"VISITING" WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSON'S FOUNDATION.

HUELL HOWSER IT WAS A MONUMENTAL TASK, BUILDING A 233 MILE AQUEDUCT FROM THE EASTERN SIERRA TO THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.

NOT ONLY WAS IT AN ENGINEERING FEAT, BUT IT LITERALLY CHANGED LIFE AS WE KNOW IT, HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

ON NOVEMBER 5, 1913, WILLIAM MULHOLLAND OPENED THE GATES, THE WATER FLOWED, AND HISTORY WAS MADE.

AND NOW WE ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF A PLACE THAT IS VERY MUCH A PART OF THAT EARLY LOS ANGELES WATER HISTORY.

I'M STANDING HERE WITH DAN KOTT, WHO IS AN EMPLOYEE OF DWP, YOU'RE ALSO KNOWN AS THE RESIDENT HISTORIAN OUT HERE, AND EXPLAIN TO OUR VIEWERS EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

DAN KOTT WELL, HUELL, WE'RE ABOUT 15 MILES NORTH OF SANTA CLARITA AT POWERPLANT 1.

THIS IS THE FIRST POWERPLANT ON THE LOS ANGELES AQUEDUCT SYSTEM THAT ACTUALLY SUPPLIED LOS ANGELES DIRECTLY WITH POWER.

IN 1917 IT SUPPLIED 97% OF L.A.'S POWER.

HUELL HOWSER SO, THIS WAS WHERE IT BASICALLY ALL STARTED AS FAR AS ELECTRICAL POWER IN LOS ANGELES WAS CONCERNED.

DAN KOTT HYDROELECTRIC POWER, YES, THERE WAS SOME STEAM POWER BEFORE THAT, AND THAT WAS ABOUT IT, VERY LITTLE.

HUELL HOWSER NOW, WHERE DOES ALL THIS WATER THAT WE SEE COMING THROUGH THERE, WHERE IS IT COMING FROM?

DAN KOTT WELL, IT TAKES ITS 280 MILE JOURNEY FROM THE HIGH SIERRAS, THE EAST SIDE OF THE HIGH SIERRAS, AND DOWN THROUGH OUR AQUEDUCT SYSTEM, BUILT BY MULHOLLAND IN THE EARLY PART OF THE CENTURY.

THROUGH THIS PLANT AND THEN ON ITS WAY-- IT DOES THIS JOB MANY TIMES ON THE WAY DOWN IN ABOUT 13 OF OUR POWERPLANTS ON ITS WAY TO L.A. HUELL HOWSER SO, THIS IS POWERPLANT NO.

1, WHEN IT COMES THROUGH HERE, IT CONTINUES AND GOES THROUGH MORE, I MEAN, THIS, THIS WATER IS WELL USED.

DAN KOTT ABSOLUTELY, BY THE TIME IT GETS HERE, IT'S ALREADY BEEN THROUGH A NUMBER OF POWERPLANTS AND TRIBUTARIES TO THE OWENS RIVER IN OWENS VALLEY.

SO, THIS IS POWERPLANT 1 IN RELATION TO LOS ANGELES, BUT IN OWENS VALLEY WE HAVE ANOTHER WHOLE ELECTRIC SYSTEM ON THIS SAME WATER.

HUELL HOWSER SO, IT HAS ALREADY DONE SOME WORK BEFORE IT GOT HERE?

DAN KOTT IT SURE HAS.

HUELL HOWSER THIS IS WELL-USED WATER.

DAN KOTT YES, IT IS.

HUELL HOWSER WELL, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING.

IT REALLY MAKES A STATEMENT.

IS THIS EXACTLY AS IT WOULD HAVE APPEARED WHEN IT WAS BUILT BACK IN 1915?

DAN KOTT YES, IN 1917, IT STARTED OPERATING.

IT HAD THREE GENERATORS ORIGINALLY, AND IT LATER EXPANDED TO FIVE.

NOW, THEY'VE REPLACED THREE OF THEM WITH TWO OTHERS, BUT THE BUILDING IS VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL TO THE WAY IT WAS, EXCEPT IT'S A LITTLE BIT LONGER, THEY EXTENDED IT FOR THE FINAL, NUMBER FIVE GENERATOR.

HUELL HOWSER AND, I WOULD THINK-- HOW DO WE GET IN THE BUILDING?

CAN WE--WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A TOUR; AREN'T WE?

DAN KOTT YEAH, LET'S GO ON IN THE OTHER END, PROBABLY, IT'S A BETTER WAY.

HUELL HOWSER I WOULD ALSO--WAIT A MINUTE, WHAT IS THAT?

DAN KOTT WELL, WE HAVE GENERATOR THREE STARTING UP RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S-- HUELL HOWSER OH LOOK!

IT'S PRETTY, RIGHT NOW THE WATER IS BEGINNING TO TURN THE WATERWHEEL, TURNING THE GENERATOR, AND COMING UP TO SPEED.

WHEN IT COMES TO SPEED, WE'LL TIE IT IN WITH THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM, AND IT WILL BECOME PART OF THE L.A. SYSTEM TODAY.

HUELL HOWSER BOY, LOOK AT THE PRESSURE OF THAT WATER COMING OUT THERE.

THAT'S AMAZING.

DAN KOTT YEAH, IT IS.

IT'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ENERGY.

