Will S. Green

William Semple Green (b. December 26, 1832, Kentucky; d. July 2, 1905) was a California pioneer, a steamboat captain, mail carrier, surveyor, newspaper publisher, writer, legislator, United States Surveyor General for California, California State Treasurer, and irrigationist.

Irrigationist

Because of droughts that affected the region in the 1850s, he was a tireless promoter of irrigating the Sacramento Valley. In June 1863, the Sacramento Valley Irrigation Company incorporated with Green as its president. In 1864 he became County Surveyor, and he was President and Superintendent of the Stony Creek Canal Company formed in October 1881.

Related Topics:
1850s - Sacramento Valley - 1864 - 1881

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On December 18, 1883, on an oak tree on the west bank of the Sacramento River, he posted the first water notice, stating that 500,000 miner's inches of river water was being diverted for irrigation of lands on the west side of the Sacramento Valley (this location is now registered as California Historical Landmark #831).

Related Topics:
December 18 - 1883 - Oak - Miner's inch - California Historical Landmark

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In 1888, Green broke ground on the 61-mile Central Irrigation District canal and he organized the Sacramento Valley Development Corporation to attract settlers for the soon to be irrigated land.

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It is therefore not surprising that Green became known as the "father of irrigation" in California.

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