Imperial Valley press., 1919-09-12

Many intricate and troublesome
problems confront the engineers Of
the Imperial irrigation district in ac-
complishing the primary object of the
system--delivery of water to the ditch
of the rancher. In addition to divert
ing water from the river, protecting
the lands of the valley against inunda-
ton, and distributing the water among
the various sections of the county, the
system must be kept in such condition
that each main canal will carry it's
quota at all times in the year. To do
this, which to the rancher is the visi-
BILE evidence Of efficiency, canals must
be kept clear of excessive silt depos-
it's, must be safe from sudden freshet
caused by occasional heavy rainfall,
and checks and headings must be in
condition for immediate use.
Must Remove Silt.
Principal among the items of ex-
pense in upkeep of the canals is the
removal of silt. In many cases the
only means is by the use of dredges,
but in some of the largest and most
troublesome canals the silt can best
be removed by sluicing. If water can
be allowed to run freely through the,
canals, it will cleanse the channels
much more quickly and with infinitely
less expense than by use of dredges.
AS much can be accomplished by sluic-
ing in one day as by the use of
dredge for month. Sluicing can
be done by one man and continues day
and night, while dredging requires a
large crew, with the aid of expensive
machinery. To clean a canal by the
use of dredge means an expense of
more than $500 a month, in addi-
tion to more or less interruption of
water delivery all during that time.
TO sluice merely means a suspension
Of service for a few hours and an
expense of few dollars day.
The Imperial irrigation district is
planning the installation of six waste
gates in various canals of the system,
which will permit of the saving of
approximately 100000 a year and at
the same time insure more satisfactory
delivery of water during the summer
months and at times. when the heavy
silt is carried in the water. In> addi-
tion to aiding in the delivery of wa
ter, the wastegates will serve as safe
ty valves in case of danger from rain
storms or to much water entering the
canals from any cause. The Westside
Main, as the residents of the valley
know, was washed out in 1910 by a
cloudburst for distance of mile or
more. Immense damage was done to
crops during the interval before the.
main could be rebuilt, and in addition
the district was put to heavy expense
to again place the canal in service. A
wastegate proposed for that canal will
in future prevent washout by these
sudden rains. In addition to the West
side wastegate, the district will con-
struct gates in the Eastside, Central,
Cerro Prieto and Wistria canals.
Plan Many improvements
Other plans for betterment of the
system include means to save. canals
from being destroyed in case of trou-
bic at heaings permitting a danger
Gus amount of water to enter the ca
nal. A check weir at No. 1874 Waste,
just below Sharpe's heading, would
draw all water from the Central, Ala
mitos, and Ash canals in case Sharpe's s
heading should be destroyed or disabl-
ed. Without. such protection the canals
mentioned could be destroyed for miles
ed by flood that overtopped the
banks. *-o5 "" "',t"
A number of cut-offs are proposed
to allow the water to flow more freely
into the valley. Shorter routes mean
less expense of upkeep, more prompt
delivery and less danger of Interrupt
ton, principal among these is Car
rillo cut, in the Alamo canal. A
straight channel means possibility OF
sluicing, also, with the consequent
saving in keeping the canal clean.
\ Two decided improvements are pro-