Diversion ditch from Big Pine Canal, most likely illegally cut by City of Los Angeles employees in August 1924. The ditch is now filled in, and the Big Pine Canal (background, lined with brush) was no longer in use a source of irrigation water for Big Pine farmers and ranchers by the date (circa 1930) of this photograph. The snow-capped mountains in the background are most likely the Sierra Nevada, to the west of Big Pine. The snow pack of the Sierra Nevada, which can be seen here, is the source of water that feeds the Owens River and other streams that the Los Angeles Aqueduct then carries to Los Angeles. Text on back of photograph in hand of J. D. Black: "showing cut--attempted by City--which would have unlawfully diverted water from Big Pine Canal." Title supplied by cataloger.
Water rights--California--Big Pine Water rights--California--Los Angeles Irrigation--California--Big Pine Land use, Rural--California--History Irrigation--Canals--California--Big Pine
Source
Center for the Study of Los Angeles Research Collection, Loyola Marymount University
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
