Photograph 31 - CP214-D-64023

17


Photograph 19 - CP466-D-64051

Vista Houses, Shelters, and Recreation Facilities

Shelter and picnic facilities can be provided at natural vista
points, Photograph 20 is a view of the Judge Carr Memorial
Terrace, at Whiskeytown Dam, Central Valley Project, Sacramento,
California. An original wooden pit-toilet used by tourists and

Photograph 20 - CP285-D-64052

11

fishermen in the vi-
cinity of a dam, had
deteriorated beyond
economical and logical
repair, and was re-
placed by the more
durable and attractive
facility shown in
Photograph 21.

Helpful Assistance

In some areas the
assignment of Job
Corps personnel to
improved appearance
work has been possible
and has been a most
worthwhile and con-
structive way of
employing these people,
where practical travel
distances from their


Photograph 1 - P447-b-64048

Photograph 2 - P447-D-64049


Photograph 32 - P214-D-64022

fence to further improve the
appearance of the area.
Photograph 32 shows another
similar area with a few of
some 600 one-year-old
beefwood trees that had been
planted. The trees serve
both as a windbreak and a
screen planting. Note the
use of lath and chicken wire
to protect the young trees
from rabbits, and the shingles
to provide wind protection.

Industry also has cooperated.
One lumber company suspended
use of their sawdust burner,
Photographs 33 and 34, elim-
inating smoke and sawdust
problems. The company now
hauls the sawdust elsewhere
by truck for disposal and
tourists no longer must see
a cloud of smoke in viewing
Grand Coulee Dam.

Help from some states adjacent
to highways is developing.
Many states are very con-
scious of the need for beauti-
fication. Development of
these viewpoints towards

directional and informational signs with more emphasis towards eye

appeal and color are evident.

Contacts can be made with historical

societies, county recreation committees or groups, or even county
administrative organizations for cooperation.

The Bureau of Reclamation has received many favorable comments from
the general public on aesthetic improvements made as a direct
result of the implementation of the Improved Appearance Program.

18


SENATOR WASH DAM

AND
REGULATING RESERVO

Photograph 26 - CP57-D-64060

canal headwork and other similar sites for parks and recreation
areas, as shown in Photographs 26, 27, 28, and 29.

SANFORD DAM

BITH

Photograph 27 - CPS7-D-64061

US

A particularly impressive
accomplishment in many com-
munities has been the replace-
ment of open irrigation
ditches or drains alongside
streets and roads with pipe
to reduce weeds, and to widen
the streets to enhance these
residential areas. Such an
improvement is illustrated
in views of an area to the
west of the main entrance
gate to a Bureau division
headquarters. Photograph 30
is of the unsightly open
drain between a chain link
security fence and the road.
Photograph 31 shows the im-
proved appearance resulting
from the elimination of the
open drain. Beefwood trees
will be planted adjacent to the


Construction Scars

Construction scars have been removed around many structures and
reservoirs have been cleared of tree trunks with pleasing results,
Photographs 11 and 12 are of an area before and after the work
was done.

Photograph 11 - CP33-D-64036

Photograph 12 - CP33-D-64037

On one large canal a
spoil pile, Photo-
graph 13, will be
sold and removed for
aesthetic improvement.
Removal of the spoil
pile will greatly im-
prove the appearance
of the canal bank and
adjacent area.

Borrow areas have been
filled and landscaped
with plantings of grass
and trees, the place-
ment of native rock,
and the draining of
low areas. Where con-
struction excavation
and other debris can-
not be buried or other-
wise landscaped it has
been shielded as much
as possible to blend
with natural surround-
ings. Photograph 14,
shows conifer trees
planted on the north
side of Angostura
Reservoir, in South
Dakota. Planting was
and maintenance is by
the South Dakota Game,
Fish and Parks Depart-
ment which administers
the lands for recrea-
tion and wildlife.
Photograph 15, shows
how alfalfa and grass
have restored and en-
hanced the beauty of
the unlined auxiliary
spillway for the James
Diversion Dam, and
will minimize water
erosion and provide
wildlife habitat.


