Mystery History -- Solved!

Nobody got it exactly right, but Bellis was the first person to name one person in the photo correctly with her 7:55 a.m. Tuesday guess "Mulholland and co. planning to buy up Hahamongna to bring water to LA? (after meeting fierce resistance from the Indiana colony, they headed up to Owens Valley)" so I'm giving her this week's fabulous prize.

Left to right in the 1931 photo above are Franklin E. Weymouth, William Mulholland and W.P Whitsett, and they're actually in the desert*. These three visionaries were responsible for bringing water from northern and central areas of the state to Southern California -- an intricate, expensive and bold move. They predicted that the future growth of Southern California -- Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties -- would be tied directly to the capacity to import water from somewhere else.

And they were absolutely right.

Weymouth had been the chief construction engineer with the U.S. Reclamation Service (now called the Bureau of Reclamation) when he joined the team that conceived of the California Aqueduct. He was the first general manager and chief engineer of Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) from 1929 to 1941.

Mulholland was a self-taught engineer who had been responsible for the Los Angeles Aqueduct in 1913, which brought water from the Owens Valley to L.A.

Whitsett served on the board of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and was MWD's first chairman of the board from 1930 to 1947.

Today the California Aqueduct, managed by the California Department of Water Resources, is a series of canals, tunnels and pipelines that transport water from Northern and Central California to Southern California.


What's the significance of this week's Mystery History?

MWD is preparing for a seismic upgrade of its F.E. Weymouth Water Treatment Plant in La Verne (below).


From March 18 to 27 (and possibly longer), Pasadena’s water supply will be cut by 40 percent due to the temporary shutdown of a major regional water pipeline served by the treatment plant.

That's where you come in.


You won't be allowed to do any outdoor watering (with some exceptions) during that 10-day period, so here are some answers to frequently asked questions.

There will be a 7:30 p.m. public hearing at the Pasadena City Council meeting this coming Monday to declare a Level 4 water shortage emergency. The agenda will be posted here by tonight and you'll be able to attend the meeting in person or watch it live on KPAS (channel 3 on Charter in Pasadena and 99 on U-Verse) or via streaming video here (click on the KPAS logo)

We're all in this together!

*First time ever a Mystery History photo was not shot in Pasadena, but this was for a good cause.


Many thanks to MWD and Pasadena Water and Power.

Out My Front Door

Yesterday morning when I opened my front door to go to work, the air was so crisp and clean, the grass was so green from the rains and the mountain was so beautiful that I quickly took out my camera and snapped a shot.

I live in an 1,100-square-foot house on a 10,000-square-foot lot, and the house is set all the way at the back of the property. All of the properties on my block are zoned R-2 (two residential structures per parcel), but mine is a rare one that doesn't have a second house on it.

That allows for the park-like yard with the huge sycamore and two Deodar cedars all lined in a row, with the mountain as a backdrop.

I don't know when the trees were planted, but they're definitely mature. The house was built in 1922.


Over the 20 years I've lived here, some friends and neighbors have pressed me to build a duplex in front of my house as an income property. But then my view would be the back side of a duplex. And the cedars would have to go.

I work long hours, and sitting on my front porch every morning to sip tea and enjoy the view is a big part of my quality of life.

I water some plants but I almost never water my lawn. It's pretty big, so watering is an expensive proposition. Therefore, thankfully, my water bill from PWP is very low.

Hey, remember that Pasadena's cool-season lawn and landscape watering schedule kicks in on Monday, Nov. 1. It's a mandatory cutback! More info here.


UPDATE: I shot this photo at 7:00 this morning when I was sipping tea on one of the rocking chairs on my front porch. This view, or the back side of a duplex? I'll take this one.

The Heat is On!

Are you following the spring/summer watering rules for Pasadena? It's mandatory!

If you live in Pasadena, learn more about how to conserve water on your property during our free H2O Academy for Savvy Water Savers on Saturday, June 12, from 9 a.m. to noon. Register here.

Looking for Something to Do?

Here are highlights of upcoming events sponsored by the City of Pasadena. All events are free.

Saturday, Sept. 12

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – The family-friendly water conservation fair at Allendale Park will include demonstrations, information about how to save water and plan drought-tolerant gardens, lots of freeebies, food prepared by our very own firefighters, children’s activities and plenty of fun.


Monday, Sept. 14

10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Are you trying to get a grant but don’t know how to begin? Staff from Flintridge Foundation will be on hand at La Pintoresca Branch Library, 1355 N. Raymond Ave., to show you how to generate targeted lists of funding prospects in seconds. Reserve your spot by calling (626) 449-0839.


Tuesday, Sept. 15

*4 p.m. – Children 5 to 12 will be transported to the Hawaiian Islands by the music of Kimo West, one of the world’s top “slack key” guitarists, at Hastings Branch Library, 3325 E. Orange Grove Blvd. (626) 744-7262.

* 6:30 p.m. – What do you get when you seat a full-time parent next to a retired machinist, a graphic arts student and a nurse who works the night shift? Enlightening conversations! Lend your voice during a series of community workshops about the General Plan during which you'll help map out the most important qualities and characteristics of Pasadena and define the community’s most pressing issues. Tuesday’s workshop will be at Jackie Robinson Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave. (626) 744-4009.

