Imperial Valley press., 1921-12-10
Continued from Page II

undertaken in connection with the ir-
rigation Of a large body Of new land in
order that the cost per acre of such
work might be more generally distrib-
utcd and made less burdensome.
Al this stage of the proceedings the
state authorities very properly point
ed out that such proposed construction
did not increase the water supply
which would be available for use, and
that neither the present irrigated area
nor the new lands which would be
brought under the enlarged system
would have an adequate assurance of
sufficient and continuous supply of
water for irrigation. In other words
our very natural ambition to provide
for further legitimate expansion of
the irrigated area in Imperial Valley
was for the time being forestaIled un-
til such time works could be pro-
vided which would increase the supply
OF water.
The second phase of our problem i
have mentioned as being that of di-
version. In the earlier years in the
Imperial Valley no serious difficulty
was experienced in diverting water
from the Colorado river through a gate
installed parallel with the California
side of the river bank. through which
water was admitted over the flash
boards, but without any structure be-
ing provided in the river channel
which would regulate the head Of
water on the intake gate. As the acre
age under cultivation increased from
year TO year il was found that the in
take canal silted up during flood sea
son. and as the waters in the river
ceded very extensive dredging opera
tions were necessary befor norma
rivr bed and canal conditions could be-
restored. and very frequently water
service was badly impaired for 4
term of four to eight weeks that great
loss to crops resulted. To correct this
impairment of service. the district
board has, during a series of years. in
stalled and maintained q temporary
brush weir in the Colorado river i'm
mediately below the canal intake
which serves to maintain and regulate
the head of water at our gate during
the low water period. BY this expedi-
ent we have been enabled to maintain
bur water service with greater regu
iarity and with lss frequent periods
of shortage. But meanwhile 5e,oee
acres of land have been brought un-
der cultivation in the Yuma project
These lands are river bottom lands and
were naturally subject 10 overflow in
flood season. and the flood waters are
now held back by a system of leyees
erected and maintained as a part of
the Yuma project development.
The people of Yuma naturally feel
very grave concern as to the main
tenance in the river channel of any
obstruction which. during flood sea
son. might so obstruct the runoff of
flood waters as to endanger theirs
protective leyee system. Consequently
they have been very insistent that the
people of Imperial Valley provide an
other and a safer method of diverting |
the waters of the river required by
them. and have urged upon US the |
availability for that purpose of the |
Laguna dam. We have no criticism |
TO offer as TO this attitude on the part |
of the people in the Yuma Valley. II |
is natural for them to seek to protect |
their property rights. They have been |
extremely generous in the past in that |
they have refrained from going to ex-
tremc lengths in the courts in their de- |
sire TO protect themselves. We have
endeavord to take them fully into our
confidence. and have stated TO them |
frankly that We recognize the justice |
of their contention and that we will, as
quickly as possible, conform TO their |
demands and viii endeavor to connect |
our canal system with the Laguna dam
and thereafter refrain from the main !
tenance of any temporary structure in /
the river below that point. They are