Arizona Started a War with California Over the Parker Dam

I'll preface this article by saying I'll do my best to steer clear of a bunch of "dam" puns --less the one in the title. My prepubescent mind will want to get the best of me, so know that I'm really trying to behave.

States have been battling who gets what water for over a century. Especially in America's Southwest where the arid climate demands needs nature can't meet. One body of water supplies the majority of the Southwest's liquid gold, the Colorado --and its tributaries.

Seven states share the water that utilize the Colorado River, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, all but California contribute to the river water.

Arizona and California have been "fighting" for that water since the 1922 compact that divided the river's water between all the states. California, being dam greedy, took that "fight" a bit too far when it decided it wanted to build the Parker Dam.

The Construction of the Parker Dam Between Arizona and California

In 1923, California funded the construction of the Parker Dam. They put the plan together mapping the aqueducts to pull water from the Colorado River west. In 1934, they started laying the first bricks that would spark the "war" with Arizona.

Arizona's governor at the time, Benjamin Moeur, obviously wasn't too happy with California and their rapid decision to start the construction declared martial law on November 10, 1934, and sent troops to the construction site.

Arizona's Parker Dam War Starts an Unusual Naval Unit

The Arizona National Guard troops were sent to the border camped around the dam site to monitor and stop its construction. They even commandeered two wooden ferries owned by Arizona State legislator Nellie T. Bush who would ultimately become the Arizona Navy's admiral.

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The troops took the ferries into the river to peep the dam construction when they "beached" on some cables. They were rescued by none other than California.

Thanks to the "war" the dam construction was postponed until 1935. Arizonans and Californians alike enjoy the efforts that created Lake Havasu.

Arizona is home to plenty of dams that help irrigate the state's crops, provide drinking water for millions, and provide a cool retreat from the blistering heat. Scroll through all the state's dams below:

Dam You Arizona for Holding So Much Water: A List of the State's Dams

Arizona relies on holding water back for a multitude of reasons. Some dams create reservoirs that are used for generating power but also provide a cooling place for summer recreation.

Other dams in Arizona are used to divert water to much-needed areas for drinking water, and crop irrigation.

Some of these dams in Arizona are pretty "dam" famous, too.

Gallery Credit: Tim Gray