The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1935-02-28
High Dam at Umatilla Is
Planned to Back Water into
Snake; Local Support of Ef-
fort Is Pleasing
WORK TO REQUIRE
AT LEAST 3 YEARS
Total Cost of Improvement to
Reach Huge Sum; Calls for
6 Dams in Snake River;
Gov. Means Business

tilla and development of the Snake
river for barge navigation to Aso-
tin, Wash, by means Of . series OF
DANA and locks at a total expendi-
ture OF approximately $75,oo0, 900
Il being considered seriously by the
federal government, it was author
itatively learned in Portland yes
terday.
Credence to rumors that authori-
cation for this great project, the
third on the Columbia river, will
be forthcoming soon is seen by adj
vocates Of the proposed develop
ment in the presence Of United
States army survey crews on the
river in the vicinity of Umatilla.
Old-time observers assert that
the Intensive work being carried
ON by these crews Is a certain in
dication that the government means
business. Only when the govern
ment intends to go thru with
project, they say is so much field
work done.
Survey Under Way
Colonel 7. M. Robins, division
engineer for the North Pacific divi-
sion, confirmed the presence of the
survey crews on the river at Um-
atilIa, but declined to predict that
the project would be authorized.
He did Indicate, however, that such
development fits in with the adj
ministration's adopted policy of
long-range planning and the con-
struction of public works for use
80 years from now.
The survey work, Colonel Robins
explained, is being carried on 1t
this time to obtain more detailed
information and estimates for in
ciusion in report which he expects
to make to his superiors at Wash
ington, d. C. about June /. The
survey was authorized by congress.
Crews in the field are devoting
special attention to flowage, a fac
tor involving land damages, as well
as compiling other engineering da-
Ia.
Two Dams Probable
Two dams at Umatilla are under
consideration. One is a so-called
high dam which would raise the
pool back of the dam to an eleva-
zion of $50 feet above sea level.
The navigation lift would be about
Is feet, meaning that the dam
structure itself would be slightly
higher.
A dam of this size would back
up the water to the mouth of the
Snake river, and five miles up the
Snake itself. 1t would cost between
S35,000.000 and $4O,0O0,000 to
build.
The other, or low dam, would be
feet lower, or about 55 feet high,
and would back the Columbia river
to the mouth of the Snake. It
would cost between $25 200, 900
and $50, 0OO, 900, according to rough
estimates.
Which dam will be recommended
depends upon findings of engineers
now in the field.
Development work on the Snake
river would include construction of
series Of at least six smaller
cams and locks to provide slack
water az Tar upstream as Asotin.
washington, above Lewiston, Ida
no. Cost Of this work is estimat-
ed at approximately $4O,00o,00O.
1t would require three working
seasons to build the dam at UNA
niia, where river conditions yery
similar to those at Bonneville
would prevail, according to Colonel
hooins. The Snake river improve
ment would take from six to eight
years to complete.
Ii the federal government does
authorize the Umatilla project il
Is probable that the money will be
appropriated from the S4,SS0 .OOO.-
aooo relief bill now before con-
gfess, according to in formed
sources here. Much depends, how
ever, on the limitations placed on
ene spending Of that huge sum.
In discussing this possibility
Soionei Robins pointed out that
sooue SlO,0o0,000 a year would be
sne limit for the Umatilla and
enake projects since only so much