THAT'S 400 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH WATER AND WHEN IT'S IN OPERATION, THE WATER IS TRAVELING ABOUT A 150 MILES AN HOUR WHEN IT LEAVES A NEEDLE VALVE TO HIT THE WATERWHEEL, ITSELF.

HUELL HOWSER SO, YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF PRESSURE GOING IN THERE TODAY.

DAN KOTT ABSOLUTELY.

HUELL HOWSER YOU KNOW, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT WHEN THIS PLACE OPENED UP BACK IN THE EARLY 1900'S, I MEAN, IT WAS QUITE A DRIVE FOR US DOWN A, KIND OF A VERY LONG WINDING ROAD, WE THOUGHT WE HAD MISSED THE TURN OFF A COUPLE OF TIMES.

YOU'RE OUT HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, ALMOST.

DAN KOTT IT SEEMS THAT WAY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU FIRST COME UP.

HUELL HOWSER YEAH, I WOULD IMAGINE BACK IN 1915, THIS PLACE WAS REALLY ISOLATED.

DAN KOTT IT WAS EXTREMELY REMOTE, YOU HAD TO CROSS THE CREEK NUMEROUS TIMES ON THE WAY UP, I THINK IT WAS EVEN AS MANY AS 20 TIMES TO CROSS THE CREEK, WHICH MEANT IN THE WINTER, THERE WAS SOME MAJOR OBSTACLES INVOLVED IN GETTING HERE.

HUELL HOWSER WELL, WE'RE EXCITED, I MUST TELL YOU, I KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT POWERHOUSES, OR TURBINES, OR GENERATORS, OR WHATEVER IT IS YOU'RE GOING TO SHOW US TODAY, BUT IT CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION WHEN YOU ALL CONTACTED US AND TOLD US THAT THIS WAS POWERHOUSE NO.

1, AND THAT IT HAD RETAINED ALL OF THIS HISTORY, AND WAS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE HISTORY OF ELECTRICITY IN LOS ANGELES.

DAN KOTT YES, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF EFFORT IN KEEPING IT AESTHETICALLY ORIGINAL, AND IT'S BEEN-- EVEN WITH THE CHANGES IT'S BEEN ABLE TO BE KEPT PRETTY MUCH THE WAY IT WAS WHEN IT WAS FIRST DESIGNED AND BUILT.

[LOUD MACHINERY RUNNING] HUELL HOWSER IT IS LOUD IN HERE.

DAN KOTT YES, IT IS.

HUELL HOWSER WELL, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE WE ARE, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, EXCEPT THAT IT IS-- IT CERTAINLY MAKES A STATEMENT AS SOON AS YOU WALK IN HERE.

LOOK AT THIS, THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL HUGE ROOM IN HERE.

DAN KOTT YEAH, WE'RE IN THE GENERATOR ROOM RIGHT NOW, AND WE HAVE OUR FOUR GENERATORS, THE WATER COMES THROUGH PENSTOCKS, TURNS OUR WATERWHEELS, THAT TURNS THE GENERATOR.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE STANDING NEXT TO A HOUSING OVER A WATERWHEEL, IT'S TURNING THAT SHAFT, TURNING THE GENERATOR IN THE LARGER HOUSING HERE, AND THAT'S WHERE THE POWER IS PRODUCED THAT'S BEING USED IN L.A. AS WE SPEAK.

HUELL HOWSER SO, WE'VE GOT, WHAT DO YOU CALL THESE, TURBINES, GENERATORS, WHAT ARE THEY CALLED?

DAN KOTT WHAT WE HAVE IS--GENERALLY IN THIS TYPE THIS IS THE IMPULSE TYPE TURBINE, WE CALL THEM WATERWHEELS.

SO, WHAT WE HAVE IS TWO WATERWHEELS FOR TURNING A SINGLE GENERATOR ON EACH UNIT.

HUELL HOWSER OKAY, NOW, THIS LOOKS OLD-TIMEY HERE.

DAN KOTT YEAH, THIS IS OUR 1924 GENERATOR NO.

4.

THIS IS A GOVERNOR, IT'S A SPEED REGULATING DEVICE, IT DOES SOME OTHER THINGS TOO, AND THEN FURTHER DOWN WE HAVE NO.

3 FROM 1917.

HUELL HOWSER SO, THIS HAS BEEN HERE JUST LIKE THIS SINCE 1924?

DAN KOTT THAT'S CORRECT, AND IT WORKS AS WELL AS IT DID AS THE DAY IT WAS MADE.

HUELL HOWSER AND THIS ONE IS 1917?

DAN KOTT ABSOLUTELY, THAT'S ONE OF THE ORIGINAL GENERATORS, IT CAME ON THE FIRST YEAR THE PLANT WAS IN OPERATION.

HUELL HOWSER LOOK, AT THIS, WITH THE OLD OIL CANS.

DAN KOTT YEP, WITH A LOT OF MANUAL LUBRICATION.

HUELL HOWSER THIS IS WONDERFUL, AND-- LOUIE, COME HERE AND LOOK AT THIS; ALL OF THE OLD DIALS AND, I MEAN, EVERYTHING HAS THIS WONDERFUL LOOK TO IT.

DAN KOTT YEAH, IT'S WIPED DOWN DAILY AND THE OPERATORS DO A GOOD JOB IN TAKING CARE OF THEIR EQUIPMENT.

