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Show ("» USK OF WATERS OK LOWER COLORADO RIVER FOR IRRIGATION. servation of the waters of the river and its tributaries, such as would be possible under the reclamation act by systematic and logical development, is not less than '2,()(M),(Mj() acres, and the annual discharge of the river indicates that a much greater area will eventually be irrigated. AVAII.AIBILITY BY PRIVATE ENTERPRISE. Up to the present time all development has been by private enterprise, the proposed Yuma project being the first investment of national funds. As a rule private enterprise has been greatly hampered by the magnitude of the construction involved and the great difficulties of effectively controlling the stream. The experience of these enterprises is such as to discourage further investment, especially in view of the fact that under the terms of the reclamation act the Government will probably construct large and permanent works, utilizing all of the available resources. The principal large enterprise is that of the California Development Company taking water at or below, the international boundary on the California side and carrying in through the Republic of Mexico for about »'»0 miles to points where it is returned, in part, northerly into the United States. Here in the southern end of San Diego County, Cal., is a great sink, or depression, extending to a depth of nearly HlHI feel below sea level. The waters from Colorado U»vei\ con<lneted through Mexico, are distributed over part of this area through canals owned by the farmers. The lands lie at altitudes from those slightly above sea l«»vel, sloping very gently toward the north or west, to the Stilton sink. The entire area has been frequently overllowed in recent geologic times, both by the waters of the Gulf of California and by the waters of Colorado kiver. In fact, the depression is simply the upper ©nd of the (iulf of California, cut oil from the salt waters by a broad exiHtnso of tine sands or clays, the sewiinent brought down by the Colorado Hiver. This depiction, being the bed of a former estuary or brackish lake, contains all of the salts or alkali which was left by the evaporation of the water. This alkaline content ranges from a slight or inappreciable percentage to M per cent or more. The reports of the Bureau of Soils of the Department of Agriculture cover this point fully and illustrate the ditlieulties aim dangers encountered by the settlers in this area. The lands within and around this depression have been tiled upon principally under the terms or the desert hind act. and to a less extent under the h<>mc>tcad act. The holdings are usually from L(>0 to &20 acres or more, and irrigation has been attempted on many of these, with greater or less success, dependent upon (lie amount of alkali in the soil and the skill of the fanner in distributing the, available supply- The use of the waters of this river upon lands which are very strongly alkaline, or which for other reasons can not l>e permanently reclaimed and made to produce remunerative crops, is a waste and not a beneficial use. The waters of the Colorado ltiverlmvc in some cases been applied to lands of thi* character, and the public interest requires that .such use of its water ft -hoiild be prevented as being wasteful. |
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Original book: [State of Arizona, complainant v. State of California, Palo Verde Irrigation District, Coachella Valley County Water District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, City of Los Angeles, California, City of San Diego, California, and County of San Diego, California, defendants, United States of America, State of Nevada, State of New Mexico, State of Utah, interveners] : California exhibits. |