This image is being made available for educational and research purposes only, under the fair use clause of the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 § 107 U.S.C.) Further questions regarding the image or its use may be directed to the California History and Genealogy Room, Fresno County Public Library, 2420 Mariposa St., Fresno, CA 93721-2285; (559) 488-3195, press #3, then #5.
Description
Friant Dam under construction on the San Joaquin River. The Friant Dam ground breaking was on November 5, 1939 with Secretary of the Interior, Harold Ickes, as guest speaker. Griffith Company and Bent Company of Los Angeles were awarded the Friant Dam contract and given 1200 days from October 1939 to finish the job. The final yard of concrete was placed on June 16, 1942 and the government classified the dam as ready for service in November 1942. This straight, concrete, gravity dam, became 315 feet high when completed and formed Millerton Lake as its reservoir. Millerton Lake first stored water on February 21, 1944, supplying irrigation water to farmers to the north and south as well as affording flood control for the lower San Joaquin River areas.
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