  the los angeles aqueduct system, comprising the los angeles aqueduct (owens valley aqueduct) and the second los angeles aqueduct, is a water conveyance system, built and operated by the los angeles department of water and power. the owens valley aqueduct was designed and built by the city's water department, at the time named the bureau of los angeles aqueduct, under the supervision of the department's chief engineer william mulholland. the system delivers water from the owens river in the eastern sierra nevada mountains to los angeles, california. in 1971 it was recognized by the american society of civil engineers on the list of historic civil engineering landmarks. its construction was controversial from the start, as it is alleged that water diversions to los angeles all but ended agriculture in the owens valley. since then its continued operation has led to public debate, legislation and court battles over the environmental impacts of the aqueduct on mono lake and other ecosystems. ==construction== the aqueduct project began in 1905 when the people of los angeles approved a  bond for the 'purchase of lands and water and the inauguration of 
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