Show C C C in in Reclamation Work GENERAL rehabilitation of irrigation systems G VI GENERAL serving reclaimed areas in western states will be carried out on a a. a large scale in the summer summer sum sum- mer of this year year a report by Robert Fechner director of emergency conservation work dis dis- closes Thirty-four Thirty C C C camps on 25 projects in 13 western states will be engaged in the work Utah Idaho Wyoming Montana and Nevada in inthe the intermountain group of states will have 15 of such camps The value of this work is difficult to express in terms of money money Settlers under the many reclamation districts covered by the rehabilitation tion work though will be a able le to appreciate the boons brought to o them by the civilian conservation con- con corps youths The hardships hardship of the depression have accounted foran accumulation of much vital work that can only be accomplished accomplished pUshed under such a a. a plan because settlers are in no position to finance it The reclaimed med western lands are made suit- suit able for the growing of exceptional crops by bythe bythe bythe the storage and distribution of the runoff from adjacent mountainous areas In the construction of ot reservoirs and distribution systems the thel government government government gov gov- has invested hundreds of millions of dollars To protect this investment by enabling the irrigation system to function efficiently ly and at a low cost the C C C enrollees are now engaged engaged engaged en en- in a program program that will be continued I throughout the summer Heavy growths of vegetation including trees develop in and along natural and artificial wa wa- Where here the current is swift or there is isa isa isa a bend in tie the channel erosion takes place Silt accumulates in the bottom of the waterways and where the channels are through porous soil water is lost by seepage which also may be detI detrimental det det- I to adjacent lands Trees and vegetation vegetation vegetation tion are being removed and canals are cleared of silt deposits erosion and seepage are eliminated eliminated elim dim 1 mated by rip-rapping rip with rock and by lining the canals with concrete gravel or clay The great majority of water control structures were originally constructed principally of wood and their replacement by concrete and metal structures structures structures tures is one of the principal activities of the C C C. C Rodent control is another important f phase of the work on on many reclamation The pocket gopher is a serious menace p Its habit of tunneling through canal banks weakens the embankments and is responsible f for many breaks that release vast quantities of ater ter to flood out adjacent farm lands lantis The i- i lamination of of- f. f noxious weeds a and d exotic x tic plants l L J will also constitute an extensive campaign by byC byC byC C C C men In Idaho it is is' expected that this summer will see sec the completion of an important task of facing facing facing fac fac- fac- fac ing the upstream side of a 3 storage dam with large size sire rock to prevent destruction of the dam damby damby damby by wave action Sudden or flash floods are of ot frequent t o occurrence currence in the west vest and the work of constructing numerous small check dams in narrow canyons in steep hills above reservoirs and canals is being carri carried d on to prevent further further further fur fur- ther damage from this source |