The Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) is an agency that was created in 1936 to supply water for consumers in eastern Contra Costa, California. It is now one of the largest water districts in California, serving about 500,000 people in Central and Eastern Contra Costa County. History The formation of CCWD was a direct result of a 13-year drought that began in California around 1917 and caused a great increase of salinity in Sacramento Delta as ocean water intruded and mixed with greatly reduced flow of fresh water from inland runoff. Fresh water for industrial use had to be brought in from elsewhere in railroad tank cars. Farmers could not afford the expense of importing water, and had to stop irrigating crops, which caused the value of land to decline. A citizens' group calling itself the Bay Barrier Association was formed to lobby for a solution to the problem of seawater intrusion. At first the group favored building a physical barrier, but later concluded the scheme was impractical. They retained attorney Thomas Carlson to work with the Legislature, which passed a state water plan in 1931. The plan included a "Contra Costa Conduit,"(later named the Contra Costa Canal). The California Central Valley Project Act authorizing construction of structures and waterways including the Contra Costa Canal was passed in 1933 and approved by Governor James Rolph. However, the Great Depression made it impossible to build the infrastructure by selling bonds. Carlson and his team of canal supporters went to Washington , D. C. to lobby the U. S. government for funding. Their efforts were successful, although it took three years. In August 1937, the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation (BuRec) announced that it would fund the Central Valley Project. A groundbreaking ceremony for the Contra Costa Canal occurred in Oakley, California on November 7, 1937. Despite delays caused by demands for labor and materials needed of World War II, the long tunnel was completed in 1948, from the Delta intake on Rock Slough (near Knightsen) to Martinez. The Bay Barrier Association started planning for a Contra Costa County Water District, a legal entity to buy and distribute untreated water that would be furnished by the BuRec. Formation of the CCCWD was approved by county voters by a large margin on May 5, 1936, and incorporated as a special district on May 9, 1936. Its customers would be cities, farms and industries.