The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1921-09-08
WATER DECISION TO
STIMULATE CLEARING

1t is expected that the effects Of a
decision Just rendered by Circuit Judge
Wilson in an adjudication Of water
rights on the Hood river watershed
will result in an unprecedented devel-
opment of land, entitled under court
findings to water, but subject to the
loss Of the rights in a period Of five
years if they are not made ready for
irrigation. The large total of 1886
acres of land are entitled to water but
must be developed before January /.
1925, if owners would not lose the val
liable water rights. 1t has been proven
that the lands are practically value
| less, in comparison with the valleys
fruit acreage, some of which is held
at figure in excess of 81 900 an acre,
without water. Owners of undeveloped
| land and tracts covered with stumps
and debris left from logging operations
| are already discussing clearing opera
| tions. The courts decision may result
in the application by land owners for
huge quantities Of picric acid, war sal
wage, being offered by the government
at reduced prices.
The decision of Judge Wilson, who
| is expected in a short time to enter his
| formal decree in the water case, de-
clared by irrigation attorneys to be
one of the most noted cases Of its kind
ever before an Oregon court, in the
main follows findings of the State
Water Board, whose members spent
four years making complete survey
of the valley. In ascertaining the
duty Of water for local irrigation pur
poses the water board has ruled that
each acre shall be entitled to an 80th
of second foot, or half-inch for the
irrigation season of l20 days.
Owners of land, it is said, may Sc
cure an extension of the time fixed by
the water board for land development,
if they show they have endeavOred to
apply diligent methods in their clear
ing operations but have been retarded |
in their work by unforeseen circum-
stances. In all cases, however, a for
NAL application for extension must be
made and a showing submitted that |
will merit favorable action of the |
board.
The circuit court decision and Water
Board findings give the Mt. Hood |
Water Co. a priority over all other
claimants for water on Hood river.
This water concern, owned by ranchers
Of the section about the Mt. Hood |
postofiice, where some of the districts
earliest agricultural activities were en-
gagged and which still remains largely
general farming section rather than
an orchard district, was the first es-
tablshed on the river. It's right of
priority dates back to October, 1895.
1t is entitled to sufficient water for the
irrigation of 433 acres, the total on
10 mi fc |
given no rights of future development.
Next in sequence is the East Fork
Irrigation District, which is given
rights of priority, dating from Novem-
Der 25, 1895, to l42 second feet of
water, enough to irrigate H. ,797 acres,
of which 1916 acres are now under
water.
The Middle Fork Irrigation Co. is
given rights of priority on sufficient
water to irrgate 2, ,460 acres, of which
] 300 acres are now developed. The
right of this company's priority dates
from November 10, 1906.
The Oregon Lumber Co is given the
right to use of 1886 second feet Of wa.
ter for the development of electrical
power, used in driving its sawmill at
Dee. None of the water may be re-
mONeu from IHe SlTedlH. Inc TlBuL
dates from September, 1905.
The Hood River Irrigation District,
the valleys first irrigation concern to
come under the state law for bonding,
is awarded sufficient water to irrigate
A, 1863 acres, its right of priority dating
from December l, 1905.
The Farmers lrTigating Co.. was
awarded water for 5000 acres, of
which 1882 are now under irrigation.
The right of priority dates fom May z,
1906.
The Glacier Irrigation Co. is award
ed water for 3, l65 acres, of which 500
are now irrigated. The company filed
on its water in March, 1906.
The Dee Power & lrrigating Co. is
given water for 1000 acres, of which
42O are now irrigated.
The Pacific Power & Light Co.,
which claimed total of $50 second
feet. or the entire flow of the stream
at seasons of low water under the de-
,sion is awarded l40 second feet at its
Powerdale plant and GAO feet at its
plant at Tucker Bridge. The right Of
the former dates from 1900 and the lat
ter from 1911. The power company's
rights are based on riparian owner
ship, but the court granted them only
he maximum amount Of water utilized
IN driving their electrical development