The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1921-01-13
Wants Project
Complete First
Says Newlands Project settlers May
Not Take Over Project Control
Until Later Date

Chief Engineer Arthur p. Davis,
of the federal reclamation service,
lately communicated with the board
of directors of the Truekee-Carson
irrigation district relative TO the
project of investing the settlers of
the Newlands federal irrigation un-
dertaking with the right of operat-
ing and controlling irrigation affairs.
Mr.. Davis letter follows:
'The Act of August 13. 1914 in
Section provides:
THAT whenever any legally org
anized water users association or
irrigation district shall so request
the secretary of the interior Is here
by authorized in his discretion To
transfer to such water users assoc
iation or irrigation district, the
care, operation and maintenance of
all or any part of the project works
subject to such rules and regulations
as he may prescribe
This statute leaves II discretion
ary with the secretary to turn over
the irrigation works to an irrigation
district for operation and mainte-
nance. and in this instance, from the
information available l am of the
opinion that it is not desirable to
turn over the operation and mainte-
nance of the works to the irrigation
district at the present time.
ut has been the practice of the
IN n
water users association or irriga-
tion district the operation and main
tenance of a project or any division
thereof until the works have been
completed The Newland5 project
is incomplete in many ways. notably
in the development of storage which
has been held back for years by the
Lake Tahoe controversy. the con-
struetion of drainage channels much
needed TO maintin the irrigability
of the lands, and the completion of
the distribution system. Logically
the project Is divided into three di-
eisions (a) the Truckee division
comprising that part of the project
which obtains its water supply from
Truckee river direct and is largely
dependent upon storage at Lake
Tahoe or such other reservoirs as
may be constructed for storing wa
ters of the Truckee river: lb) the
Carson division dependent prin Il
pally upon the Carson river. and (el
the Pyramid division dependent on
Truekee river and on which no
work has yet been done.
THE Truekee canal is not In
shape for turning over the opera
tion and maintenance thereof 10 the
district. and will require consider
able expenditure to place it in salts
factory condition for serving all the
lands in the Truckee division; neith-
er is there an assured storage sup
ply for these lands.
Under the Carson river division
difficulties will be encountered be-
cause construction work will be car
ried on especially in connection with
the distribution and drainage sys-
TENS and this work will always con-
fiiet with the operation and mainte-
nance of the irrigation system. and
this conflict will be the more seri-
Gus If the irrigation of lands In the
units is carried on by a separate and
Independent force.
II am especially anxious to have
the voters of the irrigation district
and its directors understand that
the views herein expressed regard
ing objections to the district taking
over the operation and maintenance
of the project are not arbitrary and
that this opinion has been reached
only after careful consideration and.
further. that IL is based upon my
conviction as to the best interests of
the water users on the project.
1T would certainly be better for
the district to wait few years IN
til the reclamation service has had
a chance to settle, If possible, the
storage situation construct at least
part of the much needed drainage
channels. and secure settlement of a
larger part of the lands than are
now under cultivation.
''If the pending contract with the
district for drainage works is not
acted upon fayorably by the district,
1t may be necessary to accomplish
some drainage work from moneys
obtained by levies under operation
and maintenance, as it is believed
that the investment OF the United
States will be seriously jeopardized
IL the drainage work now planned Is
not carried out.
Very truly yours,
"(Signed) A. p. DAVIS,
Director. -