San Diego Aqueduct
Encyclopedia
The San Diego Project, more popularly referenced as the San Diego Aqueduct, is a system of four aqueduct
s in the U.S. state
of California
, supplying about 90 percent of the water supply for the city of San Diego. The system comprises the First and Second San Diego Aqueducts, carrying water from the Colorado River
west to reservoirs on the outskirts of San Diego. The 70 miles (112.7 km) First Aqueduct consists of the pipelines 1 and 2, which run from the Colorado River Aqueduct
near San Jacinto
, California, to the San Vicente Reservoir, approximately 15 miles (24.1 km) northeast of the city. Pipelines 3 and 4 make up the 94 miles (151.3 km) Second Aqueduct. Together, these four pipelines have a capacity of 826 ft3/s. The smaller, 12.5 miles (20.1 km) Fallbrook-Ocean Branch branches from the First Aqueduct into Morrow Reservoir. The La Mesa-Sweetwater Branch originates from the First Aqueduct, flowing into the Sweetwater Reservoir
.
just north of the San Jacinto River
, continuing 70 mi (112.7 km) south to its terminus at San Vicente Reservoir. There are seven tunnels on the First Aqueduct, which range in length from 500 foot. The total capacity of the First Aqueduct is 196 ft3/s.
and then into Lower Otay Reservoir
near San Diego. In the first 16 mi (25.7 km) from the Colorado River Aqueduct to Lake Skinner, Pipeline 3 consists of an open canal handling approximately 500 ft3/s. The remaining 78 mi (125.5 km) consist of pre-stressed 72 inches (182.9 cm) diameter concrete pipe and steel pipe. Pipeline 4 consists of pre-stressed concrete pipe with a capacity of 380 ft3/s.
Aqueduct
An aqueduct is a water supply or navigable channel constructed to convey water. In modern engineering, the term is used for any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures used for this purpose....
s in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, supplying about 90 percent of the water supply for the city of San Diego. The system comprises the First and Second San Diego Aqueducts, carrying water from the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
west to reservoirs on the outskirts of San Diego. The 70 miles (112.7 km) First Aqueduct consists of the pipelines 1 and 2, which run from the Colorado River Aqueduct
Colorado River Aqueduct
The Colorado River Aqueduct, or CRA, is a water conveyance in Southern California in the United States, operated by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California . The aqueduct impounds water from the Colorado River at Lake Havasu on the California-Arizona border west across the Mojave...
near San Jacinto
San Jacinto
San Jacinto is Spanish for Saint Hyacinth; as a place name, it may refer to:* San Jacinto, Bolívar, Colombia* San Jacinto, Chiquimula, Guatemala* San Jacinto, Comondú, Mexico* San Jacinto, Lerdo, Mexico* San Jacinto, Ancash Region, Peru...
, California, to the San Vicente Reservoir, approximately 15 miles (24.1 km) northeast of the city. Pipelines 3 and 4 make up the 94 miles (151.3 km) Second Aqueduct. Together, these four pipelines have a capacity of 826 ft3/s. The smaller, 12.5 miles (20.1 km) Fallbrook-Ocean Branch branches from the First Aqueduct into Morrow Reservoir. The La Mesa-Sweetwater Branch originates from the First Aqueduct, flowing into the Sweetwater Reservoir
Sweetwater Reservoir
Sweetwater Reservoir is a artificial lake in San Diego County, California formed by the Sweetwater Dam on the Sweetwater River. It lies near the city of Spring Valley....
.
Construction
The First Aqueduct was designed by the Bureau of Reclamation and constructed from 1945 to 1947 by the Navy Department. Pipeline 2, of the First Aqueduct, was built by the Bureau of Reclamation from 1952 and 1957, roughly paralleling Pipeline 1. In 1957, the construction of Pipeline 3 of the Second Aqueduct was begun by the Metropolitan Water District (MWD), completing it in May 1960. In 1968, the construction of Pipeline 4, of the Second Aqueduct, began. Pipeline 4 was completed in 1971. In 2005, the San Diego County Water Authority began construction on the 11 miles (17.7 km), 8.5 feet (2.6 m) San Vicente Pipeline, connecting the San Vicente Reservoir to the Second Aqueduct. Construction on the project is expected to be complete in 2010.First Aqueduct
The First Aqueduct, built of two parallel precast concrete pipes, ranging in diameter from 96 to 48 in (243.8 to 121.9 cm), branches from the Colorado River Aqueduct in San Jacinto, CaliforniaSan Jacinto, California
San Jacinto is a city in Riverside County, California, U.S.A. It was named after Saint Hyacinth and is located at the north end of the San Jacinto Valley, with Hemet to its south. The mountains associated with the valley are the San Jacinto Mountains. The population was 44,199 at the 2010...
just north of the San Jacinto River
San Jacinto River (California)
The San Jacinto River is a river in Riverside County, California. The river's headwaters are in San Bernardino National Forest, but the lower portion of the watershed is urban and agricultural land....
, continuing 70 mi (112.7 km) south to its terminus at San Vicente Reservoir. There are seven tunnels on the First Aqueduct, which range in length from 500 foot. The total capacity of the First Aqueduct is 196 ft3/s.
Second Aqueduct
The Second Aqueduct is 94 mi (151.3 km) long, beginning at the Colorado River Aqueduct, flowing into Lake SkinnerLake Skinner
Lake Skinner is a large reservoir in western Riverside County, California, located at the foot of Bachelor Mountain in the Auld Valley, approximately 10 miles northeast of Temecula...
and then into Lower Otay Reservoir
Lower Otay Reservoir
Lower Otay Reservoir is an artificial lake in San Diego County, California, flanked by Otay County Open Space Preserve and Chula Vista. The reservoir is formed by impounding the waters of the Otay River, behind Savage Dam, completed in 1918, and is the terminus for the Second San Diego Aqueduct...
near San Diego. In the first 16 mi (25.7 km) from the Colorado River Aqueduct to Lake Skinner, Pipeline 3 consists of an open canal handling approximately 500 ft3/s. The remaining 78 mi (125.5 km) consist of pre-stressed 72 inches (182.9 cm) diameter concrete pipe and steel pipe. Pipeline 4 consists of pre-stressed concrete pipe with a capacity of 380 ft3/s.