DOCSLIB.ORG

The First 40 Years =

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The First 40 Years = IID: THE FIRST 40 YEARS = M. J. Dowd IID: THE FIRST 40 YEARS = HISTORY OF IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT and the DEVELOPMENT OF IMPERIAL VALLEY by M. J. Dowd Executive Officer 1956 PREFACE The following history of the Imperial Irrigation District was prepared by Mr. M. J. Dowd, who served the District from 1922 until his death in 1965, as Consulting Engineer and Executive Officer to the Board of Directors. The history covers the early years of the District until 1940. It was Mr. Dowd’s intention to prepare additional chapters covering the All-American Canal project, power development, the Salton Sea, and the period from 1940 to date. It is unfortunate that he was unable to complete that work. Mr. Dowd’s original manuscript prepared in 1956 contained a bibliography, and reference list which were not completed and therefore, are not included here. They are filed in the Imperial Irrigation District’s Dowd Memorial Library located in El Centro. Mr. Dowd labeled this manuscript a “Preliminary Draft”, but no attempt has been made to make any changes other than minor editorial corrections. Richard N. Taylor, Director Community & Special Services PLEASE NOTE: In 2012, this document was scanned using optical character recognition software, and reformatted using modern type treatments on digital equipment. Other than minor typographic corrections, the document retains its original verbiage as written by Mr. Dowd. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. DESCRIPTION OF AREA The Colorado Desert ...................................................................................................................................................................1 Imperial Valley .............................................................................................................................................................................1 Geologic History ..........................................................................................................................................................................2 Lake Cahuilla ..............................................................................................................................................................................2 II. EARLY RECOGNITION OF DEVELOPMENT POSSIBILITIES Capt. A. R. Johnson ....................................................................................................................................................................4 Dr. W. P. Blake .............................................................................................................................................................................4 Dr. O. M. Wozencraft .................................................................................................................................................................5 Lt. Eric Bergland .........................................................................................................................................................................6 William Denton ...........................................................................................................................................................................7 III. PROJECT PLANS AND FINANCING Colorado River Irrigation Company......................................................................................................................................7 Preliminary Investigations.............................................................................................................................................7 Survey of Canal Location ..............................................................................................................................................7 Change in Plans ...............................................................................................................................................................8 California Development Company ........................................................................................................................................8 Organization ....................................................................................................................................................................8 Attempts to Finance ........................................................................................................................................................9 George Chaffey .................................................................................................................................................................9 Naming Imperial Valley .............................................................................................................................................10 The Mexican Company ..........................................................................................................................................................10 Mutual Water Companies .....................................................................................................................................................11 Plan of Colonization ...................................................................................................................................................11 First Mutual Water Company ...................................................................................................................................11 Interrelated Contracts between Companies ......................................................................................................................11 Mexican Company and No. 1 Company ...............................................................................................................11 C. D. Company and Mexican Company ................................................................................................................12 Tri-Party Contract .......................................................................................................................................................12 Imperial Land Company .......................................................................................................................................................13 i TABLE OF CONTENTS The Mexican Company ..........................................................................................................................................................10 Mutual Water