HUELL HOWSER AND THESE ARE ORIGINAL DOWN HERE, AS WELL?

DAN KOTT YEAH, WELL, THEY HAVE THE GENERATOR NO.

3 I WAS TALKING ABOUT, AND THEN FURTHER ON WE HAVE ONE OF THE NEWER ONES FROM THE 1980'S.

HUELL HOWSER LOOK, AT THIS.

DAN KOTT YEAH, THESE ARE WHAT WE CALL EXCITORS AND THEY ARE PART OF THE MAGNETIZING CURRENT WITH THE MAIN GENERATORS.

BUT THESE ARE OF ORIGINAL MANUFACTURE, TOO.

HUELL HOWSER NOW, HOW MUCH ELECTRICITY IS BEING PRODUCED DOWN HERE?

DAN KOTT WELL, WE'RE MAKING ABOUT 50 MILLION WATTS RIGHT NOW, 50 MEGAWATTS.

ENOUGH FOR PROBABLY 75,000 HOMES.

HUELL HOWSER WHAT'S THE OWL DOING UP THERE?

DAN KOTT WELL, THE OWLS ARE AN ATTEMPT TO KEEP THE BIRDS OUT OF HERE.

THEY WORK A LITTLE BETTER IF WE MOVE THEM AROUND ONCE IN AWHILE.

THE BIRDS GET WISE TO IT.

HUELL HOWSER YOU HAVE BIRDS IN HERE?

DAN KOTT YEAH, THEY COME IN THE WINDOWS AND, I'M NOT SURE WHY, IT SEEMS LIKE A LOUSY PLACE WITH THE NOISE AND ALL, BUT... HUELL HOWSER WELL, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING, IT'S JUST-- THE ARCHITECTURAL LINES ON IT ARE JUST MAGNIFICENT ALL THE WAY UP TO THE CEILING, THEY KNEW HOW TO BUILD THINGS BACK THEN, DIDN'T THEY?

DAN KOTT YEAH, IT'S HOLDING UP PRETTY WELL.

IT IS A PRETTY BUILDING.

WE ENJOY THE STYLE AND THE ARCHITECTURE.

HUELL HOWSER NOW, WHERE DO WE GO NEXT?

DAN KOTT WELL, I THINK WE OUGHT TO GO TO THE CONTROL ROOM AND KIND OF SEE THE-- HUELL HOWSER IS THAT UP HERE?

DAN KOTT YES, IT IS.

HUELL HOWSER ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO, I'M FOLLOWING YOU.

DAN KOTT OKAY.

HUELL HOWSER TO THE CONTROL ROOM.

LOOK AT THIS WONDERFUL OLD RAILING ON HERE, THIS IS ORIGINAL, TOO.

WE ARE NOW IN THE?

DAN KOTT CONTROL ROOM.

HUELL HOWSER CONTROL ROOM, AND THESE FELLOWS ARE ALL CONTROLLING RIGHT NOW, RIGHT?

DAN KOTT THAT'S CORRECT, AT LEAST TWO OF THEM ARE.

HUELL HOWSER WHO'S HERE, WHO SHOULD WE MEET?

DAN KOTT DAVE HERE.

HUELL HOWSER HI, DAVE, NICE TO MEET YOU.

NOW, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING HERE?

DAVE OH, OVER 20 YEARS HERE.

HUELL HOWSER TWENTY YEARS?

DAVE YES.

HUELL HOWSER AND, YOUR NAME IS?

JERRY BARRETT.

HUELL HOWSER AND, YOU'VE BEEN HERE?

I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 1976, SO IT'S OVER-- HUELL HOWSER SO, THAT'S ANOTHER 20-YEAR GUY.

THESE GUYS BACK HERE, DAN KOTT BILL.

HUELL HOWSER NICE TO MEET YOU.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HERE?

TWENTY-SIX AND A HALF YEARS.

HUELL HOWSER SO, YOU'RE THE OLD MAN?

I'M THE OLD MAN.

HUELL HOWSER NOW, WHO JUST TURNED THE WATER ON OUTSIDE?

WE WERE STANDING OUTSIDE AND AN EXTRA THING OF WATER SHOT OUT.

YEAH, THAT WAS JERRY BARRETT AND MYSELF.

HUELL HOWSER SO, YOU ALL CAN ACTUALLY FROM UP HERE, CONTROL HOW MUCH WATER AND HOW MUCH ELECTRICITY IS ACTUALLY BEING MADE HERE AT THIS POWERPLANT?

THAT'S CORRECT, YEAH, WE HAVE RESERVOIRS THAT WE DRAW THE WATER FROM AND, WE BALANCE, WE HAVE TO BALANCE THOSE OUT, AND WE HAVE OTHER POWERPLANTS ALONG THE LINE.

HUELL HOWSER SO, DO YOU GET A CALL FROM SOMEBODY SAYING WE NEED EXTRA ELECTRICITY TODAY, OR WE NEED TO CUT DOWN A LITTLE BIT, OR WE NEED TO-- YES, THAT'S CORRECT, YEAH, MOSTLY IT'S WATER NOW, AND THE ELECTRICITY IS JUST THE OFFSHOOT OF THE-- HOW MUCH WATER THEY NEED FOR THEIR DRINKING WATER IN LOS ANGELES.

HUELL HOWSER SO, WAIT A MINUTE, THIS IS ELECTRICITY, OR WATER THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

DAN KOTT WELL, YOU KNOW, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A WATER PRIORITY.

