The Coolidge examiner., 1946-09-20

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Coolidge Dam indicated that only
light showers had fallen on water
sheds above San Carlos reservoir
and so. although almost the entire
section below the dam received
ample rain no water was trapped
in San Carlos reservoir. The Sar
Pedro watershed likewise yielded
little water.
Despite this ironical twist o.
fortune, the flood waters are be-
ing utilized to irrigate crops with.
in San Carlos project and the rair
itself was equal to a first-class
irrigation. so the valley is benefit.
ing greatly from the drouth-
breaking precipitation. Cotton may
sustain some damage to quality
and picking will be delayed for q
week or so. but the top bolls will
mature as a result of the mois-
ture. and so cotton farmers are
feeling kindly toward the rain. Al
falfa, sorghum crops, and pas
lures will flourish.
An airplane survey of the area
surrounding Coolidge Thursday
morning revealed water standing
in some fields and surrounding
some homes and buildings in vari-
Gus places, but the large proper
tion of land was free of surface
water. Most of the inundated land
was near Picacho reservoir and In
the area southwest and west OF
IT, A superficial break had oc-
Cured in the dixie. allowing water
to run over some agricultural
land, but the break was being re-
paired Thursday morning. Most OF
the water was runoff from the
desert which extends back to the
Picacho mountains.
A considerable area of farm
land in Randolph and .Eloy neigh
borhoods appeared to have several
inches of water over it, in addi-
tion TO desert land southeast oil
Picacho reservoir. The water es-
Gaping from the reservoir through
the break and from the spillway
followed Mcclellan Wash to the
west and northwest, running down
section line roads at times, across
fields occasionally, but generally
following the course of the wash
A few homes were flooded with
several inches of water but no
loss of life or property was re-
ported Livestock was observed
in several fields knee-deep in
water.
Officials and employees of both
the u. S. Indian Irrigation Serv-
ice and the San Carlos Irrigation
and Drainage District were out all
night Wednesday and late into the
day Thursday keeping watchful
eye on the canal system. Early
Wednesday night the diversion
gate east of Florence was closed
thus running all surplus water
from above the diversion dam into
the Gila river. Even so, surface
water from the mountains and
desert south and east of Florence
and Coolidge more than filled the
canals, so that in several places
floodgates had TO be opened tC
save the canal system itself. Ev.
cry effort was made to open flood
gates in areas where the, least
damage would occur as a result oi
water being turned onto land ad'
joining canals. Damage to the Sar
Carlos irrigation system was es-
timated at between one and two
thousand dollars.
Highways and side roads were
impossible in many places. High
way 81 between Casa Grande anC
Gila Bend was under water, and il
places considerable washing haC
occurred. Highway 81 from LIZ
Palma to Picacho was blocked a
Z o'clock Wednesday night anC
was still impossible early Thurs
day morning. The highway be
tween Tucson and Florence wa!
reported virtually impossible, a
well as the highway north from
Florence to Florence Junction. 4
break occurred near Olberg Sta
tion northwest of Coolidge, anC
traffic was routed around by Sac
atom.
Bus schedules were only slight
ly disrupted locally, having to b'
routed around Picacho through
Casa Grande.