Page 14 - labwp1929annual

12 TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT

The outlet pipe from the gate tower is an 8 foot diameter, reinforced
concrete pipe, passing underneath the dam and discharges water into the
old river channel below the dam.
All of the work of reconstructing the railroad was done by the De-
partment forces, except the laying of the track, which was done by the
Southern Pacific Company.
This reservoir will be an important factor in the regulation of the
flow of the Owens River, making it possible to equate the flow of the
river so that the greater portion of its water may be diverted into the
Aqueduct without waste into Owens Lake.
FAIRMONT DAM
The work of raising Fairmont Dam to elevation 3043, was completed
December 15, 1928. This construction involved the placing of 134,000
cubic yards of dry earth fill, the placing of 16,223 square yards of 6 inch
concrete facing on the new portion of the dam, the construction of a con-
crete spillway, and the construction of a concrete wall for protecting the
caretaker's house and the shore abutment of the suspension bridge to
the gate tower. Much of the concrete facing on the old portion of the
dam was repaired where needed, and the whole given a 2 inch coating of
gunnite.
The raising of the dam has increased the storage capacity of the
reservoir 1500 acre feet and created greater head for power development
at San Francisquito Power Plant No. 1.
HAIWEEDAM
Extreme high winds, causing excessive wave action on Haiwee Reser-
voir during the winter of 1927-28, eroded the rock facing on South Haiwee
Dam, making it necessary to place approximately 8700 cubic yards of
rock on the face of the dam during this last year. Work was started
October 4, 1928, and completed November 3, 1928.
WELL DRILLING
Seven wells were drilled and tested during the year, in the vicinity
of Laws, and one well started in the Aberdeen region. The Laws wells
are 16 inch diameter, and range in depth from 340 feet to 602 feet. Six
of the wells on test produced 4 second feet' of water each, and the seventh,
4.5 second feet.
These wells, including those in the vicinity of Bishop, previously
drilled, make a total of 20 wells which the Department has drilled in
the Bishop-Laws area. From tests made when drilled, their total initial
production should be about 70 second feet of water. To date, only three of
the wells in this area have been permanently equipped for pumping.
CONCRETE PIPE LINES AND CANALS
The program of installing concrete pipe lines and concrete lined
ditches to convey water from wells and creeks in the Independence and
Aberdeen regions to the Aqueduct, was completed during the last fiscal
year.
This program involved the laying of 97,000 lineal feet of concrete
pipe ranging in diameter from 12 inches to 24 inches, and the construction
of 2600 lineal feet of concrete lined ditch, the latter being concreted by
the gunnite method. All of the pipe used was manufactured at the De-
partment plant at Independence.
Previous to installing these pipe lines, the water from wells was
conveyed in open unlined ditches, with a resulting loss of water by seep-
age, and also the transportation of large quantities of eroded 'material
into the Aqueduct. .
Two miles of unlined ditch was also constructed to convey Goodale
Creek water and water from wells in that vicinity to the Aqueduct. This
ditch is in tight material and lining did not seem to be necessary.