LARGEST - Gravity Fed Irrigation District in the Western Hemisphere -Imperial, Ca
N 32° 50.855 W 115° 34.013
11S E 634111 N 3635299
Imperial Irrigation District monument with plaque in Imperial, CA.
Waymark Code: WM4R4D
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 09/22/2008
Views: 12
William P. Blake was one of the first to recognize the potential of the Imperial Valley. A geologist with a railroad survey party, Blake had passed through the desert in 1853 and had noticed the ancient shoreline at the foot of the mountains, which proved that at one time there had been an inland sea where now there was desert. Barometric readings taken by Blake proved that the desert lay below sea level and could be irrigated by a gravity-flow canal diverting from the Colorado River.
Another individual interested in the development of the desert was Dr. Oliver M. Wozencraft, who crossed through the area during the gold rush of 1849. In 1861, Wozencraft hired an engineer to take a survey and to recommend a location for a canal. He later succeeded in having legislation introduced into Congress authorizing development of the Imperial Valley. For many years, the Civil War delayed progress on the plan and Wozencraft died without seeing his dream become a reality. In 1901, the California Development Company began diversions into a canal, which had its heading in the United States and ran most of its length in Mexico before re-crossing the International Border into the Imperial Valley.
Silt problems requiring a temporary diversion in Mexico, and unusual winter floods on the Gila River tributary to the Colorado River, resulted in the entire flow of the Colorado River entering Imperial Valley from 1905 to 1907. This flood greatly enlarged the New and Alamo rivers and created what is known today as the Salton Sea. Imperial Irrigation District was formed in 1911 to acquire properties of the bankrupt California Development Company and its Mexican subsidiary.
By 1922, the district had also acquired the 13 mutual water companies, which had developed and operated the distribution canals. By mid-1920, the district was delivering water to nearly 500,000 acres. Since 1942, water has been diverted at Imperial Dam on the Colorado River through the 82-mile-long All-American Canal, all of which the district now operates and maintains. IID is the largest irrigation district in the nation and Imperial County ranks among the top 10 agricultural counties in the nation. Of the water IID transports, 98 percent is used for agriculture in the Imperial Valley. The remaining 2 percent is delivered to nine Imperial Valley cities that treat it to safe drinking water standards and sell it to their residents.
Type of documentation of superlative status: Plaque
Location of coordinates: Base of plaque
Web Site: [Web Link]
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