The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-03-29
NORTHWEST WATER RESOURCES.
Comprehensive Study By The Unitetd
State Geological Survey.

The geological survey has recently is
sued valuable publication concerning
the surface water resources of the north
western portion OF the United States,
tie greater part OF which is occupied by
the basin of Columbia river This river
has a drainage area of 259,0O0 square
miles. Its source is in British Column
hia river. This river has drainage
40 of 25g,0O0 square miles. Its source
is in British Columbia and its basin oc-
eupies enormous areas in that province
and in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Wash
ington, Oregon, and Nevada. The region
is one of great interest and value. Few
river basins IN the country are so di-
verse. 1t contains some of the high
est peaks in America and some OF the
most fertile valleys in the world Some
idea of the resources of the basin may
be had from the statement that the
navigable waters of the Columbia and
its tributaries aggregate length of
2.l36 miles Within the area dra ned
are the largest forests in the world.
The climate exhibits all the variations
from the rigor of the northern latitude
to the mildness of western Oregon and
ranges from the extremely arid region,
where irrigation is essential, through the
semi-arid country, where dry farming
and irrigation are practiced side by side,
to the humid country, which, strictly
speaking, is arid during the summer.
The values of the irrigated agricultural
land range from about $50 an acre for
the poorest to So 900 an acre for the in
tensively cultivated orchards. Within
the Columbia river drainage basin are
at least one-t third of the available wa
ter powers in the United States, but
development of this resources has
carcely begun.
The study OF the water resources of
this great region as carried on by the
United States geological survey becomes
therefore matter Of Importance and
interest. Water supply paper 212, Of
the survey, which has Just been issued,
a large amount of useful data
resulting from the investigations of the
streams of this area, including the rec
ords of flow Of the numerous large
as well as the main rivers.
Among these tributaries are Clark Fork,
which occupies large areas in Idaho. Mon
I0ua ana DIlllsn AotluHuldF anu SHAKE
river. which has its origin in the Vel
lewstone park region of Wyoming. tray-
erses the southern portion of Idaho and
on its way drains large areas in Ne
vada. For a part Of its course tb
Snake forms the boundary betwe
Idaho and Oregon. and il trayerscs long
distances in the state Of Oregon Jefure
it finally Joins the parent stre1m. In
addition to stream-tow data concern
ing the Columbia. the report contains in
formation concerning the water re
sources Of the coastal sire. ms. such as
tn, Rogue. Umpqun. and ,iletg. Skagit /
anG Cascade. which dra into Puget /
sound. The strcam-floy observations /
in this report consist Of rec l
Dd. obtained NJ ~ stations Ahout /
1ne-half of the expense Of the work is /
borne bv the states oi Oregon. Wash /
ugton. Idaho. and No tana. which. un- 4
Ter the authority 81 "a - enacted by the
several Legislatures. CO operate with the
United states grOlogic q survey In carry
ng on the work.
A COPY of water supply paper 272
nav be- had FREE oI application to the
lircctor II the United States geological
urvey, Washington. d. &.