Imagine days of relentless rain pounding Southern California. The year was 1938, and from late February into early March, valleys filled with water, and rivers turned into raging torrents.

Welcome back to Chino and The Hills Secrets Exposed! Hi, I'm your host Thomas Ryan, and today, let’s take a tour of the Prado Dam.

In early 1938, the Santa Ana River and its tributaries unleashed walls of mud and water across Orange County, sweeping away everything in their path. This was the most devastating flood Southern California would experience in the 20th century.

In response to this catastrophe, by April 1941, the Prado Dam was completed on the Santa Ana River to tame the most dangerous floodplain west of the Mississippi.

Prado Dam separates the Santa Ana River into its upper and lower watersheds. After the deadly 1938 Los Angeles Flood, it became clear that the region's flood protection was inadequate. This prompted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct Prado Dam, located where the river cuts through the Santa Ana Mountains in western Riverside County. It was the sole flood protection for the entire Santa Ana watershed until the Seven Oaks Dam was completed in 1999.

Prado Dam and Reservoir serve as the principal regulating structure on the Santa Ana River, encompassing more than 11,500 acres. Of these, 4,100 acres are riparian habitat, nearly 5,000 acres are recreation areas, and 2,400 acres are owned by the Orange County Water District. The Corps owns 9,100 acres in the Basin. The primary purpose of this project is flood risk management, followed by recreation and water conservation.

In 1976, as the U.S. approached its 200th birthday, over 60,000 local events were organized across the country, with grand celebrations and dazzling fireworks.

Amid this nationwide fervor, Riverside County embraced an extraordinary idea spearheaded by a Corona High student, Terri Smith. Terri envisioned a monumental mural for the Prado Dam spillway in Corona, sparking the idea of holding a high school contest to find the mural’s design. Supported by beloved high school activities director Dave DiPaolo, Terri’s vision took flight.

The mural contest was a resounding success, resulting in a patriotic design by talented students Ron Kammeyer and Perry Schaefer. Their artwork captivated the entire region.

Camping out at the dam over two weekends, a team of 30 student volunteers brought this colossal mural to life. Stretching 664 feet across and standing 120 feet tall, the original mural was completed on June 17, 1976.

Over the decades, wear and tear, graffiti, and defacing took their toll on the mural, leading to the need for a major overhaul. After years of efforts by various groups and community leaders, September 2022 marked a historic moment as the Corps officially approved the mural's restoration.

In October 2022, the mural’s removal began, facilitated by US Representative Ken Calvert's efforts and $2.5 million in federal funding for the safe removal of the lead-based paint.

After more than a decade of obstacles, One Way Painting was contracted to repaint the mural, working for 22 days starting on April 4th, 2023. The paint was donated by multiple paint companies, and the labor was paid for at cost, thanks to the generous donations from local businesses and citizens. The mural was joyfully completed on May 9th, 2023.

That brings us to today, July 2024, as we have just celebrated our nation’s 248th birthday, with the newly restored Prado Dam mural standing as a testament to community spirit and resilience.

So there you have it, a brief history of the Prado Dam, from its desperate need to its patriotic symbolism reimagined.

I hope you enjoyed today’s episode of Chino and The Hills Secrets Exposed. If you did, please hit that like button and subscribe to the Thomas Ryan Real Estate YouTube channel for more videos just like this one.

Until next time, happy birthday America and have a great day. Bye!

Thomas Ryan
Thomas Ryan Real Estate
Real Broker
DRE 01896952

Serving Your Southern California Real Estate Needs

📲 (909) 334-2049
💻 www.ThomasRyan.Realtor

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