Part 2 – Watershed Shuffle

In the previous update, “Redwood School No Longer in Session”, the acquisition in part by eminent domain of large tracts of land in central Contra Costa County, CCC, by private water companies to create reservoirs after WWI failed to adequately supply bayside cities in the East Bay. Now to describe the fate of excess land when East Bay Municipal Utility District, EBMUD, took over and the Sacramento Northern Railway was abandoned.

L213-05-Compiled by Stuart Swiedler, (Image 1 of 37)

The creation of EBMUD in 1923 led to approval of bonds in 1924 to create the Mokelumne Project to deliver Sierra-derived water. It did not authorize nor could it force the privately owned East Bay Water Co., EBWC, to sell its holding to EBMUD. EBWC played hardball knowing EBMUD would need emergency storage should flow from the Sierra be interrupted, and lacked the infrastructure to deliver water to customers.

L213-10-Stuart Swiedler Photos, (Image 2 of 37)

East portion of Mokelumne Project, June 8, 1927. Many key components of the Mokelumne Project were in Lamorinda. The proposed Lafayette Reservoir would address emergency storage, and the Walnut Creek and Lafayette Tunnels, the Lafayette Pumping Plant, and the Lafayette Filtration Plant would contribute to needed infrastructure. Ref: G4363.A3N44 1927 E3

L213-15-Courtesy Earth Sciences Library, University of California, Berkeley , (Image 3 of 37)

West portion of Mokelumne Project, June 8, 1927. Eminent domain came to notice in the Aug. 1, 1925 Oak. Trib. when a suit had been filed to condemn property for the reservoir. Leroy Macomber had 223 acres identified in the Mar. 21, 1926 edition, although the decision in EBMUD’s favor quoted an award of 114,768 dollars for 286 acres, plus 10,000 dollars for the severance of his remaining 456 acre holdings in the Apr. 3, 1926 edition. Ref: G4363.A3N44 1927 E3

L213-20-Courtesy Earth Sciences Library, University of California, Berkeley , (Image 4 of 37)

Detail of the key Lamorinda-based facilities. The Apr. 3, 1926 Oak. Trib. also stated that the Moraga Co. would lose 608 acres to the reservoir effort. John W. Noble in “Its Name was M.U.D.” lists the watershed area as 1.19 sq. mi. or 761.6 acres, yet he wrote that there were additional condemnation cases, and these were settled after the jury verdicts on the aforementioned cases went in favor of EBMUD. Ref: G4363.A3N44 1927 E3

L213-25-Courtesy Earth Sciences Library, University of California, Berkeley , (Image 5 of 37)

The reservoir site was selected to be west of Lafayette, straddling the Moraga Co.’s holdings and privately owned land just south of Tunnel Rd., the dividing line between the two indicated by the orange arrow. Work was begun on the dam on Aug. 7, 1927 as reported in the Oak. Trib. Ref: Metsker CCC G4363.C6 1938 M4

L213-30-Courtesy Earth Sciences Library, University of California, Berkeley , (Image 6 of 37)

A north-oriented aerial view of the dam and reservoir site in 1928. All went well until Sept. 18, 1928, one month prior to its completion, when 25 cracks developed on the downstream face causing the structure to slip off its foundation. See “Lafayette” by Mary McCosker and Mary Solon for images of the damage. The orange line marks the future Tunnel Rd. or Mt. Diablo Boulevard. Ref: Fairchild Aerial Surveys, Inc., Air Photo 165

L213-35-Courtesy Earth Sciences Library, University of California, Berkeley, (Image 7 of 37)

Less than two months later, Dec. 8, 1928, EBMUD made payment to the EBWC of 14.1M dollars, and assumed 20.79M dollars in EBWC bonds for the infrastructure to delver in the East Bay as appended in the blue box. As a result, Lafayette Reservoir, red rectangle, would not be mentioned again by EBMUD as a primary water source in its publications. Ref: G4363 A3646 1920.L3

L213-40 Courtesy Earth Sciences and Map Library, University California, Berkeley , (Image 8 of 37)

The completed reservoir seen in a southeast view in 1939. The Oak. Trib. reported on Jan. 14, 1929 that the Lafayette Reservoir would be completed, but it took until Sept 19, 1932 to note that its storage would be reduced by two-thirds. Attr: Commercial and Photo Co. Photo, 516 13th Street, Oakland, CA

L213-45-Courtesy East Bay Municipal Utility District, P-TR-716 or EBMUD 278, (Image 9 of 37)

The reservoir’s structure has remained stable since its completion in 1933, and it was designated as a recreation area in 1966, seen in an east view just about that time based on the absence of BART and the completion of the initial phase of the Lafayette bypass.

