Imperial Valley press., 1920-12-11
CRONHOLM ASKS
MUTUAL MEMBERS
HELP DISTRICT
Confined from Page u

what is known as the Colorado river
channel to the Volcano lake. This
ridge is actually as high in elevation
pc the top of the Saiz levee mean
Things Tapen. Additional data dis
closes the fact that with the 1900
cubic feet per second in the river the
present height of the river bank does
not average more than six feet. Those
relatively low river banks eXpl&!a
why the river CverfloWs in time OF
flood. We know that on the Colorado
river delta. where the river banks
are Of sufficient height to contain
the entire volume Of the river in time
Of flood, that in such places he river
has been known to rise over 10 feet.
At the time Of the last June flood,
Bee river overflowed both north ard
south throughout its length. lhS
overflow. together with the volume
Of the breaches of the Oekerson, ere
ated a water depth between the Saiz
levee and the Bee river channel OF as
much as nine feet With but 12,0Oo
cubic feet per second in the river
we find that some Of this volume
now actually flows through some oi
the more southern breaches Of the
Ockerson levee.
It should be very plain to yea that
if the present river is flowing IN .
channel on a ridge with banks about
six feet in height, that something
should be done to lower the river into
the ground. 1t should be alarming
to you to know that the present low
water of the Colorado river adjoining
the lower breaches in the Ockerson
is practically up even with the ground
surface. There are reasons for be-
lieving that the Ockerson had held i
during the last June flood that It
would have been topped.
Serious Menace Faced :
It NAV be of further interest 10 yoA
to know that if the Saiz had broken
it is doubtful if the waters could
have found their way back into Vol
'cano lake. This indicates that the
water would have impounded against
the upper end of the Volcano lake
levee and along the Inter-Califorma
railroad grade and in ali probability
the inflow would have been ample to
have topped both the railroad and the
Volcano lake levee, so that, in other
words, had the Saiz broken II becomes
rather easy to foretell what might
have happened to our distribution
system and, in turn, the enormous
loss in crops that would have result
ed from water shortage.
The plans Of cutting the river
south have been approved by the
hoard of directors and an eXpendl-
ture of 100000 authorized. lhl55,
however, is not enough fer We laet
right of way from those interests
controlling the lands through which
the waters will flow from there to
the gulf. To obtain this right Of way
we need unlimited support. Without ,
your support work cannot be COM
n.cnced. As general manager OF the
Imperial Irrigation District l have
endeavcred to obtain this right OF
wav. and have been advised by those
interests controlling the lands N
question. that they are not dea-Ey
with the Imperial Irrigation District
or its directors, but that they are
negotiating with the advisory board
Of the mutual water companies and
have detailed J. c. Allison as Their
spokesman.
With conditions along the Colorado
river as herein enumerated. ! consid-
or that the possibilities Of overflow
arc most alarming and therefore
wish to reiterate that something
should be commenced Immediately
that will give Us partial, if not COM
plete, protection for next year.
Face Dilema
Il is indeed true that we may have
some difficulties in diversion because
of making this cut, especially so II
we are successful in lowering the
river deeper into the ground. How
ever, | think We will be more justified
in having difficulties in making di-
version or in our efforts to obtain
sufficient water for the Cerro Prieto
through the Solfatara canal CT IN
making diversion ut Hanlon heading
than in fighting runaway river on
tne Colc rado river delta. My eS-
poricncc at Hanlon heading leads ml
to believe that any river recession
that might reach that point viii IN
no way affect cur ability to make
all diversions that may be required
for valley needs.
In conclusion l might add that the
sole object Of turning the river south
is for the purpose of protecting all
agricultural lands in Mexico and in
TIE United States. 1t IS very evident
to me that the river through natural
causes will ultimately either 90 north
or south from the ridge upon which
ii is at present flowing. ! believe
that the work as herein described will
lessen the possibility Of the river 60
ing north and, viewed in this light,
ask that any results in turning the
river south be considered as having
occurred from natural causes.
Very truly yours,
+. y CRNOHOLM,
General Nanarar