1963

SUN VALLPY, IDAHO -- 1963

October 21, 1963

Annual Report of

Water Users Committee

Meetings:

Meetings of the full Committee were called on June 29, 1963 in Denver, Colorado and on October 21, 1963 in Sun Valley, Idaho.

The Chairman represented the Committee at the winter meeting of the Board of Directors which was held in Washington, D. C. from March

3

through March

8,

1963. Membership:

The Committee is pleased to welcome two new members who were appointed for the 1963 year. J. A. Hoffbuhr is a new appointee from the State of Oregon and Elmo J. De Ricco has represented the State of Nevada since the death of John Hannifan.

No appointment has yet been made by the State of Texas for replacement of the Committee's old friend and faithful member, A. A. Meredith, who died in April of this year.

SUBJECT MATTERS CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE Subject:--Right-of-way for highways and other purposes,

Background for Consideration:

Beginning in 1959, the Water Users Committee urged support for enactment of legislation that would provide compensation to irrigation districts, canal companies or other water user organizations when those entities lost lands for federal right-of-way purposes. While individual landowners received payment for lands taken, many districts lost those same lands for assessment purposes. Where district indebtedness or repayment obligations were involved, no means were available for relieving the remaining landowners of the burden which attached to formerly assessable lands.

The Committee also recognized that added operation and maintenance costs were being created for districts or organizations whose systems were inter-sected by the limited-access interstate highway systems and that legislation should also provide for compensation to offset those increased costs.

These recommendations were embodied in Resolution 22 of 1962 and, thereafter, discussed in detail with the Board of Directors.

Conclusions:

The Board, recognizing the scope and complexities of the problems involved, authorized the appointment of a special committee to draft appropriate federal legislation.

A bill, approved by the Board, was introduced by Congresswoman May of the State of Washington as H. R.

5565.

Its content and purpose will, undoubtedly, be reported by the "Right-ofWay Committee."

Suffice it to say that the Water Users Committee has put forth considerable effort in support of the proposed legislation.

From all indications, the legislation needs to be better understood and more fully supported by water users throughout the West if the desired end is to be accomplished.

Subject:--Canal Rights-of-Way: Background for Consideration:

Resolution No. 21 of the 1962 Convention was referred to the Water Users Committee for study and a report back to the Board of Directors of the Associa-tion prior to the 1963 annual meeting.

The proposal made by the Resolution is the enactment of legislation providing for payment of compensation, including severance damages, notwithstanding the

reservation of rights-of-way for federal canals in land patents subsequent to the Act of August 30, 1890.

-2-landowners, any canal right-of-way required by the federal government across lands lying west of the 100th meridian and patented after the Act of 1890.

As irrigation development by the Bureau of Reclamation has extended east of the 100th meridian, the provisions of the Act have resulted in land acquisi-tions within the same Bureau project on both sides of the meridian and with property owners on the east side receiving compensation and some neighboring landowners to the west receiving nothing.

Further, there are, of course, lands west of the 100th meridian which were patented prior to the Canal Act and to which the right-of-way reservation does not apply.

In 1890, the Congress certainly did not envision the size of projects and canals which are presently being developed. Thus, serious inequities have been created not only between landowners on different sides of the 100th meridian but among the owners west of the meridian because of patent dates.

Conclusions:

While meeting with the Directors in Washington in March, the Chairman had opportunity to obtain detailed data from the Bureau of Reclamation. This information was reported to the Committee at the June meeting in Denver and further data was presented by a representative of the Bureau of Reclamation's Washington staff.

The Water Users Committee officially recommended to the Directors that the Association's Secretary-Manager be authorized and directed to work with

appro-priate representatives of the Department of the Interior in the preparation of legislation which would have the effect of nullifying the reservation provisions of the Act of 1890.

-3-Corrective legislation has been prepared; a Departmental report has been submitted to the Congress thereon and hearings on the proposed legislation were held by the Reclamation Sub-Committee of the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.

Adequate support should be given to the legislation by western water users. Subject:--Federal project developments which would utilize remaining

unappropriated waters: Background for Consideration:

This subject came before the LTater Users Committee in 1962 as a result of certain controversies which arose on the Upper Missouri River and tributaries in Montana following the development of Canyon Ferry and Clark Canyon Reservoirs.

The Committee recognizes that the sizeable appropriation of water by large, main stream developments can preclude, or at least limit, the development of smaller projects on tributary or headwater areas by private land owners, small canal companies or other water user organizations.

Conclusions:

Because most of the remaining potential water resource development projects must be multipurpose for economic reasons and, also, large and complex because the simple and easy projects have long since been built, the Water Users Committee is certain that all new projects will create similar fears and problems in vary-ing degrees.

As concluded a year ago, the Committee still feels that the only practical solutions must arise with each project development through coordination of the Federal developmental programs with the water administrative agencies of the several States and ccoperation with local water user organizations in the affected areas.

-44-constructed under the "Small Projects Act" or under "Public Law 566" Background for Consideration:

Water Users of the West have long been aware that a hiatus exists between the very small water developments which are needed and can be financed by small dis-tricts or mutual ditch companies and the much larger, but so-called, "small projects" which can be developed under the Small Projects Act by the Reclamation Bureau or under P. L. 566 by the Department of Agriculture.

It is recognized that the federal agencies, because of their very size and organizational structure and because of the laws and policies under which they operate, have overhead costs which make it infeasible for small districts or companies to utilize the services of those agencies.

Conclusions:

The Water Users Committee agrees that this developmental field of activity is one which properly belongs to the States or local governmental agencies. Further, most States, thus far, have not faced the responsibility of providing the methods nor monies to fulfill the needs in this category of water development.

General Subjects of Continuing Water User Interest

While the Committee has had no specific call for consideration of a number of sub-jects during the year past, it does not mean that western water users have either lost interest in or have solved the problems in connection with:—

(1) tributary headwater impoundments and their effects upon vested downstream rights; (2) accelerating competition for water in a dynamically growing West;

(3) noxious weed control on federally owned or controlled lands;

(4) current federal policy on acquisition of lands for reservoir sites;

(5)

_{reduction of non-beneficial consumptive uses of water by phreatophytes; and}

(6)

_{development of effective, low-cost canal linings.}

-5-Certainly, the interest of water users is not limited to the half-dozen topics enumerated. The list merely calls attention to those subjects which have received the attention of the Water Users Committee over the recent several years.

Some water user problems seem to be perpetual. Seemingly, the occasional solution of one problem gives rise to others that did not exist before. This, no doubt, is one way of indicating that the scope of consideration by the Water

both continuous and ever changing.

It is, as always, a privilege for the Committee to arrange or participate in the annual Convention Program and we are certain that the Association will enjoy and gain much from the topics chosen for 1963:--"Right-of-Way Problems and Their Solutions" and "A State Program for Small Project Development."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I greatly appreciate the extent to which the individual members of the Committee have contributed and participated and, further, the degree to which they have brought to us the thinking of the many water users whom they represent.

