The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1908-07-11
Big IRRIGATION PROJECT
w. Ross Outlines the Status Of the Payette=
Boise Project in an able Letter
to ]. Il. Lowell.

Succor creek, a portion OF which could |
be irrigated by pumping from Snake
river, the power to be furnished at
the dam to be constructed at the head
Of the canal ON the Payette river and
a portion to receive water from Sue
cor creek, which stream will be regu-
lated by storage reservoirs.
Payette Division.
Land COyered-The Payette divis-
ion embraces the following tracts of
land: Land on the Payette slope un-
der the proposed south side Payette
canal, $4,000 acres, all of which is
desert; lana on the Boise slope below
the Boise extension OF the Payette
canal and above the present Sebree
canal, $4,000 acres, which is also des-
ert; land under the Sebree canal and
it's extension, 10000 acres, 1900 of
which was desert and 5000 under Gull
tivation; land under the Riverside
canal on the south side of the Boise
river and its extension, $4,000 acres,
5000 of which was desert and 1900
under cultivation, total of $4,000
acres, $4,000 Of which was desert and
10000 under cultivation in the year
1904.
1t would also be feasible to attach
the areas below the Sebree and River
side canals to the south side Boise di-
vision, furnishing supply Of late
water from the Deer Flat reservoir,
the early supply to be furnished by
Boise river through the existing ca
nails as is done at present. 1t may
be advisable to adopt this plan tempo
rarily at least, or until the Payette
division of the project is completed.
Should this be done there would then
be only 41,000 acres of land, depend
ing solely upon the Payette division of
the project for reclamation.
Proposed WOrks-It is proposed to
construct diverting dam on the Pay
cite river at a point known as Black
Rock canyon about six miles above
the town of Emmett. This dam would
be designed to raise the water surface
70 feet above present low water. 1t
is proposed to construct canal di-
verting above this dam on the south
side of the Payette river to follow the
foot hills a distance of rs miles to q
point on the divide between the Boise
and Payette valleys. The canal would
be divided at this point, one branch
being carried into the Boise valley
and the other continued along the
south edge of the Payette valley, irri'
eating about $4,000 acres Of land sit
uated above the existing system o
canals in that valley. The branch
canal which would be carried into thu
Boise valley would have capacity TO
the irrigation of $4,000 acres of tn
land just described.
North Side Boise Division.
Irrigable Landslide lands to b
irrigated by this canal are situated o.
the north side of the Boise valley,
portion of the area being under tn
Farmers Union canal and the re
mainder under line which would b
an extension of that canal, the pla
being to enlarge and extend 1t for tn
reclamation of these lands. This d
vision of the project would contain
total area of $4,000 acres. $4,000
which are desert, the remaining 500
being irrigated by the Farmers VI
ion canal. II the Payette divisio
should not be constructed this can
: could be extended farther to irriga
the $4,000 acres covered by the Pa
cite canal, making total OF $50
/ acres which could be irrigated by tn
{ means. No engineering difficulti
: would be encountered in the constru
ton of this canal. The regulatil
J, Works ON the river would be very sill
1 pie and inexpensive. consisting OF
= dam TO raise the water about four fe
: II is not likely that any rock would
: encountered In the excavation OF t
: canal.
South Side Boise Division.
Irrigable Landslide lands Q
Q braced in the south side Boise div
: lon are all bench lands and contain
J, total area OF 272.000 acres, 100000
: which are irrigated or provided W
}. canals of sufficient capacity for tn
: irrigation. In this estimated area ,
: included the areas under the Sebl
It and Riverside canals. Part of
;. lands In this division are tributary
} the following canals: New York,
a, denbaugh, Settlers, Pioneer, Riv
10 side and Sebree. The land actua
l. under cultivation in this division d
rs ing 1904 was only $4,000 acres. but
h provision had already been made
le the construction of some of tn
le works for the diversion of more wa
~ than could at present be supplied a
at as these works will be available
L. use as a part Of the system propof
ne II has been necessary to classify SC
re of the areas as irrigated in adjust