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CONFLICTS in the MULTIPLE USE of WALLOWA LAKE Abstract Approved Redacted for Privacy Keith W

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CONFLICTS in the MULTIPLE USE of WALLOWA LAKE Abstract Approved Redacted for Privacy Keith W AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF KENNETH MAC KENZIE CRAIG for the MASTER OF SCIENCE (Name) (Degree) in GEOGRAPHY presented on May 3, 1967 (Major) (Date) Title: CONFLICTS IN THE MULTIPLE USE OF WALLOWA LAKE Abstract approved Redacted for Privacy Keith W. Muckleston The purpose of this thesis is to examine the problem of the increasing competition between recreation and irrigation at Wallowa Lake. Originally Wallowa Lake was an abundant source of fish for the Indians but the advent of irrigation in the area by the early o settlers eliminated the blueback salmon (Ancorhynchus nerka) run that spawned in the lake. This was caused by the establishment of unscreened irrigation ditches in the Wallowa River below the lake and the construction of a concrete dam in the outlet of the lake by . the Associated Ditch Companies. The dam raised the natural level of the lake 28.4 feet, creating an irrigation reservoir. The use of this water for irrigation purposes has caused considerable erosion along the steep banks of the east and west moraines, reducing the desirability of the beaches and hampering the use of boating facilities. The Pacific Power and Light Company used a considerable amount of water from the lake for their generating plant in Joseph from 1929 to 1956. This limited the number of times the lake was filled to capacity, lessening the amount of sloughing of the relatively undeveloped shoreline property around the lake since the greatest damage occurred when the lake was full. After 1950, many more people purchased lots and built cabins on the west moraine and became increasingly aware of the erosion of their property. The erosion problem increased sharply after the Joseph power plant was abandoned in 1956, enabling the Associated Ditch Companies to fill the reservoir to capacity nearly every year since that time. Increased dissatisfaction by the cabin owners with the management practices of the Associated Ditch Companies resulted in a lawsuit in which the ditch companies were found guilty of trespass of private property by exceeding their storage rights. Although the fine in this instance was negligible, future confronta- tions appear to be inevitable due to the increasing influence of recreationists in an area once considered the exclusive domain of agriculture and power interests. Future cooperation between these conflicting interests is vital in order to realize the full potential of the multiple uses of the lake. Conflicts in the Multiple Use of Wallowa Lake by Kenneth MacKenzie Craig A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science June 1967 APPROVED: Redacted for Privacy Assistant Professor of Geography in charge of major Redacted for Privacy Chairman of Department of Geography .1 Redacted for Privacy Dean of Graduate School Date thesis is presented May 3, 1967 Typed by Gwendolyn Hansen for Kenneth MacKenzie Craig TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION 1 WALLOWA LAKE PRIOR TO 1905 5 Background 5 The Physical Description of Wallowa Lake 6 The Coming of the White Man 7 The Advent of Irrigation 9 THE FORMATION OF THE RESERVOIR 13 The Associated Ditch Companies 13 Construction of the Concrete Dam 13 Flood Rights and Easements 15 Water Shortage Problems 16 COMPETITION FOR THE USE OF THE LAKE 20 Power Generation and Domestic Use 20 Conflicts with the Fish and Game Commission 26 The Possible Reestablishment of the Blueback Salmon Run 31 THE GROWING SIGNIFICANCE OF RECREATION 36 Early Recreation 36 Recreation Development Since 1920 37 The Wilderness Area 42 The Erosion Problem 42 Boating and Swimming 43 Management Problems of the Ditch Companies 46 Potential Conflicts Between Recreation and Domestic Use 47 Snow and Water Measurement 48 Lawsuits 50 The Milton Box Company vs. The Associated Ditch Companies 51 Page PROPOSALS FOR IMPROVED MANAGEMENT 55 Improved Management of the Reservoir 55 Increase the Efficiency of Irrigation 56 Conversion to Sprinkler Irrigation 57 Improved Use of Snow Survey Data 59 FUTURE OUTLOOK -- AGRICULTURE AND RECREATION 62 A Limited Future for Agriculture? 