|
<br />~
<br />)
<br />r:.t:)
<br />C\1
<br />':::J
<br />C;)
<br />
<br />ALL AMERICAN CANAL
<br />
<br />The All American Canal delivers Colorado River water for irrigation and domestic use to
<br />the Imperial and Coachella valleys. It has its intake above Imperial Dam, and from this
<br />point the main canal extends westward 80 miles, paralleling the Mexican boundary line,
<br />which is a few miles to the south. It was built by the United States Bureau of Reclamation,
<br />Its cost, amounting to $78,000,000 with distribution facilities, will be repaid in full by the
<br />people of the Imperial Irrigation District and the Coachella Valley County Water District.
<br />Imperial Dam is a part of the All American Canal System.
<br />
<br />Construction of the All-American Canal was started in 1934. On February 13,
<br />1942, it commenced the delivery of all of the Imperial Irrigation District's water supply,
<br />and use of the old Imperial Canal through Mexico was discontinued except for Mexican
<br />service, Construction of the Coachella Branch Canal was started in lc;38, and completed
<br />for initial operation in 1949.
<br />
<br />The main canal below Pilot Knob is 10,000 second-feet, divided 8,500 second-feet
<br />to the Imperial Irrigation District and 1,500 second-feet to the Coachella Valley County
<br />Water District,
<br />
<br />The United States Government, through its Department of the Interior, has contracted
<br />permanently to deliver Colorado River water to the Imperial Irrigation District, the Coa-
<br />chella Valley County Water District, the Palo Verde Irrigation District, and the Yuma
<br />Irrigation District in California, up to 4,150,000 acre-feet annually.
<br />
<br />IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT
<br />
<br />The Imperial Irrigation District is situated in the southeast portion of California. It includes a
<br />total gross area of 902,901 acres, of which 509,011 acres are under cultivation. It is the
<br />largest irrigation district in the western hemisphere. Within the boundaries of this district
<br />are the cities of Brawley, Calexico, Calipatria, El Centro, Heber, Holtville, Imperial, Niland,
<br />Seeley and Westmorland. The District is the sole agency supplying water and power to the
<br />Imperial Valley, which has an estimated population exceeding 80,000 and which produced
<br />farm products having a valuation of $141,258,489 in 1953. The District also supplies
<br />power for the Coachella Valley.
<br />
<br />The principal products of the Imperial Valley are vegetables, melons, alfalfa, flax,
<br />sugar beets, cattle, sheep, pasturage, gypsum, citrus fruits, and cotton. Because of the large
<br />quantity and high quality of its winter and early spring vegetables and fruits the Imperial
<br />Valley is known as "America's Winter Garden."
<br />
<br />Before the building of the All American Canal, the farmers of Imperial Valley ob-
<br />tained their irrigation water from the Colorado River via the Alamo Canal, which passed
<br />for approximately 60 miles through Mexico. In order to operate the canal on Mexican soil,
<br />they were required to make one-half of its water available to landowners in Mexico.
<br />
<br />Prior to the construction of Hoover Dam these Imperial Valley farmers sought to
<br />protect their homes and crops from annual Colorado River floods by building scores of
<br />miles of levees in Mexico at a cost to them of many millions of dollars.
<br />
<br />[18 ]
<br />
|