Coachella Canal facts for kids
The Coachella Canal is a very long channel that carries water. It's like a giant man-made river! This canal brings water from the Colorado River to farms and towns in the Coachella Valley in California. It helps grow crops in a very dry area.
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What is the Coachella Canal?
The Coachella Canal is an aqueduct, which is a special structure built to move water from one place to another. This canal is about 122 miles long. That's like driving from Los Angeles to San Diego! It takes water from the All-American Canal and moves it northwest. The water ends up in the Coachella Valley, which is north of the Salton Sea in Riverside County, California.
Why was it built?
The main reason the Coachella Canal was built was for irrigation. Irrigation means supplying water to farmland to help plants grow. The Coachella Valley is a desert area, so it doesn't get much rain. The canal brings much-needed water to help farmers grow crops like dates, grapes, and citrus fruits.
Building the Canal
When was it built?
Work on the Coachella Canal started in the 1930s. A company called Six Companies, Inc. began the huge project. However, construction had to stop for a while because of World War II. After the war ended, work started again. Water finally began flowing through the canal in the late 1940s. The canal was officially finished in 1949.
How was it built?
When the canal was first built, most of it had earth walls. This means the canal was just dug out of the ground. But the last 38 miles of the canal were lined with concrete.
Today, most of the canal is lined with concrete. This is very important! Concrete lining helps stop water from leaking out of the canal into the ground. This leaking is called seepage. By preventing seepage, more water reaches the farms and towns that need it.
How the Canal Works Today
The Coachella Canal is still very important today. It is managed by the Coachella Valley Water District. They make sure the water flows smoothly and is used wisely.
To help keep the canal working well, special grass-eating fish are put into the water. These fish eat plants that grow in the canal. If too many plants grow, they can slow down the water flow and cause water loss. The fish help keep the canal clear and efficient.
