492 NATIONAL RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS. 



under the canals at a moderate cost, but for which there is no late 

 summer flow in the river. The development of a comprehensive 

 system of irrigation in Yakima Valley can be accomplished by the 

 successive construction of several units of a general project, the work 

 being gradually extended to embrace the entire irrigable area. 



The Tieton division, which is an integer of the great work pro- 

 jected in Yakima Valley, embraces an area of about 24,000 acres west 

 of and near the city of North Yakima. The water supply will be 

 from Tieton River, supplemented by water stored in Bumping Lake. 



The Sunnyside division of the Yakima project contemplates the 

 purchase, enlargement, and extension of the Sunnyside canal system 

 now in operation, and in connection therewith the construction of 

 suitable storage Avorks at the upper Yakima lakes. The Government 

 has purchased the property of the Washington Irrigation Company. 

 The canal and lateral system contemplated as the first section of the 

 work will irrigate about 20,000 acres of land in addition to the 40,000 

 acres now under irrigation from existing canals. 



Construction of the Tieton and Sunnyside projects began during 

 the winter 190G-7. 



Wapeto j)roject. — The irrigable lands under this project are all 

 embraced in the Kakima Indian Reservation, south of Atanum Creek, 

 and on the right bank of the Yakima River. This part of the reser- 

 vation contains about 120,000 acres susceptible of irrigation, some 

 17,000 acres of which are now receiving water during the season of 

 high water. These lands lie particularly well for easy control and 

 in respect to soil and transportation facilities are equal to the best in 

 the valley. 



For the reclamation of these lands the plans provide for the en- 

 largement of the old and new reservation canals which were built 

 with tribal funds, the utilization of all of the waters of Toppenish 

 and Sapus creeks, and the storage of 200,000 acre-feet in the Yakima 

 Lake. An act of Congress was passed March 6, 1906, authorizing the 

 Secretary of the Interior to make investigations to determine the 

 feasibility of irrigating these lands, to fix the value of the present 

 irrigation works on the reservation in order that they might be in- 

 cluded in the cost of the project and be paid for by the water users 

 who obtained benefits thereof. Before actual construction can begin 

 it will be necessary to make arrangements with the Indians in order 

 that the surplus areas in their allotments may be disposed of as pro- 

 vided in the law, and become subject to the payment of the purchase 

 price from the Indians as charges for the reclamation works. It is 

 hoped that these questions can be adjusted at an early date, so that 

 the Reclamation Service may be able to proceed with the necessary 

 surveys and investigations preliminary to the actual construction of 

 the project. 