L213-50-Herrington and Olson Photo, Courtesy East Bay Municipal Utility District, P-TR-1519 , (Image 10 of 37)

The Nov. 8, 1925 Oak. Trib. described seven distinct EBMUD projects between Oakland and Walnut Creek. A major camp with wood structures appeared along Tunnel Rd. west of central Lafayette. This 1938 map shows how much of the waters’ path followed the road, but records indicating what EBMUD had taken by eminent domain were not found.

L213-55-Courtesy Earth Sciences Library, University of California, Berkeley , (Image 11 of 37)

Across from the reservoir, north of Tunnel Rd., EBMUD completed the Lafayette Pumping Station in mid-1929, key in pumping water up the grade through the Lafayette Tunnel to Orinda and Oakland, and the Grant Miller Filter Plant in 1931, supplying filtered water to Lamorinda.

L213-60-Courtesy East Bay Municipal Utility District, P-TR-716 or EBMUD 278, Detail, (Image 12 of 37)

This figure highlights the relative change in grade as water approached Walnut Creek, emphasizing the absolute need for the pumping plants there and in Lafayette. The June 5 and July 31, 1929 Oak. Trib. announced the successful operation of these facilities in time for delivery of Sierra water. Ref: G4363.A3N44 1927 E3

L213-65-Courtesy Earth Sciences Library, University of California, Berkeley , (Image 13 of 37)

By virtue of completion of the Lafayette Grant Miller Filter Plant in 1931, Lafayette would be the first to receive drinking water. This plant serves primarily Lamorinda in 2020. The Orinda Filter Plant, white arrow, was completed in 1935 along Camino Pablo ...

L213-70-Courtesy Google Earth, (Image 14 of 37)

... and was the necessary structure to supply drinking water to Oakland, Berkeley and El Cerrito, obviating the need for a large reservoir holding untreated water west of the East Bay hills.

L213-75-Courtesy Google Earth, (Image 15 of 37)

Moraga was the last of Lamorinda to receive EBMUD water. St. Mary’s College initially created Lake LaSalle by damming up Las Trampas Creek for drinking and bathing. By the time of this northeast view from 1946, they had abandoned that practice as noted by the storage tanks along the right border of the image.

L213-77-Vernon Sappers Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 67024sn, (Image 16 of 37)

Well water was sufficient for the College until WWII. Southwest view, 1946.

L213-80-Courtesy East Bay Municipal Utility District, P-DT-248 , (Image 17 of 37)

The selection of St. Mary’s as a flight training school for Navy cadets in 1942 increased the population from 300 to 2000, and hastened the delivery of water from the Lafayette filter plant by tapping into pipes at Moraga Rd., then Jonas Hill Rd., and Rheem Blvd. According to EBMUD, there are two pipelines that serve St. Mary’s College, dating from 1956 and 1963, replacing the one used in 1942.

L213-85-From the collections of the Saint Marys College of California Archives, 643W, 640W, 642W, (Image 18 of 37)

In the late 1950s, Moraga would eventually receive a place to store filtered water, red arrow, right across from St. Mary’s, turquoise arrow. Although not known if acquired by eminent domain, Leland Reservoir built in Lafayette in the early 1950s was acquired by that route, as was the adjacent land by the Lafayette School District to build Montecito School, now the Meher School.

L213-90-Herrington-Olson Photo, from the collection of the Moraga Historical Society, Moraga, CA, A-, (Image 19 of 37)

The creation of EBMUD diminished the need for the large tracts of water shed created by the previous local water concerns. Tied with the creation of the East Bay Regional Park District, EBRPD, in 1934, land EBMUD acquired from EBWC went to create the first three parks in 1936, and Redwood Park in 1940, forming a western barrier for Lamorinda. EBWC sold the land EBMUD did not want to profit its investors.

L213-95-1980 AAA Map , (Image 20 of 37)

EBMUD would later regret the watershed they did not purchase, particularly the large tracts of land in and near Briones Valley. They would also start selling watershed land to private concerns, such as the 500 acres to the Sleepy Hollow Syndicate in Orinda in 1930 according to Sorrick. Most sales had re-purchase clauses in the deeds, but the practice was controversial. More on this topic later.

L213-100-Courtesy Earth Sciences and Map Library, University California, Berkeley , (Image 21 of 37)

SN 605 leads this freight ca, 1950 eastward to the crossing at what is today Country Club Dr., formerly the old Moraga Highway, Munster Street, in this undated southwest view. The former Moraga School, now Willow Springs Church is seen in the background to the north. An approximate date may be assigned as SN 605 gained its stripes in the late 1940s and was renumbered 645 in 1953 according to Demoro’s “Sacramento Northern”.

L213-105-Fred Matthews Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archive, 51844sn, (Image 22 of 37)

In the early 1960s, a similar northwest view showed the overgrown path left after track removal. Today this area remains undeveloped, but why?

L213-110-Moreau Collection, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 133067.5sn, (Image 23 of 37)

The Utah Mining and Construction Co. obtained 5000 acres of Moraga from the Moraga Co. in Dec. 1953 that included the SN right-of-way, abandoned to Lafayette on Mar. 1, 1957. This passage became of interest to EBMUD and the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, CCCSD, as seen on this map from the latter.

