P>Oi IRRIGATION INVESTIGATIONS IN CALIFORNIA. 



upon stockholders, but this proving unsatisfactory the plan of selling water was 



introduced with good results. The extent of irrigation from this canal maj' be noted 



at about 20,000 acres. The capacity of the canal niaj' be noted at about 245 cubic 



feet per second. 



BHOADS CANAL. 



This was originally an independent canal, supplying about 3,000 to 4,000 acres 

 of land westward of Leuioore. T^he canal received water from a high-water slough 

 upon the south side of the main channel of Kings River, and the canal itself, in its 

 upper section, had the appearance of a natural high-water channel. The upper 

 section of the canal was originally known as Wrights Cut, and was claimed to be an 

 enlargement of a small ditch constructed when irrigation in this district was in its 

 infancy. The canal now has no separate headgate, but receives water from the 

 Lower Kings River Canal. 



TULARE LAKE BED CANALS. 



During the last three years, owing to a recession of the waters of Tulare Lake, 

 farming operations have been gradually extended over the area before covered with 

 water. The lands, after the recession of waters, are as much in need of irrigation 

 as the higher plain lands. Owing to the very flat and smooth surface of these lands 

 ditches are very readily and quickly constructed. In this way a number of canals 

 for the distribution of Kings River water have been constructed on the east and west 

 sides of the main channel of the river. Three thousand to 4,000 acres of land are 

 thus served with water at the highest stages of the river. 



KINGS CANAL. 



This canal was recently constructed by the Kings Canal and Irrigation Company. 

 It receives water from one of the high-water channels of Kings River at the northern 

 margin of the lake bed, has an easterly course for about 5 miles, and sends several 

 branches in a southerly direction from 1 to 2 miles into the area once covered by lake 

 water. The canal has a bed width of about 60 feet and the principal laterals have 

 been made 30 feet wide. 



WEST SIDE CANAL. 



This canal takes water from Kings River several miles north of the old lake 

 margin, has a southwesterly course for 5 to 6 miles, and irrigates lands along the 

 western margin of the lake bed. This canal is about 40 feet wide. 



CLAUSEN & BLAKELEY CANAL. • 



Another west side canal receiving water from Kings River about a quarter of a 

 mile below the head of the West Side Canal is the Clausen & Blakeley Canal. It has 

 a southwesterly course and is about 3 miles long. Its width is about 60 feet. 



LOVELACE CANAL. 



This canal is located in the northern portion of the lafee bed near the point where 

 the waters of Kings River separate. It has a westerly course and a length of about 

 1.5 miles. 



The value of the Tulare Lake lands and the importance of the canals for their 

 irrigation remains to be demonstrated. 