Companies .....................................................................................................................................................11 Plan of Colonization .....................................................................................................................................................11 First Mutual Water Company ....................................................................................................................................11 Interrelated Contracts between Companies1 .......................................................................................................................1 Mexican Company and No. 1 Company .................................................................................................................11 C. D. Company and Mexican Company .................................................................................................................12 Tri-Party Contract ........................................................................................................................................................12 Imperial Land Company .......................................................................................................................................................13 Delta Investment Company ...................................................................................................................................................13 IV. ORIGINAL WATER APPROPRIATIONS 1895-1899 .................................................................................................................................................................................15 V. EARLY DEVELOPMENT First Construction ....................................................................................................................................................................17 Alamo ..............................................................................................................................................................................17 Chaffey Gate ..................................................................................................................................................................17 First Diversion and Delivery of Water ................................................................................................................................17 Additional Mutual Water Companies ................................................................................................................................18 Additional Construction ........................................................................................................................................................18 Canals ..............................................................................................................................................................................18 Structures ........................................................................................................................................................................19
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Section 3.3 Geology Jan 09 02 ER Rev4
    3.3 Geology and Soils 3.3.1 Introduction and Summary Table 3.3-1 summarizes the geology and soils impacts for the Proposed Project and alternatives. TABLE 3.3-1 Summary of Geology and Soils Impacts1 Alternative 2: 130 KAFY Proposed Project: On-farm Irrigation Alternative 3: 300 KAFY System 230 KAFY Alternative 4: All Conservation Alternative 1: Improvements All Conservation 300 KAFY Measures No Project Only Measures Fallowing Only LOWER COLORADO RIVER No impacts. Continuation of No impacts. No impacts. No impacts. existing conditions. IID WATER SERVICE AREA AND AAC GS-1: Soil erosion Continuation of A2-GS-1: Soil A3-GS-1: Soil A4-GS-1: Soil from construction existing conditions. erosion from erosion from erosion from of conservation construction of construction of fallowing: Less measures: Less conservation conservation than significant than significant measures: Less measures: Less impact with impact. than significant than significant mitigation. impact. impact. GS-2: Soil erosion Continuation of No impact. A3-GS-2: Soil No impact. from operation of existing conditions. erosion from conservation operation of measures: Less conservation than significant measures: Less impact. than significant impact. GS-3: Reduction Continuation of A2-GS-2: A3-GS-3: No impact. of soil erosion existing conditions. Reduction of soil Reduction of soil from reduction in erosion from erosion from irrigation: reduction in reduction in Beneficial impact. irrigation: irrigation: Beneficial impact. Beneficial impact. GS-4: Ground Continuation of A2-GS-3: Ground A3-GS-4: Ground No impact. acceleration and existing conditions. acceleration and acceleration and shaking: Less than shaking: Less than shaking: Less than significant impact.
    [Show full text]
  • The Colorado River Imperial Valley Soils
    THE COLORADO RIVER and IMPERIAL VALLEY SOILS I I ' ' '' ' ' '"' ' A CHRONICLE OF IMPERIAL VALLEY'S CONTINUING FIGHT AGAINST SALT FOREW ORD Elsewhere In the Untied States, soil conservation dlstricte - lormed as a result of referendum by landowners - are governed by an elected board ol directors. In Imperial Valley, Imperial lrriqatlon Dlatrict functions a.s the SoU Conservation District under a unique memorandum of aqreement with the U.S. Department of Aqr;culture. Soil conservotlon policy Ia ael by the District board which also aerves as a soli conservation board. Soil scl.ontlata. en91n..•r• and con&41rvatlonlsts provide technical assistance to farmers. Soil engineering lnforma1ton and survey da1a, prepared by either the liD or SCS, are freely interchanged. The Dlatrict provides clerical and office facllJUes lor SCS, as well as pub!Jc Information 01818tance. Silt and Salt Imperial Valley, the winter qreenhouse of the nation. has be&n oonqu.,rtng the pro!> !ems and obstacles tha1 have tendad to discourage Ita formers sin~ 1901. In 1900, thta was a bo11en deMrl. Wllh the construction ol a heading on the Colorado River, 60 mllos east ol the Valley, irrigation wa1er was brought lnto the thirsty d·-rt In 1901. This au~sful dlv"r slon ol water through o con ...... ~«-..l••·•t "' * or· VIIYOnc:e canol, many miles of which were In Mexico, was enJoyed (or the brief period of only four years before trouble developed. Looldnf eouth.. thl• oeriol •lew .atowa the beodworb of tl:•• AJI. A flood on the Colorado River washed out the control wor;ca Amenccm Cc:ma.L Tb• Colorado IU•tr ia ot left.
