Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

In the course of time both of these rivers have built up high banks with the sediment which their waters have washed down from the mountains. The valley lands on both sides of the river are lower than the river banks. This condition is quite pronounced on the Sacramento River, but does not appear in quite the same degree on the San Joaquin. The banks of the Sacramento River may be 15 to 20 feet higher than the lowest points of the basin, and at some points a fall of the ground's surface from river toward the basin of 10 or 15 feet in a mile or two is notable.

The swamp and overflow lands, which lie along the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, were given to the State of California in 1850 to be reclaimed. Instead of first devising a comprehensive plan of reclamation these lands passed into private ownership for a song and each owner proceeded as he pleased in the matter of protecting his land from overflow. River-bank levees and levees to keep the basin water away from the land were built. The islands of the delta region of the rivers were thus surrounded by levees. The custom has thus become an established one to permit this procedure, although it is wellknown that each reduction of the submersible area will put more water into the river channel or upon neighboring land and will cause to be subject to inundation lands which were not theretofore below the flood plane. This process of reclamation, this gradual reduction of the flooded area, not being accompanied by a corresponding enlargement of the valley's drainways, was bound to and actually has raised the elevation of the water surface of the river when at flood stages far above original elevation. This is fully-explained in the published reports and I need refer only to the river at Sacramento, where the river now rises during floods 8 or 9 feet higher than even. in such great floods as that of 186-162 under natural conditions. And yet even at this increased height the water that the river should carry is not all in the channel between the river levees.

The capacity of the Sacramento at and near that point as increased by high levees is but little more than 100,000 second-feet, while there will be presented during heavy storms about 5 to 6 times this amount of water. That which the river can not hold must go elsewhere. It must go out of the channel somewhere. Between Colusa and the mouth of Feather River the Sacramento River channel can be made to carry only about one-eighth of the water which may present itself for transportation in time of flood. Under natural conditions the banks were overtopped and the basin took care of the surplus. Under the proposed scheme of river treatment the water in excess of channel capacity as augmented by high levees will be allowed to leave the river at selected points under control, and the out-going water will be kept under control, between the levees of the by-passes, to the point where it may without detriment be returned to the river. (By reference to maps the Sacramento River project was further explained.)

In reply to questions Mr. Grunsky stated that he was connected with the original State engineer department from 1878 to 1888. The State engineer was at that time charged with the investigation of the flood control, irrigation and mining débris questions. Mr. Grunsky commenced in the service as topographer, mapping the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers, and was later in charge of much of the hydrographic work of the department. In 1889-90 he was a

member of the examining commission on rivers and harbors for California, and in 1894-5 he was consulting engineer to the commission of public works of California.

He is at present consulting engineer to the State reclamation board, not continuously employed, but has been conferred with from time to time on special problems and is available for further service.

(In reply to a question by Mr. Sparkman relating to the objections which had been urged against the location of the Sutter by-pass, Mr. Grunsky said:)

Mr. GRUNSKY. The fundamental principles of river treatment which would have to be applied to the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers were laid down in the report of Manson & Grunsky as consulting engineers to the commission of public works in 1894-5. The present location of the by-pass is practically identical with that which was suggested in 1894-95. But the project as outlined by the California Debris Commission indicates a location through the central or deepest portion of Sutter Basin. On this location, which wou'd be preferred by some of the landowners in Sutter Basin, the water between the levees at the upper end of the basin would be lower than it will be between levees on the adopted more easterly location. But on the eastern location the levees wou'd have a less average height; there would be 4 or 5 feet less depth of water standing against them at highest stages and the aggregate length of levee would be less by about 16 miles. All circumstances considered and the protection of the entire basin being taken into account, the proper by-pass location has been adopted by the reclamation board. The work in Sutter Basin should be carried out in its entirety, but there are financial difficulties in the way of accomplishing this. The completion of the unit on which work is now in progress, the reclamation of the lands along Sacramento River and easterly across the central portions of the basin, and the building of the west levee only of the by-pass will make the floods higher on the Feather River side of the basin, and this will cause the occasional flooding of some lands not heretofore menanced by back water from the basin.

Mr. SWITZER. In making a drain through the Sutter Basin will the water flow out from the basin into the river or will the water back up into the basin?