It goes, almost without saying, that the Committee is most grateful for the usual good advice and support of President Coles and Secretary-Manager Welsh.

Respectfully submitted, only Users Committee is i/ J. R. Barkley, Chairman and Committee Members Arizona R. J. McMullin Henry Shipley (Alternate) California Robert F. Carter Colorado Chas. R. Neill Idaho Clifford N. Scoresby Kansas Robert V. Smrha Montana 0. A. Bergeson Nebraska Stan Matzke Nevada Elmo J. De Ricco New Mexico L. C. Strawn North Dakota Murray Baldwin Oklahoma C. T. McWhorter Oregon J. A. Hoffbuhr South Dakota Walter Taylor Texas

Guy Jackson (Director) Utah To P. Harvey Washington Gail L. Sterling Wyoming Karl Powers

SALT RIVER PROJECT

ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER

WATER USERS' ASSOCIATION

PHOENIX,ARIZONA

P.O. BOX 19130 BRIDGE 5-4741

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a Lonely One who lived apart from God and man, a century ago, in the Territory of Arizona. Tall, sinewy, wearing the buckskins of a plainsman, he tilled a strip of soil along the River, some miles above the mud huts of the tiny Mexican settlement of San Maria. With water from the River, his land produced crops which he traded for goods and gold at Wickenburg. And men of that town described him as one of for-bidding countenance, who spoke seldom, nor sought anybody's friendship. He seemed embittered of civilization and the works and ways of men.

He was without emotion the Year of the Terrible Drought, when the River was hardly more than a trickle, for he had stores of foodstuff for himself and the needs of his livestock. On his trips to Wicken-burg, he rode past San Maria, heedless of the plight of these good Mexican people who felt the pinch of want and hunger by reason of crops withering in their fields from lack of water. He asked nothing of any man, because he felt the problems of others were their own affair and theirs alone.

And there came that winter's day, in a store across the road from the Jail Tree at Wickenburg, when he saw a dried tumbleweed set up in a stand and deco-rated with popcorn strings and tinsel and candles in the manner of a Christmas tree. It reminded him that it was the Christmas season. He smirked at the dec-orated tumbleweed. Christmas was to him a myth, a holiday for children, which was no part of his life. He bought what food and supplies he needed, and a sack of candles to light his adobe farmhouse, then set out on the two-day journey back to the Valley of the River, traveling at night to avoid savage Apache raiders, which were common to the Terri-tory in those days.

On the second night, as he drew near the River, a

strange hush hung in the darkness, without sounds except for the rhythmic gait of his riding mare and the heavily laden pack horse that trailed behind on a length of halter rope. It came to him then that this was the Eve of Christmas. In his mind rose unwanted recollections of his childhood in Vermont, when Christmas was a joyous time. He thrust the thoughts away, for long ago he had come to realize that Christmas was an empty legend which had no place in the cruel reality of life.

Of a sudden, then, he was attracted by a sudden glowing on the eastern horizon which at first he believed was a fire on the mountainside — but no fire burns with such brilliance nor so glowing white. Curiosity forced him to turn his horses toward it for a nearer view, and as he rode in that direction the glowing light seemed to move as if guiding him. He scowled as he remembered the all but forgotten story of how a great star over Bethlehem had guided the path of the Three Wise Men in the ancient land of Judea to the Infant Jesus in the manger.

"You're going out of your mind," he growled to himself. And his thoughts became even more dis-turbing after he came upon a fire-gutted building, likely burned by raiding Apaches, yet which had a signpost, still standing, that bore the faded inscrip-tion: CARSON'S INN. Behind the ruins stood an adobe stable, with light glowing through its door-way.

His only thought was that Apache warriors were inside, and he slid his rifle from its saddle scabbard, dismounted, and he was as a soundless shadow mov-ing to the doorway. And a stranglmov-ing cry sobbed in his throat at what he saw inside the stable — a legend come alive before his eyes.

"No! No!" he whispered, staring unbelievingly. To one side was a burro, munching old straw. Next to a

battered feed trough sat a kindly faced bearded man and a quiet, soft-featured young woman. And lying upon the black rotting hay in the feed manger was an infant child wrapped in a worn blanket.

The bearded man saw him at the door and smiled, saying, "We knew God would lead you here to us. It has been a long journey, and we have lost our way."

The frontier farmer scarcely heard, aware of a flowing warmth within him, this desire to share he had not felt since his childhood in Vermont, and without conscious volition he stepped back to his heavily laden pack horse and brought it into the stable.

"You will need these supplies to get to the safety of Wickenburg," he said gruffly. "Travel by night and follow this route."

He drew a rude map on a scrap of paper and pressed it into the bearded man's hand, then turned abruptly and walked back out to his mare. Now that sanity had returned, he believed this reality — not a Christmas legend re-enacted. It irked him that this bearded man would travel the Apache country with a wife in this condition, and irked him more that he had given away valuable food and supplies and a good pack horse to such a man.

As he got into his saddle, he saw that bright glow again, like a huge fallen star atop a low-sloping hill behind the stable. Angrily, he rode up the slant and discovered that it was a big bonfire with a group of painted Apaches hunched about it. The warriors let out war cries upon seeing him, grabbed up their rifles, firing at him. He wheeled without returning fire, swiftly descended the hill to warn the couple in the stable.

The man, his wife and child, and the burro were gone. So were the supplies, but the pack horse

re-mained. The farmer caught at the halter of the ani-mal, rode away swiftly, yet wondering how the bearded man could carry all the food and supplies, needing the burro to carry his wife and child.

He still pondered over this as he got to the safety of the River, near San Maria. There were moving lights, the sound of joyous singing in the settlement, and in bewilderment he crossed the all but dried-up river to investigate. And he saw the food and sup-plies he had given the bearded man stacked neatly before the adobe hut these people used as their church. The moving lights were lighted candles— his candles — held in the hands of these happy Mex-icans as they marched, singing, around these gifts. "The Infant Jesus heard our prayers and brought us these gifts!" they cried to him. "We were gathered out here in a great circle, praying, when suddenly out of nowhere all this food and supplies appeared magically amid us. Come, Senor — join us in our rejoicing!"

"I will come — later," he said in an oddly hushed tone, and turned his horses and rode away.

Now he knew that all he had witnessed in that stable had not been reality, but the miracle of Christmas coming back to him over the years in this strange way. In his heart he seemed to hear the Heavenly Hosts singing, "Glory to God in the High-est, and on earth Peace, Good Will toward men." All his bitterness seemed gone. In its place was a strange, untroubled peace, much as if the hand of God had reached out and touched him that night in his loneliness.

