LOS ANGELES (March 12, 2026) – Despite gusty winds sweeping across the Hollywood Reservoir, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) welcomed about 200 employees, community members, LADWP retirees, and labor partners to the Hollywood Reservoir on Saturday morning, March 7 for the Reservoir Walk, celebrating Women’s History Month and the 101st anniversary of the Mulholland Dam.
The event began with a brief program near the historic dam before participants set out on a scenic 3.5-mile walk around the reservoir, stopping along the route to explore historical displays and speaking with LADWP exhibitors and partners, learning more about where Los Angeles’ water comes from and the journey it takes to reach the city.
Construction of the Mulholland Dam began in August 1923 under the direction of William Mulholland, Chief Engineer of Los Angeles’ water system, and was completed in December 1924. The dam 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.
“Today, we celebrate two important milestones – Women’s History Month and the legacy of the Mulholland Dam,” said LADWP Chief Executive Officer and Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñones. “This reservoir continues to serve Los Angeles, not only as a valued open space for the community, but also as a resource during emergencies and including providing water for firefighting.”
Board of Water and Power Commissioners President Allan Marks thanked 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,” Marks said. “Our employees do it every day in a way that is safe, reliable, affordable, and clean.”
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,” said Collins. The program brought together LADWP leadership, labor partners, retirees, and community supporters reflecting on the history of the Department and the employees who continue to keep water and power flowing across the city.
The Department also welcomed Christine Mulholland, the great granddaughter of Chief Engineer William Mulholland, whose vision helped shape Los Angeles’ early water system and infrastructure.
“William Mulholland devoted much of his life to ensuring Los Angeles would have 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.”
As the morning concluded, participants gathered for a group photo before continuing the walk around the reservoir. With the wind sweeping across the water and the Hollywood Hills and beyond, the moment served as a reminder that places like this are more than infrastructure – they are part of the shared history and daily life of Los Angeles.
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