Also See California Department of Water Resources,
drought
page with map of well sites
Tulelake Irrigation District through the
State of California received a five million dollar grant to save the soil
of the Tulelake basin. The soil horizon is quickly drying up and the
cover crop seeds will not be able to germinate. Soil erosion is a
problem. There is need to have enough water to hold the soil in place.
Assuming the well is approximately 1,800 ft. deep, the cost will be
$250,000 - $300,000 with electricity. Power will be provided through the
Klamath Project rate.
At this time approximately 20,000 acres
will be effected by the twelve wells that are scheduled to be drilled.
Several of the other sites will be located near Stateline Road to
utilize the current canal system. The hydrology of the water flows North
to South. All proposed OES sponsored wells are located near major
distribution canals. The first 12 wells are to be about two miles
apart.
The criteria for site selection included
land availability, permits, and environmental clearances, nearest to
electric power, nearest to major distribution canals, land served by
efficient use of water and the likelihood to accomplish Governor Davis’s
goal to save the soil .
It is important to learn and gather
information about ground water so the basin can be mapped and more
knowledge will be known for the future sites. Soil samples are being
taken every 10 ft.
The first site was located near a power
supply, the J1 canal runs to the west of the site and the J1D runs along
the south of the site. It also serves the Westside Improvement District.
The geology of this site is based on the slope of Sheepy Ridge. The plates
creating Sheepy Ridge and the volcanic rock beneath the surface provide
information valuable to the site.
Well drilling bids were put out and
accepted on the ability to do excellent work under a short time notice.