And he knew he would return to San Maria that night with more gifts of food and supplies for these good, simple people. For this is the way of all men in the Christmas season.

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THE PECOS RIVER BASIN

HEARING

BEFORE THE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON

IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON

INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS

UNITED STATES SENATE

EIGHTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION

ON

S.J. Res.

49

A JOINT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY OF THE,

INTERIOR TO CARRY OUT A CONTINUING PROGRAM TO

RE-DUCE NONBENEFICIAL CONSUMPTIVE USE OF WATER IN THE

PECOS RIVER BASIN, IN NEW MEXICO AND TEXAS

MAY 21, 1963

Printed for the use of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

HENRY CLINTON P. ANDERSON, New ALAN BIBLE, Nevada FRANK CHURCH, Idaho ERNEST GRUENING, Alaska FRANK E. MOSS, Utah QUENTIN N. BURDICK, North LEE METCALF, Montana CARL HAYDEN, Arizona

GEORGE McGOVERN, South Dakota GAYLORD NELSON, Wisconsin

JERRY T. VERKLER, Staff Director STEWART FRENCH, Chief Counsel

ROY M. WHITACRE, Professional Staff Member M. JACKSON, Washington, Chairman

Mexico THOMAS II. KUCHEL, California GORDON ALLOTT, Colorado LEN B. JORDAN, Idaho

MILWARD L. SIMPSON, Wyoming E. L. MECHEM, New Mexico Dakota PETER H. DOMINICK, Colorado

SUBCOMMITTEE ON IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION FRANK E. MOSS, Utah, Chairman

CLINTON P. ANDERSON, New Mexico THOMAS H. KUCHEL, California HENRY M. JACKSON, Washington GORDON ALLOTT, Colorado FRANK CHURCH, Idaho LEN B. JORDAN, Idaho QUENTIN N. BURDICK, Norh Dakota

Page

Senate Joint Resolution 49 1

Departmental reports:

Agriculture 7

Budget 7

Interior 2

STATEMENTS

Anderson, Hon. Clinton P., a U.S. Senator from the State of New Mexico__ 8 Campbell, Hon. Jack M., Governor, State of New Mexico 12 Carlsbad Irrigation District 33 Hayes, John A., general manager, Red River Water Power Control District,

Pecos, Tex 29

Lee, J. Karl, Assistant Chief, Division of Project Development, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior, accompanied by Ralph Charles, area engineer, Albuquerque, N. Mex 14 Lusk, T. E., commissioner for New Mexico, Pecos River Commission 30 Pecos Valley Artesian Conservancy District Board of Directors 35 Reynolds, S. E., secretary, New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission 36 Sturrock, J. E. general manager, Texas Water Conservancy Association 45 Texas Water Commission, Joe D. Carter, chairman 43 Vandertulip, John J., chief engineer, Texas Water Commission 42 Welsh, William E., secretary-manager, National Reclamation Association.._ 46 Wilson, J. C., commissioner for Texas, Pecos River Commission 25 Yarborough, Hon. Ralph W., a U.S. Senator from the State of Texas 11

BASIN

TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1963

U. S. SENATE,

STJBCOMMITTEE ON IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION

OF THE

COMMITTEE

ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS,

Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10 a.m. in room 3110, Senate Office Building, Senator Frank E. Moss (chairman of the sub-committee) presiding.

Present: Senators Frank E. Moss, Clinton P. Anderson, Gordon Allott, and Len B. Jordan.

Also present: Senator E. L. Mechem.

Subcommittee staff members present: Jerry Verkler, staff director; Stewart French, chief counsel; and Roy M. Whitacre, consultant on irri7ation.

(Following other business, the subcommittee proceeded to hear testimony on S.J. Res. 49.)

Senator Moss. The subcommittee will move now to Senate Joint Resolution 49, the Pecos River bill, authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a continuing program to reduce nonbeneficial consumptive use of water in the Pecos River Basin in New Mexico and Texas.

This was introduced by Senator Anderson, Senator Yarborough, and Senator Mechem and deals with water problems in New Mexico and Texas.

The resolution and departmental reports will be inserted in the record at this point.

(S.J. Res. 49 and reports follow:)

S.J. Res. 49, 88th Cong., 1st sess.]

JOINT RESOLUTION Authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a continuing program to reduce nonbeneficial consumptive use of water in the Pecos River Basin, in New Mexico and Texas

Whereas for many years there has been an inadequate supply of water for established uses in the Pecos River Basin of New Mexico and Texas; and

Whereas the growth of saltcedar (tamarix pentandra) and other undesirable phreatophytes in the Pecos River Basin is responsible for the nonbeneficial con-sumption of tens of thousands of acre-feet of water annually; and

Whereas the prolific growth of saltcedar and other nonbeneficial phreatophytes has progressively intensified the water shortage in the Pecos River Basin; and

Whereas, in addition to consuming great quantities of water annually, the growth of such nonbeneficial vegetation also interferes with waterflow and canal maintenance, clogs stream channels, and creates flood hazards, and

Whereas many water users that have heretofore entered into repayment con-tracts for the construction works are now facing hardships in meeting their finan-cial obligations as a result of the water shortage in the Pecos River Basin; and

2

PHREATOPHYTE CONTROL IN THE PECOS RIVER BASIN Whereas the problem of nonbeneficial consumptive use of water by vegetation has become so severe and widespread that State and local interests are incapable of effectively combating it; and

Whereas there is a continuing need for actions to aid in conversion from non-beneficial to non-beneficial use of the water; and

Whereas it is estimated that if such vegetative growth in the Pecos River Basin of New Mexico and Texas is not controlled, such growth will consume practically

the entire flow of the Pecos River within the next fifty years: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in order to prevent decreases in the supply of water in the Peco River Basin, and in order to increase and protect such water supply for municipal, industrial, irrigation, and recreational uses, and for the conservation of fish and wildlife, and to provide protection for the farm-lands in such basin from the hazards of floods, the Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter referred to as the "Secretary") is authorized and directed to take such measures as he deems necessary and appropriate to carry out a continu-ing program to reduce the nonbeneficial consumption of water in the basin, including that by salt cedar and other undesirable phreatophytes. Such program shall be carried out in the Peco River Basin from its headwaters in New Mexico to the town of Girvin, Texas: Provided, however, That no money shall be appro-priated for and no work commenced on the clearing of the floodway authorized by the Act of February 20, 1958 (72 Stat. 17), unless provision shall have been made to replace any Carlsbad Irrigation District terminal storage which might be lost by the clearing of said fioodway.

SEC. 2. As a condition to undertaking the program authorized by the first section of this joint resolution, the Secretary shall require the States of New Mexico and Texas to give such assurances as he deems adequate that such States will acquire such lands, easements, rights-of-way, and other interests in lands as the Secretary considers necessary effectively to carry out such program.

