The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1921-05-27
AMERICAN FALLS PROJECT Is TO BE
LARGEST RESERVOIR IN THE WORLD


look it is considered hardly probable
that work can be started within less
than two years. The time of compile
ton likewise depends on the same
condition.
History Of the Project.
On April 10, 1920, the long contem-
plated project began to take shape in
the report of board of engineers
selected jointly by the U. S. Recla-
mation service and the state OF Idaho.
This report recommended early con-
strpction of the dam as a progressive
step in the development of the irri-
cation resources of the Snake river
basin. The report further points out
that with storage capacity of 3,0O0,-
600 acre feet at American Fails the
water supply is sufficient to furnish
the present irrigated area amounting
TO 1,300. 900 acre feet with a safe and
reliable supply, and that it would al
so take care of an additional area of
new land amounting to 100000 or
100000 acres.
Geological conditions and examina-
tions indicate that both dam and res
erv0ir sites are extremely Favorable
for development. The test has been
thorough, states Prof. w. o. Crosby.
consulting geOlogist, in report
made in January of last year.
The severe drought occurring in the
west during the year 1919 caused u
serious shortage of irrigation water
in the Snake river valley. This short
age emphasized the need of additional
storage capacity to protect the agri
cultural interest which depend alb
solutely on irrigation.
With this in mind mass meeting
was called at Idaho Falls on August
Y, 1919, at which time a committee of
seven, headed by John w. Hart, as
chairman, was appointed to investi-
gate the needs of various canal COM
panies in the Snake river valley.
! Within two weeks the committee had
received applications for $4,000 acre
feet Of storage. Applications for ov-
er s5te of this figure indicated that
the concerns desired to have the res
ervoir construction handled by the Z.
IS. Reclamation service.
This data was complied by the SER
vice for the purpose of preparing es-
Inmates, and another meeting was
held at Idaho Falls, November "a,
1919, attended by the governor and
other officials, director of the Recla-
nation service, and representatives of
the irrigation districts. This meet
ing authorized the storage committee
to negotiate form of contract pro-
tviding for the construction of the
American Falls reservoir by the Re
clamation service, with the under
standing that various organizations
desiring storage would advance mon.
ey for their proportionatee shares OF
the reservoir, while congress would
be asked to appropriate money under
the reclamation act to provide foi
storage for lands still held in public
ownership. The plan contemplated
that companies located above Amer
iican Falls reservoir would join in the
American Falls construction and la
ter exchange the storage SO provided
for an equal amount of storage in the
present Jackson Lake reservoir of ths
Reclamation service.
Up to recent date contracts have
been signed for 335,i0 acre feet oi
storage capacity, according to re-
port submitted TO the appropriations
committee of the 65th congress. The
signed contracts are with 81 cana
companies and individuals represent
ing 500, 900 acres. Other lands al.
ready in cultivation will probably re
quire about 100000 acre feet addi-
tional. The service states the Mini
doke North Side pumping plant vii
require about $4,000 acre-feet, max
ing a total approximately l,a00,00t
acrc- feet for which there Is immediat,
need.
Exhaustive studies, surveys and es
,,imates have been made and are un
der way. At the present time Cover
nor ID. w. Davis. with the executives
of seven other western states Is II
Washington and conferring with thu
department of the interior TO the en-,
that some Of the obscure and buried
, funds may be brought into requisi
tion for construction work on thi
great reclamation enterprise. Secre
tary Fall Is said TO be intensely in
terested in the reclamation project
, and is giving the matter close atten
ton, and the outlook for early actiol
= and the prospect for funds Is good.