Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1904-02-19
IRRIGATION SCHEME WHICH WILL
BENEFIT THREE GREAT
VALLEYS.
Scheme Has Been Practically Ap-
proved BY the Reclamation Depart
ment in Washington, and It 10
Believed the Work viii be
Undertaken.

sion's mammoth irrigation scheme, b,
which it is proposed to provide 1000.
900 acres Of fertile lands in the Great
Salt Lake, Utah lake and Cache val
leys with an abundant supply Of water
and which scheme has been practi-
cally approved by the reclamation de-
partment in Washington. The only
proviso remaining to be settled is that
the tests of actual surveys and meas
urements Of the proposed water sup
plies shall prove the practicability OF
the project. and there is hardly a doubt
entertained by either State Engineer
Doremus or the government engineers
who have examined it that the scheme
is entirely practicable.
The scheme as presented by the
state engineer is, in brief, as follows:
The building of a dam from fifty to
100 feet in height to convert Straw
berry valley into a reservoir having
sufficient capacity to hold all the wat
ers that can be practically diverted
into it from the several branches of
the Duchesne river.
The excavation of a channel thirty
to fifty miles long, following about the
7,6OO-foot contour by which to inter-
cept the said waters of the Duchesne
river and convey them into the Straw
berry valley storage reservoir.
The construction of a tunnel about
three and one-half miles long through
the crest of the Wasatch mountains.
by which the water stored in the
Strawberry reservoir may be released
and discharged into the head waters Of
the Spanish Fork river and conveyed
with the water of said river into Utah
valley.
The construction of a distributing
channel on about the 4,800-foot contour
rom near the mouth of Spanish Fork
canyon in general southwesterly d.
lection to or near the town of Goshen.
Ind similar channel from near the
mouth OF Spanish Fork canyon on
lDout the 4,S00-foot contour in a gen.
'ral northerly direction to some suit
LDle point in Salt Lake valley; also a
'ranch from said channel crossing the
ordan river at a point at or near the
ordan Narrows, for conducting the
Vater on to the high lands west of the
Ordan river
The construction of such channels.
dams, etc, as may be
ecessary to convert BeaF-laallSe into
for all the surplus waters
Bear river and it's tributaries, in
uding the local streams of Bear Lake
alley, and for subsequently releasing
lch stored water into the channeI-ef
ear river.
The erection of one or more dams
ABOUT 100 feet in height for the pur
use of impounding the food and WIN
r waters OF the Blackfoot branch Of
e Snake river. in the several basins
valleys at or about an elevation OF
LOO feet above the sea.
The excavation of a tunenl twelve or
teen miles in length in which to
nduct the stored water of the Black
ot over the divide and into the chan
OF Bear river, at point near Soda
rings, in the state of Idaho.
The construction of a channel to d.
rt the commingled water of Black
IT and Bear rivers and conduct them
or about the 4,800-foot contour
ing the west side of Cache valley for
distance OF twenty to thirty miles,
n possible extension to Malad and
lie creek in Salt Lake valley.
The construction of a canal to divert
ter from Bear river at point in the
lyon through which said river runs
passing from Cache valley into Salt
ke valley and extending in a gen
southerly direction along the base
the Wasatch mountains on or about
4.5u0foot controur to a connection
Salt Lake valley with the similar
mel hereinbefore described as ex-
ding northward from the mouth of
nish Fork canyon.
he construction by either the gov
ment or the water-users OF such
rs on the Ogden. Weber and Provo
RS and on all the smaller local
ans as may be necessary to con-
re and regulate the waters of each
sther with such channels as may be
ded to properly distribute the
he execution of such work as may
needed for conserving and utilizing
waters OF Utah lake. according to
plans already partially developed.
ne utilization OF the embankment
he Lucin cutoff of the Southern
nc railroad as a dam to restrict
area of the Great Salt lake to that
lon lying south Of the cutoff, thus
cling the loss Of water through
oration and insuring the perma-
y or the lake. but on a smaller
,; regulation of the reduced lake
} enected BIZ means of sluice gates
ID in the embankment and through
b any excess Of water may be dis
ged into the abandoned portion OF
lake bed. Whilo included In the
raj plan, 1t Is not expected that
win be made part OF the reclama-