The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-12-26
DIVERSION PROJECT
FOUND IMPRACTICAL
BY U. s. COMMITTEE
Too Costly for Meager Bene.
fits, Planning Agency
Tells lckes
OTHER PROPOSALS FAVORED
Report Calls for Building Of Low
Dams on Sheysnns and
James Rivers
OTHER PROPOSALS FAVORED

washington, DEC. 20.-(RcTnS
Missouri River diversion project, a
$65, 900 900 proposal to relieve the
water shortage in the Dakotas, was
found by government planning
agency Wednesday to b wholly I'm
practicable" and too costly for its
"meager benefits
The Mississippi valley committee Of
the Public Works Administration re-
ported to Secretary Ickes. after q
year Of study, that the project would
divert an Insignificant amount Of
water In comparison with need: that
It would be years before any appre-
ciable area could be benefited be-
cause Of the slow rate ct which
ground waters percolate, especially
because the water table slopes toward
the lake basin and valley depressions
into which it Is proposed to discharge
the diverted waters.
The committee held that the pro-
posed site Of the diversion dam on
the Missouri river near Garrison. N.
.. was unsuitable In the Judgment
Of reliable authorities" and that 1t
was unlikely that an Appropriate a.
tentative site exists.
Two other relief proposals, how
ever, were received more favorably by
the committee. The first calls for
construction Of low dams on the
Sheyenne and James rivers to store
spring tirne run-offs, and the second
proposes to tap new ground water
supplies BY drilling wells into the
deeper water-bearing formations.
The committee found merit to .
proposal to check the waters Of the
Little Missouri river ct Marmarth, In
the southwest corner Of the state,
where the average annual flood loss
Is estimated at 1850. The con-
struction cost Of the project was es-
timated at $50 700 and the number Of
persons affected placed 1t 72l.
Reservoirs Lie Deep
The committees study disclosed
that water bearing formations which
form great hold-over reservoirs"
lie deep below the surface in practi-
cally all Of North and South Dakota
and that these reservoirs are Compel
ent to yield the needed water supply
Of water for farms, ranches, and vii
lagos throughout most Of both states.
In most localities, 1t was said, re
lief can be had by drilling wells into
these formations"
Pointing out that the army engi-
neers had recommended q detailed
survey Of the. sheyenne and James
rivers to determine the practicability
Of construction OF shallow reservoirs,
the committee said: 1T may be found
practicable by means Of storage res
ervoirs to provide some relief for the
towns and farms in the valleys Of
these rivers" Funds have been al
lotted to the war department by PWA
for such . survey.
There has been . notable lowering
In ground water levels in the North
west for several years. . process In
tensified by the recent severe and
protracted drouth," the committee
found. VERY many wells that extend
only q short distance below the nor
NAL level Of ground water have
failed, the springs have witt1ered or
gone dry, and most surface streams
have ceased to flow. Some Of the
small bodies Of impounded surface
waters that remain are so polluted
as to constitute . menace to public
health.
Storage Grows More Acute
ANY substantial recharge Of wells
Or increase In the ground water dis
charge to streams must be preceded
for some time by generous prectpita-
ton, and the shortage Of water for
domestic and municipal purposes and
for stock has grown steadily more
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