62 The Increase of Recreation 66 Recreation's Increasing Share of County Income 68 Public Interests vs. Private Interests 71 CONCLUSION 75 BIBLIOGRAPHY 80 LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Original Natural Flow Right Applications 11 2. Associated Ditch Companies 1966 15 3. Wallowa Lake State Park Attendance 41 4. Wallowa County Population and Livestock Trends 63 5. Selected Wallowa County Income, 1966 65 LIST OF FIGURES AND MAP Page Map. Wallowa Lake and User Development 4 Figure 1. Yearly Maximum and Minimum Wallowa Lake Gauge Readings, 1940 -1965 25 2. First Steamboat in 1888 30 3. Fish Screen 30 4. Retaining Wall 30 5. Trees Killed by Erosion 30 6. Wallowa Lake Dam 33 7. Threatened Trees and Highway 33 8. Lowering of the Outlet 33 9. Boat Dock 33 10. Conley Bar 1935 to 1940 45 11. Conley Bar 1966 45 12. Ripped- rapped Highway Grade 45 13. Boat Marina Project 45 CONFLICTS IN THE MULTIPLE USE OF WALLOWA LAKE INTRODUCTION Wallowa Lake has been one of the most important resources of Wallowa County (see map). Men have competed for use of this resource since the days of the Indians. The lake provided a valuable source of fish for the Nez Perce Indians before the coming of the white man. Although the Wallowa Country was set aside for the Nez Perce in 1855 by the United States Government, the Wallowa Valley with its abundant feed and water was soon coveted by the white man. As the first settlers entered the valley, forcing out the Indians, they saw the lake not only as a source of fish, but also as a valuable source of irrigation water for the rich farm lands below. The irrigation farmers and the fish interests were the next competitors for the use of the lake, however, the agricultural interests won this early conflict, and the fish run was destroyed. The farmers were then challenged by the development of hydroelectric power. These two interests reached an agreement, however, and cooperated in the use of lake water for many years. But after power generation was discontinued in 1956, the Associated Ditch Companies, who now represented the farmers of the area, became the dominant user. Recreation has presented a growing challenge to the interests of agriculture. Although the Associated Ditch Companies were little 2 affected by it in the early days, the last ten years have shown a markedly increasing demand by the fish interests, property owners, and other recreationists for the use of the lake and its waters. This demand coupled with the gradual shifting of political influence from private to public interests, has created a controversial issue today. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the background as well as the present development of the multiple uses of Wallowa Lake. Hopefully, this will provide a better understanding of the many problems that have developed in the past as well as those that may arise in the future. Currently, the most critical issue is the erosion and sloughing of the private shoreline around the lake caused by the storage of water for irrigation. Although this is a direct result of the necessary raising and lowering of the lake by the Associated Ditch Companies for irrigation purposes, the management practices of the ditch companies can have a direct bearing on the amount of damage that might occur. Therefore, several proposals for achieving better water management are discussed at length in respect to their feasibility. The author was raised in the Wallowa Valley, has owned and operated a ranch there for many years and as a member of the Associated Ditch Companies, has an intimate knowledge of the problems of that organization. His grandfather settled in the valley in 1878 becoming one of the first cattlemen in the area and established 3 the Craig -McCubbin Ditch Company, one of the early members of the Associated Ditch Companies. The author currently owns and irri- gates much of the original land once owned by his father and grand- father. Therefore, he not only has had access to pertinent history but has had practical experience concerning irrigation and Wallowa Lake. In addition, he has also actively participated in the recrea- tional activities at Wallowa Lake and is personally acquainted with many people concerned with recreation and its development. Personal knowledge of both sides of the conflict has been an advantage to the author in obtaining source material and presenting an objective analysis of the problem. Source material was obtained from the "minutes of the meetings" and various legal documents of the Associated Ditch Companies. Other pertinent information was obtained from the Fish and Game Commission and from various interviews, particularly with the commercial recreation interests at the lake, cabin owners, the Soil Conservation Service, the State Engineers Office, and the Parks and Recreation Division of the State Highway Commission. 4 WALLOWA LAKE AND USER DEVELOPMENT = 0 OOther Irrigated Land Associated Ditch Companies' Land QGlacial Moraine Scala In MIls Hills I I o I i Mountains 0- oProposed Gondola Lift O Power Plant N -- --Pifs Lins ...:.Cabins Sourea: USGS Joaph Quadrangle 5 WALLOWA LAKE PRIOR TO 1905 Background Wallowa Lake is located in Wallowa County, situated in the northeast corner of the state of Oregon. During the years prior to the coming of the white man, this area was in the coveted territory of what was called the Joseph Tribe of the Nez Perce Indian Federa- tion. These Indians summered in "the high country" and the Wallowa Valley where there was abundant game and feed for their many horses. The main focal point of this area was the beautiful lake at the head of the valley, now called Wallowa Lake.
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