Page:Report of the Oregon Conservation Commission to the Governor (1908 - 1914).djvu/277

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REPORT OF CONSERVATION COMMISSION.
41

can be stored by diverting them into a reservoir basin near Laidlaw and this diversion has already been planned by an operating company. Squaw Creek is lass favorably situated with respect to reservoirs and its winter flow probably never can be conserved, but a very large percentage of it comes at a time when it is most needed. ft is estimated that Tumalo Creek has a total average runoff of 97000 acre-feet of which 80,000 can be ultimately used, while Squaw Creek has an average of 72,000 of which 50,000 may be utilized.

Some irrigation is being practiced from other tributaries of the Deschutes particularly Metolius and White Rivers, and further developments are possible but little is known as to the feasibility or extant of the projects.


HOOD RIVER.

Hood River, having 1t3 sources in the glaciers on the north side of Mt Hood, lies stidctly neither in eastern or western Oregon, but has been included with the former. This river has a large runoff which is considerably in excess for any probable future use for irrigation.

Storage facilities are lacking but the natural summer flow of the stream is well maintained. It is estimated that there will be ultimately utilized a quantity equal to the low water di,charge of the stream for a period of 5 months or about 120,000 acre-feet.


KLAMATH RIVER BASIN

The water supply of the Klamath River drainage basin is furnished by Klamath River proper and its tributaries, and also by Lost River, which while not strictly tributary to the Klamath is still considered a part of the same drainage system, since its lower course is connected with the latter by a slough which carries some water at times of flood. Lost River furnishes a total average runoff of 283000 acre-feet, and land is available for utilizing all of this water for irrigation, except such as will be lost by evaporation; say 250,000 acre-feet.

The water supply of Klamath River is abundant and the amount of it which can ultimately be utilized depends entirely upon the amount of land which can be economically covered with canals. It has been estimated that at least 100,000 acres on the Riamath Indian Reservation, and 40,000 acres within the Great Basin can be irrigat.d by gravity and pumping from Williamson River and tributaries. A limited area on the west side of the lake can be covered by diversion from other tributaries of upper Kianiath Lake originating in the Cascade