Martin R. Huberty was Associate Irrigation Engineer in the Experiment Station; C. N. Johnston was Assistant Irrigation Engineer in the Experiment Station.
Hilgardia 14(3):119-146. DOI:10.3733/hilg.v14n03p119. October 1941.
The deep alluvial fill of Putah Creek forms a storage basin from which much irrigation water is pumped. Continued and expanding demand upon the underground water supply has caused a gradual recession in the water plane. This condition leads many farmers to question the permanency of their water supply.
The College of Agriculture at Davis is located within the basin of Putah Creek. In years of low rainfall, the underground basin is its sole source of water supply. Hence, since the early days of the institution, the Division of Irrigation has observed underground water conditions on the University Farm.
The deficient rainfall of the winter of 1930-31 emphasized the need for a comprehensive study of the water supply in the Putah Creek area. Although Bryan (2)5 studied the basin in 1912, conditions have changed materially since that date. An informal project, outlining a study to supplement existing information on the water supply and the pumping conditions of the area, was formulated by the divisions of Agricultural Engineering, Chemistry, and Irrigation.
[2.] Bryan Kirk. Ground water for irrigation in the Sacramento Valley, California. U. S. Dept. Interior, Geol. Survey, Water-Supply Paper. 1915. 375:1-49.
[3.] Gardner Willard, Collier T. R., Farr Doris. Groundwater. Part I. Fundamental principles governing its physical control. Utah Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 1934. 252:1-40.
[4.] Israelsen O. W., McLaughlin W. W. Drainage of land overlying an artesian groundwater reservoir. Utah Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 1935. 259:1-32.
[5.] Slichter C. S. Field measurements of the rate of movement of underground waters. U. S. Dept. Interior, Geol. Survey, Water-Supply Paper. 1905. 140:1-122.