34 
La iu»t a fluctuating quantity, but is steadily Increasing or decreasing, 
while the flow of the streams is fluctuating, often violently, during 
these months. Also, \\ bile the average demand, in June for example, 
i- for L,000 cubic feel per second, the greater part of the demand is in 
the latter part of the month. The greater pari of the storage is done 
therefore early in June. In July the storing is done during the peri- 
odical rises only, while during the winter months the loss of what 
might be stored (see sixth column of table) is occasioned largely by 
the freezing of the ditches, and for that reason in estimating the addi- 
tional amount that might be stored, about one-third is deducted from 
the total loss at present. A little care would almost always permit 
the entire amount in the river to be stored. The last column is an 
exhibition of when the additional water so stored would be used. 
according to those best informed on the matter. It is agreed that at 
present the early water is forcing the planting of early maturing crops, 
though these are not as profitable as the later ones. 
Development in reservoirs is not restricted to the water now going 
to waste, for it will he profitable to store the water which even now is 
being used for direct irrigation and save it for the more profitable late 
products. With potatoes producing an average of *l<>n annually per 
acre, and beets two-thirds that amount, neither using much more water 
in a season than is necessary for a $20 alfalfa or wheat crop, the build- 
ing of what we might call iretarding or temporary storage reservoirs 
can not he other than profitable. To the construction of retarding 
reservoirs the demand for direct irrigation acts as a check, and the 
true status of the right of such reservoirs to store water is yet to be 
determined. In some districts it is the custom to allow temporary 
storage of water taken from the river on a " direct irrigation " pri- 
ority; in others it is looked upon as illegal. One side argues that water 
alike in quantity and time would be taken from the common source in 
any case, and that it makes no difference to later ditches whether it is 
actually applied at once or after a short interval. The other side con- 
tends that only when not needed for immediate use may it be stored, 
and that the storing will increase the area irrigated and the consequent 
withdrawal of a larger total amount during the season. There can be 
no question as to which would be for the greater good of the community 
as a whole, but the established rights of individuals must be respected. 
Returning again to the diagram and table, we tind that 237 cubic 
feet per second represents the average discharge for the year, or about 
171,729 acre-feet: that 100,271 acre-feet are used for direct irrigation: 
about 43,000 acre-feet are stored: about 18,000 acre-feet escape, and 
it is possible to store a little over 12,000 acre-feet more than is stored 
at present. 
It appears that during April. May, and June equal amounts of water 
are stored. The commissioners differ somewhat as to this, but incline 
to the belief that more is stored in June. A necessary correction. 
