Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-12-14
IRRIGATION IN YAKIMA
SUBJECT OF CONFERENCE
System Will Provide Sufficient Waite,
to Hrigate 100000 Acres; Cost
Approximates $12,42O,OOO.

J. l.. Lytel, manager of the United
States reclamation service for the
State of Washington, and H. l.. Ho]-
gate, Western counsel for the United
States reclamation service, were in
the city Friday comforting with State
Hydraulic Engineer Marvin Chase
concerning the matter of the petition
of the United States reclamation serv-
ice for an extension Of the period OF
the withdrawal of the waters of the
Yakima river watershed.
The time within which the United
States was required to utilize the
waters of the Yakima river and its
tributaries was extended some time
ago until January /, 1921, and they
are now asking for further extern
sion Of time.
During the period of extension now
in force the United States has prose-
cuted the work of utilizing the waters
of the Yakima river watershed in the
following manner:
Storage reservoirs. The contem-
plated plan of development Of storage
works provides water supply for all
the better grade of agricultural lands
of the watershed that it is econom.
ically feasible to irrigate with the
waters Of the Yakima river. This
plan includes the construction of five
large and several small reservoirs on
the headwaters of the Yakima river
and its tributaries. ri
The construction of three large
reservoirs on the headwaters of the
Yakima river and its tributaries.
The construction Of three large res
ervoirs has been completed-the
Dumping. Kachess and Keechelus.
Also the Clear crek, small reservoir
on the headwaters of the Tieton
river. Construction of the Tieton
reservoir was started in 1918 but was
suspended during the same year on
account OF the greater need Of labor
and material for essential war pur-
poses. 1t is planned to resume con-
struction upon this reservoir. during
the fiscal year beginning July /,
1921. Since December 81, 1917, q
total Of $4,000 has been expended
upon the construction of storage
works. making the -otal Investment
to date $4.O61.000. The work accom-.
plished during this period consists Of
clearing of timber from the reservoir
areas at Keechelus and Tieton reser-
voirs, an increase of FL feet in height
of the Clear creek dam and the con-
struction Of camp buildings. shops,
storehouses. power plants and the
driving of the outlet tunnel for the
Tieton dam.
Three large areas of the Yakima
Sunnyside unit consist of 100000
acres to which water is available. the
cost of construction being $780,
900; Yakima-Tieton unit, $4,000
acres. with water available, cost 81,
$1,000. In addition to these areas
the contemplated system Of storage
works, when completed, will provide
sufficient water to irrigate the Kitti-
tas reclamation district of $4,000 to
10000 acres, and the Wapato unit
(Indian reservation) of 10000
acres.
In addition to expenditures for
construction and for investigation
and surveys, there has been expend-
ed during the fiscal years 1918 and
1920 inclusive the sum of $605,0O0
for operation and maintenance Of the
Sunnyside and Tieton units and of
the storage works that have been
completed.
Congress has appropriated the
sum Of $4,000 to be expended on
the various units of the Yakima pro-
ject during the fiscal year 1921. This
amount, together with expenditures
already made, will represent grand
total for the Yakima project of ap.
proximately $12.426,000, including
construction and operation and
maintenance expenditures.
Hallam F. Virgins, assistant traf
fic expert OF the state uublic service