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Show State Engineer Sees Hope For development of Dixie's Water Facilities U. S. War Department May Lend Aid To Control Of Waste Water In County new note of optimism was bounded for Utah's Dixie on Wednesday, Wed-nesday, when State Engineer T. il. Humperys wrote leading citi-Jel)s citi-Jel)s of the various communities advising them to organize a uni-ied uni-ied front to work for procurement of water conservation projects in ;hat area. A comprehensive plan of development de-velopment for Washington county, involving construction of five reservoirs, res-ervoirs, a tunnel to replace the Hurricane canal, and a drainage ;vstem for the water logged lands iii the Washington fields, was described as a possibility by Mr. Humpherys, and a recommendation recommend-ation was sent to the Utah Water Storage commission asking detailed de-tailed reports of the projects. The state engineer's announcement announce-ment came as the result of a recent re-cent conference with E. B. Debler, hydraulic engineer for the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, and Lt. Col. Edwin C. Kelton, district engineer en-gineer of the Los Angeles engineering engi-neering district for the war department; de-partment; Captain N. A. Matthias and W. J. Homan and C. E. Le-Rue, Le-Rue, engineers for the war department. de-partment. An extensive study of flood control conditions in the Virgin river water shed is being conducted con-ducted by the U. S. war department depart-ment under direction of Lt. Col. (Continued on page six) Hope Seen For Wide Development of Dixie's Water Rights (Continued from first page) Kelton. A reconnoissance survey conducted in the area by J. Wayne Cahoon, assistant engineer for the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, Reclama-tion, is nearing completion, and a report of Mr. Cahoon's findings iare expected soon, Mr. Humph-jerys Humph-jerys said. "Until less than a year ago it was doubtful if many of us were optimistic enough to have great faith in carrying out of such a pretentious program in Washington Washing-ton county," the engineer wrote. "Now, however, with the assistance assist-ance of benefits brought about through federal legislation, (the flood control act and the Case-Wheeler Case-Wheeler Act) it is possible that all these projects may be constructed, con-structed, with . exception of perhaps per-haps one where local opposition seems apparent." The silt problem and high cost of projects estimated, have hereto-fore made the "Dixie project" and other contemplated developments develop-ments in the water shed appear infeasible. Under the Case-Wheeler "Act, however, the projects would be constructed with WPA or CCC labor, funds for which are not repayable to the government. govern-ment. This, with the added benefits bene-fits to be received from flood control, con-trol, should reduce the total cost of the program to make it practical, prac-tical, according to estimates. Receiving Careful Attention "For the first time in the history his-tory of the state the Virgin river is receiving most careful consideration consid-eration and investigation of irrigation, irri-gation, flood, silt and drainage projects," the letter states. The state engineer has completed investigations in-vestigations of 67 possible dam sites in the county, and a complete com-plete study of the "Dixie project" proj-ect" was made by the reclamation bureau two years ago. Water supply studies have also been in progress by the bureau the past two years. Mr. Humpnerys recommended to the water storage commission that detailed reports be submitted on the former "Dixie project", now embracing the Virgin City and Kolob reservoir sites on the Rio Virgin river and Big Creek. Other reports requested include Ash Creek No. 1 reservoir on Ash Creek north of Leeds; Ivins Dry Wash and Pine Valley reservoirs located on the Santa Clara river, and of the Hurricane tunnel and Washington fields drainage projects. proj-ects. "We are not waiting for the findings of these present investigations investi-gations to announce the projects," Mr. Humpherys said in his letter, "because we think we already know pretty well the ones which will be recommended, judging from studies made from this office." of-fice." Local Support Needed In appealing for local support of the projects, the engineer wrote: "In Washington county you have the lands, you have the water, and most of all you have the climate for the most favorable farming conditions in the state. While the cost of bringing the land and water together is high, the accomplishment is possible under present legislation if the program is pushed with vigor". The Virgin City reservoir and de-silting works would serve the territory near Hurricane and the Washington fields region. It would include, according to the state engineer's studies, a dam 184 feet high. (All of the following follow-ing figures are based on studies made by the state engineer, which are expected to correspond with those of the reclamation bureau, gnerally.) The Kolob reservoir, if con-'. con-'. structed, would be supplemental to the Virgin City project, and might be utilized for lands all the way from Springdale to St. George. A 48-foot dam of earth fill with a storage capacity of 2241 acre feet is contemplated. The Ash Creek project is designed de-signed to serve the Leeds and To-, querville area. The dam would be 100 feet high and w,ould store approximately 6634 acre feet of water. It is one of the less costly projects, considering the amount of water stored, according to the engineer's estimates. Furnishing water for Santa Clara and St. George territory, the Ivins Dry Wash project would have a firm storage capacity of 1533 acre feet with an earth fill dam 59 feet high. Recommends Pine Valley In his recommendations to the water storage commission, Mr. Humpherys proposed construction of the Pine Valley project, rather than the Moody Creek reservoir which was formerly davocated. Either project could be utilized for lands along the Santa Clara river. The proposal of a change was made because of the porous condition of the Moody Creek bed. The Pine Valley project could consist of a concrete arch dam 112 feet high with storage capacity ca-pacity for 4282 acre feet of water. A considerable acreage'of otherwise other-wise rich land in Washington fields has become water logged. A drainage system which would redeem these lands for agricultural agricul-tural purposes is being studied in connection with the program. The projects would furnish de-silted de-silted water for power plants and for irrigation, the state engineer pointed out. Letters were mailed from the state engineer Wednesday to Ellis J. Pickett, member of the Utah Water Storage commission; Albert Al-bert E. Miller, state representative-elect; LeRoy H. Cox, former district court judge; Glen E. Snow, state senator; Leo A. Snow, civil engineer, and W. B. Mathis, all of St. George, and to Dr. D. W. Gibson and Claud Hirschi, state senator-elect of Hurricane. |