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Show 62 PROBLEMS OF IMPERIAL VALLEY AND VICINITY. YUtfA PROJECT. Location and description.-The Yuma project is located in Yuma County, Arizona, and in Imperial County, California. The principal town of the project is Yuma, with a population of 5,000. It is located on the Colorado River, at the point of crossing of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The other principal tqwns of the project are Somerton and Gadsden, in Arizona, and the town of Winterhaven, in California. The railroads of the project are the main line of the Southern Pacific; the San Diego & Arizona Railroad, recently completed, froin Yuma to San Diego, Calif.; and the Yuma Valley (Government) Railroad, which runs south from Yuma to the Mexican border, a distance of 24 miles. The present constructed portion of the Yuma project comprises the valley lands of the Yuma Indian Reservation on the California side, extending from Yuma northeast about 10 miles to near the Laguna Dam, at which point the river flows between two rock hills. On the Arizona side the present constructed project comprises the Yuma Valley lands, extending from Yuma to the Mexican border, a distance of about 17 miles. The average width of the Yuma Valley is about 6 miles, and that of the reservation about 3 miles. The valley lands of tl^e project were practically all subject to overflow in extreme high water, and it has been necessary to construct levees for their protection. The pumping unit of the project, or what is known as the Yuma auxiliary project, comprises the bench lands lying adjacent to and east of the Yuma Valley, at a general elevation of about 190 feet above sea level and about 80 feet above the valley lands. The first unit of this project is now under construction. Historical.-Reconnaissance made and preliminary surveys begun in 1902. Construction recommended by board of engineers April 8, 1904. Construction authorized by Secretary, May 10, 1904. First irrigation by Reclamation Service, season of 1907. Laguna Dam completed March, 1909. Coloraxjp River siphon completed June 29, 1912. Gravity water from Laguna Dam furnished to Yuma Valley through siphon J^une 29, 1912. Yuma Mesa auxiliary reclamation project act passed January 25, 1917.. Construction of first mesa unit approved June 8, 1920. Yuma project 95 per cent completed and first mesa unit of auxiliary project 20 per cent completed June 30, 1920 LAND. Topography and soil.-The valley lands of the project are flat river-bottom lands, formerly covered with brush, and cut to some extent, with sloughs, as is characteristic of other valleys of the Colorado River. There are also some sand dunes in portions of the project. The soil is alluvium, or river silt, and especially near the river is quite sandy. The mesa lands are uniformly smooth, with a gentle slope to the southwest. The soil is sandy loam. |
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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] : |