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<br />
<br />~- -"'--""'-\?;-,~" . '--,~ ,,~;'.',; ..- -,: -
<br />"C;:~'~fi]p-ped-with::the-saIl1etYPe~~ni:rifugarpumps,and,~~-~:; :':"'C:.
<br />'els, open canals, covered conduits, siphons, surge cham"" """,' "
<br />~;~oJrSfinally convey this water to Lake Mathews near River"
<br />.t"h.etermination of the main aqueduct and forms the dis-
<br />;;Jl4:Jgr" gischarge lines leading to :the various cities of the
<br />~~~~,;r~!_;.;'~::;:_ ,;
<br />'. ,ii-t the intake started on January 7,1939, and the first water
<br />~thews on November 2, 1939, Soon after the aqueduct
<br />'operation it was noted that fish were being drawn up from
<br />:';1\fi'.D. A, Clanton, Assistant Supervisor of Fish Hatch-
<br />, ished an account of subsequent events. On February 19,
<br />~,~l1e,d to Gene Wash Reservoir to conduct fish rescue opera-
<br />n"g a drainage of this basin. Thousands of fish had been
<br />1t~outlet-a~ocky channel about 1.2 miles long leading from
<br />. ~int.o :Lake:Ha vasn;-:Athis-request-1:his::ehannel was ~
<br />e1" to drive the stranded fish down into the lake. Mr. Clan-
<br />- tthenumber of fish saved is as follows: 1,000,000 green
<br />iij.Me~lonE) ; 30,000 largemouth bass (4 to 12 inches);.
<br />tfish.(4to12inches) . This was but a small portion of
<br />been present in the reservoir.
<br />'m;,(the~ext reservoir above Gene Reservoir) had also
<br />'''ibontthis time, but members of the Division were not
<br />":r'~ployees of the Metropolitan Water District
<br />, , t'(jilthat many fish were also flushed out of here, but
<br />Q.~;I'I'he outlet of this reservoir leads back into the
<br />YiI'a:rI~erUam:-~--'--::-~' .
<br />_as~aJ.so reported at Hayfield Reservoir (another link
<br />..Femwhich has now been abandoned) when it went
<br />
<br />tJt~~~lorado have been pumped and carried by the aque-
<br />".,e'Mathews, At present it is not believed tbat thev can
<br />~~ihe..ootlet here is screened. .. . .
<br />"~-wsayjust how serious the loss of fish from Lake Havasu
<br />)(\gpsidered. Apparently, fish pass through the pumps
<br />celylittle damage. It seems probable that most of the
<br />e,reservoirs were not pumped from Lake Havasu but are
<br />t1i~ii'reproduction. Apparently there has been a decline in
<br />tgreen sunfish in the lake and some residents attribute it
<br />iiepletion of the intake pumps, It may be noted, however.
<br />. ereported to have increased, It is difficult to see how one
<br />'~ear the end of a lake 40 miles long could even begin to
<br />;~g~wever, there is always a danger of fish loss in the aque-
<br />" ,,~enever a reservoir is drained for repairs. Further-
<br />, Jicfishing is not allowed in the system, the continued
<br />'.goin public .waters should not be condoned,
<br />~':.solutions appears possible: (1) Screen the Intake pumps
<br />:~ATI9w fish to enter Gene Wash Reservoir, but scret>n the
<br />J~trapped here cou~d then be flushed back periodically
<br />,.:y(3) Let fish contmue as far as Copper Basin Reser-
<br />.:1~})utlet to the aqueduct; by periodic draining, flush
<br />.e,:)iVer. Primarily, tbe problem appears to be one of
<br />, c~Bt.!Wlution is, of course, the most direct one andi!
<br />
<br />184
<br />
<br />CALU'UIU'HA J:''''~ ~-'-
<br />
<br />FIG. 76.
<br />
<br />A typical Colorado River irrigat\F'onbcaln9~i
<br />Anzona, e, '
<br />
<br />~orth Gila Irrigation D,<"tricl.
<br />
<br />waters in ",ame fishes appear to be those of the Imperial V alley and tbe
<br />
<br />muddy AI;mo and New rivers.
<br />. ..' I Unlike irrigation in most part,; of
<br />2, Loss of fish 111 JTngllhon cana s. .' thO land of long ~ro,,"'
<br />" 'ed 'erv dav of the :year m ' IS ' --
<br />the wor~d, It IS carn,. o~ e"\ ',. E;en short interruptions of the wat~r
<br />ing penods and, and chmate. Therefo-re the main canals ("~mtalU
<br />supply can be dJ.SaStrous to ~rops, iods of re air. cleanlll~, or
<br />water at all times except durmg the s~ort per losed d;wn then ill"l th~
<br />emergencv; and often only small sectlhons a~e .cm1'zl'na the danl'er 11) fish,
<br />. b h th r canals t us mllll e "', f
<br />water shun~ed t lroug 0 e , ' n not be denied: an inspel,tll'll '>.
<br />That there IS so~e loss at s11:h tl~es ca'ealed a considerable llnlllU~r ,.,
<br />one such area m, Februar: 194 , re: tfi h fish and munet '). Hu\\"
<br />stranded fish (maInly small channe ca s, sun, a here with wi\!ra7"l'"
<br />ever, it must be remembered that "he ar~ not d~~~l~tes'a serious l~rob],'r::
<br />fishes such as salmon and trout, v; ose oss co '
<br />
<br />in many diversions ~ the 'Yesi'fish when water is turned out into sm.all~!
<br />That there ma: be a ~o:ss 0 . ilitv We heard a few report,.. ot th~
<br />laterals or into the fields ISd a posslbf the' sportsmen interviewed apl,...a~
<br />nature. but saw no loss an none? bl They were COl'\'(.\)nrat('ll
<br />to think that this was at all a senous pro em. .
<br />
<br />by the local game wardens. f the diversions and none are re<""ro-
<br />There are no screens on any 0 ' ,
<br />
<br />mended. , 1 "\letr,'"
<br />3 Removal of fish at La,ke Havasu. From La~~_fIa;as~U:l;eli-ft illli:'
<br />politan -Water Distriet lIfts water through a \ . ~o fhe next ,;"t :J
<br />Gene Wash Reservoi.r. This lake _acts as; f?reRaJer~~ir ~;nli1<\r !if'oS
<br />pumps and the water continues to Copper aSlll es ."
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