The Palmdale Water district has grown from an agency providing irrigation water for 60 customers, to an agency providing domestic water to the thriving community we know today.

Looking North from Palmdale	1886 Palmdale Irrigation Co.	Earthen Ditch to Palmdale

The Palmdale Water District evolved from several private water companies. The first water agency, the Palmdale Irrigation Company, was established in 1886 to acquire land and water, and then rent, lease, and sell both as they were developed. As a means of providing water for these purposes, they constructed a six and a half mile irrigation ditch to divert water from nearby Littlerock Creek to Palmdale.

Not long after, it became apparent that water storage facilities were needed. In 1895, the South Antelope Valley Irrigation Company constructed an earthen dam forming Harold Reservoir known today as Palmdale Lake. To connect the water from Littlerock Creek to Harold Reservoir, they constructed another earthen ditch, including a flume and wooden trestle, parallel to the ditch being used by the Palmdale Irrigation Company.

Flue & Wooden Trestle	Harold Reservoir	Wooden Trestle

By the early 1900's, it was decided that one or more dams on Littlerock Creek were necessary. By this time, the Palmdale Water Company and Littlerock Creek Irrigation District had acquired the facilities of earlier water companies. Together, they studied the costs and options for constructing one or more dams on Littlerock Creek.

It was determined that forming a public irrigation district was the best way to finance this construction. The Palmdale Irrigation District was then formed in 1918 by a vote of the public. It maintained a service area of about 4,500 acres and acquired the added facilities of the Palmdale Water Company.

1915 Survey of Site	1918 Dimension Sheet	Downstream 1919 approved

Together with Littlerock Creek Irrigation District, financing and construction of the Littlerock Dam began on Littlerock Creek in August of 1922 and took 2 years to complete. At a height of 175 feet with a water storage capacity of 4,200-acre feet it was noted as the highest reinforced concrete, multiple arch dam in the world! However, controversy surrounded the design of Littlerock Dam, and by 1932, the State declared Littlerock Dam an unsafe structure and ordered that renovations be made.

1922 Construction	1924 Completion	4,200-acre feet of storage

By 1938, renovations had still not been completed. Subsequently a two-day storm caused major damage to Littlerock Dam spillway as well as the flume and wooden trestle downstream of the Dam. Repairs were made to the damge and by 1940, the re-construction of Littlerock Dam was considered complete.

Until the 1950's, the area within Palmdale Irrigation District’s boundaries was primarily agricultural. However, with the activation of Air Force Plant 42 and the increased use of Edwards Air Force Base, agricultural water use diminished. As populations grew within the valley. the shift to domestic water began.

1940 spillway re-construct	1940's Palmdale Airial view	District Crew 1950's

Continue to Part Two