THE ELECTRICITY IS A NICE BYPRODUCT FOR GETTING THE WATER TO LOS ANGELES.

I MEAN, IT WAS BUILT AS A WATER SYSTEM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE ELECTRICAL WAS VERY IMPORTANT.

THEY DON'T CALL US FOR MORE ELECTRICITY, THEY CALL US SAYING HERE'S HOW MUCH WATER WE WANT, AND WE MAKE AS MUCH AS WE CAN WITH THAT, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY CLEAN AND VERY INEXPENSIVE ELECTRICITY.

HUELL HOWSER YOU SEE, I'VE BEEN CONCENTRATING ON THE WATER, BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT MADE ELECTRICITY, BUT REALLY, YOU'RE SERVING TWO PURPOSES HERE, YOU'RE PROVIDING THE CITY WITH WATER AND ELECTRICITY.

DAN KOTT THAT'S CORRECT, AND OUR-- WE RUN AT LEAST HALF OF L.A.'S WATER THROUGH THIS PLANT.

HUELL HOWSER REALLY?

DAN KOTT HALF OF THE LOS ANGELES AQUEDUCT SUPPLY.

THERE ARE OTHER SUPPLIES TO THE CITY.

HUELL HOWSER THAT IS AZING.

NOW, THIS LOOKS VERY HIGH-TECH HERE.

THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM SOME OF THE OLD THINGS WE SAW FROM 1917 DOWN IN THE BIG ROOM.

DAN KOTT SURPRISINGLY IT'S FAIRLY SIMILAR TO THE ORIGINAL CONTROLS, SOME OF THE STUFF WE'RE SEEING IN THIS ROOM IS, IN FACT, QUITE A BIT IS ORIGINAL, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE NEWER EQUIPMENT FROM THE 1980'S AND PART OF OUR CONTROLS AND ALL.

IN THE 1980'S WHEN WE UPDATED THE PLANT HERE, PUT THE NEWER UNITS IN, WE HAD SOME NEW GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS ON WATER CLARITY, SO THEY HAD TO BUILD THE FILTER PLANT IN TOWN, BUT IT USE TO BE THIS WATER CAME RIGHT THROUGH HERE, IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO DRINK RIGHT OUT OF THE TAP AT THAT TIME, HUELL HOWSER REALLY?

AND NOW THEY'RE SAYING BECAUSE OF MORE PEOPLE'S USAGE OF IT, THERE'S MORE BACTERIA, SO WE HAVE TO BE MORE CAREFUL OF THE CHLORINATION, THE TURBIDITY, WHICH IS SOLIDS IN THE WATER, WE HAVE TO FILTER IT ALL OUT.

HUELL HOWSER WELL, AS THE OLD MAN OF THE GROUP, YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES OVER THE YEARS, HAVEN'T YOU?

WELL, YEAH, QUITE A BIT.

THE ROAD YOU CAME UP TODAY USE TO DEAD END AT THIS PLANT, AND IF YOU WANTED TO GO FARTHER ON, THERE WAS A ONE LANE DIRT ROAD BY THE FOREST SERVICE, WE CALLED IT THE BURMA ROAD, BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO RUN INTO GOING OVER THE ROAD.

AND, NOW, IT WAS OPENED UP ABOUT 1976 TO THROUGH TRAFFIC.

NOW WE'RE HAVING 25 HUNDRED CARS A DAY USING THIS CANYON ROAD, WHERE YOU COULD GO HOURS, 25 YEARS AGO AND NEVER SEE ANYBODY.

HUELL HOWSER WELL, THAT'S THE NEXT PART OF OUR PROGRAM, BECAUSE WHEREAS, THIS IS INTERESTING, THE ACTUAL POWERPLANT ITSELF, THE OTHER THING THAT INTRIGUED US ABOUT THIS PLACE WHEN WE FIRST HEARD ABOUT IT, WAS THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY, THE WHOLE PACKAGE HERE BESIDES THE POWERPLANT ITSELF, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE REST OF THE DAY EXPLORING, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE AND THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT THEY HAVE AND THAT HAS BEEN PART OF THE PLACE HERE SINCE IT OPENED IN THE EARLY 1900'S, RIGHT?

DAN KOTT THAT'S CORRECT.

HUELL HOWSER OKAY, WE'RE OFF.

NOW WE HAVE COME--WHAT IS THAT?

DAN KOTT WELL, THAT'S A PARROT, IT BELONGS TO THE RESIDENT HERE.

HUELL HOWSER BUT, WE'RE HERE, REALLY, TO SEE THESE WONDERFUL OLD HOUSES THAT ARE PART OF WHAT THIS PLACE IS ALL ABOUT.

DAN KOTT YEAH, THEY WERE ALL BUILT AROUND 1917, OF COURSE, THIS WAS A VERY REMOTE PLACE AT THAT TIME, IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT IT'S STILL REMOTE, IT WAS MORE SO THEN.

AND THE HOUSES ARE KEPT UP QUITE WELL.

HUELL HOWSER SO, THESE LOOK LIKE CRAFTSMAN HOUSES.

DAN KOTT YEAH, THAT'S THE ERA THAT THEY'RE FROM.

