The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1915-09-18

NaUa constitute huSC uhoCA
reservoirs in which are hidden large
potential supplies of irrigation wa
ter is stated in a preliminary report
by o. Z. Meinzer of the United States
geological survey on Big Smoky Val
ley-a typical desert valley of the
Great Basin. 1u15
The demand for farm homes is so
great, the report states, that strenu-
Gus efforts will be made to utilize by
irrigation every existing water sup
ply. and the news of a single flowing
we'll or the skillful advertisements of
a promoter may at any time start a
stream of home seekers, ignorant of
the actual conditions and Difficult
ties, into almost any of the desert
valleys of the west. 1t is very de-
sirable that the possibilities OF these
valleys should be thoroughly inves-
tigated before they are invaded by
home seekers, for the ordinary set
tier is helpless when he c~onfronts
the unfamiliar and inherently diff
cult problems of irrigation with
ground water.
AS the ground water is hidden be-
meath the surface there is necessari-
ly much uncertainty as to it's occur
renee, and therefore corresponding
caution should be observed in regard
to ground water projects. Much
can be determined as to the ground
waters of desert valleys, however,
even where no wells have been sunk,
provided the proper observations are
made and the proper criteria ap-
piled. 1t is generally possible to as
certain definitely where the ground
water is near the surface, to outline
the shallow-water areas, and to
make an intelligent forecast of the
depth to water in other parts of the
valley. If sufficient observations are
made it is also generally possible to
form a rough estimate of the quanti-
ty of water that is annually avail
able and to predict to some extent
the capacity of wells, the quality of
the water and the cost of it's re-
covery. To begin to develop the
ground water supply of a valley
without first investigating the ground
would be to start to build a railroad
without first having the route sur-
veyed, and the financial results are
likely to be no less disastrous.
Even where a satisfactory supply
of ground water is assured irriga-
ton may be impracticable because
of the high cost of recovering the
water or the ~unfavorable climatic,
soil or market conditions. The
problem of cost must be attacked
from two principal directions: C)
Means must be devised for recover
ing the water at the least possible
expense, and GU crops must be
found, methods of irrigation and cul-
tivation devised, and markets de-
veloped which will result in the larg-
est returns from each unit of water
used. In many cases different crops
and different methods of irrigation
and cultivation will be required with
ground water than with surface wa
ter supplies and for this reason the
ground water Investigations of the
geological survey should be supple
mented by correlative agricultural
Investigations by the experiment sta
ton.
Conditions in Big Smoky Valley
The maps accompanying the re.
port show that Big Smoky Valley.
which IS cit,otn6 II, tho south GOV
trail part of the state, contains two
areas of 10000 and 100, 600 acres,
respectively, in which the water ia
BILE is within ten feet of the surface
and in which water from the under
ground reservoir is discharged into
the atmosphere by evaporation from
soil and plants. 1t is estimated that
in the larger of these areas the dis
charge of ground water averages be-
tween $4,000 and 100, 900 acre-feet
a year. The maps also show that the
valley contains about 10000 acres
in which the depth to the water table
is between 10 and so feet. Within
the shallow water areas the soil is
generally alkaline, but it is estimat-
ed that there are about 65, 900 acres
of good soil in which the depth to
water is less than SO feet.
Pronounced differences were dis
covered in the water bearing ca
pacities, levels, artesian prospects,
quality of water and feasibility of
irrigation in different parts of he
valley all of which are briefly de-
scribed in the preliminary report.
There is also a discussion of the
methods of drilling best adapted to
the various conditions.
The conclusions as tO irrigation
with ground water are in part as
follows:
Several ems of thousands of acre
feet of ground water is probably an
nually available for irrigation in Big
o.. NH T. -@~