Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1900-05-18
TAHOE WATER STORAGE
A Reno Correspondent Throws
New Light on the
Question

Reno, May is, 1900.
To the editor of tho APPEAL:
AS you have published some articles
recently relative to the question of
storing and taking waters from Lake
Tahoe, desire as a citizen of WashOe
county to set you right on some mat
tiers relative to this important question
regarding which I think you have
been misinformed. do not think as
some do here that the APPEAL, which
has always advocated anything that is
for the good of the whole State, would
in ten tionally advocate any measure
which vas detrimental to the interest is
of Washoe county.
You have taken the ground that it
would not be detrimental to our inter-
ests to store water in the lake which
now runs to waste, and then use it for
some other purpose, a purpose for
which it is not to be used.
This is perfectly logical and sound,
but the APPEAL is in error when it al
lows itself to be carried away with the
idea that there is any surplus water
running to waste. 1t no doubt bases
its calculations on the condition of
Tahoe and Truckee as they were ten
or fifteen years ago when there was a
surplus and when it ran to waste. Con-
ditions have changed of late and thei e
is not now SO much water, and, besides
this. there is more use for it. There is
no more such snowfall about the lake
as there used to be, and water users
along the Truckee realize this more
and more each year.
1t does not need any Weather Blu
reau statistics to show this. | am not
prepared to say what is the cause of
, this. 1t may be the fact that the cut
ting down of the forests results in less
rainfall, or it is possible that the eli
mate is changing somewhat. The fact
remains, however, that there is now
no more water running into the lake Or
| running out than we need in WashCe
county and along the river for power
plants and the like, or for the putting
up of ice in the winter.
The surplus which at times runs
away in the winter after heavy storms
or thaws goes to Pyramid Lake, and
| but for this that section of country
would be desolate and the Indians wins
have been placed on the Reservation
by the Government would be left with
no waters from which to take their
fish, which is about their main means
Of sustenance
If the Won Schmidt scheme were tC
carry he would find that he could no,
take waste wate.s, but would have tC
rob other people of water, every DROP
OF which is now being used. The
scheme to supply San Francisco with
drinking water from Tahoe was devised
years ago when such proposition
might have been feast ole but it is no
SO now, from an insutficiency of water
: If such a scheme succeeded WashO,
county would receive death blow ant
one of the fairest valleys in the Stat
be laid desOlate.
l trust the APPEAL will print thi
communication and that other Stat
papers will do the same in order tina
various, and | believe honest, misap
prehensions regarding the quantity Q
water coming into the lake in winter
may be removed. l am certain tina
the APPEAL. when it sees the case a
it really is, will be found fighting sid
by side with Washoe county in the i1
terest Of retaining the rights of waite
users along the Truckee and agains
any scheme to divert this water to Sal
Francisco.
Yours respectfully,
A TasbQe Water User.
THE Appeal is always ready t.