IDAHO.

MINIDOKA PROJECT.

GENERAL STATEMENT.

The general features of the Minidoka project are summarized below:

Summary of principal data relating to Minidoka project.

Counties: Lincoln and Cassia.

Latitude: 42° 11'.

Longitude: 113° 30'.

Townships: Townships 8 to 10 south, ranges 22-25 E. B. M.

Irrigable area: 130,000 to 150,000 acres.

Watershed area: 17,900 square miles.

Average rainfall: 15 to 19 inches.

Estimated run-off: 0.512 second-foot per square mile, or depth in inches 6.9; 5,000,000 to 8,000,000 acre-feet.

Range of temperature: Maximum 96°, minimum 12°, mean 45°.

Average elevation: 4,200 feet.

Principal products: Alfalfa, 2 to 3 crops: sugar beets, cereals, vegetables.

Nearest railroad: Minidoka and Southwestern Railroad, connecting with Oregon Short Line.

Nearest stations: Rupert, Heyburn, Burley.

Principal market: Local mines.

Kind of headworks: Storage reservoirs on South Fork Snake River and Diversion dam.

Capacity of reservoirs: 732,400 acre-feet.

Duty of water: Estimated average 4 feet deep, measured at point of diversion. Type of diversion dam: Rock fill.

Length of diversion dam: 600 feet.

Length of canals: 130 miles.

Length of laterals: 110 miles.

Power developed: 11,000 to 30,000 horsepower.

Ownership of lands: 25,000 State, balance public.

Character of soil: Sandy loam.

Value of irrigated land: $50 to $100.
Beginning of survey: March, 1903.

Date of completion: May, 1907.

The Minidoka project provides for the reclamation of from 130,000 to 150,000 acres in the central portion of the Snake River Valley. Water is diverted from Snake River and carried by gravity to about 80,000 acres, about 72,000 of which are on the north side of the river and 8,000 on the south side. From 50,000 to 70,000 acres of very desirable land are situated above the gravity canals, and it will be feasible to pump water to these lands at some future time. The diversion works now being constructed have been planned to provide facilities for this purpose.

The preliminary work necessary on this project included the erection of office buildings, lodging houses, warehouses, and corrals, and the installation of a telephone system. The telephone line will not cease