Here is the English version of the content:
—
Just before midnight on March 7, 1928, the St. Francis Dam, located approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) inland from Los Angeles, collapsed. There were no witnesses to the disaster—or at least none who survived—but investigators later determined that the 56-meter-tall (184-foot) dam failed all at once, sending 12.4 billion gallons of water roaring down the San Francisquito Canyon in a wave 43 meters (141 feet) high.
Five hours later, the floodwaters finally reached the Pacific Ocean, leaving behind chunks of concrete as heavy as 10,000 tonnes. By then, the deluge was nearly 3 kilometers (2 miles) wide, destroying several towns along its path, cutting power across the region, and ultimately claiming the lives of at least 431 people. Many victims were swept out to sea, with their remains discovered as late as 1994 and as far away as the Mexican border.
The dam had been plagued by cracks and leaks since its reservoir began filling in 1926, but its builders dismissed these issues as inconsequential and continued filling it as planned. The water it held—sourced controversially from Owens Valley, a lush oasis in the desert region between the Sierra Nevada and White Mountains, about 320 kilometers (200 miles) north—was essential to support Los Angeles’s rapidly growing population.
Over the next two years, new cracks formed, and seepage became increasingly evident around the abutments where the dam met the canyon walls. By February 1928, significant leaks were releasing so much water that local farmers grew concerned. Once again, the dam’s chief engineer, William Mulholland, dismissed these concerns as normal.
On the morning of the collapse, Mulholland and his team conducted a thorough inspection of the dam, concluding it was safe but in need of future repairs. Hours later, the dam gave way. An investigation later attributed the disaster to “defective foundations.”
This was the largest civil engineering disaster of the 20th century in the U.S.—a byproduct of western expansion and the struggle known as the California Water Wars, which pitted the public against private business interests and set the stage for a century of conflict over the state’s most contested resource.
—
### “We are going to turn that country dry.”
Nearly 100 years later, water remains a critical issue for California. During the wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles in January 2025, firefighters faced low hydrant water pressure, hampering their efforts. Investigators attributed this to unusually high demand driven by firefighting operations, while then-President-elect Donald Trump blamed California Governor Gavin Newsom, claiming the water shortage was due to “overregulation”—particularly rules designed to protect endangered species in the region.
In recent interviews with firefighters, Al Jazeera learned that the difficulty in obtaining enough water to fight the fires was likely inevitable. “No urban municipal water system could support that,” said Bobbie Scopa, a firefighter with nearly 45 years of experience. “You’re going to run out of water, no matter what. It’s not uncommon during large fires.”
While water shortages are a valid concern as California faces historic droughts, the most pressing issues surrounding the Los Angeles water system may have less to do with scarcity and more with where the water ends up. Residents often go without as large agricultural operations and water investors extract or privatize the limited supply. According to the University of Southern California, only 10 percent of the state’s water goes to residents, while 80 percent is used for irrigation.
This dynamic is part of a pattern that began a century ago when Los Angeles’s water system was created, leading to resource theft, political corruption, and ultimately the St. Francis Dam disaster. The result is an uncertain future where vulnerable residents are increasingly deprived of water by powerful business interests.
—
### A Rapidly Expanding City
According to historian William L. Kahrl, “No other individual has had so much to do with the creation of the modern metropolis of Los Angeles” than William Mulholland. Today, his name is seen throughout the city, most notably on Mulholland Drive. Yet, Mulholland’s influence on California’s water system began humbly.
Born in Belfast, Ireland, Mulholland joined the British Merchant Navy at 15 and arrived in Los Angeles at 22, where he was hired as a ditch digger for the Los Angeles City Water Company. He quickly rose through the ranks and became superintendent in 1886, designing and constructing the city’s water infrastructure in his head, as he kept no written records.
Mulholland envisioned importing water to Los Angeles to support its growth, making dire predictions about a looming water crisis. “If Los Angeles runs out of water for one week,” he warned, “the city within a year will not have a population of 100,000 people.” At the time, Los Angeles’s population was already approaching 300,000.
—
### Owens Valley: “Sell out—or dry out”
Mulholland and his ally Fred Eaton set their sights on Owens Valley, a fertile region with abundant water and an elevation that would allow gravity to send the water to Los Angeles via an aqueduct. However, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation was already irrigating the valley for local farmers.
Eaton and Mulholland devised a plan to acquire the valley’s water rights by buying properties from ranchers, often coercing them by falsely claiming the Bureau was about to end its irrigation project. By the time Los Angeles secured 90 percent of the valley’s water, the Bureau’s efforts were no longer viable.
The Los Angeles Aqueduct was completed in 1913, but not without resistance. Owens Valley residents, angered by the loss of their water, launched dynamite attacks on the aqueduct. The conflict became so intense that it was labeled “the forces of law and order against socialism” by the Los Angeles Times, whose publisher had financial ties to the aqueduct project.
—
### The Legacy of the California Water Wars
The aqueduct dried up Owens Lake entirely by 1934, devastating the local economy and ecosystem. The Paiute people, who had lived in the valley for generations, were among the hardest hit. Owens Valley became a major source of dust pollution, and during World War II, it housed a Japanese internment camp where prisoners endured harsh conditions.
Mulholland’s career ended in disgrace after the St. Francis Dam disaster. Although he was not criminally culpable, he accepted full responsibility for the tragedy. “I envy the dead,” he told the county coroner. He retired in seclusion and died in 1935.
—
### The Water Wars Continue
Today, the Los Angeles Aqueduct provides about a third of the city’s water, with the rest sourced from the Colorado River and other areas. However, conflicts over water persist, particularly as large agricultural operations divert resources from residential areas.
The 1994 Monterey Plus Amendments transferred control of public water supplies in Kern County to private interests, exacerbating the crisis. Despite the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act aimed at sustainability by 2042, public advocates argue it’s too little, too late.
As homeowners struggle with dry wells and low water pressure, California’s agricultural sector continues to thrive, even as temperatures rise and water becomes increasingly scarce.
—
This rephrased content retains the original meaning while improving clarity and readability. Let me know if you’d like further adjustments!
Stay updated with the latest headlines by visiting ZTC News and Z News Today for comprehensive coverage and breaking stories.