    [Show full text]
  • Cultural Landscape Planning: the Mexicali Valley, Mexico
    The Sustainable City VII, Vol. 1 457 Cultural landscape planning: the Mexicali Valley, Mexico R. I. Rojas-Caldelas1, C. A. Pena-Salmon1 & J. Ley-Garcia2 1Faculty of Architecture and Design, Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexicali, México 2Institute of Research in Social Sciences, Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexicali, México Abstract Initiating around the eighties, the academic training of landscape architects in Mexico is quite recent compared with the tradition in Europe and the U.S. Also new, is the development of landscape research conducted mainly by geographers, urban planners and other professionals trained in natural sciences, whose work is primarily oriented to land use management for urban development and conservation of natural resources or cultural heritage purposes. However, the issue of the cultural landscape in Mexico has been little explored and lacks any integrated and multidisciplinary methodology to bring together social, cultural and natural processes for study. Therefore, this work focuses on the presentation of an appropriate methodology to address the issue of the evolving cultural landscape of the Valley of Mexicali. This work has been developed into three stages: characterization, multiple assessment of landscape and integration of strategies for their management. Thus progress will be presented for the characterization of physical units, landscape components through pictures, visual and spatial patterns of landscape that structure the region and its settlements. As a partial result it was found that multi-valued zones visually and spatially exist in the Mexicali Valley, as well as activities that give character and differentiate it from other agricultural areas of Baja California. Keywords: cultural landscape, landscape assessment methodologies, visual and spatial assessment, sustainable landscape planning.
    [Show full text]
  • Demography of Desert Mule Deer in Southeastern California
    CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME California Fish and Game 92(2):55-66 2006 DEMOGRAPHY OF DESERT MULE DEER IN SOUTHEASTERN CALIFORNIA JASON P. MARSHAL School of Natural Resources University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85721 [email protected] LEON M. LESICKA Desert Wildlife Unlimited 4780 Highway 111 Brawley, CA 92227 VERNON C. BLEICH Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery Program California Department of Fish and Game 407 West Line Street Bishop, CA 93514 PAUL R. KRAUSMAN School of Natural Resources University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85721 GERALD P. MULCAHY California Department of Fish and Game P. O. Box 2160 Blythe, CA 92226 NANCY G. ANDREW California Department of Fish and Game 78-078 Country Club Drive, Suite 109 Bermuda Dunes, CA 92201 Desert mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus eremicus, occur at low densities in the Sonoran Desert of southeastern California and consequently are difficult to monitor using standard wildlife techniques. We used radiocollared deer, remote photography at wildlife water developments (i.e., catchments), and mark-recapture techniques to estimate population abundance and sex and age ratios. Abundance estimates for 1999-2004 ranged from 40 to 106 deer, resulting in density estimates of 0.05-0.13 deer/km2. Ranges in herd composition were 41-74% (females), 6-31% (males), and 6-34% (young). There was a positive correlation (R = 0.73, P = 0.051) between abundance estimates and number of deer photographed/ catchment-day, and that relationship may be useful as an index of abundance in the absence of marked deer for mark-recapture methods. Because of the variable nature of desert wildlife populations, implementing 55 56 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME strategies that recognize that variability and conserving the habitat that allow populations to fluctuate naturally will be necessary for long-term conservation.
    [Show full text]
  • Sea-Level Rise for the Coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington: Past, Present, and Future
    Sea-Level Rise for the Coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington: Past, Present, and Future As more and more states are incorporating projections of sea-level rise into coastal planning efforts, the states of California, Oregon, and Washington asked the National Research Council to project sea-level rise along their coasts for the years 2030, 2050, and 2100, taking into account the many factors that affect sea-level rise on a local scale. The projections show a sharp distinction at Cape Mendocino in northern California. South of that point, sea-level rise is expected to be very close to global projections; north of that point, sea-level rise is projected to be less than global projections because seismic strain is pushing the land upward. ny significant sea-level In compliance with a rise will pose enor- 2008 executive order, mous risks to the California state agencies have A been incorporating projec- valuable infrastructure, devel- opment, and wetlands that line tions of sea-level rise into much of the 1,600 mile shore- their coastal planning. This line of California, Oregon, and study provides the first Washington. For example, in comprehensive regional San Francisco Bay, two inter- projections of the changes in national airports, the ports of sea level expected in San Francisco and Oakland, a California, Oregon, and naval air station, freeways, Washington. housing developments, and sports stadiums have been Global Sea-Level Rise built on fill that raised the land Following a few thousand level only a few feet above the years of relative stability, highest tides. The San Francisco International Airport (center) global sea level has been Sea-level change is linked and surrounding areas will begin to flood with as rising since the late 19th or to changes in the Earth’s little as 40 cm (16 inches) of sea-level rise, a early 20th century, when climate.
