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Show ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF WATER DEVELOPMENT 37 The Provo River Project and the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake City Settlement of the Salt Lake Valley began with the establishment of individuals and communities upon the various streams where land was suitable and water readily available for irrigation, but because of the conditions surrounding pioneer life, lack of capital and the absence of long- time planning, only those waters easily and cheaply controlled were put to beneficial use, leaving flood waters to run to waste. Also almost all water sources were over- appropriated. Both agriculturalists and municipalities counted their water supplies in averages and upon stream flows of years and seasons of plenty, instead of upon a dry or minimum basis and, since floods of the spring can not be used in the summer or the average of the last ten years be utilized this year, there has always been very great hardship during every season and every year below the normal. Not only has this been the situation in the Salt Lake Valley, but elsewhere in the State. 53- B. ( Below) Illustrating why an average stream- flow record is unreliable in calculating water supplies. Hampton C. Godbe HOW DROUTH AFFECTS STREAM FLOW Shaded columns represent average July flow from 1928 to 1935 inclusive; solid columns represent the flow in July, 1934. All figures in second feet. 14.1 14.3 Little Cottonwood • _ 15.2 14.2 Big Cottonwood City Creek Parley's Creek Mill Creek |
