Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1922-02-22
Election to Decide
Consolidation Issue
Whole Irrigation District to Vote on East
Fork Distribution Problems

There are two general classes Of
irrigation districts First. the United
States Reclamation Service districts.
and the districts organized under state
laws
In the first class. it is usual that the
Reclamation Service starts improve
ments upon raw lands and builds up
the system completely from the res
crvoirs down to the last distribution
latera1s.
The second class, those formed un-
der state laws, are usually for the I'M
provement and extension Of works
already in existence. In this last
class, the first work usually underta-
ken is the construction OF storage
reservoirs and water is furnished to the
bitches already in existence.
This system is apt to cause more
or less trouble to the district and the
water users on account Of the inter-
ests in the bitches being diversified
up without definite plan or co-ordina-
ton and it is usually necessary to
consolidate numbers of the bitches for
the purpose of supplying water and
for expenses in improvement and up
keep. 1t has been found in the ex-
periences of state irrigation districts
that have been in existence for num-
Der of years, that it is necessary for
the district itself to take over COM
plete conrol Of the ditch systems.
For instance, the Imperial Irrigation
District was formed in 1911. The
district has been furnishing water to
ID mutual water companies and the
water companies in turn furnished wa
ter to the individual water users. The
district, however, found that this sys
tenn was not practical and they are
now taking steps - own all the
bitches and to furnish the water
themselves to the individual consum-
ers. This policy is now being adopt
ed by practically all the irrigation dis
tricts OF the west.
The directors OF the Walker River
Irrigation District had this principle
in mind for sometime. and on Febru
ary 9TH. 1922, the directors of the
district adopted the same principle.
The district. up until this time has
been unable to get the details for the
purpose OF taking over all the bitches
of the district. but they are getting
the information nece ssary as
rapidly as the funds at hand will
allow. However, a condition was
called to the attention OF the directors
which is in the nature of an cmer-
gency, that is the so called East Walk
er diversions. These diversions are
held at present by means OF the Fox
dam. but the Fox dam is in great dan
ger of being destroyed by the floods
this spring and should the Fox dam be
destroyed, undoubtedly many or all
OF the other dams would also be des-
troyed. The Fox dam is is a very
poor location of shifting sands and
is now some ten feet high. The peo-
pie interested in these dams and dl-
versions arc unable to come to an
agreement amongst themselves for
common diversion and they have asked
the district to take over this system
and make the improvements.
The expense. if authorized, will be
distributed amongst those interested,
that is, those people in the south and
east section OF Mason Valley south
OF Yerintgon. and no others will be
assessed.
The other questions on the ballot
OF March 9TH as to whether or not
an equalizer canal should be construct
ed from the west fork to the east fork,
is another question of local interest.
since ii the expense be authorized, it
will be assessed only for those people
interested, who are the same people
menIlOncu dDONc.
The water records of the United
States Geological Survey show that
there is often surplus waters in the
west fork when there is comparatively
little water in the east fork. This be-
ing the case, if an equalizer canal is
constructed, il would be possible to use
flood waters from the west fork for
direct irrigation OF lands on the east
fork without resort to storage.
Bonds have been authorized for the
construction of reservoirs upon the
east fork but the district has been un-
able up until this time to begin con-
struction on account OF conflicting