The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1920-07-29
Farming Versus Tahoe
Navigation interests
War Department Engineer TO Con-
duct Public Hearing On Lake
Tahoe Level

"
rive In Reno Friday morning from
San Francisco to conduct q hearing
OF all persons interested In the re-
leasing of sufficient water from Lake
Tahoe to save crops on the Truckee-
Carson project and to secure . suf-
ficient flow of water to run the pow
er plants along the Truckee river.
says the Reno journal.
Farmers along the river, espec-
tally In the Fernley district, assert
that their crops will be entirely
ruined unless immediate steps are
taken to secure an adequate supply.
The matter has been taken up with
the war department In an endeavor
to secure prompt action, with the
result that an army engineer Ii be-
Ing sent to Investigate conditions.
A letter received yesterday from
Colonel Winslow reads as follows:
The Truckee-Cnrs irrigation
district. the Northam farm bureau
and other Fallon, Nevada. interests
have requested the release from
Lake Tahoe of sufhcient water for
the needs Of the farmers ON the
Newlands project In Nevada.
In order to give all interested
parties an opportunity to express
their views concerning the expedi-
ency and advisability OF releasing
from Lake Tahoe of suflcient water
| for the purpose stated, public
hearing will be held on Friday, July
30,1920, at 2 o'clock p. IN. In the
Chamber of Commerce at Reno. Me-
vada. when and where all interested
parties will be given an opportunity
| to be heard IN the matter.
"All persons interested in this
subject are invited to be present or
to be represented at the hearing.
While for accuracy of record of Inn
portant facts arguments should be
submitted In writing, oral evidence
will be heard and given considera-
ton.
l.. II. Taylor, local engineer. and
Charles s. Knight, president OF the
Reno Chamber OF Commerce. re-
turned yesterday after making an
examination of the sandbar at the
outlet of Lake Tahoe. MEASURE
ments were made concerning Its
height and the effect OF It's removal
1fhe figures show that the removal
would not lower The surface of the
lake below former low level and
that the lowering would cause IN
convenience To no one.
I'VE found the elevation at the
lake surface. said Mr.. Taylor. ito
lhe G.227.72 feet above sea level.
which is 2.CS feet higher than the
Ilow~water period In 1893 A gravel
bar has been building up In front Of
the outlet of the lake. which is con-
lsiderably impeding the fow of wa
| ter. The bar was about foot high
| er, according to the figures OF the
survey made in 1917, over the fig-
ures of the survey made In 1903.
and the bar has grown considerably
| in proportions since the survey OF
1877.
out of the lake at the present time,
according to figures given to me by
a member of the United States rec
lamation service stationed at the
lake, amounts to approximately $50
cubic feet per second. This Is very
close to the maximum amount that
can be drawn from the lake under
present conditions.
Unless the bar at the outlet is
removed 1t will be impossible to
draw more than 200 second feet
from the lake. This would be en-
l
tion or power purposes.
There are only two possible rem
edies for the situation. The first
would be unusual rains and the 9TH
er is the removal of the gravel bar
from the mouth Of the river.
IF the bar is removed immedi-
ately the evaporation and the neces-
sary draft from the lake to supply
all needs during the next so days
would probably amount to 16 inches
which on October l will leave the
lake 16 inches higher than the ex-
ftreme low level reached In 1889.
This level would not interfere
with the navigation of the lake, nor
would 1t cause any Inconvenience to
any one. On the other hand, 1t
would cause a great saving Of crops
| in Nevada 1t would also enable
the power plants which supply light
and power to Fallon and Lovelock,
and ON which the Rochester and
Packard mines are absolutely de-
pendent, to continue In operation.
| Unless there are early storms
the level of the lake will be further
reduced, but this will be after the
end of the tourist season, and con-
sequently the resort keepers on the
lake would be injured in no way.
The winter storms are certain to
raise the lake surface materially be-
| fore the next opening of the tourist
season on the lake,