Show I ii i yc yr I. I 1 rr ra 1 r iB 3 44 4 V ft r t wt toT fe t J. J v yr f fc i af X V i t fiB S S j k r. r Ar H K iTte rf rw GRASSHOPPER FLAT canal section where Forest land erosion problem has occurred The canal at this Grasshopper Flat erosion problem raised g in bt Forest Service At the Vernal City Council meeting Wednesday of last week Ashley National Forest Supervisor Robert Hobert A. A Rowen Howen gave notice to the City Council that unless definite plans were forthcoming to correct the erosion through Grasshopper Flat caused by the Ashley Valley Reservoir Company's canal he would recommend that no water be stored in Oaks Park Reservoir or transmitted through its canal SUPERVISOR KOWEN HOWEN stated that he would recommend to the Regional Forester Forestel to refuse the special use permit issued to the Ashley Valley Reservoir Company for storage in Oaks Park Reservoir and for transmission of water through the Oaks Park ditch on the grounds that tha t all reasonable action had been taken by the Forest Service Vernal City is involved in the problem since it is the major stockholder of the Ashley Valley VaHey Reservoir Company 7 z percent of the stock Vernal City trades its shares of Ashley Reservoir stock for water in Ashley Springs used in the city water system TilE THE GRASSHOPPER Flat erosion problem started way back in 1941 19 when a gully 4 I mile long and eight to ten feet deep had developed in a portion of the Ashley Valle Valley Reservoir canal just before it dumps into r Ashley Creek due to the steep grade of the area By 1960 the gully was miles long and up to 66 feet wide and 20 feet deep in spots according to Ashley Forest reports yards of soil had been lost through erosion by 1960 the forest estimated The Oaks Park Reservoir and canal was built in 1937 under a special use permit issued to the water company and Uintah County by Ashley National Forest The acre foot capacity reservoir is served by bya a 5 2 mile irrigation canal that brings the water into Ashley Creek The Forest Service authorized water from Oaks Park Reservoir to be diverted into Red Hed Pine Creek rather than through Grasshopper Flat The reservoir and canal project was wasa a project and ran out of money before the canal was completed Since times were hard and the water was desperately needed for the local economy water was allowed to flow overland after it reached the end of the constructed ditch and this thus is where the erosion started at the head of Grasshopper Flat where the water falls faHs down an 18 percent grade IN 1950 it was recommended by the Forest Service that a flume be constructed through the Grasshopper Flat erosion section As an alternate it was also suggested that rip-rap rip could be used If this could not correct the erosion problem a pipeline would be Le required stated the Forest Service report In 1960 the Forest Service suggested a pipeline or a new canal on a satisfactory grade It was estimated at this time a pipeline would cost or per share sharer IN 1961 the Forest Service directed the canal company to discontinue use of its canal through Grasshopper Flat The termination date dale was extended in 1964 when the canal company started engineering plans to correct the problem After many studies including the Bureau of Reclamation and Soil Conservation Service a deadline for termination action was set for June 1970 IN 1970 the Ashley Valley Reservoir Company and the Uintah Water Conservancy District were working on a plan called the Dry Fork Flood Control and Water Conservation Project This project was to come under Public Law for financing but it fell through because of the Forest Services Service's refusal to approve use of Trout Creek Reservoir The reservoir company stated that it has limited maintenance funds and states that the value of the land involved is compared to the value of water received from this use On March 7 1973 the Forest Service asked the reservoir company for a plan and design for rehabilitation of the existing canal in Grasshopper Flat by October 1 1973 IT IS evident from the delegation Wednesday that the Forest Service is determined to ta get a commitment from the reservoir company to make the repairs at Grasshopper pp r Flat even if it entails shutting off the water this year Spokesmen for the reservoir company say they will take a await await await wait and see attitude before they make any further plans on what should be done with the Grasshopper Flat problem They feel they have had so much conflicting advice on the situation that they will still wait further until something more permanent and practical is forthcoming point has an 1 18 B percent grade and as a result has caused enormous erosion for about 1 1 V Yo miles of ditch These photos were taken in 1960 l r i r i oJ E 3 L I. r f I P E 1 r 00 tJ is 10 OJ S Z I r I E I i. i I I II I V t. t 1 10 0 v I Ai I i. i 10 0 t II m I Iz 2 I I I IT 1 1 n I T i Jo f 11 I J I I II I 1 l r- r I y I rI I O I I J I I I L I Canal Cana t j AJ Corral Canal Line I 1 I I r r Q v i t Ei lf f- f Ae 1 r 7 N v S- S r c r N 1 par R p OakS a ks CO CoI Ix ef CI PP r te rr It a I oper fl f MAP OF Ashley Valley Reservoir Company Oaks Park Pork Reservoir and canal system Erosion area of the canal is bracketed as It begins its way through Grasshopper Flat rY Y f tr 1 5 H OAKS PARK DITCH through Grasshopper Flat has uncovered boulders as those shown show here and caused an undercutting and breaking loose of the vertical walls resulting In a widening process of the waterway lr Y Yr 4 R r r 1 ti tiM t. t M F Fe e s JL i t ft it as s DOWN CUTTING is continuing In I sections of 01 a canal canol coming through Grasshopper Flat operated by Ashley Valley Volley Reservoir Company The Forest Service wants want the canal canol company to make mak repairs and use other means for transmission of water across acron this steep grade grode |