The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-05-29
URGE CONSERVATION
TO AVERT SHORTAGE
Supply Believed Ample
Provided People Use
Proper Economy

of the 1924 water shortage for ir-
rigation. The Snake river always
runs low when the winter SHOWS have
melted from the valleys and while
it is yet too cold for that on the
low mountains to have run off. AS
this begins to move, the streams
draining those areas, like the Black
foot river, rise and have their fresh
cts and Snake river stays low. Then
when the hot weather starts the
melting on the higher ranges, Snake
river rises and affords plenty of
water for a while. When 1t begins
to fall some time in June, then the
stored water is drawn, and this year
the Blackfoot reservoir has only
about half the usual amount, but it
has always had a great body of water
left at the close of the irrigating
season, due to two things, they we're
unable to draw it all off thru the
small outlet, and it was not needed
on the lands belonging to the system,
or if it was ever needed in greater
volume, it must have been held back
by the capacity of the outlet which
was small. Last year it was drain
ed for repairs and to stop leaks, and
now there is the larger outlet, no
leaks, and about as much is in the
reservoir as they have been accus-
toned to using.
Our statement made a short time
ago that Jackson Lake contains
about IS per cent of the normal
amount was not correct. 1t has but
little more than half of the usual
amount, and the later righs, chiefly
in the Twin Falls country, are al
ready without water. They own
what is known as the top layers of
water, and this year there is no top
layer. People who built the first
dam and became the owners of the
first stored water, own whatever Is
in the bottom Of the artificial reser-
voir. Those who went into the COM
bine later and built the dam higher,
or rather, the new and larger dam
to take the place of the old log cribs,
did so with the understanding that 1t
did not in any way impair the rights
of the original owners-those who
made the first venture and proved
that Jackson lake water could be
held and controlled.
It has always been somewhat con-
fusing to laymen when people spoke
of owning the bottom water or tho
tOP lay OI6 WHICH, LILO AOoCA VIII 40
we'll filled there seems to be a dis
this year it is made very plain when
there is no top layer and no water at
all for those last investors.
All of the natural flow has been
years ago, all of the
stored water is owned, and people
who installed pumping plants to draw
unclaimed water out of the Snake
river canyon below American Falls
went on undisturbed SO long as there
was water running by the pumps, and
still enough to turn the wheels at
he power plant below, but now it is
al owned by somebody, and the
pumping plants installed to pick up
he unclaimed water are forbidden to
operate. If you had lettuce bed
IN the banks of the Snake river can
ION, you could not legally dip up
bucket of water for it. That Is how
light the water famine is in this
rear of prohibition 1924.
The University of Idaho is sending
tut bulletins telling how to substi-
ute cultivation for irrigation to
make water go farther, and news
)apers are asked to publish these
lrticles, one of which appears in this
ssue. The government office at Bur-
ey furnishes weekly reports to show
he condition at Jackson lake, and
arious writer's and publishers have
,een spreading information and
all spring regarding the
cry light supply of snow in the
Mountains of the west.
One hopeful thing about the situa-
ion is that it has been rather cold
pring and the weather has at no
lme remained long in the melting
on the high peaks about
he headwaters Of the Snake, and
hat will feed the river family in
une and still more family in July.
he general condition is so bad that
lready the fish and game depart
lent is designating certain creeks
here people may go in and take
II the fish, for it is expected that
he streams will go dry. This con-
ition Is partly due to the fact that
Is a dry year, and partly to the
act that civilization is no respecter
I nature. People destroy natural
rowth that originally shaded the
now and kept it from melting until
tie spring or summer. Every per-
on who has cut tree or bush, every
ne who has ripped off limb or
ough from any growth in the can
on or hills, letting the sun shine
lru more directly upon the spring
now and the damp ground of sum-
Ter, has added his mite to the condi-
on that spells water shortage. or
purse the main volume OF this
hange lies in the destruction OF
,rests, the burning Oft of great
reas of brush that once held snow
nd ice we'll into the hot season, the
lowing up of great stretches Of the
.nge that was soddy and leaving 1t
usty and bare to reflect the spring
IN and melt the snow so quickly
le water would run on instead OF
owly sinking in to feed the springs
summer. Civilization Is greedy
nd eats its cake all at once and
len grumbles and holds up its guilty
ands in horror when 1t finds that
Continued on Page Five.)