SEC. 3. (a) As a further condition to undertaking the program authorized by this joint resolution, the Secretary may, with respect to those beneficiaries in New Mexico and Texas which the Secretary determines to be likely to benefit directly from the results of such program, require such commitments as he deems appropriate that such beneficiaries will repay the United States so much of the reimbursable costs incurred by it in carrying out such program as do not exceed the value of the benefits accruing to such beneficiaries from such program. The Secretary shall not require the repayment of such costs unless he determines that it is feasible (1) to identify the beneficiaries that are directly benefited by the program, and (2) to measure the extent to which each beneficiary is bene-fited by such program.

(b) Repayment contracts entered into pursuant to the provisions of this sec-tion shall be subject to such terms and condisec-tions as the Secretary may prescribe, except that the amount of the repayment installment in the case of any bene-ficiary shall be fixed by the Secretary in accordance with the ability of such beneficiary to pay, taking into consideration all other financial obligations of such beneficiary.

(e) Any costs of the program which the Secretary determines should be assigned to flood control, recreation, or restoration of streamflow shall not be included in computating the costs properly allocable to the beneficiaries under this section, but shall be considered as nonreimbursable costs.

SEC. 4. Nothing contained in this joint resolution shall be construed to abro-gate, amend, modify, or be in conflict with any provisions of the Pecos River compact.

SEC. 5. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this joint resolution.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington, D.C., May 20, 1963.

Hon. HENRY M. JACKSON,

rh airman. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs,

U.S. Senate, Washington, D.0 .

DEAR SENATOR JACKSON Your committee has requested a report from this Department on Senate Joint Resolution 49, a joint resolution authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a continuing program to reduce

nonbene-PHREATOPHYTE CONTROL IN THE PECOS RIVER BASIN

3

ficial consumptive use of water in the Pecos River Basin, in New Mexico and Texas.

The Department recommends that the joint resolution be enacted with amendents.

This resolution, if enacted into law, would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to undertake a continuing program to reduce nonbeneficial consumptive use of water in the Pecos River Basin, directed principally at the reduction of such use of water by saltcedar and other deep-rooted plants. The program which would be authorized by the resolution is, in effect, an extension of that conducted pursuant to Public Law 85-333 (72 Stat. 17), which authorized construction of certain channels, levees, floodways, and salinity alleviation facilities to stabilize and improve the water supply of the Pecos River Basin.

The nonbeneficial consumption of water by phreatophytes is a well documented problem in the Pecos Basin and other river basins in the Southwestern United States. In addition to riparian phreatophytes such as saltcedar and willow, nonbeneficial shrubs such as mesquite, creosote bush, and juniper have invaded large segments of the watershed. The Department believes that substantial sav-ings of water would result from a basinwide program of phreatophyte elimination and control. It is impossible, however, to measure in advance the savings that would be effected.

In view of the large expanse of the Pecos River Basin, the difficulties posed by intermingled land ownership, and the fact that substantial portions of the basin are administered by the Bureau of Land Management, it is appropriate that the authority and responsibility for coordination and direction of an interstate and basinwide program to eliminate undesirable vegetation be placed in single Federal agency, most appropriate the Department of the Interior.

Section 2 of the resolution requires that the Secretary of the Interior have adequate assurances from the States of New Mexico and Texas that they will acquire such lands, easements, rights-of-way, and other interests in land neces-sary to the effective implementation of the program before he proceeds.

The resolution provides in subsection 3(c) that costs of the program allocated to flood control, recreation, or restoration of streamflow shall be nonreimbursable.

The Department recommends the following amendment to subsection 3(c) :

(1) Strike the words "should be assigned" in line 19, page 4, and substitute therefor the words "are properly allocable";

(2) Strike the words "shall not be included in computing the costs properly allocable to the beneficiaries under this section, but" in lines 20, 21, and 22 on page 4;

(3) Add the words "fish and wildlife conservation and development" after the word "control" at line 19, page 4.

If amended as suggested by the Department, subsection 3(c) would read: "(c) Any costs of the program which the Secretary determines are properly allocable to flood control, fish and wildlife conservation, and development, re-creation, or restoration of streamflow shall be considered as nonreimbursable costs."

These amendments are for purposes of clarification and also to make non-reimbursable any expenditures occasioned by the mitigation of losses program for the Bitter Lakes National Wildlife Refuge which the Department recommends be incorporated into the overall program. (See suggested new subsec. 3(d) and 3(e) below.)

Subsections 3(a) and 3(b) provide that the identifiable direct beneficiaries of the program may be required by the Secretary to repay so much of the reim-bursable costs of the program as does not exceed the measured value of the benefits that they receive as a result of it, except that the amount of the repay-ment installrepay-ment would be fixed taking into consideration all financial obligations of the beneficiary.

The Department suggests the following amendment to subsection 3(b) :

Add the words "and total obligation" after the word "installment" on line 14, page 4. The purpose of this amendment is to obviate the necessity of making periodic determinations of the amount of repayment to be made by the bene-ficiaries.

The Department also suggests that new subsections numbered 3(d) and 3(e) be added to the resolution as follows:

"(d) In conducting the program, the Secretary shall take such measures as may be necessary to insure that there will be no interference with regular stream-flow, no contamination of water, and the least possible hazard to fish and wild-life resources."

4

"(e) The Secretary shall make provisions to provide necessary land and waters in mitigation of any loss of wildlife habitat occasioned by this program at the Bitter Lakes National Wildlife Refuge."

These two additional subsections are directed to the protection of the Bitter Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, through which the Pecos River flows, and the retention of its capability to meet the demands imposed upon it.

Attached to this letter is a summary of the information presently available which indicates the estimated range of the costs and benefits of the program.

A statement of personnel and other requirements that enactment of this reso-lution may entail is enclosed in accordance with the provisions of Public Law 801, 84th Congress.

The Bureau of the Budget has advised that there is no objective to the pres-entation of this report, but that time limitations have prevented the usual ad-vice with respect to the amendments proposed in this report relating to fish and wildlife features.

Sincerely yours,

FRANK P. BRIGGS, Assistant Secretary of the Interior. PECOS RIVER BASIN WATER SALVAGE PROGRAM

The upper reaches of the Pecos River in New Mexico contain some of the old-est continually irrigated areas in the Nation, having been farmed first by the Pueblo Indians and later by the Spanish and Mexicans prior to American occupation.

Development of modern irrigation started in the 1860's, both in the middle basin, in New Mexico, and in the lower basin in Texas. At first, irrigation was on a limited basis, with the water diverted directly from the streams into the canals. The Northern Canal, now the Hagerman Irrigation Co., was started in 1879 and diverted water from springs on Berrendo Creek and other Pecos River tributaries in the vicinity of Roswell. By 1888 irrigated lands had increased along the river to the point that water shortages were occurring at the height of the irrigation season.

