Los Angeles Aqueduct AU
Philip L. Chaney, PhD, PS
Department of Geosciences
Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
pchaney@auburn.edu
Creative Commons License (CC-BY): This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
How to cite this work: Chaney, P.L. 2021. Los Angeles Aqueduct AU. [Google Earth File]. The IBT Water Project.
Last Updated: 01 April 2021
References:
Austin, C. 2010. The Los Angeles Aqueduct Slideshow. Slideshare.net. Published on December 5, 2010. Last Accessed: 01 November 2018.
City of Los Angeles Board of Water and Power Commissioners. 1908. Topographic map of the Los Angeles aqueduct and adjacent territory. Library of Congress Online Catalog. https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4361n.ct001798/. Last Accessed: 01 November 2018.
Coffin, D. 2016. LA Aqueduct. [Google Earth KMZ file]. http://droughtmath.com/laa/LAA_Simple.kmz. Last Accessed: 01 November 2018.
damian. 2013. LA_Aqueduct. [ArcGIS Feature Layer] Created: Jul 29, 2013 Updated: Oct 29, 2013. Credits: None. Last Accessed: 01 November 2018.
Jacques, H.L. 1939. Mono Craters Tunnel Construction Problems. Journal of the American Water Works Association 32:1. Last Accessed: 01 November 2018.
James, R. 2013. Notes from the Field: Exploring the Remains of a Forgotten Los Angeles Disaster. Atlas Obscura (August 22, 2013). Last Accessed: 02 November 2018.
kklausmeyer@tnc.org. 2018. California_Aqueducts. [ArcGIS Feature Layer] Created: Sep 27, 2012. Last Updated: Jan 10, 2018. Credits: The Nature Conservancy. Original Source: NHD 18 Plus. Last Accessed: 01 November 2018.
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. (n.d.). Facts and History: The Story of the Los Angeles Aqueduct. LADWP.com. Last Accessed: 01 November 2018.
Los Angeles Water and Power Associates. (n.d.). Construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct.Water and Power Associates. Last Accessed: 01 November 2018.
Reisner, M. 1986. Cadillac Desert. Viking Penguin, NY.
Trinidad, E. 2013. A Self-Guided Tour of the Los Angeles Aqueduct. KCET. (November 4, 2013). Last Accessed: 01 November 2018.
Wikipedia Contributors. 2018. Los Angeles Aqueduct. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Last edited on 2 November 2018. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Aqueduct. Last Accessed: 02 November 2018.
Note: Citations for website links embedded in the Google Earth map file are not included in the list above.
Personal Communications
Special Thanks to Fred Barker, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (Retired). Fred guided multi-day field trips of the route for 15 years during his service as an engineer with LADWP.
Request for Assistance: Missing and conflicting information is an ongoing challenge in this project. Although significant effort has been made to map the IBTs main route and key features, some important details may have been missed. We apologize in advance for any errors and request your assistance in making necessary revisions.

Aqueduct Routes

LAA1 (1st LA Aqueduct)
Route of the 1st LA Aqueduct (completed 1913).

Mono Basin Extension
Route of the Mono Basin Extension of the 1st LA Aqueduct (MBExt completed 1941). Some descriptions of the Mono Extension appear to suggest that it extends from the Lee Vining Creek Diversion to the Lake Crowley (Long Valley) Dam, while others include the Owens Gorge Tunnel system and the Owens River down to the Intake Structure for LAA1 (First LA Aqueduct). Our map of the Mono Basin Extension includes everything above the LAA1 Intake all the way up to Lee Vining Creek.

LAA2 (2nd LA Aqueduct)
Route of the 2nd LA Aqueduct (completed 1970).

Composite Route of the 1st LA Aqueduct (1913) including the Mono Basin Extension (1941).

LAA1 Other Features

Owens River Diversion Weir
This stucture was designed to divert the Owens River to the 1st LA Aqueduct, which opened in 1913. It was modified in 2005 (see diversion gate on north end) to allow controlled amounts of water to flow back into the natural channel to support the environmental restoration of the stream as part of the Lower Owens River Project. See A Self-guided Tour of the LA Aqueduct by Elson Trinidad, 2013 (#15 and #24).

