Imperial Valley press., 1922-08-21
EXPERTS VIEW
CHANNEL

Scientific evidence that the Pesca-
| dero cut is justifying the engineering
estimates upon which the dam was con-
structed, that flood danger from the
| Colorado river could be overcome by
turning the river out of its course into
new channel, is supplied by a report
| Just submitted to the Imperial Valley
irrigation district by Chief Engineer
Ray L Carberry With an observation
party he has lately made a rowboat in
spection of the river from the dam down
the new channel. The party was nearly
| devoured by mosquitoes, which ordeal
is omitted us a purely nonscientific de-
tail. Chief Engineer Carberry' S report
reads:
''To better acquaint ourselves with
conditions below the mouth of Pesca-
dero cut on the lower Colorado river,
we left the Peseadero dam on August
10 in two rowbOats in company Will.
Messrs. Higley, Rothery, Mejorada,
Ricketson and two additional men, anG
proceeded down for distance Of about
five miles, or a mile below the end OF
the original cut.
Water Has Left Old Course
"At this point the main vOlumnc
of water seemed to be flowing to the
| left, having generally, abandoned the
old arroyo to the right that seemedi to
| be so greatly in evidence before the
water was diverted into the newly made
cut. Following through this large sheet
of water we encountered great deal
of soft mud in reasonably thick mes
quite brush for distance of about two
miles. From here we followed a well
defined water course, flowing below the
surface of the ground in southwest
erly direction and by night we en-
countered the same log jam that was
observed ON former Investigations IL
the latter part of January.
.'The effect of this log jam was to
raise the water over the general sur
face of the ground and with some diff
Guilty were we able to find our way By
pushing the boats through underground
of willows and arrow weed for a dls-
tance of possibly one mile, again strik-
ing a fairly well defined channel, which
shortly developed into large stream.
Main Channel Greatly Increased
early in the morning of the third
day we arrived at Arroyo Mesquital
and after investigating this arroyo for
six or seven miles we concluded from
our observations that we were near the
lower rim of the old Volcano lake area
Returning down this arroyo and
down the main channel, which greatly
increased sin size as we proceeded, we
reached the mouth of the Hardy and
proceeded mp the Hardy to the Chinn-
Orwell pumping plant at point, gen
erally known as Mayor. The general
features observed on this investigation
nav be summarized as follows:
"Large sand bar at the inlet of Pes
cadero channel in Bee river, which Will
be constant menace and require addl'
tional precaution until the bar is re
moved by high water.
Overflow Away from Valley
"The overflow at five miles below
the dam is in direction opposite to
that Of Volcano lake showing that the
general course is away from and not TO-
ward Imperial valley.
"High velocities in nearly the whole
length of Pescadero river indicate that
the country has ample fall. These velo'
cities are through numerous meanders
or small channels for so or GO miles.
whereas more direct channel woul!
be 80 to 40 miles, showing the possibili-
ties of still sleeper grades.
"The channelized river is nearly the
whole length, indicating depth below
the ground slope.
GAS proof of high ground at the
south end of Volcano lake, the six foot
banks above water surface i'll the slough
on the Pescadero's s course, and the 10
to ~ foot banks above the backed up
water surface in. the north end of the
Arroyo Mesquitar indicate there is no
reason for the river turning into the
south end of the Volcano lake country
| from this distance down. The velocities
! to the wide slough and away from II
shows there is not much possibility OF
| a swamp in this locality. There ia
apparent evidence, too, that Volcano
| lake country can drain off and become
absolutely dry.
| Tides Cause Securing
"The tidal influence twice a day is
causing widening upstream from the
junction with the Hardy river. Much
recent widening is evident, in the lower
length, due to the securing and whirl
pool erosion from very fast velOcitics
permitted by the outgoing tides.
GAS a whole, aside from the two
places mentioned where the water scent
ed to be materially above the ground
every indication warranted the con
clusion that the channel was rapidly
formering and lowering itself into the
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