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Show BOULDER CANYON PROJECT 19 than 200,000 cubic feet of water per second and a low flow at the head works of the Imperial system of 1,250 cubic feet of water per second. This causes extremely serious flood situations all along the lower river. Floods above Imperial Valley, were they not overshadowed by the exceptional flood danger to Imperial Valley, would attract attention and call for remedial measures. In 1916 the water stood 2 feet deep in the streets of the town of Yuma and threatened its destruction. In 1922 the river inundated a large part of Palo Verde Valley and the water stood several feet deep in the town of Ripley in that valley, destroying much property and otherwise causing a large amount of damage. Other floods have submerged the Parker Valley and also done serious damage to the city of Needles. The greatest flood danger, however, is to the Imperial Valley, lying far below the river's channel and with no outlet for flood waters once they enter the valley. PAST FLOODS THREATENING IMPERIAL VALLEY In 1914, the Volcano Lake Levee was breached and 10,000 cubic feet of water per second flowed through the levee into the Imperial Valley for many days before the levees would be repaired. More serious results were avoided by means of hundreds of men placing bags of earth on top of the levee. In 1918 the Ockerson Levee, which had been rebuilt by Imperial irrigation district, was breached in two places. The flood water was successfully turned westward to Volcano Lake by other levees, but not until after several thousand acres of land had been inundated and the workmen and a Southern Pacific train marooned. In a course of two days the men were removed but the train was held until the flood subsided some three months later. In 1919, before the river was turned into Pescadaro Cut, the levees were again breached and 4,000 acres of land inundated before the opening could be closed. The river was so high and the water soaked earth so soft that maintenance work could not be carried on by the usual means of dumping rock from trains operated for that purpose. This was found to be the case after a locomotive and cars had been lost in the attempt. Numerous smaller breaks have occurred. In 1925, with only 50,000 second-feet of water, the river turned against the levees and in two different places undermined and destroyed them for distances of several hundred feet. This again occurred in 1926. These smaller breaks are of annual occurrence and serious results have been prevented only by constant vigilance. Telephone communication is maintained throughout the entire length of the levees and numerous watchmen are constantly on patrol. Strings of dump cars are kept loaded with rock and during high water locomotives kept under steam for immediate use. LEVEE SYSTEM The imperial irrigation district has about 78 miles of protective levees in Mexico. The Yuma project has about 30 miles in Arizona and California, built and maintained by the Government, and Palo Verde irrigation district has several miles of similar levees for the |
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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] : California exhibits. |