Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1922-03-30
.PAyETTE RIVER
NEEDS ATTENTION

At the instigation of Mr. j. II.
Davis, manager for the Payette Mills,
land President of the Payette Cham
Der of Commerce, and also the City
Officials OF Payette, Geo. \.
Carter, Carey Act Engineer,
came to Payette last Friday to make
inspection of the serious condition Of
the Payette river a short distance
above the head-gate of the 40 Slough
which condition has been becoming
more serious each year and threatens
! the destruction of considerable pro-
/ perty in that section as well as the
south portion of Payette unless i'm
mediate steps are taken to prevent
! further washing of the north bank
of the river Following is a COPY Of
the letter received by Mayor Wood
ward relative to the situation written
by Engineer Carter.
March 25, 1922
Hon. I. r. Woodward, Mayor,
and Members of the City Council,
Payette, Idaho.
Gentlemen:
Yesterday l made an examination
of the right bank of the Payette
River in the vicinity OF what Is
known as the "49 Slough" Paying
particular attention to conditions at
or near the present intake or head
gate used for supplying the water 70
the mill ditch on 49 Slough.
It is my judgment that some /
what serious menace exists here. The
topography of the lands Immediately (
joining the Payette River at this I
point is such that should extremely /.
high water come, it would be pos
sible for the Payette River to cut a 4
new channel down through the 4g .
Slough. For some 1900 feet III :
stream from the mill ditch headgaJe .
the river bank is cutting badly, hav-
ing taken off 80 feet in many places
during last years high water. also,
in some places the pank is so low
that a foot raise over last years
high water would overtOp the bank
and possibly start a new channel
down through the slough, as men
toned above.
l would recommend that II would
be matter of no more than reason
able precaution to throw up dikes
along these low places we'll above
any possible high water, and also to
make a fill across the mill ditch just
in front of the present concrete
structure used as a headgate. While
this structure is, to all appearaces in
a safe condition. yet there is no
record of how it was built. that is.
or not sufficient cutoff
walls were placed underneath it. n
ease none were provided it would be
the weakest spot along the river and
always a source of danger. Appar'
emily this canal is used very little. if
any. and only for irrigation. Possibly
the people using this ditch Cor irri-
CATION could be supplied by turning
them their water farther up the
river at the point or diversion at 80
Slough. If this could be done, the !
fill across the mill ditch above the
headgate could be made permanent
and eliminate all danger at this
point II
l believe these things. which are !
IN the nature of temporary protec-
ton only, should be done immedi
ltely in the interest of common safe
y, The cost will be very small COM
pared to the damage which might be :
lone should the river break through /
nto the 49 Slough.
The matter of permanent protec-
ion is a subject which should be {
yiven further study, preferably at J
ow water stage.
Possibly a series of jetties would 5
10 the work, or. dredging out a new {
channel on the location of the old
,ne near the high bluff on the south !
side of the river might prove more
effective. Various plans might be
but as previously stated c
work should not be un-i j
lertaken until a thorough study has I
,een made of the situation. @
However, l wish to emphasize the G
lesirability of carrying out the tenn 4
,orary Improvement work previous! I
Y mentioned regardless of who is I
for conditions as they !
'xist, and I am sure that this small d
um will be money well spent
Very truly yours. c
GEO. n. CARTER. {
Carey Act Engineer. d