| USA. DWR State Fair exhibit honours water superstars and superheroes |
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| Friday, 18 August 2006 | |
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Trade fair news: In keeping with the California State Fair's theme, "Superstars and Superheroes," the Department of Water Resources (DWR) exhibition at this year's Fair features many of the men and women who were heroes for shaping water management and development in California. Important names like Governor Edmund G. Brown, Michael O'Shaughnessy, William Mulholland and the state's first engineer, William Hammond Hall, illuminate the Heroes of Water wall in Exhibition Building Four. The stories are a vivid reminder of the state's fascinating water history and the complex challenges of managing a natural resource like water. A total of 22 water heroes are included in the exhibit. They include architects of statewide water projects, dedicated water planners and managers, environmental leaders, educators and flood-fighters. After admiring the heroes of the past, visitors have a chance to become the water heroes of today and tomorrow. Multimedia presentations, displays, live animals, and activities give fairgoers a hands-on experience and understanding of the importance of water management, environmental protect, conservation and recreation. Brochures and teacher supplies at the information desk provide information on floods, water safety, local water resources, and much more. The State Fair runs through September 4, and is closed Mondays except for Labor Day. A schedule of events for fair exhibits is available online at www.bigfun.org. A complete list of the water heroes follows. California Water Heroes Display at California State Fair, 2006 Senator Peter Behr An active protector of California's natural resources, including our water supplies. Behr led passage of the landmark Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 1972 as a State Senator. The bill protected some of Northern California's rivers from damming, keeping their waters and wildlife in a more natural state. His work also focused on protecting wildlife including mountain lions and tule elk, and seashore restoration work in Marin County. Governor Edmund G. "Pat" Brown Elected in 1958, Governor Brown entered office at a time when politicians were strongly divided about a comprehensive state water project. However, he had a passionate, activist attitude about infrastructure needs, including statewide water planning. Concentrating his energies on the issue, he believed the development of new water resource projects was crucial to the future development and economic prosperity of California. He worked closely with the state legislature to craft laws that would appease regional concerns and approve a $1.75 billion bond to construct the State Water Project. For his efforts, the 444-mile California Aqueduct bears his name. California Conservation Corps crews Over the years, thousands of young men and women of the CCC have braved dangerous and grueling conditions to fight floods, battle wildfires and enhance the state's natural resources. Corps members have served in nearly every major flood since 1976, reinforcing levees, stabilizing hillsides and filling sandbags in urban and rural areas of the state. It is estimated that CCC has filled more than three million sandbags, providing a vital first line of defense to protect lives and property. Chinese Laborers The Sacramento Valley and Delta area owe much of their rich agricultural history to the hard work of the Chinese laborers. These tenacious men and women hand-built the aqueducts and levees, allowing swamp lands to be transformed into some of the world's great farming lands. Once the levees were completed, many Chinese workers farmed the land, becoming the dominant workforce in Delta area agriculture in the 1870s and 1880s. Pauline Davis The longest serving woman in the State Assembly, Davis earned the title "Lady of the Lakes" for her tireless efforts to promote local water development and fight water pollution. In 1961, she won passage of the Davis-Dolwig Act which affirmed that recreational activities and fish and wildlife enhancements were important elements of the state water project and needed to be managed and supported for the benefit of all Californians. A.D. Edmonston A former California State Engineer and Chief of the Division of Water Resources in the 1950s, A. D. Edmonston directed the early planning of the Central Valley Project, the State Water Project, and the State Water Plan. His contribution is honored at the A.D. Edmonston Pumping Plant, named in his honor. The largest pumping facility of the State Water Project, it lifts water almost 2,000 feet over the Tehachapi Mountains into Southern California. William Hammond Hall California's first state engineer, William Hammond Hall, installed an extensive flow gauging system along portions of the Sacramento, San Joaquin, Feather, and American rivers. Navigation was improved for river commerce, a booming industry that fueled California's commerce and economic development. His proposal that California's water resources be developed on a statewide basis would be realized with the establishment of the Department of Water Resources in 1956. Edward Hyatt After being appointed State Engineer in 1927, Hyatt proposed water exchanges between north and south portions of the Central Valley. The project would provide inexpensive irrigation water to farmers to boost the economy and allow for more growth and development. Ultimately, the Central Valley Project was federally funded and the Bureau of Reclamation began construction in 1935. Today, the Central Valley Project irrigates billions of dollars worth of agricultural crops, helping to make California the nation's top agricultural producer. William Gianelli Appointed director of the Department of Water Resources by Governor Ronald Reagan, Gianelli transformed the blueprint of the State Water Project into an operational reality. Under his leadership, all of the project's facilities from Oroville Dam on the Feather River to Perris Dam in Riverside County were completed and placed in operations. Water deliveries to southern California began in the early 1970s, fulfilling a vital challenge for the growing state. Will