[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 26, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E452]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN HONOR OF CALIFORNIA RECLAMATION DISTRICT NO. 108

                                 ______


                             HON. VIC FAZIO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 26, 1996

  Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 
California reclamation district No. 108, which is celebrating its 125th 
year of operation.
  In 1868, the California State Legislature authorized the organization 
of reclamation districts to encourage residents to transform the 
State's swamps and flooded areas into arable land. One of California's 
oldest reclamation districts, No. 108, dates from September 1870. 
District No. 108 was organized by Yolo and Colusa County landowners for 
the purpose of slavaging the tule lands that extended from the western 
bank of the Sacramento River to the Colusa Basin.
  One of district No. 108's earliest and most important 
responsibilities was flood control. Tens of thousands of acres of 
district land occupied low-lying areas of the Colusa Basin, surrounded 
on three sides by water during flood periods. The district had the 
immense challenge of dealing with potential flooding. In order to 
handle this contingency the district helped fund and maintain the 
Knights Landing to Princeton levee on the west side of the Sacramento 
River, as well as other levees outside district boundaries.
  At the turn of the century, the district purchased areas of Sutter 
and Colusa County land, which it used as outlet channels to relieve 
pressure on the west side Sacramento River levees. During the same 
period, district authorities supervised the construction of a back 
levee to protect district lands from northern and western flood waters.

  As development of lands within the district grew, so did R.D. 108's 
flood control efforts. Eventually, the district's work at the Knights 
Landing Ridge resulted in the 1915 formation of the independent Knights 
Landing Ridge Drainage District. During the same period, the newly-
created Sacramento River West Side Levee District assumed maintenance 
control of the West Side Levee between the towns of Knights Landing and 
Colusa.
  The earlier flood control efforts undertaken by district No. 108 laid 
the foundation for the development of these newer entities. District 
No. 108 developed a strong cooperative relationship with these bodies 
which continues to this day. The entire lower portion of the Colusa 
Basin enjoys greater flood protection as a result of this cooperative 
effort.
  In the early years of this century the district expanded its focus, 
moving into the realm of irrigation. In 1917 district No. 108 obtained 
permission to irrigate lands not adjacent to the Sacramento River. An 
intense effort was mounted to establish an irrigation and drainage 
system which would serve the entire district. This effort was completed 
with great success. Today, there are 118 miles of irrigation ditches 
and over 300 miles of drains operated and maintained by the district.
  In recent years, reclamation district No. 108 has faced a variety of 
challenges. During the 1960's the district worked with Sacramento River 
Water users and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to formulate a 
supplemental water supply plan. Today, district No. 108 is bring 
together Federal, State, environment, and water administrators and 
landowners in an attempt to develop a feasible and cost effective 
method for protection of the Sacramento River's endangered fish.

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