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<br />N <br />- <br />C\! <br />- <br />(' <br />C <br /> <br />However, the Joseph City Irrigation Company had done nothing toward <br />constructing such a basin. During the Bureau I s investigations field <br />plans were prepared for two desilting basins: one was a three -cell <br />structure to be located at Tanner Wash and to be constructed of com- <br />pacted earth, the other a single cell, concrete-lined structure to be <br />located near Penzance Dam. The concrete lining would reduce the <br />annual cost of operation and maintenance and the location would lower <br />the cost of canal maintenance by reducing by several miles the dis- <br />tance of conveyance of the sediment ladened water. Preliminary <br />field investigations indicated that the cost of these basins at 1948 <br />prices would be $39,000 and $45, ODD, respectively. <br /> <br />43. Under this plan groundwater would be recovered on the north <br />side of the Little Colorado River. As discussed previously, a 12-inch <br />well, recently drilled on the north side of the river near the diversion <br />at Penzance Dam, was tested for quantity and quality of water by the <br />Geological Survey at the request of the Bureau of Reclamation. The <br />results of the test, as reported to the Bureau by the Geological Survey, <br />indicated that a sufficient quantity of water can be recovered from the <br />Coconino sandstone on the north side of the river to meet the present <br />needs of the Joseph City Irrigation Company by pumping at relatively <br />low heads. The aquifer will support other wells in the vicinity of this <br />one but to maintain reasonably low pumping heads they should not be <br />spaced closer than 2,500 feet apart and preferably not nearer than <br />5,000 feet. This water is of the same suitable quality for irrigation <br />as the groundwater from the Coconino sandstone on the south side of <br />the river and is much superior to the surface water. Power for <br />pumping is obtainable in this vicinity from the Northern Arizona Light <br />and Power Company. If the entire project water supply were pumped <br />from wells, on the order of 250,000 kilowatt hours of energy would be <br />required annually. <br /> <br />Improvements Undertaken by Joseph City Irrigation Company <br /> <br />44. From preliminary results of the Bureau investigations, it <br />became evident to the local residents that the Bureau plans for the <br />de silting basin were in substantial agreement with those of the Soil <br />Conservation Service. Believing that the primary problem of the area <br />was caused by the heavy silt load of the river water and that the company <br />should construct a low cost structure to serve its purpose, the Joseph <br />City Irrigation Company undertook to solve the problem itself and <br />contracted for the construction of an earthen de silting basin to be <br />located at Tanner Wash. It was to be similar to the design prepared <br />by the Bureau but was modified somewhat during construction, the <br />most significant change being made in the sluicing outlet works. The <br />construction, however, did not conform to Bureau standards; for <br />example the adequacy of the soil compaction appeared doubtful and <br />the construction, although it had the virtue of being inexpensive, was <br />of less permanent character than Bureau construction. Construction <br />was completed and the basin placed in operation during the 1948 <br />irrigation season. <br /> <br />~r: <br /> <br />,', <br />'. <br /> <br />~~ <br />~~ <br />~< <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />15 <br />