Green A founder of the town of Colusa, newspaper editor and a member of the California State Assembly, Green was known as the "father of irrigation" for his tireless efforts to develop new irrigation systems to keep the region productive during times of drought. He was also the first to propose the flood control bypass system that today protects the Sacramento Valley and other areas from catastrophic flooding. Steve Hall As Executive Director of the Association of California Water Agencies since 1993, Hall has provided leadership during a challenging period in the state's water history. He helped break the long-running gridlock between urban, agricultural and environmental interests to lay the groundwork for the landmark Bay-Delta Accord in 1994. Most recently, Hall united his agency's membership around a well-balanced policy document which lays out an action plan to secure water supplies for the future. Clair Hill An early proponent of water planning and management, Hill believed in the protection of natural resources, fine engineering, and combining these actions to benefit communities. His efforts led to the inclusion of Whiskeytown Dam as part of the Central Valley Project to provide irrigation water supplies in the Sacramento Valley. He served on the California Water Commission from 1949 to 1966, providing strong leadership on some of the state's most important water issues. David Kennedy A civil engineer, Kennedy was the longest serving director of the Department of Water Resources. More than $1 billion was invested in new construction projects and improvements to the State Water Project during his tenure, which ran from 1983 to 1998. He presided over the 1994 "Monterey Agreement" an accord that provided significant benefits to water contractors to help meet water demands, and balanced water needs between agricultural and urban water users. John Krautkraemer A respected Environmental Defense Fund lawyer, Krautkraemer was instrumental in developing new standards for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the state's main source of water. He helped negotiate a comprehensive agreement between the state and federal governments to address competing demands between environmentalists, farmers and cities. Known as the San Francisco Bay/Delta Accord, the agreement included elements addressing water quality standard-setting, project operations, and water policy planning. Col. Robert Bradford Marshall A surveyor who came to California in 1919, Marshall envisioned a statewide water development project to transfer Northern California water to the San Joaquin Valley. His proposals eventually led to the construction of the federal Central Valley Project, a massive project which today delivers water from the Cascade Mountains near Redding to the Tehachapi Mountains for millions or acres of farmlands, as well as cities and wildlife. John Muir John Muir is considered one of the earliest of modern conservationists. When he first set eyes on Yosemite Valley in 1868, he was captivated by its beauty, calling it "the grandest of all special temples of Nature." From then on, he took various jobs in the region so he could study how it was developed and its ecosystem, including natural waterways, functioned. His essays and stories of his adventures in the Sierra Nevada mountains taught people the importance of experiencing and protecting our natural resources. Today, he represents a hero of the environment and its natural resources. William Mulholland A man obsessed with an engineering challenge of epic proportions, William Mulholland brought the Owens River to Los Angeles through a combination of determination and deceit. In 1913, he dedicated and released the first waters of the Los Angeles Aqueduct, the major water project of Southern California. The completion of the project was a personal triumph for William Mulholland and the first step toward making his city the international metropolis it is today. Twenty-eight years later, Mulholland would complete a subsequent water project -- the Colorado River Aqueduct. Michael O'Shaughnessy An Irish immigrant who came to America in 1885, O'Shaughnessy worked on many railroad and water projects in California and the Hawaiian Islands before becoming City Engineer for the city of San Francisco. Known as "The Chief," his largest, most famous, and most controversial undertaking was the Hetch Hetchy Project, a 150-mile gargantuan complex of tunnels, pumping stations, and pipelines that diverted water from the Sierras into the city of San Francisco. O'Shaughnessy completed the project in 1934, exemplifying his engineering prowess. Carley Porter and Gordon Cologne A major water policy figure, Assemblyman Carley Porter was instrumental to the backing and development of laws that resulted in the State Water Project. Later joined by State Senator Gordon Cologne, the pair crafted strong anti-pollution legislation to guarantee the safety and cleanliness of California's drinking water. The Porter-Cologne Act set standards that later became a model for the federal Clean Water Act of 1972 which safeguards our nation's water supply. Ronald Robie As director of the Department of Water Resources from 1975 to 1982, Robie provided leadership during an era of rising environmental concerns and complex issues of Delta water quality. He promoted innovative programs to increase conservation and water use efficiency. Prior to his tenure at DWR, Robie was a legislative consultant on water policy and served on the State Water Resources Control Board. He is currently a justice on the Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District. Rita Schmidt Sudman Executive Director of the respected non-profit Water Education Foundation, Sudman has been a strong advocate of efforts to foster public dialogue and a better understanding of complex and often controversial water issues facing the West. The Foundation also runs a nationally-recognized program for tomorrow's water leaders, grooming a new generation to meet an important challenge. She has received numerous regional and national awards for her efforts in developing and implementing educational programs about water. The Department of Water Resources operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs. |
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