70 PROGRESS REPORT, HYDROGRAPHY, 1893 AND 1894. [bull. 131. 
tains from which this stream draws its supply are from 4,000 to 7,000 feet in height, 
and are covered with a heavy growth of timher. The principal tributaries are 
Meachaiu Creek, which has its head a little to the south of the main stream and 
flows in a general northerly direction, emptying iuto the Umatilla at a point about 
65 or 70 miles from its mouth; Wild Horse Creek, rising a little to the north of the 
main stream and flowing in a general westerly direction, emptying into the Umatilla 
near Pendleton; McKaye Creek, which rises still farther to the south of Meacham 
Creek, flows in a general northerly direction, and empties into the Umatilla 3 miles 
below Pendleton; Birch Creek, which runs parallel to McKaye Creek; and Butter 
Creek, which empties into the Umatilla at a point about 12 miles from its mouth. 
Of the above-named tributaries Meacham Creek is the largest. A considerable vol- 
ume of water flows from this stream. Wild Horse Creek carries but little water at 
the present season (January, 1893), but is in volume about sufficient for the water- 
ing of stock. McKaye Creek is a stream of considerable importance. Its drainage 
area is estimated to be about 200 square miles in extent. At a point about 20 miles 
from its mouth the stream divides into the north and south forks. This whole«stream 
is perennial in its "flow, but at a point about 10 or 12 miles from its mouth it disap- 
pears in the sands and gravel of the bottom during a large portion of the year. 
During the high-water season there is a large body of water flowing its entire 
length, and above the point of disappearance there is a good stream flowing the 
year around. Birch Creek and Butter Creek are streams of the same character, 
though much smaller. 
The total drainage area of the Umatilla River is estimated to be about 320 square 
miles. The available records show that the year 1891, excepting the month just fol- 
lowing the irrigating season, had less rainfall than any year since 1874, which had 
but slightly less. During 1891 the total discharge from the watershed, as computed 
from the record of the gagings, was 302,000 acre-feet, being equivalent to about 18 
inches of run-off from the efficient portion of the drainage area. 
As is usually the case in most districts where irrigation is a necessity and the 
"water supply is far less than the demand, the appropriations of the waters of the 
Umatilla River filed by the various companies and individuals far exceed the possi- 
ble supply from the river. 
The oldest water right on the Umatilla River is believed to be that of Mr. W. S. 
Byers, of Pendleton, dating back to the year 1870, renewed in 1874, or rather filed 
upon again. In the year 1883, fearful that the establishment of the line of the 
Umatilla Indian Reservation might affect his former claims, Mr. Byers again filed, 
being assured that his diversion of water was outside of, the established reservation 
line. He claims the amount required for the development of power sufficient to run 
his flouring mill in the town of Pendleton. This mill has a capacity of 500 barrels 
of flour daily. 
Water is diverted from the Umatilla River about 1^ miles above Byers's mill, and 
is brought through a natural channel of the river for a short distance ; thence through 
a ditch to a point on the bluff opposite the mill, distant about 1,200 feet. The ditch 
is 10 feet wide on the bottom and 22 feet wide on top, with an average depth of 
3 feet. From the terminus of the ditch line the water is carried through a wooden 
pipe of a diameter of 7 feet 2 inches, made of 5-inch staves 2.5 inches thick. From 
the head of the ditch, or rather from the point of diversion to the point where the 
water is applied for power, is a fall of 18 feet. 
The discharge from the wooden pipe — that is, the total water power — can not be 
estimated, as the pipe is cross braced in the inside in such a manner that nothing can 
be known. The water is distributed to two turbine wheels of the Victor pattern. 
One is a 20-inch wheel of a calculated horsepower of 100 ; the other is a 30-mch wheel 
of 156 horsepower. The waste and overflow from the distributing box at the end of 
the ditch is carried off through the town in an open channel. The tail-water from 
the mill is carried through a stone aqueduct 8 feet high to the river, distant about 
1,200 feet. 
