Medford mail tribune., September 14, 1925, Image 9

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MEPFftTtT) "SVATTj TTtTRTTP. MET)H)M), ORKfiON, fONTlA SFrTnmR T. 192."
- O
PA'OTJ SEVTCN
IMPROVED AND ENLARGED WATER SUMY FOR THE CITY OF MEDFORD
A Report Made By F.
C. Dillard, Engineer,
and D. C. Henny,
Consulting Engineer.
To tlia Citizens of Medford:
Your Hoard of Water Commission
ers, after a most careful study und
survey of the water situation In Med
ford, covering a period of more than
three years, now helleves It to he
to the best interest of the city to do
the following things:
FIRST: llulld to the natural springs
on Big Butte Creek for your water
stipply. This Is the beBt supply of
water that it is possible for the city
to obtain.
SECOND: Build a steel pipe line
of treble the capacity of the present
line, with an estimated life of forty
years.
THIRD: Build a new cross-town
main to Improve general city service.
FOURTH: Bond the city for $975,
OliU.OO, serial bonds, all to he paid off
during the life time of the proposed
water system.
An ample Hiipply of mountain spring
water brought to Meiliord will be the
largest contributing factor in our fu
ture growth.
We submit the above recommenda
tions, based uiwn the advice of the
best engineers obtainable, together
with long and careful study on our
part.
You have the report of the engi
neers which we ask you to read care
fully that you may get the facts. The
matter is now in your hands for de-1
cision nt the coming election on Octo
ber Kill.
WATER COMMISSION,
CITY OF MEDFORD.
By II. L. Waltber, Chairman,
10. C. Caddis,
Olin Arnspiger,
A. L. Hill,
11. U. Lumsden.
September 1, 1925.
Board of Water Commissioners,
Medford, Oregon.
Gentlemen: The folowing is n re
port which you instructed us to make
ou an improved and enlarged wuter
supply lor the City of Medford.
BRIEF HISTORY,
1. The City of Medford was first
settled in 18S3 and was incorporated
by Act of the Legislative Assembly of
the State of Oregon, February 24. 18S5,
as the "Town of Medford," and rein
corporated February 7, 1905, as the
"City of Medford."
2. The population as given by the
U, S. Census was 907 In 1890, 1791
In 1900, 8840 in 1910, and 6760 in
1!)20. The population at the present
time Is estimated at 9000, The peak
of the Jackson ' -County "boom was
reached about 910 and the census
figure for that year must have In
cluded large numbers of floaters, la
borers and transients, ami undoubted
ly did not represent the true condi
tion. 3. The assessed valuation of the
City In 1900 was $1,048,959; In 191,
$4,033,185, and In 1924, $4,935,183. The
assessor advised that the valuation
for 1925 will be not less than $5,
329,000. 4. The first water Bystem was In
stalled In Medford in 1889. An open
ditch about three miles long was con
structed from Bear Creek, delivering
water to a well in the City, from which
it was pumped into two wooden tanks
having a capacity of 32,000 gallons
each. The tanks had an elevation of
about 77 feet above the center of the
business portion of west Medford. The
water was distributed- from the tanks
by gravity. In 1902 the ditch was
abandoned and a pumping plant In
stalled on the west bank of Bear
Creek. Steam power was first used
Jmt in 1904 a ten year contract was
entered into with the Condor Water
and Power Co. which supplied electric
power for pumping. The water was
obtained from a well on the banks of
Bear Creek and soon proved to he
unsuitable for domestic use. Accord
ingly steps were taken to secure a
pure gravity supply from some stream
or springs.
PRESENT SUPPLY.
6. Various sources were proposed
and Investigated. Utile Butte Creek
was finally selected as the source of
supply and on December 5, 1908, a
contract was entered into with the
Fish Iake Water Compnny whereby
the City agreed to pay the company
$254,100 for construction of a gravity
supply line and for perpetually sup
plying the City with 7V6 sec. ft. of
water. The amount Included in the
obove total for the purchase of the
7V4 sec. ft. or water was $15,000. The
work was completed and water served
from the new gravity line in 1910. The
lino has been in constant use since
that time.
6. Subsequently (he City purchased
348 acres of land (Stinger ranch)
above the pipe Intake with a water
right of 114 sec. ft.
7. Since the purchase of the 714
sec. rt. of water In 1908 and the build
ing Of the present pipe line, the Fish
loke Water Company was sold to the
Rogue River Valley Canal Company,
now Mt. Pitt Irrigation Company,
which constructed a storage dam at
Fish Lake. The lands In the reser
voir formed by the dam were left
uncleared of its timber and brush
growth, causing the water to have
a woody tnste and odor. In the fall
of the year when the lake .Is drained,
the water becomes discolored and "con
tains an algae growth which causes
a very pungent smell. The water at
this time Is very unpalatable and hard
ly suitable for domestic use. It has
been expected that by this time after
the lapse of- years the water would
be clear at nil times, but thrs has not
so far be'en the case, nor Is there any
assurance that It will ever be the cose.
