The Blythe Intake

2/22/1993
The Blythe Intake
These markers I’m learning come in several varieties; state, local, missing, and none. They aren’t always where the book says, and often easy to miss when they are. This ‘going to every landmark’ thing is going to be a challenge. We cruise highway 95 and I begin looking for the Blythe Intake marker. With a 2 year old in diapers, it would be nice to see restrooms somewhere but aye, she’s a good traveler none the less.

“NO. 948 SITE OF BLYTHE INTAKE - On July 17, 1877, Thomas Blythe, a San Francisco financier, filed the first legal claim for Colorado River water rights. Oliver Callaway planned a diversion dam and canal which opened in 1877 to irrigate the Palo Verde Valley. This made possible the settlement and development of the valley.” Location: Intake Service, on US. Hwy 95, 4.5 mi N of Blythe at entrance to Palo Verde Diversion Dam

There ain’t a song in every landmark, but in this case in 2004 I did write about something similar in the ‘All American Canal’ in that it’s about water diversion from the Colorado River for desert irrigation.

ALL AMERICAN CANAL  ©2004
Water, precious water, across the sand it flows
From the mighty Colorado, to Cahuilla Lake it goes
The path they carved, to this desert locale
The Coachella branch, of the All American Canal

From Imperial dam it winds, over 100 miles
Bringing life to the valley, along it’s concrete aisle
The path they carved, to this desert locale
The Coachella branch, of the All American Canal

A 24-hour journey, since 1949
Nourishes the valley, with water so fine
The path they carved, to this desert locale
The Coachella branch, of the All American Canal

Water, precious water

Holy cow, from this photo I’ve certainly aged, and so have those Ray-Bans that I still use. Fortunately, they’re stuck in a glove compartment that won’t let me in. This is what I envision ‘landmarking’ to be; an easy drive on a highway, not too far from an interstate, with a free standing marker to stand next to. It’s not always the case.

Along the way on 95 there were some well kept older houses that showed landscaping of what I’d call Phoenix swamp coolers….’cause that’s where I first saw it. Essentially it’s big shade trees and a sunken lawn in front that you keep soaked on 110 degree days, while a big fan draws the cooled air through one side of the house while another blows air out the back. Then came air conditioning.