The San Francisco call., 1905-02-10
WATER ABOUNDS
IN THE VALLEY
Geological Survey Submits
Important Report About
States Greatest Basin
VAST AREA CONCERNED
Hopeful View Entertained
Regarding the Future of
Millions of Rich Acres

S. G. Bennett. engineer of the Unit
ed States Geological Survey. has sub
mitted report to Governor Pardee
regarding the progress of Government
tai photographic investigation In CAL
ifornia. One claim that he makes is
particularly interesting. He reports
that by protecting and extending the
forested areas and building storage
reservoirs the water supply of the
Sacramento River. even in years of
low rainfall, will be greater than is
required for navigation and for the
irrigation of the entire valley. This
statement is enforced by another,
which notes that the great valley Of
California, where lies the greatest of
the States irrigation problems, is
some 400 miles in length and has an
average width of forty miles. The en-
tire basin, including mountains, has
an area of $4,000 square miles The
Sacramento or northern portion of the
great valley is 40 miles in length and
40 miles in width and contains 2,661,-
120 acres.
In another paragraph Bennett re-
ports that the Sacramento Valley pre-
sents the greatest possibilities for ir-
rigatiOn in the entire West In part
the report is as follows:
The greater part of the Sacramento Valley
has been steadily used for crops OF wheat and
barley for the last forty years. These crops
formerly yielded high as sixty bushels to
the acre, but the demands upon the soil
have been great it is gradually losing it's
power to bear abundantly. Worn out lands
bring mortgages and mortgages bring ruin.
This is the short cycle of what happens. In
order to restore their productiveness the farmer
must rest his lands by changing his crops from
year to year, and this only be done by ir-
rigation. 1t is at this point that the reclama-
tion service hopes TO exert economic infiu-
ence by providing an efficient irrigation system
under the provisions of the reclamation act
The Sacramento Valley presents the great
est possibilities for irrigation In the entire
nWest. The valley itself possesses the three
essentials necessary to great agricultural wealth
abundant water. fertile soil and seaport.
complete irrigation system Is needed 10 com
plement these natural advantages. The United
States Geological Survey recognized the impor
tance of this and began the survey of reservoir
sites in 1890 and again in 1900. This work has
continued since as funds have been available.
Bennett reports also that the money
set apart by the State is now used for
the fundamental work of gauging
streams. Seventy-two gauging sta
tions are now maintained and many of
these are situated on sites of proposed
reservoirs. If the wisdom of stream
gauging should be questioned it will
be sufficient answer to point to trri-
cation reservoirs in California, where
much of the area that ought to have
been covered with water has been
covered with dust for a number of
years. The great purposes of the for
estry policy are to conserve the water
supply, to prevent floods and to admin
lister the forested area so that it may
furnish a continuous supply of lum-
ber and fuel
Bennett says of another phase of
the general question:
Another phase of the water problem in the
Sacramento Valley is that of power for cleo
trio plants There twelve power plants for
long distance electric transmission in the basin.
The De Saba is the latest plant to be COM
pleted and Is capable of transmitting by cleo
tricity for commercial purposes to a distance
of 220 miles. Hydro electric power is destined
to play an important part in the development
that all OF the water rights should not be given
away. but that some should be reserved for
the people.
The latest body of engineers to go into the
drainage and reclamation problem Of the Sac
ramento Valley was the Commission OF En-
gineers to the Commissioner of Public Works
of California, appointed last year. This body
has just issued its report, parts Of which are
vice herewith transmitted This report out
lines the work that has thus far been done
sowaru Ine i1lprovelnen. ne 80, ., se eh Eli e tS
Department the Commissioner of Public
Works, United States Engineers Corps Debris
Commission and Commission Of Engineers.
This latest commission shows that any
scheme for carrying away the flood waters OF
the Sacramento River must make provision
for the discharge of 250, 600 second feet below
the outlet of the Cache Creek slough They
recommend a system of levees and extensive
cut offs ami other improvements in the river
from Colusa down 1t is evident that the best
interests of the State will be conserved IL some
of this water is stored in reservoirs for irrl-
CATION purposes instead of allowing 1t all to
flow on to the ocean.
Three sites for reservoirs were surveyed and
reported upon by the irrigation survey In 1889
and 1890 These were at summit Valley. on
the Yuba River. and at kirkwoods in Alpine
County and at Twin Lakes. also In Alpine
County. Numerous reservoir surveys have been
made by the photographic branch in the sac
being maintained for the accumulation or ac-
curate 1ata An estimated annual water sup
ply of 1.541 ,020 acre-feet can be stored In ana
delivered from Guenoc Clear Lake. Indian
Valley Briscoe East Park, Mill Site. Big VAL
ley and Iron Canyon reservoirs at a total cost
for installation of s., 121, or at the rate OF
So 6S per acre foot for construction Of works.
III these reservoirs were built under the recla-
nation act and paid for in ten equal payments
the cost would be S0.363 per acre-foot per an
mum and the reservoirs would then become the
property of the irrigators
Accompanying the report of Mr..
Bennett is another by w. B. Clapp,
photographer of the United States
Geological Survey. Clapp reports that
particular attention has been paid to
the measurement of streams entering
the Sacramento Valley, as an aid to
the reclaiming of the overfiowed lands
along the Sacramento River and also
for the construction of future irriga-
ton work necessary for tie highest
DEVELOPMENT of this valley. The work
has also been widely distributed
throughout the State at such places as
seemed most necessary and urgent
MORE FINDS NEEDED FOR