GENERAL RECLAMATION IN THE FRESNO DISTRICT. 



Having demonstrated that alkali land can in a remarkably short time 

 be brought back into a state of fertility by underdrainage and flooding, 

 it remains to indicate the most economical plan of extending the work 

 to cover the larger districts affected by alkali or seepage water, or in 

 danger of becoming thus affected. 



That the rise of alkali is caused by a rise in the level of standing 

 water in the soil is admitted by all, so that the solution of the alkali 

 problem depends upon the solution of the drainage problem. It must 

 not be supposed, however, that drainage alone will reclaim the alkali 

 lands, for complete reclamation demands heavy irrigation or washing of 

 the soil. In the case of the 20-acre tract now being reclaimed, it is 

 seen that four and a half months' constant irrigation was necessary 

 before a crop could be grown. 



Anything, however, which lowers the water table will assist in the 

 reclamation of the alkali lands and will allow of heavier flooding to 

 effect this reclamation. Thus it is evident that if the bottoms of all 

 irrigating canals were cemented and the loss of water by seepage pre- 

 vented there would be a prompt falling in the level of standing water 

 and heavier irrigation would be possible, thus enabling large afelis of 

 alkali land to be reclaimed by washing the alkali into the subsoil. 

 This alone, without drainage, would not be a permanent removal of the 

 alkali, for if the water table should by any means be raised again the 

 alkali would promptly reappear at the surface. It is likely that the 

 water table would be raised eventually, for upon the cementing of the 

 canals and the consequent drop in the water level vines, trees, and 

 plants with their root systems adjusted to the present water level would 

 suffer and irrigation would be necessary in fields that now are never 

 watered from the surface. It is also likely that all the water saved from 

 .seepage through the canal bottoms would eventually be applied to the 

 land from the surface. Probably a larger proportion of this water 

 would be lost by evaporation than now, but it is extremely doubtful if 

 the conditions would be bettered. Again, if the farmers understood 

 the proper amount of water to use and used only that amount, keeping 

 the soil in the most perfect condition as regards moisture, much water 

 might be saved and the water table lowered to such an extent that 

 drainage would be unnecessary and satisfactory crops could be pro- 

 duced. But it is difficult to get the fawners to use just the right 

 amount of water in practice, as they have a tendency alwaj^s to apply 

 it in excess. To drain the excess away before damage to the land 

 results is the problem before the people. 



Another scheme for reclamation is presented by Mr. J. B. Lippincott 

 in his report, issued by the U. S. Geological Survey, on "Water Storage 

 in Kings River." Mr. Lippincott proposes to establish electric power 



