Oral Histories

Interview of Robert A. Skinner

Assistant engineer for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Consulting engineer and member of the advisory council of the Water Resources Center of the University of California.
Subtitle:
Progress of the Metropolitan Water District: Recollections
Series:
Oral History of California Water Resources Development
Topic:
Urban Planning and Land Use
Water Resources
Biographical Note:
Assistant engineer for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Consulting engineer and member of the advisory council of the Water Resources Center of the University of California.
Interviewer:
Petersen, Eric
Interviewee:
Skinner, Robert A.
Place Conducted:
Skinner's office at the Metropolitan WaterDistrict in Los Angeles, California.
Supporting Documents:
Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.
Interviewer Background and Preparation:
The interview was conducted by Eric Petersen; B.A., U.S. History; M.A., U.S. History, UCLA.
Processing of Interview:
Donald J. Schippers, Editor-Interviewer, UCLAOral History Program edited the transcript.In February 1968, a verbatim transcription of the taped interviews was made. Editing of the transcript consisted of the introduction of punctuation and the slight emendation of syntax. Proper and place names were verified by the editor as much as possible. The edited manuscript was returned to Mr. Skinner for his review and approval on December 15, 1969.The interviewee made a careful review of the material, checking the accuracy of factual material, supplying additional information, and correcting the spelling of those names not previously verified.The index and other supporting documents were prepared by Melanie Rangno, Editor, UCLA Oral History Program.
Length:
3 hrs.
Language:
English
Copyright:
Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.
Series Statement:
This series had its origin in a grant from the University of California Water resources Center in 1965. The project was a joint effort by the UCLA Oral History Program and the Regional Oral History Office, University of California, Berkeley. For some years after the close of the grant period, limited interviewing in this area continued.
Abstract:
Childhood and education in New York City; civil engineering studies at Cornell University; World War I naval service aboard submarines; early engineering positions with General Electric Company in Harrison, New Jersey, and Utah-Apex Mining Company in Bingham, Utah; employed by Stone and Webster Corporation on Feather River Power Project, 1921; work with city engineering department, Los Angeles, 1924-33; storm drain assessment; Los Angeles County Flood Control District; employed by Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), 1933-67; water distribution system; Lake Mathews; Robert B. Diemer; annexations to MWD; San Diego County Water Authority; San Gabriel Valley; Colorado River Aqueduct; early California water studies; Central Valley Project; Arthur D. Edmonston; reorganization of California water resources agencies; California Water Plan; controversy over East Branch Aqueduct; litigation over Colorado River water.