History
The river was impounded in 1863 on what is now Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. A tunnel was dug 1200 feet to convey water to the California Powder Works adjacent to the river three miles upstream of Santa Cruz. The powder works made gunpowder for California mining after normal supplies had been interrupted by the American Civil War. During dry weather, all flow was diverted through the tunnel and a system of flumes to provide water power for powder mill machinery. The powder mill was dismantled in 1914.
Read more about this topic: San Lorenzo River
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