California Aqueduct Facts: A Water System Of Canals And Tunnels
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The California Aqueduct is one of the largest aqueducts in the world.
The aqueduct is maintained by the Department of Water Resources and forms an important source of water in California. The construction of the system initially took place in the '60s but wasn't totally completed until 2012.
The final phase had a budget of $29m, and was undertaken by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, in co-operation with the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority, and the California Department of Water Resources, from 2010 to 2012. It connected the Delta Condota canal to the aqueduct, which increased the flexibility of the State Water Project.
The work was overseen by the Bureau of Reclamation. The newly constructed pipeline also helped in delivering water during cases of state emergencies.
Types Of Water Systems
Delivering water to California requires a lot of energy and it begins at the Oroville dam. From the Oroville dam, water gradually flows to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The water system serves millions of people in the state, including 5.7 million acres (23067 sq km) of farms.
The aqueduct begins at the Banks Pumping Plant and flows to O'Neill Forebay and San Luis Reservoir under the pressure of gravity. From the O'Neil Forebay, the water system flows to the Dos Amigos Pumping plant where the split of the coastal branch takes place from the mainline.
The coastal branch continues for a few miles under gravitational force till it reaches Buena Vista Pumping Plant.
The Edmonston Pumping Plant is the last pumping plant of the aqueduct and in this plant, it is pumped 1,926 ft (587 m) over the Tehachapi Mountains. After passing Tehachapi, the aqueduct divides into the coastal branch, the west branch, and the east branch.
The east branch separates from the west in the extreme south of Kern County located north of Los Angeles county.
The east branch system passes through parts of San Bernardino Kern, and Riverside counties, and carries water to Lake Palmdale terminating at Lake Perris. The west branch continues flowing towards its terminating end at Pyramid and Castaic lakes.
Its Impact On Agricultural Projects
California has been converted into a farming state due to the rivers flowing and accumulating in the aqueduct. The aqueduct provides water to more than 25 million people and irrigates almost 750,000 acres (3035 sq km) of agricultural land. There are 11 pumping plants pumping water hundreds of feet high.
The aqueduct is a series of canals, pipelines, and tunnels that conduct water from other regions to form a river-like structure. The water used to be utilized as drinking water in the past but not it is mainly used for agriculture and growing plants.
Intensive agricultural processes have led to some serious troubles in the region. Many islands around the region now lie below sea level since these fertile lands are used intensively for agriculture.
There is also a higher risk of flooding around the region.
Increased agriculture processes have reduced the rate of outflow of water to 17 million acre-ft (21 cubic km) from Sacramento and 3 million acre-ft (3.7 cubic km) from San Joaquin. However, the numbers are not stationary, they vary accordingly.
Hydrography Of The California Aqueduct
The California Aqueduct is both directly and indirectly facilitated by the two major rivers that drain and define the central valley: the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River.
Sacramento, along with its tributaries, Feather and American rivers, flows through the Sacramento Valley while the San Joaquin River flows through the San Joaquin Valley, picking up tributaries like Tuolumne River, Merced River, Mokelumne River, and Stanislaus River.
The two rivers converge in the central valley at the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta forming marshy complex structures that facilitate the growth of plants. The river water merges with tidal water and ultimately flows to the Pacific Ocean.
In its course, the aqueduct water crosses San Pablo Bay, Suisun Bay, and upper San Francisco Bay. San Joaquin River carries far less water than Sacramento; the annual runoff of Sacramento is 22 m acre-ft (27 cubic km) while that of San Joaquin is only 6 m acre-ft (7.4 cubic km)
California Aqueduct FAQs
Who built the California Aqueduct?
The first stage of the construction of the California Aqueduct was built by the Department of Water Resources in 1963, and is still maintained and operated by DWR. It wasn't completed until 2012.
Why does California need an aqueduct?
The California Aqueduct is a critical part of the state water project since it carries water from the Cascade Range to southern California.
How much water does the California Aqueduct carry?
The California Aqueduct carries around 650 m gal (2.5 bn l) water per day.
Where does California get its water?
The main source of water in California is the Colorado River spanning 1,450 mi (2,333 km) in the state.
How deep is the California Aqueduct?
The deepest section of the California Aqueduct measures up to 32 ft (9.7 m) approximately.
How long is the California Aqueduct?
The total length of the Calfornia Aqueduct is 444 mi (715 km).
How do aqueducts help support California's large population?
The California Aqueduct provides water to almost 27 m people in the state, supplying water for farms as well as municipal purposes.
How much water does California use?
The state of California consumes around 102 gal (386 l) of water per capita per day.
When was the California Aqueduct completed?
The final branch was completed in 2012.
How much water does California take from the Colorado River?
More than 15% of California's surface water is derived from the Colorado River.
Is the California Aqueduct used a lot?
The California Aqueduct can shut down if the region is struck by an earthquake of magnitude greater than 7.5 but, at present, it is used by millions of people.
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English
Rajnandini RoychoudhuryBachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English
With a Master of Arts in English, Rajnandini has pursued her passion for the arts and has become an experienced content writer. She has worked with companies such as Writer's Zone and has had her writing skills recognized by publications such as The Telegraph. Rajnandini is also trilingual and enjoys various hobbies such as music, movies, travel, philanthropy, writing her blog, and reading classic British literature.
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