake Basin
Water Storage District, the central portion with the
westerly boundary of the Buena Vista Water Storage
District, and the southern portion, in the neighbor-
hood of Taft, with the westerly limit of certain lands
irrigated directly from Buena Vista Lake.
Hydrographic Unit 37— Kern— This unit consists
of those lands receiving water directly or indirectly
from the Kern River. The northerly limit of this unit
coincides with, from east to west, the Tulare-Kern
county line (except for that portion of the Delano-
Earlimart Irrigation District in Kern County), the
northerly boundary of the Alpaugh Irrigation Dis-
trict, and the southerly boundary of the main portion
of the Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage District.
However, a minor detached portion of this water
storage district lies within Hydrographic Unit 37.
The westerly limit of the unit consists of, from north
to south, the westerly boundary of the Buena Vista
Water Storage District and the westerly limit of cer-
tain lands irrigated directly from the Buena Vista
Lake. The southerly limit extends from a point
1J miles southwest of Maricopa along a series of sec-
tion lines from 1 to 2^ miles south of Highway 33,
and along the southerly boundary of the Arvin-
Edison Water Storage District. The easterly limit
300
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
coincides with the easterly and northerly boundaries
of thai district, from a point near Wheeler Ridge to a
point two miles east of Bakersfield. North of the
latter point, the limit follows a series of section lines
to tlie Kern-Tulare county line at a point 11 miles
east of Delano.
Hydrographic Unit 38 — Earlimart — This unit con-
sists of those lands receiving water supplies either
from Tule River and other streams of Hydrographic
Unit 33 to the east, or from ground water. The south-
erly limit of this unit is the Tulare-Kern county line
and the southerly boundary of the Delano-Earlimart
Irrigation District in Kern County. The westerly
limit is. from south to north, the line between Ranges
23 and 24 East, the eastern and northerly boundaries
of the Alpaugh Irrigation District, the southeast
corner of the Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage Dis-
trict, and the Tulare-Kings county line. The northerly
limit is drawn to place the Lower Tule River and
Porterville Irrigation Districts in this unit, The east-
erly limit follows a series of section lines from a point
four miles east of Strathmore to a point five miles
east of Richgrove, placing the presently irrigated area
mi this portion of the San Joaquin Valley floor in this
unit.
Hydrographic Unit 39 — Visalia — This unit consists
of those lands receiving the major portion of their
water supply from the Kaweah River, or from ground
water replenished by the Kaweah or other streams of
Hydrographic Unit 34, directly to the east, The south-
erly limit of this unit is a line drawn to exclude the
( lorcoran Irrigation District, and to include the serv-
ice area of the Elk Bayou Ditch Company, as well as
the Tulare, Lindmore, and Lindsay-Strathmore Irri-
gation Districts, in this unit.
The easterly limit of this unit corresponds to the
easterly boundaries of a line of irrigation districts
from Lindsay-Strathmore on the south to Hills Valley
and Orange Cove on the north. The northerly and
westerly limits of the unit consist of the easterly and
southerly boundaries of the Alta Irrigation District,
and of a line drawn so as to include the service area
of the Lakeside Ditch Company in this unit.
Hydrographic Unit 40 — Fresno-Hanford — This
unit consists of that portion of the valley floor which
receives the majority of its water supply from the
Kings River, and corresponds generally to the service
area of members of the Kings River Water Associa-
tion, excluding the area immediately surrounding Tu-
lare Lake. Between Friant and the Kings River, the
easterly limit of Unit 40 follows the Friant-Kern
Canal. South of the Kings River the limit follows the
easterly and southerly boundaries of the Alta Irriga-
tion District, and a line drawn to include the Peoples
Ditch service area and to exclude the service area of
the Lakeside Ditch Company. The northerly limit of
Unit 40 coincides with the northerly boundary of the
Fresno Irrigation District, the course of the San Joa-
quin River, and the southerly boundary of the Mowry
Ranch lying south of the San Joaquin River near
Mendota. The westerly limit of the unit follows
Fresno Slough and the westerly limit of the service
area of members of the Kings River Water Associa-
tion. The southern limit is the line between Townships
20 and 21 South.
Hydrographic Unit 41 — Tulare Lake — This unit
consists of the Tulare Lake bed and areas immediately
surrounding the lake. The northerly limit of the unit
consists of the line between Townships 20 and 21
South and a line drawn to include the Corcoran Irri-
gation District. The eastern limit coincides with the
Kings-Tulare county line. The southerly and westerly
limits coincide with the southerly and westerly bound-
aries of the main portion of the Tulare Lake Basin
Water Storage District.
Hydrographic Unit 42 — Mount Diablo — This unit
consists of the mountainous and foothill portions of the
Coast Range above the San Joaquin Valley floor, from
the westerly drainage boundary of Markley Canyon
to the northerly boundary of the Mountainhouse
Creek drainage basin. The northern limit of the unit is
a line one mile north of the line between Townships 1
and 2 North. The easterly limit coincides with the
westerly boundaries of the East Contra Costa and
Byron-Bethany Irrigation Districts.
Hydrographic Unit 43 — Altamont to San Litis
Creek — This unit consists of the mountainous and
foothill portions of the Coast Range tributary to the
San Joaquin Valley, between the northerly drainage
boundary of Mountainhouse Creek and the southerly
drainage boundary of San Luis Creek. The easterly
limit of this unit follows, in general, the edge of the
San Joaquin Valley floor, except between Orestimba
and Garzas Creeks, where it coincides with part of the
westerly boundary of the Orestimba Water District.
Hydrographic Unit 44 — West Side, Los Banos
Creek to Avenal — This unit consists of the mountain-
ous and foothill portions of the Coast Range tributary
to the San Joaquin Valley, from the northerly drain-
age boundary of Los Banos Creek to the northerly
drainage boundary of Avenal Creek. The easterly
limit of this unit follows, in general, the edge of the
San Joaquin Valley floor. However, the bench land
region above the valley floor through which flow Los
Banos, Salt, and Ortigalita Creeks, is excluded from
the unit.
Hydrographic Unit 45 — San Joaquin River — This
unit includes the drainage basin of the San Joaquin
River above Friant Dam, as well as a minor part of
the foothill area tributary to the San Joaquin River
just downstream from Friant Dam and lying above
APPENDIX C
301
the Friant-Kern and Madera Cauals. The most im-
portant stream draining this latter area is Little Dry
Creek, which enters the San Joaquin River from the
east.
Hydrographic Unit 46 — Chowchilla-Fresno Rivers
- — This unit includes the mountainous and foothill
portions of the drainage basins of the Fresno and
Chowchilla Rivers above the crossings of the Madera
Canal, as well as the drainage basins of intermediate
minor streams from Little Dry Creek tributary to the
valley floor near Madera, on the south, to the un-
named stream next south of Dutchman Creek, on the
north. From Friant to the Chowchilla River, the west-
erly limit of this unit follows the Madera Canal.
North of the Chowchilla River, the limit follows the
line of a possible canal diverting from the Merced
River at an elevation of approximately 400 feet.
Hydrographic Unit 47 — Merced River — This unit
includes the mountainous and foothill portions of the
Merced River drainage basin, basins of minor east
side streams from Dutchman Creek to the Mariposa-
Tuolumne and Merced-Stanislaus county lines. The
westerly limit of this unit south of the Merced River
lies along the line of a possible canal diverting from
the Merced River at an elevation of approximately
400 feet. North of the Merced River the westerly limit
corresponds to a canal line diverting from the Tuol-
umne River at an elevation of about 300 feet.
Hydrographic Unit 48 — Tuolumne River — This
unit consists of the mountainous and foothill portions
of the drainage basin of the Tuolumne River above
La Grange Dam, together with similar portions of
minor drainage basins between the Mariposa-Tuol-
umne and Merced-Stanislaus county lines, and the
Tuolumne River. The westerly limit of this unit fol-
lows the line of a possible canal diverting from the
Tuolumne River at an elevation of approximately 300
feet.
Hydrographic Unit 49 — Stanislaus River — This
unit includes mountainous and foothill portions of the
drainage basin of the Stanislaus River above Goodwin
Dam, as well as similar portions of the Dry Creek
(Modesto) drainage basin. The westerly limit of this
unit follows the line of a possible canal diverting from
the Stanislaus River at an elevation of approximately
300 feet.
Hydrographic Unit 50 — Mokelumne-Calaveras
Rivers — This unit includes the mountainous and foot-
hill portions of the Calaveras River drainage basin
above Hogan Dam and the Mokelumne River drainage
basin above Pardee Dam, as well as similar portions
of the Littlejohns Creek and Bear Creek drainage
basins. The westerly limit of this unit follows lines of
possible canals diverting from the Calaveras River.
The south canal line is at an approximate elevation of
300 feet, while the north canal line is at an elevation
of approximately 550 feet.
Hydrographic Unit 51— Cosumnes River — This
unit includes the mountainous and higher foothill por-
tions of the Cosumnes River drainage basin, as well
as similar portions of drainage basins of lesser streams
from Jackson Creek on the south to Deer Creek
(Sloughhouse) on the north. The westerly limit fol-
lows the lines of possible canals from the Nashville
dam site on the Cosumnes River. The south canal line
would divert from the Cosumnes River at an elevation
of approximately 800 feet, with a secondary diversion
from Dry Creek (lone) at an approximate elevation
of 400 feet. The north canal line would divert at an
elevation of approximately 800 feet.
Hydrographic Unit 52 — Antioch — This unit con-
sists of that portion of the west side of the San Joaquin
Valley floor which obtains its major water supply from
channels of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, ex-
cluding lands in the Delta itself. The westerly limit
of this unit consists of the eastern limit of the San
Francisco Bay Area, a line one mile north of the line
between Townships 1 and 2 North, and the westerly
boundaries of the East Contra Costa and Byron-
Bethany Irrigation Districts. The northerly limit fol-
lows the main channel of the San Joaquin River pass-
ing Antioch, and the northerly boundary of the East
Contra Costa Irrigation District. The easterly limit of
the unit consists of the easterly boundary of this dis-
trict, the sea level contour as it crosses the Byron
Tract, Old River, and Tom Paine Slough. The south-
erly limit of the unit follows the northerly boundary
of the Banta-Carbona Irrigation District, and the
southerly boundary of the West Side Irrigation Dis-
trict.
Hydrographic Unit 53 — Delta-Mendota — This unit
consists of those lands of the west side San Joaquin
Valley floor receiving the majority of their water sup-
plies from ground water replenished by the streams of
Hydrographic Unit 43, directly to the west, and from
the Delta-Mendota Canal of the Central Valley Proj-
ect. The westerly limit of this unit is, in general, the
edge of the San Joaquin Valley floor, except between
Orestimba and Garzas Creeks where it coincides with
part of the westerly boundary of the Orestimba Water
District. The northerly limit of the unit consists of the
southerly boundary of the West Side Irrigation Dis-
trict. The easterly limit follows the westerly bound-
aries of the Banta-Carbona and the West Stanislaus
Irrigation Districts, the easterly boundary of the Sa-
lado Water District and, in general, the westerly
limit of the service area of the former San Joaquin
Canal Company.
Hydrographic Unit 54 — AVest Side, San Joaquin
Valley — This unit consists of that portion of the west
si.le San Joaquin Valley floor between Los Banos
302
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
ami A venal, which obtains the majority of its water
supply from streams of Hydrographic Unit 44, directly
to the west, or from underground waters fed by per-
colation from these streams and by underflow from
ilic east. The westerly limit of this unit is, in general,
the edge of the San Joaquin Valley floor, except for
a sect ion through the bench-land region above the
valley floor, through which flow Los Banos, Salt, and
Ortigalita Creeks. The southerly limit consists of
the Fresno-Kings county line and the line between
Townships 20 and 21 south. The easterly limit follows
the westerly limit of the service area of members of
the Kings River Water Association, and Fresno
Slough to its junction with the San Joaquin River at
Mendota. The northerly limit of Unit 54 consists of the
Delta-Mendota Canal and the southwesterly limit of
the Firebaugh Canal Company service area.
Hydrographic Unit 55 — Madera — This unit con-
sists of that portion of the east side San Joaquin Val-
ley floor whose major sources of water supply are the
Madera Canal, the Fresno and Chowchilla Rivers and
other streams of Hydrographic Unit 46, directly to
the east, and ground water supplies replenished by
these sources. The easterly limit of this unit is the
Madera Canal. The southerly limit consists of the
northerly boundary of the Fresno Irrigation Dis-
trict and the channel of the San Joaquin River. The
westerly limit of the unit follows the easterly limit of
the service area of the Columbia Canal Company and
the San Joaquin River. The northerly limit of the
unit consists of the Merced-Madera county line along
the Chowchilla River, and the line between Town-
ships 9 and 10 South.
Hydrographic Unit 56— Merced— This unit con-
sists of that portion of the east side San Joaquin
Valley floor whose major sources of water supply are
the Merced River and other streams of Hydrographic
Unit 47, directly to the east. The easterly boundary of
this unit is the line of a possible canal diverting from
the Merced River at an approximate elevation of 400
feet. The southerly limit of this unit consists of the
Merced-Madera county line along the Chowchilla
River and the line between Townships 9 and 10 South.
The westerly limit is the San Joaquin River. The
northerly limit follows Dry Creek (Snelling) and
the Merced River.
Hydrographic Unit 57 — Los Banos — This unit con-
sist s of that, portion of the San Joaquin Valley floor
obtaining the majority of its water supply from the
San Joaquin River at the Mendota Pool, and by di-
versions from the left bank of the river between Men-
dota and Patterson. The easterly limit of this unit
'■onsists of the easterly limit of the Columbia Canal
I lompany service area and the main stem of the San
Joaquin River. The southerly limit coincides with
the southerly boundary of the Mowry Ranch south
of the San Joaquin River near Mendota. The west-
erly limit of the unit consists of the westerly limit
of the Firebaugh Canal Company service area, the
Delta-Mendota Canal, a generalized line representing
the westerly limit of the service area of the former
San Joaquin Canal Company, and the easterly boun-
dary of the Salado Water District. The northerly limit
of this unit coincides with the northerly boundary of
the Central California Irrigation District near Crows
Landing.
Hydrographic Unit 58 — Modesto — This unit con-
sists of that portion of the east side San Joaquin Val-
ley floor receiving the major part of its water supply
from the Tuolumne River. The easterly limit of this
unit consists of possible canal lines diverting from
the Tuolumne River at an elevation of approximately
300 feet. The southerly limit follows Dry Creek
(Snelling) and the Merced River. The westerly limit
of the unit is the San Joaquin River. The northerly
limit consists of, from east to west, the line between
Townships 2 and 3 South, Dry Creek (Modesto), the
northerly boundary of the Modesto Irrigation Dis-
trict, and the Stanislaus River.
Hydrographic Unit 59 — Vernalis — This unit con-
sists of that portion of the west side San Joaquin Val-
ley floor between Patterson and Tracy, whose major
source of water supply is the San Joaquin River,
with supplemental supply from the Delta-Mendota
Canal. The easterly limit of this unit is the San
Joaquin River. The southerly limit coincides with the
northerly boundary of the Central California Irriga-
tion District. The westerly limit of the unit consists
of the westerly boundaries of the West Stanislaus and
Banta-Carbona Irrigation Districts. The northerly
limit coincides with the northerly boundary of the
last named district.
Hydrographic Unit 60 — Oakdale — This unit con-
sists of that portion of the east side San Joaquin Val-
ley floor whose major source of water supply is the
Stanislaus River. The easterly limit of this unit fol-
lows the line of a possible canal diverting from the
Stanislaus River at an elevation of approximately 300
feet. The southerly limit consists of, from east to
west, the line between Townships 2 and 3 South, Dry
Creek (Modesto), the northerly boundary of the
Modesto Irrigation District, and the Stanislaus River.
The westerly limit is the main channel of the San
Joaquin River. The northerly limit of the unit con-
sists of the northerly boundary of the drainage basin
of Simmons Creek and the northerly boundary of
the South San Joaquin Irrigation District.
Hydrographic Unit 61— Stockton — This unit con-
sists of those portions of the east side San Joaquin
Valley floor whose major sources of water supply are
the Calaveras and Mokelumne Rivers, ground water
APPENDIX C
303
supplies replenished by streams of Hydrographie
Units 50 and 51, and the proposed Folsora South
Canal. The southerly limit of this unit consists of the
northerly boundaries of the Simmons Creek drainage
basin and of the South San Joaquin Irrigation Dis-
trict. South of the Mokelumne River the easterly limit
of the unit follows the lines of possible canals to divert
from the Calaveras River. The south diversion would
be at an approximate elevation of 300 feet, while the
north diversion would be at an elevation of about
550 feet. North of the Mokelumne River the easterly
limit is the proposed Folsom South Canal at an ap-
proximate elevation of 100 feet. The northerly limit
of the unit consists of the northerly boundary of the
Cosumnes Rancho and, west of U. S. Highway 99, an
irregular line to the northeast corner of Reclamation
District 1002. The westerly limit coincides with the
easterly limit of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
as outlined in the "Report of Sacramento-San
Joaquin "Water Supervision for 1948," issued by the
State Division of Water Resources.
Hydrographie Unit 62 — lone — This unit consists
of those portions of the lower foothills of western Ama-
dor and El Dorado Counties, and eastern San Joaquin
and Sacramento Counties, which are capable of being
irrigated from canals delivering water developed at the
Nashville dam site on the Cosumnes River. The easterly
limit of the unit follows the possible lines of these
canals. The south canal would divert at an elevation
of approximately 800 feet, with a secondary diversion
from Dry Creek (lone) at an elevation of about 400
feet. The north diversion would be at an elevation of
about 800 feet. The southerly limit of the unit is the
Mokelumne River. The westerly limit follows the
line of the proposed Folsom South Canal at an ap-
proximate elevation of 100 feet. The northerly limit
is the southerly edge of Folsom Reservoir.
Hydrographie Unit 63 — Sacramento-San Joaquin
Delta — This unit consists of the area of the Delta as
outlined in the "Report of Sacramento-San Joaquin
Water Supervision for 1948," issued by the State
Division of Water Resources. An exception is in an
area immediately north and west of Rio Vista, where
Hydrographie Unit 63 extends into the Montezuma
Hills, thus including irrigable acreage along the north-
eastern base of the hills whose natural source of water
supply is the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
LAHONTAN AREA
Hydrographie Unit 1 — Surprise Valley — This unit
includes the California portions of drainage basins
tributary to the Upper, Middle, and Lower Alkali
Lakes, as well as the California portions of the Twelve
Mile Creek and Duck Flat drainage basins, both of
which drain into neighboring states.
Hydrographie Unit 2 — Madeline Plains — This unit
consists of the California portions of drainage basins
tributary to the Madeline Plains.
Hydrographie Unit 3— Honey Lake — This unit in-
cludes the drainage basins of the Susan River and
other streams tributary to Honey Lake, as well as the
basins of Pine Creek and other streams tributary to
Eagle Lake. In addition, this unit includes the Cali-
fornia portions of drainage basins of Smoke Creek
and Rush Creek which flow into Nevada.
Hydrographie Unit 4 — Truckee River — This unit
consists of the California portion of the drainage
basins of the Truckee River and its tributaries, includ-
ing those portions of Lake Tahoe and its tributaries
which lie within California.
Hydrographie Unit 5 — Carson River — This unit
consists of the California portions of the drainage
basins of the East and West Forks of the Carson River
and their tributaries.
Hydrographie Unit 6 — Walker River — This unit
consists of the California portions of the drainage
basins of the East Walker and "West "Walker Rivers
and their tributaries.
Hydrographie Unit 7 — Mono Lake — This unit con-
sists of the California portions of drainage basins
tributary to Mono Lake.
Hydrographie Unit 8 — Adobe Valley — This unit
includes the drainage basin of Adobe Creek, southeast
of Mono Lake, as well as the California portions of
other minor basins tributary to Adobe Valley, includ-
ing Black Canyon and the tributaries of Black Lake.
In addition, this unit includes the California portion
of the area tributary to Huntoon Valley in Nevada.
Hydrographie Unit 9 — Owens River — This unit
consists of the California portions of the drainage
basins of the Owens River and its tributaries, as well
as basins of other streams directly tributary to Owens
Lake.
Hydrographie Unit 10 — Death Valley — This unit
consists of the California portion of the drainage
basins of the Amargosa River, Salt Creek, and other
tributaries of Death Valley, all of the California por-
tions of basins draining the east side of the "White
Mountains, and many other enclosed basins between
Owens Lake and the Mojave River. The most im-
portant of these enclosed basins are Eureka Valley,
Saline Valley, Panamint Valley, Indian "Wells Valley,
and Searles Lake. The westerly limit of the unit con-
sists of the crests of the "White Mountains and the
Inyo Mountains, the drainage boundary between
Owens Lake and Haiwee Reservoir, and the summits
of the Sierra Nevada and the Tehachapi Mountains to
a point one mile east of Caliente Mountain. The south-
erly limit consists of the northerly drainage bound-
304
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
aries of basins tributary to Rosamond Lake, Rogers
Lake, and the Mojave River, the crest of the Soda
.Mountains, a line through the Devil's Playground at
Baker, the northerly drainage boundary of Halloran
Wash, a line between Granite Spring and Cima, and
the summit of the XVw York Mountains. The easterly
limit is tlic California-Nevada state line.
Hydrographic Unit 11 — Mojave River — This unit
consists of the drainage basins of the Mojave River
and other streams tributary to Soda Lake in the vi-
cinity of Baker. In addition to the southerly, west-
erly, and northerly boundaries of the Mojave River
drainage basin, the limit of the unit consists of the
summit of the Soda Mountains, a line through the
Devil's Playground at Baker, the northerly drainage
boundary of Halloran Wash, a line between Granite
Spring and Cima, and the northerly boundary of the
Colorado Desert Area.
Hydrographic Unit 12 — Antelope Valley — This
unit consists of drainage basins tributary to Rosa-
mond Lake, Rogers Lake, and Mirage Lake.
COLORADO DESERT AREA
Hydrographic Unit 1 — Twentynine Palms — This
unit consists of the major portion of the interior dis-
sected drainage of the Colorado Desert, tributary to
a number of dry lakes including Bristol Lake (with
the exception of the long dry wash entering that lake
from the northeast near Cadiz which is included in
Hydrographic Unit 6). The more important of these
lakes are Cadiz, Palen, Ford, Dale, Mesquite, Dead-
man, and Lucerne. The westerly and northerly limits
of the unit are part of the easterly limit of the South
Coastal Area and part of the southerly limit of the
Lahontan Area. The easterly limit consists of the
crests of the Marble Mountains, Ship Mountains, Old
Woman Mountains, Iron Mountains, Granite Moun-
tains, Little Maria Mountains, McCoy Mountains, and
.Mule Mountains, to the northwestern end of the Palo
Verde Mountains. The southerly limit consists of a
line through the summits of the Little Chuckawalla
Mountains. Chuckawalla Mountains, Hexie Moun-
tains, Orocopia Mountains, Eagle Mountains, and
Little San Bernardino Mountains.
Hydrographic Unit 2— Coachella Valley— This unit
includes the drainage basins of the Whitewater River
and its tributaries, as well as other minor basins
tributary to the Coachella Valley at the northwesterly
end of the Salton Sea. These include Box Canyon
Wash and an unnamed stream entering the Salton
Sea one half mile south of Mortmar, as well as Bar-
ton Canyon and an unnamed stream entering Salton
Sea at Pish Springs.
Hydrographic Unit 3 Salton Sea— This unit in-
cludes all of the drainage basins directly tributary to
the Salton Sea from the northeast and southwest, as
well as those areas tributary to the Imperial Valley
lying outside the Imperial Irrigation District. The
northerly limit of the unit consists of the crest of the
Santa Rosa Mountains, the northerly drainage bound-
ary of a stream entering Salton Sea one mile east,
of Coolidge Springs, the northerly shore of Salton
Sea, the northerly drainage boundary of a stream
entering Salton Sea one-half mile east of Date Palm
Beach, the crest of the Orocopia Mountains, the east-
erly drainage boundary of Salton Creek, the crest of
the Chocolate Mountains, and a line drawn to meet
the easterly boundary of the Imperial Irrigation Dis-
trict at a point eight miles south of Glamis. The
southerly limit of this unit consists of the easterly,
northerly, and westerly boundaries of the Imperial
Irrigation District (except that north of Superstition
Mountain the limit follows State Highway 78), and
the southerly border of the State.
Hydrographic Unit 4 — Imperial Valley — This unit
includes the Imperial Irrigation District (with the ex-
ception of the district's Pilot Knob Unit), as well as
certain other lands west of the Imperial Valley, in-
cluding Superstition Mountain. The limits of the
unit coincide with the boundaries of the irrigation
district, with the exception of that portion north of
Superstition Mountain, where the limit follows State
Highway 78.
Hydrographic Unit 5 — Colorado River — This unit,
includes the California portions of drainage basins
tributary to the Colorado River (with the exception
of that portion of the drainage basin of Piute Wash
upstream from the narrowest portion of the gap be-
tween the Sacramento Mountains and the Dead
Mountains), as well as tributaries of the Pilot Knob
Mesa.
Hydrographic Unit 6 — Lanfair Valley — This unit
consists of the eastern portion of the interior dissected
drainage basins of the Colorado Desert, including
those of Lanfair Valley, tributaries of Dauby Lake,
the long dry wash tributary to Bristol Lake (in Hy-
drographic Unit 1), stretching from Goffs to Cadiz,
Piute Wash upstream from the narrowest part of the
gap between the Sacramento and the Dead Moun-
tains, and other minor basins. The northerly limit of
Hydrographic Unit 6 consists of the crest of the New
York Mountains and the California-Nevada state
line. The easterly limit consists of a line through the
summits of the Dead Mountains, Center Hills, Turtle
Mountains and Riverside Mountains. The southerly
limit was drawn through the crests of the Big Maria
Mountains, Little Maria Mountains, and Granite
Mountains. The westerly limit follows a line through
the crests of the Iron Mountains, Old Woman Moun-
tains, Ship Mountains, Marble Mountains. Provi-
dence Mountains, and Mid Hills.
