The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1922-12-28

!. The Water Users Union held +
!. their annual meeting at Rigby +
!. on the twelfth of December +
4 and had addresses touching +
i. upon the need for changes in +
!. the control of the MASTERS OF +
!. Snake river as between the +
i natural users and the storage +
i. interests.
+
Observation-Disclosures
President James Heath called the
meeting to order and explained that
with the exception of the election OF
officers which would come last, this
meeting was open for everyone and
what they wanted was full and
free discussion of all matters per-
tanning to the delivery and distribu-
ton of natural water of the Snake
river. 1t was made clear that the
union was doing what 1t felt was
best for the best interests of all
natural water users north of
American Falls and in this endeavor
all constructive suggestions and
criticisms were solicited.
Secretary Manwaring then read
the minutes of the last annual meet
ing which were approved.
| Secretary Manwaring then sub
mitted the financial statement Of
the secretary and treasurer showing
that $2435 had been paid in, and
$1065 was past due and that there
was some $500 in bills to be paid.
President Heath then told the
meeting that economy was the
watch word with every one and
while it took some money to run
this union he felt sure that after re-
ports of our activities were heard
(Which would follow the unanim-
GUS opinion would be that the pro-
gram should be carried on with
more vim if possible than the last
year. .r" .....
| N. A. Anderson of Thornton, a
director of the union, then sub
mitted a report on the study OF
Jackson Lake conditions as follows:
The stored water people are not
standing the evaporation losses or
the enlarged lake, which amount to
800 acres. While we realize that
the amount of evaporation varies
directly with the temperature anc
with the territory covered, VIZ
realize also that the storage water
interests have most of this data ant
perhaps they know what this loss is
but why aren't they standing it in
stead of making the natural watel
users stand it? 1t is intimated tina
the bank storage at Jackson Lake i
given to the Natural Water Users il
exchange for the evaporation OF
storage water, but most of thi
bank storage is the result of Ion.
timbered slopes which are fairl,
we'll saturated with water durin|
the early summer when water is be
ing stored, which water is I'm
molested by the rising level of tn
,, reservoir, would come to the natura
|, flow users in the irrigation seasol
when they are most needed.
The average area coverd in add
ton of the original Jackson Lake
1915 to 1922, was-June 627
acres, July 800 acres, Angus
1850 acres. Then applying 6 foo
, for evaporation in June, 8 foot TO
, evaporation in July and Z foot eva
poration in August, we find tn
total evaporation for the thre
months to be 11,192 acre feet; how
ever, we do not need the water /
3 early June so we are only askin
that the evaporation be taken care {
!, from June "a to September 1, whic
shows an average of 1887 acre fee
that the Natural Water Users hav
), stood each of the past eight year.
Is there any reason why the Nature
y Water Users should continue
stand this?
: Before the building Of the Jacl
e son Lake Dam, the Natural Wate
;. Users enjoyed some natural storae
in Jackson Lake, which was til
= natural draining off of water or tn
!, pile-up at the farther end of tt
y lake, This pile-up would build u
y grade or incline plane extendin
. from the upper end to the lowe
end of the lake, and would tai
some time to draw down, involvir
about $4,000 acres, as it does,
a grade of one-half foot per mil
K established on this fifteen miles
II lake, giving a total difference
N seven and a half feet between tt
II upper end and lower end, or 6
Y average of three and three-fourt
AZ feet over the entire area covere
which would amount to 67,5(
a acres feet. Then taking as chez
h on this the amount of water tn
"A came out of Jackson Lake durir
"a July and August before the dam WI
q built as compared with compute
b natural flow, the past three year
& as it is controlled, shows the follo'
b ing:
A The total water coming out
B Jackson Lake the average of 100
n 1906 and 1906 for July and Angus
n was 265,40S acre feet. The tot
d passing the same point for the sar
IA period of time in 1920 was 1918!
M acre feet and for 1921 was 1915
b acre feet, for 1922 was 214,352 &C
b feet. Now, since there was no
n reference at Jackson Lake duri
IA 1904, 1905 and 1906 Except pr
IA sibly Golfer dam which would
m detrimental to us) we will take t
n amount that passed during July a
Ea August as basis of what won
IA pass there now were the cont
St,r 4 -