The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1924-03-12

At session or the Iruckee-Idrsoh
irrigation board held Monday the
matter of providing water for the
bench and Fernley sections was taken
up. For some time the proposition OF
pumping from Lahontan dam into
the Truckee canal has been under
consideration, while the supplying OF
water for the farms under the canal
has also been considered. In order
to make this matter of record, and
taking the question up with the fed
eral authorities, IL was necessary to
hold meeting and ask for power to
make the urgent improvements and
secure authority for funds for such
purpose.
Board Makes Recommendation
The board took up the problem of
estimates and 1t is found that it will
require in the neighborhood of $780,
900 to provide the improvements nee
essary to furnish water for the two
sections of the project that will need
water for this summer. Following
the meeting a telegram was sent to
the secretary of the interior asking
that ways and means be found to
secure funds for the saving of the
bench section and installing pump
for the Truckee ditch pumping and
piping for the Morgan section.
Money from Maintenance
1t has been explained that the only
available funds would have to come
from construction and maintenance.
This fund, If allowed by the depart
nent, would be assessed against the
entire project, and would increase
costs a small per cent, but it would
provide water for the two sections
that otherwise will go dry this sum-
mer and result in a severe financial
loss to the project and the entire
section. Some 100 acres can be re-
lieved by the installation of a pump
at the lake and the building of a
ditch and pipe line at The penstock
for the Morgan-Dietz section, taking
the water from this point and run
ming II through the X. Y. ditch ser
vice line.
Permanent Improvement
II was shown that by the system
proposed that a permanent improve
ment would be added to the project,
as by using the water below the dam
for the Morgan section, 1t would per-
manently furnish water service for
this section. The same can be said
OF the back pump for the relief of
the bench and ii at the same time
guarantees the Fernley section what
water comes through the Truckee !
canal during dry seasons.
Critical Situation
In talking over the matter Project |
Manager Richardson states that there
is at this time the most critical water
shortage known in the history of the
west. There is little or no chance
for any great relief, as the storm
period is rapidly passing and it would
require record storms for the next
month to bring the storage of snow
to anywhere the normal. In speaking
of the proposed use of the Lahontan
dam for relief he stated.
1T looks like the only logical plan
as the people on lue Dencn ana De-
low the dam are certainly entitled
to protection. The question of back
PUMPING was urged some years ago
but owing to lack of power at that
time IL was not practical. Today IL
is different. In the next six weeks
the new penstock Will have been fin
ished and more power than is neees-
sary on the project will be generated.
This can be put to use for pumping
water into the ditch line and thus
save the bench section and at the
same time relieve the Fernley sec
tion, as 1t would take care of some
1900 acres.
The building of a pipe line to
transfer water from the penstock to
the ditch line for relief of the Nor
gan-Dietz section is as necessary as
the pumping plant, as this will take
care of one of the most productive
sections on the project. which. other
wise will dry out this summer, as
rnquestionably there will be a slack
moisture period and the Truekee can
al cannot possibly furnish the dis
trfct with water. l believe that the