HUELL HOWSER AND IT'S AMAZING THAT OVER THE YEARS, LET'S JUST WALK DOWN HERE BECAUSE, LOOK AT THIS, THIS IS, I MEAN WE'RE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THIS WONDERFUL LITTLE QUIET ENCLAVE OF CIVILITY, IT'S LIKE A, JUST A LITTLE PLACE NESTLED HERE.

NOW, WHO LIVES HERE?

DAN KOTT THIS WOULD BE OUR OPERATIONS AND SOME OF OUR MAINTENANCE PEOPLE.

HUELL HOWSER SO, THE PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE, LIVE HERE?

DAN KOTT THAT'S CORRECT.

HUELL HOWSER WHAT KIND OF A SENSE OF COMMUNITY DO YOU HAVE HERE?

WELL EVERYBODY PRETTY WELL STICKS TOGETHER, WE HAVE A LOT OF LITTLE PARTIES IN THE SUMMER WHERE WE BARBECUE AND GET TOGETHER WITH THE FAMILIES, BECAUSE WE ARE ISOLATED, SO WE KIND OF HAVE TO STICK WITH EACH OTHER AND THAT MAKES FOR A NICE TIGHT KNIT COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW.

HUELL HOWSER YEAH, LOOK AT THIS LITTLE HOUSE RIGHT HERE.

HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE OUT HERE NOW?

DAN KOTT WELL, BETWEEN POWERPLANT 2 AREA AND HERE WE HAVE AT LEAST 20 HOMES THAT ARE OCCUPIED.

HUELL HOWSER AND ARE WE TALKING ABOUT FAMILIES, OR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT SINGLE PEOPLE OR-- DAN KOTT WELL, IT'S A CROSS SECTION OF THAT, WE HAVE SCHOOL CHILDREN ALL THE WAY UP TO PEOPLE OF ALMOST RETIREMENT AGE THAT ARE IN OUR OPERATIONS GROUP.

HUELL HOWSER AND, WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT GROCERIES?

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU NEED A CARTON OF MILK?

DAN KOTT WELL, WE PLAN AHEAD, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A 40 MINUTE DRIVE IF YOU WANT A CARTON OF MILK, ALTHOUGH, THERE IS A STORE THAT'S OPENED PART OF THE TIME IN GREEN VALLEY.

IT'S ALL THE WAY TO SAUGUS WHEN YOU WANT SOMETHING, SO WE'RE JUST--MORE PLANNING IS WHAT YOU DO.

HUELL HOWSER YOU LAUGHED WHEN I SAID THAT.

WELL, WE NORMALLY-- WHEN THE WIFE GOES TO THE STORE SHE GETS AT LEAST A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF GROCERIES, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP RUNNING TO TOWN TO GET IT, YOU KNOW.

IT GETS A LITTLE TOUGH WHEN YOU SAY YOU WANT A GLASS OF MILK AND IT'S NOT THERE.

YOU'VE GOT TO GET UP AND GO TO TOWN.

HUELL HOWSER WHICH IS ABOUT HOW FAR AWAY?

FROM HERE, IT'S ABOUT 12 MILES.

YEAH.

HUELL HOWSER NOW, HOW DOES EVERYBODY GET ALONG?

WELL, PRETTY GOOD, IT'S KIND OF TOUGH, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LIVE AND WORK WITH THE SAME PEOPLE, BUT MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME HAVE ADAPTED TO THAT.

A LOT OF TIMES WE GET SOMEBODY WHO COMES HERE TO WORK AND THEY DON'T QUITE LIKE THAT ARRANGEMENT, SO THEY HAVE A WAY TO GET ANOTHER JOB IN THE CITY.

SO, BUT MOST THE GUYS LIKE YOU'VE SEEN SO FAR HAVE BEEN HERE QUITE A LONG TIME AND YOU KIND OF GET THAT FROM THEM, BECAUSE ONCE YOU GET HERE AND IT'S SO NICE TO LIVE UP HERE, THEY DON'T WANT TO LEAVE.

HUELL HOWSER YEAH, YOU KIND OF SLOW DOWN, DON'T YOU?

YEAH, REALLY SLOW DOWN.

HUELL HOWSER NOWIS THIS THE POWERPLANT DOG?

DAN KOTT YEAH, HE PROBABLY, PROBABLY IS OUR MAIN DOG, HERE.

HUELL HOWSER HOW MANY DOGS DO YOU HAVE?

DAN KOTT WELL, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DOGS IN AUR COMMUNITY.

HUELL HOWSER THIS IS YOUR DOG BACK HERE?

YES, SIR, IT IS.

HUELL HOWSER AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT WAS YOUR HOUSE THAT HAD THAT PARROT GOING FULL FORCE.

YEAH, WAS SHE SQUAWKING OR WAS SHE TALKING?

HUELL HOWSER WHAT WAS SHE DOING?

DAN KOTT SQUAWKING AND THEN SOME HAWK NOISES TODAY.

HUELL HOWSER SHE'S A TALKER, AS WELL?

OH, SHE LOVES TO TALK.

USUALLY SHE WILL START SQUAWKING WHEN PEOPLE COME UP BECAUSE SHE HAS GOTTEN USE TO WHEN PEOPLE ARE COMING UP TO THE DOOR, THE DOBS START BARKING, AND THAT'S HER SIGNAL TO GO AHEAD AND BARK, YOU KNOW, SO SHE STARTS SQUAWKING.