Mr. GRUNSKY. The lowest elevation of ground's surface in the Sutter Basin is about 20 feet above low tide in San Francisco Bay. The flood height in the river at the lower end of the basin may be 35 to 36 feet. The top of river banks in the same vicinity is in the neighborhood of 30 feet. Under these conditions the water can and does sometimes flow into the Sutter Basin at its lowest end where the drainage channels of the basin would discharge into the river. But most of the water which fills the basin comes in from above from various points where river banks are breached and from the region at and northward from the Marysville Buttes. The lowest point of the basin can not be drained by gravity except at low stages of the river, and the sufficiently low stage is not to be expected until about July, when the riyer is low. The local run-off which will accumulate in the lowest parts of the basin after the levee system is complete will have to be removed by pumping. Pumping plants have been made a part of the flood-control project. Under natural conditions drainage is imperfect, as there is a certain large area in the basin

which can not be relieved by gravity flow of the water annually accumulating there until too late to make the land available for crops of any kind.

Mr. SWITZER. Suppose this construction will stop the drainage of land not now overflowed, who will have to pay?

Mr. GRUNSKY. All of the landowners who are benefited by the work. All the landowners who are menaced under present conditions will have to pay a portion of the cost. The law provides that there shall be assessment graded according to the amount of benefit. The CHAIRMAN. The main activities of the Government are directed to a point near the mouth of the river?

Mr. GRUNSKY. Yes, sir; that, too, is a matter of considerable interest. The proposed treatment of the river, as well as every private reclamation, makes the maximum flow of water that presents itself in the lower reaches of the river larger than it would otherwise be. The aggregate discharge remains the same, but it has to be delivered into the bay in a shorter time than formerly, consequently the channel capacity of the lower river where no by-pass is possible should be increased to keep pace with the reclamation work. The river below the mouth of Cache Slough, below Rio Vista, must be enlarged. The width of the river is to be increased from an average of about 800 feet to about 3,000 feet. The river has ample depth at present for navigation, but it will be deepened, too. I may state, too, that the contemplated flood-control work will benefit navigation.

The CHAIRMAN. You anticipate that the river itself will continue practically in a normal condition during the entire time of flood?

Mr. GRUNSKY. Yes, sir. That is, the flood condition will not interfere with navigation. It remains to be said that the early mining operations in California, which were permitted by the United States Government, were a potent factor in modifying the original condition of the valley streams. Mining operations under more recent Government control are no longer a menace. The mining débris brought down from the mountains by various rivers, the Bear, the Yuba, and the American, has lodged in the river channels, making the low water considerably higher than it was when the country was first settled by the white man. In 1854 the low water at Sacramento was about 8.5 feet lower than it was at the time that the effect of the mining débris was most apparent in 1889. The bed of the stream had been raised by the fill of débris to such an extent that this bed was then higher than the surface of the river at low water had originally been. Since that time the confining of more water to the river by levees has caused scouring to take place, and due to the cessation of hydraulic mining, less material is supplied from above. These causes make for a betterment of conditions, as also the taking of material out of the river channel for levees by dredging. At the same time a progressive though not alarming filling of Suisun and San Pablo Bays is to be noted.

(In reply to a question by Mr. Small, Mr. Grunsky further explained the plans of flood-control and reclamation. He explained the floodcontrol project by reference to maps.)

Mr. SMALL. What I meant to say is, that as between the United States and the State of California, the work of construction must proceed contemporaneously. How long before a completed plan of flood control and reclamation can be presented?

Mr. GRUNSKY. In general outline the plan for the Sacramento River has been presented and adopted.

Mr. SMALL. In your opinion, then, is the time ripe for Congress to assume its part, if it should decide to do so, in the widening and deepening of the outlet river and in the construction of the weirs?

Mr. GRUNSKY. I think it is. The reclamation board has power to modify the plans from time to time, all plans and modifications remaining subject to approval by Federal authorities.

Mr. SMALL. What feature of the flood-control plan and land reclamation project are in controversy and in the courts now?

Mr. GRUNSKY. The litigation now pending involves the power of the reclamation board to levy assessments, and the validity of all proceedings and the constitutionality of the act creating the board are brought into question.

Capt. ANDERSON. Mr. Grunsky stated he thought the time was ripe for the Federal Government to take a hand in this, and I should like to add that, owing to our not having had a flood in the last five years and no levees washed away, we have a reasonably good channel. Every time we have had a serious break there has been a cessation of navigation by the large boats. Years ago there was a time when they had to stop some 6 or 8 miles below Sacramento and lighter their freight and tow it in. Three years ago during low water from July to September my company maintained a steam barge to lighter our boats. in and out; but each year during the last three years the channel has been scouring a little better each year, and with the lower gauge we notice a little better channel. I contend that we would not have had this channel if we had had any floods in the past few years.

