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<br />the All-American about 20 miles west of
<br />Yuma and runs n0l1hwcst to a point near
<br />Indio. California, where it loops back to
<br />the south t(W a short distance.
<br />
<br />H1wt structures arc buill along the
<br />canal?
<br />The usual irrigation calla] checks,
<br />wastcways, and turnouts. Also, siphons
<br />or culverts are uscd to carry the cunal
<br />under many washes, while discharge
<br />from washes is carried over the canal in
<br />concrete overchutc structures. Because
<br />normal operating elevation of the water
<br />surface in the Colorado River above Im-
<br />perial Dam is 179.5 feet above sea level
<br />and many of the lands arc below sea
<br />level, six Lirop structures were also re-
<br />quired along the canal to control the
<br />water's flow. Highway and railroad
<br />bridges spall both the All-American and
<br />Coachclla Canals at cel1ain points, and
<br />flood protection works have been con-
<br />structed in the Coachella Valley.
<br />
<br />Are there pO\1'tr developments 011 the AlI-
<br />American Canal?
<br />Yes. Under terms of the All-American
<br />Canal Contract of 1932, the Imperial Ir-
<br />rigation District was given all rights to
<br />power dcvelopments on both the AII-
<br />American and Coachella Canals. To
<br />date, the developments on the AlI-
<br />American Canal arc: Drop 2, two units
<br />of 10,ooO-kilowatt capacity each; Drop
<br />3. onc unit of 4,800-kilowatl capacity;
<br />Drop 4, t\VO units of 9,600-kHowatt
<br />capacity each; and Drop 5, two units of
<br />2,000-kilowatt capacity each. At Pilot
<br />Knob, betwecn thc canal and river. there
<br />are two units of 16,000 kilowatts each.
<br />Other facilities are currcntly planned for
<br />Drop I and the East Highline Canal
<br />Tumout.
<br />
<br />What are [//(} principal areas benefited by
<br />the AI/-American Canal system?
<br />The Imperial Valley, the Coachella
<br />Valley, and thc Yuma Project, with
<br />lands in both Arizona and California, near
<br />Yuma, Arizona.
<br />
<br />Do Imperial and Coachella Valley water
<br />users pay for water?
<br />Imperial and Coachella Valley water
<br />users do not pay for the use, storage, or
<br />delivery of water for irrigation or for
<br />potable purposes. They do pay the costs
<br />of construction, operation, and
<br />maintenance of Imperial Dam, the AIl-
<br />American Canal, and other works built
<br />under repaymen!_ contracts with the
<br />United States executed by the Imperial
<br />Irrigation District and the Coachella
<br />Valley Water District on December I,
<br />1932, and October 15, 1934,
<br />respectively.
<br />
<br />Imperial Valley
<br />
<br />Where is the Imperial Valley?
<br />In the extreme southern part of Califor-
<br />nia, bordering Mexico. .The valley
<br />ranges from 234 feet below sea level to
<br />50 feet above sea level. Average rainfall
<br />in the valley is 3 inches yearly. The
<br />growing season is 365 days.
<br />
<br />What is the Salton Sea?
<br />An inland sea in a depression, fomlcrly
<br />callcd the Salton Sink, to the north of
<br />Impcrial Valley. It was created in 1905
<br />when the Colorado broke through tem-
<br />porary diversion canal headworks and
<br />poured its entire flow into the valley and
<br />the Salton Sink for J 6 months.
<br />The sea presently covers 380 square
<br />miles, is: about 35 miles long, varies from
<br />8 to 14 miles wiele and has a water
<br />surface elevation of about 227 feet below
<br />sea level.
<br />
<br />H1wt is the ir,.igable area of the Im-
<br />perial Val/ey?
<br />About 500,000 acres.
<br />
<br />Whar (Ire ifS principal crops?
<br />Altami, cotton, sugar beets, winter
<br />vegetables, cantaloupes, and small grains.
<br />
<br />Coachella Valley
<br />
<br />Where is the Coachella Valley?
<br />North of the Salton Sea, which separates
<br />it from the Imperial Valley. Coachella
<br />Valley ranges from about 220 feet below
<br />sea level near the Salton Sea to about
<br />220 feet above sea level at its nOlthern
<br />end. Like Imperial Valley, the Coachella
<br />
<br />Valley receives an average of about 3
<br />inches of rainfall per year, and has a
<br />365-day growing season.
<br />
<br />What is the Coachella Valleys irrigable
<br />acreage?
<br />About 78,500 acres may ultimately be ir-
<br />rigated with Colorado River water. In
<br />1981, approximately 58,000 acres were
<br />irrigated. Prior to constmction of the
<br />Coachella Canal, about 20,000 acres had
<br />been developed by pumping water from
<br />underground.
<br />
<br />What are the principal crops grown in
<br />the Coachel/a Valley?
<br />Dates, grapes, citrus fmit, winter
<br />vegetables, cotton, and alfalfa. About 90
<br />percent of the Nation's domestic date
<br />supply is grown here.
<br />
<br />Ynma Project
<br />
<br />Where is the Yuma Project?
<br />In southwestern Arizona and sOlltheastern
<br />California, on the flood plains of the
<br />Colorado River adjacent to the city of
<br />Yuma, Arizona.
<br />
<br />How many acres does it contain?
<br />About 68,000-approximately 53,000
<br />acres on the Valley Division in Arizona
<br />and l5,()(X) acres in the Reservation
<br />Division in California.
<br />
<br />What are its principal crops?
<br />Alfalfa, hay, lettuce, cotton, wheat, citrus
<br />fmit, and some dates.
<br />
<br />What is the annual rainfall?
<br />A little over 3 inches a year.
<br />
<br />Hmv long is the growing season?
<br />365 days.
<br />
<br />51
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