The Washington times., 1915-05-28
NORTHWEST WATER
RESOURCES SHOWN
Geological Survey Issues PubIi-
cation Showing Extent of
Rivers Drainage.

The United States Geological Survey
has issued a valuable publication con-
cerning the surface water resources Of
the northwestern portion of the United
States. the greater part of which is
occupied by the basin of Columbia river.
This river has a drainage area of 259 ,0G0
square miles. Its source is in British
Columbia, and its basin occupies enor-
nous areas in that Province and in
Montana, Wyoming Idaho. Washington,
Oregon. and Nevada. The region is
one of great interest and value. Few
river basins in the country are so di-
verse. It contains some of the highest
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 Column
ba and its tributaries aggregate a
length of 2,l36 miles. The climate en-
hib.ts all the variations from the rlgOr
of the northern latitude to the mildneSs
of western Oregon and Washinctor.
Agriculturally. the area ranges from
the extremely arid region. where irrlga-
tionu 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.
In Columbia Basin.
The values of the irrigated agricul-
tural land range from about $50 an acre
for the poorest to 5000 an acre for the
intensively cultivated orchards. Within
the Columbia river drainage basin are
at least one-third of the available water
powers in the United States. but devel-
opment of this resource has scarcely
BEGIN agS1 .,ra,, =. .,o o... ...-.,.
OF great region as carried on by the
United States Geological Survey be-
comes therefore matter of import
anGe a and a,1 interest. Water-Supp!y
PalSr 3l2, OF the survey. which has
recently heen issued. contains a large
amount of useful data resulting from
the inVesugations of the streams of
this area, including the records OF flow
OF the numerous large tributaries as
we'll as the main rivers. Among these
tributaries are Clark Fork, which oC-
cupies large areas in Idaho. Montana,
and British Columbia, and Snake river.
which has its origin in the Yellow
stone Park region of Wyoming. ira
verses the southern portion of Idaho,
and on its way drains large areas in
Nevada. For a part of its course the
Snake forms the boundary between
Idaho and Oregon. and 1t traverses
long distances in the State of Oregon
before 1t finally joins the parent
stream. In addition to stream-fow
uata concerning the Columbia. the re-
port contains information concerning
the water resources of the coastal
streams, such as the Rogue, Umpqua.
ana Siletz, located In Oregon. and Ce
oar Skaglt, and Cascade. which drain
into Puget sound.
Has Many Stations.
The observations of stream flow pre-
sented in this report consist OF rec
ords obtained at 2O7 stations. About
one-half of the expense Of the work
Is borne by the States of Oregon
| Washington, Idaho. and Montana
Whlcn, under the authority of laws enc
| acted by the several legislatures. Coz
operate with the United States Geolog-
zeal Survey in carrying on the work
copy of Water-Supply Paper 3l3
may be had free on application to the
director Of the Geological Survey.