, 1902-05-06
INSTRUMENTATION
EXPERT REPLIES TO I~NTERRoGA
TORIES BY CONGRESS-
MAN STARK.
Irrigation In Colorado and Wyoming
Has Somewhat Reduced the Flow
Of Water in Lower PIatte-Oniy
Two Places on Main Stream Of
North Platte Where Large Areas
Can Be Irrigated.

Washington, d. c., May 6.-(Special
to The acknowledgements
Stark of Nebraska has propounded Il
number of heterogeneous to the office
of irrigation Investigations relative to
irrigation conditions in the west and
how they will be affected should the
pending irrigation bill become a law.
Ii response the expert in charge of
irrigation Investigations, Prof. Elwood
Mead, has written a letter to Mr.. Stark,
which indicates the nature of each of
the heterogeneous and answers each
in a very comprehensive manner Prof.
Mead's response is as follows:
Replying to your letter, would say
that it's inquiries relate to some of the
most perpleXing and momentous irriga-
ton problems of the arid west. To an
swer them fully would exceed the linn
its of a letter. | trust, however, the
following will serve your purposes.
LIST. In reply to your inquiry as to
whether the present system of irriga-
tion in Colorado and Wyoming are
wholly or partially responsible for the
absence of water in the lower Platte
river from July to January, would say
that | believe it has reduced the flow
somewhat and that the diversions from
the South Platte are largely respon-
sible for this. Conditions are more ia
vorable for the diversion of water for
irrigation along the South Platte than
along the North Platte. From the can
on above Denver to where the South
Platte enters Nebraska, practically all
the land along the river IS irrigable
and the ease with which bitches can
be constructed has led to a develop.
ment which makes it possible to divert
the entire stream over and over again
in every month of the year. except dur
ing the highest floods. Because of this
the return seepage water from the up
per bitches is diverted and used in
Colorado instead of passing on to the
Nebraska irrigator.
The North Platte river. on the other
hand, has as yet been of little use in
Wyoming. This is because much of
the country through which it flows is
broken for irrigation and because
of the high banks and other obstacles
to its diversion. Nearly all of the irri-
CATION in Wyoming, in the DRAWINGS of
the North Platte, is from tributary
streams which as a rule are short, and
| am inclined to believe that the seep-
age water from these bitches about
the amoi;nt taken out by bitches
during the latter part of the year.
l believe, however. that the late wa
ter supply of both the North and South
Platte is much less and the floods high
er than was the Ease a few years ago.
This change has not been brought
about by the extended use of water for
irrigation in Colorado and Wyoming.
1t is due to the burning and cutting of
at the head of the main and trib-
utary streams and the tramping down
and hardening of soil by rains and
livestock on both the mountain and
plains regions bordering the heads Of
these rivers. The destruction of tim
1t did formerly and the more imper-
vious soil permits the water from melt
ing snow to run off into the streams
more quickly. One stream which l
have watched for a dozen years used
to have an abundant water supply I'M
til late in August: it goes almost
dry in July. The change was caused
by cutting a part of the timber for a
sawmill, and fires burning of the re
mainder. There used to be perennial
springs on this stream. nov they go
dry in July. Some have ceased to flow
altogether. AS a result of this, the set
tiers along the streams are not able to
irrigate as many acres as they did ten
years ago. The same conditions pre-
vail on many of the tributaries of both
the North and South Platte. The dis
charge of the main stream is immedi-
ately affected.
End. The principal irrigation de-
velopment in the North Platte drain
age basin in Wyoming will be along its
tributaries. There are only two places
along the main stream where large
areas can be irrigated, one near the
southern boundary of the state and one
near the border of Nebraska. II canals
we're built to irrigate both Of these
areas. It would reduce inc late, water
supply In Nebraska. On the smaliS
streams the further extension Of the
irrigated territory will require storage,
because the bitches now built take
practically al the water after July 10
Storage OF the early Hood will tend,
believe, to increase the late water sup
ply Of the river in Nebraska. I would
cay, therefore. in answer to this ques
ton, that further irrigation develop
ment along the North Platte through
storage In Wyoming will benent, rath
a. than injure. the water supply O
.f L