PROBLEMS OF WATER STORAGE ON TORRENTIAL STREAMS OF SOUTHERN 

 CALIFORNIA AS TYPIFIED BY SWEETWATER AND SAN JACINTO RIVERS. 



By James D. Schuyler, 

 Hydraulic Engineer. 



INTEODUCTION. 



Sweetwater and San Jacinto rivers have been selected for the study of water- 

 right conditions and general storage and irrigation problems, because on each of these 

 streams substantial masonry dams have been erected, and the storage of water and 

 its distribution for irrigation and general domestic service have been established for 

 a period sufficiently long to afford valuable experience and precedents. The writer 

 has been selected to make a study and presentation of these problems and experiences, 

 presumablj" because he was the engineer who designed and built the dams on both 

 streams. 



Aside from the Bear Valley Dam on the headwaters of Santa Ana River and the 

 Cuyamaca Dam on the headwaters of San Diego River, the Sweetwater and Heraet 

 dams are the only completed structures in southern California that impound, utilize, 

 divert, and distribute water from toiTential streams. A number of other dams have 

 been projected, and several have been partially or wholly completed, but are not as 

 yet in service. 



There is a peculiar interest attached to the storage reservoir and distributing 

 system which derives its supply from a torrential stream, as it is a creation of 

 something of permanent value out of that which would not only be otherwise wasted 

 and lost, but would frequently cause havoc and destruction to property in the act of 

 going to waste. As its name implies, the torrential stream is one of violent force 

 and action during certain intermittent periods of its career, and its power and capacity 

 for destruction everywhere need to be curbed. Not the least useful of the functions 

 of the impounding reservoir, therefore, is that of lessening the destructive force of 

 the torrent upon which it is situated. It is doubtful, however, if such substantial 

 and costly works as are needed for effecting this purpose would be undertaken by 

 an}^ community for that object alone, and unless the water impounded can be put to 

 use, and either harnessed for power or consumed in irrigation, or both, and is 

 obtainable free from legal complications or harassing restrictions, the incentive will 

 always be lacking for the construction of such permanent dams, either by individuals, 

 private corporations, or municipalities. Every possible encouragement needs to be 

 afforded for such enterprises in the way of smoothing the legal paths; and the purpose 

 of this inquiry, as I understand it, is to ascertain what the experience of 3'ears in the 

 actual impounding and use of water on these streams has been, physically and legally, 

 and what modifications of the laws appear to be desirable in the light of these 



23856— No. 100—01 23 353 



