Castaic Lake Water Agency facility at the Castaic Reservoir (aka Castaic Lake) in 1980, when CLWA began delivering State Water Project water to the Santa Clarita Valley. Click to enlarge.

Any time Santa Clarita Valley residents meet and the subject of their hometown comes up, there’s a pretty good chance they’ll compare notes and engage in some friendly one-upmanship over how long they’ve been here – and how much change they’ve seen since they’ve arrived.

Not many of them can beat the Castaic Lake Water Agency. Your local water agency is marking its 50th year in the Santa Clarita Valley.

This month, CLWA celebrates its 50th birthday – officially, April 24, which marks the date in 1962 when local citizens voted to bring State Water Project water to the Santa Clarita Valley. The Agency was organized as the Upper Santa Clara Valley Water Agency to serve as the wholesaler of State water in the SCV.

Renamed in 1970 – two years before the opening of the Castaic Lake reservoir – CLWA predates many things Santa Claritans take for granted, like the Interstate 5 freeway. Or Magic Mountain. And all of Valencia.

In fact, when CLWA was established in 1962, it would be 25 more years before local residents would vote to form a new city named Santa Clarita.

“So much has changed in our valley since the Agency was formed 50 years ago,” said CLWA President Tom Campbell. “We’re excited to celebrate CLWA’s golden anniversary, and we’re also looking forward to sharing this celebration with our community and its leaders.”

CLWA is creating a special commemorative video looking back at the Agency’s first 50 years.  When completed, the video will be posted on the Agency’s website, www.clwa.org, along with other 50th anniversary materials that are already posted for the community to view.

The online commemorations of the 50th anniversary include a historical timeline chronicling important dates in CLWA history – and putting them in the context of local historical events and changes that took place in the community at large. Also included is an interactive local and CLWA history quiz, as well as a photo gallery featuring images of important milestones, such as the opening of the Castaic Dam and the construction of CLWA’s first water treatment plant, the Earl Schmidt Filtration Plant, which began delivering State water for local use in 1980.

CLWA General Manager Dan Masnada says the golden anniversary is an important milestone.

“This special anniversary is a great opportunity for us to reflect on the Agency’s accomplishments during its first 50 years, even as we continue to look ahead and plan for the future,” Masnada said. “We’re very proud of the successes the Agency has enjoyed in the ‘looking ahead’ department, as CLWA and our community have faced droughts, periods of growth and other challenges, and come through with flying colors.”

He added: “In the water industry, we spend a lot of time and effort planning for the future to ensure that our community has the reliable water supply it will need in the years to come.  In this instance, we can engage in a bit of nostalgia and fond recollection, look back at the Agency’s milestones and say, ‘Remember when…’”

About the Castaic Lake Water Agency

The Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA) is the Santa Clarita Valley’s public water wholesaler.  CLWA operates three treatment plants, three pump stations, three storage facilities, and over 45 miles of transmission pipelines. Our mission is to provide reliable, quality water at a reasonable cost to the Santa Clarita Valley.