Page:California Highways and Public Works Journal Vols 8-9.djvu/27

 work, including the clearing of timber growth in the various flood channels. Arrangements have been made to operate a dragline excavator on a rental basis for cleaning out the Wadsworth Canal, the collecting canals and various intercepting canals.

Cooperative bank protection work is now under way on the jobs mentioned in the last report: Reclamation Districts Nos. 535, 673, 730 and 900; Robinson Bend on the Feather River; and Feather River at Nicolaus Bridge.

Emergency Flood Control and Rectification of Rivers.

The protection work at Lower Tyler Island for Tyler Island Farms and Libby McNeill and Libby has been completed.

Tentative arrangements for protection work in Reclamation District No. 317 on the San Joaquin River have been made; cost approximately $8,000.

Sacramento Flood Control Project Satisfactory progress has been made in the clearing work in Sutter and Butte Slough by-passes. A total of 170 men have been employed at four different places, and a contract for clearing 100 acres has been half completed. It has been necessary to discontinue most of this clearing work in the last few days on account of rain and flood water, but it will be resumed as soon as the weather permits. Two camps are in operation.

Contracts have been awarded for clearing in the Feather River channel above Oroville, as follows:

(1) To August Dententer of Marvsville, 56 acres, $2,777.

(2) To L. J. Fallon and A. Fraudrup of Marysville, 26 acres, $1.664.

(3) To C. F. Rednall of Marysville. 34 acres, $2.006.

(4) To Robert Gisler of ilarysville. 50 acres, $3.200.

(5) To J. E. Ely and W. D. Zervales of Oroville, 70 acres, $4,480.

Work on these contracts commenced about December 1, but was discontinued on the 12th on account of flood water.

Reports have been prepared on a number of applications before the Reclamation Board, a number of orders respecting applications have been written, and rights of way for the West Intercepting Canal have been secured, in which two condemnation suits have been filed.

Russian River Jetty

The work on the jetty is now confined to placing quarry rock, which involves the operation of the quarry and railroad. Approximately 100 tons per day are being placed with a crew of 14 men. This work will be carried on in this manner without change for a considerable time.

Pajaro River Flood Control. The work of clearing the channel of the Pajaro River is complete, having been finished on December 7, at a total cost of $3,600. The local people are pleased with the work done.

Mokelumne Rirer Improvement Work has been continued in the channel of the Mokelumne River in collaboration with San Joaquin County and is approximately 80 per cent complete. The recent rains have hindered the work considerably.

Flood Measurements and Gages Preparations are complete to send out stream metering parties if this work becomes necessary, and all water stage gages are in operation.

During the month the financial and economic investigations made of the Naglee-Burk, Palmdale and Little Rock Creek Irrigation districts have been completed and reports prepared thereon. Further investigations have been made during the present month as to the feasibility of dissolving the following inactive irrigation distrcts of the state, namely, Dry Creek, South Capay, Baker, Feather Rver and Fullerton.

Investigation is being made of the water supply and susceptibility of the lands to irrigation in the proposed Dixon irrigation distrct located in Solano County, the sufficiency of its petition being approved by the County Board of Supervisors and filed with the State Engineer for investigation and report of feasibility.

Conferences have been held with the proponents of the proposed Feather, Richvale and Dixon irrigation districts and advice given them in connection with the projects proposed. Also, considerable time has been spent in assembling data relative to the financial status of various districts in the state, and a study of their ability to meet their obligations is being made.

The California Bond Certification Commission has under consideration the matter of the approval of the sale of the $l08,000 of bonds by the Nevada Irrigation District for construction purposes of the district from the second division of the second issue of bonds of this district.

Applications During the month of November, 32 applications were received. 20 were rejected and 30 approved. 13 permits were revoked, 9 licenses issued and one license revoked. Snow Surveys The work on the snow survey investigation has consisted chiefly in completing the arrangements necessary in each basin for stocking shelter cabins and caching equipment in readiness for making the surveys, some of which will begin about January 1. Arrangements are practically complete for making the surveys in each major watershed of the Sierras.

Contracts awarded from November 21st to December 16th total $346,076. This includes contracts for general and mechanical work for the two barracks buildings at the Veterans’ Home, totaling $327,606, and minor projects at the Norwalk State Hospital and the Industrial Home for the Adult Blind. During this same period bids were received upon which awards are pending for projects totaling $20,900.

Projects now out for bids include the training school and power house at the San Diego State Teachers College and wrecking Strauss Hall at the California School for the Deaf.