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Show PROBIiEMS OF IMPERIAL VALLBY AITD VICINITY, 78 Concentrated flow, carrying the entire Colorado River, occurred, however, in 1905 and again in 1906, when the river left its normal course by breaking through the lower Mexican heading of the Imperial Canal, gathered in the Alamo and New River Channels,' and flowed then to the Salton Sink, which it transformed into a great inland aea- The cost of closing these breaks and restoring the river to its old channel was in excess of $2,000,000. No. doubt many diversions of the Colorado River to the Salton Sink mark the past history of that stream, but in recent times we have only-the record of 1891, when a lake of 100,000 acres, and of 1905 and 1906, when a lake of 285,000 acres was formed. In order to insure against a recurrence of such a channel change in the Colorado River, levees have been constructed as shown on Exhibit B. These levees are necessary for the protection of Imperial Valley lands both in Mexico and in the United States, although their location is entirely on Mexican soil. They include the following: (ft) The C. I). Levee, built by the California Development Co., extending from the present Imperial Canal intake, southerly along the right bank of the Colorado River a distance of 10 miles; thence southwesterly an additional distance of 17 miles. (b) The Volcano Lake Levee, extending from Cerro Prieto, a rock mountain at the northwesterly corner of Volcano Lake, a distance of 16£ miles to a connection with the Inter-California Railroad embankment; thence north H miles to a connection with the south embankment of the Imperial Main Canal. (c) The Ockerson Levee, constructed in 1911 by the United States for the primary purpose of returning the flow of the Colorado from the *Bee River Channel, which it had assumed two years before, back.info its previous.and more, easterly channel along the base of the Sonora Mesa. During the summer flood of 1911 it was breached at numerous points, the largest breach occurring at the Bee River Channel, which ¦widened until the entire river flowed down this channel.to..Volcano Lake, which continues to be its course to the present time. Due to the lack of maintenance a few additional breaches have occurred, but the major part of the levee is intact. The total expenditure incurred to date in the above levee1 construction, including •closures, has been estimated at about $5,000,000. (See' Exhibit F.) Aside from the Ockerson Levee, these levees have thuB far fairly accomplished their object, but not without actual and threatened breaks that might have Drecinit.fl.tfid a calamity at any time. The political obstacles encountered in constructing and operating the system nave been almost as serious as the physical difficulties and have at times jeopardized the integrity of the enterprise. From its inception the project has been financed by American capital and built with American equipment, al&ough practically all of the main canal and the flood-protection works and about one-third of the irrigable area are in Mexican territory. The customs and other regulations of Mexico governing movement of persons and materials across the border often cause serious and costly •delays which, in cases of emergency, might be disastrous. The situation ia at times ao critical and the ability to-act promptly is so vital to the safety of the enterprise that these restrictions should be abolished. The present Mexican concession is unsatisfactory because inadequate in several respects. It does not establish equality of irrigation charges on the two sides of the bouadary; it does not authorize enlargement of the main canal or construction of any> higher canal; it does not provide for any flood-protection works. The unstable political conditions in Mexico add to the gravity of this situation. Drainage.-As the district stands to-day, there is very little provision made for drainage.. The need of proper drainage facilities is being felt in different sections where the underground water is bringing the salt to the surface. In these sections it is impossible to raise a crop to-day on landthat was giving a heavy yield five years ago. Imperial Mutual Water Co. No. 3 has a few surface drainage ditches. The usual method is to run a double system of canals with a road between. ,'..".. Imperial Mutual Water Co. No. 8 has a few surface drainage, ditches, but they are far the most part owned by private individuals and are'not kept in very good condition. - Imperial Mutual Water Co. No. 5 has an, elaborate system of surface drainage ditches. Practically every feed canal'in: theTsjjitom is paralleled by a. drainage ditch. The usual method of placing a road between every feed and drainage ditchis followed. In the other companies little or no provision has been made for surface drainage. |
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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] : |