Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1922-07-05
IMPROVEMENT AND EXTENSION OF
MASON VALLEY IRRIGATION SYSTEM
Plans Include River Improvement Consolidation and EyAdsS
Diches and Drainage at Estimated Low COST II = Z
$3.50 per Acre - !
Approved BY Irrigation District Commercial Club Co. Commissioners

/ This furnishes plenty of fall for drain
aye bitches. They could be success
| fully operated with fall Of less than
half this amount There are no
| physical difficulties III the way Of deep
cuts or rock excavation, and consider
able advantage, in some places, can
b. taken Of the natural drainage
courses. With these favorable con-
| ditons, il would seem an easy matter
10 provide drainage outlets.
However. there were no provisions
made for drainage outlets as the irriga
ton system was developed. in fact,
the natural drains have all been OBJ
structed by building bitches, dams and
roads across them and by filling them
| up in places SO that even the natural
drainage of the country is all destroy
ed. No one in particular is to blame
| for this as it is the result of lack Of
organization and definite general plans
| for the development of the system.
The result Of this is that the land is
badly waterlogged and alkalied in
many places. These conditions are
rapidly getting worse and spreading
to other lands as more water is ap-
piled and drainage conditions are
made worse. 1t is evident to any per-
son of intelligence who gives the mat
i ter athought that something should be
done to improve these conditions as
soon as possible.
The natural unit for the drainage
system is the whole area north OF the
/ East Walker River. A smaller unit
would be at disadvantage because it
I is more or-ic,s aifsctedsh by SEPARATIONS
on the adjoining lands.
The wonderful benefits that would
| come from the construction of a com
plete and modern drainage system in
Mason Valley would undoubtedly JUS
tify the cost OF such system. How
/ ever. after a consideration OF the ne
ccssitics OF the present. financial con-
ditions Of land holders. and determinin-
ing, in SO far as possible. the wishes
of the owners, it appears to be better
for the present to plan a less com
plete and very much cheaper drainage
| development.
The plan under consideration is to
make the most economical location OF
sufficient drains to provide outlets for
all the lands and TO construct these
drains to sufficient depths to provide
for surface drainage and waste water
and to drain all sloug!ls and mosquito
ponds In some places fairly dcer
drains can be obtained by siupl,
clearing Instructions out OF natural
drainage courses with only a small
amount OF excavation These lines
will run on the proper locations for
the permanent drains SO that all work
done will be just that much toward
! the completion oi the permanent
W hliioSN eS NtNhi' A'u'Ni VII ohy Hthtb
can be decpencd as found necessary.
Any system of open drains requires 4
certain amount of cleaning and deep
ening some time after construction.
These drains could be improved at
such times as found necessary from
the experience gained after the first
construction.
Such system OF drains would give
the greatest immediate relief for
small expense. The lower end OF each
| distributing ditch should be extended
to drain and all surplus water from
irrigation should be disposed of
through waste ditch to the drainage
channel AT the present time it is
practically impossible to operate a
ditch or dispose of waste from irriga-
ton without doing damage to other
property.
Another important feature of the
system planned is that most of this
waste and drainage water can be used
again for irrigation on lower lands and
/ to this extent, to increase the water
supply of the District.
A part of this low cost scheme of
drainage, and a very important part,
is that running water in bitches after
the growing season should be discon-
tinued
4 The conditions which caused so
/ much damage to the lands must be