    [Show full text]
  • Obviously Real Wrecks Because-They Were Identified in the Process of Removal
    Historic Watercraft, Shreveport to Daingerfield obviously real wrecks because-they were identified in the process of removal. The Albany and Lessie are reliable because the information was derived from the U. S. Customs Service for the Port of New Orleans. However, it is surprising that the Lessie B, which caught fire 15 miles below Jefferson, is not mentioned in the Corps' annual reports concerning improvements to Cypress Bayou. Since project work was suspended in 1880 and did not resume until 1884, it appears that the wreck was quickly removed by its owners. If it had been in place in 1884, it would have been cited as a navigation hazard and removed as part of the ongoing work effort. Of the listed wrecks, it is probable that most were not part of the Jefferson trade, but rather were on the western route around the raft, which duplicated the Jefferson route through Soda Lake. This was definitely the case with the Cotton Plant, which was an upriver packet. The only vessels that definitely were going towards or away from Jefferson were the Albany (which was moving from Shreveport to Albany), the Lessie B. (which was moving from Jefferson to Shreveport), and the Mittie Stephens (which was moving from Shreveport to Jefferson). Whatever their destination, the distribution of these wrecks along the route west of Shreveport shows the relative difficulty in navigating various portions of the route to Jefferson. Contrary to popular conceptions, the portion of the route from the foot of Caddo Lake to Jefferson seems to have been extremely safe. Only two steamboats (Mittie Stephens and Lessie B.) were wrecked along this portion of the route, and both were by fire rather than by snags or other navigation hazards.
    [Show full text]
  • Cultural Resource Inventory for the Vega SES LLC Solar Additional 80-Acres Project, Imperial County, California
    Cultural Resource Inventory for the Vega SES LLC Solar Additional 80-Acres Project, Imperial County, California Prepared for: Vega SES, LLC 750 W. Main Street El Centro, California 92243 Prepared by: Joel Lennen, M.A., RPA ASM Affiliates, Inc. 2034 Corte del Nogal Carlsbad, California 92011 USGS 7.5-minute Mount Signal; approximately 80 acres Keywords: Imperial County, Mount Signal USGS 7.5’ Quad, West Mesa, West Side Main Canal, Fern Canal, Fig Drain, Wormwood Canal and Drain, Drew Road, PN 27970 December 2017 Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page MANAGEMENT SUMMARY ................................................................................ iii 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 1 PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION .................................................................. 1 STUDY PERSONNEL .................................................................................................... 1 2. SETTING ......................................................................................................... 6 NATURAL SETTING ...................................................................................................... 6 Geology and Soils ...................................................................................................... 6 Climate ...................................................................................................................... 6 Topography ..............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • B.C.D. 15-23 Employer Status Determination Baja California Railroad, Inc. (BJRR) September 17,2015 This Is the Decision of the R
    B.C.D. 15-23 September 17,2015 Employer Status Determination Baja California Railroad, Inc. (BJRR) BA # 5751 This is the decision of the Railroad Retirement Board regarding the status of Baja California Railroad Inc. (BJRR) as an employer under the Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Acts, collectively known as the Acts. The status of this company has not previously been considered. Information regarding BJRR was submitted by the company’s controller—first Ana Laura Tufo and then Manuel Hernandez. Alejandro de la Torre Martinez is the Chief Executive Officer and owns the company along with Fernando Beltran and Fernando Cano. There are no affiliated companies. BJRR has offices in San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico. It is a short line operator located in the international border region of San Diego, California and Baja California, Mexico. The BJRR stretches 71 kilometers from the San Ysidro, Califomia-Tijuana, Mexico port of entry to the city of Tecate, Mexico. BJRR interchanges at the San Ysidro rail yard with the San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad, a covered employer under the Acts (BA No. 3758). BJRR interchanges solely with the San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad. BJRR runs approximately lA mile in the United States and then goes southbound through customs and into Mexico providing rail freight services to customers from various industries such as gas, construction, food, and manufacturing. All deliveries are made in Mexico. The annual volume is approximately 4,500 carloads of exports to Mexico. Section 1(a)(1) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) (45 U.S.C.