8. Diamond Lake Is a mountain
lake very similar to Fish Lake. There
nre two seasons dtrlng the year when
the decaying vegetnble growth of this
lake lets loose and Is flushed out. The
algae here resemble those at Fish
Ijike. and make the water unfit for
domestic use or bathing. This Con,-,
illtion has existed at DiamonO Lake
for many years and as far as is known
dops not improve.
9. Aa long as Flab Lake Is used
as a storage boslu for Irrigation pur- ance of 4.4 sec. ft. The total area years will probably nee this operation
oses the City cannot expert u sutls- erf the City is 1 TH II ncres, of which! in full swinK with a basic supply est I
factory condition during the Irrigation 3-4 or aliuut 1300 acres is estimated j mated to last for scores of years.
seaBou. Each time1 the flow from the to be in oity bits.. On the basis of 29. There is reason to believe there
lake is increased the wuter will he 2428 domestic taps and 10 acre aver-'fore that the heavy increase of popu
muddy and curry sediment. Filter age size of lots, the gross urea "f.latlou for the lust five years will he
beds would remedy tills condition, but
they would be very expensive to In-
stull and operate.
10. On July 23rd. 1925, tempera-
lure tests were taken in the present
pipe line with the following results:
Distance
At Intake
At Pipe Lino Bridge
At Stand Pipe
At Mrs. McDonald's
At Tunnel
At James Owen's
At Well City Reservoir
In Reservoir No. 1
At House Faucet In West Medford
It Is not necessary to point nut
that the water Is too warm for drink
ing In the summer without being iced.
11. The present pipe line consists
of 21.9. miles of 10-in. machine banded
wood stave pipe. All pipe was dipped
but not creosoted under ressure.
Bunded collars were used. The maxi
mum head on the pipe is 375 feet.
The pipe is built wlih a fall of 4.333
feet per 1,000 feet, having a carrying
capacity of ti.1t. cu. ft. per sec.
12. During July or ui:a year, a care
ful examination was made of the phys
ical condition of the present gravity
pipe line. Mr. C. W. Davis, the City
Superintendent, had test holes dug
along the pipe line. The City em
ployees who regularly work on the
line were questioned and their Idea
is confirmed by a first hand exam
ination of the pipe Itself by Mr. F. C.
Dillard. The pipe was examined In
fifty places, selected at random, with
the following results:
Good .. 20
Fair 20
Poor 7
Very poor 3
By very poor, it is meant that a Btave
is decayed in some place und apt to
tail at any time, although the failure
would not he sufficient to put the line
out of use for any great length of
time. These particular sections of
pipe may last from one to three years
but the necessity of their early re
placement is certain. The portion of
t tie pipe under high head was usually
found in better condition than the
low head portion.
13. if the examination made can
be used as a criterion, then 3 50 of
the line is in very poor shape, or 1.3
mile. This is rather alarming. We
believe, even though the pipe line may
give service for the next three years
without many failures, before long,
however, the upkeep may be expected
to become very heuvy. The City in
the past eighteen months has expend
ed $38,798.51 in renewing collars,
about one-third having required re
newal. All the remaining collars will
need to he renewed within three years,
after which, as above stated, renewals
of the pipe itself wll continue to keep
the maintenance cost high.
REQUIREMENTS OF NEW SUPPLY.
QUALITY. 14. Advance in sani
tary science has greatlv raised the
demands made upon domestic supply
systems ns to purity of wuter. The whero than on the real needs as they nnd engineer and Its probable effect
general tendency Is towards cither have since developed In the City of was, therefore, taken under first con
filtering or bringing In pure mountain Medford. , slderation. From the relatively heavy
water from protected drainage areas.) 24 The above refers to the preBent consumption it was. preliminarily con-
, 1. i.;.'.:. V J. '""?; .."'?Bl8
. .v, ......,, muuuuuuuuiih 01 uomes- sistent tendency as shown uy statis
tic water. The present standard can tics for per capita consumption to in-
,u, o. liuuuui ue nn-
proved in the future by policing. '
Moreover no amount of suiierviulnn
can affect the color and taste of the
water which at certain times of the
. , T ""Jecuunume. .
certain degree of lreedom from execs-
slve amounts of alkalis Is also in.1
"'nn''rv15' I0 enomlc reasons.
QUANTITY. 15. The nuestlnn of !
amount of water to be figured on is
lix-iraK wnvavnuA l .......... ....
largely governed by the needs of the
early future as measured by water
consumption of the past and by ex-
pecicu growtn.