The Southern Canal, near Carlsbad, was started in 1888. The development included McMillan and Avalon Reservoirs, the first significant storage on the Pecos River. In 1904 a flash flood washed out much of the distribution system and severely damaged McMillan and Avalon Dams. To avoid complete ruin, the settlers requested the Bureau of Reclamation to purchase and rehabilitate the irrigation works. Such action was authorized by Congress in 1905, and by 1907 the system was repaired and extended to permit the irrigation of approximately 25,000 acres.

Concurrently, surface-water irrigation development was occurring at other places along the river. Land at Fort Sumner, first irrigated by Army troops about 1863, was reestablished and ultimately was extended to a total of some 10.000 acres. This was reduced to a project area of 6,500 acres under the Fort Sumner project, authorized for rehabilitation and improvement by the Bureau of Reclamation in Public Law 192, 81st Congress, 1st session, July 29, 1949.

Irrigation in the lower basin, in Texas, began as early as 1877, but major

development did not start until 1888. By 1914 work on the 10 originally proposed

projects, comprising 173,000 acres, had either been started or had been com-pleted. At that time only about 30,000 acres were actually under cultivation. By 1932, because of irrigation water shortages, insuffisient water for leaching, and the problem of accumulated salts, the irrigated acreage had shrunk to fewer than 17,000 acres.

The Red Bluff Water Power Control District was formed by seven of these projects, and in 1936 it constructed the Red Bluff Reservoir, designed to serve about 134,000 acres of arable land. While the additional water provided by the reservoir permited temporary expansion, it did not supply the water necessary for leaching, and deterioration has continued. Last year only about 3,000 acres on the Red Bluff project were farmed. The maximum acreage that has been irrigated in any one year is approximately 46,000 acres.

The development of ground water in the middle basin of New Mexico is closely interrelated with the problem of surface water supplies. Artesian water was discovered at Roswell in 1891, and by 1903 was being used for irrigation. Rapid development occurred between 1903 and 1910, and by 1915 it was apparent that artesian pressures were declining. The necessity for pumping artesian wells, as the water table dropped, led to the development of shallow ground water, and to further expansion of the irrigated acreage.

Under legislation enacted in 1931, the State engineer administers the ground waters of New Mexico to protect prior appropriations, to insure beneficial use of water, and to provide orderly development of ground-water resources. The area under control has been extended from time to time as necessary. There have been no new artesian wells permitted since 1931, and, generally speaking, since 1937 the only shallow wells permitted in the valley reach between Acme gage and the Brantley damsite are those that would tend to balance the pumping from the ground-water basin.

This reach of the river is a gaining stream, fed by seepage from the ground water aquifers. From the hydrologic standpoint, the basin throughout this reach is one of the most complex to be found. Any change in water use affects other uses. Phreatophytes in some cases intercept water that would otherwise reach the river. In other areas they are supplied from seepage from riverfiows or by overbank spills. In some instances, they are supplied directly from artesian flows and consume water that would not contribute to riverfiows unless drainage is provided. Lowering of the artesian head throughout the basin has essentially dried up the springs formerly supplying the Hagerman Irrigation Co., as well as those supplying surface-water irrigation along other tributaries in this reach of the river. It has also essentially dried up the base flow of Major Johnson Spring which discharges into the Pecos River at Brantley damsite, the lower end of the artesian basin. This spring at one time provided a base flow of more than 35 cubic feet per second.

Under conditions of present-day flows, the quality of the water in the Pecos River, especially in the lower reaches, frequently becomes unacceptable for ir-rigation use. In New Mexico some 53,600 acres are irrigated in the Pecos River Basin by diversions from the main stream. In Texas some 45,000 acres are susceptible of irrigation from the main stream. In recent years only about 15,000 acres in Texas have been irrigated due to diminishing flows and increasing salt concentrations—a reduction of about 67 percent in productive areas. The ir-rigated acreage in New Mexico has diminished, but by a lesser percentage than that in the lower reaches below the Carlsbad project. As a result of these conditions, according to some authorities, aquifers of the Roswell Basin are being depleted at more than twice the rate of safe yield, streamllows available for downstream users are continuing to diminish, salt water intrusion is occur-ring in a significant portion of the artesian aquifer near Roswell, and the salinity problem of downstream users is being intensified.

The seriousness of the quality of water problem on the Red Bluff project prompted Congress in 1958 to authorize construction of the Malaga Bend unit, McMillan Delta project. This project, scheduled for completion by June 10, 1963, is expected to materially improve the quality of the water available to the project by reducing the salt content. Nevertheless, further improvement is necessary.

The restriction in the irrigated acreage, which has serious implications in terms of the economy of the basin, can be attributed in a substantial degree to the rapidly increasing encroachment on water supplies by phreatophytes consisting principally of saltcedars. Saltcedars were first observed in the Pecos River Basin about 1914. Since that time, saltcedars and other undesirable phreatophytes have rapidly increased, both in density of growth and in area. They now extend from about 'Santa Rosa, N. Mex., downstream to below Girvin, Tex.

It has been estimated, on the basis of information gathered from various studies made by several local and Federal agencies, including the Bureau of Reclamation, that there presently exist some 60,000 to 70,000 acres of saltcedars and other phreatophytes in this area which are conservatively estimated to consume from 5 to 6 acre-feet of water per acre. Thus, the total amount of water consumed annually by the phreatophytes ranges from 360,000 to 420,000 acre-feet. An increase of this amount in the water supply in the Pecos Valley would go a long way in solving the major problem confronting the area. It would provide a supply of water for actual irrigation of established areas and for water quality improvement.

As a result of experience in the control of phreatophytes, it is estimated that it would cost about $35 per acre to remove them. On this basis, the initial clearing program has been estimated to cost $2.5 million 'and would require about 3 years. To maintain the cleared areas will cost an estimated $600,000 annually, on a continuing basis. On the basis of the above estimates, and assuming that roughly one-half of the water presently consumed by the phreato-phytes could be recovered, the cost of such water would be in the order of

6

PHREATOPHYTE CONTROL IN THE PECOS RIVER BASIN from $3 to $4 an acre-foot. This is very low compared to the present cost of developing water by storage in adjacent basins.

The water that would be salvaged and recovered through the elimination of the phreatophytes would simply be reflected in increased streamflow, flow from springs, greater artesian pressure, and rising ground-water levels. It would affect the entire hydrologic complex of the basin.

That part of the increase occurring in the Pecos River would be subject to diversion under existing priorities established under State law. It would be impossible to determine, however, the specific amount of water accruing to any given water-right holder. It would also be impossible to determine the specific effect on flow of springs, artesian pressure, and ground-water levels. However, because of the greater magnitude of the shortages now existing in the lower basin, it would undoubtedly benefit substantially more from increased streamflow than the middle and upper parts of the basin. In the long run, the water salvage program would be reflected in the streamflow records and the hydrologic complex of the basin.