BUT A BIG THING RIGHT NOW IS, I'VE GOT A BET WITH MY FRIENDS THAT I WILL HAVE HER SAYING,"GO RAIDERS," BY THE START OF FOOTBALL SEASON BECAUSE SHE DOES TALK, SHE DOES TALK, AND SHE SAYS A LOT OF CRAZY THINGS, SHE MEOWS, SHE BARKS, EVERYTHING, AND-- HUELL HOWSER WHAT'S IT LIKE FOR YOU LIVING UP HERE?

YOU'VE GOT YOUR DOG, YOU'VE GOT YOUR PARROT, I MEAN, YOU'RE KIND OF SETTLED IN HERE, AREN'T YOU?

WELL, I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT HEAVEN IS LIKE, BUT AS FAR AS WORKING HERE, THAT'S WHAT IT'S LIKE, YOU'VE JUST GOT A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE THAT YOU WORK WITH AND THERE'S A LOT OF PRIDE IN THIS PLACE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO, IT'S ALWAYS, AS FAR AS A PLACE TO WORK, SECOND TO NONE.

HUELL HOWSER YEAH, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO SEE YOU LATER ON TODAY, I THINK WE'RE HAVING A LUNCH OR SOMETHING.

WELL, I'M HUNGRY AND I--THIS IS KENNY, HERE, KEN WILSON OUR PAINTER AND I'M SURE THAT WE'LL BE THERE HAVING A FEAST WITH YOU.

HUELL HOWSER YOU'RE HUNGRY, TOO, RIGHT?

YOU BET YA.

HUELL HOWSER ALL RIGHT, WE'LL SEE YOU LATER.

WHAT'S THE DOG'S NAME?

BEAU.

HUELL HOWSER BEAU, HOW YA DOING, BEAU.

THE POWERHOUSE DOG, ONE OF THEM.

DAN KOTT YEAH, HUELL, HERE IS DAN DOOMIS, HE'S BEEN HERE FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS, TOO.

BUT HIS FAMILY IS A LONG TIME WATER AND POWER FROM OWENS VALLEY ON DOWN.

I THINK THEY HAVE ABOUT 200 YEARS WITH THE COMPANY ALL TOGETHER.

HUELL HOWSER WAIT A MINUTE, 200 YEARS?

YOUR FAMILY HAS 200 YEARS WITH DWP?

WELL, IT TOOK EIGHT OF US TO DO IT, AND FOUR OF US ARE STILL WORKING, SO... HUELL HOWSER REALLY?

YEAH.

HUELL HOWSER SO HOW DOES THIS GET IN YOUR FAMILY TRADITION?

HOW DOES THIS GET IN YOUR BLOOD?

WELL, IT STARTED WITH MY MOTHER'S UNCLES, THEY WERE AT THE INCEPTION OF WATER AND POWER.

IN THAT DAY IT WAS CALLED THE BUREAU.

AND THEY STARTED DIGGING THE TUNNELS AND WORKED THEIR WAY UP SUPERVISION, AND EVENTUALLY ONE OF THEM WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE OF WATER AND POWER TO RETIRE IN THE 1932.

AND THEY TALKED MY FOLKS INTO IT AND THEY WORKED FOR 30 SOME YEARS, BOTH OF THEM, AND RETIRED AND HERE WE ARE, SO... HUELL HOWSER WELL, YOU'RE WORKING AT A VERY HISTORIC PLACE, THIS IS KIND OF WHERE IT ALL STARTED, RIGHT HERE.

YEAH, IT IS, IT'S A UNIQUE PLACE, IT'S INTERESTING TO WORK AT, AND YOU TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF PRIDE BEING HERE AND TRYING TO HOLD UP THE HISTORIC PART OF IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S AWAY FROM THE CITY WHICH IS PART OF WHAT I LIKE.

HUELL HOWSER YOU JUST AS SOON THAT NOBODY EVEN KNOW THAT THIS WAS OUT HERE, HADN'T YOU?

YEAH, IT'S A LITTLE LATE, NOW, THOUGH, ISN'T IT?

HUELL HOWSER NOW, WE HAVE COME TO A PLACE THAT IS REALLY VERY SPECIAL.

DAN KOTT YEAH, THIS IS A LOCAL RECREATION AREA THAT WAS BUILT IN 1936 BY RESIDENTS OF THE AREA AND, ACTUALLY, IT'S A LOCAL CLUB THAT RUNS IT, BUT WE'RE ABLE TO USE IT.

HUELL HOWSER SO, THIS IS YOUR LITTLE RECREATION AREA, HERE.

DAN KOTT YEAH, WE CALL IT THE POND AND WE HAVE PICNICS AND SUCH HERE.

IT'S RUN BY THE LOCAL WOMEN'S CLUB.

HUELL HOWSER AND, HERE IS OUR REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE LOCAL WOMEN'S CLUB RIGHT HERE AND HER HUSBAND, WE MET YOU EARLIER, YOUR NAME IS?

LINDA FOX.

HUELL HOWSER WELL, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL PLACE.

WELL, IT'S A NICE POND AND IT'S RUN BY THE SAN FRANCISQUITO WOMEN'S CLUB AND IT'S FOR THE FAMILIES UP HERE, WHICH THERE AREN'T THAT MANY ANYMORE, BUT USE TO BE QUITE A FEW, AND IT'S A LOT OF FUN AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S VERY OLD FASHIONED.