11, ??1!"m"tion. In Moufor(1,llevlng the heated condition of the
may be divided Into three groups cUy during the summer and making
domestic, industrial, and lrrientlnn. .. 1,- ..i.,i.
n,,, . , , .1 ,
1. 1 .! ernm tes H'e largest demands '
. 1 V mat reason W,en practicable, but restricted bene-
consumption cannot be'ficinl Irrigation use would, not be a
eiiin. i .. 7, .
lawn sprinkling or where sum ner l,,SG' Thc.r "I' fcreage within
rains occur ". tne preaet city limits to permit large
17'. The 'mid-summer consumption K';owt" ,r. Population without Increase
In Medford has become greater than Intensity, which character of growth
the capacity of the main supply pipe. f",yored & tlle seueral e of auto
On August 3, the volume of flow Into mobiles Thus the relative use or
the reservoir was measured for a .water which Is now roughly estimated
period of one hour and found to be:"1 "7", for J10,!?"? ,,8e' for '"'
six cubic foet ner onn,i n- 1 dUHtriol and 78 for irrigation use
.......a -kgid ....H.111U11 ih uuniiuetl 10
JJiuo.uou gallons per day. Approxi
mately the same amount has been
delivered during the entire summer
season.
18. The number of water taps nt
the present time is 2500. which nuin- iB1,nlt,on H,,ould remain ns now per
her Includes the commorclnl tap's. if.na Per day, the daily conBiimp
there were four persons to each tan 'tlon ot tlie rutllre wl"'01 special re
the population of the cltv would be ,trlctive measures may be pluced at
10,000 and the dnlly per capita ubb
388 gallons. The number of tele
phone connections Inside the city lim
its Is 2400: the telephone companies
figure one telephone connection to
each four persons this would Indi
cate a iiopultaion of 9000, or a dally
tier cupiiu use ot iiH gallons, it is
our opinion that the number of com-
merciai water taps and telephone
users Is probably above the average
in ttner cities, and the actual popula
tlon may therefore be close to 9000.
This number would give a maximum
dally per capita use of 430 gallons.
19. The portion of water consumed
in house use is not definitely known
as the city, except as to Industrial
consumption, Is unmetcred. It may,
however, be approximated by meas
urement ot the outflow from the septic
sewer tank which Rives some Indica
tion ot domestic and industrial con
sumption. The outflow during July
and August averaged about 1.6 sec. ft.
The industrial use as found by meters
was 0.50 Bee. ft. In June and 0.58
sec. ft. In July (nearly 10 of all
uses). This would leave about 1.03
sec. ft. for domestic consumption,
equivalent for a population of 9000 In
m ganons per capita per nay., inis -
amount undoubtedly Includes some
,waste which can largely eliminated
' . .
20. The amount consumed hy Irrl-
eatlon may he estimaU-d at sec. ft.
total summer sunnlv less 1.6 sec. ft.
A-d for other purposes, leaving a bal-
dwelling lots served. Is about 4i"i a..
of which approximately 2-3 or 270 A.
lis in home garden and lawn. The
use then Is about one acre foot per
'acre per summer month. The usual
I consumption ou meadow land in the
Fahrenheit
04
03V4
112
B2
02
02
04
72
71
from InUrlie
0 miles
CO miles
, 7.0 miles
8.9 miles '
10.1 miles
15. miles
21.9 miles
Rogue River Valley Is 0.6 A. F. per
acre per summer month. This would
make 102 A. F. for 270 A., an amount
equal to a steady flow of 2.7 S. F.
The very nature of City lawn and gar
den Irrigation makes water demands
high because of heavy evaporation.
Whether tills fact is sufficient to ex
plain the lnrge difference between the
figured supply of 4.4 Bee. ft. und the
ordinary agricultural requirements of
2.7 sec. ft. is uncertain. The lurge
figure undoubtedly contains some
waste and some slight loss through
main pipe leaks, which may he avoid
able by close Inspection or by meter
ing. 21. If the estimated domestic con
sumption og 1.03 sec. ft. should con
tain 20 waste and If Irlgatlon use
could he curtailed a like proportion
without detriment, then the summer
consumption by the present popula
tion of 9000 would drop from 6 to
4.9 sec. ft Such improvement could
probably not be secured without the
general Introduction of meters, but
would permit the Increase of Med
ford's population to 11,000 without the
necessity of Increasing the present
supply.
22. The present supply of G S. F.
during the summer equuls 430 gallons
per capita per day. A metered supply
of 4.9 S. F. would he equivalent to
352 gallons per- capita per day, all
on the basis of 9000 "population, in
earlier reports, such ns that of Eng.
W. ,1. Roberts of 1908, 160-or 100 gal
lons per capita per day was esti
mated as sufficient. The difference
in estimates is almost exclusively in
the Item allowed for irrigation as Is
evident from the following table:
Domestic use
Industrial use
Irrigation and waste
Total ; A
23. It wilt be seen that the present
Industrial and unmatured domestic
use muy aggregate 115 gallons per
capita per day and that the total re
quirements must depend to a inujor
extent upon the addition to be made
fur Irrtiriitinn which it. is now seen
was estimated in past reports more)
uenilv nn the linsls of averages else-
te ot consumption. There is a per-
crease. The average dully consump-
tlon in St. Louis, Missouri, was 45
...,. , .... i. i 1079 10 n,,
i isso 78 gallons in 1890 100 gal -
ion8 'i900, and 138 gallons in 1924.
