Los Angeles herald., 1905-09-21
ADVISES STORING
SURPLUS WATERS
URGES THAT RESERVOIRS BE
PROTECTED
WOULD SAVE 100000 ACRES
Colorado River and Tributaries Fur
nlsh Sufficient Water to Reclaim
Large Area of Arid Lands,
Says Expert

Governor Pardee has recently had an
investigation made by the government
supervising engineer as to the advisa-
bility of storing water from the Colo
rado river and it's tributaries for dry
seasons and the necessity of greater
protection for reservoirs of this stream
for the benefit of arid lands depend
ing upon it for water supply.
The report made by the supervising
engineer favors immediate and effec-
tive action regarding the protection of
irrigable lands by storing water from
wet to dry seasons and estimates the
possible benefits at many millions of
dollars.
California and Arizona are more
vitality interested in the project than
other states because these two states
are the lowest divertors in the south
100000 acres of irrigated arid lands to
the present area.
The report in full is as follows:
Relating to the necessity of water
storage on the Colorado river and its
tributaries, I submit herewith certain
facts and figures which will claim your
interest and show to you the necessity
Of protecting the reservoirs of this
great stream for the benefit of the arid
lands dependent upon it for their water
supply.
"There are irrigable lands above the
Grand canyon not now irrigated in the
various states as follows: Colorado,
200, 900 acres; New Mexico, $4,000 acres;
Utah, 100000 acres; Wyoming, 10000
acres Arizona, $4,000 acres. Total, 47O,-
900 acres.
Below the Grand canyon there are
in Arizona $4,000 acres; California,
Blythe estate and Palo Verde valley,
1O2, 900 acres; Needles valley, 1900
acres; Yuma Indian reservation, $4,000
acres Imperial valley, 275,OO0 acres;
total, 1000 acres. In Mexico and ter
ritory outside United States, 6SS,OOO
acres; Grand total, land irrigable but
Dry and Wet Year Storage
"On an ordinary dry year the Colo
RADIO river will serve without any reg
ulation 400, 900 acres Of land. On an Or
binary dry year with complete regula-
ton Q,5OO,0OO acre-feet storage) this
river will serve 100000 acres.
"Any reserve water supply held over
in the reservoirs from wet years to dry
years will be gain.
"Below the Grand canyon Of the
Colorado there are no reservoir sites
that can be used, on account of the
absence of bedrock in the stream.
"Above the Grand canyon there is
the Kremling site on the Grand river,
where a 1S5-foot dam will store 100000
acre feet the Browns park site on the
Green river, where a 200-foot dam will
store 100000 acre feet. or total stor-
age of 100000 acre feet.
Bedrock conditions are not yet
known at either site.
"This storage means that we will add
al least 100000 acres to the irrigated
area of our arid lands. California and
Arizona being the lowest divertors are
the ones most vitality interested.
"a railroad is now asking for rights
of way through both these reservoir
sites. Were this request granted the
loss to California and Arizona would
probably be 100000 acres of irrigated
land worth $100 per acre, or $50000,000
in all, without compensating gain to the
country at large.
"Of the irrigable areas above the
Grand canyon the various projects now
contemplated by the reclamation SER
vice will take care of the following
areas: In Colorado-Gunnison or I'm
compahgre project, 100000 acres; Grand
valley project, 10000 acres; White and
Yampa rivers project, 10000 acres.
Total 100000 acres. In New Mexico.
La Plata project, $4,000 acres; in Utah,
IJinta project, 100000 acres; in Wyom-
ing. New Fork and Green river, 10000
acres; in Arizona, Little Colorado vol
lev. $4,000 acres. Total, 100000 acres.
Besides the ultimate gain in irri-
gated lands to the United States, the
preservation of these reservoir sites
will assist in an adjustment of our
international questions concerning the
division of water with Mexico"
A%A
SUPERINTENDENT TROTTER