The Delta independent., 1922-02-10

September ,210
October 1886
The flow through the tunnel during
the month of October was approxi-
mately twice as large as the flow dur
ing any previous October. This con-
dition was due to the continuation of
the mild weather late into the fall.
The flow in the Gunnison tunnel was
maintained according to demand con-
tinuously from June 23 to November
1. This continuous run was the long
est that has been had through the
Gunnison tunnel and South canal in
the history of the project.
Considerable difficulty was expert
enced during the month of June in
maintaining the project works on ac-
count Of the high stage Of the Un-
compahgre river. 1t is estimated that
approximately 4,500 second feet was
being carried in the river at the upper
end Of the valley, and as the usual
flood discharges in the Uncompahgre
river as far back as 1898 show a flood
range Of from 1900 to 2,450 second
feet It will be seen that the food Of
1891 reached a stage approximately
twice as large as that which occurred
during any past known flood.
The river channel as then existed
was not sufficient to take care of this
large volume of water, and es the
movement Of gravel was very great
many changes occurred along the line
Of the river, and much damage was
done to the tracks of the Denver &
Rio Grande railroad, bottom land
ranches, county roads and bridges,
and private headgates along the river.
The damage caused to the project
works has been more or less discussed
in the project press during the sum-
mer months, and it will not be neces-
sary to make any detail comments at
this time. Suffice to say that all canals
were operated continuously during the
food period except the West canal,
the Selig canal, and the Homerun
lateral. The West canal was out of
commission for ten days on account of
washouts. The Selig canal was out of
commission for five days on account
of structure failure. The Homerun
lateral was out of commission for
eight days on account of river chan
mel changes.
The repair work required at the
diversion of the Montrose and Delta
canal due to the flood was in progress
at the close of the calendar year.
Upon the completion of this work the
crews employed there will be trans
ferred to the Selig canal headworks
in order to place that structure in a
safe operating condition for the COM
ing season.
On June IA and on July 81 cloud
bursts occurred in the drainage basin
in what is known as the Loutsenhizer
arroyo on the east side of the Un-
compahgre valley, and considerable
damage was done on account of these
cloudbursts to the protective works on
the Selig, East and Garnet canals.
Weather Conditions
Mild weather prevailed during the
entire year. Despite this condition
much snow fell on the drainage areas
in the mountainous regions of the I'm
compahgre and Gunnison river water
sheds, and as a result an ample water
supply was had during the entire ir-
rigation season. Much rainfall oc-
Cured during the months of June,
July and August, and as result con-
siderable damage was done to the hay
and grain crops. This damage is re-
nected in the crop census survey for
the calendar year, as the results OBJ
tanned from that survey show that the
average yield per acre of alfalfa hay
decreased from 3.2 tons per acre dur.
ing the season 1920 to 2.6 tons per
acre during the season 1921.
Duty Of Wafsr
The duty OF water on this project
continues to be high. This condition
IL due to the system in force Of de-
livering water on a continuous dow