The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-09-12
THE STORING OF WATER.

The account in The Tribune ycster-
day morning of plans to make storage
reservoirs Oh the headwatcrs Of the
Provo and of the Weber rivers proves
anew the vitality of the movement
to conserve water for the time of need.
There is, as we have pointed out,
enough water going TO waste in the
reinforce the water supply later in the
season when it is needed, This not
only as applied generally throughout
the State, but as applied specifically
TO Salt Lake City.
The proposed impouuding OF water as
described related especially TO storage
in the upper canyons of the Provo and
the Weber, The special object of this
storage is, as was explained some time
back, the irrigation of lands TO be re.
claimed in Cedar Valley. Utah County.
No finer lands are found anywhere
than those in Cedar Valley All that
they need is the touch of water TO cause
them TO yield abundantly in grain. veg
etables, and fruits; and in the lower
part of the valley there is excellent
land for dry farming; this, however,
mostly now occupied The project is
one that is well worthy of support by
every one who wishes to see the State
advance. There is Il good deal of sur
plus water vet left in Weber river, and
the proposition, so far as that stream
is concerned, will infringe on nobody's
rights, The same we understand to be
true as regards Provo river.
With respect TO our own immediate
locality as we have pointed out here
tofore, the opportunity is open for stor-
ing water in any or all of the three
main canyons from which the city now
derives water supplies. There could
easily be n succession Of reservoirs in
Il big reservoir in the depression Just
beyond the ridges that come so close
together about two miles up the canyon
The grading down of some Of the
benches there, the earth so taken up
TO be used TO fortify the dam, would
allow of the storage of immense guam
titles of water. BY reason of the loose.
ness of the soil and gravel, however,
the bed Of the reservoir should be made
Of concrete so as TO prevent leaking,
or perhaps clay pudding would answer.
Up Farley S Canyon. as was demon
strated through the efforts of Col.
Holmes 5 great committee of fifty, COM
posed of members of the Commercial
Club, some twelve years ago, first
class reservoir site was selected, and
the bed rock base for the dam thorough.
" established a reservoir at that
point would allow of the whole Hard
ing flat being made reservoir of
great capacity Full estimates were
made as to the building of this dam.
the size and cost. and the project was
found TO he entirely feasible and rca-
sonable of attainment,
Up Big Cottonwood, opportunities for
apple reservoirs and for tapping the
natural reservoirs that are now lakes
paci,y is also great The city has oh.
tanned the water rights on a number
of the lakes ny this canyon. and it
only needs that IT develop the storage
capacity of those lakes 10 obtain n re.
serve supply for the dry season that
would be ample for all purposes.
There IS no question of the fact but
that the great need Of all this region
in the late portion of dry summer
is more water. There is no question
further. of the fact that ample flood
water runs to waste in the melting sea-
son in the spring to supply the def.
cheney referred 10. and indeed far
more than any dry season would be !
likely TO call for; all the reservoirs
could be easily filled
BY reason Of the Holmes inycstiga-
tion referred to, The immediate reiu
forcemcnt for the water supply was ap.
piled to Big Cottonwood. and benefi |
ciaIly so applied. The water resources
OF the city were so augmented by that |
reinforcement as 10 allay any apDrc. |
hension for the time. But now the |
great growth of the city. Joined TO the |
dryness OF the season. the mos, of |
which we have lust passed through. re- |
inforces the proposition that we must |
have more water in case of emergency. |
ms emergency was not so distressing /
this year AS IL is liable TO become AT
any time III the future; and il indeed,
as some say. we have entered upon a |
dry cycle. no time should be lost in |
prouaing rcservOrs that Will meet all |
demaGJ