The Orland Project is one of the oldest projects that was carried out by the United States Bureau of Reclamation[1]. This project was authorized in October 1907, and is located in the northern part of California's central valley, in the town of Orland. This town resides in Glenn county, approximately 100 miles north of Sacramento. It consists of two main dams, two diversion dams, about 17 miles of canals, and 139 miles of laterals.[1] This project accounts for 1 percent of the central valley's total irrigable soil.[1]
History
editWhen gold was discovered in 1849, California experienced a period of rapid development. In the time after this discovery, cattle raising was the dominating practice, but different methods of agriculture were beginning to grow.[1] In the 1860s, wheat became the primary crop grown due to its simplicity to grow.[1] A few decades later in the 1890s, grain farming made a transition from feeding humans, to feeding livestock due to a decrease in grain yield.[1] Prior to 1880, there were different attempts by individuals to apply irrigated farming. Around 40-50 water diversions from Stony Creek were built between the 1880s-1890s.[1]
Construction of the first main dam, East Park, began in 1908 and was completed in 1910, while the second main dam, Stony Gorge, was started in 1926 and finished in 1928.[1]
Diversion Dams
editRainbow Diversion Dam
editConstruction of this diversion dam began in 1913 and finished in 1915. It is located on Stony Creek, about three miles west of Stonyford. The purpose of this dam is to divert water from Stony Creek into the East Park Feed Canal, which supplies water into East Park reservoir.[1]
Northside Diversion Dam
editConstruction of this dam began in 1908 and finished in 1910. It is around five miles northwest of the town of Orland. Its main purpose is to divert water into the North Canal.[1]
Reservoirs
editStony Gorge Reservoir
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Located on Stony Creek, it is one of the two main reservoirs that are part of the Orland Project, with a capacity of 50,380 acre-feet. It is 18 miles downstream of East Park Reservoir, and about 20 miles west of the town of Willows.[1]
It is a popular recreational area with 18 miles of shoreline.[2] Fishing and camping are popular activities, with one boat ramp available for use. Species of fish in the reservoir include largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and catfish.[2]
East Park Reservoir
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Also located on Stony Creek, it is the second of the two main reservoirs that are part of the Orland Project, with a capacity of 52,000 acre-feet.[1] It is 33 miles southwest of the town of Orland.
With 25 miles of shoreline, it is a popular recreational area that is now managed by Colusa County due to a partnership made by the Bureau of Reclamation in 2013.[3] Reservations and passes for different activities including camping, boat launches and day use can be accessed through the County's website.[3] This reservoir is located in a migratory bird area, so birders can see different species like warblers and other birds in late April/early May, and September.[3] Like in Stony Gorge Reservoir, fishing is a popular activity. The different fish in this lake are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, catfish, crappie, and bluegill.[3] There are two natural surface boat launch sites that can be used here.[3]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Reclamation, Bureau of. "Bureau of Reclamation". www.usbr.gov. Retrieved 2018-04-26.
- ^ a b "Recreation.gov recreation area details - Stony Gorge Reservoir - Recreation.gov". www.recreation.gov. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
- ^ a b c d e "Recreation.gov recreation area details - East Park Reservoir - Recreation.gov". www.recreation.gov. Retrieved 2018-04-27.