The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-09-16
Water
For Irrigation
Typical Valleys In Nevada investiga t-
ed by the United States Geo.
logical Survey

erNOlrS IN WHICH are nldden large
| potential supplies of irrigation water
is stated in preliminary report by
o. e. Meinzer, of the United States
Geological Survey, on Big Smoky
Valley--a typical desert valley of the
Great Basin.
The demand for farm homes is so
great, the report states, that siren
uous efforts will be made to utilize
by irrigation every existing water
supply, and the news of single
flowing well or the skillful advertise
ments of a promoter may at any time
start a stream of home seekers, ig.
norant of the actual conditions and
difficulties into almost any of the
desert valleys of the west. 1t is very
desirable that the possibilities of
those valleys should be thoroughly
Investigated before they are invaded
by home seekers for the ordinary
settler is helpless when he confronts
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 its occur
renee, and therefore corresponding
caution should be observed in regard
to ground water projects. Much can
be determined as to the ground wa.
ters of desert valleys, however even
where no wells have been sunk, pro-
Vided the proper observations are
made and the proper criteria applied.
1t Is generally possible to ascertain
definitely where the ground water is
near the surface, to outline the shall
low water areas, and to make an in
telligent forecast of the depth to
water in other parts OF the valley. II
sufficient observations are made 1t is
also generally possible to form
rough estimate of the quantity OF wa
ter that is annually available and to
predict to ONE extent the capacity
Of wells, the quality Of the water and
the cost of its recovery To begin
to develop the ground water supply
of valley without first investigating
its ground water conditions is as I'M
wise as it would be to start to build
railroad without first having the
route surveyed, and the financial re-
suits are likely to be no less disas-
trous.
Even where a satisfactory supply
of ground water is assured irrigation
may be impracticable because of the
high cost of recovering the water or
the unfavorable climatic soil, or mar
ket conditions. The problem of cost
must be attacked from two principal
directions: /. Means must be devised
for recovering the water at the least
possible expense, and 20 crops must
be found, methods of irrigation and
cultivation devised, and markets de.
veloped which will result In the larg-
est possible returns from each unit
of water used In many cases differ
ept crops and different methods of IT.
rigation and cultivation will be re-
quired with ground water than with
surface water supplies and for this
reason the ground water investiga'
lions of the Geological Survey should
be supplemented by correlative agri
cultural investigations by the expert
ment stations.
Conditions In Big Smoky Valley
The maps accompanying the report
show that Big Smoky Valley, which
is situated in the south central part
of the state, contains two areas Of
10000 and 100000 acres, respectively
in which the water table is within II
feet of the surface and in which wa
ter from the underground reservoir
Is discharged into the atmosphere by
evaporation from soil and plants. l
is estimated that in the larger o.
these areas the discharge of grount
water averages between $4,000 ant
: 100000 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 80 feet. Within the shallow
water areas the soil is generally aka
line, but 1t is estimated that there
are about $4,000 acres OF good sol
in which the depth to water Is less
than so feet.
Pronounced differences were dis
I covered in the water bearing capac
tiles, water levels, artesian prospects
: quality OF water, and feasibility Of ir
rigation in different parts of the val
e ley all of which are briefly described
+ in the preliminary report. There il
also a discussion Of the methods Of
drilling best adapted to the various
: conditions.
Conclusions as to Irrigation