Letter from State engineer, State of Oregon.. 112 113 115 116 116 117 121 123 147 170 National Park Service report dated April 1953. Fish and Wildlife Service preliminary report dated July 1953. Table No. LIST OF PRINCIPAL TABLES 1. Climatological data 2. Minimum land classification specifications_. 3. Acreages by land classes. 4. Relative productivity by land class_ 5. Unregulated runoff of Emigrant Creek at Emigrant Dam. 6. Unregulated runoff of Keene Creek at Hyatt Prairie Dam. 7. Runoff of Beaver Creek at Howard Prairie Dam Site... 8. Total runoff divertible from Little Butte Creek drainage_ 9. Water rights, Bear Creek and tributaries___ 10. Water rights, Talent Irrigation District_ 11. Average farm delivery requirement 12. Adopted farm delivery requirements. 13. Diversion requirements.. 14. Phase C-2 system storage drawdown seasons. 15. Power production at Green Springs powerplant_ 16. Estimated operating cost.. 17. Employment in Jackson County by industries_ 18. Occupations of urban, rural nonfarm, and farm population in Jackson County, Oreg., 1950.. 19. Size and number of ownership units. 20. Present and anticipated land use in percent of irrigable area 21. Yields by land classes for present and expected conditions. 22. Farm product prices... 23. Summary of budget analysis for class 1 land. 24. Summary of budget analysis for class 2 land. 25. Summary of budget analysis for class 3 land.. 26. Estimated average amount available for payment of water costs.. 27. Repayment schedule.. 32 42 44 44 48 48 49 49 55 57 59 59 60 66 79 86 94 95 98 99 100 102 103 104 105 107 114 LIST OF MAPS AND CHARTS Location map. Land classification map. Reservoir operation diagram_ Storage and canal system... Feasibility estimate drawing, Howard Prairie Dam Preliminary design drawing, Emigrant Dam and dikes (2). Green Springs powerplant: Penstock headworks and wasteway (drawing). Feasibility estimate layout (drawing). SUBSTANTIATING MATERIALS CHAPTER I THE AREA AND THE PROJECT The potential Talent division of Rogue River Basin project involves development of storage and carriage facilities to serve 17,890 irrigable acres of land in Bear Creek Valley, and construction of a 10,000-kilowatt hydroelectric powerplant to produce salable electric energy which will be incorporated in the California-Oregon Power Co. system. The Talent division includes 9,250 irrigable acres in Talent Irrigation District which are in need of supplemental water, and 8,640 irrigable acres of dry lands. Of this latter acreage, 2,680 acres are located under a Medford Irrigation District canal and were formerly included in Medford division. A critical water situation faces operating irrigation districts of this area. In order to bolster water supplies and maintain present farm productiveness, it is proposed that project development of the 2,680 acres be deferred and 9,000 acre-feet of supplemental water be provided Medford and Rogue River Valley Irrigation Districts during an interim period pending development of a water supply for Medford division. However, the plan as set forth herein shows feasibility with the 2,680 acres included in the division. Stable water supplies to operating districts and dry lands would increase agricultural productiveness of the area. Fruit, dairy, and livestock production would remain important and pasture and hay production would be accentuated. THE AREA Talent division is situated in the southeastern part of Rogue River Basin of southwestern Oregon. The city of Ashland is in the southern part of the area and the town of Talent, for which the division has been named, is quite centrally located with respect to division lands. The general area is bounded on the south and west by foothills and mountains of the Siskiyous; on the east by foothills of the Cascade Mountains; and on the north by a continuation of Bear Creek Valley to its confluence with Rogue River. Following local terminology "Bear Creek Valley" is used in this report to refer to the area thus bounded. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS The valley is quite narrow in the upper reaches of Bear Creek drainage, averaging about 2 miles; however, in the vicinity of Medford, it broadens to about 8 miles and continues this width to Rogue River. The valley is some 35 miles long. Bear Creek is the principal stream, and tributaries which join to form this streamhead in the Cascade and Siskiyou Mountains. Arable lands are located along both sides in the valley floor and also on slightly higher terraces which are back at some distance. Elevation of the area ranges from 1,200 to 2,300 feet above sea level. Climate Climate of Bear Creek Valley is moderate, with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Temperature and precipitation within the area are, in general, a result of air masses progressing inland from the Pacific Ocean. This marine influence has a moderating effect on climate and conditions are favorable to irrigation farming. Temperature variations are moderate, and hazards from wind and lightning are insignificant. Some hail damage to crops occurs occasionally. Rainfall is moderate during the winter months and extremely light during the growing season when crop requirements are at a maximum. Average annual precipitation is about 20 inches at Ashland, which is fairly representative of the area. Growing season rainfall, however, amounts to only about one-fourth of the average annual, and during the months of July and August is usually less than 1 inch. Cyclic variations occur and as little as about 12 inches fall annually on the valley floor. A relatively large amount of winter and early spring rainfall in proportion to the meager precipitation in the growing season is characteristic of the area. Moderate temperatures are characteristic of the valley throughout the year. Summer days are warm, but nights are quite cool. Winters are mild and subzero temperatures rarely occur. Average length of the frost-free period is about 183 days. Temperature and growing season are very favorable for growth of pasture, mixed hay, grain, deciduous orchards, alfalfa, and specialty crops. Pertinent climatic data are shown on table 1. TABLE 1.-Climatological data,1 Talent division, Rogue River Basin project, Oregon |