The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-04-27
The Great Sac.
TenentO Valley
Underground Water Resources In
vestiea.ed by the United States
Geological Survey In Cooperation
With California

No phase in the history of Califor
mia is more striking and interesting
than the economic and social changes
which are now affecting the Sacra.
mento Valley These changes cover
the whole field of human activity and
yet in peculiar sense the control
and use Of water are vital factors
which have greater effect on the
development of the valley than any
of the great industries which have
shown wonderful expansion through
out the whole country since the Civ
IL War. Each step i'm the mastery
of water adds impetus to the indus
try of agriculture, which after all is
the foundation of prosperity.
The control Of rivers for navigation
and flood protection, the drainage of
swamp lands, the Harvesting of noun
tain streams for the production of
electric power, and the use of both
surface and underground water for
irrigation and domestic purposes pre-
sent problems that involve all the
phases Of hydraulic engineering. The
solution Of these problems is being
accomplished with amazing rapidly,
largely by private interests working
under wise laws and under effective
supervision and control by state and
! federal bodies.
The large irrigable area in the
Sacramento Valley and the extensive
use of ground water for domestic
! purposes, public supplies and irriga.
! ton led the United States Geological
Survey, in cooperation with the Cali
: fornia State Department Of Engineer.
ing, to undertake an investigation. A
! preliminary report by Kirk Bryan
has just been issued by the federal
survey as Water Supply Paper 375A.
The Sacramento Valley contains 10
per cent of the agricultural land OF
the state. Only 3.5 per cent of the
area was irrigated in 1912 when the
investigation was begun, but it Is es
timated that at least 10 per cent OF
Fl times that area, will ultimately be
brought under water. These large
possibilities have led to a rapid in
crease in the number of irrigation
projects and an influx of men and
capital from other parts OF Califor
MIA to derive profit from the develop
ment of the land, their expectation
being that the permanent future pop
ulation will come from the Eastern
States or from Europe.
Because of mild climate, a con
centrated winter rainfall, and a shall
low water table, many field crops anC
deep rooted plants thrive in this val
ley without irrigation. Water j!
not a necessity for crop growing
but 1t makes possible much larger
yields, the cultivation Of crops viii
higher return to the acre, and tlI'
chiefly valuable for grazing. Sucl
advantages have appealed but Light!
to owners of large holdings, whC
bought their land at low price =
perhaps 81 .25 an acre-but the Grove
ing in Of home seekers from thu
East, the dimenishing profits of grair
farming, and the great increase II
land values have combined to brini
about the subdivision and sale o
many large parcels of land. To thu
purchasers of such tracts the advan
tages of irrigation appeal mor
strongly.
The report describes the waite
bearing formations in the Sacramen
to Valley, the origin and movement
OF ground water, ground water devel
opment, well and pumping problems
and methods of irrigation with vel
water. A copy may be obtained FREE
on application to the Director Of tn
Geological Survey, Washington