The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1913-12-11
STATE ENGINEER
REPORTS ON DITCH

The following report made by State
Engineer Lewis on the East Side ditch,
taxes up the matter in detail. dealing
with the supply Of water. the area in
the East Fork Irrigation District sub
ieet 10 irrigation and other matters of
interest 70 the users of water in the
district. Ii also bes-s on the relation
Of the Oregon Lumber Co. as user Of
water in the East Fork, who contend
that they have a right TO all the water
in the river not now being used by the
East Side Ditch.
The report follows in full:
This report is made in accordance
with the provisions of Section 6lS2
Lords Oregon Laws which reads in
part as follows:
'For the purpose of ascertaining the
estimated cost or value of any such
work, said board shall cause such sur
veys, examinations and plans to be
made as shall demonstrate the practi
bility of such plan, and furnish the
proper basis for an estimate Of the
cost of carry ing out the same. All
such survey, examinations, maps, plans
/
direction of a competent irrigation en-
gineer to be employed by said board on
such basis of compensation as il may
determine and shall be certified by
such engineer. Said board shall then
submit a copy of the same to the state
engineer. and within ninety days there
after the state engineer shall make
and file a report upon the same with
the said board which report shall con-
tain such matters as in the judgment
of the state engineer may be reason
ably necessary.
In compliance with the terms of the
above section, the East Fork Irriga-
tion District has submitted, for our
consideration, a report on the valua-
tion of the works constructed by the |
East Fork Irrigation Company, which |
the district proposes to take over. The |
district has also submitted a copy of an
option on the plant; letter signed by |
Murray Kay, giving the maximum car
rying capacity of the canal letter
signed by George r. Wilbur, relative
to appropriation of the waters of Hood
River; one blue print map, showing
the boundaries of the irrigation dis
trict: letter from George Wilbur un-
der date of April 3rd; three letters
from Murray Kay under date of April
End, relating to the discharge of the
East Fork of Hood river and duty of
water. This constitutes all the infor-
nation which we have before us upon
which to base this report, as required
according to the provisions of the
Ibove section of Lords Oregon Laws.
This Irrigation District differs in
many respects from the ordinary irri-
,ation district which is organized for
he irrigation of LAND and the construc-
ion of new irrigation works, in that it
roposes to take over works already
INSTRUCTED by the East Fork Irriga- s
ion Company and enlarge aud extend
he same so as to cover additional [
ands. No estimate of the cost of exs {
ending and enlarging the present sys- /
EN-, so as to cover the additional lands, 4
as been furnished, nor does il seem to t
esthe intention of the irrigation dis +
rict to Immediately embark upon this b
but rather to content itself {
'ith the maintenance of the present a
ystem and the delivery of water to il
ands already irrigated, reserving for t
self the right to enlarge and extend a
he ditch cat some future date. b
The East Fork Irrigation District d
mbraces approximately 13, 900 acres of o
and and it is proposed to secure the r
ntire water supply from the East
ork of Hood river; the diversion point
eing located in the NWi of the SW4, v
ownship /, South. Range 10, East w. /
!. We do not feel that it is within
ir province to attempt to pass upon
lie detailed cost Of construction but a
lther to investigate the feasibility of il
lie general plan outlined. to investi- b
ate the water supply and to call at O.
ntion to any matters which it seems D
lould be more carefully considered be- q
re the bonds are issued.o a