Huge "Tree Crusher" Aids in Phreatophyte

Clearing

An 80-ton "tree crusher" was used in the recently completed first contract for clearing 9,500 acres of salt cedar and other phreatophytes-deep-rooted, water-loving growths—from the flood plain of the Pecos River Basin near Roswell, N. Mex.

The tree crusher is a self-propelled machine which fells, splinters, and crushes trees and undergrowth. The machine has a movable push bar at ground surface.

A serrated edge of the bar grips the phreatophytic growths sufficiently to uproot most of them. Large blade-studded steel rollers of the machine then splinter and compact the crushed plants into a compressed mat. Two of the 7-foot-diameter, 10-foot-long rollers, spaced 6 feet apart, are in front of the machine and a third roller of the same size is at the rear.

The Bureau's eradication of salt cedars and other phreatophytes is in a 150-mile-long area along the Pecos River from above Roswell, south to below Pecos, Tex., which will make available about 150,000 acre-feet of additional water per year.

The Pecos River Basin Water Salvage Office at Carlsbad was opened in February of last year to carry out a continuing program to reduce the nonbeneficial consumption of water in the basin, including that by salt cedar and other undesirable phreatophytes.

Oso Tunnel Drilling Crew Sets New Record

Using a giant earth boring machine called a "mole" the crew of Boyles Bros. Drilling Co. set a new single-day record for tunnel drilling when they excavated 403 feet of the Oso Tunnel on the Bureau of Reclamation's San Juan-Chama project on June 16, 1967.

The graveyard shift accounted for 116 feet of the total of 403 feet while the day shift advanced 143 feet and the swing shift climaxed the recordbreaking effort with 144 feet. This exceeds the previous known record of 375 feet in 1 day and 132 feet per shift set in March 1967, on Blanco Tunnel on the same project with the same diameter. The 5.3-mile-long Oso Tunnel is being excavated to a diameter of 10 feet, 2 inches, through a formation of Lewis Shale.

The San Juan-Chama project is designed to make possible an average annual diversion of about

110,000 acre-feet of water from the upper tributaries of the San Juan River in the Colorado River Basin, through the Continental Divide, for utilization in the Rio Grande Basin, N. Mex. The imported waters will provide a full supply of irrigation water for 39,300 acres of land in the Rio Grande Basin, a supplemental supply for an additional 81,600 acres, and municipal water for the city of Albuquerque.

"Rivers in the Sky" Film Award

The Reclamation weather modification film entitled: "Rivers in the Sky" received a Golden Eagle Award last November. Given in recognition of high cinematic quality, the film also enabled "Rivers in the Sky" to be one of 157 American films competing in foreign film festivals during the summer of 1967.

Iowa State University To Study Irrigated Lands

Iowa State University will undertake a 512-year research study for the Bureau of Reclamation to develop improved methods of evaluating the productive capacity of irrigated farmlands in the Western United States.

The research program will include field experiments, to be conducted cooperatively with other universities, at selected sites on Reclamation proj ects in the Western States.

The program is expected to develop better correlation between physical soil characteristics and crop yields under given conditions of irrigation in a wide range of geographic locations.

Improvements in land classification, crop responses, general production functions, economic returns, the capacity of irrigation developments to repay project costs, and more efficient use of water and land resources are expected to result from the studies.

Different crops and widely varying soils will be analyzed to develop data for use by the Bureau of Reclamation in planning and evaluating new irrigation projects.

The experimental sites will be selected jointly by Reclamation and Iowa State University, and progress under the contract with the university will be reported semiannually.

This study is expected to yield new concepts and methods that will improve Reclamation's procedures in land classification and economic analysis of irrigation projects.

COMMISSIONER'S PAGE

WILDLIFE

Perpetuation and enhancement of wildlife and fishery resources has been a major national concern-but more so now than ever before as our population expands and more leisure time is taken in outdoor activities.

A meaningful forward stride in the enhancement of wildife came just 60 years ago. A reservoir area developed by the Bureau of Reclamation was utilized to establish the first Federal Wildlife refuge for waterfowl. This refuge was on the Lower Klamath project in California and Oregon.

Subsequently, other Reclamation-developed areas were used as refuges. Until today, more than 20 national refuges comprising more than 300,000 acres are operating on Bureau lands and water acreage. In addition, more than 40 reservoir areas, many including attractive recreation features, are administered by State fish and game agencies.

This is an increasingly important dividend of the Reclamation program. Although the stored waters are primarily for irrigation, hydropower, and other multiple purposes, appealing man-made lakes in the country's arid zone are immediately appreciated for hunting, fishing and water-oriented recreation. Through recent legislation, the Bureau is authorized to develop projects to make the most of existing and potential fish and wildlife resources.

As we mark the sixth decade of wildlife enhancement on our projects, we point with pride to substantial benefits and accomplishments. Looking ahead we intend to continue cooperative planning and development efforts with the related management agencies both Federal and State, and the result will be more enjoyable surroundings and the enhancement of valuable areas for our fish and wildlife neighbors.