Because of the difficulty in identifying the incidence of the benefit, it would be extremely difficult to establish a repayment arrangement in which beneficiaries participated in the repayment according to the degree of benefit received. The area that will undoubtedly benefit to the greatest extent (lower basin) has been seriously beset with problems related both to water supply and quality of water to the extent that it has practically no payment capacity, or at best very little, as would be determined under standard concepts of the Department of the Interior.

In some respects, a phreatophyte removal program would be similar to other activities which are undertaken because of the general public interest involved and where it is impossible, or at least difficult precisely to determine the bene-ficiary or the amount of the benefit accruing to the benebene-ficiary. Examples of such activities are flood control, pollution abatement, blister rust control, and, in general, activities of the Public Health Service.

Estimated additional max-years of civilian employment and expenditures for the

first 5 years of proposed new or expanded programs

1st year 2d year 3d year 4th year 5th year Estimated additional man-years of civilian

employment: Executive direction:

Executive 1 1 1 Stenographic 1 1 1 Total, executive direction 2 2 2 Administrative services and support:

Clerical 1 2 2 Property management 1 1

Total, administrative services

and support 1 3 3 Substantive (program):

Engineering aids_ 5 6 6 Engineers 2 4 4 Total, substantive 7 10 10 Total estimated additional

man-years of civilian employment__ 10 15 15 Estimated additional expenditures:

Personal services $70, 000 $105, 000 $105, GOO All other 230,000 1, 095, 000 895, 000

Total, estimated additional

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, BUREAU OF THE BUDGET, Washington, D.C., May 20, 1963. Hon. HENRY M. JACKSON,

Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, U.S. Senate, New Senate Office Building,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This is in reply to the committee's letter of February 25, 1963, requesting the views of the Bureau of the Budget on Senate Joint Reso-lution 49, a bill "authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a con-tinuing program to reduce nonbeneficial consumptive use of water in the Pecos River Basin, in New Mexico and Texas."

This bill, if enacted, would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to under-take a project for the control and reduction of phreatophytes in the Pecos River Basin in order to achieve savings of water.

The Department of the Interior has not furnished the Bureau of the Budget with a project report on the phreatophyte control program for the Pecos River Basin proposed for authorization in this bill. Under well-established procedures, such reports are customarily prepared to provide information on the cost of proposed water resource programs, the extent to which anticipated benefits will exceed estimated costs, the manner in which costs should be allocated, the extent to which State, local, and private entities are expected to share in the financing of proposed projects, and the views of other Federal agencies. Such reports are then transmitted to the Congress for its action. We believe this procedure should be followed in the case of the proposed program for the Pecos River Basin.

If, however, the committee concludes that the Congress should take favorable action on Senate Joint Resolution 49 at this time, it is recommended that the bill be amended to include the following language: "Provided, That work shall not be initiated until the Secretary of the Interior shall submit a feasibility report for the approval of the President, which shall set forth the proposed pro-gram, its economic justification, and his recommendations for local cooperation."

Sincerely yours,

PHILLIP S. HUGHES, Assistant Director for Legislative Reference.

Hon. HENRY M. JACKSON,

Chairman. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, U.S. Senate.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: In response to your letter of February 23, we have studied S.J. Res. 49, which would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a continuing program to reduce nonbeneficial consumptive use of water in the Pecos River Basin, in New Mexico and Texas.

We, in this Department, are fully aware of the seriousness of the spread of phreatophytes along the Pecos River channel and will support programs for ef-fective and economically feasible control. This problem, as you know, extends throughout the Western States and is especially acute in the southwestern States of New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Utah, and Colorado. An estimated 16 million acres in the Western States are occupied by nonbeneficial phreato-phytes.

As we view it, the solution of the phreatophyte problem requires elimination or control of heavy-water-using phreatophytes, substitution with plants requiring less water and having an economic value, and adoption of management practices that will maintain desirable plants and prevent reestablishment of undesirable vegetation. Elimination of phreatophytes is extremely difficult and expensive. Chemical control appears to offer a good means of killing saltcedar, but to find an effective and practical means of preventing a reinvasion is more difficult. The development of a land and water use management system that will solve the recurrent invasion will most certainly require the full cooperative efforts of farmers and the coordinated services of all applicable programs of this Depart-ment. The difficulty of the problem demands the cooperative effort of all con-cerned. The research, the land and water conservation, and the watershed pro-grams of this Department can each make a necessary contribution to the solution of this serious problem.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Washington, D.C., May 20, 1963.

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This Department has underway limited research in a few of the various aspects of the problems in which we feel considerable research effort should be made. The research underway is designed principally to determine the pri-mary factors controlling the spread of phreatophytes, to develop equipment and techniques for facilitating the establishment and propagation of suitable re-placement vegetation on phreatophyte areas, and further to evaluate the econo-mic feasibility of different methods of concentrating moisture for the establish-ment of replaceestablish-ment vegetation. Considerable additional research is needed on the causative factors of the spread of phreatophytes, control methods and their economic evaluation, and management systems that will maintain reduced water losses, prevent soil erosion, and provide economic uses of land previously infested for the planning of sound control programs.

The watershed program of this Department can contribute to the solution of the phreatophyte problem in those areas where installation of this program is authorized. In the Pecos River Basin the Soil Conservation Service has com-pleted two such watershed projects, the Upper Rio-Penasco Draw and the Zuber Draw. A watershed project on Hackberry Draw is in process of installation. Authorization has been given for the planning of the Avalon-Alacron Draw and Cass Draw watersheds. Applications for assistance have been received on seven additional watersheds within the Pecos Basin.

In order to make it clear that the enactment of the resolution would not inter-fere with the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to provide assistance for the control of phreatophytes in the Pecos River Basin under the provisions of acts under his administration, this Department recommends that section 1 of Senate Joint Resolution 49 be amended by adding at the end thereof the following proviso:

"Provided further, That work under the continuing program to reduce the nonbeneficial consumption of water in the Pecos River Basin under the provi-sions of this Resolution shall not impair the authority of the Secretary of Agri-culture to provide assistance in undertaking work with the same objective in the watershed of the Pecos River under the provisions of any laws administered by him."

The Bureau of the Budget advises that there is no objection to the presenta-tion of this report from the standpoint of the administrapresenta-tion's program.

Sincerely yours,

CHARLES S. MURPHY, Under Secretary. Senator Moss. Senator Anderson, do you have a statement to present on this resolution?

STATEMENT OF HON. CLINTON P. ANDERSON, A U.S. SENATOR FROM

Tim

STATE OF NEW MEXICO

Senator ANDERSON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will do so briefly.