Modern plumbing Induces the average
citizen to use more and more water,
- , - , ....... n,nii ...,c.i, .,.,,. 1.,,,
lmit, in all meat markets and many,"". ,v,er-v ,lutIl 08 explained In
. mi... . , ,,,111 Sections 19-20.
probably see small units Installed in
'
many homes. More atention than in 1
the past Is also being paid to an
abundance of shrubbery, trees, and
green lawns, which go fur toward re-
HI5 11? IllllUV.I.a, .1. It.ujr 4l.l-.o-
ni,ie to reauce wn9te in irrigation
ouu-rwlse economy,
when consumption Is at Its maximum.
Is not likely to be materially changed.
Assuming that domestic use should
increase from 74 to 100 gallons and
that industrial and irrigation con
400 gallons per day. To this large
new Industries may make further ad
ditions. 26. Plans for the future should
take Into account probable growth of
population. The population grew from
6700 in 1920 to 9000 in 1925 or at an
average rate of 10 per year. The
number tit water taps Increased from
2159 In 1920 to 2500 In 1925, an in
crease of 3 per year. The reason here
for the difference In these percentages
Is probably the gradual occupation of
.vacant dwellings during the earlier
years followed by rapid resilience con
struction, the latter only affecting the
number of taps. (See in this connec
tion Fig. 2, plate 1.)
27. Med fori) is situated In the cen
ter of 35,000 acres of Irrigated land
for a large part of which Irrigation
works have been recently completed
and which is Just now beginning to he
cut Into small tracts. It Is entirely
reasonable to expert a great increase
In fruit and vegetable production dur
ing the next ten or fliteen years. This
will mean that canneries, creameries
cheese factories, ' pre coollng plants,
etc.. will follow and facfltft where the
tat facilities Pan be obtained. Some
0f these Industries mav be heavy
water consumers: for Instance, the
Roguo River Vnlley Conning company
iniono used 127,0011 gallons ouring
ju)y
2S; Thfir(, or tlAber
i,i . uAtrA kioh 1.
ginning to be cut off. The next ten
continued for some time and that In
1935 the City may contain over 15.000
people. After that the growth may
becomo somewhat slower, . but it is
easily possible that this number by
1946 may have reached 20.no.
30. Such population at the figured
increased dally maximum consumption
of 400 gallons per capita would In
summer require 15 sec. ft. It seems
to us that to build at this time fori
nn amount smaller than this, such as carries the slowly accumulating flow
would suffice for from ten to fifteen J from springs on the west slope of
years growth,. might he considered as Mount McLaughlin. At the point
a permissible economy. To build now, where it reaches Section 0. T. 30 S. K.
however, for a larger amount would 4 E. of W. M.. It begins to sink into
place an unnecessary burden on the 'the lava and finally disappears entire
present generation in requiring It tol' near the U. S. Forest Service Rang
pay Interest and amortization on extra er Station located in the same secrton.
Investment which is not likely to he! Although flowing for several niHetton
neetled for 20 or 25 years. ithe surface. Its purity though not test-
31. In considering various sources ed by analysis, is probably as iinques
of supply and acquiring rights there-1 Honed as that of Cold Spring and can
to, It Is of the utmost Importance that, (readily be maintained us the entire
If at all possible, a source be Bdected .creek lies within the Crater National
which is capable of furnishing not only : Forest.
15 sec. ft. above mentioned but nn 44- The elevation at the point of
amount two or three times as great !
" "
ai. in investiguung sources oi ir u Biuvuy pipe one.- nm nuw us
water supply foil Medl'oril, It has seem- measured on June 10 was 12 sec. ft.
ed useless to us to consider pumping iund on July 17, 8 sec. ft. Then) prob
from wells In Benr Creek Valley or ably was a further reduction In An-
trnm nnn-un Tllvel- Until amit-CPS i KUSt.
would ho under serious suspicion ns I WASSEN CANYON C It E E K. 46
to purity and would immediately, orlWassen Creek was originally coiiBld
nt an early date, demand scientific
filtering.
33. Filtration Is nn expensive pro
cess both in construction and opera
tion and is usually adopted only when
no pure supply is available within a
reasonable distance. In .Medford fil
tration would he excessively expen
sive If Irrigation Is to be supplied
from the same pipe system as do
mestic water supply, as is the case
now, it will require a filtration plant
which for every 74 gallons of domestic
consumption must necessarily filter in
addition almost five times this amount,
ir Irrigation Is to be otherwise sup
plied, a separatd costly pipe system
must he built anil maintained.
34. All this can be avoided If with
in a reasonable distance mountain
water of unquestioned purity can be
found at satisfactory elevation. Our
investigation has not revealed any
source of pure mountain water sup
ply not already well known, but theso
Second
Feet
.. 1.03
C.allons Gals, per
per day cap. per day
005,000
74
115
315
6.0
303,000
2,843,000 j
3,870,000
430
sources have been Carefully studied.
