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

page 100

100 PROBLEMS OF IMPERIAL VALLEY AND VICINITY. CLASSIFICATION OF PROJECTS. A rough attempt has been made to classify the projects as to relative feasibility. Obviously such, a classification must be very rough. That adopted is as follows: Class A.-Projects concerning which no serious difficulties are mentioned in the various reports considered and for which water supply seems ample. Perhaps feasible at present time. Class B.-Projects which appear to be expensive. Class C.-Extremely expensive projects which are obviously out of the question to build at the present time. Class X.-Small individual extensions and new ditches. These are constantly being built and there is no way of forecasting when. Class X may be regarded as feasible. The acreage placed in Class X is based largely on topography of the basin and is estimate^ larger where diversion is easier and water supply large. This classification is based partly on apparent physical feasibility as nearly as can be determined from reading of reports and on sufficiency of water supply in accordance with standards used in this report which are not the present standards of the Reclamation Service, as determined by rough analyses of existing stream discharge records made for this report. The location of the project and present transportation service also have a bearing. There is also another class of lands, those under existing ditches but not yet reclaimed by settlers. It may be assumed that this class will be irrigated in the near future. Feasibility of a project can be determined definitely only b^ a detailed and exhaustive field survey, and so far as the Reclamation Service is concerned, this, would have to be made by Reclamation Service engineers before indorsement. Nor can the analyses of water supply be regarded as anything more than very preliminary in nature. Many projects included would have a much scantier supply of water than considered desirable by the Reclamation Service. They are included, however, because it is known that large irrigated areas have been built up successfully on a comparatively small amount of water. These are the growth of years, and it is not too much to hope that the same efficiency will come on these possible projects with the lapse of time. The estimates of water consumed are based on existence of efficient natural or artificial drainage: Without artificial drainage many of these projects will consume more water than has been estimated. In general, lands in the upper basin have good natural drainage, but this is not true in parts of Wyoming, in Utah particularly along the Duchesne, and in the present large projects in the Grand River Basin. It is to be expected that the lower lands in the Yampa Basin will require some artificial drainage if the upper benches are irrigated. In every project that is built provision should be made for drainage, whether of lands in the project or of lands outside which may become swamped by irrigation of the project. Feasibility of a project depends on whether enough value is added to the land to make it a profitable investment to the landowner. It goes without saying that in a favorable climate, such as the lower valleys of the Upper Basin have, more value will be added to the land by\bringing water to it than will be the case in the higher and colder