APPENDIX D
SOURCES AND DATES OF LAND USE SURVEY DATA
(305 )
306 WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
SOURCES AND DATES OF LAND USE SURVEY DATA
( Seneral area
North Coastal Area
National Forest, outside Klam-
ath River Drainage Basin
Remainder of North Coastal
Area
Source of data
San Francisco Bay Area
Entire San Francisco Bay Area..
Central Coastal Area
National Forest
Upper Salinas Valley
Remainder of Central
Coastal Area
South Coastal Area
National Forest
Remainder of South Coastal
Area
Central Valley Area
Sacramento River Basin
National Forest
Putah Creek Valley
Valley floor of the Sacra-
mento Valley, excepting
Sutter, Placer, and Yuba
Counties, and Glenn-
Colusa Irrigation District- -
Remainder of Sacramento
River Basin
San Joaquin River Basin
National Forest
Portions of the valley floor of
the San Joaquin Valley
South San Joaquin Irrigation
District
Oakdale Irrigation District
Modesto Irrigation District- -
Turlock Irrigation District
Waterford Irrigation
District
U. S. Forest Service
State Division of Water
Resources
State Division of Water
Resources
U. S. Forest Service
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
State Division of Water
Resources
U. S. Forest Service
State Division of Water
Resources
U. S. Forest Service
U. S. Bureau of Reclamation
U. S. Bureau of Reclamation-
State Division of Water
Resources
U. S. Forest Service
U. S. Bureau of Reclamation
South San Joaquin Irrigation
District
Oakdale Irrigation District
Modesto Irrigation District
Turlock Irrigation District
Waterford Irrigation District
Approxi-
mate date
of survey
1948
1948-53
1949
1948
1948
1948-50
1948
1948-49
1948
1947
1946-50
1948-50
1948
1948
1948
1948
1948
1948
1948
General area
Central Valley Area — Continued
San Joaquin River Basin —
Continued
Merced Irrigation District —
West Side Irrigation District .
Byron-Bethany Irrigation
District
East Contra-Costa Irrigation
District
San Joaquin Canal Company
Firebaugh Canal Company .
Columbia Canal Company..
San Luis Canal Company —
Remainder of the San Joa-
quin River Basin, includ-
ing Delta
Tulare Lake Basin
Alta Irrigation District
Kaweah and Tule River
Delta
Kern County Land
Company
West Side, San Joaquin
Valley
Remainder of Tulare Lake
Basin
Lahontan Area
National Forest
Remainder of Lahontan Area .
Colorado Desert Area
National Forest
Imperial Valley
Reservation Division,
Yuma Project
Remainder of Colorado Desert
A rea
Source of data
Approxi-
mate date
of survey
Merced Irrigation District
West Side Irrigation District
Byron-Bethany Irrigation
District
East Contra-Costa Irrigation
District
San Joaquin Canal Company
Firebaugh Canal Company
Columbia Canal Company
San Luis Canal Company
State Division of Water
Resources
Alta Irrigation District
U. S. Bureau of Reclamation
Kern County Land Company..
U. S. Bureau of Reclamation
State Division of Water
Resources
U. S. Forest Service
State Division of Water
Resources
U. S. Forest Service
Imperial Irrigation District
U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. -_
State Division of Water
Resources
1948
1949
1949
1949
1948
1948
1948
1948
1947-50
1948
1947-48
1950
1950
1948-50
1948
1950
1948
1950
1948
1950
APPENDIX E
SOURCES OF LAND CLASSIFICATION SURVEY DATA
( -SOT )
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
North Coastal Area 309
San Francisco Bay Area 309
Central Coastal Area 309
South Coastal Area 309
Central Valley Area 309
Lahontan Area 310
Colorado Desert Area 310
i 308 i
APPENDIX E
309
SOURCES OF LAND CLASSIFICATION SURVEY DATA
NORTH COASTAL AREA
The lands of the Russian River drainage area, and
of the Lower Eel River area around Eureka and
Fortuna were classified according to the Index Rating
of Soils developed by R. Earl Storie of the Univer-
sity of California. The index was applied to soil
surveys made cooperatively by the United States
Department of Agriculture and the University of
California. Slight modifications of the ratings were
made by the Division of Water Resources by projec-
tion of data on topographic quadrangles, and elim-
ination of areas with excessively rough topography.
The accuracy of the classification is considered to be
fair.
Lands of the Klamath River drainage basin were
classified by the Division of Water Resources on
aerial photographs to a scale of 1/20,000. The accu-
racy of the classification is considered to be good.
Lands of the coastal area, except for the lower
Eel River area and the Klamath River Basin, were
classified by the Division of Water Resources on
topographic quadrangles to a scale of 1/62,500. The
accuracy of the classification is considered to be
fair to good.
Lands of the remainder of the North Coastal Area
were classified by the Division of Water Resources
on topographic quadrangles to a scale of 1/125,000.
The accuracy of the classification is considered to
be fair.
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
All lands were classified by the Division of AVater
Resources as to their suitability for urban use. The
accuracy of the classification is considered to be good.
CENTRAL COASTAL AREA
Lands of the Pajaro Valley were classified by the
Division of Water Resources on aerial photographs
to a scale of 1/20,000. The accuracy of the classifica-
tion is considered to be good.
Lands of the Carrizo Plain and the Cuyama Valley
were classified by the Division of Water Resources on
topographic quadrangles to a scale of 1/62,500. The
accuracy of the classification is considered to be good
to fair.
The United States Bureau of Reclamation land
classification was used for the Santa Barbara area.
The accuracy of the classification is considered to
be good.
Lands of the remainder of the Central Coastal Area
were classified according to the Storie Index Rating
of Soils, as mapped in various soil surveys. The data
were modified by tin* Division of Water Resources by
projection on topographic quadrangles, with elimina-
tion of areas of excessively rough topography. The
accuracy of the classification is considered to be fair.
SOUTH COASTAL AREA
Lands of Ventura County and the Santa Margarita
River drainage area were classified by the Division of
Water Resources on aerial photographs to a scale of
1/20,000. The accuracy of the classification is consid-
ered to be good.
In those other portions of the South Coastal Area
where soil survey data were not available, the irriga-
ble lands were delineated by the Division of Water
Resources on topographic quadrangles to a scale of
1/62,500. The accuracy of the classification is con-
sidered to be good to fair.
In the remainder of the area, the classification of
lands was made by the University of California by
applying the Storie Index Ratings of Soils to the
various soil surveys which had been made coopera-
tively by the United States Department of Agricul-
ture and the University of California. The data were
modified to some extent by a Division of Water Re-
sources field check. The over-all accuracy of the classi-
fication is considered to be fair.
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA
For the Sacramento Valley floor area, the land
classification data Avere obtained from the United
States Bureau of Reclamation. A field check of the
nonirrigable lands was made by the Division of
Water Resources. Accuracy of the classification is
considered to be good.
For the San Joaquin Valley floor area the land
classification data were obtained from the United
States Bureau of Agricultural Economics. A field
check of the nonirrigable lands was made by the
Division of Water Resources. Accuracy of the classi-
fication is considered to be good.
The foothill lands of the counties of the Mother
Lode region, from Butte on the north to Mariposa on
the south, and all the Upper Feather River drainage
area were classified by the Division of Water Re-
sources on aerial photographs to a scale of 1 20,000.
The accuracy of the classification is considered to he
good.
Lands of the Delta area were classified from soil
survey data of the University of California and
United States Department of Agriculture. The accu-
racy of the classification is considered to be good.
Lauds of the Alturas and Big Valley areas were
classified on the basis of the Storie Index Rating of
310
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
Soils, as mapped in soil surveys, with slight field
modification. The accuracy of the classification is con-
sidered to be fair.
Lands of the San Joaquin Valley foothill and
mountain areas and those of the Sacramento Valley
west side foothills were classified by the Division of
Water Resources on topographic quadrangles to a
scale of 1/62,500. The accuracy of the classification is
considered to be good to fair.
Lands of the remainder of the Central Valley Area
were classified by the Division of Water Resources
on topographic quadrangles and United States Forest
Service maps to a scale of 1/125,000. The accuracy of
the classification is considered to be fair.
LAHONTAN AREA
Lands of the Honey Lake and Surprise Valley
areas were classified by the University of California
by applying the Storie Index Ratings of Soils to the
various soil surveys which had been made coopera-
tively by the United States Department of Agricul-
ture and the University of California. These data
were modified to some extent by the Division of
Water Resources. The accuracy of the classification
is considered to be fair.
Lands of the remainder of the Lahontan Area were
classified by the Division of Water Resources on
topographic maps to a scale of 1/125,000. The accu-
racy of the classification is considerd to be fair.
COLORADO DESERT AREA
Lands of the Colorado Desert Area, except for those
lands having rights in and to the waters of the Colo-
rado River, were classified by the Division of Water
Resources on maps to a scale of 1/125,000. The accu-
racy of the classification is considered to be fair.
APPENDIX F
WATER REQUIREMENTS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE IN CALIFORNIA
( 311 )
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Introduction 313
Letters from California Department of Fish and Game 313
Water Requirements for Protection and Maintenance of Fish Life, dated
July 17, 1952 313
Water Requirements for Protection and Maintenance of Fish and Game in
Connection With State Water Plan, dated August 1, 1952__ 315
Part I. Water Requirements for Fish Life 316
Part II. Water Requirements for the Maintenance of Game__ _ 320
TABLES
Table
number Page
I Big Game and Upland Game AVater Requirements 322
1 1 Annual Water Requirements, Existing State Waterfowl and Manage-
ment Areas 323
Til Annual Water Requirements, Proposed Waterfowl Management Areas 323
IV Waterfowl Water Requirements in Other Areas Not Listed Above 321
i ::i'J i
APPENDIX F
313
WATER REQUIREMENTS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE IN CALIFORNIA
INTRODUCTION
The Division of Water Resources, in the course of
the investigation leading- to publication of this bul-
letin, requested that the California Department of
Fisli and Game prepare a series of estimates of the
minimum flows of water required to protect and
maintain the fish life in major streams of the State.
These streams were divided by the Division into four
classes, according to anticipated degree of water de-
velopment for various purposes that would compete
with recreational or commercial fishing- requirements
for water. The description of these classes is included
in the attached explanatory communication, dated
July 17. 1952, from the Department of Fish and
Game. This communication suggests several revisions
for tlie class definitions. Although the suggested re-
visions impinge mostly on classes of streams for which
flow requirements were not requested by the Division,
it seems desirable to present all of the considera-
tions involved in the estimates submitted by the
Department.
It must be pointed out that the Division of Water
Resources does not necessarily concur in the position
taken by the Department of Fish and Game, par-
ticularly with reference to the status of agricultural
use of water. Regardless of the Department's con-
tention, the Water Code of the State of California
specifically states :
' ' It is hereby declared to be the established policy
of this State that the use of water for domestic
purposes is the highest use of water and that the
next highest use is for irrigation." Div. 1. Chap. 1,
Sec. 106, ed. of 1951.
The second communicaton from the California
Department of Fish and Game, dated August 1.
1952, consists of estimates of stream flow prepared
by the Department, together with explanatory com-
ments regarding some of the streams and contem-
plated developments. It should be pointed out that the
Department considers these estimates preliminary and
subject to revision.
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SACRAMENTO 14
Inter-Departmental Communication
To: Mr. A. D. Edmoxstox, Stati Engineer
Department of Public Works
Division of Water Resources
Public Works Building-
Sacramento 14, California
Date: -July 17. 1952
Suhjict: Water Requirements for Protection ami
Maintenance of Fish Life
From: Division of Fish and Game
Since receipt of your inter-departmental communi-
cation of April 10, 1952, our staff has devoted consider-
able further study to flow requirements necessary to
maintain fish life in various streams and at specific
points in other streams. Our recommendations for such
flows were requested by you, in your memorandum of
November 9, 1951, for use in connection with Bulletin
No. 2 of the Statewide Water Resources Board investi-
gation of ultimate water requirements.
In your above memorandum you grouped the
streams of California into four classes as regards
water requirements for fish life. These classes were
proposed as follows :
Class 1. Streams which will be developed for recrea-
tion only, with the use of water for the preservation
of fish life to be paramount.
Class 2. Streams which will be developed for multi-
ple purposes, including the maintenance of fish life.
Class 3. Streams of such present erratic flow that
there is no fish life, or the demand for water for mu-
nicipal or agricultural uses is so great that no wat cl-
ean he allocated for maintenance of fish life.
Class 4. Streams of such small flow that estimates
will not be prepared.
The Department of Fish and Game has carefully
considered the proposed classes suggested above and
1314
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OP CALIFORNIA
is in general agreement with the classes as proposed.
However, the Department of Fish and Game considers
it imperative that the classes be further denned. For
tli is reason the Department of Fish and Game has
prepared its own definition of the various classes into
which California streams may fall as regards water
requirements for fish life. The essential definitions of
Classes 1, 2 and 4 of the Division of "Water Resources
are followed but expanded.
A major disagreement between the classifications
exists regarding the classification of water for agri-
cultural use. The Department of Fish and Game can
not agree that water for agricultural use should have
complete priority over the use of water to maintain
fish life and recreational values. As will be seen below
the Department of Fish and Game classifies the agri-
cultural use of water as one of the multiple uses of
water, which include: power generation, flood control,
the maintenance of fish life, recreation, and other
beneficial water uses. Water for domestic use is con-
sidered to be the only use which takes complete prior-
ity over all other uses.
The classification of streams which is given below
is recommended for inclusion as a permanent policy
for streams in the California Water Plan. We believe
that the Department of Fish and Game must be con-
stilted regarding the classification or change of classi-
fication of any streams.
No attempt is being made at this time to classify
all of the streams in California into one or another of
these classes. The Department of Fish and Game will
cooperate with the Division of Water Resources in the
classification of individual streams as the need arises
and upon request. It is understood, of course, that the
classification of a stream may change either as a re-
sult of a change in the fishery or because of a change
in the other water uses. Also, different sections of the
same stream may fall into different classes.
CLASSES OF CALIFORNIA STREAMS
Class 1. Streams which would be reserved or de-
veloped primarily for the maintenance and develop-
ment of fish life and other recreational uses. These
streams fall into several categories.
(a) Those already set aside as inviolable, usually
by Federal or State law. Examples : under Fed-
eral law, streams in National Parks and in
wilderness areas; waters of the Klamath Fish
and Game District, by State initiative measure.
In most of these cases the aesthetic and recrea-
tional values are considered to transcend any
other water uses, and past and possible future
attempts to utilize these streams for other pur-
poses have been and will be met with vigorous
opposition by the public.
(b) Those where the economic value of the fishery
alone outweighs any other present or contem-
plated economic use. Example : Rock Creek in
Mono and Inyo counties.
(c) Those streams of special value as nursery
waters for sport and commercial food fishes
which spend a part of their life in the ocean.
Examples : Big River and Noyo River, Mendo-
cino County, and Deer Creek and Mill Creek,
Butte County.
(d) Streams in which all or the major portion of
the flow has been created by the Department of
Fish and Game for the express purpose of
maintaining fish life and recreational values.
Two facts should be emphasized regarding the
waters falling into Class 1 :
(1) There are relatively few such waters now and
their number is more apt to decrease than in-
crease ; and,
(2) In many instances the water from these streams
is available for other uses in the lower portions
of the drainages.
Thus, while this is an important class, it affects
only a small portion of the total waters in the State
and, consequently, only a correspondingly small
portion of the State's inland fishery resource.
Class 2. Those streams which will be developed
for multiple-purpose use, including preservation and
expansion of recreational and fisheries uses wherever
possible.
Class 2 will include most of our major rivers and
all streams where there is a conflict between use of
the water to preserve or develop fisheries values and
other use or uses, such as : power generation, irriga-
tion, flood control, salinity control, waste disposal,
etc. None of these other uses has complete priority
per se over the use of water to maintain fish life. In
each case of the development of a stream for multi-
ple-purpose use, every possibility for the protection
and/or development of a fishery will be investigated
and integrated with the development of other water
uses.
Proper consideration of the fishery resource must
be given early in the project planning stage to such
matters as flow releases, fish protective devices, op-
eration of a recreational pool, etc., if maximum
effectiveness and true multiple use is to be obtained.
It must be recognized that the recreational benefits
to be lost or to be gained may be comparable to or
may outweigh the more easily evaluated economic
benefits.
While it is true that in some multiple-purpose
projects little consideration can be given to fish life,
it is also true that in many such projects an addi-
tional beneficial use may be gained by proper con-
sideration for a fishery, and that this gain may be
achieved in a manner compatible with other water
uses. For this reason it is imperative that the De-
APPENDIX F
315
partmertt of Fish and Game be consulted in the
preliminary project planning stage and be included
as one of the project planning agencies.
Class 3. Streams of such present intermittent or
erratic natural flow that there is no existing fishery.
Utilization or development of these waters may
be undertaken without further consideration of
fish life requirements except in the case of im-
poundments. When impoundments are made upon
such streams, consideration should be given to the
establishment of permanent minimum pools for
fish life. Typical examples of this category would
be the low-level intermittent streams in the Central
Valley and in Southern California. In general,
streams in Class 3 must have no surface flow for at
least part of the year in years of normal rainfall.
Class 4. Streams in which the demand for water
for domestic uses is so great that no water can be allo-
cated for maintenance of fish life or recreational val-
ues, providing the following statement is first consid-
ered.
The value of water for domestic uses is recog-
nized as having the highest priority, but before any
stream or water source is placed in Class 4
(whereby the entire flow is used for domestic pur-
poses) every possible means of providing water for
fish life and recreation should be exhausted to the
fullest extent by all parties concerned during the
planning stages of the project development.
Class 5. Streams of such minor importance, at the
present time, for uses other than for recreation, in-
cluding the maintenance of fish life, that the prob-
lems of conflicting uses have not arisen. This is ordi-
narily the result of geographical location, small flow,
or both.
Streams in Class 5 may, however, be very impor-
tant recreational waters, supporting wild or arti-
ficially stocked fish populations. For example, the
bulk of the small streams in National Forests fall
into this category. Individually these streams are
unimportant but collectively they form an impor-
tant part of the inland fishery resources of the
State.
In general, a list will not be prepared nor re-
quired for the streams in this class, nor will special
investigations of them be made. Some of these
waters undoubtedly will require reclassification as
a result of population growth, increased recrea-
tional values, and development of other water uses.
When this occurs the stream will be taken from
Class 5 and placed in another class.
We trust that the modifications of your proposed
classes which we have suggested above will meet with
your approval, and shall try to send you our specific
flow recommendations by the end of the month.
Seth Gordon
Director
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SACRAMENTO 14
Inter-Departmental Communication
To: Mr. A. D. Edmonston, State Engineer
Department of Public Works
Division of Water Resources
Public Works Building
Sacramento 14, California
The Department of Fish and Game has prepared the
enclosed flow estimates for the maintenance of fish
life as requested in your memorandum of November
9, 1951. We are also transmitting at this time the
estimated water requirements for our game popula-
tions, including waterfowl.
Date: August 1, 1952
Subject: Water Requirements for Protection and
Maintenance of Fish and Game in Connec-
tion with State Water Plan
These estimates must be considered preliminary as
they are subject to review and possible modification
by the Fish and Game Commission. Please refer to
our memorandum of July 17, 1952, for additional
comments on the water requirements of fish and wild-
life.
Seth Gordon
Director
316
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SACRAMENTO 14
Inter-Departmental Communication
To: Mr, A. D. Edmonston, State Engineer
Department of Public Works
Division of Water Resources
Public Works Building
Sacramento 14, California
Date: August 1, 1952
Subject: Water Requirements for Protection and
Maintenance of Fisb and Game in Connec-
tion With State Water Plan
In inn- interdepartmental communication of July 17,
1952, we set forth the general comments of the De-
partment of Fish and Game on the flow requirements
necessary to maintain fish life in various streams of
California with particular emphasis on the proposed
stream classifications to be used in Bulletin No. 2
of the State Water Plan now being developed by the
Water Resources Board. We are now transmitting
the specific flow estimates that were requested in your
letter of November 9, 1951, together with our esti-
mates of the ultimate water needs of the game re-
sources of California.
PART I. WATER REQUIREMENTS FOR
FISH LIFE
The Department of Fish and Game was originally
requested to submit estimates of the amounts of
water needed for the maintenance of fish life on cer-
tain streams and at specific points on other streams.
As we stated in our memorandum of July 17, we be-
lieve that the classification system originally proposed
should be more clearly defined and expanded. We
believe the large number of streams which are ex-
tremely important to the Department of Fish and
Game that were not included in the original request
should definitely be considered in the preparation of
any comprehensive State plan of water resources
development. For example, we believe that there are
a considerable number of streams which should be
reserved or developed primarily for fish life or recre-
ational development in addition to the few listed in
your Class I. In any case we do not want to create
the impression that our interest is confined only to
the requested streams or that we are "writing off"
any other stream for which (low recommendations
are not made at this time. Also we feel that we must
retain the righl to adjust our recommendations up-
ward or downward as additional information is devel-
oped \>\ our fisheries ma na-eiiienl staff as we have not
had personnel available to carry out anything but
cursory investigations of these streams. We believe,
however, that these flow estimates tend to be on the
conservative side.
Flow estimates have been prepared for all streams
requested except the Central Coastal Streams from
the Big Sur River to Santa Rosa Creek. In our opin-
ion no development is possible on these streams and
the highest use of this water is probably for the rather
limited amount of recreation furnished at the present
time. These streams support runs of steelhead at the
present time and it is felt that the summer recrea-
tional use will increase in the future.
The flow estimates given below are those which the
Department of Fish and Game believes should be
available for fish life in years of normal or nearly
normal run off. With these flows the existing fish
populations can be maintained but more water would
be required to increase the population, probably in
conjunction with other habitat improvement. Like-
wise, these estimates are not necessarily the minimum
flow which could be endured for a single season with-
out seriously damaging resident or migratory fish. To
be of value, of course, these releases must actually
be available to fish and not merely flows which pass
a certain point only to be diverted a short ways down
a stream. We recognize that in those years when there
is a water shortage of such degree as to require the
curtailment of water for agricultural use that the
water available for the fisheries resources would be
curtailed to the same degree. The exact details of
such a flow reduction, however, will have to be care-
fully worked out for each stream. Under extreme
drought conditions a small amount of water for fish
life can be made to accomplish a great deal more if
it is regarded as storage to be released during the
season at times and in quantities requested by our
fisheries management staff. This is particularly true
on those streams which support anadromous fishes
such as salmon and steelhead which require water
during the period of migration.
In the original listing of streams furnished by
.Air. Edmonston the flows were requested at certain
gauging stations on the lower portions of the streams.
APPENDIX F
317
Some of the gauging' stations listed are within the
present range of migratory fishes but are of little use
as a point of reference for flows required for fish life.
For example, one of the points requested was on the
American River below Folsom Dam. Now that Nimbus
Dam is under construction the flows of interest will
be those below Nimbus and the flow between Folsom
and Nimbus will be of little importance. In such in-
stances we have taken the liberty of recommending
flows at the spot which is regarded as the key point
on the stream for the maintenance of the fisheries.
It is also assumed that the flows recommended will
be relatively stable. Widely fluctuating flows such as
those below power plants that arc utilized for peak-
ing purposes without re-regulation will have a fish-
carrying capacity approximately equal to the lowest
flow of the cycle. Fluctuating flows of this type also
cause damage by stranding fish when the flow is ab-
ruptly reduced. Another important point is that the
actual flow releases that will be necessary will ulti-
mately depend upon the plan of water resource de-
velopment. For example, an impassable dam con-
structed near the mouth of a salmon and steelhead
stream will obviously make a great difference in the
flows previously estimated as being necessary for
maintaining the run at some point upstream.
The Central Valley salmon rivers are probably the
streams of greatest interest to your office and the De-
partment of Fish and Game at the present time. It is
felt that the following comments on these streams
will be of value and will supplement the actual flow
recommendations.
7. Sacramento River
Copper pollution entering this river below Shasta
Dam may make it necessary to increase releases above
the minimum flows given in order to dilute the copper
to the point where it is non-lethal to fish. An investi-
gation of this problem is underway at the present
time.
2. Feather River
Present water conditions as they affect salmon and
steelhead :
In the main stream above the Sutter Butte Dam
there is ample water at all times during any but the
driest years.
Below the Sutter Butte Dam the flows are usually
adequate when there is no diversion at the Great
Western or Sutter Butte Canals. When the diversion
at Sutter Butte reduces the river flow to less than
400 c.f.s., that portion of the stream is of little use
to salmon and steelhead, except as an avenue of
escape to the upper portions of the stream. In the
summer the river is completely diverted (except for
the leaks in the Sutter Butte Dam), and the stream
soon becomes entirely too warm for salmonids. Spring
run salmon enter the Feather River from March to
June, but the only ones which have much chance of
survival are those which have passed the Sutter Butte
Dam before the start of total diversion. The spring
run salmon spend the summer in deep holes and
spawn in the fall. Fall run salmon enter the Feather
from September through December. The heaviest
spawning is in November. The young of both runs
migrate downstream from late January into June
with the heaviest movement in February and March.
Those fish which start their migration before the
irrigation season have an excellent chance of survival.
Judging from the action of salmon in other streams,
there is little chance for those which are more than a
few miles from the Sacramento River when total di-
version starts. Suddenly reducing the flow to summer
level seems to stop the migration even when there is
enough return water to make such a migration
theoretically possible. The indications are that few
if any salmon are able to survive the heat of a Cen-
tral Valley summer in return irrigation water.
The Probable Effects of the Oroville Dam
Oroville Dam will make many miles of spawning
stream unavailable to salmon and steelhead. This is
a distinct handicap. On the other hand, the dam
could be so used as to improve conditions below it.
If water is drawn from lower levels of the pool, it
will presumably remain cold all summer. This would
be a benefit to the spring run and early fall run fish.
The later fall fish would not be affected as they
normally encounter cold water when they arrive. If
the reservoir is drawn down to the point where it
starts discharging warm water into the river, the
result could be the loss of the major part of that
year's run. If such disasters do not occur too often,
the natural resiliency of the fish should overcome the
effect.
