474 KKl'(Hrr <>K nKMCK (»K KXl'KRIMKNT STATIONS. 



tho use of water, 'riicsc will Ix' iiulisponsahlf in tlio iioar ruturo, and 

 tlicaidof (his Otlicc in the ^athcrinj^- of facts needed in ])rei)aiin«i" these 

 re.<,^iihiti()ns was invoked. As a basis, kn()wled«je of two conditions is 

 indis|)ensal)U\ One fs the amount of waier now l)(^in<i^ diverted and 

 the other is the amount which retui'ns as seepa<>v. 'Pliroutiii the coop- 

 eration of the dillerent ditch owners, Professor Waller and hif^ assist- 

 ants liave l)een enabled this sunuucr to ol)tain complete measurements 

 of the volume of water taken from the stream by the different canals. 

 CompariuL,^ this with the records of the stream's discliarj^e gives an 

 approximate idea of the percentage which returns as seepage and the 

 manner in which this alfects the availa])le water supply. Incidentally, 

 it gives the data for determining the average duty of water through- 

 out this entire district— one of the essential facts greatly needed l)y 

 courts, canal compani(\s, and farmci's in organizing tlie distribution of 

 water over large areas. 



Professor Waller reports that this work began on June 20, and that 

 from this time until August 1 he and his assistant w^ere kept ])usily 

 emplo^'ed in installing gauge rods, measuring the flow of water in the 

 canals, and gathering data to show the acreage irrigated. He reports 

 that everj^body in this valle}^ is interested in the work })eing done, and 

 that there are urgent requests for information regarding the results; 

 that some of the parties connected with the large projects are anxious 

 to know whether there is any water for them befoi'e undertaking the 

 expenditure of large sums of money in ditches or flumes. 



These investigations, to be reliable, must be continued through 

 another season. The inunense amount of preliminar}' work imposed 

 upon Professor Waller delayed some of the records, so that another 

 season will be necessary to get a complete record. He proposes to 

 put a man in the field early in March in order that he ma}^ get over 

 the entire section before water is turned into the ditches, check the 

 gauge rods and canal sections, and determine the conditions regarding 

 depth of soil water where seepage is an important factor. The prac- 

 tical value of this work, both to those engaged in present development 

 and its influence in the establishment of the right kind of laws and 

 customs for the future regulation of water in this district, justifies its 

 efficient prosecution. 



In addition to these studies an investigation of the drainage problems 

 of this valley was made under the direction of Mr. P^lliott, as will be 

 explained in the report of the drainage work of this Office. 



IDAHO. 



Albert Eugene Wright, Agent and Expert, in ctiarge. 



The irrigation investigations in Idaho during the past j^ear were 

 carried on in cooperation with the State engineer's office. The prin- 

 cipal fields of this work were in the valleys of Lost River and Haft 