Mr. Chairman, the bill before the committee today, Senate Joint Resolution 49, is a bill that I have sponsored and in which I have been joined by Senator Yarborough and Senator Mechem. The bill would authorize a program to reduce the nonbeneficial consumptive use of water in the Pecos River Basin in the States of New Mexico and Texas. The work authorized in the bill would be carried out in the Pecos River Basin from the headwaters in New Mexico to the town of Girvin, Tex. The States of New Mexico and Texas would be required to acquire the lands, easements and rights-of-way necessary to carry out the purposes of the bill. Costs of the program would be charged to the 'beneficiaries where they can be determined, and in accordance with their ability to repay.

Any costs of the program which the Secretary of the Interior deter-mines should be assigned to flood control, recreation, or restoration of streamflow shall not be included in computing the costs properly allo-cable to the beneficiaries.

The problem dealt with by this legislation is not restricted to thu Pecos River, nor to the States of New Mexico and Texas. There are areas in most of the Western States, extensively infected by water-wasting plants called phreatophytes. These plants are of low .eco-nomic value and use large amounts of water without substantially benefiting man. The Pecos River Basin is probably the worst infected stream in the Southwest.

The primary culprit is a plant commonly called the saltcedar. The saltcedar has been humorously but realistically referred to as a water vampire, ravenously sapping the lifeblood of the West. The Depart-ment of Agriculture estimates that this plant uses 50 to 100 percent more water than most agricultural crops. It grows abundantly along irrigation and drainage canals, around reservoirs, and along streams, primarily in the arid Southewestern United States. In my State where water is scarce and its uses many, the loss of substantial amounts of water to these water-sucking plants constitutes a major crisis.

The spread of the saltcedar throughout the Southwest has been phenomenal. Virtually no significant waterway in that area is free from its infestation. The rapid proliferation of this plant may best be documented by looking at the recent history of the Pecos River Basin.

Before 1912. there were no saltcedars observed on the Pecos be-tween Santa Rosa, N. Mex., and the Texas State line, In 1912, the first seedlings were reported in the McMillan Reservoir area. In 1915, saltcedars covered about 600 acres; in 1925, about 12,300 acres; and in 1953, about 41,270 acres. It has been estimated that unless some-thing is done to halt the spread of these plants, within 50 years the entire Pecos River bed in this area will be choked with saltcedars, completely stopping the river's flow.

Total water loss due to the estimated 16 million acres of nonbenefi-cial phreatophytes in the Western United States has been set at ap-proximately 25 million acre-feet per year. In more understandable terms, this loss is equal to the average annual flow of the Colorado River at Lee's Ferry, Ariz., or three times the entire amount of water used annually in the State of Arizona.

If only .25 percent of this loss could be salvaged, the saving would still constitute more water than is annually delivered to the Imperial, Calif.; Salt River, Ariz.; Boise, Idaho; and Columbia Basin, Wash., projects combined.

The practical uses of saltcedar, technically known as tamarix pent-andra, appear few. It has been used for fenceposts, ornamentation, and surface soil stabilization. In addition, its use in filtering silt from the Pecos River has been instrumental in extending the life of the McMillan Reservoir. However, as one observer has noted, "One year's streamflow out of each five may prove to be a high price to pay for increasing the life expectancy of (that reservoir)."

The silt-filtering potential of the saltcedar is detrimental in yet another way: It increases flood hazards to large areas of land by blocking normal river channels, thus greatly reducing the water-carrying capacity of such streams. The problem of silting, plus the subsequent growth of saltcedars, has become so severe along the Salt, Gila, Pecos, Colorado, and Rio Grande Rivers that State and Federal authorities have found it necessary to take corrective measures, such as rechanneling.

The rapid proliferation of saltcedar is the result of several factors— its hardiness, its ability to use both ground water and water table sources and the extremely large numbers of seeds it produces. One small Plant has been estimated to bear over 600,000 seeds, which are easily disseminated by the wind and which rapidly germinate. Once established, they are very difficult to kill. As previous figures for the Pecos River Basin indicate, they quickly take over at the expense of every other form of vegetation.

Effective control of phreatophyte growth must involve a program of (1) elimination of existing plants by the best means available; (2) their replacement with less thirsty, more beneficial varieties, such as grasses; and (3) continuing management to prevent reestablish-ment.

The problem of control has been tackled by several local, State, and Federal institutions and agencies. In New Mexico, the State engineer's office

' New Mexico State University, the State soil conser-vation service, Pecos River Commission, Middle Rio Grande Con-servancy District, the Indian services, and other groups have been

i

actively involved n control measures.

In other States, the Fort Hays State College, Kansas; the Utah State Experimental Station and State engineer, and many others have been similarly involved.

At the Federal level, the Army Corps of Engineers, Geological Survey, Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Agricultural Research Service, and the Forest Service have all contributed substantially to research into and appli-cation of control measures. However, despite all of this activity, the problem remains, and will continue until a large-scale, concerted effort is made to solve it.

Senate Joint Resolution 49 is a step toward finding a solution to the problem of eradication and control of these phreatophyte,s. If the methods that will be used on the Pecos River under the authority of this bill prove to be successful and economical, then other similarly affected areas can be treated.

A cost figure was not included in the bill because State, local, and Federal agencies have been studying the problem and I am sure they will testify on this point. All that I can say in this regard is that the problem has become too large and complex for local agencies to handle.

The Federal Government has some large investments along this stream and has an interest in seeing that the local water users have the ability to repay Government moneys. Further decrease in water supply for beneficial use in the area will jeopardize the Government's interest. Therefore, this has also become a Federal problem. Unfor-tunately, the problem will not disappear by ignoring it, but will only become much worse as time goes on. Positive steps must be taken now. Favorable consideration of Senate Joint Resolution 49 should move us a long way toward the realization of that goal.

I do believe this is a very important step. We are losing water very rapidly. We have some maps which show how the drought has affected the western part of the country. The worst area of all is the Pecos River area. We have had some very fine agriculture down there in previous years and we want to keep it that way.

Senator Moss. Thank you, Senator Anderson.

Senator Yarborough, a cosponsor of the legislation, the senior Sen-ator from Texas, is here, and we will ask the SenSen-ator if he would like to make a statement.

STATEMENT OF HON. RALPH W. YARBOROTJGH, A TS. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS

Senator YARBOROUGH. Mr. Chairman, I am here this morning to express my strong support of Senate Joint Resolution 49, of which I have the privelege to be a cosponsor with the distinguished senior Senator from New Mexico, the principal author of this bill, and the junior Senator from New Mexico.

The bill is one which is widely approved by the people of Texas, particularly those in the area affected, despite some rumors to the contrary. The Pecos River flows through one of the most arid areas of Texas, and one can imagine what it would mean to the people if the scarce waters of that river were dissipated. Yet it is estimated that these saltcedars will be using up the entire water supply of the Pecos River by the end of the century unless they are checked.

