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Show 164 PROBLEMS OF IMPERIAL VALLEY AND VICINITY. Duty of water.-The probable high cost of construction for this development will tend to hold diversions to a minimum. This factor, combined with the 8-inch rainfall during the growing season and the water retentive properties of the soils of this area, will hold diversions to an average of 2 acre-feet per acre with consumptive use of 1.50 acre-feet per acre. Water-supply.-The water supply of the Animas River is but partially used even in the months of lowest run-off, and the project may be expected to be able to divert to the limit of its canal capacity from existing .flows of the intercepted creeks. The only existing records are For 1920, with an abnormally high run-off. In 1920, diversions from the Animas watershed would have been- possible as follows: Water supply, 1920. Date. Divertible. Sec.-ft. Acre-feet. 200 36,000 200 5,700 180 4,500 100 5,800 55 3,000 Date Divertible. Apr. 1. July 1. July 15 Aug. 1. Sept. 1 Acre-feet. 2,600 2,400 Total In an average year the time during which the canal would be able to divert its full capacity would be reduced from 90 days as above to 60 days, but diversions after August 1 would be practically the same, resulting in a reduction of diversions to 50,000 acre-feet, which in low years may get down to 40,000 acre-feet. To this must be added 5,000 acre-feet of storage, which would be impounded every year, and conveyed to the La Plata drainage after August 1. The present unused water in the La Plata Basin within Colorado has been measured at the State line in 1920 and part of 1919. Comparing these flows with flows at Hesperus shows a difference of about 15,000 acre-feet annually between the two stations, and indicates an average of 30,000 acre-feet annually passing into New Mexico, of which probably 5,000 acre-feet is return now in the vicinity of the State line not recoverable within Colorado. Total water supply for the project would then be as follows: Water supply. Average year. Low year. Direct diversions in Animas watershed.. Acre-feet. 50,000 5,000 25,000 Acre-feet. 40,000 5,000 15,000 Storage from Animas watershed.. . Recoverable water in La Plata watershed__ Total........................ 80,000 60,000 Storage.- The relation of supply and demand in an average year would be as follows: |
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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] : |