silver lake and ivanhoe reservoirs

The City of Los Angeles acquired a portion of the land that is now the Silver Lake and Ivanhoe reservoirs in the 1880's and the remainder of the land in 1904 through a process of condemnation.  Designed by Chief Engineer, William Mulholland, utilizing an innovative technique known as hydraulic sluicing, the construction of the reservoirs began with Ivanhoe in 1906, followed by Silver Lake, completed in 1907. At the time of construction, the reservoirs were the only drinking water storage facility west of the San Andreas Fault and were designated for emergency use in the event of a failure in the aqueduct system. In the 1920's increased demand for drinking water brought the reservoirs online, and extensive reconstruction took place in the 1930's, 1950's, and the 1970's. Chlorination began in 1947.

The Silver Lake Reservoir Complex (SLRC) has always attracted recreational users.  William Mulholland actually stocked the reservoir with Black Bass to keep minnows from clogging the pipes or swimming through the system into the bath. He personally chose the day each year to declare open fishing season. In 1912, the reservoir complex was landscaped with over 2000 trees by the Los Angeles Parks Commission, and was considered a great source of pride by all of the agencies involved. The fencing was installed around the reservoir some time during World War II.

The 127-acre SLRC is owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and is a link in the Pacific Flyway, a migratory route for birds that stretches from Northern Alaska to Southern Mexico. Ninety-six acres are open water and paved roads, with an additional five acres used for LADWP operations. Two acres are leased to the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and less than an acre is occupied by the Neighborhood Nursery School. Approximately 23 acres are open space, home to coyotes, raccoons, skunks, gophers, birds, and other native Angeleno fauna. Great Blue Herons return annually to nest in the Eucalyptus Grove between the reservoirs and West Silver Lake Drive.

When the threat of drastic changes to the reservoirs first arose in 1988, the surrounding community sought ways to protect their views. They successfully filed an application with the Cultural Heritage Commision (CHC), a division of the LA City Planning Department, to have the reservoir complex declared a landmark. On March 31, 1989, the City Council of the City of Los Angeles designated the Silver Lake and Ivanhoe Reservoirs Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM) No. 422. Per the California Environmental Quality Act, the cultural monument designation allows for greater public scrutiny in the event of any proposed changes to the site.

the department of water and power

In 1988 the LADWP proposed citywide Water Quality Improvement Projects (WQIP) that would cover all small reservoirs, like Ivanhoe, and require lakeside water treatment facilities at larger reservoirs like Silver Lake.

See water quality projects for more.