By Chris Hamawi

Walter Preston is one of the few people still alive who can tell you what it was like to work on the Colorado River Aqueduct.

He was a young surveyor on the project, which built a lifeline from the Colorado River into Southern California.

“One of the selling points of the Colorado River Aqueduct was that the construction project itself would bring jobs,” said Preston, 89, speaking to a crowd gathered to celebrate Metropolitan’s 75th birthday.

He talked about the people who gave their lives working on the aqueduct and paid homage to the thousands who built it.

“Today I humbly represent 36,000 men and women who worked on the great project around the clock,” he said. “It was not easy work. But it was honest and honorable work, and there was a great deal of pride and friendship among the workers.”

Preston was one of about 200 people who gathered at the Pasadena Civic Center in December to toast Metropolitan’s successes since its inception in 1928.

That was a big year, history-wise. George Gershwin composed “An American in Paris,” Amelia Earhart became the first woman to cross the Atlantic and Mickey Mouse made his big screen debut in “Steamboat Willie.” It was also the year when 11 cities–Los Angeles, Pasadena, Burbank, Glendale, Beverly Hills, San Marino, Santa Monica, Anaheim, Colton, Santa Ana and San Bernardino–banded together in Pasadena to form the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

On Dec. 9, 2003, member agency managers, board of directors, state and local officials, as well as other VIPs met once again in Pasadena to commemorate 75 years of the Metropolitan Water District. Also in attendance were actress and native plant enthusiast Rene Russo, as well as KCET’s Huell Howser.

After Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard welcomed Metropolitan to Pasadena, Metropolitan CEO Ron Gastelum reflected on the many milestones of the past year. “Metropolitan opened Diamond Valley Lake–the Southland’s largest reservoir and biggest earth-moving construction project–to public recreation. The agency also signed an historic agreement that lays out the plan for reducing California’s dependence on Colorado River water and addresses environmental issues related to the Salton Sea.”

The CEO also touched on the groundbreaking that took place earlier last year for the Center for Water Education. The center, which is expected to be completed by early 2005, will allow visitors of all ages to expand their under-standing about water and how it has affected life in Southern California–past and present.

The birthday party included a lyrical reading by City of Hemet’s Mayor Lori Van Arsdale entitled “Drop by Drop,” which the mayor composed especially for the event, and a commemorative video, which details Metropolitan’s beginnings and successes over the decades.

Metropolitan’s Board Chairman Phillip Pace praised the work of the board and “The history of Metropolitan is all about big ideas.” Pace noted, “It’s about ordinary people being able to see and then build the future…I imagine that was the same attitude that brought the first board of directors together 75 years ago in Pasadena.”

Pace used the venue to unveil a restored version of the district’s official seal, which is now being used on MWD stationery, publications and other materials.

“It’s appropriate that we unveil the restored seal as we launch the celebration of our 75th year,” Pace said. “The seal incorporates so many elements of Metropolitan’s past, present and future.”

Preston, the aqueduct worker, summed up the spirit of the day: “In looking back over my 89 years, I hold a cherished spot for Metropolitan and the Colorado River Aqueduct, and am proud to have been a part of the project that has done so much good for so many people for so many years–and will continue to do so.”