Photograph S - P17-D-64040

Photograph 6 - P17-D-64041

Damtender and ditchrider residences and headquarter areas in par-
ticular have been repaired, repainted, and otherwise improved.
Photographs S and 6 show the same area before and after the founda-
tion of a house at Minidoka Dam had been removed and the area made
ready for grass seeding.


_ of the area after removal of the warehouse is shown in Photo-
graph 4.

Photograph 3 - P3-D-64038

Photograph 4 - P3-D-64039

3


Photograph 28 - P699-D-640S5

Photograph 29 - CP699-D-64056

16


Photographs 9 and 10, illustrate appearance improvement made by
rehabilitating the pumphouse at Drainage Pumping Plant ''C" on the
Klamath Project. The upper photograph shows an unsightly structure
badly in need of maintenance. The lower photograph shows the pump-
ing plant with its appearance and aesthetics of the area greatly
improved.

Photograph 9 - P12-D-64044

Photograph 10 - P12-D-64045

6


United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation

IRRIGATION OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

BULLETIN NO. 68
April, May, June 1969

a Qt ee ee i

ma a

In This Issue:

An Improved Appearance Program


Photograph 15 - CP660-D-64053

Photograph 16 - CP285-D-64054

shrubs on the canal embankment. Photograph 17 shows workman landscap-
ing channel banks between the Colorado River and Senator Wash Pumping-
Generating Plant and Photographs 18 and 19, show evergreen tree plant-
ings along the driveway entrance to the Watertown Substation and Water-
town Power System Operations Office area at Watertown, South Dakota.
One region has used the practice of sodding and seeding extensively to
restore retired farmland, borrow areas, waste disposal areas, and to
cover downstream slopes of dams and the slopes of embankments.

9


Photograph 13 - CP454-D-64067

Photograph 14 - P454-D-64066

Seeding and sodding with native grasses, shrubs, etc., in some areas,
can be an inexpensive and easily accomplished manner of quickly improv-
ing appearance.

Photograph 16 looking upstream on the Contra Costa Canal, at Tracy,
California, illustrates a typical cooperative landscaping program. On
adjacent property, owners were granted permission to plant and maintain

8


Photograph 8 - CP409-D-64065

In addition to the adjacent yards and storage areas, Photographs
7 and 8 show the same area much improved, after an old fence was
taken down and a new chain link fence errected on the street side
entrance to the Bureau warehouse and laboratory facilities at
Huron, South Dakota.

Modern sheet metal buildings have been found economical for replace-
ment of old wooden structures and these can be easily blended with
natural features in the area. Inexpensive landscaping is possible
because of the low profile of these metal structures.


Photograph 33 - P222-D-64029

Photograph 34 - P222-D-64030

19


AN IMPROVED APPEARANCE PROGRAM
Introduction

The one aim in the improvement of a project's appearance should
be the preservation of the natural beauty of the community and
locale in which the works are situated so as to enhance the enjoy-
ment thereof by the public.

Enhancement and protection of the natural beauty of areas surround-
ing our projects have always been an integral part of the Bureau
of Reclamation activities. However, inception of the Federal Gov-
ernment's ''Improved Appearance Program'' has added new interest and
encouragement for those who were not impressed with the need and
importance of stressing this phase of the reclamation program.
Consideration of aesthetics as well as functional use of project
facilities now is made as a matter of routine, rather than through
special effort.

In addition, a general cleanup, fixup, paintup campaign is in
progress on many previously constructed projects. Much of this is
being done as routine maintenance with but little if any additional
cost. To report what is being done and suggestions that may be of
use to others in their efforts to improve appearances of their
facilities is the purpose of this issue of the bulletin.

Accomplishments

Headquarters and Storage Areas

Weed control, landscaping, and general cleanup of storage yards and
service areas alone has greatly enhanced the appearance of many of
our project facilities. Buildings, including residences as well

as offices, are being repaired and painted with emphasis on pleas-
ing appearance and blending with surroundings. As a bonus on one
project, 19 tons of unsightly scrap iron and old batteries were
removed and sold from a storage yard.