3. Yuba River
There is a spring and fall run of salmon and a run
of steelhead in this stream. In past years fish have
been handicapped by the lack of a functional fish
ladder at Daguerre Point Dam and "by inadequate
flows below the dam. The Department of Fish and
Game has recently completed two functional fish lad-
ders over the dam, and anadromous fish are able to
migrate as far upstream as the Narrows Dam. Bringing
the Yuba under more complete control will, of course,
result in greatly reduced flows in the spring. In the
past these flows have been used by spring run fish
and during periods of flow exceeding 10,000 second feet
some fish have been able to get above the Daguerre
Point Dam even without fish ladders. If the spring
run is to continue to survive in this stream, it will be
necessary to provide an adequate flow of water below
Daguerre Point Dam in May and June. If the flows
below Daguerre Point are cut much below 350 second
feet, it seems probable that the spring run will grad-
318
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
ually disappear. "With flows in excess of 500 second
feet the run should build up. Both the spring and
fall runs require adequate water to cover the gravel
and permit spawning during the period from October
through December. An adequate downstream flow
from January through May is required to hatch the
eggs and enable the young to reach the Feather and
Sacramento Rivers. During the period from July to
September a relatively small flow needs to be provided
below the Daguerre Point Dam for resident fish. Elim-
ination of water flow at this time would cause less
damage than at any other period of the year.
4. Bear River
At the present time this river has for all practical
purposes no salmon run. We would like to explore
the possibility of establishing a run in this stream and
determine the amount of water which would be re-
quired. In the event that there would seem to be little
chance of securing any appreciable flow during a
period from October 1 to June 1, we would then feel
there was no point in making such an investigation.
5. American River
If no dam were to be built below the town of
Folsom, it would be a relatively simple problem to
maintain a good salmon run in the American River
and with adequate flows the steelhead might be able
to spawn successfully in this section of stream. At
the present time, however, the construction of Nimbus
Dam appears to be a certainty. This structure will
cut off or destroy about 70 per cent of the spawning
grounds remaining below Folsom. The problem thus
becomes one not only of securing sufficient water, but
of creating artificial spawning grounds (made of
dredger tailings) or of building conventional type
hatcheries as well. It will be some time before we
have any final answers on what can be accomplished
with the stub of this once excellent salmon stream.
In the interim we are proposing the water releases
listed in the tables.
6. Cosumnes River
At the present time this is a marginal salmon
stream. Moderate improvement in conditions might
transform it into a moderately good stream. Any
worsening of conditions would be apt to eliminate the
runs almost entirely.
7. Mokelumne River
Tins stream has suffered from copper pollution,
winery pollution, gold dredgers, illegal spearing, and
from a bad fish block at the Woodbridge Dam. Poten-
tially, it is one of the best tributary streams in the
valley. There remains a small fall run which should
be capable of growing into a much larger run.
At present there is almost no spring run, but we
can see no reason why the stream could not produce
a large spring run, if it were given proper help. This
help would have to include several plantings of fish
and a more reliable flow of water below Woodbridge
Dam during May and June. If no effort is made to
build up a spring run it would still be necessary to
provide water below Woodbridge for the downstream
migration of young fall run salmon. Probably this
flow should last until the end of May. If the various
hazards to fish life on the Mokelumne River can be
controlled the present flow below Pardee Dam should
be able to suport 20 to 40 times as many salmon as
are now using this stream. The flows given below
refer to the salmon producing potential of the stream
rather than to the present run, since water flow has
not been the most important factor in limiting the
run in recent years.
8. Stanislaus River
This is an excellent fall salmon stream. There are
the bare remnants of a spring run, and a small sum-
mer release might make it possible for this run to in-
crease in size. The summer flow in question would
have to be in the canyon above Knight's Ferry since
that is the only part of the stream which would be
satisfactory for spring run salmon on a low flow. The
stream in the past has suffered from pollution and
from widely fluctuating power releases at Melones
Dam during the spawning season.
9. Tuolumne River
In recent years the Tuolumne River has had one of
the best fall salmon runs in the State. It has almost
no spring run and there would seem to be a little
prospect of developing one. The worst problem has
been that of pollution caused by industrial waste dur-
ing the canning season at the city of Modesto. Another
detriment has been a severe drop in the water level
occurring about January 1. From about October 15
to December 31 the stream iisually carries on the
order of 1,000-1,500 second feet. The salmon spawn
during this period. In January the flow is so greatly
reduced that many salmon nests are left high and dry.
70. Merced River
This stream is at present a marginal salmon stream
for both the spring and fall run. The area of good
spawning gravel is tremendous and a slight increase
in the water available at key times could well result
in increasing the salmon run several hundred percent.
At present during the irrigation season water is re-
leased in quantity from Exchequer Dam, passes
through the power house at Merced Falls, and is
picked up at the Merced Irrigation District diversion.
A flow of about 135 second feet goes downstream to a
gravel diversion dam at Snelling where the majority
of it is diverted. There are other gravel dams and
their diversions and one concrete dam found down-
stream. In the fall at the end of the irrigation season
APPENDIX F 319
ESTIMATED MINIMUM FLOWS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN GAME FISH POPULATIONS AT PRESENT LEVELS
Name of stream and locality
SUMMER WINTER
(April-Sept.) (Oct.-March)
Class I Streams
Gualala River
Garcia River
Navarro River
Big River
Noyo River
Ten-M ile River
Mattole River (possible power development)
Bear River (possible power development)
Redwood Creek (possible power development)
Carmel River
Big Sur River
Class II Streams
1. Smith River
a. At Foit Dick
b. South Fork at confluence with main stream
c. North Fork at confluence with main stream
d. Main stream above confluence with North
Fork
10 c.f.s
200 c.f.s
10 C.f.8
200 c.f.s
15 c.f.s
350 c.f.s
15 c.f.s
200 c.f.s
10 C.f.8
200 c.f.s
20 c.f.s
300 c.f.s
40 c.f.s
350 c.f.s
10 c.f.s
200 c.f.s
40 c.f.s
250 c.f.s
15 c.f.s
200 c.f.s
35 c.f.s
200 c.f.s
250 c.f.s.
200 c.f.s.
100 c.f.s.
1,250 c.f.8.
800 c.f.s.
450 c.f.s.
2. Klamath River
a. At Klamath
b. Trinity River at confluence with main stream.
c. Main stream above confluence with Trinity
River
d. Salmon River at confluence with main stream.
e. Main stream above confluence with Salmon
River
f. Scott River at confluence with main stream
g. Main stream above confluence with Scott
River
h. Main stream at confluence with Shasta River
without daily fluctuation
with daily fluctuation (high)
(low)
i. South Fork Trinity River at confluence with
Trinity River
j. Trinity River at Lewiston
January. _
February-
March
April
150 c.f.s. 1,000 c.f.i
1,200 c.f.s.
250 c.f.s.
650 c.f.s.
150 c.f.s.
500 c.f.s.
100 c.f.s.
2,000 c.f.8.
1,000 c.f.s.
1,200 c.f.s.
300 c.f.s.
1,000 c.f.s.
250 c.f.s.
500 c.f.s. 1,000 c.f.s.
1,000 c.f.s.
1,500 c.f.s.
500 c.f.s.
1.000 c.f.s.
1,500 c.f.s.
500 c.f.s.
100 c.f.s. 1,000 c.f.s.
400 c.f.s.
400 c.f.s.
400 c.f.s.
300 c.f.s.
May.. 300 c.f.s.
June 300 c.f.s.
3. Mad River
a. At mouth
4. Eel River
a. Main stream above confluence with Van
Duzen River
Van Duzen River at confluence with main
stream
Van Duzen River at Bridgeville ..
Main stream above confluence with South
Fork
e. South Fork at confluence with main stream
f. Middle Fork at confluence with main stream.
g. Main stream above confluence with Middle
Fork
h. Eel River at Van Arsdale Dam
b.
d.
July
August
September. _
October
November..
December. _
15 c.f.s.
100 c.f.s.
25
20
100
50
40
20
5
c.f.s.
c.f.s.
c.f.s.
c.f.s.
c.f.s.
c.f.s.
c.f.s.
5. Russian River
a. Main stream at mouth.
b. Main stream at Ukiah.
200 c.f.s.
100 c.f.s.
200 c.f.s.
200 c.f.8.
200 c.f.s.
300 c.f.s.
600 c.f.s.
400 c.f.s.
350 c.f.s.
500 c.f.s.
150 c.f.s.
100 c.f.s.
150 c.f.s.
200 c.f.s.
350 c.f.s.
125 c.f.s.
100 C.f.8.
500 c.f.s.
250 c.f.s.
Sacramento River
(Sept. -Dec.) (Jan. -Aug.)
a. Below Shasta Dam 4,000 c.f.s. 3,000 c.f.s.
b. Above confluence with Feather River 4,000 c.f.s. 4,000 c.f.s.
Feather River
a. At driest point below Sutter-Butte Dam
(Sept. 16-Dec.) (Jan.-June) (July-Sept. 14)
1,200 c.f.s. 900 c.f.s. 250 c.f.s.
b. At Oroville (after Oroville
Dam-cold water) 600 c.f.s. 400 c.f.s. 400 c.f.s.
SUMMER WINTER
Name of stream and locality (April-Sept.) (Oct.-March)
Class II Streams — Continued
7. Feather River — Continued
c. East Branch North Fork at confluence with (Mar.-Oci.) (Nov.-Feb.)
North Fork 25 c.f.s. 200 c.f.s.
d. Middle Fork at Sloat 45 c.f.s. 110 c.f.s
8. Yuba River
a. Below Narrows Dam
(Oct.-Dec.) (Jan.-Apr.) (May-June) (July-Aug.)
500 c.f.s. 500 c.f.s. 300 c.f.s. 500 c.f.s.
b. Driest point below Dagiierre Point
500 c.f.s. 350 c.f.s. 500 c.f.s. 75 c.f.s.
9. Bear River
No salmon run but see previous paragraph 4.
10. American River
(Sept. IB-Dec.) (Jan.-Feb.) (Mar.-Sept. IS)
a. At Folsom (below Nimbus Dam)
750 c.f.s. 500 c.f.s. 350 c.f.s.
b. North Fork above confluence with Middle
Fork 50 c.f.s. minimum at all
times
c. Middle Fork above confluence with North
Fork 60 c.f.s. minimum at all
times
d. South Fork at Coloma 100 c.f.s. minimum at all
times
11. Cosumnes River
a. Below Bridgehouse Dam
(Nov.-Dec.) (J an. -May) (June-Oct.)
150 c.f.s. 75 c.f.s. Live stream to
Hiway 99
12. Mokelumne River
a. Below Pardee Dam (Sept. 15-Dec.) (Jan.-June) (July-Sept. 14)
500 c.f.8. 300 c.f.s. 300 c.f.s.
b. Below Woodbridge Dam. 250 c.f.s. 150 c.f.s. 25 c.f.s.
13. Stanislaus River
(Oct.-Dec.) (Jan.-May) (June-Sept.)
a. Below Tulloch Dam 150 c.f.s. 100 c.f.s. 10 c.f.s.
14. Tuolumne River
a. At La Grange
(June-Sept.) (Sept. 15- (Oct. 15-Dez.) (Jan.-May)
Oct. IS)
25 c.f.s. 500 c.f.s. 1,000 c.f.s. 700 c.f.s.
15. Merced River
a. At driest point below Exchecquer
(Oct.-Dec.) (Jan.-Apr.) (May-June) (July-Sept.)
35 c.f.s. 35 c.f.s. 300 c.f.s. 15 c.f.s.
16. San Joaquin River
a. At Hills Ferry 500 c.f.s. minimum
b. At Vernalis 1,000 c.f.s. minimum
17. Susan River
(Oct.-Mar.) (Apr.-Sept.)
a. At Susanville 25 c.f.s. 50 c.f.s.
18. Truckee River
a. At Tahoe City 25 c.f.s. minimum
b. At California Stateline 25 c.f.s. minimum
19. Carson River
a. West Fork at Stateline - 15 c.f.s. minimum
b. East Fork at Stateline 15 c.f.s. minimum
20. Walker River
a. West Fork at Stateline 30 c.f.s. minimum
b. East Fork at Stateline 40 c.f.s. minimum
21. Owens River
a. Above Tinemaha Reservoir 100 c.f.s. minimum
320
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
the water is cut down to about 35 second feet at Ex-
chequer, often the upper part of the stream is so low
that salmon have difficulty finding satisfactory places
in spawn and even more difficulty in making their way
upstream from the mouth of the river. Any reduction
of tins 35 second feet flow might completely eliminate
both spring and fall runs.
In the spring, Exchequer reservoir often spills, and
flows in excess of 1,000 second feet going down the
ii\cr channel. Spring run migrants find this cold snow
water to their liking and many of them do not con-
tinue upstream past Snelling. This flow generally
stops very suddenly when the spill ceases. The salmon
which have gotten past the Merced Irrigation District
Dam have an excellent chance of survival. Those
which are between Merced Irrigation District Dam
and Snelling have a fair to good chance. Those which
are downstream from Snelling are almost certain to
be killed by the high summer temperatures, and they
have almost no chance to migrate upstream to safety
through the low flows and gravel dams below Snelling.
The water currently wasted in the area downstream
from Snelling by poor water management practices
would greatly improve the salmon run if it were al-
lowed to stay in the river instead of being totally
diverted at intervals and allowed to leak back into the
river from poorly kept ditches.
7 7 . San Joaquin River
The flows given for this stream were intended to
give the amount of water required at Hills Ferry and
Vernalis to keep resident fish in good condition and to
enable migratory fish to pass through on their way
to the spawning grounds in the various San Joaquin
tributaries. Our knowledge of flows required in this
section is very limited. The necessary flow below Fri-
ant Dam has previously been discussed at length and
as these estimates were not requested have not been
included.
PART II. WATER REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE MAINTENANCE OF GAME
Game water requirements have been subject to
being overlooked or to relegation to a place of minor
importance in any allocation of water. However,
minor as the total water required for the maintenance
of game numbers might be, still a definite, firm re-
quirement is present, and should be recognized in
any long range planning of water allocations. That
game and game interests have a firm part in the
economy of the State is evident both by the govern-
mental recognition given to this endeavor, and by the
large amounts of time and money invested in the
fostering and pursuit of game by the public of the
State.
That game water requirements should be planned
for is implied in the State Water Resources Act of
1945, Chapter 1514 of the Statutes of 1945, "an act
declaring the public policy of the State, relating to
flood waters and control, conservation, and the use
of the State's water resources." Section 2 of this
Act states, "In studying water development projects,
full consideration shall be given to all beneficial uses
of the State 's water resources, including preservation
and development of fish and wildlife resources, and
recreational facilities, but not excluding other bene-
ficial uses of water."
It is the purpose of this report to state in general,
on a statewide basis, what game water requirements
are, and in the case of waterfowl, to state specifically
tlie local needs in important areas in California.
For simplification, game water requirements will
be stated in two general categories : water for big
game and upland game, and water for waterfowl and
other aquatic wildlife.
/. Water for Big Game and Upland Game
In general, water supplies for these game species,
such as deer, antelope, quail, dove, etc., are not
seriously threatened on a statewide basis at present
under existing agricultural and economic practices.
Locally threats to continued existence of these species
are present, and with increasing economic develop-
ment of marginal lands, will become an ever increas-
ing hazard to continued existence of these species
throughout the State.
These species do not require large quantities of
water in any one spot ; rather, their needs are best
expressed in the form of small quantities measured in
gallons rather than acre feet. The supply, however,
must be widespread and scattered over the range of
these animals in proper relation to basic food and
cover sources.
One of the principal threats to the supply of water
for these species lies in the unwise use of springs by
livestock interests, and to an increasing degree by
mining or pseudo-mining interests in arid regions.
This threat is more important in the desert area of
southeastern California than in other sections but is
present to some degree throughout the drier foothill
areas of the State. It reaches its height in instances
where a livestock operator through a water filing or
otherwise virtually locks up all the water in a spring
or springs for a rather large area of range land. Such
use often takes the form of completely utilizing the
flow of a spring by boxing it, and piping the flow to
a trough that is inaccessible to small game by reason
of its location away from cover and feed, or by its
construction in such a manner that game cannot reach
the water without the hazard of drowning in the
process. In most of these cases, some small inexpen-
sive provision could be made for wildlife water; this
provision would not affect in any material degree
the water that would be available for livestock, and
APPENDIX F
32]
•would give measurable benefits to the wildlife in sur-
rounding areas. Water applications for the use of
springs in desert or semi-desert areas should have a
provision that adequate water for wildlife should be
left. The adequacy of such supply should be deter-
mined by the representatives of the official wildlife
agency of the State.
Another more recent threat to game in foothill
areas has been the recent controversy between large
irrigation interests in valley lands versus livestock
operators in the watershed areas that supply water for
the irrigation districts. In some instances this has
taken the form of questioning the rights of water-
shed land holders to build small stock dams on drain-
ages flowing into big reservoirs on the theory that
such small dams use an appreciable quantity of water
that is subject to the prior right of downstream users.
This subject has not yet affected fish or game interests
to any considerable degree to date, but could con-
ceivably do so in the future with the current increase
in farm pond and stock-dam programs that are being
fostered by fish and game interests. In this instance,
game officials will be interested in seeing that proper-
water supplies are developed and maintained for up-
land and big game in watershed areas.
Water needs for this group of game varies consid-
erably in different sections of the State. Areas of
high potential game populations that abound in cover
and desirable feeds have higher water needs than do
areas of low game productivity. Within the generality
above, areas that are desert, or semi-desert, in climate
have higher needs for free water than do lush coastal
areas. These generalities are expressed in Table I
"Big Game and Upland Game Water Requirements."
Table I lists the water requirements by counties
for upland and big game species. The needs are ex-
pressed in gallons per square mile. This gallonage
figure might best be expressed as "gallons of free
water available daily per square mile." It does not
necessarily mean for instance that throughout a year,
or even throughout a summer, that there must be a
flow of say eight gallons per day per square mile. It
does mean, however, that at some crucial, hot, dry
time, or times during a year that a flow of eight gal-
lons per day will be necessary and will be used by
wildlife.
It should be emphasized that proper distribution of
this water is paramount. Eight gallons of water per
square mile if distributed on the basis of 800 gallons
located on one section leaving 99 sections dry would
be of little use. Ideally over most of the State having
populations of deer, quail, etc., there should be avail-
able water for every quarter section, or at least for
every section in drier areas.
One additional point with respect to the relation
between game and water development should be
made. It does no1 have to do with game use of water,
but rather with hazards thai water development proj-
ects may impose on game. The construction of open
diversion ditches often creates a hazard to wildlife.
especially so in regard to deer. Legislation would be
desirable, making it mandatory for any corporation.
irrigation district, water company, or any other party
or parties constructing such ditches or other im-
poundments to install, or cause to be installed suit-
able escape ramps for the preservation of wildlife.
//. Wafer for Waterfowl and Other Aquatic Game
It is in the needs of water for waterfowl and other
game species requiring wet lands for their existence
that man 's agricultural and economic water needs
have made the greatest inroads. Vast acreages of
former marsh or semi-marsh lands have been drained
for farming or other purposes, pushing these species
into a small existing area which in turn is further
subject to demands for more land and more water.
Waterfowl are vitally dependent on free water over
productive land areas. Their continued existence de-
pends on planned reservation of water for their use.
Other minor aquatic wildlife species, such as shore-
birds, muskrat, beaver, etc., will benefit from any
planning for waterfowl.
In order to allocate water for these species, such
allocation must be done for specific areas of the State,
since waterfowl have definite habits and needs for
certain types of lands and feeds which cannot be met
with alternate situations. In other words, wintering
grounds for waterfowl must be met in warm valley
areas capable of growing good reliable foods. They
cannot be met on mountain areas, or on areas of poor
winter climate or inferior soil. Farming development
has taken over the vast majority of lands formerly
available to these species; the needs found below are
allocated to lands that remain available in some meas-
ure for waterfowl. Provision must be made with as
much speed as possible to see that not only lands.
but water for these lands are devoted to waterfowl.
That California has in this matter an obligation
not only to her sister States of the Pacific Waterfowl
Flyway, but to our neighbor Nations to the North
and South, has been brought out by many waterfowl
authorities. This State has been the traditional win-
tering ground for vast numbers of birds of the Pa-
cific Flyway. It has assumed this position of responsi-
bility to the birds, if such it may be called, by virtue
of its valley areas and their attendant winter cli-
mates. There is no substitute which will serve if these
birds are to survive. It is with full realization of these
facts that the needs of waterfowl for their continued
existence are presented in Tables II and III.
Table II presents the needs for water for existing
State waterfowl areas. Table III denotes needs for
areas that have been proposed for State acquisition in
:;l»l'
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
order to perpetuate the resource. "Whether or not the
State acquires these areas, the needs for waterfowl
will continue to exist if the waterfowl resource is to
be perpetuated.
No mention is made of requirements for Federally
operated areas. It is assumed that the U. S. Fish and
Wildlife Service will list their needs for areas under
their control.
It should be emphasized that the requirements
shown in Table III are minimum. Even though these
are tied to specific areas for reasons outlined above,
there are in some instances possibilities of nearby al-
ternates for some of the areas listed.
It will be noted that in the larger areas, both pres-
ently owned and those proposed for future acquisi-
tion, that provision is made for crop water. This is
done in the interests of crop protection for surround-
ing agriculturalists as well as a primary food source
for ducks.
Regarding competition between use of water for
growing food crops for waterfowl and use of water
for commercial agriculture, it is pointed out that
1. In most cases the growing of food crops for
waterfowl is primarily for the purpose of protecting
commercial agriculture from waterfowl depredation.
2. A number of existing and proposed projects are
not in competition with farming since they are lo-
cated below agricultural diversions. These are Grizzly
Island, Suisun Refuge, Lake Earl, and Humboldt
Bay. The water supply for Grizzly Island and Suisun
Refuge is secured from Montezuma and Suisun
Sloughs, tributaries to Suisun Bay.
3. The use of water for waterfowl in the Colorado
River drainage is considered only slightly competitive
with agriculture since drain and spill waters may be
largely utilized.
-A. The water needs in acre feet listed in some of
the wet land areas such as Lake Earl and Clear Lake
are large open bodies of water presently existing.
Accurate data on privately owned lands used for
waterfowl purposes are lacking. The figure of 200,000
acres has been widely used and is herein used for
purposes of this report.
Of these 200,000 acres, at least one quarter (50,000
acres) is located on tidelands or at the extreme lower
ends of drainages where only tide or waste water is
used.
The remaining 150,000 acres are here considered to
depend in varying degrees upon the use of waters
pertinent to the State Water Plan.
TABLE I
BIG GAME AND UPLAND GAME WATER REQUIREMENTS
(Quantities expressed in gallons per day per square mile needed for drinking water)
County
Area in
Average
square
gallons per
miles
sq. mi.
840
4
575
22
568
15
1,764
8
990
8
1,080
10
750
4
1,546
8
1,891
15
6,035
7
1,4(10
10
3,507
8
4,316
4
10,224
4
8,159
4
1,375
4
1,332
9
4,750
8
4,000
4
2,1 10
6
516
10
1,580
10
3,400
8
1,750
(1
4,097
26
2,7911
4
3,450
8
800
12
982
8
780
12
Total gals,
per County
County
Area in
square
miles
Average
gallons per
sq. mi.
Total gals,
per County
Alameda
Alpine
Amador
Butte
Calaveras
Colusa
Contra Costa
Del Norte
El Dorado...
Fresno
Glenn
Humboldt
Imperial
Inyo
Ki-rn
Kings
Lake
Lassen
Los Angeles
Madera
Marin
Mariposa
Mendocino
Merced
Modoc
Mono
Monten
Vi|i:i
la
Orange
3,360
12,650
8,520
14,112
7,920
10,800
3,000
12.368
28,365
42,245
14,600
28,056
17,264
40,890
32,636
5,500
11,988
38,000
16,000
12,840
5,160
15,800
27,200
10,500
106,522
11,184
27,600
9,600
7,856
9,360
Placer
Plumas
Riverside
Sacramento
San Benito
San Bernardino _
San Diego
San Francisco
San Joaquin
San Luis Obispo
San Mateo
Santa Barbara..
Santa Clara
Santa Cruz
Shasta
Sierra
Siskiyou
Solano
Sonoma
Stanislaus
Sutter
Tehama
Trinity
Tulare
Tuolumne
Ventura
Yolo
Yuba
Totals
484
361
008
988
476
055
207
42
370
500
470
450
,355
425
,050
957
,078
911
,540
480
611
200
,276
,863
,282
,850
.017
625
157.390
20
4
8
12
4
4
6
4
12
4
22
15
22
4
10
8
4
8
8
4
8
8
487
11,872
47,220
28,032
7,904
17,712
80,200
16,828
21,000
9,800
16,260
1,700
89,100
14,355
133,716
3,644
3,850
11,888
2,444
25,600
26,208
29,178
18,256
7,400
8,136
5,000
1,229,205
'•"' I '• > i ' gallons per square mile have been parried to the nearest gallon.
Gallons per square mile may mean two gallons per square mile In some watersheds and as high as twenty In others, depending upon the locality.
APPENDIX F
323
TABLE II
ANNUAL WATER REQUIREMENTS
Existing State Waterfowl and Management Areas
Area
Madeline Plains W.M.A.
Tule Res
Honey Lake W.M.A
Gray Lodge
Suisun
Grizzly Island W.M.A...
Los Banos
Tupman
Imperial W.M.A
Imperial Refuge No. 1 _ _
TOTALS.
Location
(county)
Lassen _ _
Lassen _ _
Lassen. _
Butte- -_
Solano _ _
Solano _ _
Merced- .
