WATER SUPPLIES. 77 
BIG SANDY WASH AND WILLIAMS RIVER. 
Big Sandy Wash has a small permanent flow, and Williams River 
furnishes water for the irrigation of a few ranches, but the floods of 
Williams River are evidently large. Water marks on the rocks and 
drift material lodged in the face of the canyon walls are seen at the 
height of 20 feet or more above the bed of the stream. The quantity 
of water discharged by Williams River is apparently sufficient to 
warrant the construction of a reservoir in the basin east of Williams 
Canyon. This basin is about 7 miles long and 5 miles wide, and the 
gorge forming a possible dam site is about 60 feet wide at the water 
line. 
A reservoir at this place would be of comparatively little use in 
irrigation, as there is practically no irrigable land available. It 
might, however, be of great benefit in producing power for the devel- 
opment of the mineral resources. Rich deposits of gold, copper, and 
iron are known to occur in this region, but development is hindered 
or wholly prevented by the want of transportation facilities. The 
production of power, such as seems possible in this locality, might 
be the means of developing a rich mining district. 
UNDERGROUND WATERS. 
SURFACE INDICATIONS. 
In many places throughout the Southwest the unconsolidated depos- 
its filling the old valleys and intermontane basins are saturated with 
water, and the hope was entertained that this might be the case in 
the area here described. The geography of the region, however, is 
not favorable for the accumulation of large quantities of underground 
water, nor for the retention of such as might accumulate. The rain- 
fall is slight and no large quantities can be derived from streams. 
Colorado Canyon on the north and west forms an effectual outlet for 
waters which might otherwise accumulate in the gravels. 
From surface indications the Hualpai Valley would seem to have 
an underground water supply. It is an undrained basin into which 
Truxton Creek empties, and contains standing water for considerable 
periods. Only one well has been bored in the valley, at its northern 
extremity in Hualpai Wash. The absence of water in this well is not 
considered proof that water may not exist near the surface in the 
center of the valley. 
In the other valleys and plains of the region the prospect is not 
encouraging. There is little opportunity for the accumulation of 
water in the gravels of the Cactus Plains, because of drainage into 
Colorado River to the west and Williams Canyon to the north. Con- 
ditions in the McMullen Valley are slightly more favorable, but water 
is found only at depths of 100 feet or more. No wells are reported 
from the plains south of Harrisburg. 
