Laserfiche WebLink
<br />24 <br /> <br />'. <br /> <br />..., r'" - <br />:l:::Jli'c <br />the stream becomes so unstable that it breaks its banks in <br /> <br />the high-watar period and follows some otner courso. In this <br /> <br />manner the stroam has in past centuries swung back and forth <br /> <br />over its delta, until this exists as a broad flat ridge betwoon <br /> <br />the gulf and tha Salton Soa, abou.t 30 feet aoove sea leval, <br /> <br />and on the sumni t of thi s has formGd a small lake called <br /> <br />Volcano Lake, into which the river flows at present, tho <br /> <br />water tl:wn finding its VIa::! to tho southward into thd gulf. <br /> <br />The direct distance from Andrade on the Colorado River, <br /> <br />whero 'it r()aches Hoxico, to the hoad of the gulf is about 75 <br /> <br />miles, and tha distance to th3 =gin of SaHon Sea is but <br /> <br />little more. As tho latter is about 250 feat lower than thc <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />gulf, the strong tcndency to flow in that direction n()eds no <br /> <br />demonstration. This, coupled 'vith tho i~vitabl() necessity <br /> <br />t <br />., <br />I <br /> <br />for such an alluvial str()am to l()ave its channel at intervals, <br /> <br />constitu.tes tho manaca' of the lands lying about Salton Sea, <br /> <br />called the I~perial Valley. As there is ~o escape of water <br /> <br />from Salton'Sea except by evaporation, the river flowip~ into <br /> <br />this sea would, unless divortcd, gradually fill it to sea <br /> <br />level or above and submerge the cultivated land and the to,v.ns <br /> <br />of Imperial Valley, noarfy all of whicil ara below sea lavel. <br /> <br />Any flood waters that overflow the bank to the north must <br /> <br />therefore without fail be rdstraincd and not allowed to flow <br /> <br />north,v.ard into Salton Saa. T.~is is no~ prevontod oy a large <br /> <br />. <br />