At this point, Mr. Chairman, I want to commend the Department of the Interior for this very fine historical statement about this river and the water in it that is appended to their report to the chairman of the committee. That report is dated May 20 and is signed by Frank B. Briggs. I have been studying this report. It is very fine.

I can say that from personal experience, because of my 31-A years residence in El Paso as a practicing lawyer, and I tried some cases involving the Pecos River. In 1934, I was Assistant Attorney General at the time Texas and New Mexico were negotiating the waters of the Pecos River. We went up the Pecos River to see what happened. We went up to the headwaters of every tributary stream of the Pecos except one, and up to Las Vegas and in those canyons. We went up the little concrete storage dams high in the mountains. We went to different sources of the waters of the Pecos at that time.

As a result of that, and many other investigations by both States, and much negotiation, a compact was finally arrived at. This com-mittee will be hearing from witnesses who are quite familiar with the problem and exact details, and the committee will be given a complete picture of the great necessity of a beginning attack on the saltcedar infestation in the Pecos Valley.

I am reminded of the starlings in Washington. These saltcedars are a foreign import that came from the Mediterranean area and spread into the 17 Western States.

I am hopeful that the presentations that these gentlemen who are expert in this matter will be persuasive with the committee since any-one who has lived in those arid regions of west Texas or certain por-tions of Arizona or the semi-arid regions of New Mexico would be horror struck with the thought that this river might be sucked up and disappear and that is what will happen unless these saltcedars are eradicated.

I would like to add that this project should not be carried out be-cause the benefits seem of only local application. The contention has been made that this is not a proper Federal project.

Fortunately, Congress has always rejected such an approach and has acted to improve the national economy, conserve the national re-sources, and through thousands of acts of apparent benefit to local areas. We have always followed the course that national investments in water and soil conservation, in navigation and flood control, even though of local application, resulted in a stronger country.

The Federal Government, like any other level of government, is responsive to the people and exists in order to do what they want done. The people want conservation, and they want all levels of government working at it as hard as they can.

The problem of water scarcity is reaching the Atlantic seaboard. I am sure the witnesses that follow will present a strong case as to the aptness of Federal action through this resolution.

In addition, Mr. Chairman, I want to point out that this is partic-ularly a Federal problem. The Pecos is an interstate stream whose waters have been divided by a compact to which the United States is a party, along with Texas and New Mexico. A pest which becomes a plague, as the saltcedar has, and sucks up such a high percentage of the water previously divided by the three contracting jurisdictions, leaving vast areas of land arid in two States, creates a national ques-tion.

As one who has become familiar with this question while a resi-dent of El Paso, Tex., and one who publicly for the past 9 years has advocated eradication of saltcedar from the Pecos Valley, and as a coauthor of Senate Joint Resolution 49, I earnestly request the com-mittee to act favorably upon the measure.

This is not a new problem there. When I went to El Paso in 1954— if the chairman of the committee will pardon a personal reference—I was engaged in a campaign for the governorship, the most urgent prob-lem then was this saltcedar probprob-lem. So it is not a new probprob-lem.

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate very much the privilege of appearing here this morning. I have an executive committee meeting, so if you will excuse me, the technical witnesses will answer all your questions. Senator Moss. We do appreciate your appearing, Senator Yar-borough, and you may be excused at this point. We are very happy to have you come and explain the concern of the local people with this problem. I am sure the committee will share in that concern.

Senator Mechem, would you care to make any statement? Senator MECHEM. Not at the present time. Thank you.

Senator Moss. Governor Campbell, the Governor of the State of New Mexico. We will ask him if he would like to make a statement on Senate Joint Resolution 49 on the Pecos River.

STATEMENT OF HON. JACK M. CAMPBELL, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO

Governor CAMPBELL. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Senator Anderson, Senator Mechem, members of the subcommittee, if I may be permitted to do so in the interest of time, I shall file with the subcommittee a statement and simply make a couple of references with reference to the position of the State of New Mexico in this matter.

Governor CAMPBELL. First I want to say that this problem is a long-standing one. The other witnesses will present to the committee a historical background of it. I want to say that it has reached the magnitude so far as the State of New Mexico is concerned where it is an economic impossibility for our people or our State to cope with the problem alone.

A number of years ago we encountered the same difficulty with the phreatophytes on the Rio Grande, and by assistance from the Federal Government, in cooperation with the State, we are making considera-ble progress in eradicating the proconsidera-blem on the Rio Grande. Our State, during the last 10 years, has spent something over $1 million of State funds on the Rio Grande effort, and we now believe the problem on the Pecos is of such magnitude that we must call upon assistance from the Federal Government to meet this problem.

The last Legislature which recently adjourned appropriated $250,-000 of State funds to render assistance in connection with the obtaining of right-of-way for the eradication of the saltcedars on the Pecos River. We stand ready to do whatever we are able to do in a fiscal sense to carry our share of this load, but we have great concern about the future of the water on the Pecos River. It is of vital importance to the economy of our State and to the survival, actually, of the econ-omy in the area in the southern portion of the Pecos River in New Mexico.

We, therefore, feel that certainly it is a justifiable Federal project and we would certainly like to have the committee and the Congress give consideration to providing a program on the Pecos River as provided for in this measure.

Senator Moss. Thank you, Governor. We appreciate your coming and telling us of the efforts that the State of New Mexico has made and is willing to make in cooperating on this problem. I am sure that since the members of this subcommittee all come from arid States that we have great interest and concern in the problem and the solu-tion of the problem. We appreciate your concern and your advice on it.

Are there any questions of the Governor? If not, thank you very much., Governor. Governor CAMPBELL. Thank you, sir. (Governor Campbell's statement follows:)

PREPARED STATEMENT OF JACK M. CAMPBELL, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO

The U.S. Geological Survey in 1957 estimated that undesirable phreatophytes covered 15 million acres of bottomlands in the 17 Western States and that these plants consumed nearly 25 million acre-feet of water annually. Saltcedar, the most notorious and troublesome of the phreatophytes, were first noted in the Pecos River Basin in New Mexico in 1915. In 1939, about 14,000 acres along the Pecos River from Alamogordo Dam to the New Mexico-Texas State line were covered with saltcedar. By 1960, the infested area had increased to about 40,000 acres. It has been estimated that by the year 2010, some 75,000 acres along this reach of the Pecos River will be infested with saltcedar.

Saltcedar in the Pecos Basin are reported to use water, including rainfall, at the rate of up to 6 acre-feet per acre annually. This rate is about twice the rate of consumptive use for crops in the Carlsbad Irrigation District in New Mexico. According to the Bureau of Reclamation's 1960 "Reconnaissance Re-port on the Pecos River Basin," saltcedar will deplete virtually the entire supply of the Pecos River above Carlsbad by the year 2010, unless remedial