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

page 121

PROBLEMS OF IMPERIAL VALI^EY AND VICINITY. 121 PLAN NO. 1. Irrigation plan.-Supply canal diverts from Williams Fork on the north side of township 3 north, range 88 west; thence on west bank of stream to siphon crossing Williams Fork; thence by canal to tunnel 12,500 feet long onto land. Irrigable lands lie south of Hayden & Craig on bench south of Yampa River. The land is rolling mesa cut by coulees to some extent. Duty of water. , 40,000 acres. May....... June....... July....... August___ Total Acre-feet. 10,000 28,000 28,000 14,000 80,000 Water supply.-Aside from the supply from some small creeks on the project, water will be derived from Williams Fork, the drainage a-rea above the diversion point being 98 square miles. Records exist for most of 1910 and 1911. By comparison with the discharge record of four years at Hamilton, on Williams Fork near mouth, the average at point of diversion is estimated to be 93,000 acre-feet and in the extreme low years 55,000 acre-feet. During the period November to February, inclusive, water can not be .diverted, leaving an average of 86,000 and a minimum of 48,000 available. Estimated at diversion {average). Acre-feet. October to April.......................................................... 16, 000 May...............................................................;.... 28, 000 June........,............................................................. 32, 000 July...................................................................... 12, 000 August.......................:................................i.......... 4, 000 Total...................................:.......................... 92,000 As the stream has its peak discharge in May and early June, draft on storage must commence not later than June 15 in the average year and in low years supply must come partly from storage for practically all season. Storage.-In an average year about 35,000 acre-feet are required, and this should be increased to 50,000 acre-feet to give a reasonable carry-over for low years. Reservoirs.-The only reservoir known to exist is the Bunker Basin, reached by 2 miles of canal. Capacity given is 8,300 acre-feet, which it may be possible to increase. Small reservoir sites may be found on the project, and some return flow would be available to decrease demands on reservoir. Conclusion.-The project is not feasible by this plan, because of ack of reservoir capacity.