They consist of Gold Springs near
Fish Lake, Mosquito Creek, Vnssell
Creek Big Blltte Springs, and scat
tered Bluings farther up Big Uutte
Creek.
METERING OF SERVICES. 36. The
reduction of waste by metering mnkes
a strong appeal to every economist
- " --
would be possible.
30. Such conclusion Is not support
ed, however, by the rough estimates of
waste given In Section 21 and tending
to show that the saving to be effected
,1"' meters may not be greater than
J.0- It should be stated, however,
that in the absence of a thorough
waste survey, which has not yet been
made, this estimate had to be based
37- The possibility seemed attrac-
tivt nt nnatnnn np naur mn n ulna Una
tive of postponing new main pipe line
construction for a long time by the
introduction of meters. It now seems
probable that the time that new con
struction may thus he put off would
be only until the City population has
grown to 11,000 (see Section 21).
38. Postponement In main line con
struction in this manner would not
only Involve the expenditure of about
$50,000 for meters and the subsequent
cost of maintenance and meter read
ing, but would also require the main
tenance of the present wooden main
pipe line. This would necessitate an
annual expenditure of $26,000 for three
years for new collars and thereafter
the cost of gradual replacement of
pipe.
39. After all this Is done the City
would still be subject to the present
limitation of its water supply nnd to
Its unsatisfactory quality. It would
again soon be confronted with the
necessity of enlarging Its supply and
then, too, delay for. any considerable
time might render the City's present
good title to Big Butte Creek waters
questionable, due to not putting the
waters to benenclnl ubb.
AVAILABLE SOURCES OF 8UPPLY
COLD SPRINGS NEAR FISH LAKE.
40. ThlB spring Is located In Section
4. T. 37 8.. R. 4 E. of W. M.,-iust south
of the North Fork of Little Butte
Creek and about 33 miles from Med
ford. The source of the spring Is un
known, but It would appear that this
spring Is the outlet for the Big Llk
drainage area. No chemical analysis
is available. A bacteriological analy
sis was made and shows the water as
now flowing from the spring to be
of unquestioned purity. ' Its elevation
is 3100 feet above that of Medford and
ample fall Is therefore available for
carrying water to the City distribution
reservoir.
41. A record of the flow has been
kept by the It. 8. Geological Survey
for the years 1923 snd 1924. The cli
matic year of 1923-4 was the driest
since the weather bureau station was
established In Ashland In 1879. We
are told by old residents that the only
other year In their memory that ap
proached it was the winter of 1858-9,
nnd that It was no worse than the
past year of 1924.
42. The measured discharge of Cold
Spring Is listed below; the figures be
ing Independent of from two to Viree
second-feet flvlng around the gaging
station, which could not be measured:
1923
July 14 14 8 cu. ft. per sec.
July 27 1 4 8 cu. ft. tier sec.
August 15 :...14.4 cu. ft. per sec.
August 28 H.J cu. ft. per sec,
..
.. l.'..cti. ft. per sec.
1924
15.9 cu. ft. per sec.
1 5.8 cu. ft. per sec.
September 15
April 21
Muv 30
July 11
July 24
August 8
August 10
3 cu. ft. ner sec. I
12.2 cu. ft. per sec.
12.4 cu. ft. per sec.
12.1 cu. ft. per sec.
1 1.4 cu. ft. per sec.
11.8 cu. ft. per sec.
10.4 cu. ft. iter sec.
9.0 cu. ft. iter sec.
8.2 cu. ft. per sec.
9.1 cu. ft. per sec.
1925
August 27
Soptember 25
i October
j October 2
i October 10
i November 17.
!
'January 20
..14.0 cu. ft. per see.
MOSQUITO CHEEK . 43. Thin creek
collection Is about 2200 feet above
..... ...... , ...!.0., .
ered as a. possible source of supply
for the City. The streaifi has as its
source Bprings which are located In
T. 30 S., R.- 3 E. The quality Is good
and suitable for domestic use. its
elevation is satisfactory, being ubout
1400 feet above Medford. A measure
ment made on June 25, 1908, by W. J.
Roberts showed a flow of 0 sec. ft.,
which amount decreased later In the
summer. The July and August flow
in 1924 was estimated at 2.5 sec. rt.
A float measurement made on July 23,
1925, showed a flow of 3.0 sec. It.
BIG BUTTE SPRINC1S. 4(1. The
Big Butte Springs are located about
31 miles from Medford In Sections 20
and 21. T. 35 S.. H. 3 10. The water
Is of tile highest quality as is shown
ill the reiwrt of City Health Officer
Dr. E. B. Plckel. The temperature of
the water Is 43 degrees F. The ele
vation is 1300 feet above Medford and
therefore high enough for delivery
through a gravity line Into the Cl,ty
reservoirs.