Many unsightly buildings left from construction activities have
been removed or remodeled and painted. Photograph 1 is a view

of a building that was used as a generator building at Hungry Horse
Government Camp during preconstruction, and Photograph 2 shows

the same much improved area, after the generator building had been
torn down and the area leveled. The original warehouse along a
railroad siding at Black Canyon Reservoir, Photograph 3, seldom
was used to receive shipments after construction in the area was
completed and was in need of major repairs. It had become a catch-
all, and was also an eyesore. With a new warehouse near the dam
and powerplant, the railroad warehouse was declared surplus and
advertised for sale. When no bids were received, the irrigation
district removed it for salvage materials. The improved appearance


~ Clin

Photograph 21 - P4-102-923

camps permit. As an example, an embankment had gradually deteri-
orated since the days it was a CCC Camp. This was a natural for
a nearby Job Corps Camp to develop as a recreation area and cer-
tainly an outstanding beautification program. Reclamation offi-
cials recommended the piping of a lateral through the area and
steepening the slope of the shoreline with the National Park Serv-
ice being responsible for the overall and detail plans for the
area. Brush was cleaned away from the shoreline, slope of shore-
line steepened and sanded, and a new concrete boat ramp construc-
ted. This now will be one of the most improved and outstanding
developments in this area.

On many of our projects the interest of the employees living in

the camps and administrative areas has contributed to the develop-
ment of some very beautiful surrounding areas. Beautification
Committees of many communities also have played an important part
in assisting us in the planning and accomplishment of improved
appearance programs where project facilities have become an inte-
gral part of the community area or that adjacent to or surrounding
it. Photograph 22 shows trash and junk strewn on public land
within boundaries of an irrigation district. Photograph 23 shows
the same area after trash had been buried and area seeded to crested
wheat grass. The appearance of the site of a trash dump on another
project, Photograph 24, was improved considerably after it was cleaned
and leveled as shown in Photograph 25. These same committees and
others have installed new informational signs, planted shrubbery,
installed flagstone paving in areas of constant use instead of con-
crete walks, and have undetaken rather extensive improvement of

12


Photograph 24 - P222-D-64046

Photograph 25 - P222-D-64047

14


UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
DIVISION OF IRRIGATION OPERATIONS
Denver, Colorado 80225

IRRIGATION O&M BULLETIN NO. 68
April, May, June 1969

CONTENTS

AN IMPROVED APPEARANCE PROGRAM
Introduction ........ cc secs eee ee ceceecneeeees Oo bees aeceens
Accomplishments ........ 00. .ccccecceuccucceuccucceacces wei
Headquarters and Storage Areas
Construction Stars! scsias sowaieeas

Vista Houses, Shelters, and Picnic Facilities
Helpful Assistance ..

Guidelines ............... esate av 00.8 Cece dere eee ees eoniave

BUDNGUERS sadieterwrinisionreis TANEOUS ARGIECRSE Bi dinsece
Road Structures .
Utility Structures ..
Hydraulic Structures .
Power Structures ..
Fish Structures ......

Informational Structures
Water-oriented Structures ....
Landscaping ws wsiesv0y sieeierceects
Construction Areas ... . . .
PAIN 1 soiprarsieis 936 SRG ap esesecererore eresarereatere ge Selwserels ae eeeeee



The Irrigation Operation and Maintenance bulletin is published
quarterly, for the benefit of irrigation project people. Its
principal purpose is to serve as a medium of exchanging operation
and maintenance information. It is hoped that the material herein,
prepared specifically for this bulletin by the Office of Chief En-
gineer, will show that significant accomplishments have been made
resulting from the implementation of the Improved Appearance Cri-
teria in design, construction, and operation and maintenance
programs,

2 ewe

Division of Irrigation Operations
Office of Chief Engineer
Denver, Colorado

s COVER PHOTOGRAPH:

This shows the National Forest
Service visitation center near
the right abutment of Pactola
Dam and Reservoir constructed
by the Bureau of Reclamation
in the Black Hills of South
Dakota.

Photo CP-494-64050



Photograph 17 - CP57-D-64062

Photograph 18 - CP466-D-64063

10


Photograph 22 - P17-D-64042

Photograph 23 - P17-U-64043

13