1st LA Aqueduct (LAA1) Intake
This stucture marks the beginning of the 1st LA Aqueduct. It was opened in February 1913.

Concrete Lined Canal Start

Alabama Spillway Gates
Structure designed to release overflow water due to runoff from the adjacent hills (Alabama Hills).

California Aqueduct Crossing
LAA1 pipe crossing above an open canal section of the California Aqueduct. There is a connection at this site for transporting water from one to the other when necessary.

Bouquet Reservoir Pipeline
Pipeline connecting LA Aqueduct to Bouquet Reservoir. Water can be transferred to, and from, the reservoir.

Mono Basin Extension Features

5 Syphon Bypass

Rush Creek Return Ditch

Mono Crater Tunnel (West Portal)

Mono Crater Tunnel (East Portal)

Owens Gorge Tunnel Starting Point
Beneath this structure, known as the Shaft House, is the beginning of a tunnel that bypasses the Owens Gorge as it transports water to a series of hydropower plants downstream.

LAA2 Other Features

2nd LA Aqueduct (LAA2) Intake
This stucture marks the beginning of the 2nd LA Aqueduct, completed in 1970, which effectively doubled the capacity of the system to transport water to Los Angeles. The route bypassed South Haiwee Reservoir due to safety concerns about the South Haiwee Dam.
South Haiwee Reservoir is still in use, but not filled to full capacity. A pipe connecting LAA2 to LAA1 south of the S. Haiwee Res. Intake Tower allows water to be transferred to LAA1.

LAA2 to LAA1 Crossover
Approximate location of pipe connecting LAA2 to LAA1.

LAA2 to LAA1 Crossover
Approximate location of pipe installed to connect LAA2 to LAA1 as part of effort to bypass S. Haiwee Reservoir due to concerns about the safety of the dam.

California Aqueduct Crossing (underground)

Drinkwater Reservoir Pipeline
Pipeline connecting LAA 2 to Drinkwater Reservoir. Water can be transported to, and from, Drinkwater Reservoir.

Inflow/Outflow Tower

Overflow Drainage Tower

Drinkwater Reservoir Drainage Pipe
Pipe to transport overflow from Drinkwater Reservoir to stream at bottom of canyon.

LAA2 Flow Meter

Pipe Removed
The original pipe running up the slope that was installed during the constuction of LAA2 was later removed for safety concerns. The replacement pipe was rerouted to the side and runs directly into the hill and then up a vertical shaft to the surge chamber.

Haiwee Reservoir Features

North Haiwee Reservoir Dam

South Haiwee Bypass Structure
Intake for LAA2 canal bypass around S. Haiwee Reservoir.

South Haiwee Dam Intake Tower

Haiwee Power Plant Bypass Canal
Open channel used to bypass Haiwee Power Plant when turbine not in operation.

Canyon Crossings for LAA1
Labor was less expensive than steel and other constuction materials during constuction of the First LA Aqueduct, so it was cheaper to dig tunnels through the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains than to go around them. Exposed pipes connecting the tunnels can be seen at many of the canyon crossings.
The cost of steel and other materials was less expensive than labor when the Second LA Aqueduct was built, so that route bypassed the mountains.

Five Mile Canyon

Deadfoot Canyon

Nine Mile Canyon

No Name Canyon

Sand Canyon

Grapevine Canyon

Short Canyon

Jaw Bone Canyon

Pine Tree Canyon

Bee Canyon

Deadman Canyon

Soledad Canyon

Quigley Canyon

Placerita Canyon

Whitney Canyon

Fairmont Reservoir Features
A newer, smaller reservoir replaced the original Fairmont Reservoir after an earthquake in 1971 rasied concerns about a breach flooding nearby residents. Consequently, the LA Aqueduct lines running into the old reservoir had to be re-routed.

Fairmont Reservoir #1 (Abandoned)
Abandoned after completion of Fairmont Reservoir #2 in 1982.

