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Show PROBIJSMS OF IMPERIAL VALLEY AND VICINITY. 63 Drainage.-The valley lands are generally lower near the mesa than adjacent to the river, and in general are lower than the high-water level of the river. Due to these conditions artificial drainage has been found necessary for the greater portion of the valley lands, and the construction of open drains is actively under way. The drainage conditions of the mesa lands are good. Ownership and area.-The status of the irrigable lands of the project as of June 30, 1920, is as follows: Acres. Public land entered..................................................... 19, 000 Public land open___.......................„........................,.. 300 Public, land withdrawn...............................• .*................. 37, 900 State land unsold..'...................................................... 1,800 Indian land............................ _..................____*. 1.. X.. 9,000 Private land.......................___.................___.___,....... 62,000 Total irrigable area..................<. 1............................. 130,000 WATER SUPPLY. Right to divert water from Colorado River.-The right to divert water from the Colorado River (a navigable stream) was authorized by act of Congress entitled "An act making appropriations for the current and contingent expenses of the Indian Department and for fulfilling treaty stipulations with various Indian tribes for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1905, and for other purposes" (act Apr. 21, 1904, ch. 1402, 33 Stat., 189). The portion authorizing the diversion of water reads as follows: That in carrying out any irrigation enterprise which may be undertaken under the provisions of the reclamation act of June 17, 1902, and which may make possible and provide for, in connection with, the reclamation of other lands, the reclamation of all or any portion of the irrigable lands on the Yuma and Colorado River Indian Reser^ vations in California and Arizona, the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to divert the waters of the Colorado River and to reclaim, utilize, and dispose of any lands in said reservations which maybe irrigable by such works in like manner as though the same were a part of the public domain. Appropriations.-Appropriations of water for diversion from the Colorado River to be used on the Yuma project are listed as follows: Second- . • .. feet. Appropriated July 8,1905, to be diverted from the left side of Colorado River at > Laguna Dam, toiae used on lands in Yuma County, Ariz., recorded July 10, 1905,. at Yuma County recorder's office, Yuma, Ariz, (book 5, miscellaneous, p: 99).,.........(.................................:...................... s,ooo Appropriated July 8, 1905, to "be diverted from right bank ofColorado River at . Laguna Dam, to be used on lands m Imperial County, Calif., recorded July 13, 1905, at Imperial County recorder's office at El Centro, Calif, (book 1", p. 106).....;:.............................-ii...,r..............'Jir....... Also in 1907 and 1908 the United States purchased for the benefit of the Yuma project the property arid rights of the following, old canals in the Yuma VaUey: Farmers' pump canal,-Purchased from the Colorado Vajley Pumping & Irrigation Co., March 15,1907. This company was incorporated March 4, 1901. There was under irrigation in 1907, from 2,000 to 3,000 acres from this system. Farmers' gravity canal.-Purchased from the Yuma Valley. Union Land & Water Co., February 3, 1908. This company (originally the Yuma Canal Co.) was incorporated June 26,1897. Its plans involved practically all lands in the Yuma Valley. |
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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] : |