The winter snows of the Sierras were the entire reason for the Big Creek Project. As the heavy snowpack melted, the runoff water was stored in reservoirs, then used to generate electricity before going down to irrigate crops in the San Joaquin Valley below. Unfortunately, the heavy snowfalls at higher altitudes made construction of portions of the project very difficult, shortening the working season and making transportation difficult.
Southern California Edison Photographs and Negatives Story of Big Creek Southern California Edison Photographs and Negatives, Huntington Digital Library
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