THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY 



135 



The need of such action is emphasized 

 by the recent destructive floods which 

 have wrought disaster and ruin to the 

 valley. No permanent relief can be 

 expected except through concerted ac- 

 tion upon lines which will include every 

 important feature of controlling the 

 whole river. 



The state for many years has car- 

 ried on various special investigations, 

 and a number of commissions have 

 studied the problem from different 

 standpoints, but the most impressive 

 fact is that up to the present time there 

 has been no one body or commission 

 authorized to go at the entire matter in 

 a large way. 



The Federal Government is interest- 

 ed in the river primarily on the side of 

 navigation. The Sacramento and San 

 Joaquin, and their tributaries, form 

 one of the great systems of inland 

 waterways in the country. They should 

 and can be made so that the products 

 of the great valley can be moved at the 

 minimum of cost. 



The Federal Government is also in- 

 terested in the stream through its con- 

 trol of the National Forests. They 

 cover the mountain areas from whence 

 comes the greater part of the stream 

 flow. The National Forests have been 

 set aside largely for their beneficial ef- 

 fect upon the rivers. 



The Government is also interested 

 through the operations of the Recla- 

 mation Act. Reservoirs have been sur- 

 veyed to hold flood waters, and a be- 

 ginning has been made on the con- 

 struction of one of these near Orland. 

 It is hoped and expected that under the 

 operations of the Reclamation Act, all 

 of the reservoirs useful in irrigation 

 may ultimately be built. 



The Government is also interested in 

 the control of the mining debris, and 

 large expenditures have been made in 

 investigating the problem. 



It is also investigating, through the 

 Geological Survey, the behavior of 

 sand and similar materials washed 

 down by the streams, and has obtained 

 facts of value on this subject. 



Grand Valley Project, Colorado, Raising Vegetables between Rows of Young Trees While Growing an Orchard near 



Grand Junction, Colorado 



