Lee, Charles H. (Charles Hamilton), 1883-1967

Biographical Information

Charles Hamilton Lee was born February 1, 1883, in Oakland, California, and graduated from the University of California, Riverside, with a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1905. He began his career as a hydrographer for the U.S. Geological Survey but resigned in 1906 to become assistant engineer for the city of Los Angeles. From 1906-1911, he was involved in the design and construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct. During this period his report on the groundwater basin of the Independence region of the Owens Valley was published as U.S.G.S. Water-Supply Paper 294.

From 1912-1917 he had his own practice as a civil and hydraulic engineer in Los Angeles, serving in 1912 as hydraulic engineer for the California State Conservation Commission. After World War I, Lee was appointed President of the State Water Commission of California and subsequently Chief of the Division of Water Rights. In this capacity he had an active influence on water resources development in California.

In 1921 Lee again set up private practice, this time in San Francisco, doing a wide variety of work on all phases of water supply and structural foundation. A major client was the city of Los Angeles, for whom he did work connected with the Owens Valley, in large part related to pending litigation. In addition to work performed for Los Angeles, Lee was consulting engineer for several other California municipalities and numerous U.S. departments and agencies, including the State of California, water, public utility, and irrigation districts, and private companies and individuals in California and elsewhere. He was consulting engineer for the fill project that built Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay and from 1936-1939 he was chief of Water Supply and Sanitation for the Golden Gate International Exposition.

Other soil engineering work included slide repairs, foundation engineering, tunnels, and earth dams. He was recipient of the 1939 Norman Medal awarded by the American Society of Civil Engineers for his research on materials for earth fill dams.

Charles H. Lee died at his home in Berkeley, California on May 4, 1967, at the age of 84.

From the guide to the Charles H. Lee Photograph Collection, 1905-1959, (bulk 1905-1938), (Water Resources Collections and Archives)

Biographical Information

Introduction

Charles Hamilton Lee was born February 1, 1883, in Oakland, California, and graduated from the University of California, Riverside, with a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1905.

He then began his career as a hydrographer for the U.S. Geological Survey but resigned in 1906 to become assistant engineer for the city of Los Angeles. From 1906-1911, he was involved in design and construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct. During this period his report on the groundwater basin of the Independence region of the Owens Valley was published as U.S.G.S. Water Supply Paper 294.

From 1912-1917 he had his own practice as a civil and hydraulic engineer in Los Angeles, serving in 1912 as hydraulic engineer for the California State Conservation Commission. Work from this period is the earliest represented in this collection and deals primarily with water supply, both surface and groundwater, and irrigation.

World War I interrupted his career and from 1917-1919 Lee served in France as captain in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, concerned with military water supply and sanitation. Returning after the war, he was appointed President of the State Water Commission of California and subsequently Chief of the Division of Water Rights. In this capacity he had an active influence on water resource development in California.

In 1921 Lee again set up private practice, this time in San Francisco, doing a wide variety of work in all phases of water supply and structural foundation. A major client was the city of Los Angeles for whom he did work connected with the Owens Valley, in large part relating to pending litigation. In 1926 he also established the Pacific Hydrologic Laboratory, the first soils engineering Laboratory on the West Coast.

In addition to work performed for the city of Los Angeles, Lee was consulting engineer for several other California municipalities and numerous U.S. departments and agencies including the State of California; water, public utility, and irrigation districts; and private companies and individuals in California and elsewhere. He was consulting engineer for the fill project which built Treasure Island and from 1936-1939 he was chief of Water Supply and Sanitation for the Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island.

Other soil engineering work included slide repairs, foundation engineering, tunnels, and earth dams. He was recipient of the 1939 Norman Medal awarded by the American Society of Civil Engineers for his research on materials for earth fill dams.

Charles H. Lee was the author of a number of papers during his career. He was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Water Works Association, American Sewage Works Association, Seismological Society of America, California Sewage Works Association, and the American Geophysical Union. He died at his home in Berkeley on May 4, 1967, at the age of 84.

Experts Seek Underground Waters As Aid to Rancher

San Diego Sun, February 25, 1915.

Looking for all the world like a jitney bus, but serving what is perhaps an even more important purpose, a little Ford automobile came whizzing down Fifth street the other day, direct from the back country.

Its occupants, three in number, were Charles H. Lee and DeWitt L. Lee, brothers, and K. B. Sleppy, all young men with a purpose.

Under the direction of Charley Lee, who holds the contract with the U. S. government, the trio, with headquarters here, are engaged in a survey of the underground water sources of San Diego county, which is destined to prove of inestimable value to rancher and city man alike.

For six months, although little of it has been said, Lee and his assistants have been busy with the work and have compiled a wide variety of data to be submitted to the geological survey at Washington and to be embodied in a water supply paper or bulletin for distribution through the county by civic organizations and through government channels.

Interviewing Mr. Lee

Charley Lee is only 32 years old, but being a youngster has not interfered with his climb to the top of the hydraulic engineering ladder. Lee today is looked upon by experts as the best informed engineer on underground waters in the world.

