Imperial Valley press., 1923-02-26
IMPROVE FLOOD
| WARNING SERVICE
FOR THE VALLEY
New Gauging Station at
Yuma Gives Six
Y Days Warning

lays w
The present flood warning service
or Yuma and the Imperial Valley
as been greatly improved recently
y tho completion of 4 new gauging
tatiOn on the Colorado River near
'opock, Ariz., according to Roger
!. Rice, district engineer of the
United States geological survey, whc
; in charge of surface water investi'
,ations in Arizona.
A telephone line from the tclc-
raph station at Topocx to the gaug-
ng station, three and one-half miles
ownstream, is to be built soon, Mr..
lice stated, which will insure means
t communication to enable the
kident photographer to report daily
fogress of highwater in terms of
,bic feet per second during periods
high stages, particularly during
lay, June and July. At least six
ays flood warning service from
opock to Yuma will be available
rom this gauging station.
Service Improved
Although a gauging station has
cen maintained at Topock since
cbruary, 1917, by the United States
Biological survey in cooperation with
he United States reclamation SER
ice, on account cf insufficient
lnds to operate it intensivoly, rec
rds have not been available for
ood warning service, and on ac-
punt Of shifting channel conditions
Psulting records had only fair de-
rec of accuracy.
sIn January, 1922, a conference
as held at Yuma by representatives
the reclamation service, Imperial
rigation district and the geologi-
Pl survey. Tentative plans were
greed upon to re-cstablish the To-
pck station at more favorable
cation and inaugurate in connec-
on with it the flood warning SER
ice so desired by the Yuma pro-
ct and the Imperial irrigation dis
let.
The Federal power commission
legraphed it's willingness to CO.
perate in the expense of this un-
ertaking. Pending the compile
on of the new station, the United
tates Reclamation Service and the
nperial irrigation district agreed
cooperate in the more intensive
oesSation of the old station.
Renders Valuable Aid
ySihce May, 1922, D. A. Dudley, as
stant engineer of the United States
illogical survey, has been stationed
Topock rs resident engineer and
Endered efficient flood warning
rvice during the high water period
1922.
Through the use of specially de-
gned equipment and by the serv-
es of a resident photographer the
nfavorable river conditions under
hich accurate stream flow meas
remcnts have to be made have
zen largely overcome and more
tisfactory records are expected.
&" Accurately Measured
A reinforced concrete stilling well,
, feet high, four feet by five feet
side, with eight-inch walls, has
zen constructed against steep
ante cliff on the Arizona bank.
nall openings in this well keep the
ater at the same height as the
var and the river stage is ac-
lrately measured and recorded
roughout the year by means of an
lproved continuous water-stage re-
rider located in the shelter over
e well. The recorder furnishes a
-aphic record of the river stages.
From the cable ear and cable To-
ted at the gauge, with span of
bout 600 feet, frequent volumetric
easurement of the flow of the
ver are made, by means of eur
mt meter equipment. On account
the great amount of drift the
trent meter is raised and lowered
the river by means of a compact
inch attached to the side of the
BILE ear, and the meter is held in
PsitiOn in the water during medium
I'd high stages by lead weights in
e shape of torpedoes, to Offer
Aimum resistance to the current.
Information. Valuable
On the data so secured at this
ation, and at other stations in the
dorado basin, are based calcula-
pms dealing with flood control, ir-
CATION and hydro-electric devel-
pment.
The Topock gauging station is
o. of the four basic stations on
dorado River in Arizona that are
Nv in operation. Three of these,
,es Ferry, Grand Canyon and To-
,ck, have been established during
'2l and 1922, through financial CO.
\ leration provided by the United
ates Geological Survey, Federal
bwer Commission, United States
sclamation Service, United States
Gather Bureau, State of California,
aperial Irrigation District, South
" California Edison company, and
G City of Los Angeles. The fourth
alton, that at Yuma, is maintained