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Show 112 -- 102-- it is nearer 500 acres - that might be irrigated and farmed. That is, the surface of it is sufficiently high above the river so that it would not be washed over except during an exceptionally high water flood; and it so lies that it could be irrigated by irrigation whells - save 500 acres." R. 231- 231. That is the entire stretch of 89 or 90 miles. He made an investigation and examination of the Colorado River by automobile from Courthouse Wash up to castle Creek, " following the secondary highway that runs up the river to Castle Creek along the east bank. A survey was made of the stretch of river in the vicinity of Niles 70 and 71 - between Niles 70.9 and 72. A survey was made with a plane table, in order to show the characteristics, and as shown by Piute 37 of [ complainant's] Exhibit 76, the river has changed materially, taking on more the characteristics of a mountain stream, the rapids being numerous large rocks exposed in the channel. The bed is no longer silt and sand. Each side wash brings down a great deal of debris which has formed a rapids. Those conditions obtain starting in at about Nile 58, near the mouth of sheep Creek, which is about three miles above the bridge at Moab. Between Nile 68 and the mouth of Castle Creek, which is about Nile 79, the river is much deeper than down below. The rapids are all in heavy gravel and rock boulders, with a fall of one to three or four feet. There is no longer any quiet water. |