The California Aqueduct begins at the Sacramento River Delta and carries water south through the Central Valley, where it often parallels Interstate 5. Here, the coastal branch splits off in a southwesterly direction to serve the central coast. When it reaches Bakersfield, it then is pumped up 2,000 feet (600 m) to cross the Tehachapi Mountains.

At this point it divides into two branches. The east branch feeds Lake Perris in Riverside County, while the west branch heads toward Castaic Lake in the Angeles National Forest.

The pumping and channel capacities at the start of the aqueduct are 10,300 and 10,670 cubic feet per second (292 and 302 m³/s), respectively. The largest channel capacity is 13,100 ft³/s (371 m³/s) and the largest pumping plant capacity is 15,450 ft³/s (437 m³/s).

Water flows through the aqueduct in a series of abrupt rises and gradual falls. The water flows down a long segment, built at a slight grade, and arrives at a pumping station. The pumping station raises the water, where it again gradually flows downhill to the next station. However, where there are substantial drops, the water's potential energy is recaptured by hydroelectric plants. The initial pumping station fed by the Sacramento River Delta raises the water 240 feet (73 m), while a series of pumps culminating at the Edmonston Pumping Plant raises the water 2,000 feet (600 m) to cross the Tehachapi Mountains. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) also operates two pumped-storage hydroelectric plants, Castaic and Gianelli. Gianelli is located at the base of San Luis Dam, which forms San Luis Reservoir, the largest offstream reservoir in the United States. The DWR also operates 20 other primary lakes and reservoirs.

External links

• The State Water Project
• The State Water Project Today
• Edmonston Pumping Plant
• www.california aqueduct.com

Aqueducts | Canals in the United States | Water in California