AZ vs. CA:24 California Exhibits, Vol. XXIV; Miscellaneous

page 57

PROBLEMS OF IMPERIAL VALLEY AITC) VlUUflTX. 51 is evidenced by the land in cultivation, and generally it seems'quite free from alkali, except in some of the lower portions in the oldfirrigated 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, whicM 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 i 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. Tne Blythe rancho has been sold off in small tracts averaging about 60 acres. The area of the project and the status of lancfas of October, 1920, as shown by the records of the United States Land Office, are as follows: Acres. GroBBarea 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 4-he 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. PRE8ENT 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 5£ 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 new concrete structure has been installed at this point sufficient in capacity to irrigate the entire valley. The structure is controlled by wooden emergency gates, with steel stem screw-lifting devices. Ordinarily it is controlled by flashboards, over which the water enters the canal, permitting the skiinming process. As the main current of the river strikes the Blythe heading it is free from silting up above the intake. Two and one-half miles below the intake is sluiceway No. 1, and at mile 4 is sluiceway No. 2, which are large wooden structures. The skimming process is repeated at these points over flashboard into the canal, and the silt is sluiced out into the river. Excess water is run to these points for this purpose.