Devil's Canyon Creek

The City maintains a small diversion structure on Devil’s Canyon Creek about a half a mile downstream of Gibraltar Dam which diverts water into Mission Tunnel. The diversion has been a source of supply for the City since the early 1900s. The primary use for the diversion is to supplement Gibraltar water during periods of turbidity, such as soon after a storm. The water from Devil’s Canyon clears up significantly faster than the reservoir water.

Operating Criteria

Water is diverted as available to help improve the quality of water going into Mission Tunnel. Water is diverted when a V-notch weir is lowered into a concrete channel causing the water flowing in the creek to back up and form a pool. An opening in the wall just upstream of the weir allows the water to enter a pipe which carries water to Mission Tunnel and into the City. This water is counted as a part of allowable diversions under the Pass Through Agreement.