Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1922-07-05

Chief Engineer Walker River lrriga,
ton District
The present irrigation system III
Mason Valley is the result of the indc-
pendent efforts of various parties dur
ing period OF over sixty years. 1t
has been gradually developed without
any definite general plan, by individ-
uals having only their private ends in
view. Each appropriation Of water
planned his own diversion and ditch
to provide for the necessities of the
time, with little or no regard as to
their proper relations to the system as
whole. The result is all lily de-
signed and inadequate system, difficult
and expensive to operate and main
tain, wastcful of water and productive
of discord among the individual
owners.
1t is not lnteade9 te. reflect any dis
credit upcH = /" who built
!
these wor. re system is the result
of gradual development during time
when no systematic cooperation was
possible and when the needs of the fu-
ture could not well be foreseen. 1t is in
much the same condition that most
other old systems were on the various
western irrigation projects before these
systems were modernized and en-
larged. 1t is our purpose, rather, to
analyze conditions and to attempt to
provide means for the necessary inn
provement and extension of the sys
TEN.
NVsrat@is needed evidently is a defi-
mite cooperative plan for the valley
as a whole. to which the future i'm
proverncnts and extensions would con-
form. and which would make the best
possible use of the works already con-
structed Such a plan of procedure is
now being worked out and preliminary
designs and estimates of cost have
already been made.
The unit considered in this plan for
consolidation and drainage comprises
the irrigablc lands in Mason Valley
from the East Walker River to Wa
buska. a total OF about $4,000 acres.
OF this area. about $4,000 acres would
be more or less benefited by the de-
velopmcnt.
The work as planned may be con-
sidcred as divided into three parts,
namely: River Improvement, consolida-
ton and extension of canal system, and
drainage work. One. two or all three
Of these developments will benefit the
separate tracts of land i'll varying de-
grecs. SO that tho per acre costs to be
assessed should vary accordingly. The
estimated average cost per acre is three
dollars and fifty cents. The charges
t. be assessed according to actual bcnc-
fits might range between one dollar
and six dollars, per acre.
The plan contemplatcs work on a
large scale, and in such amount that
would produce the greatest benefits
per dollar Of expenditure. 1t would
provide canal carrying capacity and
drainage outlets for all the lands and
make possible the proper organization
for economical distribution and use OF
water under district management
Provision for rights of way for lateral
distributors and drains would be made
and proper locations of these would be
made by the District as needed. With
the system in operation as planned
should it be necessary for an owner to
connect up with main drain to dis
pose of waste water or improve the
drainage of his land. or to construct a
small lateral from the distributing
canal, it would be possible for him to
do so without unnecessary expense or
annoyance. Under present conditions
it is. in many cases, practically impos-
sible for him to accomplish such inn
provements.
River Improvements
The river channel is obstructed by
old brush and rock dams SO that it no
longer acts as natural drainage chan
mel Some of these old dams have
been abandoned but have been left in
the channel and still form distractions