LAA1 Cascade into Fairmont Reservoir #1
Structure where LAA1 flowed into Fairmont Reservoir 1 before it was replaced by Fairmont Reservoir 2.

LAA1 original route into Fairmont Reservoir
Original route into the old Fairmont Reservoir before constuction of the new Fairmont Reservoir in the 1980s.

LAA2 Cascade into Fairmont Reservoir #1
Structure where LAA2 flowed into Fairmont Reservoir 1 before it was replaced by Fairmont Reservoir 2.

LAA2 original route into Fairmont Reservoir
Original route into the old Fairmont Reservoir before constuction of the new Fairmont Reservoir in the 1980s.

LAA1 / LAA2 Confluence at Fairmont Reservoir
The 1st and 2nd aqueducts merge at this point and share passage through Elizabeth Tunnel, San Francisquito Tunnel, and subsequent tunnels and pipes until they split above Drinkwater Reservoir and follow separate routes to the Los Angeles Reservoir.

Elizabeth Tunnel Features
Fred Barker, expert consultant for this map of the LA Aqueduct, guided a tour of the Elizabeth Tunnel for Don Wildman's television show "Off Limits." The tour was part of episode 1, season 1, that premiered on the Travel Channel on May 16, 2011.

Elizabeth Tunnel Entrance (North Portal)
Opening to the Elizabeth Tunnel where engineers began digging from the north.

Elizabeth Tunnel Entrance Shaft (North)

Elizabeth Tunnel Service Access
Additional entrance to Elizabeth Tunnel.

Elizabeth Tunnel Access Shaft

Elizabeth Tunnel Entrance (South Portal)
Opening to the Elizabeth Tunnel where engineers began digging from the south.

Elizabeth Tunnel Entrance Shaft (South)

San Francisquito Tunnel Starting Point
Aproximate location of point along Elizabeth Tunnel where engineers began digging San Francisquito Tunnel, which veers off to the southwest and ends at the Surge Chamber above LADWP Power Station #1.

San Fancisquito Tunnel End

Dry Canyon Reservoir Features
Dry Canyon Reservoir was abandoned in 1966 due to safety concerns about the integrity of the Dry Canyon Dam. Consequently, the aqueduct was re-routed to the east to by-pass the reservoir.

Dry Canyon Reservoir (Abandoned)

Dry Canyon Reservoir Inflow Structure
Point where LAA1 flowed into Dry Canyon Reservoir before the reservoir was abandoned.

Dry Canyon Reservoir Bypass Structure
Constructed in 1955-57.

The Cascades and LA Reservoir
The Cascades are the two open canals for LAA1 and LAA2 running down the slope of Terminal Hill, which is a scenic location generally recognized as the end of the LA Aqueduct. These open canals provide an option to bypass the adjacent pipelines leading to the hydroelectric power plants below when they are not in operation.

LAA1 Cascade
Concrete channel for LAA1 route down south side of Terminal Hill. Used to bypass the adjacent LAA1 pipeline when the San Fernando Power Plant (located approx. 4,000 ft to the south) is not in operation.

LAA1 Cascade Bypass Route
Route of LAA1 bypassing the adjacent LAA1 pipeline when the San Fernando Power Plant (located approx. 4,000 ft to the south) is not in operation.

LAA2 Cascade
Concrete channel for LAA2 route down south side of Terminal Hill. Used to bypass the adjacent LAA2 pipeline when the Foothills Power Plant (located approx. 2,400 ft to the south) is not in operation.

LAA2 Cascade Bypass Route
Route of LAA2 bypassing the adjacent LAA2 pipeline when the Foothills Power Plant (located approx. 2,400 ft to the south) is not in operation.

LAA1 / LAA2 Confluence at Cascades
Water flowing down LAA1 cascade diverted into LAA2 cascade channel at this point.

LAA1 / LAA2 Confluence

Metropolitan Water District Facility
MWD Jensen Water Treatment Plant

Inflow from Metropolitan Water District
This connection allows for water to be transported from the Metropolitan Water Distict to the LA Department of Water and Power.

