The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-01-17
Water Conservation Becomes an Issue
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Water conservation is becoming an isue of some i'm
portance in the northwest This fact is emphasized In
Minnesota by a plan to establish minimum lake levels
in Montana by discussion of proposals to create artificial
reservoirs for the storage Of water created by natural
precipitation, and now in North Dakota by the outlin-
Ing Of plans for the building Of q dam on the Missouri
river above Bismarck to hold in reserve 100000 acre
feet Of water.
Those advocating water conservation present somewhat
varying viewpoints as to the need for it. There is, how
ever, general agreement that it has a triple objective:
flood control. preservation unimpaired of natural beauty
and the maintenance OF practically abandoned ~navigable
rivers at a stage of water where they may again serve in
the field of transportation. AS the full benefits from
these various projects are outlined and proved in develop
ment increasing interest in water control and conserva-
ton may be anticipated.
Diversion of waters from the upper Missouri river ap-
parently is gradually gaining wide support. Engineer
ing reports seem to prove that 1t will be practically eff
fective as a flood control measure for the country on the
lower river and can be made to result in the restoration
OF Devils Lake one Of North Dakotas greatest natural
beauty spots near the city OF the same name. There are
other prospective incidental benefits such as the making
possible Of irrigation projects and the restoring of wild
life refugees.
North Dakota pioneers will recall that when the first
Great Northern train reached the city Of Devils Lake.
more than SO years ago. it was met by a steamboat.
The boat was ptloted by Captain Herman, once famous
as a pilot on the Mississippi river and once the opera
tor of q scheduled steamboat service on the Minnesota
from a boat dismantled near st. Paul and hauled over
land in winter weather to be placed in the first steam
boat that ever ~navigated Devils Lake.
Captain Herman, II he lived today, could not meet q
train at Devils Lake with his steamboat. The water
level has receded some miles from the point at which
1t was established In his day. Much Of the area over
which he ~navigated his boat is under cultivation. The
lake the Sioux called Spirit Water continues gradually
to recede. That 1t can be restored by an engineering
project undertaken at reasonable cost through diversion
Of upper Missouri river waters seems fairly well estab-H
ltshed. That It would be worth the effort there is ample
proof both Of . practical nature and in the fact that
the lake and It's shore line are North Dakota's greatest
summer playground.
It IS inevitable that in an age when science surveys
every natural force and estimates it according to its
worth that water conservation should become an issue
N the northwest. The benefits following storage Of
water in artificial reservoirs are already being demon
strated in many sections Of the country. Quite possibly
they may be duplicated In the northwest, with some
Of the most interesting Of these possibilities in the upper
Missouri country