Imperial Valley press., 1917-03-31
ENGINEERS SAY ALL-AMER|CAN
CANAL NOT PRACTICAL FINANCE
HOLD COLORADO RIVER AS UNIT
Dr. Mead and Messrs Henry and Jacobs File Report Made
for Department of observation-disclosures All Work Con-
templated in Bond Issue Plans-Full Text of Rec
concentrations to Be Made Public at an Early Date.

The report of the Board of Engi.
neers consisting of Dr. Elwood Mead.
D. c. Henry, and Joseph Jacobs on the
irrigation and food problems of the
valley has been received by the Farm
Bureau, the Irrigation District and
the Board of Supervisors, who joint
ly asked for the investigation by the
Departmentaof the Interior and the
University of California. The report
is the result of preliminary investi-
cation made by the above named
Board of Engineers to determine the
advisibality of Government aid in the
solution of the permanent problems
confronting the valley in connection
with diversion, food control and ad.
dtional development.
The Board strongly recommends
that the entire Colorado be considered
as a unit by the Federal Government
and be handled IN such way tnat the
greatest use be made of the entire
flow of the river. The report says in
part: "T,he water supply for the I'm
perial valley comes from seven
states. in all of these states irrigation
is necessary for successful agricul-
ture. All are deeply concerned in the
utilization of the available water sup
plv JIp1occ com otb;p0 10 dono to do.
termine the areas to be irrigated in
the different states and to provide for
meeting the needs of these areas by
interstate action, costly interstate lit
igation is one of the inevitable events
O. the future. The time has come for
the preparation OF a plan for the irri-
cation development of this river as
Unit, and this ought to include the I'm
perial valley and ought to be prepared
under the direction of the Federal
Government acting in cooperation
with the authorities of the different
states"
Government action is necessary for
the protection of a million acres Of
land in Imperial Valley and $4,000
acres of land in the Yuma project.
Because of actual interference as the
reflex effect of levees on opposite sides
OF the same stream, the levee system
should be handled as a single problem,
and all upon it's several units should
be co-ordinated to a common plan.
The federal government has already
constructed and is now maintaining
levees on both sides of the Colorado
river for protection of the Yuma pro-
icct and it is the opinion of this board
that that is the only agency that can
develop the complete system of floor
pl otection works that the Colorado
River delta region requires. Such ac-
ton would appear to be in line with
precedents set by the United States
with respect to levee construction
elsewhere"
The work contemplated by the Dis
trict through the bond election has
been strongly urged by DR.. Mead and
is referred to in this report as fol-
lows:
"The determination of means of Sc
curing a dependable water supply and
facilities for silt sluicing for the I'M
pcrial canal, can, in our opinion, be
made to advantage by the Districts
own engineers, and should be paid for
solely by the District. No attempt is
made to outline measures Immediate
ly necessary to insure satisfactory
water supply for the next few years:
No timely action could be expected
from this report, and, moreover, meas
ures to meet urgent needs have al
ready been taken by the District.
"The present main canal crosses
Mexican territory. Financial consid-
erations make this the proper route
and render an all-American canal i'm
possible. In addition, highline ca
nal is being considered to irrigate
large area of land lying above the
existing works. This canal would also
have to cross Mexican territory and
for this the consent Of Mexico is neces-
sary."
A connection with Laguna dam is
III ged as the best means Of diversion
from the Colorado. A highline canal
to irrigate the East Side mesa is urged
a. a necessary development in the
near future. AS anticipated, the ex-
pense of the proposed permanent con-
struction work would be met by the
government on the basis of repayment
of each, including proportionate cost
Of Laguna dam.