The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1915-07-01
TWO-ACRE FEET IN STORAGE
On JUNE THE SIXTEENTH
(By G. j. LISLE.)

the white mans history of southerl
Idaho the Idaho Irrigation compan,
had in storage ON June 10th approxi-
mateiy two acre feet for every acre OF
alfalfa now in cultivation on its pro-
iects and one acre foot for all small
grain; besides sufficient for the new
lands being developed. and for the pas
lures and other occasional crops
average of one and one-baif acre feet
for all the lands in cultivation This
will insure ample water for a full de-
velopment of all these crops to their
utmost yield
Neither the custom of allowing un-
limited water to all applicants GUS
tom that has worked harm to many
crops through careIessness or over
irrigatoin-nor the law that DEGREES
the use of stated quantities of irri-
cation water nor the contract under
which water is sold for the lands, can
make water in the hills where there
isn't any. With the snowfall only
inches where it should have been feet
in the mountains. the water supply this
year can be considered immune from
projects that can mature crops this
year can be considered immune from
weather attacks for all the future
Pursuing it's policy of helping its
patrons to get the most possible from
their work. the Idaho Irrigation com
pany has investigated the duty of wa
ter so as to make its water supply
do the utmost possible good. An or
der was issued a short time ago, an
nouncing rotation system for the
more economical use of water. This
order had the approval of the state
engineer; and, in theory. it means only
to require that all water be used to
its best advantage, so that none is
wasted by running away without do
ing its full work of irrigation That.
indeed, is the theory of the law grant
ing the use of water-not even de-
cree of the courts will give a man
the right to destroy or take from
stream, water that he cannot use; a !
decree or contract is not an unquali- |
fled deed for so much water but mere |
ly permit for the use so long as it'll
can be used beneficially. Few men. |
save those working big farms, can ir-
rigate proitably all the time, through |
the whole season; the law aims to re-
quire the user to determine, and prove
just what is profitable, and to not
waste the water when he isn't using
it No man can legally control water
he cannot use, any more than he can
control more air than he
can breathe-the law intervenes to
prevent his poisoning or rendering un-
fit for the use of others, the air he
cannot use for himself. In its appor-
-ionment of these natural necessities
he law moves along parallel lines-and
ioes not give deed to one man for
.hese necessities that he could only
poison or waste. This point is worth
loting in all irrigation laws and con-
racts.
However under a later revised agree ;
nent with the state engineer, the me-
hanical administration of the rota-
ion system is to be varied enough so
very man can have water according
o his crop or personal needs. Sub
ect to the apportionment of water
4 storage in the Magic reservoir,
very farmer can have his water
as he wants it for his crop
eeds. If he has a crop that needs
luch water now, and none later on,
e can have it so. If he wants little .
ght along. say for irrigating garden
r some crop that needs some constant
ally attention, he can have it that
ay. If he has good bitches that will =
lrry full head of water, and pre- =
RS to have twice or several times y
ld then shut off altogether, he can h
I'VE it that way-subject only to the r,
,ndition that he is entitled to one and h,
le-half acre feet of storage water c,
wv held for the rest of the season. in
Through the approval of the state ol
gineer, who has gone over this mo- fc
fed regulation as later drawn up e,
the company, this desirable condi- W
IN of water distribution has been n,
ade possible. Essentially, it is pre- hi
sely the same as the first rotation W
stem, in that it requires an econo- he
ical use of the water, and it's shut al
1g off when it is not beneficalIy ey
nployed But instead of prescrib- til
g an arbitrary time period for ro- sc
tion-like four days On and four ii,