1 64 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION April 



the past season ; a reservoir site found has greater natural resources or has left 



thereon, and a gaging station estab- them in a more undeveloped condition 



lished. than the Sacramento Valley. Favored 



Upper Sacramento. A general recon- by geographic location, climatic condi- 

 naissance has been made of the upper tions, soil, and water supply, this valley 

 basin of this river, and a number of should be one of the densely populated 

 reservoir sites of marked value have districts of the United States, rivaling 

 been found, notably at a point near Red in wealth and prosperity the famous 

 Bluff and at Bieber. These great reser- valley of the Po in northern Italy, which 

 voir sites could be used in connection it so closely resembles, 

 with the general program mentioned Owens Valley. Owens Valley is situ- 

 above for supplementing the available ated in a district that is sometimes called 

 late summer water for irrigation in the ' ' undiscovered California. ' ' It lies on 

 Sacramento Valley. Other sites have the eastern side of the Sierra Nevadas, 

 also been found, particularly on the in Inyo county, flanked by the most 

 South Fork of Pitt River. Gaging rugged and picturesque range of moun- 

 stations have been established at all of tains on the continent, blessed with a 

 these sites to determine their available copious water supply, but isolated be- 

 water supply, and during the coming cause of imperfect transportation facil- 

 season detailed surveys will be made of ities. Mr. J. C. Clausen is the engineer 

 them. In all, records of flow are being assigned to the study of this district, 

 maintained at ten gaging stations in the Probably a large area of arid public land 

 valley of the Sacramento River, and the may be reclaimed here. All the remain- 

 entire time of an engineer has been as- ing public lands in this locality have been 

 signed to the maintenance of these withdrawn, subject to entry only under 

 records. These will be continued until the Reclamation Act. 

 a complete report is made outlining the An extensive reservoir site has been 

 general possibility of developing this found on the main river above Bishop, 

 great valley in a comprehensive way, and this has been surveyed in detail dur- 

 and in such a manner as not to interfere ing the past season. The irrigable lands 

 with navigation. are now being mapped and classified. 



It will be desirable in connection with The whole situation is dependent on the 



this general study to investigate the factor of the remaining available water 



overflow problem of the low valley lands supply. In order to determine this point 



and consider the subject as a whole, the capacity of reservoirs must be found, 



There is apparently a very small area the flow of the streams determined, and 



of public land available for irrigation in the present diversions of canals closely 



the drainage basin of this stream, and gaged. Mr. Ralph S. Hawley is devot- 



the general development of the country ing his entire time to these water meas- 



will be dependent upon the organiza- urements, maintaining eighteen gaging 



tion and cooperation of a great number stations in the Owens Valley district. 



of individuals who are now land owners The people of this community are ex- 



in this district. It is a matter worthy tremely anxious to have the government 



of note that both the National Irriga- store the surplus flood-waters and regu- 



tion Association and the Trans- Missis- late the stream flow, not only for the 



sippi Congress, during the past season, benefit of their lands, the supply of which 



have passed general resolutions favoring is now somewhat irregular, but also for 



the construction of great public irriga- the extension of the irrigated areas. It 



tion works on the Sacramento River, is probable that a drainage system in 



The undertaking will be vast. The connection with the general development 



province of the Geological Survey is to will have to be constructed, as large areas 



make a complete report to the Secretary of land in this valley have been ruined 



of the Interior and the governor of by the excessive use of water, and it is 



California outlining the latent possibili- believed that the available acreage can 



ties. be materially increased by their adequate 



Probably no section of arid America drainage. 



