Mojave Water Agency Collection, Water Resources Collection, 1960-1970

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Summary

Title:
Mojave Water Agency Collection, Water Resources Collection
Dates:
1960-1970
Creators:
Mojave Water Agency
Abstract:
The Mojave Water Agency collection contains memorandum and meeting minutes of the board of directors about water-supply and water-rights in the Mojave, California region during the 1960s.
Extent:
1 box
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Mojave Water Agency, Water Resources Collection. Special Collections, Honnold Mudd Library, Claremont University Consortium.

Background

Biographical / historical:

The creation of the Mojave Water Agency was made possible through an enabling act prepared by attorney William J. Johnstone (who would later become the MWA’s first attorney) and the Mojave-Antelope Water Agency Committee. Introduced by State Senator Stanford C. Shaw, the bill gave the people of the High Desert the right to determine water policies for the Mojave River. On July 18, the bill was signed into law by Governor Edmund G. “Pat” Brown.

The members of the formation committee for the Mojave Water Agency included M. Penn Phillips, Hesperia; Newton T. Bass, Apple Valley; Robert J. Speth, Daggett; Harold V. Smith, Helendale; Henry W. Balsinger, Hinkley; Mayor George Oakes, Barstow; Edward A. Rodeman, secretary, Victorville; William J. Johnstone, legal adviser, Victorville; E.F. Dibble, engineering adviser, Redlands.

In June of 1960 the people voted overwhelmingly to form the Mojave Water Agency, casting 2,860 votes in favor, with only 606 votes in opposition.Because the economy of the high desert in 1960 was based primarily on farming and ranching, a majority of the MWA’s first board of directors were farmers and ranchers.

The passage of the Water Act authorized the state to issue nearly $2 billion in bonds. Property owners within the MWA service area were obligated to pay their fair share of the costs of constructing the California Aqueduct. To meet fiscal requirements from the 1960 state-wide bond, the MWA began assessing property owners a tax referred to as Debt One. In 1961 the Agency’s Board of Directors consisted of 11 members, seven elected and four appointed. As the board wrestled with the new problems arising from the fledgling agency, several key questions and issues emerged.

Taken from http://www.mojavewater.org/home/about/aboutHistContent.aspx on 9/17/2009

Acquisition information:
Louis J. Alexander, date unknown.
Processing information:

Arranged and Processed by Rusty Michalak, 2009.

Arrangement:

Series 1 Mojave Water Agency Meeting Minutes, Memorandum, and Court Case

Accruals:

No additions to the collection is anticipated.

Physical location:
Special Collections, Honnold/Mudd Library. Claremont University Consortium.

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid created by Russell Michalak, 2009
Date Prepared:

2009

© 2009

Date Encoded:
Finding aid encoded by Russell Michalak 2009

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact Special Collections Library staff.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Mojave Water Agency, Water Resources Collection. Special Collections, Honnold Mudd Library, Claremont University Consortium.

Location of this collection:
800 N. Dartmouth Ave.
Claremont, CA 91711, US
Contact:
(909) 607‑3977
specialcollections@claremont.edu
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