Kern
Imperial _
Imperial-
Total acreage
planned
5,176
5,000
6,500
1,900
8.600
3,000
1.000
4.400
2.000
37.576
Average
acres crop
66(1
3,466
2,000
11,026
Water
requirements
for crops
(acre-feet)
4,620
19.92N
9.000
1,200
3.000
1,500
7,125
500
1 ,750
1,700
6,930
52,353
Storage (ponds)
water area
acres
1,420
3,100
1,566
2,000
1,500
3.500
1,000
250
25
2.000
16,361
Water
required
for ponds
(acre-feet)
9.940
8,244
12,000
9.000
12,250
4.000
875
157
10,000
66.166
Total water
required
(acre-feet)
14,560
3,100
28,172
21,000
9,000
15,250
11.125
2.625
7,087
10.000
121,919
TABLE III
ANNUAL WATER REQUIREMENTS
Proposed Waterfowl Management Areas
Area
Location
(county)
Proposed
acreage
Average
acreage crop
Water
n-'iuirciiirnts
for crops
(acre-feet)
Storage (ponds)
area
(acre-feet)
Water
required
for ponds
(acre-feet)
Total water
required
(acre-feet)
Butte
5,750
6,800
5,000
4.000
4,000
400
1,600
5.000
2,700
250
200
2,000
3,000
2,000
2,000
1,000
400
1,600
8,500
13,320
8,550
8,550
4,000
800
3,200
2,000
2,000
1,500
500
2,000
8,000
6,432
5,250
2,000
8,000
16,500
San Luis Is. W.M.A
19,752
Madera W.M.A.
13,800
Tupman W.M.A
Pit River W.M.A.
10,550
12,000
Lake Earl Mgt. Area
Del Norte
800
Humboldt
Imperial (Palo Verde)
3,200
Lower Colorado River Mgt. Area
22,500
1,250
50
2,200
100
1,500
200
200
2,625
700
600
4,825
800
600
TOTALS
35,700
13,300
49,220
9,900
33,607
105,327
Private lands are rarely devoted exclusively for
waterfowl purposes so that these lands can be consid-
ered to be in dual use, the most common pattern being
livestock grazing combined with waterfowl shooting.
It is the general custom to apply two-thirds of the
available water in the fall, just prior to and during
the hunting season. The remaining one-third is used
in the spring.
Benefits derived from this type of water application
should not be charged to two-thirds waterfowl and
one-third to livestock grazing. The fall water serves
to charge the soil, and start vegetation growing in
late winter and early spring ; without it, the spring
applied water would be of far less livestock value. It
is felt only fifty per cent of the water reserved for
use on these lands can be justifiably charged to
waterfowl.
In the "Grasslands" of the San Joaquin Valley,
one foot of water per acre per year has given reason-
ably satisfactory operation of the area as a grazing
324
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
and gun club operation. This figure applied to the
i;>o. nun acres in California devoted to similar use will
require reservation of 150,000 acre feet of water, half
of which is chargeable to waterfowl benefits.
Table TV denotes water requirements on minor
waterfowl lands throughout the State, mostly in
coastal areas. These are generally small in size and
are by and large under private control. Many of them
may be desirable for future acquisition by the State,
but in the main, as long as water for ducks is pro-
vided, they may well serve their end for waterfowd
by remaining in private ownership.
Based on the above principles, the total water
needed for game use in California (exclusive of needs
on Federally operated waterfowl lands) is estimated
as follows :
(a) Upland Game Lands — 8.75 gals, per sq. mile — 1,229,-
205 gallons
(b) Existing State Waterfowl Areas— 121,919 ac. ft.
(c) Proposed Waterfowl Areas 105,327 ac. ft.
(d) Other Wet Lands 964,400 ac. ft.
(e) Private Waterfowl Lands 75,000 ac. ft.
TOTAL *1,266,646 ac. ft.
NOTE: Estimates given here are subject to revision wherever and whenever it
is deemed necessary to conform to changes in land and water uses.
* This total figure applies to waterfowl lands only.
TABLE IV
WATERFOWL WATER REQUIREMENTS IN OTHER
AREAS NOT LISTED ABOVE
Area
County
Acreage
Water
Required
(Acre-feet)
Del Norte _._.
10,000
Fresh Water Lagoon
3,000
Humboldt
2,400
Humboldt
5,000
200,000
Butte Sink
Butte and Colusa
Merced and Madera _
Santa Clara and
24,000
98,234
2,000
1,000
6,000
1,500
1.200
1,000
250
600
200
200
200
2,500
500
250
1,000
750
48,000
33,000
3,000
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo.
Monterey
Monterey
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara. _
Santa Barbara _
Ventura
2,000
1,500
Santa Maria River (Mouth) ..
Elkhorn Slough
Salinas River (Mouth)
3,000
2,000
1,500
800
1,500
500
Santa Clara River
500
Calleguas and Conejo. .
500
500
Newport _
Orange
None
800
1,250
San Diego .
800
25
Tijuana River Lagoon _
500
250
TOTALS __
141,884
321,825
APPENDIX G
HYDROELECTRIC POWER INSTALLATIONS IN CALIFORNIA
(325 )
12—99801
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
North Coastal Area 327
South Coastal Area 327
Central Valley Area__ _ 327
Sacramento River Basin 327
San Joaquin River Basin 328
Tulare Lake Basin. _ _ 328
Lahontan Area 329
Colorado Desert Area 329
Colorado River Power Installations 329
(326)
APPENDIX G 327
HYDROELECTRIC POWER INSTALLATIONS IN CALIFORNIA
Hydrographic area,
and plant name
Owner
Stream
Installed
power
capacity,
in
kilowatts
Estimated
average
annual
generation,
in 1,000
kilowatt-
hours
Estimated
average
annual
water
requirement,
in acre-
feet
Gross head
in feet
North Coastal Area
California Oregon Power Co.
Klamath River
20,000
27,000
2,200
2,720
1,600
8,800
106,000
130,000
10,000
10,200
170
58,000
1,499,000
1,476,000
27,000
10,500
122
151
730
602
Fall Creek _
Fall Creek
Pacific Gas & Electric Co.. . _
Swanson Mining Corp.. . .
Trinity River
Same
Russian River..
Salyer . . . _ . . .
Potter Valley
Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
183,300
176
TOTALS, NORTH COASTAL
AREA
62,320
2,000
58,875
42,000
5,600
3,000
480
600
320
400
1.920
2,400
800
1,200
1,800
200
800
240
520
314,370
8,800
210,000
115,000
50,000
1 l.O(ll)
4,000
4,800
1,100
4,000
8,800
18,000
8,000
7,000
14,000
1 ,500
4,700
300
4,800
South Coastal Area
Los Angeles Department of Water
Los Angeles Aqueduct
52,300
323,500
319,900
264,300
43,000
14,100
15,100
10,900
18,300
36,000
42,800
40,300
37,500
14,000
5,000
21,500
360
19,200
285
935
Same
Same.
Same..
San Gabriel River
San Antonio Creek __
540
°50
Same -
401
Southern California Edison Co
6 !8
700
Same . ...
Same
Lytle Creek
276
47''
658
Santa Ana River
726
310
354
Mill Creek No. 3
Mill Creek... .
1,911
620
Mill Creek No. 2
Mill Creek No. 1
510
Escondido Mutual Water Co... ..
San Luis Rey River _
Escondido Creek
824
400
TOTALS, SOUTH COASTAL
AREA
123,155
450
56,000
72,900
128,000
10,000
10,000
379,000
75,000
3,000
1,200
6,400
4,000
6,000
13,800
13,000
6,400
4,800
60,000
66,000
113,400
67,500
52,000
1,600
800
30
6,500
24,000
(i,300
6,400
3,750
9,350
5,500
41,000
478,800
1,700
288,100
382,400
826,000
45,000
50,800
1,863,000
347,000
16,900
11,700
45,800
35,600
40,000
57,500
83,200
35,600
15,000
451,000
198,000
454,000
298,000
454,000
11,300
7,500
Central Valley Area
Sacramento River Basin
California Oregon Power Co
Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
365
Pit No. 1 -
Pit River.
725,900
1,644,000
1,563,000
203,400
304,800
5,696,000
5,915,000
24,700
26 500
57,300
94,600
178,500
195,800
81,000
105,700
61,500
562,000
132,300
1,386,000
1,766,000
1,297,000
41,200
20,500
154
Pit No. 3..
315
Pit No. 5..
615
Hat Creek No. 1. ..
217
Hat Creek No. 2
198
U. S. Bureau of Reclamation.
Sacramento River
480
101
Pacific Gas & Electric Co..
North Fork Cow
1,192
715
Volta
North Fork Battle
1,254
South Fork Battle
516
378
Battle Creek
Big Butte Creek
482
1,531
577
Hamilton Branch,
Feather River
North Fork Feather
389
1,150
2,558
535
.".in
Big Bend No. 1
165
West Branch, North
Fork Feather River
462
350
North Fork Yuba
38,900
154,000
29,100
42,100
20,000
89,000
31,300
282,500
382,300
261,300
150,300
381,200
104,000
454,300
59 200
296,200
166
Same..
810
Spaulding No. 3.
South Fork Yuba
318
Same
197
344
Yuba River . . . _
240
Deer Creek . .
837
Bear River
1,375
328
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
HYDROELECTRIC POWER INSTALLATIONS IN CALIFORNIA-Continued
Hydrographic area
and plant name
Owner
Stream
Installed
power
cap < ity,
in
kilowatts
Estimated
average
annual
generation,
in 1,000
kilowatt-
hours
Estimated
average
annual
water
requirement,
in acre-
feet
Gross head,
in feet
Sacramento River Basin —
i Continued
Alta
Same. - —
2,000
22,000
10,000
10,000
20,000
5,750
fi,400
147,000
66,800
90,700
97,700
30,000
12,200
30,000
232,100
202,500
77,600
14,600
66
Dutch Flat
Same . - - ..
Drv Creek.
643
1 l:il-r\
331
Wise
Auburn Ravine
South Fork American
519
i:i Dorado
Same ---
Same —
1,910
573
Subtotals, Sacramento River
1,326,830
54,000
106,500
84,000
34.080
67,000
57,750
80,000
800
4,800
2,400
340
12,800
2,000
25,000
3.440
3,600
70,000
26,990
3,900
6,000
1,600
3,800
1,400
28,900
24,300
29,700
9.350
51,000
13,600
89.100
15,000
7,144,600
309,200
743,500
490.000
275,400
583.600
506,600
238,500
2,700
20.300
11,000
1,300
85.900
1 1 .000
127,800
16,100
28,000
508,000
199,800
25,200
48,200
9,000
San Joaquin River Basin
Big Creek No. 8
Southern California Edison Co.
San Joaquin River...
548,600
1,252,000
1,305,000
966,300
308.800
319.300
237,200
80,300
73,500
78,000
54,300
249,100
40,200
805,100
628,200
100,500
519,000
1,339,000
125,900
35,600
13,000
713
827
Big Creek No. 4
418
Kerckhoff.
350
Big Creek No. 1
Southern California Edison Co.
Same
Same . ..
2,131
Big Creek No. 2
1 858
Big Creek No. 2A
2,418
( 'nine Valley-- _
North Fork San Joa-
quin River
San Joaquin No. 3
Same
Same
90
405
San Joaquin No. 2
307
San Joaquin No. 1A__
43
A. G. Wishon . . .
1,412
336
300
Yosemite
National Park Service _
Merced Irrigation District
Merced River _ _ __
Merced. . ._ __
27
Early Intake ._....
San Francisco Utilities Comm.
Cherry Creek
Moccasin Creek
Tuolumne River
Tuolumne River
Middle Fork, Stanis-
laus River ..
South Fork, Stanis-
laus River __ __
Angels Creek
343
1.316
Moccasin Creek
Don Pedro _
Turlock-Modesto Irrigation Dis-
261
La Grange .
Turlock-Modesto Irrigation Dis-
trict . .
117
Spring Gap.
1,865
Murphys
Same . . „
Same ...
1,087
Angels _ .
7,000
233.500
95,300
141,000
42,800
353.000
91.400
363,500
90,000
19,900
238,600
618.200
448
1.499
230
Stanislaus
Melones
Same .
Same . . _ _ _ .
Same . . .
Same ._
Same
Bear River. .
North Fork, Mokel-
lumne River.
2,104
Salt Springs.
380,300
336.500
414,800
442.400
362,400
255
1,219
312
1,268
327
Tiger Creek
West Point
Same
New Elect ra
Mokelumne River
Same _ .
Pardee
East Bay Municipal Utility Dis-
Subtotals, San Joaquin River
913,150
32.000
8,200
16,000
8,480
4,800
2,000
2,800
2,250
1,800
31,000
5,658,600
197,500
63,800
173.200
59,600
24,500
17,000
24,700
14,000
1 1 ,000
178,600
l ulare Lake Basin
Knii liner No. 3__
Southern California Edison Com-
pany
302.200
229,800
224,100
326,700
24,700
22,800
55,800
18.800
44,700
102,600
821
270
877
262
Bore!
Same- ...
Klin River No. 1
Same . .
Kern < 'anyon
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. _.
Tule Rivet
Same
Middle Fork, Tule
River .
Tule River
i J,
Southern California Edison Co. ._
Same .
1,532
1,140
775
1,326
367
2,336
Kaweah No. 3
Kaweah River.. .
Kaweah No. l
Same. . ._.
Kaweah No. 2
Same
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. .
North Fork Kings
River.
3ubto i . re Lake
l'.:i III
109,330
763,900
i"i VLB, CENTS \I.\ \l.l.l,\
MM \
2,349,310
13,567,100
'
APPENDIX G
HYDROELECTRIC POWER INSTALLATIONS IN CALIFORNIA-Continued
329
Hydrographic area
and plant name
Owner
Stream
Installed
power
capacity,
in
kilowatts
Estimated
average
annual
generation,
in 1.000
kilowatt-
hours
Estimated
average
annual
water
requirement,
in acre-
feet
Gross head,
in feet
Lahontan Area
Farad
Rush Creek.
Poole
Mill Creek..
Haiwee
Cottonwood
Division Creek No. 2.
Big Pine No. 3
Upper Gorge
Middle Gorge
Central Gorge..
Laws
Bishop Creek No. 2__
Bishop Creek No. 3__
Bishop Creek No. 4._
Bishop Creek No. 5_.
Bishop Creek No. 6_.
Sierra Pacific Power Co
California Electric Power Co
Same
Same
Los Angeles Department of Water
and Power
Same
Same
Same
Same
Same
Same
Champion Sillimanite, Inc
California Electric Power Co
Same
Same
Same
Same
Truckee River. _
Rush Creek
Leevining Creek.
Mill Creek
Los Angeles Aqueduct
Cottonwood Creek
Division Creek
Big Pine Creek
Owens River __
Same
Same
Milner Creek
Bishop Creek
Same
Same
Same
Same
TOTALS, LAHONTAN AREA
Colorado Desert Area
San Gorgonio No. 1
San Gorgonio No. 2
Siphon Drop
Drop No. 3__
Drop No. 4
Parker
California Electric Power Co..
Same
U. S. Bureau of Reclamation.
Imperial Irrigation District
Same
U. S. Bureau of Reclamation.
San Gorgonio Creek
Same
Yuma Canal
All-American Canal
Same
Colorado River
TOTALS, COLORADO
DESERT AREA
Colorado River Power Installations
Hoover
Davis
U. S. Bureau of Reclamation-
Same
Colorado River.
Same
2,800
8,400
10,000
2,400
5,600
1,500
600
3,200
37,500
37,500
37,500
312
6,320
6,600
6,300
3,500
1,800
171,832
1,500
750
1,600
4,800
19,600
120,000
148,250
1,249,800
225,000
17,000
44,000
26,000
8,100
34.000
5,800
3,000
15,000
155,000
155,000
158,000
400
39,000
35,000
44.000
18.000
11,300
290.000
32,300
29,600
21,700
320,900
6,110
4,460
15,600
197,800
197,800
197.800
6.5,300
65.300
65,300
68,000
68,000
76N.00M
3,000
1,500
15,000
45.000
100.000
700,000
910
910
1,436,000
2,100,000
2.600,000
8,445,000
Mil."
5.348,000
1,065.000
83
1.807
1,675
785
193
1,267
1,250
1,245
792
767
781
1,017
953
809
1,112
420
620
1,773
898
15
25
50
76
530
145
13—99801
APPENDIX H
MAJOR RESERVOIRS OF CALIFORNIA
(331)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
North Coastal Area_. 333
San Francisco Bay Area 333
Central Coastal Area__ _ 333
South Coastal Area 333
Central Valley Area _ 334
Lahontan Area _ 336
Colorado Desert Area 337
( 332 )
APPENDIX II
333
MAJOR RESERVOIRS OF CALIFORNIA
Reservoir
North Coastal Area
Clear Lake
Lake Pillsbury (Scott Dam)...
Copco No. 1
Dwinnell (Shasta River Dam)._
gweasey
Earl B. Fiock No. 2
Janes Flat
penbow
Earl B. Fiock
"M"
San Francisco Bay Area
Calaveras
Anderson
Lower Crystal Springs
San Pablo
Upper San Leandro
Lake Hennessey (Conn Creek Dam) . .
Coyote
bexington
San Andreas
Kent Lake (Peters Dam)
Upper Crystal Springs
Lake Chabot (Lower San Leandro Dam)
Lake Curry
Calero
Alpine
Austrian
Nova t o Creek
Rector Creek
Bon Tempe
Stevens Creek
Guadalupe T
Lafayette
Mallard
Pilarcitos
Lake Herman
Almaden
Milliken
Lake Madigan
Lake Chabot
Lake Frey
Central Coastal Area
Pacini ma
Salinas
Santa Barbara (Gibraltar Dam)
Elmer J. Chesbro
Jameson Lake (Juncal Dam)
North Fork
Paicines
Los Padres
San Clemente
South Coastal Area
Prado
Hensha w .
El Capitan
Santa Felicia
Lake Mathews
San Vincente
Big Bear Lake (Bear Valley Dam)
Morena .
Vail
Lower Otay (Savage Dam)
San Gabriel No. 1
Barrett
Bouquet Canyon ..
Hansen
Morris
Whit tier Narrows
Lake Hodges
Stream
Lost River
South Eel River.
Klamath River
Shasta River
Mad River
Tributary of Shasta River
Mosquito Creek
East Fork of South Fork Eel River.
Tributary Little Shasta River
Tributary Fairchild Meadow
Calaveras Creek
Coyote River
San Mateo Creek. _.
San Pablo Creek . .
San Leandro Creek .
Conn Creek
Coyote Creek
Los Gatos Creek
San Andreas Creek
Lagunitas Creek
Laguna Creek
San Leandro Creek
Gordon Valley Creek
Calero Creek
Lagunitas Creek
Los Gatos Creek
Novato Creek
Rector Creek
Lagunitas Creek
Stevens Creek
Guadalupe Creek
Lafayette Creek
Tributary Suisun Bay
Pilarcitos Creek
Sulphur Springs Valley Creek.
Almaden Creek
Milliken Creek
Wild Horse Valley Creek
Sulphur Springs Creek
Wihl Horse Valley Creek
Santa Ynez River
Salinas River
Santa Ynez River
Llagas Creek
Santa Ynez River
Pacheco Creek
Tributary Tres Pinos Creek.
Carmel River
Carmel River
Santa Ana River
San Luis Rey River-
San Diego River
Piru Creek
Tributary Cajalco Creek
San Vincente Creek
Bear Creek
Cottonwood Creek
Temecula Creek
Otay River
San Gabriel River
Cottonwood Creek
Bouquet Creek
Big Tujunga Creek
San Gabriel River
San Gabriel River and Rio Hondo-
San Dieguito River.
Sec-
tion
17
14
and 23
29
25
16
6
25
36
1
13
13
10
1
12
16
and
1
29
29
16
23
12
30
19
6
16
24
9
19
11
27
32
36
13
33
24
11
7
4
6
12
31
22
14
10
18
6
22
29
18
13
1,
4, 5,
and 6
18
Town-
ship
47 N
18N
48N
43N
5N
44N
47N
4S
44N
44N
5S
9S
5S
IN
2S
7N
9S
8S
4S
2N
5S
2S
6N
9S
IN
9S
3N
7N
IN
7S
8S
IN
2N
4S
3N
9S
6N
5N
3N
5N
6N
30S
5N
9S
5N
10S
14S
18S
17S
3S
US
15S
4N
4S
14S
2N
17S
8S
18S
IN
17S
6N
2N
IN
2S
2S
13S
Range
8E
10W
4W
5\\
2E
:,\\
10E
3E
6W
9E
IE
3E
5W
4W
2W
5W
4E
1W
5W
8W
5W
2W
2W
2E
7W
1W
7W
4W
7W
2W
IE
3W
2W
5W
3W
IE
3W
3W
3W
3W
30W
14E
27W
3E
25W
6E
6E
3E
2E
7W
2E
2E
18W
6W
IE
1W
4E
1W
IE
9W
3E
14W
14W
10W
12W
11W
2W S.B
Hum'
and
me-
ridian
M.D.
M.D.
MI).
M.D.
H.
M.D.
M.D.
II.
M.I).
M.I).
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.I).
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.l).
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.I).
S.B
M.D.
S.B.
M.D.
S.B.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
Purpose
Irrigation
Power
Power
Irrigation
Municipal
I rrigation
Irrigation
Power
Irrigation
Irrigation
Municipal
Irrigation, municipal
Municipal
Municipal
Municipal
Municipal
Irrigation, municipal
Municipal, irrigation
Municipal
Municinal
Municipal
Municipal
Municipal
Irrigation, municipal
Municipal
Municipal
Municipal
Municipal, irrigation
Municipal
Irrigation, municipal
Irrigation, municipal
Municipal
Municipal
Municipal
Municipal ..
Irrigation, municipal
Municipal
Municipal
Municipal
Municipal
Irrigation, municipal
Municipal
Municipal
Irrigation, municipal
Municipal, irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation
Municipal
Municipal
Flood control
Irrigation
Municipal
Irrigation, power,
municipal
Municipal
Municipal
Irrigation
Municipal
Irrigation
Municipal
Flood control
Municipal
Municipal
Flood control
Municipal
Flood control
Municipal
elevation,
in feet
mean
1,552
1,920
2.613
2.828
200
2.625
5,100
374
M ,11
77.",
640
289
328
475
330
803
665
156
368
292
245
392
490
654
1 , 1 25
195
380
724
545
627
466
36
700
122
615
923
1 .383
85
1,207
776
1,320
1,402
535
2,230
483
701
1,053
535
566
2,740
770
1 ,075
1.371
650
6.746
:: 049
1.479
492
1,481
1,617
3, 1 II IS
1,087
1.175
239
in acn
330
527 i
93,724
77,000
33,000
3.000
2,249
I pin
1.060
1,000
1,000
100,01)0
75,000
54,000
43,1(13
11,436
30,000
27,770
25,
18,500
li',,.'
15,500
12,600
10,700
9,300
9,210
6.1
4,430
4,400
1 i
4,000
3,500
3,500
3,113
3,100
2,210
2,000
2,000
1,744
1.430
1,075
210,000
26,000
15.000
7,500
7,064
6,150
4,500
3,000
2,154
223,000
203,581
118,000
1(10.000
Kill. (100
90 231
72,400
53,700
51.000
49,126
43,825
42,899
36,200
35 SOI)
35.171
35,000
33,482
334
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
MAJOR RESERVOIRS OF CALIFORNIA-Continued
Reservoir
South Coastal Area— Continued
Santa Fe
Sutherland
Lake Loveland
i water
Santiago Creek
Lower San Fernando
Sepul veda
Puddings tone
Railroad Canyon
Lake Ilemet
< uyamaca
Cogswell
Chatsworth
Stone Canyon
Lake Wohlford
Matilija
Murray
Pacoima
San Joaquin Flood Control
Big Tujunga No. 1
B rea
Hollywood (Mulholland Dam)
Encino
Upper Otay
Lake Sherwood
Devils Gate
.Silver Lake
Vorba
Upper San Fernando
Dry Canyon
Sycamore
San Dieguito
Lee Lake
Palos Verdes
Peters Canyon
Lower Franklin
San Dimas-
Mocking Bird
Shasta.
Monticello
Central Valley Area
Lake Almanor.
Pine Flat
I olsom
Isabella.
Millerton Lake (Friant Dam) .
Clear Lake
Hetch Hetchy (O'Shaughnessy Dam)
Lake McClure (Exchequer Dam)
Don Pedro
I Iherry Valley
Pardee
Buena Vista Lake.
Suit Springs
sii.-i\ er Lake.
Wishon
\ ei million Valley. .
Melones
Creek.
Beardaley
Huntington Lake
I l":':ih
Stream
San Gabriel River
Santa Ysabel Creek
Sweetwater River
Sweetwater River
Santiago Creek
San Fernando Creek
Los Angeles River
Walnut Creek
San Jacinto River
South Fork San Jacinto River-
Boulder Creek
West Fork San Gabriel River. .
Tributary Los Angeles River. ..
Stone Canyon Creek
Escondido Creek
Matilija Creek
Chapparel Canyon
Pacoima Creek
Tributary Newport Bay
Big Tujunga Creek
Brea Creek
Weid Canyon
Encino Creek
Procter Valley Creek
Triunfo Creek
Arroyo Seco
Tributary Balona Creek
Tributary Santa Ana River
San Fernando Creek
Dry Canyon Creek
Sycamore Canyon
Tributary Escondido Creek
Temescal Creek
Tributary Los Angeles Harbor-
Peters Canyon
Franklin Canyon
San Dimas Creek
Mockingbird Canyon
Sacramento River.
Putah Creek
North Fork Feather River-
Kings River
American River-
Kern River.
San Joaquin River-
Cache Creek
Tuolumne River.
Merced River
Tuolumne River.
Cherry River
Mokelumne River
Kern River
North Foi-k Mokelumne River .
Stevenson Creek
North Fork Kings River
Mono Creek
Stanislaus River
Bucks Creek
Middle Fork Stanislaus River.
Big Creek
Rattlesnake Creek.
Calaveras River.
1 •'' Spaulding . South Fork Yuba River
brigl t i ppei V i
Tulloch
■ i
Yuba Uiver
Stanislaus River.
