Imperial Valley press., 1919-10-29
Seepase

Seepase
Seepage from the canals, over-irri-
CATION and seepase from higher land
is causing considerable damage in por-
tions of the valley. In Water Company
No. ; about 10000 acres show damage
from alkan and high water part OF
this area has been rendered entirely un-
productive. About one-half of the land
in No. is also affected. Part of the
area Just mentioned. located in strip
from one-half to two and one-half miles
wide and twenty miles long, bordering
the High Line Canal. from point
about three miles north of the Mexican
border TO a point east of West, is ron
dered practically worthless on account
of seepage from the canal. In some
places the water is standing in lakes
and the farms have been abandoned.
A similar condition exists below the No.
Low Line Canal between Holtville
and a point east of Alamorio. Seepage
from the High Line has been more
rapid and excessive than from the other
canals because of the lighter teXtured
soil through which it runs.
An area north of Holtvlle. from
three to five miles wide extending from
the Alamo to the Hight Line. contains
veryhigh percentage of alkai and is
largely untitled This section was in
Wet alkali condition before the Valley
Was developed but since then the area
has extended and the surface accumu-
lation of alkali has increased. The
surface foot Of soil in certain parts of
this area contains as much as five per-
cent of alkali.
The area damaged by rising water
table is increasing TSle rapidity of
this increase is indicated by the fact
that practically all of the wet land ly
ing between the High Line and the
Low Line Canals has become water
logged during the past six years. With
the exception of an area in the vicin-
ity Of DiXieland there is no extensive
single area damage by seepage west of
the Alamo River There are. however.
numerous smaller areas which in the
aggregateamount 10 considerable. There
is some indication of seepage from
most OF the larger canals west. and
southwest Of Imperial and Brawley.
Those causing the most damage in this
area are the Brawel Main and the Tam
arack Most of the damage occurring
west of the Alamo River has been
caused either by over-irrigation or loss
es due to excessive waste water \
large proportion of the Mesquite Lake
Territory numerous smaller areas south
Of Meloland. south and southwest Of FL
Centre, in the vicinity Of Silsbee and
around Mount Signal store are in a
more or less serious condition from the
effects Of high water table Certain
areas north of Westmorland on com
paratively new development and i'm the
vicinity Of Flowing Wells are beginning
to show that the water table is rising.
A considerable area from which the
SaltOn Sea mas recently receded is 700
wet for satisfactory cropping. this, hoW-
ever is due 10 the effect Of the sea
rather than scepage or irrigation.
Damage Due to Local Irrigation
The inability Of the water applied for
irrigation TO find a means of escape
through underground passages is caus-
ing much more damage than the aver.
age farmer appreciates This is true
/ over practically all those parts Of the
/ Valley where the soil is sandy or las
/ a sandy subsoil. The fact that water
may be standing within six feet of the
surface is not always indicated either
! by an accumulation of alkali or by de
creased crop Yields. In fact in some
! instances. crop Yields may he even on