Sweetwater Canyon, Santa Catalina Island

Sweetwater Canyon, Santa Catalina Island

In the News~

February 11, 1931 [The Catalina Islander]: “The total rainfall for the season, according to official observer T. M. Polhamun, is 8.08 inches… The dam at Cottonwood Canyon was full. Also, considerable water had been collected at the Haypress Reservoir, and the Sweetwater Reservoir, near Eagles’ Nest.”

February 17, 1932 [The Catalina Islander]: “Due to the heavy rainfall of the past two weeks, a huge slide of rock from the hillside of the St. Catherine was rolled down to the roadway last Thursday night… The total rainfall for the season is 14.77 inches. Last season the total to date was 9.02. Fro Middle Ranch comes the report that the Thompson Dam is about one foot from the top of the spillway. The reservoir at the Summit is full to its capacity, as are the also the dams at Cottonwood Canyon, Sweetwater and Haypress. It is estimated that the domestic water reserve is now in excess of 3000,000,000 gallons, which is enough to last the city of Avalon for more than two years…”

October 1, 1959 [The Catalina Islander]: “Forty acres grass and brush burned. Two Los Angeles County fire trucks, a City of Avalon fire truck, bulldozers and tank trucks and a group of men responded to a call to fight a grass and brush fire on Thursday afternoon at Sweet Water Canyon, above Escondido Ranch. Men and equipment were busy for 24 hours combating the fire which burned 40 acres. According to Captain Phil Finie of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, a power line came down and started five fires. Among those assisting were Captain Finie and his Patrolmen George Prevezich, Stanley Sampson and George McElroy, Doug Probst and his crew from Middle Ranch, Doug Bombard and his crew from the Isthmus, Jean Hamblin and a crew of 20 SCI employees from Avalon, James Huddleston and a crew from Rancho Escondido, men and equipment from Graham Bros., Security Officer Hollis Jones, Avalon Fire Chief Mike Browneand three volunteers from Avalon.”