County agent project progress report, Flood control, November 1, 1936

COUNTY AGENT PROJECT PROJECT NUMBER Progress Report State Office No. 172 Date: November 1936 Clark Co. No. 12 NAME OF PROJECT: Flood Control Objectives of the 1936 program under Erosion-Flood Control took definite form under each of two services. (1) U. S. Forest Service whose CCC Camp was established at Wells Siding, Logandale for Moapa Valley; and (2) Soil Conservation Service, whose CCC Camp was established in Bunkerville for Rio Virgin Valley interests. Much preliminary work had been done during the late 1935 spring-summer seasons toward securing establishment of these two camps, which at the close of 1935 began respective programs for the fall- winter-spring seasons of 1935-36. Under(1) Moapa Valleys interests were largely followed-up as previously thru splendid cooperation of the Muddy Valley Irrigation Company Board of Directors with the Extension Service who worked constantly with Forest Service personnel of each the Wells Siding CCC Camp and those of the Regional office in Ogden, Utah. Specifically, objectives were the completion of the Meadow Valley Wash and Wells Siding projects, major factors in providing adequate protection from flood damage directly or indirectly to over 4000 acres of farm lands in the lower Moapa Valley. The Arrowhead Canyon project had been serving its purpose fully since its completion in the Spring of 1935. Owing to shortage in man power of the camp no additional work had been done on the Meadow Valley Wash during the latter 1935 and early 1936 seasons; and when time came for moving the camp in the spring of 1936, there was also left unfinished two important units of the Wells Siding project - the spillway and Dam of the Bowman Reservoir Site of which the latter was given an excellent beginning, and, with which as matters stood, the entire project, provided only in part a means of flood control should no further work on same be secured thru such source as the CCC organization. The completion of these units and the re-enforcement of the Meadow Valley Wash project was moved to the foreground as a major problem of the Moapa Valley area Erosion-Flood Control Program for latter 1935 and 1936, and early 1937. A problem of minor importance to the entire area though of major importance to the Moapa Indian Reservation was that of providing Flood Control measures at the White Narrows Site No. 2, a constant menace to approximately 300 acres of valuable Indian farm lands. Items with which construction procedure, from November 1935 to May 1936 also latter 1936 and early 1937, has been concerned includes either completion or re-enforcement of units indicated in the following: 1. Complete the various units of the Wells Siding Project. 2. Determine solutions to problems that have during the 1936 flood season, developed over the Meadow Valley Wash Flood Control Project. 3. Remedy the serious aspects of the Moapa Valley Flood Channel. 4. In due time provide for raising of Arrowhead Canyon Dam to offset silting of basin. 5. Provide such flood protection to the U. S. Indian Reservation as might be effected thru safe procedure at the White Narrows Project No. 2. 6. Complete Hogan Wash No. 2. 7. Provide for protection of farm lands from side-hill wash floods throughout the Moapa Valley farming area. In addition to the foregoing, and closely allied to the same, has been the development of a program of Soil Conservation through the Soil Erosion Service, who (with headquarters at Santa Paula, California, as working thru a State Advisory Committee consisting of Directors Cecil W. Creel of the Ex- tension Service and S. B. Doten of the Experiment Station, and local Soil Conservation Associations in each Virgin and Moapa Valleys) have developed a program of works: 1. Improvement of two range areas in Virgin Valley to: (1) Determine possibilities of Soil Conservation thru holding back storm flood waters. (2) Inducing restoration of forage for improved grazing. (3) Check effects of rodents on range forage. 2. Development of water supply for livestock purposes within the larger of foregoing areas and prospectively, eventual perfection of a domestic water supply for each Bunkerville and Mesquite. 3. Protection of farm lands and Soil Erosion of practically all farm lands of each Bunkerville, Mesquite, and Riverside areas involving approximately 200 acres. 4. Planting over 200,000 seedling trees and cuttings designed for preventing erosion. 5. Plans developed for construction of 13 tetrahedron units to form base for expanded tree planting and consequent protection from erosion. 6. Flood Channel improvement in the Mesquite area. 7. Construction of approximately 2000 rock-filled check dams to absorb flood waters. 8. As a consequence of serious damage by storm floods during the summer of 1936, progress was made toward development of a unified program to include further (1) Protection of Bunkerville and Mesquite towns, farm lands and canal systems from river and side-hill wash floods. (2) Develop a means of removing to other areas such members of present and coming generations as would be most conducive to economic and social interests of Bunkerville and Mesquite. (This involves such Social-Economic aspects as to warrant development of a project concerned entirely with Social- Economic problems.) With the closing of the year, activities evident, indicate wholesome signs of progress toward solution of major problems. The Soil Conservation in cooperation with the local residents, in line for contributing liberally of material assistance, are perfecting plans whereby all major washes (10) from town to the intake will be provided with "overpasses". This program will necessitate local people contributing approximately $1,200.00 toward purchase of material which will, with CCC labor and SCS supervision make for such security as has never before been dreamed. Indications also assure an early study of all economic and social factors for determining needs, extent to which State and Federal institutions may proceed, and determining activities for which residents will be made responsible. Findings of such, in conjunction with that which has been and may yet be determined, should in course of time provide substantial security for communities concerned. County Extension Agent