The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1907-02-13


This land is now under the canal of
the Union Gap Irrigation company.
Surveys made by the reclamation
service show that practically 100000
acre-feet of water can be economi.
cally stored on the headwaters Of the
Yakima river, and If necessary an
additional 100000 acre-feet can be
obtained by utilizing the smaller
lakes. Five big reservoirs are con-
emplated-Lake Gle Elum, Lake
Kaches, Lake Keechelus. Dumping
Lake and McAllister Meadows. Sat-
isfactory foundation has been found
for dams at the outlet of all these
reservoirs except McAllister Mead.
ows, but even this site will ultimately
be utilized in connection with the
Teton sub-project.
| The Yakima project as a whole
will add 100000 acres to the irri-
gated area of the Yakima valley, and
with improved economy in the use Of
water, and with the possibility of
some additional storage in the Gle
Elum basin, it is believed that AGO.
900 will ultimately be brought un-
der irrigation. 1t will not be neces-
sery in the immediate future to con-
| struct the larger storage reservoirs,
though temporary dams will be built
at the outlet of Lakes Keechelus and
Gle Elum in order to guard against
| any shortage of water during the
late summer months.
In time, when the government I'M
dertakes the construction of the
Dumping Lake dam, it will be neces-
sary to repair the wagon road ex-
tending up the Matches river about
forty miles, and to extend 1t about
twenty miles up to Dumping Lake
Most of this expense will be borne
by the state and county, the govern
ment contributing $4,000 towards the
work. In like manner it will be
necessary to improve the road in
Tieton canyon and to extend it nine
miles up stream to facilitate the con-
struction of the canyon division Of
the Tieton canal.
The secretary of the interior al
lotted $1,250,000 for the construc.
ton Of the Tieton sub-project. In
March, 1906, the Tieton Water Us.
ers' association was formed and four
months later $4,000 acres had been
subscribed. Much Of the land, how.
ever, is non-irrigable, and only "a.
600 acres can be brought under
water
The soil on the Teton project is
in great part sandy loan of basaltic
origin and ranges in depth from a
few inches to many feet. The climate
is particularly adapted to fruit grow
ing. The lands are generally rolling
and especially qualified for orchards
and for growing hops, vines, grain,
alfalfa, timothy, root and tuber
crops. Even though the district be
adapted to fruit growing, there will
always be diversity of crops. The
peculiar climate and soil conditions
make the raising of potatoes for the
manufacture of alcohol an industry
that would far eclipse the growing OF
fruit.
The Sunnyside project contem-
plates the irrigation of about 10000
acres of land included in the old pro-
ject, which the government has pur.
chased, and an additional $4,000
acres through its extension. The
total allotment for the project is ST..
100000. The Sunnysiie Water Us
ers' association, which was formed II
March, worked steadily to bring II
! sufficient acreage to warrant pro
! ceeding with the work, but up to tn.
close of the fiscal year, July /, only
, about IS per cent of the lands thai
would come under the first develop
: ment had been subscribed. The re
port says that the conditions at Sun
, nyside are unusual. in that a consid
cradle acreage in small individual
holdings is owned by nonresident
} outside of the state, but unquestion
ably these lands will eventually b,
: subscribed. Another unusual condi
, ton is that with complete develop
: ment about one-half the lands will
own water rights obtained from tn,
Washington Irrigation company
E which by the terms of their contrac
: would need be operated In a name
e somewhat different from the ney
: lands. Effort has been made to In
: duce the old water right lands t
e join the water users association 8
3 as to effect uniform and harmonl
r GUS control of the entire property