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While these surveys were being carried on in the vicinity of Fort Lincoln, detached parties were at convenient times working on Apple Creek to determine the possibility of using it as a reservoir to relieve the pumping plant at Bismarck. From a study of these surveys it appears that it is impracticable to use the waters of Apple Creek in conjunction with the pumping project. Gaging stations were maintained on the creek and the spring run-off and rainfall were observed and measured. There was practically no run-off from the melting snows this season, though they generally send down the creek a large amount of water. During May and June there was considerable rainfall, but it had little effect on the discharge of the creek. The total discharge from February 28, to July 30, was approximately 7,300 acre-feet.

A detailed survey of the Bismarck project was begun July 1, on a scale of 400 feet to 1 inch, with 5-foot contours. Twenty square miles of topography was completed by August 15, covering the lower, middle, and upper benches of the Bismarck project. The accompanying map (Pl. XLVIII) shows the probable limits of the area available--something less than 9,000 acres. A map of the pumping site on a 50-foot scale, with 2-foot contours, was also made during this period.

MOUSE RIVER PROJECT.

A reconnaissance on Mouse River has shown a large area of irrigable lands. To get water on these lands will require a dam across the river and a canal large enough to divert the flood water. The fall of the river is very small-about 1 foot to the mile-and without a dam the lands can not be reached. Mouse River rises in Canada and returns to that country after flowing about 180 miles through North Dakota. The flow is very small except at times of flood during April and May. The average annual run-off is about 240,000 acre-feet. A rough estimate has been made on the basis of an earth dam about 45 feet high and 3,000 feet long, with a masonry core wall. A flood-water canal 32 miles long, carrying 1,850 secondfeet, would bring the water to a point where storage could be had. The irrigable lands have not been surveyed, but it is thought there may be 100,000 acres.

OPERATIONS IN OKLAHOMA.

By B. M. HALL.

SOUTHWESTERN SECTION, a

A very complete reconnaissance has been made of the streams in Custer, Roger Mills, Washita, Greer, Kiowa, and Comanche counties. The reservoir sites formerly surveyed on North Fork of Red River at Lugert and on Otter Creek near Mountain Park (described in the Second and Third Annual Reports) were examined and preliminary canal surveys were run from them to determine the feasibility of using each as a separate system instead of combining them into one system as was formerly suggested.

NAVAJO RESErvoir site.

SURVEYS.

In the course of the above surveys a reservoir site was found which commands a larger water supply and affords more storage than any other site discovered. This is known as the Navajo reservoir site, and is on North Fork of Red River in Greer and Kiowa counties, opposite Navajo Mountain, 10 miles west of Mountain Park and 4 miles north of Headrick. Preliminary surveys were made to determine approximately the dimensions of the dam and capacity of the reservoir. The results being satisfactory, accurate plane-table surveys were made of the dam site and reservoir site, also surveys for locating canals and laterals and estimating their cost.

This site would have the natural drainage from 5,470 square miles in Oklahoma and Texas. Surveys from Salt Fork of Red River show that it can be diverted at a point 2 miles above Mangum and brought into the Navajo reservoir with 15 miles of canal. Such a flood-water canal would be expensive, but it would give an additional drainage area of 1,224 square miles. Investigations near Elk City showed that it was impracticable to divert upper Washita River into the Navajo drainage basin. A plane-table survey of this reservoir was made on a scale of 2,000 feet to the inch, with 5-foot contours, and from this the capacity of the reservoir was computed. The elevation of the river at the dam site is 1,345 feet. There is a wide gap in the divide 6 miles northwest of the dam site, in secs. 15 and 22, T. 3 N., R. 19 W., at an elevation of 1,408 feet. In order to bring the storage level of the reservoir to the 1,405-foot contour, or 60 feet above the river at the dam site, an embankment 7,500 feet long and 9 feet in maximum height will have to be built; if the storage level is raised to 65 feet above the river at the dam site, or up to contour 1,410, the length of this embankment will be 9,500 feet and its maximum height 14 feet.

a From report by James G. Camp.