* Also at 6:30 p.m. – A proposed city ordinance would require the monitoring of water used in the irrigation of grass, shrubs, trees and other plants in landscaped areas on very large public and private properties (equivalent of about 43,000 square feet of landscaped area on public and commercial properties and 5,000 square feet of landscaped area on residential properties). Learn more about it during a public meeting at the Salvation Army Tabernacle Fellowship Hall, 960 E. Walnut St. Enter the parking lot from Mentor Avenue. (626) 744-6880.


Wednesday, Sept. 16

* 1 p.m. – This week’s film in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Pasadena Central Library, 285 E. Walnut St., is “Pay It Forward” starring Kevin Spacey, Haley Joel Osment and Helen Hunt in the true story of a boy who responds to a school assignment with a plan to help three people who will help three more, and so on, in an ever-widening circle. (626) 744-4066.

* 6:30 to 8 p.m. -- What do you think about density in Pasadena? Architectural design? Traffic? Hear what the future has in store during the first in a series of community talks at PCC’s Community Education Center, 3035 E. Foothill Blvd. Panelists on Wednesday will include Dowell Myers, USC professor of policy, planning and development, and director of the Population Dynamics Research Group; Lisa Padilla, principal of CityWorks Design in Pasadena; and Bill Huang, director of the Pasadena Housing Department. After a conversation among the panelists, there will be plenty of time for Q&A. The speaker series is among many activities organized in association with Pasadena's General Plan update. (626) 744-4009.


Friday, Sept. 18

If you’re interested in providing input on a marketing plan for Northwest Pasadena, today’s the last day to sign up! (626) 744-6750.


Any day through Oct. 11

Take one or more of the self-guided MoveAbout Tours on your own or with family, friends or neighbors. The final day for taking the tours has been extended by popular demand -- the guidebooks are flying off our public counters so we've done a second printing. (You're seeing it here first; I'm not announcing the extension until Monday.) Download the entire guidebook or print it out one tour at a time. Be sure to get your "passport" pages stamped at the stops that are listed so you'll eligible for prizes at our big General Plan open house in November. Be sure to turn in your guidebooks, complete with your written impressions, no later than Oct. 12. This is one of many activities planned in association with Pasadena's General Plan update. (626) 744-4009.

We Love Open Space!

Pasadena residents and visitors have enjoyed the great outdoors for well over a century, and the conservation of our natural resources has been equally high on the priority list.



On Saturday, Feb. 28, come to Pasadena City Hall for a very special event in the courtyard (or in the grand entrance if it's drizzling) from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

This is the kick-off the update of the Open Space and Conservation Element of the General Plan, which will set goals and priorities for the future of our natural resources.

You’ll examine maps and exhibits, meet one-on-one with city leaders and visit with like-minded residents.

Will Rogers, president of The Trust for Public Land, will be the guest speaker, and there will be exhibits and children’s activities.

Visit www.cityofpasadena.net/openspace to find the Open Space and Conservation Committee's agendas, minutes and backup materials as well as draft maps, a work plan and other important documents. You’ll also find links to other cities and organizations that are doing inspiring work in this field.

There's No Time Like the Present

Most people these days remember to turn off sprinkler systems during the rainy season, an important way to conserve water.

But do you know that even during the rainy season, you still may be wasting more water than you think?

This is the perfect time of year for doing simple maintenance checks to make sure you're saving every drop possible (and saving on your water bill).

Here are some things to check for in your home.

Aerators -- Most faucets are equipped with aerators that mix air and water for a smoother flow. Cleaning your aerators once a year removes mineral and debris buildup. To check it out, (1) unscrew the aerator, (2) lay the parts on the counter in the order in which you removed them or make a sketch of their order so you can put them back correctly, (3) rinse each part with water and clean all screen holes with a toothbrush or toothpick. To remove hard water scale, soak the parts in vinegar or lime dissolver, then rinse with water before putting them back together. If a part is worn, replace it or install a new aerator.

Toilets -- So you think your toilet doesn’t leak? You may have to think again. Try this simple test to help detect the most common cause of toilet leaks: Put some food coloring in the tank and then leave for 15 minutes. When you return, look in the toilet bowl. If the water in the bowl is the same color as the dye, it’s time for a new flapper! After installing the flapper or calling a plumber to do it for you, run the dye test again to ensure that your toilet is not still leaking. If the leak persists, you may have to replace the entire flush valve.

Refrigerators -- Water lines for cold water dispensers and ice makers are usually connected from under the sink to the back of the refrigerator. These lines often run behind or under kitchen cabinets or walls. Since water lines are not in full view, leaks can often go undetected until they become big and expensive, potentially damaging other appliances, cabinets, walls and floors. So check for leaks or call a plumbing or refrigeration expert to do this important job for you.

For more information go here or call the PWP AnswerLine at 744-6970.

Water Conservation -- Take Action Now!

News flash -- The public hearing at City Council regarding proposed penalties for water wasters will be postponed to Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m.

It is listed as Sept. 8 in the hard copy version of Pasadena In Focus. We have updated the website version to reflect Sept. 22 (see "Take Action Now!").

Many thanks to photographer extraordinaire Erica Rolufs of Pasadena Water and Power for shooting the photo!