The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1920-12-09
TAKE SAMPLES SNOW
DETERMINE WATER FLOW
WASHINGTON w. P. COMPANY TO
KEEP CHECK ON WATER
SUPPLY.

A close estimate of the amount Of
water that may be derived during the
summer from the snow in the noun
tains drained by streams that flow
into Occur d'Alene lake is a matter of
great importance to the Washington
| Water Power company in the opera
ton of their several hydro electric
plans along the Spokane river. which
forms the outlet to the lake. Hereto
fore the company has had no definite
data on the subject and has therefore
been unable to determine the loads"
it would be able to carry during the
summer months with the degree of
accuracy that has become necessary
with the expansion of its business. In
order to obtain this information
system is now being adopted through
which the water content of the snow
will be taken at various points in the
territory drained and which will
within two or three years enable the
company to make a close estimate of
the water available each season.
How the System Works.
In order to establish the system on
q scientific and practical basis, John
+. Fisken, of Spokane consulting en-
gineer of the Washington Water Pow
er company, has been here for the
past few days, visiting various points
with the view to selecting permanent
courses for making the observations.
one of these will be established in the
vicinity of Sunset. another at the head
Of the North Fork, another at the head
of the South Fork if a suitable place
can be found, another on the St Joe,
probably above the Milwaukee tunnel
and still another on the St Maries. On
the summit at the Milwaukee tunnel
there will also be maintained a wea-
Their station. where daily records will
be kept of temperature and fall Of
rain and snow These observation !
courses will be about half mile in /
length, said Mr. Fisken in explaining
the system, and will be selected in !
places where the snow does not drift 4
preferably places sheltered by green |
timber About the last of February /
Just before the snow is melted suf-
fciently to start the water running
these courses will be visited and sam
pies of the snow taken every 40 or so
feet throughout the half mile course.
These samples are taken with what is
known as the Montrose snow sampler.
being a tube about two inches in dia-
meter which is forced through the
snow to the ground, and upon with
drawal bringing up a core of snow
The snow is weighed to determine its
water content. and the depth of the
snow as indicated on the scale along
the tune is noted. The samplers are
Of various lengths to adapt them to
the depth of the snow and there are
openings to facilitate removal Of the
snow. Beginning next February these
will be taken every year
by the power company.
Normal Flow as the Base.
Mr.. Fisken explained that it was not ]
he purpose of the company to make (
actual estimates of the amount of wa (
er in the runoff from the mountains,
although it would be possible to make
very close estimate. The plan Of the
company is first to determine what is Z
he normal flow of water This will be VI
determined by placing guages in the +
occur d'Alene. st. Joe and St Maries +
.ivers and keep a record Of the flow p
or two or three eyars OF possibly r
onger. These records for each year q
viii enable the company to determine q
he normal flow During the same e.
ears snow samples will be taken and ?
he record preserved in connection n
With the flow record for each year
Having established the normal aver C
ICE flow. in future years the observa- b
ions taken from the snow samples at f
he various courses will indicate the e