The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1907-02-13
YAKIMA PROJECT
MOST IMPORTANT
Annual Report Of F. H. Newell Chief Of Reclamation
Service, Contains Full Information About
Work in Washington


The annual report of F. H. Newell
chief of the reclamation service, for
the fiscal year ending June 80, last
will be sent to congress within few
days. 1t contains full information
about the work of irrigation in Wash
ington state, taking up each project
in detail.
The government proposes to irri-
gate 10000 acres of land under the
Okanogan project, in Okanogan coun-
ty. The irrigable lands have an ele-
walton between $50 and 1850 feet
above sea level and lie in a series of
benches sloping toward Okanogan
river. The soil is mainly sand, light
loan and volcanic ash. Irrigated
lands in this vicinity, when planted
to alfalfa, yield profit on a valua-
ton of 500 per acre, and lands in
fruit or nuts. for which the soil is
especially adapted, often yield pro-
fits on a much higher valuation.
Without irrigation the lands are prac-
tically worthless.
About 1925 acres are at present
under private irrigation from Sal
mon river; the completion of the gov
eminent project will bring $500
acres additional under irrigation,
most of which is now in private own
ership.
The government proposes to con.
vert Salmon Lake into a storage res.
ervoir, and build a second reservoir
Immediately south of the town of
Conconnully, the two combined cap.
able of storing ample water to irri-
gate all the lands embraced in the
project. About twenty miles of main
canal, and forty miles of smaller can
ais will be required to distribute the
water from these reservoirs.
The Okanogan Water Users asso-
citation was organized in October
1905, and through this organization
all required private lands have been
committed to the project. The gov
eminent will expend about $4,000
in acquiring title to land that WIFI
be embraced in the Conconnu1,y res
ervoir.
The Yakima project is far and
away the most important, as we'll as
the most extensive, project yet un-
dertaken in Washington. 1t in
wolves FIVE sub-projects, the Tieton.
Sunnyside, Kittitas, Wapato and
Benton, the first two now in course
of construction, the Wapato still un-
der investigation, and the Kittitas
and Benton temporarily set aside be-
cause of the high cost of construc.
ton.
Before the government would con-
sent to take up the Yakima project
it insisted upon an adjustment of all
conflicting water rights in the Yaki-
ma valley, task of no small proper
tions, but one that was ultimately
accomplished when it became appar-
ent that no work would be begun un-
Ill these problems were solved. The
adjustment brought about by the
water users, has now defined 95 per
cent Of all claims to water for irri-
cation, and the remaining 5 per cent
are not Of sufficient importance to
stand in the way Of government
work.
An essential feature of the Yakima
project is the conversion OF Lake
Kaches into storage reservoir. Two
years ago the Cascade Canal COM
pany constructed an irrigation sys'
tenn to serve lands in the vicinity of
Ellensburg, and built small crib
dam at the mouth of the lake. This
company has now under irrigation
about 5000 acres Of land. The gov
eminent proposed to tear out the
crib dam and put in "a substantial
structure, but the Cascade company
would not make terms, notwithstand.
ing the fact that it had no title to
the land on which its dam is located
and the government has been forced
to go into the courts in order tc
get full control of Lake Kaches an
its outlet. The fact that the Cas-
cade company is a trespasser on the
public domain insures the ultimate
control of this lake by the reclama-
ton service.
Lake Gle Elum is intended to BIZ
another storage reservoir of the Yak
lima project The waters Of this lax,
were filed on by the Union Gap Irri
cation company. This company of
fered to relinquish its rights to thu
government on condition that tn