The Record-courier. [volume] (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1904-current, 1920-04-09
DAM
NEARLY FILLED

The lan0S Oh tns Nc"lduuo pioJcSt
are now assured an ample supply of
water for all irrigation purposes dur
ing the year, according to the hydro
graphic figures on file In the project
offices at Fallon. These show that
something like 2l5,000 acre fet were
within the great Lahontan reservoir
is miles west Of Fallon yesterday
and an increased runon Is in prospect
as a result of the recent storms in the
Sierra Nevada mountains where a
bout 100 inches of well packed snow
now lays on the ground awaiting the
annual spring runoff. The water had
reached to within seven feet OF the
dams spillways yestrday and 1t Is now
known that the great reservoir VIII
be filled to overfowing some time
next May for the first time since its
use was undertaken in 1914 In ad-
dition to the $4,000 acre-foot capac-
ity intended for the reservoir by the
constructing engineers. splashboards
are to be installed at the spillways
which will retain an additional sup
ply to bring the total that will be i'm
pounded this year up to about $685.
900 acre feet. =
When filled the great artificial lake
that will result will be backed up
the Carson valley for distance OF
Is miles with shore line Of approxi-
mately rs miles and the actual water
area will be something like 10000
acres I'm extent with an extreme
width of three miles. An attraction
will thus be presented that will
doubtless be viewed by many people
of inquisitive mind. There Is now
on hand more than $4,000 acre feet in
excess of the amount impounded at
a corresponding period last year and
reclamation officials and farmers here
are altogether satisfied with their
water situation.
Records maintained In the project
offices show that 1t does not always
happen that the total Carson river
watershed runoff will fill the La
hontan reservoir. for the Carson
river is an extreme capricious stream.
In 1912 It's contributing territory
gave OF but a scant 10000 acre feet.
while In 1907. the year Of the food in
Fallon 1t poured forth volume that
totaled 10000 acre feet. with an av-
erage annual runoff of 100000 acre
feet. proving that during short years
there will not exist a surplus for stor-
age for other sections.
II is said that about $4,000 acres of
land lying within the Fallon unit of
the Newlands project will be irrigated
this year from the Lahontan supply
and that more than 10000 acre feet
of the stored supply will be carried
over unused.
Discussing project irrigation. Water
Master w. A. Simmons yesterday said:
''The total amount Of water delivered
to farms In the project last year was
l25.000 acre feet while $4,000 acre
feet were lost in the distributing sys-
TEN through seepage and evaporation.
The evaporation amounts in this lati-
tude to about Is per cent. while the
rmainder must be charged against
seepage. Concrete lining OF canals
is thus seen to be desirable whenever
the projects development has arrived
at stage that that will warrant the
necessary outlay which at this time
would be In excess of $4,000 per acre
for all of the lands within the project.
Nor would the canal Innings care for
and save the flow lost through seep-
age. There is still the matter of taxi
ing care of the water actually deliv-
cred to the farms. while 1t Is beyond
the power of man to avoid the loss oc-
casioned by evaporation.-Fallo