The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1922-12-07
WATER MEETING TUESDAY

WATER MEETING TUESDAY
A meeting at st. Anthony was
called by the North Fork Water
Users association for the purpose of
learning just what the Upper Snake
River Union of Water Users were
doing toward the solution Of the
problems of delivery and distribu-
ton of water on Snake river and its
tributaries. For this purpose the
directors and engineers of the Union
were there, and G. G. Baldwin,
deputy commissioner, w. G. Swend-
sen, commissioner of reclamation
for Idaho; F. A. Banks, engineer In
charge Of stored water and D. G.
Martin, were also there.
President James Heath of the
Upper Snake River Union, was first
called on to outline the reasons for.
and the work Of the union. At this
time 1t was made clear to the meet
ing that altho the Farmers Protec-
tive Irrigation association had ac-
complished great and lasting good
to the natural water users on the
river in the way of beneficial legisla-
ton, relieving the canals Of the
necessity of installing fish screens,
and in 1915 they stopped rs per
cent cut on all water rights which
was ordered by the state engineer.
They were not satisfied with the
losses charged the stored water peo-
pie nor the return flow allowed the
natural water user, but 1t seemed
that they could not carry on an in
vestigation to find out whether or
not we were getting what we were
entitled to unless the president and
secretary would be responsible for
the expense, which was asking too
much.
Mr.. Heath then read paragraph
from Commissioner Swendsen's an
swer to the Unions request for
proper losses on storage water and
said it would be just as consistent
for the commissioner to say, COW
ing to the humble attitude Of the
Natural Water Users, the precedent
of 2h per cent loss on storage
water between Moran and Heise
had been established and would
stand" We are not finding fault
with those in charge. but as their
losses show less, ours grow greater
and we see we have made bad
bargain.
Engineer Cotton was then called
on, who told how the people who or
ganized the Union had experienced
having their canals cut of dry when
the stored water was put into the
river and that those In charge had
explained to those thus deprived of
water, that the return flow to the
river had been sufficient to furnish
their decree, but when the stored
water was introduced 1t raised the
level of the water in the river suf-
ficient to hold back this return flow
hence they were cut off. Now who
was responsible for this return flow
being held back until after irriga-
ton season? Cotton further told
the meeting that the results of the
Union for 1922 were briefly as fol-
lows:
The canals north of American
Falls were not cut to their record
rights as early this year as other
years, there being only 1900
second feet at Heise this year when
our canals were but to record rights
as compared with $4,000 last year
when canals were cut to record
rights. The DEGREES were not cut
so deep this year as they were last
year, for instance on July 81 of this
year there was 345 second feet less
water in the river than the same
date last year and still there were
several large DEGREES which were not
cut of this year that were cut OF
last year.
The Natural Water Users received
44,270 acre feet more return flow
this year than they were given last
year and the two years were very
ssimilar. Now it may be that the
Union was not altogether RESPONSE
BILE for these benefits which were of
material value to the Natural Water
Users, but 1t was happier situa-
tion at least.
Secretary Manwaring of the
Union then talked on how we have
lopers in the stream to creep up on
us little more each year and now
we must come out with united ef-
fort, and requesting that the system
be changed so that the Natural
Water Users may get the water they
should get. Surely that is fair
enough, if we don't take care of our
own stock, no one else will take care
of them for us. This could also be
said about our water. We don't
want to say anything disrespectful
of the men in charge of the delivery
and distribution of water, but we
are after change in the system.
The commissioner of reclamation
looks to the Natural Water User to
ask for what we consider right, but
since approximately 1000 SECOND
feet Of Natural Water Is used below
American Falls and is usually voted
at the water master election In
March by three men and the 10000
second feet Of older natural water
used in the Idaho Falls section is
voted by about sixty men, 1t is abs0-
Continued on page four