The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1902-01-21
ON WATER SUPPLY.
A. J. Splawn Gives Observations on Condi.
tion of Rainier Reserve.

apart by SrONeT SleNelanu, lIlen pTesl-
dent of the United States, for the pro-
lection of the timber and watersheds, as
a safeguard for the surrounding country.
1t was not the intention for it to be de-
stroyed by sheep grazing, for upon the
streams having their sources on this re-
serve depends the future of Yakima
county.
Having travelled through much of this
reserve for the past twenty years, l
herewith speak of conditions as l find
them. Where formerly the bottoms and
hillsides were covered with thick coat
ing of native grasses and other vege-
tation, as we'll as having thickly wooded
spots and where sources of streams that
had their basin-like formation covered
with thick moss, grass and brush, which
held back the melting snow, letting the
water flow off gradually, thereby furnish
ing an abundance OF water during the
irrigating season, these now show the
sad havoc of sheep grazing. Native
grasses are being grazed to death and
trampled out pv the roots, the covering
is torn from the soil by the sharp hoofs
of the sheep, bottoms and hillsides made
bare, and streams polluted with filth
caused by the bedding of sheep along
their banks.
The result is, nothing is left to hold
back the snow. 1t melts quickly, COM
ing down in the early spring, causing
floods, and thereby a shortage of water
during the irrigating season. Formerly
our streams ran nearly bank full most
of the year. The high waters came
about June 18th to July LIST and the rise
in streams was gradual. This was the
condition until 1899. Since that year
the snow leaves the mountains so early
that many springs and small streams
become entirely dry during the summer
months. This is the result OF sheep
grazing and the great forest fires that
Immediately followed the coming OF
sheep into these mountains.
Government reports show that there
are l 100000 acres OF irrigable lands in
the county. The county assessors re-
turns indicate that only 45,9S7 acres
have been titled and improved. OF this
area there are less than 10000 acres
used for raising wheat in the Horse
Heaven country, which is not irrigated,
thus leaving about &c, 900 acres of irri.
gated lands which are supplied from
canals anu artesian wells
In this irrigated district there are
about II 900 people dependent entirely
upon agricultural products which can be
raised only by means OF irrigation.
The report OF Sydney Arnold, govern
ment photographer, for the month OF
June for the years 1897, 1S9S-99, shows
river to be, in cubic feet per second.
about 30 miners inches of water: 1897
14,030; in 1898, 1884 in 1890, II ,030
and in 1900 only 1890. There is food
for reflection in these figures, and it is
time the people were awaking to the fact
that our water shed is being destroyed
Sheep owners and officers in charge OF
the reserve pay no attention whatever tC
the protection of the water shed or the
regulations required by the department
at Washington for the grazing of sheep
The sheep are bedded at the sources OF
streams and along their banks. This
the department strictly forbids, but still
they roam at will and have free hand
to continue their wanton destruction.
There are fifty-two reserves in the
United States. OF these it is reported
that three only are allowed as the private
herding grounds for sheepmen. In two
of them they are excluded from the
mountains at headwaters of the irrigat
ing streams. The management OF Raj.
nier forest reserve takes the direct oppo
site course.
Some writers, who have no other in.
terest in the county save the grazing Of
sheep, have stated that our water sup
ply is inexhaustible, having the grea,
glaciers OF Mt. Rainier as a source Of
supply. Perhaps they did not know
that Mt. Rainier is entirely to the west
of the summit of the Cascades, therefore
its water. flow into Puget sound. They
also state that very little of the water
shed OF Yakima county is grazed by
sheep. Everyone, save perhaps those