For many it is hard phantom that Honey Lake was source for water for major reclamation project on the east side of lake. Yet, it was and a costly endeavor.

One hundred fifteen years ago on this date, dedication ceremonies were held the Standish Water Company’s newly built pumping plant on the shore of Honey Lake. It was  one of those beautiful falls days the region is noted for, set the mood for the inauguration of the pumping plant. During the morning people began arriving from around the Honey Lake Valley to partake in the festivities. Of course, the customary local dignitaries were on hand to provide their accolades. Shortly after noon, the visitors were instructed to assemble along the banks of the main canal to anxiously watch awaited event of pumping water into the canal. At one o’clock the whistle blew from the engine house, and within moments water burst through the pipes to fill the canal.

On the surface it appeared the Company was off to a successful start. In addition, Mother Nature contributed to their efforts, when a snowstorm in January 1911 dumped six feet of snow there! Actually, the weather gods for the next several years were very kind to the east shore residents by providing higher than normal precipitation.

In the Company’s first year 1,000 acres had been planted with sugar beets, with a successful harvest. The following year was a success, too. This changed in 1913, in one of those bureaucratic snafus, as the federal government revoked the canal right-of-way across federal land until California clarified about granting water rights with a lake with no outlet.

To make a long story short, when all was said done by 1917 the area entered into a twenty year drought, and the abandoned pumping plant could no longer be used, due to the lack of water. ln October 1918, there was a scarcity for machinery from the effects of due World War I. At this time, the United States Government seized the pumping plant’s machinery, where it was  dismantled and shipped to San Francisco. From there it shipped to Siberia to generate power.

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