Fred D. Pyle papers
Finding aid prepared by Water Resources Collections and Archives staff.
Special Collections & University Archives
The UCR Library
P.O. Box 5900
University of California
Riverside, California 92517-5900
Phone: 951-827-3233
Fax: 951-827-4673
Email: specialcollections@ucr.edu
URL: http://library.ucr.edu/libraries/special-collections-university-archives
© 1999
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Fred D. Pyle papers
Date (inclusive): 1926-1947
Collection Number: WRCA 122
Creator:
Pyle, Fred D.
Extent:
1.67 linear feet
(4 boxes)
Repository:
Rivera Library. Special Collections Department.
Abstract: The collection consists of correspondence, papers, and news clippings related to water-supply, water storage, and water transfer
issues in San Diego County, California.
Languages: The collection is in English.
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the University of California, Riverside Libraries, Special Collections & University Archives.
Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission
of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable
rights holder is also required. Responsibility for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], [date if possible]. Fred D. Pyle papers (WRCA 122). Water Resources Collections and Archives. Special
Collections & University Archives, University of California, Riverside.
Acquisition Information
Provenance unknown.
Processing History
Processed by Water Resources Collections and Archives staff, 1999.
Collection Number
Collection number updated February 2019. Legacy collection number was MS 86/4. This change was part of a project in 2018/2019
to update the collection numbers for collections in the Water Resources Collections and Archives.
Biographical Note
Fred D. Pyle was born October 8, 1882 in Perry Township, Pennsylvania.
After graduating in 1903 from Utah Agricultural College he held positions of increasing responsibility with various irrigation
districts in the western United States. From 1926 to 1928 he was Engineer/Manager of the Vista Irrigation District, a small
district composed of 18,000 acres.
In 1928 he joined the San Diego Water Department, where as an Engineer and Assistant Hydraulic Engineer he served under H.
N. Savage. From 1934 to 1947 he was Hydraulic Engineer, responsible for most of the major projects for the San Diego Water
Department.
In 1947 he was appointed to the position of Hydraulic Engineer in charge of the Engineering Division, a position he held
until 1950. In that capacity he was responsible for location, design, and construction of all major work for the San Diego
Water Department.
Pyle died July 21, 1950.
Collection Scope and Contents
The collection consists of correspondence, papers, and news clippings related to water-supply, water storage, and water transfer
issues in San Diego County, California.
Collection Arrangement
The collection is arranged topically.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
San Diego (Calif.). Water Department (1936-1963)
Sweetwater Falls Project (Calif.)
Vista Irrigation District (Calif.)
San Diego Aqueduct (Calif.)
Water resources development -- California -- San Diego County
Water transfer -- California -- San Diego County
Water-supply -- California -- San Diego County
Genres and Forms of Materials
Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence
Papers (documents)
Box 1, Folder 1
Vista Irrigation District--newspaper clippings about the district and other water issues
Box 1, Folder 2
Vista Irrigation District--correspondence, water contracts, legal issues relating to riparian rights
circa 1926-1949
Box 1, Folder 3
Vista Irrigation District--photographs, schemata, showing the boundaries of the district and how pipeline is to be laid--costs
involved for same
Box 1, Folder 4
San Diego Water Issues--consisting primarily of newspaper clippings made by Herbert Whitney when he was superintendent of
water in San Diego prior to 1915. Acquired by Pyle from Mrs. Whitney
1947
Box 1, Folder 5
Completion of the El Capitan Reservoir Project (connecting pipeline), American Canal Project, reinforcing Hodges Dam--correspondence,
memorabilia, statistics-all relating to the aforementioned capital improvement projects. Samuel I. Fox, member of the Water
Advisory Committee, (and, later, president of the San Diego County Water Authority) was the prime mover behind the effort
to have these projects approved by the electorate. The main reason for their importance was to provide San Diego with an uninterrupted
supply of water for the future
circa 1934-1939
Box 2, Folder 6
Conservation Association of Southern California--proposed legislation for curbing industrial pollution
circa 1941-1949
Box 2, Folder 7
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California--maps, schemata, some correspondence
1944, undated
Box 2, Folder 8
Colorado River--San Diego requirements
circa 1936-1946
Box 2, Folder 9
Planning, business, and housing surveys--San Diego
circa 1943-1949
Box 2, Folder 10
San Dieguito River reservoir development plan
circa 1933-1950
Box 2, Folder 11
Henshaw Dam and reservoirs--maps, statistics
circa 1934-1944
Box 2, Folder 12
Morena-Barret-Otay reservoir system
circa 1946-1950
Box 3, Folder 13
San Diego Aqueduct--chronology, contracts, maps
circa 1945-1949
Box 3, Folder 14
Hodges Reservoir (dam)
circa 1936-1949
Box 3, Folder 15
San Dieguito River projects--dams, flood control at or near Hodges Dam
circa 1937-1949
Box 3, Folder 16
Sweetwater Falls project
1943-1944, undated
Box 3, Folder 17
Coronado/California Water and Telephone Company--litigation and miscellaneous papers regarding water supply to Coronado Island
and the naval institution thereon
1942-1948, undated
Box 3, Folder 18
Colorado River--cost studies and reservoir requirements for obtaining Colorado River water--maps, computations, estimates
circa 1939-1949
Box 3, Folder 19
San Diego County reservoirs--usage for recreation--includes information on fees to be charged, safety and hygenic considerations,
extent of amenities to be offered to the public
1940
Box 3, Folder 20
San Diego County Water Authority--water development--maps, charts, correspondence
circa 1935-1950
Box 4, Folder 21
San Diego County Water Authority--water supply--maps, charts, correspondence
circa 1903-1950
Box 4, Folder 22
San Diego County Water Authority--consumption and water costs--primarily statistics and projections
circa 1942-1950
Box 4, Folder 23
San Diego County Water Authority--correspondence with other water districts
Box 4, Folder 24
San Diego County Water Authority--miscellaneous architectural schemata of various water development projects
1936
Box 4, Folder 25
San Diego County--population projections and water supply
1943-1950
Box 4, Folder 26
Ed Fletcher Company--real estate considerations regarding San Diego Water Development
1948
Box 4, Folder 27
Pasadena
vs. Basich--complaint brought against Basich Brothers (contracting firm) by the City of Pasadena for allowing excess water to
accumulate in the Morris Reservoir, causing damage to the property of some individuals situated below the reservoir.--suit
settled out of court to plaintiff's satisfaction
1939-1940
Box 4, Folder 28
Fred D. Pyle--personal--miscellaneous--includes resume, articles that he co-authored, (one) photograph
undated