HUELL HOWSER WELL, IT'S LIKE AN OLD SWIMMING HOLE OF SORTS.

YEAH, THAT'S WHAT WE CALL IT.

THE SWIMMING HOLE.

HUELL HOWSER AND IF YOU WANT TO, YOU CAN JUST GET YOUR INNER TUBE AND FLOAT OUT THERE.

HAVE DONE IT IN THE PAST, NOT ANYMORE.

HUELL HOWSER I'M SORRY I DIDN'T BRING MY SWIMMING TRUNKS, ALTHOUGH, I HAVE AN IDEA THAT IT COULD EVEN BE CLOTHING OPTIONAL FROM TIME TO TIME.

IT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST.

HUELL HOWSER NOT SINCE YOU ALL HAVE BEEN HERE, OF COURSE.

NO, NO.

HUELL HOWSER IN THE DISTANT PAST.

BACK IN THE '30S AND '40S.

YES.

HUELL HOWSER RIGHT?

WELL, I'M SURE THAT'S TRUE.

HUELL HOWSER NOW, WE HAVE LEFT THE POND AND YOU HAVE BROUGHT ME TO THIS BEAUTIFUL STRUCTURE HERE, WHICH IS ALSO PART OF THE HISTORY OF THIS PLACE.

DAN KOTT YES, IT IS, HUELL, THIS IS OUR CLUBHOUSE, AND TRADITIONALLY IT WAS A PLACE WHERE THE COOKS, AND SUCH, WOULD PREPARE FOOD FOR THE VISITING REPAIR CREWS, AND ALL, THAT WOULD BE IN THE DORMITORY OR OUR BUNKHOUSES.

LATER ON IT BECAME APARTMENTS AND NOW IT'S BACK INTO BEING A RECREATION AREA FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

HUELL HOWSER SO, IT'S A CLUBHOUSE, AGAIN, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE?

DAN KOTT THAT'S EXACTLY IT.

HUELL HOWSER AND, HERE, WE MET YOU EARLIER UP IN THE CONTROL ROOM, THERE, YOU BROUGHT YOUR WIFE TO MEET US.

YES, THIS IS MY WIFE, MARGIE.

HUELL HOWSER HI, MARGIE.

HI, HOW ARE YOU?

HUELL HOWSER WE MISSED YOU UP AT THE POND, THAT'S WHAT I HEAR.

BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT'S PART OF YOUR BAILIWICK.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'RE KIND OF IN CHARGE OF AROUND HERE.

WELL, I GUESS WHEN YOU'VE LIVED UP HERE AS LONG AS WE HAVE, YOU'VE BEEN-- A WOMAN HAS BEEN PAST PRESIDENT, PAST TREASURER, PAST SECRETARY, AND PRESENT SECRETARY, PRESENT.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST HAVE TO DO YOUR PART.

HUELL HOWSER YEAH, NOW, WHAT IS YOUR PART?

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT LIVING HERE?

IS IT A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE?

IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE.

IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE KIDS.

IT DOES HAVE ITS DISADVANTAGES.

BUT THE DISADVANTAGES ALSO HELP YOU ORGANIZE YOURSELF, SO THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT WASTING A LOT OF TIME, BECAUSE YOU DON'T GO DOWN TO THE CORNER STORE TO GET YOUR MILK.

HUELL HOWSER YEAH, WE'VE ALREADY HEARD ABOUT THAT MILK.

IT'S A BIG DEAL TO GO INTO TOWN.

THAT'S RIGHT.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT, YOU DO WITHOUT.

SO, YOU KNOW, OR YOU BORROW.

HUELL HOWSER BUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT TAKING THE KEYS OUT OF THE CAR, THAT IT'S A NICE PLACE TO LIVE, I MEAN, THE AIR IS CLEAN, THE WATER IS CLEAN.

AND, I THINK THE BEST PART OF IT IS, LIKE, THE QUALITY OF THE SOUNDS, YOU KNOW.

IN TOWN YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF NOISE.

HERE YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, SOUNDS THAT ARE NATURAL.

HUELL HOWSER WE'VE HEARD THE PARROT ALREADY THIS MORNING.

DID HE WHISTLE AT YOU?

HUELL HOWSER OKAY, LOOK, HERE'S ALL OF OUR CROWD, COME ON IN.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NICE BIG LUNCH, COURTESY OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE AT THIS WONDERFUL LITTLE PLACE.

DO YOU HAVE A NAME FOR WHAT THIS IS-- DO YOU HAVE A NAME FOR THIS PLACE?

YOU MEAN THE WHOLE THING?

HUELL HOWSER YEAH, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT?

POWERPLANT--POWERPLANT CAMP, WE CALL IT THE CAMP.

HUELL HOWSER THE CAMP.

THE CAMP.

HUELL HOWSER I FIGURED YOU JUST DIDN'T CALL IT POWERPLANT NO.

1.

NO, IT'S THE CAMP.

HUELL HOWSER IT'S THE CAMP, OKAY, LET'S GO INSIDE, TO THE CAMP RECREATION CLUBHOUSE.

RIGHT, UH HUH.

HUELL HOWSER COME ON, FELLOWS.

COME ON FELLOWS.

WE'VE GOT TWO MORE STRAGGLERS BACK HERE.

