The San Francisco call., 1904-07-12
A TYPICAL IRRIGABLE VALLEY.

the current number OF Water and Forest the Off
cal publication issued by the California Water and
Forest Society, there IS article by J. c. Clausen
Of the United States Reclamation Service, that valu
able for the information it contains about section OF
California little known to the majority of citizens and
by OF inerences relating other regions that
naturally spring from the conclusions entertained by the
writer.
The theme of Mr.. Clausen is the latent wealth of
Owens Valley in Inyo County and the beneficial effect
that irrigation will have Owens Valley in about the
latitude OF Fresno 1t has population OF about 5000
With the exception OF per who engaged i'll
mining in the surrounding mountains, the population
supported by agriculture and stock-raisng prac-
ticed in the valley Bishop is the largest town. with
population OF 600.
On the of the valley the White Mountains,
with average elevation OF feet On the
the Sierra Nevadas form barrier feet high The
valley floor is 1000 feet above the level 1t is
miles long and about FIVE miles wide. The Owens River
cuts il almost in halves Owens River into Owens
Lake for which there is visible outlet. The
OF the lake have become by evaporation
solution of alkaline salts The soil of the valley
tirely the result of the decomposition OF the material
from the adjoining mountains the wash from side
being OF granite and from the other side OF limestone
origin The resultant condition ripe for unusual
fertility. Water the great desideratum. The rainfall
very small and therefore irrigation necessity The
climate is temperate and offers impediment to thor
ough development.
Mr. Causen has been studying the region since June
l. 1908. He finds that green fields of alfalfa thrive
where there only sagebrush and prosperous
farms exist where there desert. Water has
accomplished this and the way clear for much greater
improvement be brought about by scientific of
primary investigation has revealed that there
s reservoir site a the lower end of Long Valley, in
the southern part OF Mono County the Owens River
elevation of 1000 feet. The watershed tributary
TO site miles hayi0
elevation OF 1000 feet and nearly all subject
a heavy fall of
study has been made also of the flow OF the Owens
River and its tributaries Permanent gauging stations
have been established Bishop, Rock and Pine creeks
and the Owens River and daily readings taken
all these stations Irrigated land IS being mapped and
the duty Of is being determined
The present irrigation development is complmented
by Mr. Causen but the fact is also pointed by him
that while lands easily accessible by suf-
fering from drought other lands by of waste.
being converted swamps 1t is also estimated that
the efficiency OF the existing canals be increased
fifty per cent by udicious and economical management
Tributary drainage will be investigated this
to ascertain where there minor storages, with
the view of making them feeders to main system
Extensive developments of power made feasible for
pumping by OF the abrupt descent of the waters
on the eastern slope of Serras Natural conditions
favorable for securing irrigation, they many
California valleys Mr.. Clausen says that the United
States Government intends upon the approval of the
proper authorities reclaim the arid lands of the
Owens Valley