Canyon Creek
Sec-
tion
21
17
17
33
5
17
15
2
7
5
19
25
9
5
29
13
19
18
1
21
3
24
36
27
7
8
34
31
35
31
16
7
33
31
12
24
21
28
2
24
19
6
16
13
35
5
26
32
33
13
6
25
and 26
11
33
14 and
15
14
7
31
20
14
1
5
Town-
ship
IS
12S
16S
17S
4S
2N
IN
IS
6S
6S
14S
2N
2N
IS
12S
5N
16S
3N
6S
2N
3S
IS
IN
17S
IN
IN
IS
3S
3N
5N
2S
13S
5S
4S
4S
IS
IN
3S
33 N
8N
27N
13S
ION
26S
IIS
12N
IN
4S
2S
IN
5N
30S
8N
9S
US
6S
IN
24N
4N
8S
43N
4N
17N
16N
IS
18N
Range
10W
2E
2E
1W
8W
15W
15W
9W
4W
3E
4E
10W
17W
15W
1W
23W
2W
14W
9W
13W
10W
14W
16W
1W
19W
12W
13W
9W
15W
16W
4W
3W
5W
14W
8W
15W
9W
5W
5W
2W
8E
24E
7E
32E
21E
6W
20E
15E
14E
19E
10E
25E
16E
24E
28E
27E
13E
7E
17E
25E
12E
HE
12E
6E
12E
12E
Base
and
me-
ridian
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
Purpose
Flood control
Municipal
Municipal
Municipal
Irrigation
Municipal
Flood control
Flood control
Irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation, municipal
Flood control
Municipal
Municipal
Municipal, irrigation
Flood control
M unicipal
Flood control
Flood control
Flood control
Flood control
Municipal
Municipal
Municipal
Recreation, irrigation
Flood control
Municipal
Municipal
Municipal
Municipal
Flood control
M unicipal
Irrigation
Municipal
Irrigation
M unicipal
Flood control
Irrigation
Power, irrigation —
Irrigation, flood
control
Power
Irrigation, flood
control
Flood control, irriga-
tion, power, muni-
cipal
Flood control, irriga-
tion
Flood control, irriga-
tion
Irrigation
Municipal, power
Irrigation, power
Irrigation, power
Municipal, flood con
trol, power
Municipal, power
Irrigation
Power
Power
Power
Power
Irrigation, power
Power
Irrigation, power
Power
Irrigation
Flood control
Power, irrigation,
municipal
Debris, power
Irrigation, power
Irrigation, power
Crest
elevation,
in feet
above mean
sea level
514
2,074
1,368
240
810
1,142
725
982
1,390
4,336
4,641
2,405
898
856
1,479
1,138
540
2,015
30
2,304
295
756
1,022
555
954
1,070
458
290
1,219
1,514
1,013
250
1,153
330
538
586
1,470
1,010
1,078
456
4.515
970
480
2,634
582
1,328
3,812
710
609
4,715
575
300
3,960
5,371
6.550
7,650
723
5,168
3,405
6,954
4,907
654
5,014
542
515
5,567
APPENDIX H
MAJOR RESERVOIRS OF CALIFORNIA-Continued
335
Reservoir
Central Valley Area — (Continued)
Donnell
Florence Lake
Farmington
East Park
Stony Gorge
Butt Valley
Owen
Lower Bear River
Lake Fordyee
Bass Lake (Crane Valley Dam)
Sly Park
Lake Britten (Pit River No. 3 Dam)_.
Tule Lake
Woodward
Big Creek No. 7
Bullards Bar
Lake Eleanor
Dallas- Warner
Scotts Flat
Mountain Meadows (Indian 'Ole Dam)
Keswick
Twin Lake
Strawberry
West Valley
Relief
Mariposa
Big Dry Creek
North Fork
French Lake
Dorns
Salt Springs Valley
Lake Combie
Silver Lake
Lake Wilenor
Lake Valley
Loon Lake
Nimbus
Upper Blue Lake
Burns
Lake Yosemite
Bear River
North Big Dobe
Lake Van Norden
Meadow Lake
Bucks Diversion
Lyons
Medley Lakes
Coyote Flat
Lost Creek
Camp Far West
Philbrook
Round Valley
Meadow Lake
Misselbeck
Rock Creek
Silver Valley
Cresta
KerckhofT Diversion
Lower Blue Lake
Essex (S-X)
Tiger Creek Afterbay
Silva Flat
South Big Dobe
Spicers Meadows
Owens Creek
Magalia..
Stream
Middle Fork Stanislaus River
South Fork San Joaquin River
Littlejohns Creek
Little Stony Creek
Stony Creek
Butt Creek
Tributary Tuolumne River
Bear River
Fordyee Creek
North Fork San Joaquin River
Sly Park Creek
Pit River
Cedar Creek
Simmons Creek
San Joaquin River
North Fork Yuba River
Eleanor Creek
Tributary Tuolumne River
Deer Creek
Hamilton Creek
Sacramento River
Silver Fork of South Fork American
River
South Fork Stanislaus River .
\\ est Valley Creek
Relief Creek
Mariposa Creek
Big Dry Creek
North Fork American River
Canyon Creek
Stockdill Slough
Rock Creek
Bear River
Silver Fork of South Fork American
River
Concow Creek
North Fork of North Fork American
River
Gerle Creek
American River
Blue Creek
Burns Creek
Fahrens Creek
Bear River
Tributary Rattlesnake Creek
South Fork Yuba River
Tributary North Fork Mokelumne
River
Bucks Creek
South Fork Stanislaus River
Pyramid Creek
Coyote Creek
Lost Creek
Bear River
Philbrook Creek
North Canyon Creek
Tributary Fordyee Creek
North Fork Cottonwood Creek
North Fork Feather River
Tributary North Fork Stanislaus River
North Fork Feather River
San Joaquin River
Blue Creek
Tributary Pit River
North Fork Mokelumne River
Juniper Creek
Tributary Rattlesnake Creek
Highland Creek
Owens Creek
Little Butte Creek
Sec-
tion
35
36
25
3
16
13
31
18
34
25
17
and 18
30
33
9
15
24
3
20
11
13
21
18
15
18
13
30
22
31
17
8
and 17
16
2
32
16
35
4
and 5
16
18
25
33
9
22
23
27
29
24
30
31
24
21
13
15
27
31
26
and 35
9
2
24
30
6
23
10
26
3
23
25
Town-
ship
6N
7S
IN
17N
20N
26N
3S
8N
18N
7S
ION
37N
38N
IS
9S
18N
IN
3S
16N
28N
32N
ION
4N
39N
5N
7S
12S
13N
18N
42N
2N
13N
ION
22N
17N
13N
9N
9N
6S
6S
8N
44N
17N
9N
24N
3N
12N
36N
20N
14N
25N
26N
18N
31N
25N
7N
23N
9S
9N
42N
7N
36N
44 N
6N
7S
23 N
Hangr
18E
27E
9E
6W
7E
13E
16E
13E
22E
13E
3E
14E
10E
23E
7E
19E
12E
9E
8E
5W
18E
18E
14E
20E
17E
21E
9E
13E
13E
he
8E
17E
4E
12E
15E
7E
19E
15E
14E
16E
12E
14E
18E
7E
16E
17E
9E
7E
6E
4E
9E
13E
7\V
6E
18E
5E
22E
19E
HE
13E
9E
12E
18E
16E
3E
Base
and
me-
ridian
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.I).
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
Purpose
Irrigation, power
Power
Flood control
Irrigation
Irrigation
Power
Irrigation
Power
Power, irrigation,
municipal
Power
Irrigation
Power
Irrigation, preserva-
tion of wild fowl . .
Irrigation
Power
Power
Power, municipal-- . .
Irrigation
Irrigation, munici] ial
Power
Irrigation, power
Power
Power, irrigation,
municipal
Irrigation
Power
Flood control
Flood control
Debris
Irrigation, power
Irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation
Power
Irrigation
Power
Irrigation, municipal
Irrigation, municipal,
power
Power
Flood control
Irrigation
Power
Irrigation
Power
Power
Power
Irrigation, power,
municipal
Power
Irrigation
Irrigation ....
Irrigation
Irrigation, power
Irrigation
Power
Irrigation
Power
Power
Power
Power
Power
Irrigation
Power
Irrigation .
Irrigation
Power
Flood cont rol
Irrigation, municipal
Crest
elevation,
in feet
above mean
sea level
4,917
7,329
174
1,202
847
4,144
233
5,820
6,481
3,380
3,482
2,770
5,524
215
1,414
1,590
4,661
215
3,050
4,962
596
7,960
5,620
4.775
7,340
456
435
718
6,664
4,360
1,178
1,610
7,209
1,970
5,853
6,500
132
8,131
320
255
5,882
5,000
6,770
7,773
5,029
4,226
8,210
4,807
3.112
198
5,424
4,470
7,252
2,200
2,220
7,304
1,680
994
8.040
4,600
2,340
5,400
5.000
6,421
422
2,234
Storage
capacity.
in acre -fei '
64,500
64,406
52.000
51,000
50.200
49,768
49,000
48.500
16,662
45,410
41.000
40.600
39.500
35,000
35,000
31,489
27,800
27,000
26,300
24,800
24.000
21,250
18,600
17,7(111
15,122
15,000
15,000
14,600
12,500
11,100
10,900
9,000
8.726
8,600
8.127
8,000
7,700
7,500
7.000
7,000
6,756
6,530
5.874
5.850
5,843
5,508
5,350
5,250
5.200
5,000
4.875
4.800
I Mill
4,800
4,660
4.600
4,400
4.300
4,300
4.225
3,960
3,900
3,860
3.800
3,600
3,540
336
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
MAJOR RESERVOIRS OF CALIFORNIA-Continued
Reservoir
Central Valley Area — (Continued)
Spooner
Sawmill Lake :
Wallace
Mendota Diversion
Sequoia Lake
Payne
Pit Nil 1 Forebaj
Duncan
Lodi Lake W [bridge Diversion and
Dam)
Utica
Priest
Big Morning Star Dam)
Pit No. 4
Union
Sutter Butte Diversion
Lake Francis
Los Verjels
Schaad (Middle Fork Dam)
Detert Lake
Everly
Lake Sterling
Upper Peak Lake . -
Antelope (Huffman)
Taylor < 'reck No. 1
Kidd Lake
Emigrant Lake
Long Lake
Antelope "C"
I'lM ii Sardine Lake
Hume Lake __
I. own Empire Weir
Dicr ('reek Diversion
Davi> No. 2
Little Juniper
La ke Wyandotte
Twin Lakes
Ron nd Valley
Webber Creek
Davis Creek Orchards
Lake Tabeaud
Pit No. 5 Open Conduit Embankment .
Fuller Lake
Blue Lake
Toreson
Grizzly Creek Fcrebay
Barron No. 1
North Battle Creek..
Kel-ey
Nelson
McBrien
Jackson Lake
Lahontan Area
Lake Tahoe
Lake Crowley (Long Valley Dam)
Haiwee
(Irani Lake.
Lake Arrowhead
Bridgeport
Boca
Independence
Gem Lake
U. I loj Mai
Tinemaha _
South Lake (Hillside Dam)
Lake Lea' il I
Saddlel lake
Dormer Lake
Red Rod No. l
I lat...
-Hint
oa
i
I alien Leaf Lake
Round Vali,
Stream
Tributary Ash Creek
( 'anyon Creek
Tributary Mokelumne River
San Joaquin River
Mill Mat Creek
Tributary South Fork Pit River
FallRiver ..
Tributary Pit River
Mokelumne River
North Fork Stanislaus River
Rattlesnake Creek
Shirttail Canyon
Pit River
North Fork Stanislaus River
Feather River
Dobbins Creek
Dry Creek
Middle Fork Mokelumne River
Bucksnort Creek
Bean Flat
Sterling Creek
Tributary South Fork Yuba River
Clover Swale
Taylor Creek
Tributary South Fork Yuba River
North Fork Cherry Creek
( [ray Eagle Creek
Antelope Plains
Tributary Yuba River
Ten Mile Creek
South Fork Kings River
Deer Creek
Tributary of Calaveras River
Little Juniper ( 'reek . _ . .
North Fork Honcut Creek
Tributary North Fork Mokelumne
River
West Branch North Fork Feather River
Webber Creek
Ewing Creek
Jackson Creek
Sugar Pine Creek
Jordan Creek
Tributary Rucker Creek
Tom's Creek
Grizzly Creek
Ash Creek
North Fork Battle Creek
Tributary South Fork Dry Creek
Dry Creek
Pit River
Jackson Creek
Truckee River
Owens River
Rose Valley
Rush Creek
Little Bear Creek
East Walker River
Little Truckee River
Independence Creek
Rush Creek
Susan River
Owens River
South Folk Bishop Creek .. ... .
Tributary Susan River
Leevining Creek
Donner Creek
Rod Rock Creek..
Tributary Susan River
A ntelope Valley
Middle Fork Bishop Creek
Tributary Antelope Valley
Taylor Creek
Round Valley Creek
Rush Creek
Sec-
tion
30
11
15
19
1
15
25
33
34
and 35
21
31
17
8
28
33
5
34
9
9
26
10
32
11
8
29
30
6
13
9
4
20
10
6
4
16
25
30
18
30
28
5
17
9
16
34
13
and 14
20
31
24
27
31
6
19
2
15
14
34
28
35
30
23
25
15
15
6
18
22
25
12
31
2 and 3
2
30
14
Town-
ship
37N
18N
4N
13S
14S
41N
37N
43N
4N
7N
IS
15N
36N
7N
19N
17N
18N
6N
ION
47N
17N
17N
43N
39N
17N
4N
21N
44N
20N
13S
20S
16N
2N
40N
19N
9N
26N
ION
45N
6N
36N
17N
17N
41N
24N
37N
32N
4S
38N
42N
19N
15N
4S
21S
IS
2N
6N
18N
19N
2S
30N
10S
9S
29N
IN
17N
36N
30N
7N
8S
5N
12N
31 N
2S
Range
12E
12E
9E
15E
27E
13E
4E
9E
6E
18E
16E
HE
2E
18E
3E
7E
6E
14E
6W
12E
13E
14E
10E
7E
14E
21E
12E
10E
12E
28E
20E
9E
9E
13E
5E
18E
5E
12E
14E
12E
IE
12E
12E
10E
6E
HE
3E
15E
12E
HE
13E
17E
30E
37E
26E
3W
25E
17E
15E
26E
9E
34E
31E
13E
25E
16E
16E
9E
15W
31E
12W
17E
12E
25E
Have
and
me-
ridian
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
S.B.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
S.B.
M.D.
S.B.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
Purpose
Irrigation
Irrigation, power.
Mining
Irrigation
Recreation
Irrigation
Power
Irrigation
Irrigation
Power
Municipal, power.
Domestic
Power
Power
Irrigation
Power
Irrigation
Municipal
Irrigation
Irrigation
Power
Power
Irrigation
Irrigation
Power
Recreation
Industrial
Irrigation
Recreation
Recreation
Irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation
Power
Power
Irrigation
Irrigation
Municipal, power.
Power
Power
Power
Irrigation
Power
Irrigation
Power
Irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation, power-
Irrigation, power.
Municipal, power.
Municipal, power.
Municipal, power.
Recreation
Irrigation
Irrigation
Power
Power
Irrigation
Municipal, power.
Power
Irrigation
Power
Power, irrigation.
Irrigation
Irrigation
Municipal, power-
Power
Irrigation
Recreation
Irrigation
Power
Crest
elevation,
in feet
above mean
sea level
5,500
5,780
300
168
5,400
5,000
3,330
4,900
48
6,775
2,254
4,100
2,458
6,852
120
1,650
1,355
3,035
1,082
5,000
6,700
6,611
4,800
4,200
6,772
8,800
6,531
5,000
6,048
5,300
203
2,902
144
4,800
1,388
8,172
5,498
2,275
4,800
1,968
2,046
5,379
5,964
4,850
4,321
5,222
5,246
390
5,400
4,600
6,600
6,233
6,796
3,774
7,145
5,116
6,469
5,612
6,952
9,053
5,542
3,882
9,708
4,100
10.093
5,937
5,600
5.500
3,043
9,089
2,826
6,382
5,000
9,413
Storage
capacity,
in acre-feet
APPENDIX H
MAJOR RESERVOIRS OF CALIFORNIA-Continued
337
Reservoir
Stream
Sec-
tion
Town-
ship
Range
Base
and
me-
ridian
Purpose
Crest
elevation,
in feet
above mean
sea level
Storage
capacity,
in acre-feet
Lahonton Area — Continued
Littlerock
Pleasant Valley
Lundy Lake
Poison Spri ngs
Cramer
Heenan Lake
Lake Gregory
Willow Creek
Red Rock No. 3
Lower Twin Lake
Buckhorn
Echo Lake
Upper Twin Lake
Antelope
Tioga Lake
Branham Flat
Poore Lake
Big Pine Creek No. 2
Colorado Desert Area
Parker
Imperial
Copper Basin
Gene Wash
Littlerock Creek
Owens River
Mill Creek
Rock Creek
Tributary Horse Lake
Heenan Creek
Huston Creek
Willow Creek
Tributary Red Rock Creek
Robinson Creek
Buckhorn Creek
Tributary Upper Truckee River
Robinson Creek
Madeline Plains
Tributary Leevining Creek
Branham Creek
Poore Creek
Big Pine Creek
Colorado River
Colorado River
Copper Basin
Gene Wash
5N
6S
2N
46N
32N
9N
2N
30N
35N
4N
3.5N
iin
3N
34 N
IN
33N
5N
9S
2N
15S
2N
3N
11W
31E
25E
17E
13E
21E
4W
13E
16E
24E
17E
17E
24E
13E
25E
13E
22E
32E
27E
24E
26E
27E
S.B.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
S.B.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
M.D.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
S.B.
I miration .
Municipal .
Power
Irrigation..
Irrigation__
Irrigation..
Municipal.
Irrigation. .
Irrigation. .
Irrigation..
Irrigation..
Power
Irrigation..
Irrigation..
Power
Irrigation..
In Nation
Power
Municipal, power-
Irrigation, power.
Municipal
Municipal
3,264
4,409
7,808
5,200
5,063
7,200
4,530
5,400
7,079
5,950
7,460
7,100
5,300
9,657
5,600
7,361
10,036
455
197
1,038
746
4,300
3,825
3,820
3,750
3,000
3,000
2,300
2,200
2,100
2,000
2,000
1,900
1,500
1,500
1,386
1,200
1,200
1,071
717,000
85,000
22,000
6,300
M. D. — Mount Diablo Base and Meridian.
H. — Humboldt Base and Meridian.
S. B. — San Bernardino Base and Meridian.
APPENDIX I
WATER QUALITY CONSIDERATIONS AFFECTING USE
OF THE WATERS OF CALIFORNIA
(339 )
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WATER QUALITY CONSIDERATIONS AFFECT NG USE OF THE WATERS OF CALIFORNIA
Definitions
Page
341
Standards and Criteria of Water Quality 341
Tests of Water Quality 341
Mineral 341
Physical 341
Sanitary 341
Bacterial 341
Biological 341
Quality Standards and Criteria for Various
Water Uses 342
Drinking Water 342
Irrigation Water 343
Fish and Other Aquatic Life, Including
Shellfish 346
Recreation 347
Navigation 348
Salinity Control 348
Industry 348
Recharge of Ground Water 349
Mining 350
Page
Causes of Deterioration of Water Quality 350
Contamination and Pollution 350
Degradation 350
Domestic Sewage 351
Solid and Semisolid Refuse 352
Industrial Wastes 352
Fruit and Vegetable Canneries 352
Beet-Sugar Refineries 353
Oil Field Wastes 354
Irrigation Return Flow 354
Sea-Water Intrusion 355
Connate Waters 355
Inflow From Highly Mineralized Natural
Waters . 355
Land Erosion 355
Waste-Loading Capacity of Natural and Artifi-
cial Stream Channels 356
Natural Purification Capacity of Water 357
Surface Waters 357
Ground Waters 357
Quality Aspects in Planning for Water Projects. 358
TABLES
Table
No.
1-1 Limiting Concentrations of Mineral Constit-
uents for Drinking Water 342
1-2 Criteria for Classification of Irrigation
Waters 344
[-3 Relative Tolerance of Crop Plants to Salt
Constituents in the Soil Solution 345
Table
No.
1-4 Tolerance of Various Cultivated Plants to
Boron 346
1-5 Water Quality for Industrial Uses 349
1-6 Water Quality Limits for Boiler Feed
Water 349
( ?>40 )
APPENDIX I
341
WATER QUALITY CONSIDERATIONS AFFECTING USE
OF THE WATERS OF CALIFORNIA
Unprecedented demands for water by a rapidly
growing population and by expanding agricultural
and industrial activities, coupled with the impact of
recurrent drought, require the thorough consideration
of problems of water quality in developing plans for
future utilization of the waters of California. In-
creasing upstream uses of water impose the con-
comitant requirement that adequate facilities for
treatment, disposal, or diversion of municipal, indus-
trial, or agricultural waste waters be provided in
order that the quality of water supplies for down-
stream uses is not adversely affected.
General aspects of the quality of water problem in
California, particularly as it relates to water require-
ments, are presented in the following discussion.
DEFINITIONS
The terms "standards", "criteria", and "objec-
tives", as applied to water quality, are often used in-
terchangeably as synonyms. In reality they have
distinct meanings. In order to provide a consistent
basis for expression of ideas, the following definitions
are used by the Division of Water Resources: Stand-
ards are official limits of quality for beneficial uses
established by regulation or statute. Criteria are un-
official but recognized values or limits of quality for
beneficial uses based on experience and research.
Objectives are desired limits of quality for specific
waters based on the beneficial uses of the Avater, use
for waste disposal, legal standards, research criteria,
common experience, and physical, political, and eco-
nomic considerations. Compliance with w r ater quality
standards, criteria, or objectives is measured by test
or analysis of representative water samples.
STANDARDS AND CRITERIA OF
WATER QUALITY
Certain criteria or standards have been developed
which are generally accepted as useful guides in de-
termining whether water is of suitable quality for
various beneficial uses. The quality criteria given in
the following pages are for purposes of reference and
comparison only. It should not be inferred that they
are mandatory except in certain cases, as described
in the text, where they have been adopted by regula-
tion or statute.
Tests of Water Quality
The more common tests to determine the quality
characteristics of representative samples of natural
or waste waters are included in the following groups :
Mineral. A complete mineral analysis includes
the determination of all of the mineral or inorganic
constituents of water. As the term is generally used,
mineral analysis signifies determination of those major
constituents which are generally present in natural
waters in significant quantity, including calcium,
magnesium, sodium, potassium, carbonate, bicarbon-
ate, sulfate, chloride, nitrate, boron, silica, fluoride,
and hardness. The pH and the specific electrical con-
ductance, generally reported in micromhos at 25°
C, are also determined at the time of the analysis. A
partial analysis, including limited mineral deter-
minations, is made when the requirements of a par-
ticular investigation will be satisfied thereby, and
when the number of samples is too great to permit
more comprehensive analyses.
Physical. A physical analysis includes determina-
tion of the physical properties of water, such as
temperature, color, turbidity, odor, and electrical
conductance.
Sanitary. A sanitary chemical and biochemical
analysis compi-ises the determination of certain sub-
stances and characteristics of sanitary significance.
It may include dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen
demand, oxygen consumed from chromic acid, nitro-
gen in its various forms, such as nitrate, ammonia,
albuminoid, and total organic constituents, ether-
soluble matter, such as fats, grease, etc., settleable
solids, and total and suspended solids and ignition
losses. Sanitary surveys consisting of investigation
and evaluation of field conditions are required for
accurate interpretation of the sanitary analysis.
Bacterial. A bacteriological examination com-
prises tests for presence of coliform organisms, which
are used as an indicator of the sanitary quality of
water for human consumption. Certain organisms of
the coliform group are normal inhabitants of the in-
testines of man and other vertebrates, and therefore
the presence of such organisms is considered pre-
sumptive evidence of contact of water supplies with
human sewage. Results of the bacteriological exami-
nation are usually expressed in terms of the concen-
tration of organisms in a given volume of sample.
Concentrations are determined by statistical analysis
of results of the tests and are reported as the Most
Probable Number of coliform organisms.
Biological. The value of biological examination in
appraising water quality has long been recognized,
but the degree of scientific knowledge and skills re-
quired has often prevented its use. It comprises the
collection, examination, identification, and quanti-
342
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
tative measuremenl of aquatic organisms present in
a body of water and on the stream bottom, and ap-
praisal of their significance. Both visible (macro-
scopic and invisible (microscopic) life forms are
sought. The biological examination may serve any of
the following purposes important to the water supply
engineer: (1) to explain the causes of undesirable
color, turbidity, odor, and taste in water, and to indi-
cate methods for their removal; (2) to aid in inter-
preting other types of water analysis; (3) in special
eases, to identify a source of water; (4) to identify
organisms causing clogging of pipe lines and filters;
5 to indicate pollution by sewage and industrial
wastes; and (6) to indicate progress of self-purifica-
tion in natural surface waters.
Biological examination of water offers at least two
important advantages as compared to ordinary meth-
ods of chemical analysis. First, it is to a large extent
integrating with respect to time; that is to say, the
distribution and condition of aquatic organisms re-
flect water quality conditions for a considerable
period in the past. In contrast, the usual random or
"grab" method of sampling employed for chemical
analysis of water indicates water quality only at the
instant of sampling, and often gives an untrue or
abnormal impression of water quality. Secondly,
aquatic organisms are often sensitive to toxic con-
stituents which are not revealed in ordinary chemical
analysis. Biological examinations are therefore a very
useful supplement to chemical methods.
Quality Standards and Criteria for
Various Water Uses
The suitability of a water supply for a specific use
may be ascertained by comparison of its determined
quality characteristics with the accepted quality cri-
teria Tor the use under consideration. Values used to
define suitability or acceptability of water for various
beneficial uses are based upon the best information
currently available. These values are general approxi-
mations but serve as a guide to judgment of suit-
ability for the use under consideration. With respect
to criteria, which, as heretofore stated, are not man-
datory, the particular circumstances of each indi-
vidual ease must be assessed before a final determina-
tion of the suitability of a particular water supply
can properly be made.