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The Navajo dam site is at a point known locally as Little Coulter Mountain. From the north a granite ridge projects to the water's edge; on the south side at the edge of the stream is a granite butte 110 feet higher than the river bed. It is 460 feet across the river from rock to rock. Back of the butte is a gap where the sandy soil of the hillside meets the rock. This would need an embankment 34 feet high in the highest point, and 1,500 feet long on top. The latest diamond-drill borings indicate that granite bed rock in the river is at a greater depth than had been expected. A masonry damn, extending from the butte on the south to the ridge on the north and along its crest, would be 460 feet long at river bed, 75 feet high above river bed, and 2,200 feet long on top. The ridge, being solid granite, would make an excellent spillway. Of the 2,200 feet of length, 1,200 feet would be the masonry dam, and 1,000 feet along the ridge would be a spillway at 60 feet above the river bed and 15 feet below the crest of the dam.

A broad, low gap at the 1,408-foot contour on the west side limits the height of water level. An embankment 7,500 feet long will be necessary to bring this gap to elevation 1,417, the level of the dam crest. An additional 5 feet would increase the length to 9,500 feet.

DIVERSION DITCHES.

As there is fine land on both sides of the river below the Navajo reservoir at about equal distances, a ditch line was run on both sides. The Greer County ditch follows along the river bank 1 mile and then cuts through the sand hills a distance of 1 miles, across the horseshoe bend. These sand hills are a choppy mixture of ridges, draws, and basins, but a comparatively cheap line was found through. Water standing in the basins proves that the material will hold water. Probably 3 to 1 slopes on banks will be necessary in this portion to prevent sandy banks sliding. From this point the line follows the river bottom on easy slopes to east of Headrick. A line on grade follows a very irregular course around the end of the divide, having 3,000 feet of steep hillside and 1,540 feet of rock. To avoid this, four cut-off lines were run across the point, and the northernmost one, passing above the town with a cut 20.5 feet deep in the center and 5,900 feet long, was thought the best route. This cuts off 4.9 miles in the distance and avoids all rock and steep hillsides, also a difficult railroad crossing. From the outlet of the cut a small lateral running south would supply the land at the end of the ridge. The main route from here encounters no difficulties, passing across the Stinking Creek Valley above 90,000 acres of farming land. It was continued along the east slope of the Altus divide to a point 7 miles below Altus,

where it crossed the divide, but a sufficiency of land will be found without going so far. This line was 35.5 miles long.

The Kiowa-Comanche ditch line follows the river bank for a mile, then close to it on a clay bank for 4 miles more. From this point it runs on a sandy hillside until at the end of 9.5 miles it passes by a small cut through the point of the ridge which bounds Otter Creek Valley on the north and west. From this point the line is on easy slopes along the foot of this ridge to above Snyder, where it crosses Otter Creek; thence it follows down the east side of the valley on easy slopes to the Comanche County line, covering 40,000 acres of fine land, and from this point it takes a southeasterly course, covering a fine tract of 80,000 acres in Comanche County.

Quantities for Navajo diversion ditches.

Greer County ditch, 35.5 miles long, 959,340 cubic yards:

Headrick cut, 109,700 cubic yards.

Main laterals, 12,672 cubic yards.
Minor laterals, 360,000 cubic yards.
Bridges-

9, 45-foot span.

25, 30-foot span.

41, 15-foot span.

Railroad crossings

2, 50-foot span.

2, 30-foot span.

Flumes

2, 50-foot span 30 feet wide.

3, 20-foot-span 12 feet wide.

Rock culverts

2, 8 by 10 by 40 feet.

13, 6 by 8 by 40 feet.

Cement headgates, 420, average capacity 3 second-feet. Kiowa-Comanche ditch, 54 miles long, 1,207,734 cubic yards:

Main laterals, 264,000 cubic yards.

Minor laterals, 350,000 cubic yards.
Bridges-

11, 45-foot span.

12, 30-foot span.

29, 25-foot span. 42, 15-foot span. Railroad crossings

1, 45-foot span.

2, 30-foot span.

Rock culverts

6,6 by 8 by 50 feet.
4, 6 by 6 by 40 feet.

13, 4 by 6 by 30 feet.

Cement headgates, 430, average capacity 3 second feet.

These canal estimates were made from the preliminary surveys. Since that time careful locating surveys have been made, but the estimates from them are not yet completed. The duty of water will vary greatly, as the rainfall fluctuates, not so much from year to year as in regard to the time of the year it occurs. In one year it may come mainly in the early and late parts of the season, while in another it may be distributed through the season. Concerning the water supply the data at hand are very incomplete, the measurements of 1903 and 1904 being on but three tributaries-North Fork above the Lugert reservoir,

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