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Show YAMPA AND WHITE RIVER BASINS. These rivers are tributary to the Green and drain the entire northwest of Colorado, plus a small portion of southern Wyoming. The two valleys are here treated together because of similar characteristics and because it is proposed to use the waters of the White for irrigation of land in Yampa Basin. The two rivers after leaving the mountains flow westward through a great sedimentary plateau into which they have cut channels far below the general surface of the country. Tnere is some irrigation of the bottom lands direct from both rivers and it is believed possible to extend this to some extent, in the case of the Yampa particularly; but aside from this the flat grade of the rivers makes it difficult to divert water from them for irrigation of the mesas on which irrigable land may be found. Two such diversions have been proposed from White River to lands lying north of the river, but are not included in the total because of the reported difficulties later discussed. Many irrigation projects have been proposed and outlined by surveys, but they are all from tributaries, and there is no possibility of using all the water in the region. The whole area in general is one of the largest undeveloped regions in the United States, having immense coal and oil shale deposits and perhaps containing oil in commercial quantities. Its transportation needs are inadequately served by the Denver & Salt Lake (Moffat) Railroad, which has its present terminus at Craig, on the Yampa River. Surveys have been made from the Union Pacific south into the region. , The irrigable lands are fertile and generally well drained by the numerous tributary stream channels and coulees. The formation of the country, which is easily eroded, makes them as a whole rolling to rough in topography. The altitude of the area is from 5,000 on the west to 14,000 at the crest of the Rockies, which form the eastern boundary. The irrigable lands, which lie mostly to the east, range from 6,500 to 7,000 feet. Precipitation increases from about 9 inches in .the west'to 22 inches at the foot of the Rockies. On the irrigable lands it varies from 12 to 22 inches. The annual temperature in the irrigable portion varies from 37° to 42°, with a summer period between frosts of 65 to 90 days and an irrigation season of from 3.5 to 4.5 months. The comparatively large precipitation makes a high duty of water possible and, together with the good drainage, should make a low actual consumption of water. . Diversion duty used in computing water supply varies from.1.75 to 2.50 acre-feet per acre and the consumptive use is taken at 1.25 acre-feet per acre for the average. Power development can not be very extensive near the headwaters, but below most irrigation possibilities on the main rivers dams can be built to create head for power, and behind these dams the reservoir capacity is sufficient to completely control the streams. 117 |
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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] : |