TIME FOR LUNCH, I HEAR THEY'RE HAVING FRIED CHICKEN INSIDE.

ALL RIGHT, NOW WHAT'S--OH, LOOK, WE'VE GOT THE WHOLE GANG.

THE WHOLE GANG IS HERE, WELL, NOT QUITE ALL OF US.

HUELL HOWSER WELL, SOMEBODY HAS TO DO SOME WORK TODAY.

THEY'RE STILL--WELL, THIS IS THE LUNCH HOUR HERE.

YES, AND THIS IS POTLUCK, AND THIS IS HOW WHEN WE GET TOGETHER, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR EASTER, NOT EASTER, BUT CHRISTMAS.

HUELL HOWSER UH HUH.

OKAY, FOR CHRISTMAS, WE GET TOGETHER AND EVERYBODY BRINGS A LITTLE BIT, AND, WE ALL ENJOY IT.

HUELL HOWSER SO, IT REALLY IS, THIS REALLY IS A COMMUNITY CLUBHOUSE, HERE, AS SUCH.

YES, AND EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN OUR CAMP, THAT WORK HERE, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND USE THIS EVEN FOR THEIR PERSONAL PARTIES.

HUELL HOWSER NOW, WHERE IS THE LADY YOU SAID WAS KIND OF INSTRUMENTAL BEHIND ALL THIS?

DAN KOTT WELL, THAT WOULD BE NANCY GRIFFIN.

SHE SINGLE HANDEDLY HAS DECORATED THIS PLACE AND GENEROUSLY, AT THAT.

NANCY?

HUELL HOWSER COME OVER HERE, YOU KNOW WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT YOU.

NANCY I TOLD THEM NOT TO TALK ABOUT ME, BUT THEY DID IT ANYHOW, SO, I DON'T KNOW.

HUELL HOWSER NOW, THIS IS YOUR PARTY TODAY.

NANCY WELL, IT'S YOUR PARTY, THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO IS HAVE A NICE LUNCH FOR YOU.

HUELL HOWSER YEAH, AND HOW HARD IS IT TO GET ALL OF THIS ORGANIZED?

NANCY OH, IT'S A PIECE OF CAKE.

HUELL HOWSER YEAH, WHAT DO YOU DO, JUST PUT OUT THE WORD?

LET'S STAND OVER HERE SO WE CAN LOOK AT SOME OF THIS GOOD FOOD.

YOU PUT OUT THE WORD FOR PEOPLE TO BRING THEIR SPECIALTY?

NANCY YEAH, WE HAVE PARTIES ALL THE TIME AND LIKE THAT, AND EVERYBODY JUST BRINGS THEIR FAVORITE DISH, AND SOMETIMES WE'LL HAVE A THEME, LIKE MEXICAN FOOD, AND WE DO THAT RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, AND, EVERYBODY ENJOYS IT, AND WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS, AND MY KIDS GREW UP HERE.

HUELL HOWSER WAIT A MINUTE, I WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PLATE.

NOW, WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE?

NANCY I THINK YOU TOOK TOO MUCH... HUELL HOWSER IN FACT, I MAY JUST TAKE THIS PLATE.

I THINK YOU'VE BEEN SERVED, NOW.

HUELL HOWSER WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE?

WELL, WE HAVE BURNT BISCUITS, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT THE REST OF IT SHOULD BE ALL RIGHT.

HUELL HOWSER FRIED CHICKEN, CORN ON THE COB, MASHED POTATOES.. AND GRAVY AND SALAD.

HUELL HOWSER JUST GOOD OLD HEARTY, DWP WORKER FOOD.

RIGHT, THAT'S WHAT THEY LIKE, THERE ARE MOSTLY MEN UP HERE, SO, WE TRY TO CATER TO THE TASTES OF HUNGRY GENTLEMEN.

HUELL HOWSER YEAH, YEAH.

WELL, IT LOOKS GREAT.

YEAH, IT SURE DOES.

HUELL HOWSER IS THIS PART OF LIVING AND WORKING UP HERE?

IT'S ONE OF THE PRIVILEGES, YEAH, THAT'S NICE.

HUELL HOWSER WELL, YOU'RE PROVIDING A GREAT SERVICE.

AND I THANK YOU FOR THE TOUR TODAY.

I THINK YOU'VE BROUGHT US ALL UP TO SPEED A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHERE WE GET OUR ELECTRICITY, WHERE WE GET OUR WATER, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, HAVE KIND OF SHOWN US, FIRSTHAND, THAT IT IS NOT JUST A TECHNICAL THING, IT'S A VERY PERSONAL THING, A VERY FAMILY THING, THAT THIS REALLY IS A SENSE OF COMMITMENT FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE AND HAS BEEN SO FOR GENERATIONS.

DAN KOTT THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE, AND WE'RE PROUD OF IT.

HUELL HOWSER THANK YOU VERY MUCH, IT'S BEEN A GOOD DAY.

DAN KOTT THANK YOU, HUELL.

HUELL HOWSER AND NOW, WE'RE GOING TO CUT THE CAMERA OFF AND EAT.

BYE, HUELL.

IT WAS NICE HAVING YOU HERE.

COME BACK WHEN CAN'T STAY AS LONG.

"VISITING" WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSON'S FOUNDATION.

CAPTIONING EQUIPMENT DONATED BY LLOYD RIGLER AND PERFORMED BY RAPIDTEXT