In Focus
Walking Through History: LADWP’s Reservoir Walk Celebrates Women’s History Month and the 101st Anniversary of the Mulholland Dam
By Pamela Workman
On a crisp and blustery morning at the Hollywood Reservoir, LADWP employees, retirees, community members, and partners gathered for a special event that blended history, community, and reflection. The Department’s Reservoir Walk, held on Saturday, March 7, celebrated Women’s History Month and the 101st Anniversary of the Mulholland Dam, drawing roughly 200 participants for a scenic 3.5-mile walk around one of Los Angeles’ most recognizable landmarks.
Despite strong Santa Ana winds throughout the morning, the energy of the event remained high as attendees gathered on the Reservoir Walk path for a brief program before setting out to meet more LADWP exhibitors and partners on the Mulholland Dam bridge. LADWP CEO and Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñones kicked off the event program featuring remarks by LADWP leadership and labor partners, bringing the community together to reflect on the history of the Department and the employees who continue to keep water and power flowing across the City. Quiñones encouraged participants to take time along the walk to explore historical displays placed throughout the route. The exhibits highlighted both the engineering achievement of the dam’s construction and the contributions of women throughout LADWP’s history.
Construction of the Mulholland Dam began in August 1923 under the direction of William Mulholland, who served as Chief Engineer for what is now LADWP. The Mulholland Dam was completed in December 1924 and was formally dedicated on March 17, 1925, St. Patrick’s Day, and helped expand the City’s water storage after the Los Angeles Aqueduct began delivering water to Los Angeles in 1913. More than a century later, the dam remains an important landmark and a reminder of the infrastructure that helped Los Angeles grow into the city it is today.
“This is a very special day. We’re celebrating two important milestones – Women’s History Month and the 101st Anniversary of the Mulholland Dam. Both represent the legacy of innovation, leadership, and service that continues to define this Department.”
Janisse Quiñones, CEO and Chief Engineer
Newly appointed President of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners, Allan Marks, also shared remarks at the event, thanking the Department’s workforce and partners for their continued commitment to delivering reliable services to Los Angeles.
“It’s not easy work keeping water and power flowing. Our employees do it every day in a way that is safe, reliable, affordable, and clean.”
Allan Marks, President, Board of Water and Power Commissioners
IBEW Local 18 Business Manager Martin Marrufo highlighted the growing role of women in the trades and praised LADWP’s efforts to recruit and support women in the workforce, emphasizing the importance of continuing to expand opportunities through training and apprenticeship programs.
Anselmo Collins, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Assistant General Manager of the Water System, reflected on the dam’s historic role in supporting the City’s growth and the engineering achievement behind its construction.
“The Mulholland Dam has been a part of Los Angeles for more than 100 years. While the reservoir is no longer used for drinking water, it still plays an important role for the City and provides a place where the community can connect with nature and the history of our water system.”
Anselmo Collins, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Assistant General Manager of the Water System
LADWP also welcomed Christine Mulholland, great-granddaughter of William Mulholland, to the event. Christine reflected on the legacy of the engineer who helped shape Los Angeles’ modern water system. Speaking beside the structure that bears her family name, she reflected on the lasting impact of her great-grandfather’s work. “William Mulholland devoted much of his life to ensuring Los Angeles would have a reliable water supply,” she said. “It’s meaningful to see that legacy continuing today through the work of LADWP employees who maintain and protect the infrastructure that helps sustain this city.” Mulholland also encouraged attendees to reflect on the importance of water stewardship. “Water doesn’t simply come from turning on the tap,” she said. It represents generations of engineering, conservation, and public service that made Los Angeles possible.”
Following the speaking program, participants set out along the reservoir’s 3.5-mile loop, where LADWP community booths and partners dotted portions of the route.
Along the Route – LADWP Teams and Partners
Intake Turns 100
Preparation and Response to Atmospheric River Fueled Storm
Throughout the Walk, attendees had the opportunity to connect with a variety of LADWP teams, employee and professional resource groups, and community partners representing a wide range of programs and operational groups across the Department. Exhibitors shared information about how water reaches Los Angeles through the L.A. Aqueduct system and how projects such as Pure Water Los Angeles are helping strengthen the City’s local water supply. Other teams shared information about careers, LADWP customer programs, water operations, and community initiatives. Participating groups included:
- LADWP Recruitment
- LADWP Customer Programs
- Water and Power Credit Union (WPCCU)
- IBEW Local 18
- LADWP-SWE
- LADWP-SHPE
- LADWP-NSBE
- VALOR
- ASPIRE
- PRIDE
- Green Team
- Occupational Health / First Aid
- WETS Reservoir Surveillance
- Water Ops Owens Lake/Mono
- Water Ops Aqueduct
- Water Ops Metro
- Water Quality
- Pure Water Los Angeles
- Water Employees Club
For many participants, the event offered a rare opportunity to connect directly with the infrastructure and its history that still supports daily life in Los Angeles. Families stopped for photos atop the Mulholland Dam bridge, employees gathered for group pictures along the path, and neighbors spoke with LADWP team members to learn more about where their water comes from and how it travels hundreds of miles before reaching the City.
While the intense winds swept across the hills and reservoir throughout the morning, it did little to dampen the spirit of the event. Instead, the Walk showcased the powerful connection between LADWP’s workforce, its history, and the communities it serves.
By the time the final groups made their way back to the starting point, the Reservoir Walk had become more than a scenic outing – it was a shared moment of pride for the Community and the Department. On a day that celebrated both the contributions of women across LADWP and the enduring legacy of the Mulholland Dam, the turnout served as a reminder that the Department’s history is not only preserved in its infrastructure, but also in the people who continue to carry its mission forward.