    [Show full text]
  • Coast Starlight
    ® Effective October 12, 2020 COAST STARLIGHT serving SEATTLE - TACOMA - PORTLAND - EUGENE-SPRINGFIELD - SACRAMENTO - SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA - SANTA BARBARA - LOS ANGELES and intermediate stations Amtrak.com BOOK TRAVEL, CHECK TRAIN STATUS, ACCESS YOUR ETICKET AND MORE THROUGH THE Amtrak app. 1-800-USA-RAIL Service on the Coast Starlight® 11 3Train Number4 14 R Coaches: Reservations required. As indicated in column 3Normal Days of Operation4 TuThSa B Business class service available. Reservations required. For R B s r R B s r more information visit Amtrak.com/business-class. 3On Board Service4 s Private rooms. For more information, visit Amtrak.com/rooms. y l O y l O r Dining service: For more information, visit Amtrak.com/dining. Read Down Mile Symbol Read Up y Café service: For more information, visit Amtrak.com/cafe. 6 5 l b Amtrak Thruway Connection—Vancouver, BC/Seattle, WA Checked baggage at select stations. O On Board Bicycle Racks: We offer a number of different ∑w- l9 45A MoWeSa 0 Dp Seattle, WA (Victoria, BC i)(PT) Ar l7 56P TuThSa services to transport your bike onboard on most routes. Each l10 37A MoWeSa 39 Tacoma, WA ∑w- p l6 50P TuThSa train has different equipment and loading procedures that dictate 11 27A MoWeSa 75 Olympia-Lacey, WA >w- 6 01P TuThSa what service will be offered. Reservations are required and l11 51A MoWeSa 94 Centralia, WA ∑w- 5 36P TuThSa additional charges apply. Visit Amtrak.com/bikes for all the 12 35P MoWeSa 137 Kelso-Longview, WA >w- 4 51P TuThSa details before you book your trip.
    [Show full text]
  • The Yuma Project on Uninsured Children
    The Yuma Project On Uninsured Children William G. Johnson, Ph.D. Saundra E. Johnson, M.P.A. Steven C. Marcus, Ph.D. Amy Bartels, M.Ph. Ann G. Lawthers, Sc.D. December 2001 The Yuma Project on Uninsured Children is a project of the School of Health and Administration & Policy, College of Business, Arizona State University, supported and coordinated by the Flinn Foundation Table of Contents Research Project Staff..........................................................................................iii Acknowledgements...............................................................................................v Advisory Committee............................................................................................vii 1. Introduction..................................................................................................1 A Profile of Yuma County and its Children ..........................................2 The CHDS Data Set...............................................................................4 2. Creating a Community Data Set Focused on Children: Yuma’s Community Health Data System....................................................5 The Process............................................................................................5 The Method............................................................................................6 The Data................................................................................................ 7 3. Estimating the Number of Uninsured Children ..........................................11
    [Show full text]
  • Imperial Irrigation Decision Support System Summary Report
    Draft Imperial Irrigation Decision Support System Summary Report Prepared for Imperial Irrigation District December 2001 2525 Airpark Drive Redding, California In Association with: Keller-Bliesner Engineering Davids Engineering Colorado State University Allen Engineering Contents Section Page 1.0 Introduction.........................................................................................................................1-1 IID Irrigation and Drainage Systems................................................................................1-1 Water Transfer Basics..........................................................................................................1-4 Imperial Irrigation Decision Support System..................................................................1-5 IID System Representation....................................................................................1-5 IIDSS Purpose .........................................................................................................1-5 Peer Review..........................................................................................................................1-6 2.0 Design of the Imperial Irrigation Decision Support System.....................................2-1 Irrigation System Overview...............................................................................................2-1 Delivery System......................................................................................................2-3 On-farm System......................................................................................................2-3
    [Show full text]
  • Imperial Irrigation District Final EIS/EIR
    Contents Contents Section Page Preface/Abstract.................................................................................................................................iii List of Tables .....................................................................................................................................xv List of Figures .................................................................................................................................. xxi Acronyms.......................................................................................................................................xxvii Glossary ..........................................................................................................................................xxxv Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................ES-1 Introduction .....................................................................................................................ES-1 Project Background and History...................................................................................ES-2 Project Overview .............................................................................................................ES-3 Project Purpose, Need, and Objectives ........................................................................ES-6 Other Proposed Agreements, Plans, and Projects Related to Resources Affected by the Proposed Project..........................................................................ES-9
    [Show full text]