In applying quality criteria to water for a particu-
lar use, the rule of reasonableness should be con-
sidered. For example, it might be unreasonable to
expecl thai the quality of the source water of an indus-
trial water supply be maintained such that no treat-
ment is required prior to use. Industries which have
particularly exacting quality requirements ordinarily
accepl the necessity for special treatment of water at
their own expense, in general, the responsibility of a
public agency supplying industrial water is consid-
ered to be met if such water is of potable quality.
Drinking Water. No domestic water may be pur-
veyed publicly in California without a permit from
the State Board of Public Health. Such water sup-
plies shall at all times be pure, wholesome, and po-
table.
Requirements have been promulgated by the
United States Public Health Service governing the
quality of waters used on interstate carriers. These
standards have been incorporated by reference in
the California Health and Safety Code. According to
these standards, the chemical substances contained in
drinking water supplies, either natural or treated,
should not exceed the concentrations shown in Table
1-1. Standards which are starred are mandatory,
while the remainder are merely recommended as a de-
sired objective. This table of constituents is by no
means complete. Other mineral compounds may be
included if their presence renders the water hazard-
ous for safe use. As an example, in a letter to the
Central Valley Regional Water Pollution Control
Board, concerning the McClellan Air Force Base in-
dustrial waste discharge, the California Department
of Public Health, Bureau of Sanitary Engineering,
recommended that the safe limit for nickel in the re-
ceiving water at the water supply intake of the City
of Sacramento be limited to one part per million.
Bacteriological requirements of the United States
Public Health Service for drinking water are quoted
as follows :
TABLE 1-1
LIMITING CONCENTRATIONS OF MINERAL
CONSTITUENTS FOR DRINKING WATER
United States Public Health Service Drinking
Water Standards, 1946
Constituent
Upper limit of
concentration,
in parts per million
Fluoride (F)
1.5*
Iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) together
Magnesium (Mg)_ _
Chloride (CI)
0.3
125
250
Sulfate (SO<)
250
Lead (Pb)
0.1*
Selenium (Se) .
0.05*
0.05*
Copper (Cu) _ _ __
3.0
Arsenic (As) . . . _ . .
0.05*
Zinc (Zn)
15
Phenol
0.001
Total solids. ...
500 (1,000 permitted)
Mandatory upper limits; others are recommended.
"3.21 Of all the standard ten milliliter (10 ml.)
portions examined per month in accordance with
the specified procedure, not more than ten (10) per-
cent shall show the presence of organisms of the
coliform group.
"3.22 Occasionally three (3) or more of the five
(5) equal ten milliliter (10 ml.) portions consti-
tuting a single standard sample may show the pres-
ence of organisms of the coliform group, provided
APPENDIX I
343
that this shall not be allowable if it occurs in con-
secutive samples or in more than :
(a) Five (5) percent of the standard samples
when twenty (20) or more samples have been
examined per month.
(b) One (1) standard sample when less than
twenty (20) samples have been examined
per month.
"Provided further that when three or more of
the five ten milliliter (10 ml.) portions constituting
a single standard sample show the presence of or-
ganisms of the coliform group, daily samples from
the sampling point shall be collected promptly and
examined until the results obtained from at least
two consecutive samples show the water to be of
satisfactory quality."
"Water as supplied to the consumer for domestic or
municipal uses should conform to the above standards
for drinking water. Where these supplies are used for
other purposes, such as incidental irrigation or in-
dustrial use. it may be necessary to consider mineral
quality requirements for such uses in addition to the
requirements for drinking purposes.
An additional factor with which operators of pub-
lic water supply systems are concerned is the so-called
"hardness" of the supplies. Hardness in water is
principally due to carbonates and sulfates of calcium
and magnesium, and is generally evidenced to the con-
sumer by inability to develop suds when using soap.
Hardness is an important consideration to industrial
organizations, due to its effect on plant maintenance
and manufacturing processes. However, in general do-
mestic use, hardness can result in increased soap con-
sumption, excessive repairs to plumbing, and the
necessity or desirability of maintaining individual
water softener appliances. Waters which have a hard-
ness below 55 parts per million seldom cause com-
plaint, but above 100 parts per million they may well
be termed "hard" and above 200 parts per million
can be called "very hard." Treatment to remove hard-
ness is often combined with other treatment processes
prior to distribution of the water supply to the con-
sumer.
Irrigation Water. In establishing the relative
suitabilities of surface and ground waters for irriga-
tion use it is necessary to consider the effects of min-
eral constituents of the water on both the plant and
the soil. The deleterious effects of salts on plant
growth can result from: (a) direct physical effects of
salts in preventing uptake of water by plants (os-
motic effects) ; (b) direct chemical effects on metabolic
reactions of plants; and/or (c) indirect effects
through changes in soil structure, permeability, and
aeration. The most significant water quality factors in
these three types of injury are total dissolved salts.
deleterious substances found in low or trace concen-
trations, and certain percentage combinations of the
predominant cations calcium, magnesium, sodium, and
potassium, and anions carbonate, bicarbonate, chlo-
ride, and sulfate.
The total salt content, the main effect of which is
osmotic, is generally stated in terms of specific elec-
trical conductance, a measure of concentration of ions
per unit of water, and or in terms of total dissolved
solids in parts per million parts of water. Osmotic
effects are caused primarily by the cations calcium,
magnesium, sodium, and potassium, and the anions
carbonate, bicarbonate, sulfate, chloride, and nitrate,
and in part by the constituents present in the water
in low or trace concentrations. The individual con-
stituents which may affect metabolic reactions of
plants include nearly all of the elements already cited
if they are present in abnormally large quantities.
Chlorides and sulfates are specifically mentioned in
this regard.
Constituents present in water in very low or trace
concentrations which seriously affect the metabolic re-
actions of plants include boron, lithium, iron, and
other heavy metals, the exact symptomatic effects of
which are presently unknown. Boron is now con-
sidered to be the most important minor constituent
in water, and is the only so-called "minor" or "trace"
element that is routinely considered in evaluating suit-
ability of water for irrigation. Although used by
plants in metabolic reactions in small amounts, boron
is extremely toxic if present in irrigation water in
amounts exceeding from about 0.5 to 2 parts per
million.
The percentage combinations of a mineral constitu-
ent in water are generally expressed as percentage
reacting values to the totals of the cations or anions
as the case may be. Per cent sodium is particularly
important because, at certain percentage values,
sodium reacts with the soil in such a way as to ren-
der it relatively impermeable to water and in some
instances to plant roots. Such sodium-affected soils
are commonly termed alkali soils if carbonates are
the predominant anions in the soil solution, or saline
soils if chlorides or sulfates are the predominant
anions. Sodium-saturated soils, either alkali or saline.
characteristically support little or no plant growth.
The limits of permissible mineral concentration in
irrigation waters have been resolved into classifica-
tions or divisions of the waters into broad categories
of quality designated as: "excellent to good," or
"suitable under most conditions"; "good to injuri-
ous." or "harmful to some plants under certain
conditions"; and "injurious to unsatisfactory," or
"harmful to most plants under most conditions."
Occasionally, these classes have been further subdi-
vided into groupings labeled "excellent," "good,"
"permissible," "injurious," and "unsatisfactory."
344
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
TABLE 1-2
CRITERIA FOR CLASSIFICATION OF IRRIGATION WATERS
Percent
sodium,
NaXlOO
Conductance,
ECX10«
at 25 C C.
Total salts.
in
parts per
million
Boron, in parts per million
Chlorides,
in milli-
equivalents
per liter
Sulfates,
Reference*
K+Na + Mg
-f-Ca as milli-
equivalents
per liter
Sensitive
plants
Semitolerant
plants
Tolerant
plants
equivalents
per liter
i llass I. excellent to good, or
suitable for most plants
under most conditions
\ ...
0-60
0-30
0-60
60-75
30-70
60-70
75-
70-
70-
0-1.000
0-500
0-750
1,000-3.000
500-2.500
750-3,000
3,000-
2,500-
3,000-
0-700
0-350
700-2,100
350-1,750
2,100-
1,750-
0-0.5
0-0.5
0.5-1.12
0.5-1.0
1.12-
1.0-
0-0.5
0-1.0
0-1.0
0.5-2.0
1-2.25
1.0-2.0
2.0-
2.25-
2.0-
0-1.5
0-2.0
1.5-3.35
2.0-3.0
3.35-
3.0-
0-5
0-5.5
5-10
5.5-16.0
10-
16-
0-10
B - -- ---
0-5.5
C ..--. -
( hiss II, good to injurious,
harmful to some under
certain conditions of soil,
climate, practices
A
10-20
B
5.5-16.0
c
Class III, injurious to un-
satisfactory, unsuitable
under most conditions
A -
20-
B
16-
C - -
*A California State Water Resources Board. "Water Resources of California." Bulletin No. 1. 1951.
B Scofiekl, Carl S. "The Salinity of Irrigation Water." Smithsonian Report. 1951.
C Chapman, H. D., Wilcox, L. V.. and Hayward, H. E. "Water Quality from an Agricultural Point of View." Report of Interim Fact-Finding Committee on Water Pollution. Cali-
fornia State Assembly. 1949.
Five parameters are primarily used in such classifica-
tions. These are: (1) per cent sodium; (2) total dis-
solved mineral solids; (3) boron concentration; (4)
chloride concentration; and (5) sulfate concentration.
Criteria proposed by various agencies for the classi-
fication of irrigation waters are presented in Table
1-2. The latest published proposals for irrigation
waters are found in "Diagnosis and Improvement of
Saline and Alkali Soils," Agricultural Handbook
No. 60, Regional Salinity Laboratory, United States
Department of Agriculture. The State of California
docs not have any officially adopted standards for
quality of irrigation waters.
It is here noted that the criteria for the classifica-
tion under Reference A in Table 1-2 were taken from
information supplied to the Division of Water Re-
sources by Dr. L. D. Doneen, Professor in the De-
partment of Irrigation of the University of California
at Davis, and have been used for some time by the
Division for classifying irrigation waters.
Iieccnl research performed by Dr. Doneen has
pointed out certain inadequacies of the total salt
concept, and he has suggested a revision of standards
based <>n a new method for calculating salinity of
irrigation water, A statement submitted by Dr.
Doneen in regard to the suggested change follows:
'lli: proposed standard for total salts of an
irrigation water is based on the premise that the
salts will accumulate in the soil due to evaporation
from the soil surface and water used by the plants
in transpiration. Plants usually remove only a
small percentage of the total salts occurring in the
irrigation water. As the soil solution becomes con-
centrated certain salts will precipitate. Because of
the low solubility, the first to precipitate will be
calcium carbonate, followed by magnesium carbon-
ate and finally by calcium sulfate. Those salts will
not produce a saline soil. Other salts normally
occurring in irrigation water in any significant con-
centration are extremely soluble and accumulate in
the soil solution as salines. These salines are listed
as 'effective salinity.' Therefore, calcium and mag-
nesium carbonates and calcium sulfate should not
be considered in establishing standards for total
salts as is now the practice in the use of electrical
conductance, total parts per million or milliequiva-
lents per liter concentration.
' ' The following table suggests standards for effec-
tive salinity of the irrigation water with and with-
out restricted drainage. The crucial concentrations
are those listed in Class I for the three soil condi-
tions. Class II and III indicate increasing concen-
tration, and the build-up of soil salinity should be
checked periodically and irrigation practices ad-
justed to remove salinity with the minimum loss
of water.
APPENDIX I
345
'TENTATIVE CLASSIFICATION FOR EFFECTIVE SALINITY
OF IRRIGATION WATER
Class
Soil
Terms
used
conditions
I
II
III
Little or no leaching
fion milliequivalents
\ parts per million
3
3- 5
5
of the soil can be
165
165- 275
275
expected
[lbs/acre-foot
450
450- 750
750
Some leaching but
fion milliequivalents
5
5- 10
10
restricted; deep
■{parts per million
275
275- 550
550
percolation or
(lbs/acre-foot
750
750-1500
1500
drainage slow
Open soils; deep
fion milliequivalents
7
7- 15
15
percolation of
■j parts per million
385
385- 825
825
water easily ac-
[lbs/acre-foot
1050
1050-2250
2250
complished
end of quotation
The relative tolerance of crop plants to salt con-
stituents in the soil solution has been arranged in
the order of increasing tolerance in Table 1-3. Data
presented in this tabulation are based upon research
at the University of California and the United States
Regional Salinity Laboratories at Riverside.
The tolerance of various crops to boron in irriga-
tion water is presented in Table 1-4. Those plants
which can withstand only relatively low concentra-
tions are designated as sensitive, an intermediate
group as semi-tolerant, and a final group as tolerant.
Within a given group the more sensitive plants are
listed first. The grouping is based upon research at
the University of California and the United States
Regional Salinity Laboratory at Riverside.
With regard to bacteriological requirements for
irrigation water, the State Department of Public
Health has established regulations governing use of
sewage for crop irrigation purposes. Pertinent ex-
tracts of these regulations state:
"Raw, i.e., untreated, sewage containing human
excrement shall not be used for irrigating growing
crops. Use of bar screens, grit, or detritus tanks is
not to be considered as sewage treatment under
these regulations. ' '
*****
"Effluents of septic tanks, Imhoff tanks or of
other settling tanks, or partially disinfected efflu-
ents of sprinkling filters or activated sludge plants
or similar sewages, shall not be used to water any
growing vegetables, garden truck, berries, or low-
growing fruits such that the fruit is in contact with
(he ground, or to water vineyards or orchard crops
during seasons in which the windfalls or fruit lie
on the ground. . . .
"Nursery stock, cotton, and such field crops as
hay, grain, rice, alfalfa, sugar beets, fodder corn,
cowbeets, and fodder carrots may be watered with
such settled or undisinfected or partially disin-
fected sewage effluents provided that no milch cows
are pastured on the land while it is moist with
TABLE 1-3
RELATIVE TOLERANCE OF CROP PLANTS TO SALT CONSTITUENTS
IN THE SOIL SOLUTION
(In order of increasing tolerance)
Crops which may be
Crops which may be grown
Crops w
hich
may be grown
grown on soils of
on soils of weak salinity
on soils of medium salinity
strong salinity
Fruit Crops
Lemon
Almond
Olive
Date palm
Orange
Pear
Grape
Apple
Grapefruit
Fig
Plum
Peach
Pomegranate
Apricot
Field and Truck Crops
Green beans
Wheat
Oats
Cotton
Potato
Pepper
Rye
Kale
Sweet potato
Onion
Barley
Rape
Eggplant
Squash
Sorghum
Milo
Artichoke
Spinach
Foxtail millet
Garden beets
Cabbage
Carrot
Asparagus
Sugar beets
Celery
Lettuce
Tomato
Peas
Cantaloupe
Flax
Vetch
Sunflower
Rice
Alfalfa
Forage Crops
Burnet
Sickle milk vetch
Orchard grass
Western wheat grass
Ladino clover
Sour clover
Tall fescue
Beardless wild rye
Red clover
Cicer milk vetch
Alfalfa
Canada wild rye
Alsike clover
Tall meadow oat
grass
Herban clover
Rhodes grass
Meadow foxtail
Smooth brome
Sudan grass
Rescue grass
White dutch clover
Big trefoil
Dallis grass
Bermuda grass
Reed canary
Strawberry clover
Salt grass
Meadow fescue
Birdsfoot trefoil
Nuttall alkali grass
Blue grass
Sweet clover
Alkali sacaton
346
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
sewage, or have access to ditches carrying sucn
sewage.
' ' The foregoing restrictions do not apply against
the use of well oxidized nonputrescible, and reli-
ably disinfected or filtered effluents which always
meet the following bacterial standard: in any 20
consecutive samples, from which five 10 c.c. por-
tions each are examined, not over ten portions shall
be positive for members of the Coli-aerogenes
group, and in no single sample shall over half the
.1 c.c. portions of the sample of the effluent be posi-
tive for the above organisms. Samples shall be an-
alyzed according to the latest Standard Methods of
Examination of Water and Sewage of American
Public Health Association."
It is important that the local conditions be con-
sidered carefully before passing judgment on the
suitability of a particular water for irrigation. In
this connection, a water may be suitable in respect to
one characteristic and doubtful or unsuitable in an-
other. Because of great differences in salt tolerance
of plants on the one hand, and the influence of nat-
ural modifying conditions such as soil permeability,
temperature, humidity, and rainfall on the other, it
is impossible, for general application, to establish fixed
limits. The variables introduced by the soil permea-
bility factor are particularly noteworthy. For exam-
ple, the rapid percolation of rainfall and irrigation
water through permeable sandy soil tends to leach the
salts downward, and thus to prevent accumulation of
salts in the effective root zone. In heavy clay soils the
leaching effects are not as well pronounced, and the
salt content builds up at a relatively rapid rate with
successive irrigations. In especially heavy soils of
restricted permeability it is possible that a twofold
or more increase in salt content may develop from use
of a given water during a single irrigation season.
In determining the suitability of water for irriga-
tion use, it is necessary to consider the characteristics
of the water not only with respect to the conditions of
its use, but also with respect to artificial modifications
that could be imposed on the conditions of use for
the purpose of increasing its usefulness. A modifica-
tion that may be imposed with respect to water of
high sodium content, for example, is the application
of gypsum to the irrigation water or to the soil being
irrigated. A modification that may be imposed with
respect to water of high salt content is the application
of excess water to effect leaching. Fertilizers may
also In' used to enhance suitability of waters for irri-
gation purposes.
Fish and Other Aquatic Life, Including Shellfish.
Water of suitable quality is a fundamental require-
ment for the existence of an abundant supply of
E I and game fish in California's streams and lakes.
Quality of the water must be such as to maintain an
aim in hint supply of food required by fish and other
TABLE 1-4
TOLERANCE OF VARIOUS CULTIVATED
PLANTS TO BORON
(In order
of increasing tolerance)
Sensitive
Semi-tolerant
Tolerant
Lemon
Lima bean
Tobacco
Grapefruit
Sweet potato
Carrot
Avocado
Bell pepper
Lettuce
Orange
Tomato
Cabbage
Thornless blackberry
Pumpkin
Turnip
Apricot
Zinnia
Onion
Plum
Oat
Broad bean
Prune
Milo
Muskmelon
Peach
Corn
Gladiolus
Cherry
Wheat
Alfalfa
Kadota fig
Olive
Garden beets
Grape
Rose
Mangel
Apple
Radish
Sugar beets
Pear
Sweet pea
Artichoke
American elm
Cotton
Palms
Navy bean
Sunflower
Asparagus
English walnut
Field pea
Sweet clover
Black walnut
Potato
Pecan
Celery
Cow pea
Vetch
Persimmon
Barley
desirable forms of aquatic life. The various sub-
stances or impurities carried in solution and suspen-
sion by a stream or body of water determine whether
the waters present environmental conditions favor-
able or unfavorable for fish and other aquatic organ-
isms.
The quantity of impurities in water that adversely
affects fish life, or a particular form of sustaining
aquatic life, is rather difficult to ascertain because
of the inter-dependence of most forms of aquatic life.
However, waters utilized for the propagation of fish
and aquatic life should be free of toxic or harmful
concentrations, of mineral and organic substances and
excessive turbidity. Extensive field and laboratory
studies conducted by the United States Fish and Wild-
life Service result in the conclusion that the water in
streams supporting a mixed population of fish should
have the following properties :
(a) Dissolved oxygen not less than 5 parts per mil-
lion, or at least 85 per cent of saturation.
(b) pH range between 7.0 and 8.5.
(c) Ionizable salts as indicated by a conductivity
between 150 and 500 mieromhos at 25° Centi-
grade and in general not exceeding 1,000
mieromhos.
(d) Ammonia not exceeding 1.5 parts per million.
(e) Suspensoids of a hardness of 1 or greater, so
finely divided that they will pass through
a 1,000-mesh (to the inch) screen; and so
diluted that the resultant turbidity would
not reduce the millionth intensity depth for
light penetration to less than 5 meters.
It is indicated that the metallic cations least harm-
ful to fish are sodium, calcium, strontium, and mag-
APPENDIX I
347
nesium. Cations of relatively low toxicity are potas-
sium, lithium, barium, manganese, and cobalt. High
toxicity to fish is produced by silver, mercury, cop-
per, lead, zinc, cadmium, aluminum, nickel, trivalent
chromium, tin, iron, gold, cerium, platinum, thorium,
and palladium. Extremely toxic solutions are cupric,
mercuric, and silver salts.
If favorable conditions are to be maintained in
waters supporting fish and aquatic life, all pollutants
not readily oxidizable or removable by the flow of a
stream should be excluded. It is particularly impor-
tant that formation of sludge banks be avoided. The
excluded products include particularly all cellulose
pulp and wastes carrying heavy metallic ions. In this
respect, the California Fish and Game Code is quoted
as follows :
"481. It is unlawful to deposit in, permit to
pass into, or place where it can pass into the waters
of this State, any petroleum, acid, coal or oil tar,
lamp black, aniline, asphalt, bitumen, or residuary
product of petroleum, or carbonaceous material, or
substance, or any refuse, liquid or solid, from any
refinery, gas house, tannery, distillery, chemical
works, mill or factory of any kind, or any sawdust,
shavings, slabs, edgings, or any factory refuse, or
any lime, any cocculus indicus, or any slag, or any
substance or material deleterious to fish, plant life,
or bird life.
"481.5. "Whenever it is determined by the com-
mission that a continuing and chronic condition of
pollution exists, the commission shall report such
condition to the appropriate regional water pollu-
tion control board, and shall cooperate with and
act through such board in obtaining correction in
accordance with any laws administered by such
board for control of practice for sewage and indus-
trial Avaste disposal."
Increasing use of detergents for household and in-
dustrial purposes and the use of poisons and insecti-
cides in agriculture pose a serious hazard to fish life.
Modern detergents contain a high percentage of phos-
phates, which may radically change the entire aquatic
biota of the receiving water. Detergents, particularly
the nonionic types, are extremely toxic to fish life.
Studies by the California Department of Fish and
Game indicate that the toxic level for common house-
hold detergents may be as low as 10 to 20 parts per
million.
Shellfish are readily and adversely affected by con-
taminated water, and have often been a factor in the
transmission of water-borne diseases. Oysters are par-
ticularly important in this respect because they are
frequently eaten raw. A history of epidemics ascribed
to infected shellfish led to the development by the
United States Public Health Service, about thirty
years ago, of sanitary standards in waters used for
growing shellfish which enter interstate commerce.
Growing areas are classified, according to density of
coliform bacteria of their waters, and according to
their freedom from contamination as revealed by a
sanitary survey. Three classifications of waters are
recognized: "approved," having a median coliform
density under 70 per 100 milliliters (ml.), and free
from discharges of human sewage; "closed," having
a coliform density over 700 per 100 ml., and contami-
nated by known sources of sewage ; and ' ' restricted, ' '
an intermediate class of growing areas from which
shellfish may be taken only under severe precautions.
The California Department of Public Health has
adopted regulations to control shellfish production
which are based on those of the United States Public
Health Service, and uses the bacterial standards cited
above as a guide in appraising suitability of shellfish
growing areas.
Development and use of water resources, including
the construction of dams for storage of water, fre-
quently affect water temperatures which in turn affect
fish and other aquatic life. Optimum temperatures for
cold-water fish, such as trout and salmon, are not well
known, but probably lie between 50° and 60° Fahren-
heit. The cold-water species are generally intolerant
of temperatures above 61° Fahrenheit, and will seek
the lower temperature where possible. Warm-water
fish, such as minnows, car]), catfish, perch, sunfish.
and bass, normally live in water having temperatures
ranging from near 32° to 86° Fahrenheit. Acclimation
enables the warm-water species to live in water having
temperatures as high as 91° Fahrenheit, although they
migrate to waters below 86° Fahrenheit where pos-
sible.
"Waterfowl are seriously affected by conditions
which destroy an abundant supply of aquatic life.
Botulism, which has occurred at a number of places
in California, accounts for the death of thousands of
ducks. The cause of the disease is a toxin produced
by bacterial organisms under certain conditions of
septicity and temperature. The incidence of the dis-
ease has been halted by supplying fresh water to the
affected area.
Recreation. No minimum sanitary requirements
have been established for natural fresh-water bathing-
places, but the State Board of Public Health uses the
following criteria in establishing quarantine of public
salt-water bathing areas :
(1) The area shall be free of visible solids of sewage
origin.
(2) The waters shall not contain more than 10 per
milliliter of coliform organisms in more than
20 per cent of the samples taken for sanitary
analysis.
In addition to the above requirements, waters to be
used for recreation should be free from odor, color,
grease, suspended matter, floating matter, toxic ma-
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
terials, and constituents adversely affecting aquatic
life in natural streams and lakes.
In California the minimum regulations governing
artificially constructed swiming pools are set forth
by the State Department of Public Health as follows :
"Every swimming pool shall be provided with an
adequate water supply including such water purifi-
cation works as may be necessary so that (a) the
water in the pool shall at all times of use be suffi-
ciently bright and clear that the body of the bather
or an object simulating it on the bottom of the pool
in its deepest part will be plainly visible from the
edge of the pool surrounding the deep end ; and (b)
the bacterial condition of water in the pool and of
water as admitted to the pool shall be such that at
all times, including times of intense use of the
pool, samples of water taken from any part of the
pool will not contain more than 1,000 bacteria per
cubic centimeter when plated on standard Agar
medium for 24 hours at 37° O, nor B. Coli in more
than one of two one cubic centimeter portions of
water when confirmed on solid medium ..."
Navigation. Water quality is incidental to the
actual movement of vessels through the water unless
navigation is physically blocked by sediment and
debris, floating or otherwise. Ships and small boats
are frequently damaged by caustic or acid wastes
which corrode the paint or cause deposits of unsightly
residue on the sides of the vessels. The fire hazard
of oil is also important when considering quality
standards for navigational waters. In harbors and
dockage areas the disposal of organic wastes may
corrode the hulls of vessels because of the hydrogen
sulfide that is generated from decomposition of the
materials. Corrosion of bronze propellers and gun-
metal sleeves on propeller shafts is caused by presence
of sulfide in polluted waters. These decomposing or-
ganic wastes also give off offensive odors.
