Owens Valley water wars

E71552

environmental conflict historical event resource conflict water conflict

The Owens Valley water wars were a series of early 20th-century conflicts in California over Los Angeles’ diversion of water from the Owens Valley, which devastated local agriculture and became a landmark case in Western water politics.

Aliases (3)

Statements (58)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	environmental conflict → historical event → resource conflict → water conflict →
chronologyFollowedBy	California water politics in the Colorado River Basin → Mono Basin water disputes →
country	United States →
describedBySource	California water politics → Western water law history →
hasCause	construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct → diversion of Owens River water to Los Angeles → urban water demand in Los Angeles →
hasEffect	decline of Owens Valley farming economy → devastation of local agriculture in Owens Valley → drying of Owens Lake → dust pollution from exposed Owens Lake bed → environmental degradation of Owens Lake → long-term legal disputes over water rights → resentment toward Los Angeles in Owens Valley communities →
hasTheme	environmental justice → growth of Los Angeles → urban versus rural resource use → water rights and property rights →
inspiredWork	film Chinatown → various books on California water history →
involves	Los Angeles Aqueduct → Owens Lake → Owens River NERFINISHED → groundwater pumping in Owens Valley →
locatedIn	California →
location	Eastern California → Owens Valley →
mainConflict	allocation of surface water to Los Angeles versus local use → control of Owens River water rights →
mainParticipant	City of Los Angeles → Inyo County residents → Los Angeles Department of Water and Power → Owens Valley farmers → Owens Valley ranchers →
notableFor	being an early example of large-scale interbasin water transfer conflict → impact on doctrines of prior appropriation and water rights in the American West → influencing public perceptions of Los Angeles water policy → role in shaping Western water politics → secretive land and water rights acquisitions → use of political influence by Los Angeles to secure water rights →
partOf	history of Los Angeles water supply → history of the American West →
significantEvent	blowing up of aqueduct structures by local residents → construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct → land purchases in Owens Valley by Los Angeles → legal challenges by Owens Valley landowners → sabotage of Los Angeles Aqueduct facilities →
significantYear	1905 → 1913 → 1924 → 1927 → 1930s →
startTime	early 20th century →

Referenced by (4)

Subject (surface form when different)	Predicate
Owens Valley →	historicalEvent
Owens River ("California water wars") →	historicalEventAssociated
Chinatown ("Los Angeles water supply controversy") →	settingFeature
Los Angeles Aqueduct ("Owens Valley water rights controversy") →	significantEvent