The Teton peak., 1904-04-28
SNAKE RIVER DRAINAGE
BASIN.

Hydrographically, the arid por-
tlon of Idaho belongs mainly to the
drainage basin of the Snake river.
one of the most important streams
OF the West, both for its water
supply and for the irrigable land
adjacent to it. The Snake has its
source i'll s'hoshone Lake in Yellow
stone National Park. 1t flows
southwark through Jackson Lake,
receiving from each side many i'm
portant tributaries, which drain
almost inaccessible mountain
ranges i'll western Wyoming. After
traversing Jackson Hole, broad
mountain valley $500 feet high, it
passes into Idaho through a canon
and flows in general soutiwesterly
and westerly direction entirely
across the southern portion of the
state. For long distances the river
has cut deep into the lava, and here
It's waters are not available for irrl-
cation, except III few small
valleys iii the curves and bends of
the stream. Favorable places for
diversion occur at many points on
the stream, principally i'll the
vicinity Of the numerous rapids,
waterfalls and precipices for which
the stream is famous. In the central
prat OF southern Idaho the Snake
receives no surface drainage from
the north, but its flow is con-
siderably augmented along this
portion of its course by many large
springs, some of which are the most
remarkable in the country. The
principal tributaries of Snake river
in Idaho are Boise, Payette, North
or Henry's Fork, South Fork,
Weiser and Salmon rivers.
In 1902 Snake river and tribu-
taries and springs and wells within
the drainage basin furnished water
to 500, 2S6 acres belonging to 7,772
farms. The 1 1888 systems cost $5,
529, ,O05 all average of 1871 pei
irrigated acre. The aggregate
length OF main canals and bitches
was 4,50S miles Thirty-foul
systems, costing 1858, 796, headed
directly i'll the main stream. There
were GA, S32 acres, belonging t
972 farms, irrigated therefrom a
an average first cost of $S, "a pei
acre. The total length of mali
canals and bitches was 226 miles
OF the several continents, Bois'
river and its tributaries Furnished
! water through 81 systems to AT
farms. and "a, ,43S acres were irri
gated. The total construction out
+, lay for the 554 miles of main canal
and bitches and other irrigatlo
works was 81 ,674, 5S3, an averag
;, of $19.S3 per irrigated acre
:, Pavette river and its tributarie
furnished water to l41 systems
!, and so, 1913 acres, belonging to 96
;, farms, were irrigated. The system
cost, initially, $6S5, 232, all averag
Of $13. 46 per irrigated acre. III
total length of main canals an
= bitches was 3S9 miles
Water from North or Henry
Fork Of Snake river and its tribl
taries was utilized through L
systems, costing $42S, 430. The,
&C were S5, 1913 acres, representing 8
Il farms, irrigated at an average tir
80 cost of S4. 80. The main canals AT
bitches had a total length OF A.
miles.
a In the vicinity of St. Anthon,
Fremont county, on North
&c Henry's Fork of Snake river, Is OF
-, of the largest areas OF subirrigati(
:, land in the United States. Th
=, section is underlaid at a deph
from 20 to 90 feet with all impl
90 vious stratum which holds t
as water as in bowl. The irrigati
of is not performed by spreading t
-. water over the surface, as elsewhel
The water is diverted across t
- fields in bitches and sinks benea
10 the soil. When the water pla
,,a rises to the roots of the plants, t
II