47. The neenmhnnvintr man shows
the relation of the different groups of
springs to each other. Miscellaneous
discharge measurements huve been
taken on Clroup No. 1 since 1923, und
are as listed below together with the
measurements made and estimates of
flow.
Date
Aug. 7, 1923
Sept. 0, 1923
May 2, 1924
July 21, 1924
Aug. 23, 1924
Nov. 14, 1924
Feb. 18, 1925
May 20, 1925 ,
July 22, 1925
OTHER SPRINGS ON BIG BllfTE
CREEK. 48. There nre other sprfligs
of apparently equal purity in the Big
Biftte Creek drainage area. However,
they are located farther away from
Medford than the Big Butte Springs
nnd are moreover witlely scattered and
expensive to collect. Their total flow
does not exceed that of Big Butte
Springs.
COMBINATION OF SOURCES. 49.
The flow ot Cold Springs may be
readily combined with that of Wassen
Creek thus making a totul of about
16 S. F. of pure spring water. It has
been argued that It can also he com
bined with additional water to be pur
chased from the Mt. Pitt irrigation
Company. Such purchase would seem
Inadvisable now or In the future be
cause the addition of water thus se
cured and Its merging with pure
spring water would leave the quality
nt the- mixture equally subject to ob
jection as is the present supply.
60, In any case acquisition is out
of the Question since the Mt. Pitt Irri
gation Co. has advised (lie Water Com
mission that "it does not care to fur
nish the City any additional wuter at
this time." The Board of Directors
of the Medford Irrigation District also
adviso "that they prefer to sell any
surplus water they may have to addi
tional acreage rather than disposing
of It for municipal supply." It Is cer
tain that the entire supply of both con
cerns will be Insufficient to Irrigate
the lands commanded by their ennuis,
from Rogue River. Both sources
would be under serious suspicion as to
purity and would Immediately or nt
an early date demand scientific filter
ing. LEGAL RIGHTS
Dl. The city rights to Cold Springs
Is equal In rfiuount nnd priority to that
of the water collected at the present
city Intuke lower down on Little Butte
fCreek, the amount being 7V4 8. F.
plus 1 S, K. secured hy the purchase
of the Slinger ranch, making a totnl
of 9 8. F. Additional water would
have to be acquired by purchase.
52. The city has at present no ex
.press right to water from Mosquito
Creek, hut this right could probably
be obtained In view of the City's 'fil
ings on Big, Butte Creek and Big Butte
Springs.
63. The flow to Wassen Creek can
be claimed hy the City under Its gen
eral right to Little Butte Water limit
ed to 9 8. F. If the creek Is used In
conjunction with a greater use of Cold
Springs, the right of diversion would
have to bo purchased. If used In 'on
Junction with Mosquito Creek water
the present rights of the City to Little
Butte Creek. water would suffice.
64. As to the right of the City 10
use water from Big Butte Springs,
which Is a tributary of Jllg Butte
Creek. It may be stated lmit under
4nte of April 26, 196, the State Engl-
eer made an allotmiHt of 80 8. lJhrage aa a substitute supply for ex-
of Vie water of lllg Butte Creek with-
drawn from appropriation nn AugustVillll1 Point Irrigation District may be
21, 1915. and Issued permit No.
to the Cltv of Medford. whPA nermlt
has a iite of priority of August 21,
1915. 'flie ity Is also bolder of Per-
mil No. o;u:i, being application No. I
Mit.2 K1.imI1(! rl(, lo ,lhHr, allll us(,: supply, the City's rights to Big Butte-
:iu h. F. ol the waters of Big IJulte I Springs ftlll lapse ami the amount of
Springs, and has a date of priority of !ure wllU'r "" obtained is only ubuut
c)(.tol,r L. X,2X TilH Legislative As-1 lti "''' " ""fluent for many ytars,
.,n,i.ii-r.,r ii... vii-iter. eiu.. i..ii eii.in.
ter ltiti of the (leneral Un of Oregou ! velopment beyond a population of
which provides for the withdrawal of'"1""11 20.U0U people,
all the unappropriated waters of Big 6?- 1 ,le KrP1" advantage In now
Butto Creek und tributaries, and holds ; clinching the right to a supply so
the same for the future use of the abundant and pure as the Big Butto
City of .Medford. Springs is to our minds too obvious
65. Tlie Eagle Point Irrigation Ills- " require further discussion,
trlct has an allotment of I no cu. ft. BIG BUTTE SPRINGS SUPPLY
per sec. of the waters of Big Butte I GEOLOGICAL CONDITIONS. OS.
