Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1917-05-22
Base Decision Data Secured After Many Months OF ResearRpor
Is Vo1uminous and Complete Different Plans of Reclamation Pro-
posed Outlined Approximate Cost per Acre of Each Plan Given

plants. Under this plan 81 900 acres
could be reclaimed against a flood
like that of 1916 at a total cost
of $2,100,000 or an average of SOS
per acre. This plan is not consid-
cred practical by the engineers owing
to the susceptibility of the levees
to failure, the expense of mainte-
nance and the high cost of con-
struction.
Plan No. calls for a system of
levees and charging the west arm
of Kootenai lake. This plan would
cost about S250,000 more than Plan
No l and while it is practical is
not advised on account of the high
cost.
Plan No. calls for levees, and the
diversion of the upper Kootenai river
at Canal Flats. Under this plan the
cost of reclamation per acre would
not exceed SAT per acre, on the av-
erage if the land in Canada was
also assessed for its proportionate
benefit. This plan involves the CO.
operation of the Canadian govern
ment, the work in Canada being alb
solutely necessary to the protection
afforded by the levee system. The
levees under this system would have
to be at least six feet high.
Through fear that the levees might
not prove practical the engineers do
not recommend Plan No. 8.
Owing to the cost, about sos per
acre, the adoption of Plan No. 4 is
not advisable either. This plan calls
for system of levees, interior drain
age and pumping, the diversion of
the Kootenai river and the enlarge
ment of the west arm of Kootenai
Lake
Partial reclamation can be secured
through Plan No. which calls for
the closing of all openings in the
present river banks, interior drain
age and pumping plants and enlarg-
ing the west arm of Kootenai lake.
If all the land overflowed in the
United States and Canada were as
sessed the cost per acre would be
about $40.
Under Plan No. which includes
besides the provisions in Plan No.
5, the diversion of the upper Koo-
tenai river, about six out of seven
floods would be prevented, according
to past records The average cost
per acre would be $45 if Canadian
lands were also assessed according
to benefits derived. All of the work
under this plan is feasible, say the
engineers, but they object to its
being used on account of the high
cost.
The Recommended Plan.
Plan No. 7 is the one which is
specifically recommended by the gov
eminent engineers. 1t calls for the
closing of all openings in the river
bank and the construction of levees
along the larger creeks, from the
edge of the bottoms to the river.
The construction of necessary interior
drainage bitches with sluice gates to
permit the bitches to discharge into
the river; the installation of pumping
plants to provide outlet for the in
terror drainage during periods OF
high water; the diversion of the
Kootenai river into the Columbia
river at Canal Flats.
In the report it is stated that "the
carrying out of this plan would re-
suit in the partial reclamation OF
$4,000 acres of land in the Kootena
valley. Four crops out of five prob
ably would be protected against the
overflow of the river. The land
owners should not conclude from thi!
+ statement that after such improve
ments are made a damaging flooC
would result only in five years. 1
is possible that two or even tire,
: floods may occur in successive year
but judging from past records sucl
events are not likely and in a perio'
of 20 or 20 years not more thai
four rive overflows should b.
: expected under this plan. The av
! erage cost of carrying out this plal
I would be about $50 per acre for tn
l benefited land in the United State
and slightly less if the benefitte
! land in Canada were assessed it
i proportionate share of the cost o
e diversion. All the work under thi
e plan is entirely practical but tn
making of the diversion is one tina
. must be decided by the Canada
l government. The adoption of Pla
e No. z is recommended. Arrangement
e should be made with the Canada
j government for the diversion of tn
e waters of the upner Kootenai. A
;, has been stated before, no detaile
q study of this diversion feature hs
:, been made but it is believed that s
4 per acre, for land benefited in til
R United States, would be a liberi
: estimate of the cost"
n Plan No. provides that "undt
9 any delay in arrangement with II
? Canadian government for construc
y ing, the diversion of the upper Ko,
: tenai should not prevent the in
n mediate carrying out of the oth'
G features of Plan No. 7, namely, II
. closing of the river bank opening
Z and the installation of interior drail
age. By this work alone, which
Il is estimated would cost $25 per acl
# for land benefited, it is believe
= that two crops out of three could
! protected from damage by overflo'
. AS a result of all the investigation
- made the adoption of Plan No.
recommended but the levee al
drainage work should be done
IF once with the intention of DOH
D. the additional work required at I