Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-11

G. d is supposed to indicate the present in
clination of the river-bed above the dam C
A. A to B is the length of the reservoir,
and the line A B would be its water-level,
but the filling will be on parallel wi h the
bed of the river, that is, parallel with the
line Z A. The line L I may be taken to
represent the line of deposit Of matter above
the reservoir when the latter is filed up with
detritus. At the point 3 it is held, the
heavier debris, by reason Of the flow of the
water being checked by the descent into the
reservoir will bsgin to be deposited, and
from there back for long distance the filing
in will be great.
Remarking upon this plan of compelling
waters to drop their sands, State Engineer
Hall said of the brush restraining dam prior
to its construction:
Thus were the sand covered flats of the Yuba and
Bear rivers hanked by high plains or .levees, they
might he made to retain the sediment to be brought
down for number OF years to come, by simply
causing the SANDS to rest upon them on greater
grades, by placing low permeable brush dams at
short intervals Of space in the way OF the
currents, and adding to them from year to year.
II we consider the width to which the waters of the
streams now under discussion are spread at the
points where it is proposed construct brush DAMS
will realize how they will be robbed of their de-
structive force by being led to encounter obstacle
such dam in the face of the entire front of their
flow. For instance, the extreme flood discharge of
the Yuba river is about 600 cubic feet per second
and its ordinary food discharge does not exceed
half that amount, while its usual discharge through
the winter and sprng is about 900 cubic feet per
second. With stick to brace himself, man could
almost wade across the Yuba river on the crest of
such dam at the time Of its greatest discharge and
could certainly do SO at the time of ordinary food
provided the dam placed and constructed that
the water approached it with nearly equal velocity
at all points.
ON THE SOUTH SIDE
The dam connects with levee which ex-
tends up stream to the high land and forms
the south wall of the reservoir, or artificial
bank of the river. This levee is 8 feet high
and 10 feet on the top. 1t extends and is be-
ing extended also from the dam down river
to the railroad crossing at Marysville, and is
to be carried on to the Feather river, and
down it seven miles, with width of 6 feet
on top and slopes Of to l and 2 to l. On
the north side of the Yuha a splendid levee
extends from the high land at its union with
the dam down to the city of Marysville.
This levee is of the most substantial charac
ter and is being brushed its entire length
that is, the water face is being covered
with willows, which are cross.staked down,
and held by wires from stake to stake also.
In addition, all along the water face of the
levee, where the high waters will most i'm
pinge, are placed scores of brush spurs.
These spurs or revetments are about 150 feet
long, are from 400 to 500 feet apart, and run
out at right angles to the levee, thus: G d
being the line of the levee and the shorter
lines Isl the 81 rrs