White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1935-05-30

varying agricultural conditi
ject should be successful, is
the conclusion drawn by j.
Ct. Woodburn, member 'ot
the civil engineering depart
ment of Washington State
College.
DR.. Woodburn's conclusion is based
on several weeks field work on the
project last summer, supplemented by
ANALYSES of existing soil maps, topo-
graphic maps and published literature
on water requirements, and IS lncluded
in a report on the Priest Rapids lrrl-
cation district submitted to the board
of directors recently.
The report includes data on the
classification of lands in the district,
duty of water, efficiency Of the pump
ing plant, capacity of the main canal,
proposed schedules of flow and re-
CURED extensions of present facilities,
as well as water requirements OF lrrl-
gated crops, uses of water on federal
projects operating problems OF federal
projects and costs Of pumping for IT.
rigation..
Project In Strategic Position
DR.. Woodburn states in his report
that the recent acquisition by the dis
trict of it's present properties for sup
plying water-power plant, transmits
sion line, pumping plant and main
canal-at low capital cost; the UNI
failing source of irrigation water, when
is limited in the amount supplied the
project only by the economies of pump
ing and distribution; the favorable
topography and climate; the occur
renee of q soil, throughout a large part
of the project which by past expert
ence has been found to respond richly
to proper attendance and fertilization;
with deep drainage insuring freedom
from alkali; place the project IN
strategic position for profiting by the
expansion in demand for irrigated
lands which, he says, is already taking
place.
About OTTO acres lying in two fairly
compact blocks in the vicinity OF Han
ford and White Bluffs are distinctly
above the margin of irrigability when
the general factors noted above MAX
ing for the success of the project are
considered, the report continues.
OF this acreage which is feasible fol
irrigation about 1882 acres now dry
appear to warrant early inclusion with
about 1894 acres now watered; while
about 6844 acres of very nearly as gooc
land can be planned for irrigation as
the demand for land increases in thu
future The 1926 acres designated a:
practicable for irrigation at presen
can be watered without extensive adj
ditions to the present supply and dis
tributive system, provided REASONABLE
duty of water is established; while sup
plying water to the entire 9170 acre
would require major improvements AM
extensions of pumping equipment an
distribution system.
Six Acre-Feet Sufficient
"Study of past experience with Tn
amount of irrigation water required i
the Priest Rapids project, study Q
other districts and survey OF liter
allure dealing with measured water re
quirements of similar light soils" say
DIR. WOODBURY., lead the writer to rec
ommend duty Of water OF six acre
feet per acre for the irrigation season
with the provision that the flow avail
able at the farms during the peak {
the season shall be at least l cub
foot per second to fifty acres. Tn
amount of water is less than appear
to have been generally used in tE
project, but is considerably more tina
the original amount of 80 acre-inch'
per acre planned by the designers
the project.
Some Improvement in farming ar
irrigation practice will of course
necessary in order to reduce the an
cunts OF water used to the duty re-
commended, but some of the best farm
ers in the district agree that it can
done and other districts with lig
soils are operating with six acre-fe
per acre or less. The writer deplor
the rather common practice observ
in the Priest Rapids project OF pc
hitting irrigation water to run una
tended, in some cases with no one ev
at home on the place. Best practi
requires large heads of water wi
constant attention in order to GOV
given area in short time, with \
r tation for small tracts, with She
runs on light soils, and with soil mo
t,re measurements to establish prop
adjustment of irrigating head, leng
of run and period of irrigation to
sure sufficient water for the crop wit
out over-irrigating and teaching
soil"
Cooperation In Conserving Water
With careful engineering and ma