Estimated Route to Van Norman Reservoir
Route of flow from this point over to Van Norman Reservoir is speculative and needs confirmation.

Diversions
There are aproximately 20 streams flowing down the slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the First LA Aqueduct between the Intake to LAA1 and North Haiwee Reservoir. Some stream appear to stop at the edge of the canal, some appear to flow into the canal, and some appear to flow under the canal and continue on their path. These points are not included in the map to avoid further confusion.

Lee Vining Creek Diversion
Starting point of the Mono Basin Extension segment of the 1st LA Aqueduct. This extension was completed in 1941.

Walker Creek Diversion

Parker Creek Diversion

Rush Creek Return Gate
This structure diverts water from the aqueduct to Rush Creek, which flows into Mono Lake.

Surge Tanks

Surge Tank

Dams

Grant Lake Dam

Lake Crowley Dam

Pleasant Valley Dam

Pleasant Valley Dam Intake Tower

Tinemaha Dam

Tinemaha Dam Intake Tower

South Haiwee Dam

Bouquet Dam

Dry Canyon Dam

Hydropower Plants

Upper Gorge Power Plant

Middle Gorge Power Plant

Old Power Plant (Abandoned)

Control Gorge Power Plant

Pleasant Valley Power Plant

Cottonwood Power Plant

Haiwee Power Plant

LADWP Power Station 1

LADWP Power Station 2

San Fernando Power Plant

Foothills Power Plant

Owens River
The Owens River makes up a significant portion of the Mono Basin Extension of the First LA Aqueduct as shown on our map of the route for this project.

Owens River 1

Owens River2

Reservoirs

Mono Lake

Grant Lake

Lake Crowley (Long Valley) Reservoir

Pleasant Valley Reservoir

Tinemaha Reservoir

Owens Lake

North Haiwee Reservoir

South Haiwee Reservoir

Fairmont Reservoir #2
Constucted in 1981-1982. Replaced the old Fairmont Reservoir after an earthquake in 1971 raised concerns about a breach flooding nearby residents.

Bouquet Reservoir
Constuction completed in 1934 to replace the failed St. Francis Dam (1928). Water from the LA Aqueduct can be pumped to the reservoir for temporary storage and then released back to the system when necessary.

Drinkwater Reservoir

Van Norman (Los Angeles) Reservoir

Sites of Historical Interest

Big Pine Canal
Big Pine Canal, also known as Big Pine Ditch, was constructed by local property owners in the early 1900s to transport water from Owens River to their lands. The city of Los Angeles soon became interested in the canal as a means to increase water flows into the LA Aqueduct, so L.A. began purchasing land in the area and maintaining the canal. In 1923, local land owners opposed to LA's exploitation of the Owens Valley region stopped work on the canal. Rising opposition among Owens Valley residents to LA's activites in the region soon led to dynamiting of the LA Aqueduct. This period is known as The California Water Wars. Note that Big Pine Canal was not the only local canal project in the region.
*Some existing digital maps show Big Pine Canal as part of the LA Aqueduct system. Local experts reject this interpretation and note that it was never a part of the LA Aqueduct system.

Big Pine Canal

Eastern California Museum
Exhibit on construction of LA Aqueduct. http://www.inyocounty.us/ecmsite/

Manzanar National Historic Site
WWII Internment Camp for over 10,000 Japanese Americans.

Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center
Information center, exhibit on aqueduct constuction, and interactive model of LA Aqueduct system. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recarea/?recid=20698

Antelope Valley
After emerging from the Sierra Nevada foothills, the First and Second LA Aqueducts cross this expansive valley before entering the Elizabeth Tunnel on their path to Los Angeles.

St. Francis Dam Failure Site
Dam failure event occurred in 1928.

Beale's Cut
Famous pass through the mountains linking San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita Valley. Originally discovered in the 1700s, the pass was cut deeper in the 1800s to improve access. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newhall_Pass

Terminal Hill
Scenic location generally recognized as the end of the LA Aqueduct