RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS BEADLE. 485 



breaks in the canals is increased as the quantity of water to be 

 carried is made larger and the annual charge for operation and 

 maintenance against each irrigator is in proportion to the amount of 

 water delivered to him. 



The permanent cure for excessive use imposed by sandy land lies 

 in the addition of vegetable matter to the soil. With the growth of 

 each crop the condition improves through the addition of humus. 

 Another influence for a better dutj^^, applicable to all soils, is the 

 use of relatively large irrigation heads; that is, supplying the fields 

 by using a large stream of water for a short time rather than allow- 

 ing a small head to run to the fields during a longer period. To im- 

 prove the duty by this means requires proper ditching and grading 

 as well as skill in handling the water. 



By these means the average duty on the Umatilla project was 

 improved more than an acre- foot per acre in 1914 over the previous 

 year, and it is believed that with the gradual addition of humus to 

 the sandy portions of the area the problem will be satisfactorily 

 solved. The farmers on the sandy tracts require every encourage- 

 ment in establishing normal conditions and provision has been made 

 for a relatively low charge per acre-foot for such lands for a period 

 of years during which opportunity may be had to put the soil in 

 proper condition. 



KLAMATH PROJECT, OREGON AND CALIFORNIA. 



In the Klamath country of southern Oregon and northern Cali- 

 fornia a plan has been partially carried out for utilizing the run-off 

 of Klamath Lakes and Lost River to water areas that may eventually 

 total 200,000 acres. As described in former statements certain units 

 of the project have been constructed, making water now available 

 for 40,000 acres, of which 25,000 are being irrigated. In its entirety 

 the project is an intricate one, involving a number of unusual fea- 

 tures, of which perhaps the most novel is the dewatering and subse- 

 quent canalization of the Tule Lake bed. For this purpose its supply 

 from. Lost River is cut off by building a dam at Clear Lake, the head 

 of Lost River, forming a large shallow basin in which evaporation 

 practically equals the inflow, and largety diverting into Klamath 

 River the run-off that reaches Lost River below Clear Lake. By evap- 

 oration the bed of Tule Lake is gradually uncovering and irrigation 

 of the exposed land has begun along the edge of the lake. Construc- 

 tion work in recent years includes the Lost River diversion dam and 

 channel to Klamath River, enlargements and extensions of canal 

 systems and drains for the lands already watered. 



The Klamath area receives an average annual rainfall of 14 

 inches, permitting some crop production by dry farming, but the 



