AZ vs. CA:07 California Exhibits, Vol. VII; Nos. 326-370

page 57

PBOBLEMS OF IMPERIAL VALLEY AND VICINITY. 57 LAND. Topography and soils.-The valley is flat river-bottom land, all subject to overflow without protection. It is generally quite smooth and free from small sloughs as compared with other valleys along the Colorado, though there are a few large sloughs extending through the tract. As is characteristic of the valleys of the Colorado, it is lowest on the farthest side from the river or near the mesa, the fall being about 15 feet. The lower end of the valley is a fine, rather he&vj silt. The middle and upper portion is a light sandy silt. The soil is very fertile, as is evidenced by the land in cultivation, and generally it seems quite free from alkali, except in some of the lower portions in the old irrigated sections, where it has become alkalied by the rise of the ground water. Drainage.-There is fairly good surface drainage throughout the valley except during the high-water period, the water being carried off through the large sloughs above mentioned, which empty into the river near the lower end of the valley, but due to irrigation it was found that during a period of about 10 years prior to 1918 the ground water had risen about 7 feet, and at that time was also within about 7 feet of the surface. Since that time the water table has remained about the same, though it fluctuates to some extent, due to the rise and fall of the river. The need of artificial drainage has been felt for some years in the irrigated portion of the valley, and a drainage estimate and plan of work were made in report by D. W- Murphy, drainage engineer, under date of November 18, 1918. Since that time some progress has been made in the way of drainage construction. Ownership and area.-Practically all of the land in the Palo Verde Valley is in private ownership. The Blythe rancho has been sold off in small tracts averaging about 60 acres. The area of the project and the status of land as of October, 1920, as shown by the records of the United States Land Office, are as follows: Acres. Grose area of valley....................................................... 95, 000 Irrigable area-Private.......................................................... 72,000 Entered........................................................ 6, 600 Total.......................................................... 78, 600 It is the opinion of the engineer in charge of the project that the water rights of the company are sufficient for the irrigation of the entire valley, and that no storage will be required. The question of the water rights of the company is a matter to be eventually determined by adjudication. PRESENT STATUS. The present works of the Palo Verde Mutual Water Co. consist of 181 miles of irrigation canals and laterals, of which approximately 8 miles are main canals, 26 miles of submains, and 147 miles of laterals. The company has also constructed 28£ miles of main levee, 6 miles of auxiliary levee, 7£ miles of wasteway canals, and b\ miles of drainage canals, in addition to the borrow-pit drain which extends the full length of the levee. The intake of the main canal is constructed in a granite rock cut at the Blythe heading, above mentioned. A