Salinity Control. One of the principal objectives
of tlie Central Valley Project is to protect the Sacra-
mento-San Joaquin Delta from intrusion of salt
water from Suisun Bay. It is necessary to maintain a
net inflow of about 3,300 second-feet to the Delta over
and above consumptive requirements in the Delta, in
order to achieve the objective of maintaining chlo-
rides of no more than 1,000 parts per million in the
Sacramento River near Antioch. The necessary volume
of water fur control of seawater intrusion is met
wholly or in part from operation of Shasta Reservoir.
Another salinity problem that is of increasing
importance is the accretion to streams of waters con-
taining large amounts of dissolved minerals, princi-
pally return waters from irrigation. Control of this
t \ pe of salinity is besl achieved by dilution with water
of low mineral content. The success of the control
measures. j n this instance, is dependent not only on
the volume of water that can be made available for
this purpose, but also upon the mineral content of
the diluting water. The quality requirements for this
purpose are variable and cannot be readily formu-
lated except as related to a specific stream and plan
of development.
Industry. Industrial uses of water are quite vari-
able with regard to suitable water quality. Require-
ments vary from the extremely exacting criteria for
make-up water for high-pressure boilers to the very
low requirements of water used for cooling condensers
in steam plants. Make-up water for high-pressure
boilers must be limited to extremely low concentra-
tions of dissolved mineral solids and organic matter,
whereas even sea water may be used for cooling of
condensers.
Industrial Avaters include those utilized for food
processing purposes. With the single exception of fish
canning operations, such waters must at least conform
to the quality standards previously cited for drinking
water supplies. Some food processing industries are
even more exacting with respect to water quality,
particularly from the standpoint of concentration and
composition of mineral solubles.
Bacteriological and quality standards of the State
Board of Public Health for salt water used in fish
canning operations are quoted as follows :
" (a) Waters satisfactory without treatment
( 1 ) For whole fish handling operations :
a) Not subject to contamination with
human fecal discharges
b) Maximum of 7 E. coli organisms
per cc
c) Bacterial Standard may be exceeded
in not more than 5% of the samples
(b) Waters satisfactory after treatment
( 1 ) For whole fish handling operations :
a) Not subject to gross contamination
with human fecal discharges before
treatment
b) Maximum of 3 E. coli organisms per
cc after treatment
c) Bacterial Standard may be exceeded
in not more than 20% of the samples
(2) For cut fish handling operations:
a) Not subject to gross contamination
with human fecal discharges before
treatment
b) Maximum of 3 E. coli organisms per
cc after treatment
c) Bacterial Standard may be exceeded
in not more than 5% of the samples
d) The treatment shall include filtration
or the equivalent as one of the steps
of the treatment process
APPENDIX I
349
TABLE 1-5
WATER QUALITY FOR INDUSTRIAL USES a
(Allowable
imits, in
aarts per
million)
Tur-
bidity
Color
Odor
and
taste
Iron
as
Fe
Man-
ganese
as
Mn
Total
solids
Hard-
ness
as
CaCOa
Alka-
linity
as
CaCOa
Hydro-
gen
sul-
fide
Miscellaneous requirements
Use
Health
Other
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
Low
0.5^
0.2>>
0.1k
0.1b
0.2 1 '
0.2
0.2b
0.5b
0.2 b
0.2 b
0.2b
0.2b
1.0b
0.2b
0.1b
0.1b
0.05b
0.0
0.25
0.25 b
0.5
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.5
0.2
0.2
0.2
200.0
0.5
0.1
0.05
0.05
0.03
0.0
0.25
0.25
1.0
0.2
0.2
0.2
1.0
0.2
0.2
5.0
Potable
Potable
Potable
Potable
Potable
Potable
Potable
Pot.'ll.lr
10
10
10
10
2
10
10
Brewing
500
1,000
850
100
25-72
250
75
150
lion— pH 6.5-7.0.
NaCl less than 275 parts per mil-
Canning
lion — pH 7.0 or more.
Carbonated beverages
50-100
Organic color plus oxygen consumed
less than 10 parts per million.
pH above 7 . for hard candy.
50
10
5
50
5
Low
Low
200
300
200
200
100
50
50
Si02 less than 10 parts per million.
2
50
25
15
5
5
.3
5
5
2
20
15
10
5
5
Paper and pulp
180
100
100
50
8
55
High-grade, light papers
Rayon (viscose)
Pulp production
Total 50;
hydroxide
8
AI2O3 less than 8 parts per million;
S1O2 less than 25 parts per million;
Cu less than 5 parts per million.
pH 7.8 to 8.3.
20
5-20
200
Constant composition; residual
alumina less than 0.5 parts per
million.
» From "Progress Report of the Committee on Quality Tolerances of Water for Industrial Uses." Journal New England Water Works Association. Volume 54, Page 271. 1940.
b Limit given applies to both iron alone and the sum of iron and manganese.
"Samples for bacteriological analysis shall be an-
alyzed by an approved method set forth in the
latest edition of the APHA Manual entitled, ' Stand-
ard Methods for the Examination of Water and
Sewage. ' Those methods shall be employed which
give the most specific reliable means of measuring
organisms having their origin in the intestines of
man and other warm-blooded animals. ' '
Because of the large number of industrial uses of
water and the extremely varied requirements, it is
difficult to establish other than broad requirements of
quality. These variable conditions make it desirable to
consider water quality in general terms and, where
possible, for groups of related industries. The general
quality requirements of several individual and major
groups of water uses are listed in Table 1-5.
Quality requirements for boiler make-up waters are
more exacting than those set forth in Table 1-5, and
the allowable concentrations of physical and mineral
characteristics for that use are presented in Table 1-6.
Recharge of Ground Water. In general, the min-
eral quality of water that is to be used for recharge
should be at least comparable to the quality of the
native ground waters. However, in those instances
where the native ground waters are of very high min-
eral quality, it may be reasonable to use a water of
somewhat lower quality for recharge. Conversely,
where the around waters are close to the border line
TABLE 1-6
WATER QUALITY LIMITS FOR BOILER FEED WATER*
(Allowable limits, in parts per million)
Item
Turbidity
Color
Oxygen consumed
Dissolved oxygen b
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S)
Total hardness as CaC03
Sulfate-carbonate ratio
(A.S.M.E. NazSOiiNasCOa)
Aluminum oxide (AI2O3)
Silica (SiOs)
Bicarbonate ( HCO 3) b
Carbonate (CO3)
Hydroxide (OH)
Total solids d
pH value (minimum)
Pressure, in pounds per square inch
0-150 150-250 250-400 Over 400
20.0
80.0
15.0
1.4
5.0 =
80.0
1:1
5.0
40.0
50.0
200.0
50.0
3,000-500
8.0
10.0
40.0
10.0
0.14
3.0°
40.0
2:1
0.5
20.0
30.0
100.0
40.0
2,500-500
8.4
5.0
5.0
4.0
0.0
0.0
10.0
3:1
0.5
5.0
5.0
40.0
30.0
1,500-100
9.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
0.0
0.0
2.0
3:1
0.01
1.0
0.0
20.0
15.0
50.0
9.6
a Moore, E. W. "Progress Report of the Committee on Quality Tolerances of Water for
Industrial Uses." Journal New England Water Works Association. Volume 54, Page
263. 1940. . ,
b Limits applicable only to feed water entering boiler, not to original water supply.
c Except when odor in live steam would be objectionable.
d Depends on design of boiler.
350
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
•with respect to quality for the uses thereof, only
waters of higher quality should be used for artificial
recharge. Recharge waters should not contain sub-
stances which are toxic either in character or concen-
tration, and the ground water should not be contami-
nated with pathogenic organisms.
Mining. The quality of water required for mining
uses will vary depending on the type of material
mined and the methods used in processing the ore.
The water should not contain constituents which
would react with chemicals used in the operation and
adversely affect production, nor should the water con-
tain constituents which would damage machinery or
other equipment with which it may come in contact.
CAUSES OF DETERIORATION OF
WATER QUALITY
Before considering the major causes of impairment
of water quality it may be helpful to classify them
by type. Ample legal precedent exists for such classi-
fication. The California Legislature, in 1949, recog-
nized two types of deterioration, namely, contamina-
tion and pollution, both of which are defined in
Section 13005 of the Water Code.
Contamination is defined as impairment of the
quality of the waters of the State by sewage or indus-
trial waste to a degree which creates an actual hazard
to the public health through poisoning or through
the spread of disease. This comprehends only those
wastes resulting from human activity which contain,
or may contain, physiologically harmful amounts of
toxic or irritant substances, or pathogenic organisms.
Pollution is defined as impairment of the quality of
the waters of the State by sewage or industrial waste
to a degree which does not create an actual hazard
to the public health, but which does adversely and un-
reasonably affect such waters for domestic, industrial,
agricultural, navigational, recreational, or other bene-
ficial use. This recognizes the detrimental economic
effects of the uncontrolled discharge of sewage and
industrial wastes.
There is another type of impairment of quality of
water which concerns neither sewage nor industrial
wastes. In some cases, the presence of man may be
immaterial, and in others his activity may be only
an indirect or contributing factor. The term "de-
gradation" has been adopted for this type of im-
pairment, which comprises all damage to quality of
water not due to disposal of sewage or industrial
wastes.
Anion- the more common causes of impairment in
quality Of waters are the Following:
Contamination and Pollution
1. Domestic and municipal sewage
2. Industrial wastes
A. Organic wastes
(1) Food processing
(a) Fruit and vegetable canneries
(b) Fish canneries and fish reduction
plants
(c) Slaughtering plants
(d) "Wineries
(e) Breweries
(f) Sugar refineries
(2) Lumber processing
(a) Mill ponds
(b) Sawdust and bark
(c) Pulp mills
B. Mineral wastes
(1) Metal processing industries
(a) Plating works
(b) Steel mills
(2) Mining and ore extraction industries
(a) Drainage from mines
(b) Water from processing ores
(c) Dredging
(d) Gravel pits
(3) Oil industries
(a) Drilling wastes
(b) Production wastes, brines, oils
(c) Refinery wastes
(d) Terminal loading wastes
(e) Abandoned oil and gas wells
(4) Chemical industries
(5) Miscellaneous
C. Cooling water
3. Solid and semi-solid refuse
Degradation
1. Effects of development, itse, and re-use of water
A. Irrigation return water
(1) Surface drainage
(2) Percolation
B. Interchange between aquifers due to improp-
erly constructed, defective, or abandoned wells
C. Interchange between aquifers due to differen-
tials in pressure levels resulting from excessive
withdrawal
D. Overdraft conditions
(1) Sea-water intrusion
(2) Salt balance
(3) Upward or lateral diffusion of connate
brines and/or juvenile water due to over-
pumping
E. Contamination from the surface due to improp-
erly constructed wells
APPENDIX I
351
2. Nahiral causes
A. Inflow and/or percolation of juvenile water
from highly mineralized springs and streams
3. Other causes
A. Accelerated erosion
B. Mineralization resulting- from plant transpira-
tion and/or evaporation
The effects of improperly constructed and aban-
doned wells, although locally serious, are not involved
in the development of The California Water Plan, and
hence are not discussed further here.
Domestic Sewage
The most widely known cause of impairment of
water quality is domestic or municipal sewage. Three
general types of sewage have been distinguished,
which are :
a. Sanitary sewage, a watery mixture or suspension
of solid and liquid wastes resulting from man's
metabolism and domestic habits.
b. Storm sewage, the runoff from the surface of the
land, originating in natural precipitation, that
may be admitted or infiltrate into a drain not
used for conveyance of sanitary sewage.
c. Combined sewage, a mixture, in varying propor-
tions, of the two preceding types.
Sanitary sewage has the greatest effect as a cause
of contamination and pollution and usually contains
from 0.02 to 0.05 per cent (200 to 500 parts per mil-
lion) of solid wastes, of which two-thirds or more may
be putrescible organic matter. It is readily amenable
to treatment to reduce its harmfid properties, and an
elaborate technology has been developed for treat-
ment by chemical, mechanical, and biological proc-
esses. The quantity of sanitary sewage produced is
related to water consumption, and generally varies
between 50 and 100 gallons daily per capita in urban
areas. A city of 10,000 population, therefore, may be
expected to discharge up to 1.000,000 gallons per day
of sanitary sewage, containing, in its untreated state,
one to two tons of putrescible sewage solids.
Storm sewage is normally lower in organic matter
than sanitary sewage and may be discharged harm-
lessly into many surface waters. It usually contains a
small amount of polluting organic matter picked up
in its flow over the surface. In addition, it is likely to
carry a considerable amount of suspended mineral
matter flushed off the ground. This suspended matter,
commonly called grit, may need to be removed if the
sewage is to be pumped or treated.
Combined sewage is of declining importance, since
modern engineering practice provides separate sys-
tems for sanitary and storm sewage. Combined sys-
tems are still found in some older communities in
California, notablv in the San Francisco Bay Area.
An extensive program for their elimination has been
followed in recent years.
Sewage solids may be present in receiving waters in
a dissolved, colloidal, or suspended state. Those solids
which settle out of the water form concentrated mix-
tures of unstable organic compounds commonly
termed sludge. Under the action of biological organ-
isms, the solids slowly decompose into mineral and
relatively stable organic materials. Decomposition of
sewage solids take place under stream conditions
where oxygen dissolved in the water is available
(aerobic) or where dissolved oxygen has been ex-
hausted (anaerobic). Aerobic decomposition is orderly
and inoffensive. In absence of sufficient oxygen (an-
aerobic) these solids slowly decompose or putrefy,
producing various odorous and unsightly substances,
solid, liquid, or gaseous. During the process of aerobic
decomposition dissolved oxygen is removed from the
water. The quantity of oxygen required is definitely
measurable and is known as biochemical oxygen de-
mand or the "BOD" of the sewage. This demand may
be so large as to exhaust completely the oxygen con-
tent of the receiving waters.
The crux of this situation is that certain irreduc-
ible minimums of dissolved oxygen are needed to
maintain a semblance of clean waters without nui-
sance. These minimums have been variously estimated
at 25 to 50 per cent of the saturation value, or theo-
retical maximum. Lacking sufficient oxygen, stream
degradation sets in quickly. The sewage solids decom-
pose with production of foul odors and gases ; noxious
bacteria multiply ; the stream becomes black, greasy
and unsightly ; and fish and other denizens of normal
waters die.
In recent years the phosphorus content of sewage
has been greatly increased due to use of cleansing de-
tergents which contain phosphates. Such detergents
magnify the problems of sewage and water treatment
plants. The phosphates added to receiving streams
and lakes through sewage and industrial cleansing
waste disposal, under certain conditions, are capable of
causing excessive growth of undesirable algae to an
extent that fish life is destroyed and offensive odor
and water taste is created.
The undesirable effects of sewage pollution of water
may be summed up as follows :
a. Sewage bacteria, except in minute concentra-
tions, render water unfit for drinking and other
personal and domestic uses.
b. Such bacteria also impair water quality for
swimming and similar recreational purposes.
c. Gross pollution by sewage destroys all normal
aquatic life of receiving waters.
d. Certain sewage gases, notably hydrogen sulfide,
are corrosive to metals and harmful to paints.
Much damage has been done to ships ' hulls and
other submerged and floating structures by con-
tact with waters heavily polluted with sewage.
352
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
e. Waters made unsightly or odorous by sewage de-
preciate the value of shore property.
f. Sewage pervading waters utilized for culture of
shellfish may cause them to become unsafe for
consumption. Such shellfish beds must be con-
demned by health authorities, and a valuable
food resource is thereby destroyed.
g. Sewage pollution may make water unsafe for
certain agricultural uses, for example, stock-
watering, especially of dairy cattle, and the irri-
gation of truck garden crops.
h. Phosphates in sewage create undesirable condi-
tions in receiving water as regards its biota. Ex-
cessive growth of algae may deoxygenate the
stream, destroy fish life, and give rise to of-
fensive odors and water taste.
Solid and Semisolid Refuse
The rapid growth of population and industry in
California has created acute problems in the dis-
posal of solid and semisolid wastes in many areas,
particularly in southern California. This class of ma-
terials comprises all wastes not discharged into public
sewers. Three general classes may be distinguished, in
decreasing order of chemical activity and their po-
tential for polluting public waters: (1) general in-
dustrial wastes, including acids, alkalies, sludges,
slurries, organic chemicals, solvents, tars, spent lubri-
cating oils, etc.; (2) general domestic and municipal
refuse, including such substances as tin cans, junk
metals, paper and paper products, cloth, lawn and
shrubbery clippings, garbage, and dead animals; and
(3) solid and relatively inert waste products, such
as earth, concrete fragments, glass, plasterboards,
steel mill slag, and manufactured rubber products.
Population pressure and rises in value of land have
made it no longer cheap or easy, in many cases, to
obtain refuse disposal sites which are sufficiently iso-
lated, and at the same time close enough to be within
economical hauling distance. In southern California
especially, such sites are at a permium, current sales
of dump sites having' reached a price as high as 50
cents per cubic yard of capacity.
During the past few years the Division of Water
Resources, the State and Regional Water Pollution
Control Boards, and other agencies have been actively
concerned in investigation of this problem. Studies by
the Division of Water Resources for the Los Angeles,
Santa Ana, and San Diego Regional Water Pollution
Control Boards have resulted in the development of a
system of classification for dump sites, according to
the degree of protection which they afford the vicinal
ground water. Class I dump sites are defined as "sites
Located on uonwater-bearing rocks or underlain by
Isolated bodies of unusable ground water, which are
protected from surface runoff and where surface
drainage can be restricted to the site or discharged
to a suitable waste way." Class II sites are those
"underlain by usable, confined or free ground water
when the minimum elevation of the dump can be
maintained above anticipated high ground water ele-
vation, and which are protected from surface runoff
and where surface drainage can be restricted to the
site or discharged to a suitable Avaste way." The
poorest dump sites are those in Class III, which are
defined as "dump sites so located as to afford little or
no protection to usable waters of the State."
Refuse disposal sites in the first or safest class are
considered satisfactory to receive any type of refuse
without hazard to ground or surface waters. Dump
sites in the second class are considered satisfactory to
receive solid inert wastes, as well as the types of
domestic and municipal refuse mentioned in the open-
ing paragraph of this section, provided that dumping
is confined to zones not less than two to five feet above
anticipated high ground water elevations in the
vicinity. Solid, inert materials as previously de-
scribed may be deposited safely in a dump of any
class.
Formal recommendations have been made by the
Division of Water Resources for the protection of
ground waters from the effects of unregulated dump-
ing of wastes in the Santa Ana and San Diego regions
and in Los Angeles County.
The investigations of the Division of Water Re-
sources have been most usefully complemented by
research carried on by the University of Southern
California under the sponsorship of the State Water
Pollution Control Board. Reports published in 1952
and 1954 describe the hazards to be anticipated from
improper disposal of incinerator ash and of sanitary
land fill, and the precautions which should be observed
to minimize risk of pollution of ground waters.
Industrial Wastes
The variety of industrial wastes is almost infinite
and the quantities, strength, and toxicity may be such
as to greatly exceed the effects of ordinary sewage.
Certain wastes produced by typical industries im-
portant to the California economy, such as the food
canning, sugar refining, and meat packing trades,
may require from ten to a hundred times more oxygen
than domestic sewage in order to be rendered harm-
less. Metal-working and plating industries produce
poisonous wastes, such as chromates and cyanides,
which can render water unfit for fish life and unsafe
for domestic or municipal use in concentrations as low
as one part in ten million. The beet-sugar industry in
California has been estimated to produce liquid wastes
equivalent in pollutional effect to the sewage of
5,000,000 people before treatment. Enormous loadings
of organic wastes have been discharged into certain of
the waters of California by food processing plants.
Fruit and Vegetable Canneries. About one-half
of the nation's supply of fruits, and one-fourth of
APPENDIX I
353
the vegetable specialty crops are produced and
processed in California. Despite growing diversifica-
tion of our economy, agricidture and the associated
processing activities continue to be the State's largest
industry, and the canning of fruits and vegetable
products is an important segment of that activity.
Canning-factory wastes vary in nature according
to the products handled, and according to the type
of factory, i.e., whether the plant is a full-line estab-
lishment processing a variety of products, or a
specialty plant packing only one item. In general, the
liquid wastes from full-line plants are large in volume
and not much stronger than sewage in regard to their
oxygen requirements. However, the effluent of spe-
cialty canneries is likely to be much more concen-
trated, displaying an oxygen demand of two to fifty
times that of an equal volume of sewage. In addition
to liquid wastes canneries produce large volumes of
solid wastes such as seeds, skin, pulp, pits, etc.
Direct discharge of untreated cannery wastes into
municipal sewerage systems would in many cases
create an intolerable burden on the sewage treatment
facilities. At some locations, facilities are adequate
for treatment of the liquid cannery wastes, after
removal of part of the solids by screening or sedi-
mentation at the cannery. At a few locations, special
treatment works to handle the flow of industrial
wastes have been constructed, in addition to the
facilities provided for treatment of sewage. In other
cases, provision must be made by the individual
industry for treatment of its wastes to a point where
they can safely be discharged into the State's waters.
The most prevalent method for cannery waste
treatment in California is screening to remove part
of the solids, followed by sedimentation and biological
oxidation in open ponds or lagoons. Disposal of solids
is usually by dumping, spreading, or plowing into
privately owned land, and for hog feed. In a few
cases, by-products of economic value can be recovered
from solid wastes. Other forms of treatment such as
chemical precipitation of solids, partial stabilization
of liquid wastes in trickling filters, and chlorination,
are feasible and are widely practiced throughout the
United States. With increasing land values, the food
processing industry in California may be impelled to
adopt such methods in the interest of economy, as the
system of lagooning requires extensive areas of land,
as well as isolation, in order to minimize the odor
nuisance.
Beet-Sugar Refineries. The beet-sugar industry is
historically important in California. The first success-
ful beet-sugar factory in the United States was
founded in 1866 at Alvarado. From that beginning
the industry has grown to one that annually processes
more than 2,500,000 tons of beets. Latest available
statistics (1949) indicate a yearly output of beet-
sugar and byproducts worth more than $25,000,000.
Geographically the industry is well distributed in
California. Major centers of production are in the
valleys of the Sacramento, Salinas, and northern San
Joaquin Rivers, and the Imperial Valley. Other im-
portant producers are located in Alameda, Santa
Clara. Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, and
Orange Counties. The activities of the refineries are
seasonal. In northern California the season lasts from
August to December, while in the southern part of
the State the season is usually somewhat longer, ex-
tending from May through December.
The wastes of beet-sugar refineries are character-
ized by large volume, high BOD, and a large content
of suspended and dissolved solids. Introduction of
untreated beet-sugar wastes into a stream can cause
mass killing of fish, inhibition of diatom growth,
stimulation of sewage fungus, and the destruction of
normal benthol organisms. The lethal effect is attrib-
uted to a combination of the deoxygenating effect of
the BOD and the toxicity of the beet saponins.
Waste water flows of several million gallons per
day are not unusual. Liquid wastes consist of various
wash waters, pulp-press water, and process liquors
used in extraction of the sugar. Additionally, it is
necessary to dispose of a large amount of spent lime
slurry which is used in the refining process. The or-
ganic wastes vary widely in strength. Wash waters
are often comparable to sewage in respect to BOD,
while wastes from the so-called Steffens process may
be as much as forty times as great. Suspended solids
content is likely to be high in all types of wastes of
this industry. Beet pulp, the solid residue of the
sugar refining process, has high economic value for
cattle feed, and the salvage of the maximum amount
of this profitable by-product is of benefit to the in-
dustry.
Treatment of the wastes often consists simply of
clarification and oxidation in shallow artificial ponds
or lagoons. Liquids may be discharged through a
series of such ponds, each one successively removing
a portion of the suspended matter and contributing
some of the oxygen needed for ultimate stabilization
of the organic matter present. Efforts are frequently
made to provide pond capacity great enough to hold
the seasonal discharge so that no waste need be dis-
charged into surface streams. In such cases the liquid
is dissipated by evaporation and by percolation into
the ground.
Disposal methods as outlined above have the dis-
advantage of requiring ample land area and are be-
coming increasingly uneconomic as land values rise.
Ponds must be isolated in order to obviate odor com-
plaints by nearby property owners.
Sugar factory wastes respond well to some of the
methods employed to treat domestic sewage, includ-
ing coagulation, settling, and filtration. These meth-
ods are often used in other regions, and in Europe,
where high land cost is a deterrent to the ponding sys-
354
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
Triii. Considerable research has also been made upon
processes to eliminate, recirculate, or salvage waste
waters from some of the refining' processes, with vary-
ing degrees of success.
Oil Field Wastes. Petroleum seeping from natu-
ral springs was known to the aboriginal inhabitants
of California, but it was not until about 1861 that
the first well was drilled for oil. Throughout the
closing years of the ninetenth century production in-
creased slowly. By 1895 annual output exceeded
1 .000,000 barrels. The automobile and two world wars
stimulated production to such a degree that during
1951 nearly 357,000,000 barrels were withdrawn from
over 29.400 producing wells. For many years the
petroleum industry has been outranked only by agri-
culture in the value of production to the economy of
the State. Al present California produces about one-
sixth of the national supply of crude petroleum.
Water underlies oil in most oil fields. Such water
is usually saline to a degree sometimes exceeding that
of ocean water. The production of waste Avater from
California oil fields in 1951 amounted to about 562,-
000,000 barrels (73,000 acre-feet), an average of 1.58
barrels of water to each barrel of oil. Dissolved salts
are not the only objectionable ingredients of oil field
waste water, or brine. The separation of crude oil and
water is seldom complete in the field, and a small per-
centage of oil is inevitably wasted with the brine. Ad-
ditional losses associated with oil production occur
by accidental spills, leaks, and washing of equipment.
