Arizona sentinel., 1917-06-14
HERE IS SOMETHING WORTH READING.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR


 United States Reclamation Service.
 Washington D. C., June 4, 1917. MT. D. L. DeVane Secretary,
 Yuma County Water Users Association,
 Yuma Arizona.
 Dear Mr. DeVane Reference is made to the resolu- on passed by the board of governors of the Yuma County Water Users Association their regular meeting May 1917 which reuqest wasmade that the Reclamation Ser suspend operations the construction of the drainage system for the Yuma Vaey-unt November 1, 1917.
 copy of this resolution duly received but decision what action should be taken thereon has been delayed pending careful investigation of present ground water conditions in the valley and the advisabiity of postpone ment such as the board suggested.
 am in receipt of report by the board which signed this investigation and is their opinon red in by the chief of and myself that the best interests of the project the drainage work which now under way should be continued
 From the data obtained from about 20 wells located principally in the upper portion of the valley where ga on has increased rapidly is found that the table has risen average of 295 feet since July 1912 The records of about 100 wells which put in during the first part of the of 1916 show average rise water table from une 1916 May 1o7 of OPS foot The average depth to ground water the entire valley shown by these wells is feet Over area of about 45OO the water table feet less from the surface and additional of about 500 the table feet less below the surface On large part of the soils of the Yuma Valley depth of ground of from to feet regarded necessary fully protect the lands from the rise of aka and give the best agricultural results This that about 24OOO 46 per cent of the total irrgabe of the Yuma Valley already seeped or threatened due to the high ground water During the season of 1916 43 per cent of the lands of the valley under irrigation During 97 is expected that this area will be increased to 60 per cent and with the approaching high water stage of the river and the greatly increased age under irrigation it is not improbable that the average elevation of ground during the month of June will be one foot higher than for the same period last year.
 If the construction of drainage works continued it probable that the elevation of the table can be con- troed sufficiently to prevent any large additional becoming injured through it's rise It will also permit earlier reclamation of the lands unfit for cultivation on ac count of seepage and aka If work be suspended de- ayed until the need of drainage has been further demon strated by the actual seepng of lands other portions of the valley the work of reclamation will be made more diff cult There considerable where the surface soils contain sufficient harmful salts prevent their cessfu cultivation The washing o of these salts reuqres time and consequent loss of crops while the reclamation being effected
 In view of the conditions which have briefly outlined am convinced that posponement of drainage work this time would be most nadvisable. Very truly yours
 A. P. DAVIS,
 Director and Chief Engineer.