Creek, which ullotment has the same .The location ami flow of the Big Butte
date of priority as the allotment to I Springs have been given In Sections
the City of Medfonl. The nllotiiient j ltl and 41. A report on the geological
of 100 cu. ft. per sec. is more than conditions prepared by Mr. Ira A.
the district will he able to use during Willluins. Consulting Geologist of
the next few generations. The Big ! l'ortludn. Oregon, for the Water Com
llutto Springs are located about six j mission Is on file with the City He
miles above the diversion point of the colder. The main points covered by
district canal. The minimum flow of this geological report are quoted us
the creek at the diversion point of the (follows:
canal Is approximately double that at a. "The Springs, as they are today,
the Big Butte Springs. i should afford a permanent and whole-
60. The following table of use some supply of water for the City of
shows the requirements of the Eagle i Medford." and "tber eappears no rea
Point Irrigation District bused on 2.11 son why the total volume or . these
acre feet delivered on the land, and a 'springs should change materially with-
total acreage of 7000 net irrigable.
which acreage in the opinion of the
District Operation Manager is probab
ly the maximum that will be irrigated
I, i, tl.o .llutrfi.t It will I.m i...t...l tli.it
a dutv of 2.11 acre feet Is provided
Instead of 1.6 ncre foet as In the other
Irrigation districts in the valley:
AT HEAD OF
prx " ro a
S& I2- ?
5' a
3 g 3
(1.15 25;' 0.20"
0.36 20',!. n.94
0.50 15 0.59
0.50 15 0.69
0.45 18 0.55
0.10 26 0.211
2.11 2.57
Month-
April 16-30...
May
June
July
Aug
Sept. 1-15
Totals....
67. The above table clearly shows
that the flow of Big Butte Creek was
....... . , .. . ..
HUI I 1CID11I. Ur IIIM IIIUAII.lll.il iikbub ...
,1 I, . I . I .... It... I.E. ...In. ...
1MB r.ugiu I Willi iut,uiii.i. iJ.ni.t. L,
getber witli u supply of 25 S. F. for
the City of Medford even in a year
like. 1924. The average flow in July
was' 105 sec. ft.; in August 99, and In i sufficiently large proportion of the
September 97M, sec. ft. In average 'underground flow at yet a hlgher'ele
years the minimum available for thovut'0"-' . . .
city will be about 36 sec. ft. d. "As conditions now ore, with
68. If nt some future time the needs Practically no settlement whatever
of the' City and District grow beyond
the natural flow available, then the
City can acquire the right to use all
the spring water available by provid
ing storage of flood water tor the ills-
trlct. The City is assured or its legal
rights to Intercept and use the entire
yield of Big Butte Springs.
Dlschnrge in Cu. Ft. Per Sec. . .,
Group No. 1 Groups Totul of
Measured 2 to 5 Five Groups
Estimated Estimated
13.4 35 48
13.5 , 36 49
13.9 30 60
12.0 33 ' 40
12.8 34 47
12.2 33 46
10.9 44. 01
15.4 40 66
15.0 39.4 64.4 :
59. The right of the City lo use
the water rrom scntteretl springs high
er up on Big Butte Creek Is covered
hy the same filings as are mentioned
In connection with Big Butte Springs.
ESTIMATES OF COST
00. The only estimates of cost,
which it was deemed necessary to
make, refer to the cost of bringing In
a supply from Cold Spring in conjunc
tion with Wassen Creek, and a supply
from from Big Blltte Springs. The
flow from Mosquito Creek even if com
bined with that of Wassen Creek,
which could be picked up en route, is
clearly too small for consideration.
The supply from scatteretl springs
high, up on Big Butto Creek is not
superior to that ot Big Butte Springs
In quality or quantity and Is more
costly to deliver to Medford because
of groat length of collecting pipes and
longer main pipe line,
61. Detailed estimates show that
the tottii coBt of a 10.6 sec. ft. supply
delivered Into the city reservoirs from
either of the two sources mentioned
Is ns follows: '
Cold Spring and Wassen
Creek $877,000
Big Butte Springs 875.000
The estimates were based on Identical
character of construction, which will
he discussed later. The relation be
tween costs probably holds good for
somewhat smaller or lurger Bupply
mains.
COMPARISON OF 80URCES -02.
It Is now possible to Judge in
telllgeutly which or the available
sources Is most desirable. Mosquito
Creek and springs high up on Big
Butte Creek have been ruled out, the
rirst by too small quantity, tlle latter
by high relative cost.
63. On the point of purity, there
Is no definitely known dirrerenco be
tween the Cobl Sprlngs-Wassen Creek
and the lllg Butte Springs supply.
Both ure at present above suspicion,
snd can probably be maintained so.
There mnv lie relntlvelv mnm A rnln.
age area tributary to the rormer source
outside or the National Forest that
to the latter source, but In either case
ordinary precautions authorized by
law are likely to he effective'.
64. On the point of estimated cost
of main pipe linn, the two sources also
happen to be practically on a par. '
65. There Is, however, one out
standing feature operating greatly in
favor of the selection of lllg Blltte
Springs as un Immediate and perma
nent source of supply. If Big Butte
Springs be now selected and beneficial
use made of the water at an early
date, the City will thereby secure a
source of pure water supply which has
a .minimum flow of 45 sec. ft., with
an Immediate nnd definite right to 35
sec. ft. for average years and 25 sec.
ft. minimum. The rights to the full
45 second feet can nt any time In the
futifre be made good hy providing river
cjss spring water taken, to which the
luKHiiy enillieti.
