Imperial Valley press and the Imperial press., 1906-05-19
10 SAVE FLOOD WATERS
Government About to Issue ENtenSiVe Report Oa Investigation in the
 Valley of Sacramento River

region of expressing interest to the hvdrogra pric branch of the geological survey The series of investigations con ducted bv the California state engineer ing office from 1885 to 1890, while direct ed principally toward study of over flow conditions, afforded valuable in- formation and attracted considerable attention to the great and diversined possibilities of the valley. State Engin- ger William Ham Hall and his assistant c. E. Grunsky, now consulting engineer in the reclamation service, prepared elaborate reports upon the subject oi tbe disposal ofthe flood waters. After the office of state engineer was abolished in 1890 the work languished for a time. Early in 1894 Photographer J. $. Lip pincott of the United States geological survey now supervising engineer of the reclamation service in California, es- tablished the first gauging station on the Sacramento river, at the point where it enters the valley. From that time on the government has been ex- tending it's work to other portions of the valley until today measurements are being made of S5 per cent. of the run off of the mountain drainage basins at points where the streams leave their mountain canyons.
 The formation of the Water and Forestry association in 1900 gave decided impetus and encouragement to the work of the government. Originally planned to develop some large state irrigation scheme for the reclamation of dry lands, the attention of the association was called to the the Sacramento valley by Photographer l.ippincott, as the Ideal place upon which to concentrate thelr efforts. The association contributed to the work and was instrumental Tn having two legislatures pass appropria- tioms, neither of which, however, was available by reason of the vetoes of the governor.
 VALUABLE DATA SECURED
 When the state failed to provide means for continuing the investigation the chamber of commerce of Willows and Woodland came forward and con tributed the money and the work went on continuously. Valuable data regard the Cache and Stoney creeks were secured and published i'll separate re- ports Finally, at the third attempt the state of California passed an approprla- ton for cooperative work with the topographic and Photographic divisions of the geological survey, the bureau or forestry and the bureau of irrigation investigation.
 The general plan as outlined by Hy- drographer Lippincott was to make detailed topographic study of the west ern side of the valley, an investigation of forest conditions with view to utilizing the cut over areas that had re- verted to the state on tax titles, deter imitation by the Photographic branch of the water supply, the survey oi the reservoir sites, and an estimate ot the Irrigation possibilities.
 For three wears these investigations have been carried on without interrup- ton, and an extensive report reviewing all of the work which has been done IS now in course of preparation. In gener- al the work of the government has been planned on broad lines First, the pres ervation of the forests as the great nat ural regulators of the streams and forest reserves covering millions of acres have been created III this basin.
 TO UTILIZE RESERVOIRS
 Second, the utilization of the large number of storage reservoirs that have been found and surveyed for impound- ing the flood water in order to relieve as much as possible the flood conditions in the overflow areas, and also to provide water for late summer irrigation.
 Third, to provide feasible plans to divert the waters of the Sacramento for irrigation purposes when the stream is high, and through the late summer and for months when the river is low to draw the necessary supply from the rt..o.re ,acarvniVs ou th4 tributarV