The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1908-08-20
SAVE pAYETTE LAKES
Protest Against Destruction
of This Beautiful Resort.


using the great lake for a storag
reservoir.
On Saturday, August Is, an in.
terview was printed in which Mr.
lfedden is quoted as saying. "Wt
made an entire circuit of the lax
investigating carefully every detail
relative to placing a dam at the
mouth of the lake. II STORMS
water for irrigation purposes.
Also. THAT the plan is an idea.
one. By raising the water Of thu
lake 10 feet it will store 1901 COX
acre feet with comparatively nc
damage to property bordering on
the water front" This careful
Investigation consumed five
days, of which two yer con-
sumed in going to and returning
from the lake, leaving at the out,
side three days in which to make
that careful investigation. Az
Payette lake has some 30 miles,
more or less, of shore line. /
seems impossible that the investi
cations should have been very care
fll or very thorough. 1t is easy
III an offhand. fippant maLncr
to assume all knowledge ard Il
dismiss questions of great import
ance by an assertion.
Thus, Mr.. Hedden says that to
raise the general level of the lake
Is feet will result in compare
lively nc damage to property bor-
dering on the water 'front.'.
Will Mr.. Sanders, Mr.. Hedden
or State Engineer Stevenson please
inform the people of the Payette|
valley and land wner with wal
ter front on the lake how far in
land from the present shore linz
the 15 feet in vertical heighth viii
reachl
And how about Sylvan Beach,
how deep will the water be at tina
point with water Is feet vertica
above present shore liner Their
are other beaches and campin
ground about the lake-all to b
ruined by this storage scheme.
By converting this lake into
storage reservoir it means that til
ID feet, or as stated $50, 600 acI
feet, shall be drawn off durin
each irrigating season, whic
would leave a margin of froaM
0 feet to 1000 feet, more or less,
and while Payette lake is IA body
of very pure water, there would be
left on this exposed margin that
which would destroy the lake as
a summer resort.
Payette lakes are the most valua-
BILE asset the state of Idaho pos
sesses in the south half of it. II
a a large body Of pure water, set
is a jewel in a kings crown, sur
rounded with rocks, and wooded
hills. The air is balsamic with
the odor of pine and fir. 1t is a
place fitted by nature where the
weary may rest, where the sick
shalt regain health, where the
pleasure seeker may find recreation
on and about its waters. The
possibilities about this lake cannot
be overdrawn. Dor can the mind
more than dimly outline the flu
ture. The Creator gave this lake
to the people of Idaho as a per
inheritance. and the waters
as a blessing for all time.
And yet with all these elements
Il weather, health, pleasure and
there come some vandals,
who, claiming to represent some
arid land. would wickedly, reck-
lessly and wartonly DESTROY this
God given bounty to suffering hui
nanity. Wsntonlyp Yesl If it is 4,
tight, lust and proper that any sur /,
plus water in the Payette shall be I
Inverted and taken out of the val !
.ey, there are other reservoir sites :
can be utilized, and which
be 80 utilized should there
prove TO be a surplus of water in
he Payette. Is there all engin- !
,er of honorable record who would !
iare say on oath that there is a |
of water in the Payettei I
There are many thousand acres '
hat will in the near future be
,lamoring for water which must =
De supplied either by gravity or by
pumping, and if. the storage
scheme to supply lands elsewhere
5 permitted. would not the Payette t
be the loser! !
What are state officials doing to !
the state and the people i
hereof from this act of destruction? i
Wake up, gentlemen of the state
and board, state engineer and
Governor Gooding. or you may be
allied upon by the next legislature
explain the negligence of your :
stewardship.
ENGINEER. +