L213-115-Courtesy The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, (Image 24 of 37)

CCCSD constructed pipes from their pumping station west of School St., that today pass to the east of Safeway to join the SN right-of-way adjacent and across from the Moraga Commons. EBMUD sends unfiltered water along School St. as well, this water emptying into Moraga Creek to be stored at Upper San Leandro Reservoir.

L213-120-Courtesy The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, (Image 25 of 37)

The area enclosed by the orange figure is where the CCCSD pipes are located from the previous image. The gold diamond in the insert encloses the position of the CCCSD pumping station, the driveway of which is the SN right-of-way. The area containing the right-of-way enclosed by the blue geometric figures has also never been built on, but the previous maps do not show the CCCSD pipes in that section.

L213-125-Courtesy Google Maps, (Image 26 of 37)

A closeup view of the area to the north of Safeway utilized by CCCSD.

L213-130-Courtesy Google Maps , (Image 27 of 37)

A closeup of the land bounded by School St., Hazelwood Place, Canyon Rd. and Country Club Dr. that has never been developed. In a written communication, an EBMUD spokesperson wrote there are “three parcels related to EBMUD, CC-569, R/W 1749 and 4600 in this section.”

L213-135-Courtesy Google Maps, (Image 28 of 37)

This diagram of the area that includes Moraga Creek shows a much more complex set of ownership. The area surrounded by the turquoise figure is the parcel referred to in the previous caption.

L213-140-Courtesy Contra Costa County Department of Public Works, (Image 29 of 37)

Based on these documents, EBMUD obtained land via acquisition and easements to the area from Utah Mining after the SN abandoned the right-of-way, providing a reason in the case of the ownership as to why the land was never developed. Whether there are functioning EBMUD pipes under this land is not known, but a possibility will be described next.

L213-145-Courtesy Contra Costa County Department of Public Works, (Image 30 of 37)

The Moraga Pumping Plant is located on the Lafayette-Moraga Trail, LMT, in Lafayette. According to EBMUD, before this route was built to deliver water to Upper San Leandro Reservoir via the trail in the early 1970s, water was delivered from the old Lafayette Pumping Plant by the former Moraga Aqueduct, that ran on Lafayette Reservoir land, along Jonas Hill Rd., and then along the SN right-of-way into San Leandro Creek. Possibly this route is buried below the undeveloped parcel.

L213-150-Stuart Swiedler Photos, (Image 31 of 37)

Regarding the LMT in Lafayette, these two maps differentiate between land owned by the Moraga Co., violet, the right-of-way to which was deeded to the Oakland and Antioch Railway, versus land deeded to the railway by individuals via bargain and sell deeds. The 1941 map shows an additional area developed along Moraga Blvd. adjacent to the railway right-of-way. The owner has not been identified. The gold arrow marks the position today of the Moraga Pumping Plant.

L213-155-Courtesy California Board of Equalization, 862 7 2 and 2A , (Image 32 of 37)

These documents show that the portion of the abandoned line from the position of the pumping plant to Reliez Station Rd. was obtained by Contra Costa County from Utah Mining and Construction Co. by a quit claim deed, and purchased by EBRPD in 1976 for 15,000 dollars to use for the trail.

L213-160-Courtesy Contra Costa County Department of Public Works, (Image 33 of 37)

As for the land between Rheem Blvd. and the site of the pumping plant, EBMUD explained that acquisition was in part by eminent domain, but much more complicated as can be understood from this letter from 1970.

L213-165-Courtesy Lafayette Historical Society Archives, (Image 34 of 37)

This map from 1953 shows how EBMUD expanded the limits of the service provided in 1923, border marked by green arrow, into Lamorinda, border marked by red arrow. A detail of Lamorinda, enclosed by maroon circle, follows. Ref: G4364.R6 1951 .T38

L213-170-Courtesy Earth Sciences Library, University of California, Berkeley , (Image 35 of 37)

All the essential features of EBMUD in Lamorinda that have been discussed so far are present in this detail with the exception of the Walnut Creek and Lafayette Pumping Stations, the latter right beside the filter plant. To EBMUD’s credit, by the early 1950s, they knew this setup would be inadequate for the second part of the 20th century. Ref: G4364.R6 1951 .T38

L213-175-Courtesy Earth Sciences Library, University of California, Berkeley, Detail , (Image 36 of 37)

To summarize, the creation of EBMUD and its acquisition of EBWC allowed for Lamorinda to acquire drinking water. The transformation required taking a small amount of land along Tunnel Rd. The utility was also was responsible for providing the EBRPD with land for its first four parks, creating a protected buffer to the west. Both EBMUD and CCCSD took advantage of the abandoned SN right-of-way to expand their services.

L213-180-Compiled by Stuart Swiedler, (Image 37 of 37)