File:Water Supply and Irrigation Papers of the United States Geological Survey (1909) (14597184018).jpg

Identifier: watersupplyirrig224unit (find matches)
Title: Water Supply and Irrigation Papers of the United States Geological Survey
Year: 1909 (1900s)
Authors: United States Geological Survey
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Contributing Library: Clemson University Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: LYRASIS Members and Sloan Foundation

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e of its completion until the present develop-ment has been continuous, and now from 350 to 400 deep wells arescattered about over those parts of the desert which are accessiblefrom the stations between Indio and Salton Sea. Of this number,from 250 to 300 are artesian. About 90 pumping plants have beeninstalled, two or three wells frequently being coupled together andpumped from one station. It is estimated that more than $100,000 is invested in the artesianwells that have been bored in the valley, and that the pumpingplants with the wells on which they are installed represent an addi-tional expenditure of $75,000. If the cost of reservoirs and of suchpipe lines as have been put in are added, it will easily bring the totalinvestment in works for the development and distribution of waterto $200,000. By the use of the waters which have been developed in thisway, 4,000 or 5,000 acres of land have been reclaimed and are suc-cessfully irrigated. The area in which flowing waters may be pro-
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COST OF RECLAMATION AND DEVELOPMENT. 41 cured—it has been roughly outlined by the developments to date—covers approximately 140 square miles. This area extends from apoint a short distance above Indio to a point below the presentborder of the Salton Sea. The greater part of it lies on the southside of the Southern Pacific Railway, but there is a strip from 1 to 2miles wide on the north side of the line. Much the stronger artesian flows are obtained at the lower eleva-tions near the southern end of the belt. Wells at the upper or north-western extremity of the valley give inferior yields, so that it hasbeen found necessary to pump from many of them in order to obtainsuflicient water for successful irrigation. This condition is due inpart to the originally inferior yield of these higher wells and in partto a decrease in their flow which has followed the increased develop-ment. All of the flowing wells lie below the sea-level contour. Afew of the northernmost are very near sea level,

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