Mr. CURRY. The city of Sacramento was raised 10 feet to protect it from the floods. The city of Sacramento was raised 10 feet by its own people. That was done 25 years ago. This channel down here at the present time is between 700 and 800 feet wide and the engineers are dredging it to a width of 2,500 feet, and a depth of 27 feet at low water. For none of the levee work here are we asking of Congress one cent. The only money we are asking from Congress is for the purpose of widening the river and deepening it, that is below Cache Slough, and for some rectification and enlargement of river channels. The work above the lower section that the Government is asked to do is on three or four weirs. And the State of California is to pay half of all the work that the United States Government is to do.

Maj. RAND (answering a question). All the land that is necessary has been furnished. They have furnished the land for widening as fast as we can work.

Mr. CURRY. All the land that the United States engineers want for the purpose of widening and deepening the outlet channel has been furnished and more; but if it has not all been furnished, it will be furnished. When necessary the lands are condemned and paid for after condemnation proceedings are finished. The city of Sacramento paid $75,000 for this Bakers Point cut-off. In addition the State has contributed $600,000 toward the construction and operation of the dredges. The dredges cost $438,000 instead of $400,000 as first estimated.

Mr. ATHERTON. The only thing at the present time that I care to call your attention to is the marking on this plan in red-the navigable channels between this point here [pointing] and up to Stockton. These channels have in every instance 9 or more feet of

water and are 500 to 600 feet in width. They are navigated every day in the year. The lands are in a high state of cultivation, and all of the traffic with this territory is done by boats. The produce is largely potatoes, onions, beets, and barley, and it is shipped to San Francisco. There are about 200,000 acres in this territory, and of these channels there are 210 miles. The shoalest channels that we have in this territory are the 6 miles from here [pointing] into the city of Stockton. There the Government has to do considerable work to maintain 9 feet. The distance is about 45 miles from Stockton to the mouth of the San Joaquin. We go down 61 miles from Sacramento to the junction of the two rivers, or to Collinsville. Very many of these channels have been constructed by private enterprise in connection with the reclamation of these lands through the raw tules. I think in this interior territory there is not a place where the farmer has to haul more than 3 miles to water. Between Stockton and the mouth of the river I think there is no difficulty at all in getting economically the necessary cross sections to take care of the Hood waters that have ever occurred. There is one place on the river where a by-pass is necessary. The head of navigation is practically in Stockton, but this summer the river has been operated 20 miles above Stockton, and all of the year for about 15 miles above Stockton there is navigation.

Mr. CURRY. The maximum flood waters of the Sacramento is 660,000 second feet; of the San Joaquin, 150,000 second feet. This delta land is of such a character that it has absolutely to depend upon river transportation. You can not build a railroad through it. You can not get foundations for the piers. Thirty-five million dollars worth of freight was shipped out of the valleys last year. I suppose that the value of the output of these two valleys is $100,000,000 per

annum.

Some years ago the Southern Pacific Railroad Co. wanted to escape the Suisun Slough through which it runs, and to do so organized and commenced the construction of the Sacramento & Southern Railroad. They ran that line from Sacramento to Walnut Grove on the Sacramento River, and then they quit, because the cost was so great. They could not find foundations for their piers. The soil is very deep and rich, and underneath that soil is mud. Navigation in this State is for every day in the year, and these two rivers are unique in that they can be navigated all the year round; they are never closed by ice, and navigation is the only outlet most of the country around here has for its products. There are river sections in the Eastern States that are so interlaced with railroads that water navigation is not so necessary.

STATEMENT OF HON. V. S. MCCLATCHY, PRESIDENT OF THE STATE RECLAMATION BOARD OF CALIFORNIA.

Mr. MCCLATCHY. I would like to present some of the features which I know the committee feels interest in. I wanted to have an opportunity to show how the completion of this project is absolutely essential to insure any navigation, or any commensurate navigation, within the State of California in any part of these two valleys, but lunch time is here, and I will defer my statement until later in the day. (Meeting adjourned to meet at 2 o'clock p. m., at which time Mr. McClatchy resumed his statement.)

« AnteriorContinuar »