Carl R. Nelson (1930–2024)

Carl R. Nelson in 1989

One of the individuals most responsible for the way modern Orange County looks and functions has passed. Carl Nelson was an expert on countless aspects of local infrastructure, past and present, and was a tremendously helpful resource to those wanted or needed to understand such things. 

And as much as he shared his knowledge with others, he also never stopped wanting to learn. He was a longtime member of the Orange County Historical Society, and a frequent visitor to the Orange County Archives -- so we saw each other often. I also called him occasionally, when I thought there was something he should be involved in or when I needed to pick his brain. 

Carl in 1958, working for the State Division of Highways.

Back in 2009, when realized that wildfires had burned away a century of brush that had overgrown historic irrigation canals in Santa Ana Canyon, my first call was to Carl. He knew the stories behind each of those canals and he needed to be part of a hike to see them. Ultimately, a whole passel of us historical folk tagged along. It was an unforgettable day.

A few years ago, Carl suggested we collaborate on an article about some aspect of water in Orange County. (I forget what exactly.) I liked the idea and started to research the subject, only to find that Carl himself had published a comprehensive article on the topic himself, years earlier! I don't know what he thought I might bring to the table, but there's no way I could ever out-Carl Carl on topics relating to water and public works. I stepped back, knowing I was out of my depth.

Just back from our hike through Santa Ana Canyon, 2009.

I'm taking Carl's obituary (shown in quotes, below) as I found it online, and interspersing it with other information I have about Carl from other sources, to paint a little more of the portrait of this man who contributed to so much to Orange County, ...

"Carl Richard Nelson was born December 31, 1930, in Los Angeles, California, to Eric and Alma Nelson. He passed away on October 22, 2024, surrounded by family. The son of Scandinavian immigrants, Carl’s early life took him across Southern California, including Lawndale [and] Santa Monica..."

Carl visits construction site on Santa Ana River near Angels Stadium, Anaheim

His family moved to the San Fernando Valley when Carl was nine and he graduated from Vista High School in 1948. He attended Palomar Junior College and was accepted at UCLA but enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1951 as an electronics technician and instructor. "Carl honorably served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War." He left the service in 1955. 

"He graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in engineering" in 1958, obtained his engineering license in 1961, "and earned a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from USC [1964], setting the foundation for a distinguished career. Carl was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity at UCLA."

Carl Nelson at the Old Orange County Courthouse, circa 1989.

Carl then became a junior engineer with the State Division of Highways Bridge Department. In late 1960 he joined the Orange County Flood Control Department. 

"For fourteen years, Carl was the Orange County Director of Public Works and County Surveyor, where he directed the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of vital infrastructure, including roads, flood control systems, harbors, beaches, and parks." He was also the right-hand man of Environmental Management Agency Director George Osborne and together they were responsible for creating much of what we now know as South Orange County.

Carl and his family. Circa 1960s.

Carl's "commitment to public service extended beyond his role; he was an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers [ASCE], the Southern California Chapter of the Public Works Association, the Orange County Historical Society, and the Laguna Niguel Historical Society. Carl was also a member of the Sons of Norway."

He also enjoyed sports, including bowling, and he famously Bowled a sanctioned 300 game at Saddleback Lanes in Mission Viejo in 1982.

Carl on the stump

After retirement, Carl joined The Keith Companies, Inc., and later Holmes and Narver Engineering. In 2009 he wrote a history of water resources development on the Irvine Ranch. He also wrote a number of other historical articles for the local ASCE chapter. 

In his later years, he tackled consulting work on projects that interested him -- including beach erosion problems in South Orange County. And right up until the end and was an active, well known, liked, and respected member of the local historical community.

George Osborne and Carl Nelson of the Orange County Environmental Management Agency visit a washout at Trabuco Creek in Live Oak Canyon above O'Neill Park.

In his retirement years, I often picked his brain on issues relating to water, flood control, planning, or countless other projects he worked on for the county. There was never a short answer with Carl because he wanted you to understand the whole context. But his answer was always a definitive one. He was particularly helpful to me when I was working on a necessarily complicated history of the County’s old Environmental Management Agency (EMA). Carl knew Orange County history in ways that no one person likely ever will again. He'd not only studied it; he'd also been integral to creating a good share of it himself.

Within just the past couple years, he'd been doing research and trying to work out solutions to the terrible beach erosion problems down at Capistrano Beach. He wasn't being paid as a consultant. He was just a concerned citizen -- with tremendous knowledge and experience -- offering what he saw as a more viable approach. Carl was being Carl.

Carl photographs historic irrigation infrastructure in 2009.

"Carl is survived by his beloved wife, Donna; four children; three stepchildren; five grandchildren; and his brother, John Nelson. His legacy of dedication and service will be remembered by all who knew him."