FIRST -- Water Storage Behind Hoover Dam, Hoover Dam nr AZ Elevators
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member Benchmark Blasterz
N 36° 00.954 W 114° 44.226
11S E 703925 N 3988080
The first water was stored behind Hoover Dam on 1 Feb 1935.
Waymark Code: WMQTRV
Location: Arizona, United States
Date Posted: 03/28/2016
Published By:Groundspeak Regular Member Mark1962
Views: 15

A large plaque on the AZ side of Hoover Dam contains a 35 year timeline of the development of the Colorado River and building of Hoover Dam, near the elevators that used to take tourists to the AZ power plant.

The Colorado River had been diverted through tunnels around the dam site years before. But on 1 Feb 1935, the dam began holding back water from the Colorado River.

The relevant chronological portion of the plaque reads as follows:

"UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT, PRESIDENT
HAROLD L ICKES, SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
BOULDER CANYON PROJECT

[list of names of folks who worked on the project]

CHRONOLOGY OF COLORADO RIVER DEVELOPMENT

1902 –- President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Reclamation Act

1902 – 1918 -- Investigations and reports on many projects for control and utilization of the Colorado River made by Reclamation Service

1918 -- Arthur P Davis conceived the project for a dam of unprecedented heights in Boulder or Black Canyon

1922 -- Colorado River compact signed at Santa Fe on November 24

1924 -- Report on Colorado River made by the Reclamation Bureau recommending construction of the Boulder Canyon Project

1928 -- The Boulder Canyon Project act was introduced by Sen. Johnson and representative swing passed by the Senate on December 14, by the house on December 18, and signed by President Coolidge on December 21

1930 -- Contracts for sale of electrical energy entered into with the Metropolitan water District of Southern California, the city of Los Angeles, and the Southern California Edison Company

1931 -- Bids open for construction of Boulder dam and power plant. March 4 contract awarded to Six Companies, Inc., and work started March 11

1932 -- Diversion of river completed November 14

1933 -- First concrete placed in dam June 6

1935 –- Storage of water commenced February 1

1935 -- Last concrete placed in dam May 29

1935 -- Dedication by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt September 30

1936 -- First generation of power, September 11, 1936"
FIRST - Classification Variable: Item or Event

Date of FIRST: 02/01/1935

More Information - Web URL: [Web Link]

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