Our work will not be completed until next September, our contract having been for a year, said he today. "We are getting along just fine, and although the underground waters of this county are not so extensive as further north, they are none the less valuable and worth developing. The U. S. geological survey makes investigations in several points each year, and San Diego was selected as one point for the year 1914-15. This was because of the many inquiries concerning wells and well water. The work is under the direction of the water resources branch of the survey, ground water division. We intend to let the people of this county know just what they have in the way of underground water and just how to proceed to get it.

Watch 200 Wells

"When we commenced our work the chief of the ground water division, O. E. Meinzer, was here for a week to assist in getting things started, but I am now in charge.

"We are gathering a great deal of well data and records about 200 wells in different parts of the county being observed regularly every two weeks, and in very wet weather observe some of them daily to note the rise in the levels.

"It is often necessary to do a lot of explaining to owners of the wells before we are allowed to observe them, but as a rule the ranchers are co-operating nicely, realizing what at means to them.

"We have got water samples from all over the county and have made pumping tests from selected plants in various locations. Data is taken of the formation where wells were drilled, and, when completed, the report will be the first presentation to geology as related to ground water development.

"A detailed study is being made of the rainfall and the amount absorbed by soils and sands. Record is kept of the run-off and the absorption of the run-off in the river valleys.

"The report, when distributed as a paper, will outline the relative advantages of different portions of the county for obtaining well water and maximum depths to be drilled in different districts and the amount that can probably be obtained from the wells. The probable yield of pumping plants if properly constructed and equipped, with numerous matters relative to drilling and equipment, will also be shown. The closing chaptere of the report will contain general matters of value to the irrigator.

Names Taken

"As we go through the county, we are taking the names of ranchers who wish copies of the report after it is finished. The state is paying part of the funds for this work, and the city is interested. Of course the city will be greatly concerned in our findings, but, like all others, must wait until the report is finished before making use of its contents.

It is not easy work. Only recently my assistants were marooned between two branches of the Tijuana river and had to stay there all night in the storm. We are doing some stream gauging work supplementary to the government work as regards surface waters.

Lee is a native of Oakland. He is a graduate of the state university. He is consulting engineer in Los Angeles, where he now spends port of his time, and also has important work in New Mexico and Arizona. He is consulting engineer for the U. S. public health service at Fort Stanton. Recently he testified at the Cuyamaca hearing, as a witness for the Cuyamaca company and greatly impressed his hearers with his concise and ready answers.

Professional and Special Experience Record

Charles H. Lee, Consulting Engineer 58 Sutter Street San Francisco, California

1. Personal

2. Contributions to Literature of Groundwater Hydrology

3. Active Practice of Profession

• 1905 - 66 : Sixty years as civil engineer, specializing in hydraulics, sanitation, irrigation, municipal water supply, and surface and groundwater hydrology... including seepage into and from streams, precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, consumptive use, well fluctuation and yield, interpretation of groundwater contour maps, and safe yield of underground reservoirs.
• 1905 - 06 : Hydrographic engineer, U. S. Geological Survey; Stream gaging throughout California, including Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, Southern California, Colorado River.
• 1906 - 11 : Assistant Engineer, City of Los Angeles, Bureau of Los Angeles Aqueduct, - 1 year on Aqueduct design; 1 year on precise leveling for con ol of aqueduct construction; 3 years in charge surface and underground water in investigations in Owens Valley. Prepared numerous reports, one of which was published by U.S. Geological Survey as Water Supply Paper 294. Also made study of irrigation diversions and practice in Owens Valley in connection with proposed storage regulation at Long Valley and on Big Pine Creek; later made surveys for hydroelectric development at Owens River Gorge and Big Pine Creek and transmission line to City of Los Angeles.
• 1912: Hydraulic Engineer, California State Conservation Commission - in charge groundwater investigations, including special study of replenishment of pumped well supplies by spreading torrential flood waters of Santa Ana River in San Bernardino Valley, Calif. (Report published by the State of California.)
• 1912 - 17 : Engaged in private practice as Civil and Hydraulic Engineer in Los Angeles, including irrigation, water supply, groundwater and geology in States of California, Nevada and New Mexico.
• 1917 - 19 : On special military duty in France as Captain, Corps of Engineers, U.S.A., with American Expeditionary Forces, General Headquarters, on military water supply and sanitation. Assigned to Water Intelligence duty, including general study of geology and hydrology of theatre of war, and control of all drilling equipment and to advise on water development at military bases. Assigned to duty as Water Intelligence Officer, Water Supply Service, 1st Army, during latter part of war.
• 1919 - 21 : Served as President, State Water Commission of California, and later, Chief of Division of Water Rights, State Department of Public Works. This was during a period of very active development of water resources in California and applications to appropriate water for storage and direct diversions throughout the State were acted upon.
• 1921 - 1921 to date : Engaged in private practice as consulting engineer in San Francisco, including irrigation, water supply, land drainage, flood control, sewage works, water works, ground water investigations and utilization, and structural foundations. Practiced in California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, New Mexico, Idaho, Hawaii, Jamaica, Thailand. Clients: U.S. Governmental departments including Army, Navy, State, Justice, Public Health Service, Bureau of Reclamations, Veterans Bureau, Geological Survey; State of California, municipalities, counties, water, public utility and irrigation districts, public utilities, private companies and individuals.

From the guide to the Charles H. Lee Papers, bulk 1912-1955, (Water Resources Collections and Archives)