66 , In case Cold Spring with or
' without the addition el Wassen Creek
now chosen as aoow sauijo of
I "at leaving no wide margin for de
in any period of the future In which
we might bo concerned."
b. "1 am of the opinion that n goodly
part. If not all, of the water now com-
hie Trnm th snrint'u on Hip Wlllr.ur 5?ti.,'
.Creek side, that are north of the cen- IV
ter of Section 20, can be found ami
probably Intercepted und diverted by
MAIN LATERALS
71
!. ""J
!OB
n -j- 3
o-'i i
S'O f !-
3?
? n J
551!
?3
3 Do
3' 1
"3 to
1400
62
150 S.P.
98
60
33
25
25
31
31180
4130
4130
3850
1400
18190
68
77
114 S.F.
Ill) S.F.
100 S.F.
93 S.F.
93 S.F.
Oil
07
02
47
08
52
'n cut through the ridge as high as
' ' uppermost ot the west aide
' group across to the large spring .600
i , ,., .,.,.., ... ..
VCt HI IIUUIICN..1HUIU
6. "I see no grounds at present for
helievlug that it might be economical
ly possible to intercept and divert a
wiinin tne portions or tne drainage
""ln where certainly the bulk of the
water enters the lava, I see little risk
or probability or contamination of the
water coming from the springs which
.would endanger their uso as a Bourco
supply. uuurBmunu communis
filteratlons by the . earth materials
through which the wuter passes In its
llow to we kuow not. bow-muny.-milea..:
of travel before it conies but in
springs, nil are unfavorable to the pro
longed existence of disease germs and -
effective in tlie removal of organic
matter or whatsoever kind.';
09. The conclusions.' drawn from the
Oeologlsts's report ure that the springs
nt'e as permanent as it is possible to
llnil springs, that tlie chances of con
tamination without protection ore ex
tremely small or . absent, that It Is
probably possible to collect all the
flow by a crosscut from tlie first grnun
of springs to the luat group, and that
It prohably would not be possible to
intercept the flow of the springs at a
higher elevation thereby making It
feasible to locate the main pipe line
through the Obencbaln pass.
70. The location of the main supply
pipe intake at the Springs will elimi
nate all chance of contamination such
as now exists to the present supply
between Fish Lake nnd the City In
take. Also the objection to frequent
muddy wuter In the house service pipe
will be removed.
SOURCE OF SPRINGS. 71. The
source of the water supply ot the
springs Is the precipitation on a largo
area to the east as far as the Cascade
divide. The constancy ot the supply
during summer Is unquestionably due
to tlie melting snow on Mt. Mclaugh
lin. The visible drainage area directly
tributary to the springs Is approxi
mately 10 square miles as shown on
the drainage map accompanying this
report. While we cannot be certain,
we are ot tho opinion that Mosquito
Creek contributes to the flow of the
springs. Geologist I. A. Williams Is
of the same opinion. Mosquito Creek
alone, however, Is not the sole source
of supply ns is shown by the ills-
cnarge measurements presented In
Section 37. On July 17, Mosquito
Creek was flowing 8 sec. ft. and the
combined flow of the springs was not
less than 54 sec. ft. To tlle northeast
of MtiBqultn Flat, well up the slopes
of Mt. McLouglillh, and outside the
Mosquito Creek drainage area, run
ning wuter can be heard below the
surface of tho lava rocks. No water
Is visible and farther down the slopo
it cannot he heard at all, nor Is there
nnv evidence of a stream bed.
72. Soma time In the past there
may have existed a drainage svstm
for the northwest portion of Mt. Mc
Laughlin which has later been filled
with a- flow or successive flows ot
lava. This lava Is more or less ixirous
nnd provides a valuable storage basin
for the runoff of the northwest portion
of the mountain. The water slowly
finds Its way down the old channels to
the point where It breaks out as
springs.
73. The opinion has been advanced
by some that the source of the springs
Is the Four Bit Creek and Rancherln
Creek mnrsh. Elevations taken with
un aneroid barometer show that the
upper end of this mnrsh Is a little
lower than the Big Butte Creek
Springs antl that the real marshv por
tion Is between 20 and 40 feet lowor.
The mnrsh Is prohably nothing more
than beaver dam land with submerged
springs. Springs can be seen cropping
out all along the east side of the
marsh. It Is certain that none of the
wnter passing through this marsh evor
reaches the springs. t Even If tho
marsh were at a higher elevation than
the springs It Is not probable that
any of the water of the marsh would
ever rind Its way to the springs for
the reason that the well defined drain
ago channel of Four Bit Creek lies
between the marsh nnd the springs.
SANITARY PROTECTION. 74. The
permanent purity ot the Big Uutte