Preservation of quality of both surface and ground
waters requires that oily and highly saline wastes be
prevented from reaching usable water supplies. Con-
centrations of chlorides above 300-500 parts per mil-
lion make water unpalatable, and at about 1,000 parts
per million it becomes practically undrinkable. Most
crops cannot tolerate more than 350 parts per million
of chlorides in irrigation water, nor more than 2,000
parts per million of total dissolved solids. Boron, a
frequent ingredient of oil field brines, is injurious to
many fruit trees in concentrations as low as one part
per million. Fish are killed by concentrated oil field
brines, and cattle or hogs drinking such waters may
be severely affected. Oil in surface waters is an un-
sightly and persistent nuisance, and destroys their
value for most beneficial uses.
At present there is no economically feasible method
of demineralizing oil field brines. Disposal must be
made in such a way that fresh water resources will
not be affected unreasonably. Operators of coastal
oil wells, such as those in portions of Los Angeles and
Orange Counties, can usually discharge brines di-
rectlj into the ocean without harm, except for the
residual oil contenl which may adversely affect fish
and aquatic Life, and adjacent beaches. Careful sepa-
ration of the oil is a corollary requirement in such
cases.
The disposal problem is more difficult for interior
fields, such as those of the western San Joaquin
basin, which generally yield highly concentrated,
strong brines. Safe disposal there requires either: (1)
physical transport of the brines to areas where sur-
face spreading and percolation will do no damage;
(2) evaporation in lined, impervious sumps; or (3)
return to deep subterranean strata by pumping into
abandoned oil wells or specially drilled injection
wells. These methods of disposal are costly, and both
experience and judgment are needed in their selection.
Irrigation Return Flow
Irrigation waters not consumptively used by the
crops but disposed of through surface runoff and deep
percolation constitute a major cause of degradation
to natural surface and underground water resources
of California. The amount of this return flow varies
widely with irrigation practices and with different
soil conditions and crops, but generally losses amount
to about one-half to one-third of the applied irriga-
tion water. Estimates by the Division of Water Re-
sources indicate that about three acre-feet of irriga-
tion water is applied annually to approximately
7,000,000 acres of farm lands in California. Assum-
ing for purposes of illustration an over-all irrigation
efficiency of about 66f per cent, the total annual irri-
gation return flow would amount to about 7,000,000
acre-feet.
Basic research has as yet been accomplished only
to a minor extent in evaluating the adverse effects of
irrigation losses on quality of receiving waters. How-
ever, available data for surface streams indicate that
the effects on such supplies are quite serious. This is
particularly true of the Sacramento and San Joaquin
Rivers in the Central Valley Area and the Santa Ana
River in the South Coastal Area. Irrigation losses re-
turning to these streams either as surface or subsur-
face inflow cause significant changes in both the
concentration and composition of mineral solubles
therein. For example, in June, 1953, the irrigation
drainage that gained access to a 57-mile stretch of
the San Joaquin River between Temple Slough and
Fremont Ford had increased the dissolved mineral
content of water in the stream from its natural con-
tent of about 35 parts per million to 420 parts per
million. The increased mineralization of water in sur-
face streams is in turn reflected in waters of under-
ground reservoirs recharged thereby. This fact may
account in part for the increase in content of dis-
solved solids that has occurred since 1931 in the
underground waters of the Santa Ana River Forebay
below Santa Ana River Narrows.
Another important aspect which requires consid-
eration is the effect of irrigation runoff on the bio-
logical environment of surface waters. Nitrates and
phosphates are especially important in this regard
APPENDIX I
355
since both are added as fertilizers to the soil or to the
Irrigation water. Nitrates and phosphates are neces-
sary nutrients to the biota of lakes, reservoirs, and
rivers. The greater the percentage of phosphorus and
nitrates the more extensive is the growth of both
algae and higher plants. Such teeming populations of
algae, called "blooms," create at least three water
quality problems: first, an overproduction of oxygen
during daylight hours, which may cause death of fish
by anoxemia (a condition similar to the "bends" suf-
fered by deep-sea divers) ; second, a complete ex-
haustion of dissolved oxygen in the water at night,
owing to its extraction by algae in their metabolic
life-processes after photosynthesis has ceased ; and
third, the creation of offensive tastes and odors owing
to death and decomposition of algae on a scale vastly
exceeding normal, or to the very presence of certain
species.
Insecticides and herbicides may also be classed as
potential pollutants of surface waters. This is espe-
cially true after heavy rains in instances where a
herbicide is used to control plant growth along stream
channels and algal groAvth in tributary irrigation
drains. Recent increases in use of airplane sprays for
plant and insect control have aggravated this problem.
Sea-Water Intrusion
Geologic evidence indicates that water-bearing de-
posits along the seaward and bayward margins of the
ground water basins bordering the California coast
and inland bays may be in direct contact with the
ocean or bay floor, or may extend beneath the floor
as confined pressure aquifers and at some distance
offshore be in contact with sea water. Long continued
draft, a protracted period of dry years, and increas-
ing agricultural, municipal, and industrial demands
since 1940, have lowered ground water elevations be-
low sea level along the seaward margins of many of
these basins. As a result, the natural seaward hy-
draulic gradient has been reversed and sea water has
encroached upon the coastal margins of many ground
water basins.
Encroachment of sea water has already occurred,
or an immediate or potential danger of intrusion ex-
ists in at least 80 major and minor ground water
basins bordering the California coast and inland bays.
Of this total, there is definite evidence of intrusion
into 13 basins, immediate danger exists in 7 basins,
and potential danger exists in 15 basins and probably
in an additional 45 basins about which little is known.
Extensive damage due to sea-water intrusion has
already occurred in numerous basins, with resultant
large economic losses. Unless measures for prevention
and control of this source of degradation are under-
taken in the near future, further widespread deteriora-
tion of ground water supplies will follow.
Connate Waters
Connate waters are those waters entrapped in the
interstices of a sedimentary rock at the time it was
deposited. These waters may be fresh, brackish, or
saline. They are, however, predominantly sodium
chloride in type and are of a quality unsuitable for
domestic and irrigation purposes.
Connate waters are generally found in water-bear-
ing lenses of Tertiary rocks which underlie or flank
the unconsolidated fresh-water-bearing Recent and
Plio-Pleistocene deposits. In some instances, flushing
of connate saline waters in the unconsolidated Qua-
ternary deposits has been incomplete, resulting in
isolated bodies of diluted connate saline waters within
the main body of fresh water.
Degradation of fresh-water-bearing deposits by con-
nate saline waters of poor quality is apparently di-
rectly related to ground water extractions. As ground
water levels in a basin are drawn down, hydraulic
gradients may be established which would allow con-
nate saline Avaters in sediments adjacent to a ground
water basin to enter and degrade fresh water aqui-
fers, or connate saline waters underlying the main
body of fresh water to migrate upward in areas of
heavy ground water extractions. Deep wells may pene-
trate connate saline waters underlying fresh waters
and pump from the saline bottom waters or allow in-
terchange between saline and fresh-water bodies.
Very little information is available to indicate the
extent of degradation of fresh-water-bearing deposits
by connate saline Avaters. EA'idence accumulated to
date indicates that some degree of degradation due to
invasion by these waters has taken place in at least
10 ground water basins in California.
Inflow From Highly Mineralized Natural Waters
A common cause of degradation of water occurs
through the mingling of natural surface waters of
widely different mineral quality. Numerous instances
have been found among streams of the State where a
soft Avater of low mineral content in one stream is de-
graded by inflow of inferior quality from a branch
or tributary. The offending water may originate in a
mineral spring, infloAv from a saline lake, in mine
drainage, or in artesian discharge from an abandoned
well. However, in most instances, the differences in
quality may be attributed to the mineralogical char-
acteristics of the respective drainage basins.
Land Erosion
Land erosion is the process of wearing aAvay of
the land surface by the action of running water, wind,
or other agents. Erosion is divided into the general
classifications of geologic, or normal erosion, and soil,
or accelerated erosion. Soil erosion follows as the re-
sult of unbalancing the normal equilibrium of natural
356
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
processes of soil building and soil transportation by
activity of man in agricultural and industrial en-
deavors, as well as by other causes, such as rodent
infestation, etc.
When man disturbs the soil cover he causes ac-
celerated erosion to occur. Agricultural development
lias made waste areas out of many once rich agricul-
tural lands. There are no geographical limits to
this destruction. Archeologists have uncovered many
buried cities in the deserts of the world. These indi-
cate that many civilizations have ceased to exist be-
i;i use of the effects of erosion. Wasteful erosion is
due largely to man's unbalancing of nature's soil
equilibrium, and also to his lack of conservation and
control methods and practices. Removing the soil
cover destroys nature's means of preventing erosion.
Vegetative cover decreases the destructive velocity of
runoff and cushions the effect of wind and impact of
raindrops. Vegetation also functions as minute debris
dams, for as particles of soil are transported either
by water or wind the vegetation tends to intercept
and slop their movement. Vegetation also acts as a
soil binder through action of the root systems in
keeping the soil particles clustered together. The
vegetative soil cover is removed by tillage and only
partially replaced by the planting of crops. In some
cases, the total area is planted to crops but the land
is laid bare for the destructive effect of erosion be-
tween plantings. Irrigation also adds its effect to the
erosion resulting from natural causes. Soil thus lost
becomes part of the stream into which the return
water enters. A phase of agriculture which tends to
aggravate erosion is the pasturing of cattle, sheep,
goats, horses, and other domestic animals. The stock
consumes the covering grasses and reduces the pro-
tection of the underlying soil.
Industrially, man causes accelerated erosion by min-
ing, by the release of large quantities of water from
storage as a result of developing the power resources
of water, by quarrying for gravel in the stream bed,
and in the harvesting of lumber. Mining, through
disturbance to the surface soil and the addition of
waste material obtained from within the earth, is
an accelerated soil erosion agent. Surface mining,
whether open pit, placer, hydraulic, or dredging, ac-
celerates natural soil erosion. In timbering operations
the vegetative cover crop is removed, and temporary
roads are built which lay open the soil to the erosional
forces of wind and rain. Utilization of streams as a
means of transportation for logs creates disturbance
to the stream bed anil increases soil and bed load
movement.
The detrimental effects of accelerated soil erosion
are numerous. Silt, die product of accelerated soil
erosion, is both a pollutant and a degradant. The silt
resulting from agricultural and stream bank erosion
constitutes a degradanl to natural waters. Erosional
characteristics which result from mining and quarry-!
ing operations constitute pollutants. However, the
harmful effects produced by each of the above are
similar, and the only practical difference in the two
types of erosion is that it is possible to compel the
abatement of pollution due to erosion. Silt and other
debris created by mining, with emphasis on hydraulic
and placer mining, is a deterrent to fish end wildlife
propagation and to navigation. Other beneficial uses
of the water adversely affected by silt or ot ler debris
are recreational uses, irrigation by diversion or pump-
ing of natural or artificial streams, power develop-
ment, and municipal and industrial uses.
WASTE-LOADING CAPACITY OF NATURAL
AND ARTIFICIAL STREAM CHANNELS
Prior concepts of maintaining an arbitrary standard
of quality in water resources are yielding to the
newer ideas of economic utilization. Thi r doctrine
postulates reasonable use of water resources for all
beneficial purposes, including use for waste disposal.
It recognizes the fact that purity and safety of a
water are relative and must always be appraised with
reference to its intended use. Pollution must be evalu-
ated in relation to the local situation. Thus, a waste
discharge that would be intolerable in Lake Tahoe
might be quite permissible in San Francisco Bay.
In California, domestic water supply and irriga-
tion, in that order, are legally recognized a,s the par-
amount uses of water. Many other beneficial uses are
universally acknowledged, including mainti aance and
propagation offish and wildlife, sport and commercial
fishing, shellfish culture, stock watering, food proc-
essing, industrial process water, power development,
navigation, and recreational uses. Waste disposal is
a legitimate use but must be controlled to the extent
necessary to prevent adverse unreasonable deteriora-
tion of the water for some higher purpose. It is
further recognized that treatment of wastes is re-
quired only to the extent necessary to preserve actual
or definitely planned stream uses.
From the ideas expressed above, it follows that the
allowable waste-loading capacity of a specific water
resource, like water quality, must be evaluated in re-
lation to water uses. The principal patterns of use
usually recognized for perennial streams in Californi;
are hereinafter set forth. Rivers originating in mou"
tainous, snow-fed areas, characterized by waters oc
high purity, are generally devoted to those uses of
water requiring highest quality, and thus require
maximum protection from contamination and pollu-
tion. Their waste-loading capacity therefore is prac-
tically nil. As the streams enter the valley floor, use
for irrigation and industrial purposes is intensified.
Use of the streams for waste disposal is often un-
avoidable, and some deterioration in quality must be
APPENDIX I
357
accepted as the price of development of agriculture
and industry. Finally, in the lower reaches extend-
ing to tidewater, discharges resulting from urban and
industrial activity may be such as to tax the natural
allowable waste-loading capacity of the waters. In
those areas all of the reserve capacity to absorb
wastes without detriment must sometimes be utilized.
Natural Purification Capacity of Water
In the preceding section it has been set forth that
the allowable waste-loading capacity of waters may
vary in a restrictive sense, i.e., in accordance with a
policy of keeping wastes out, or of limiting the
strength and amount of such discharges. The term
is used in another and quite different sense to signify
the capacity of waters for self-purification by natural
agencies. This phenomenon which occurs in both sur-
face and underground waters is discussed in the fol-
lowing paragraphs.
Surface Waters. The ability of a stream to purge
itself of impurities is traditional, and has found ex-
pression in such folklore as "running water purifies
itself in seven miles." Only in recent years, however,
has a close study been made of the actions involved.
The mere presence of abnormal amounts of sus-
pended matter, however stable and inert, can cause
a condition of pollution or nuisance. Thus, such
wastes as sawdust, clay, silt, chemical sludges, and
waste oils render rivers and their banks unsightly,
destroy fish, and impair water quality for domestic
supply, Irrigation, industrial use, and recreation.
Prolonged silting may render navigation channels use-
less. The capacity of natural waters to accept waste
loadings depends on many factors, including volume
and transporting power. Large volumes of water reduce
color, turbidity, and the toxic and irritant effects of
wastes simply by diluting to concentrations where
they t.re harmless and unnoticeable. Swiftly flowing
waters may comminute and disperse suspended mat-
ter and remove it to areas where further dilution can
render it harmless.
One of the most striking aspects of natural purifi-
cation is bacterial self -purification. Contrary to popu-
lar impression, this effect is not confined to running
water ; indeed, it is usually more pronounced in
bodies of standing water than in streams. Rapid and
very high bacterial death rates are often observed.
The explanation of this phenomenon is rather com-
iicated but appears to lie fundamentally in the re-
moval of the organisms to an alien and unfavorable
environment outside the body of their host.
A third aspect of self -purification of natural waters
is their capacity for biochemical self-purification. The
significance of dissolved oxygen in stabilizing putres-
cible organic wastes has been discussed briefly here-
tofore. This consumption of oxygen constitutes a
drain upon the oxygen resources of a stream, and if
no natural compensating factors were at work, pol-
lution problems would be aggravated enormously. In
fact, however, nature works constantly to restore the
oxygen balance of waters to normal.
The agencies of this restoration, (or reaeration) are
complex. Under the influence of sunlight, green plants
growing in water produce and release oxygen in such
quantities that they may actually cause supersatura-
tion. This phenomenon is restricted to the hours of
daylight. Hence it may happen that a water super-
saturated by day may lose all oxygen during the
hours of night. Other factors affecting reaeration are
solution by surface contact, diffusion from points of
higher concentration of oxygen, and mixing by Avaves,
winds, tidal currents, and turbulent flow. Mathemat-
ical expression of the phenomenon is possible, and for
any given stream oxygen balance can be calculated
with fair accuracy once the characteristics of that
stream have been determined by field study.
Ground Waters. Natural processes of purification
which prevail in the surface may be present below
ground in weaker form, or perhaps be totally absent.
Sunlight and air are lacking, plant and animal life
exist in the to]) soil layers, turbulent flow is rare, and
dilution is a much slower process.
The problem of gross organic pollution of sub-
surface waters is rarely met, largely because of in-
herent difficulties in introducing large quantities of
common organic wastes below ground. Cesspools, re-
charge wells, and surface spreading grounds all tend
to remove suspended solids by infiltration and bac-
teria and colloidal matter by biological action. It is
possible, by massive application of sewage, to intro-
duce bacteria below ground in considerable numbers.
Several factors, however, are present to limit both
their range and survival in homogeneous soils.
Pollution of ground water by substances in solution
is more serious. Solutions of inorganic acids, bases,
and salts, and organic liquids and solutions such as
many industries employ, can pass readily into the
soil, and once introduced are difficult to remove or
neutralize. Natural dilution tends to be slow; arti-
ficial flushing is usually difficult and expensive ; and
treatment of the water is generally impracticable.
The effects of such pollution may be long-lasting or
permanent. Lateral and vertical diffusion of materials
introduced into the ground water body may be very
slow, resulting in a zone of high concentration down-
stream from the point of discharge. Efforts must be
directed, therefore, toward excluding from ground
water such wastes in harmful quantities, in order that
the tremendous underground storage capacity is not
destroyed by unwise or wasteful disposal practices.
358
WATER UTILIZATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA
QUALITY ASPECTS IN PLANNING
FOR WATER PROJECTS
Protection of sources of water supplies from de-
terioration to the extent that their waters are ren-
dered unusable for the beneficial purposes to which
they must be put is a continuing- consideration in
California. Planning activities necessary to the de-
velopment of additional water supplies and mainte-
nance of the quality of existing' supplies must provide
lor adequate disposal of wastes. This may entail the
use of the dilution capacity of natural streams and
of natural or artificial water bodies, the planned dis-
posal of wastes in areas not contributing to usable
water supplies, the provision of separate drainage
facilities and ultimate disposal in the ocean or bays,
or other feasible methods of preventing adverse effect
on usable water supplies. These problems are being
considered in the formulation of The California Water
Plan, and, to the extent necessary to provide for the
full development and utilization of the State's water
resources, physical solution will be incorporated in
the plan.
L'M
printed in California state printi
NC OFFICE
LEGEND
B IRRIGATED AREA 1946-1953 (Sit twl)
I POTENTIAL IRRIGATED AND URBAN AREAS
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C
&
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
WATER SERVICE AREAS
FOR
THE CALIFORNIA WATER PLAN
14
13
12
II
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
|H IRRIGATED AGRICULTURAL AR
NON-IRRIGATED FARMED LAN
SXI POPULATION
EA
I
DS
Based on U.S. Census.
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I860
1870
I860 J 1890
1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
issa
YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT
GROWTH OF POPULATION AND CULTIVATED AND IRRIGATED LANDS
OF CALIFORNIA
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
GATION AND WATER STORAGE DISTRICTS
1954
LEGEND
GENERATING STATIONS
ELECTRIC POWER DEVELOPMENT
1954
=4V»* s trV'
Wv&
'A
A'
^vy '^
'.c? <* . -<?
v^m^ *****
a~^
RECREATIONAL AREAS
~
CD
*IGATED AREA 194
POTENTIAL UFiBA
GATED AREA
TIDE LANDS SUSCEPTIBLE OF RECLAMATIC
C
E A. M
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
FOR WATER SERVICE
FROM
THE CALIFORNIA WATER PLAN
INDEX TO SHEETS
imvision OF WATER RESOURCES
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
FOR WATER SERVICE
SHEET 2 OF 26 SHEETS
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
FOR WATER SERVICE
SHEET 4 OF 26 SHEETS
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
FOR WATER SERVICE
SHEET 5 OF 26 SHEETS
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
SHEET 8ISH.9 CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
FOR WATER SERVICE
SHEET 6 OF 26 SHEETS
*0
>
^\
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
FOR WATER SERVICE
SHEET 7 OF 26 SHEETS
SCALE OF MILES
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
FOR WATER SERVICE
SHEET 9 OF 26 SHEETS
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
FOR WATER SERVICE
SHEET 10 OF 26 SHEETS
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
FOR WATER SERVICE
SHEET II OF 26 SHEETS
SHEET 9
(&r?lM ^
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
FOR WATER SERVICE
SHEET 12 OF 26 SHEETS
DIVISION OF WATER
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
FOR WATER SERVICE
SHEET 14 OF 26 SHEETS
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
FOR WATER SERVICE
SHEET 15 OF 26 SHEETS
I 120° OO'
SHEET 20
SCALE OF MILES
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
FOR WATER SERVICE
SHEET 16 OF 26 SHEETS
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
FOR WATER SERVICE
SHEET 17 OF 36 SHEETS
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
FOR WATER SERVICE
SHEET 18 OF 26 SHEETS
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
FOR WATER SERVICE
SHEET 19 OF 26 SHEETS
jr
7
C
O C
E
N
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
FOR WATER SERVICE
SHEET 20 OF 26 SHEETS
SHEET 25
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
FOR WATER SERVICE
SHEET 22 OF 26 SHEETS
DIVISION Of WATER RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
FOR WATER SERVICE
SHEET 23 OF 26 SHEETS
SHEET 22
LE OF MILES
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
FOR WATER SERVICE
SHEET 24 OF 26 SHEETS
SCALE OF MILES
d Areas having rights in Colora
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
FOR WATER SERVICE
SHEET 25 OF 26 SHEETS
£',.'",'■1 Areas having rights in Colorado River
LE OF MILES
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS
FOR WATER SERVICE
SHEET 26 OF 26 SHEETS
r~—~-
J
c
/ VOLO
/
/
^
, ^k
••••.*•>•■•■•••' " /
\
/ /
' '' /
LEGEND
RESIDENTIAL
COMMERCIAL
INDUSTRIAL
AIRFIELDS
LOW WATER USING INDUSTRIAL
MILITARY RESERVATION
IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE
NON-IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE
o c
E A N
PRESENT LAND USE
IN
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
1949
INDEX TO SHEETS
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
1949
SHEET I OF II SHEETS
SCALE OF MILES
PRESENT LAND USE
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
1949
SHEET 2 OF I I SHEETS
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
1949
SHEET 3 OF II SHEETS
I SHEET 6
SCALE OF MILES
PRESENT LAND USE
IN
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
1049
SHEET 4 OF II SHEETS
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
SHEET 2 I SHEET 3
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
1949
SHEET 5 OF I I SHEETS
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
1949
SHEET 7 OF II SHEETS
SHEET 6 I SHEET 7
^
L.
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
1949
SHEET 8 OF II SHEETS
SHEET 10 I SHEET II
SCALE OF MILES
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PRESENT LAND USE
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
1949
SHEET 9 OF II SHEETS
SCALE OF MILES
PRESENT LAND USE
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
1949
SHEET 10 OF II SHEETS
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
SCALE OF MILES
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PRESENT LAND USE
IN
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
1949
SHEET II OF II SHEETS
LEGEND
RESIDENTIAL
COMMERCIAL
INDUSTRIAL
MILITARY RESERVATION
IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PRESENT LAND USE
IN
LOS ANGELES AND SAN DIEGO
METROPOLITAN AREAS
1950
INDEX TO SHEETS
+
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
LOS ANGELES METROPOLITAN AREA
1950
SHEET I OF 8 SHEETS
SCALE OF MILES
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PRESENT LAND USE
LOS ANGELES METROPOLITAN AREA
1950
SHEET 2 OF 6 SHEETS
€H
SCALE OF MILE5
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PRESENT LAND USE
IN
LOS ANGELES METROPOLITAN AREA
1950
SHEET 3 OF 8 SHEETS
SCALE OF MILES
PRESENT LAND USE
IN
LOS ANGELES METROPOLITAN AREA
1 950
SHEET 4 OF 8 SHEETS
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
SCALE OF MILES
I 2
•— •-
PRESENT LAND USE
LOS ANGELES METROPOLITAN AREA
1050
SHEET 5 OF 8 SHEETS
\r
SCALE OF MILES
- I-
OIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PRESENT LAND USE
LOS ANGELES METROPOLITAN AREA
I960
SHEET 6 OF 6 SHEETS
Scun Vicente
Res.
SHEET 8
SCALE OF M)L£S
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PRESENT LAND USE
IN
SAN DIEGO METROPOLITAN AREA
1050
SHEET 7 OF 8 SHEETS
SHEET 7
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
SCALE OF MILES
I
PRESENT LAND USE
IN
SAN DIEGO METROPOLITAN AREA
1990
SHEET 8 OF 8 SHEETS
/
MEMBERS OF THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT MEMBERS OF THE SAN OIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY
^ LOS ANGELES
>
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8URBANK
SANTA MONICA
WEST BASIN M. W D
COMPTON
TORRANCE
LONG BEACH
FOOTHILL M W O
GLENDALE
PASADENA
SAN MARINO
POMONA VALLEY M W D
CHINO BASIN M. W
FULLERTON
ANAHEIM
SANTA ANA
COASTAL M.W D. (INCLUDING BREA)
ORANGE COUNTY M . W.
„ EASTERN M. W-0
SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY
SAN DIEGO
' FALLBROOK PUD
OCEANSIOE
SAN DIEOUITO I
ESCONDIDO
SANTA FE I D
LAKESIDE I 0.
LA MESA LEMON GROVE
PRINCIPAL WATER SUPPLY AGENCIES
AND
WORKS OF LOS ANGELES AND SAN DIEGO
METROPOLITAN AREAS
1953
— .
CONTRA COSTA CANAL
U-S.B.R.
X
m
r^
HETCH HETCHY AQUEDUCT
CITY & CO. OF SAN FRANCISCO
MOKELUMNE AQUEDUCT
EAST BAY M.U.D.
929 jl930|l93l j I 932 1933 I934||935||936||937JI938||939||940|I94|||942||943[|944||945||946||947 1 1 94 6 1 1949 1950 1 1 95 1 [1952
WATER YEAR -October I to September 30
IMPORTED WATER SUPPLIES OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
METROPOLITAN
DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER
IMPORTED WATER SUPPLIES OF LOS ANGELES AND SAN DIEGO METROPOLITAN AREAS
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
^
'* BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE
STAMPED BELOW
^
*>«.
'*"*&'*!*«
'***
y ° f c.
'Qti
* T HER BORROWER
°n
<*e
*>NE WEEK.
1U1895
Calif. State water
resources board.
Bulletin.
Call Number:
TD201
C2
no. 2
PHYSICAL
SCIENCES
LIBRARY
141895
3 1175 00457 4292