WELLTO~T -MOHAWK '\;'~'ILL REPAY $560.00 PER ACRE

L~gislative --Digest

- -

~;~I~~"~F

SECRETARY-MANAGER .. 1119,'t-IATIONAL PRESS BLDG. • WASHINGTON 4, D. C.

Vol. II, No.9

WELLTO~T -MOHAWK _'\;'~'ILL REPAY $560.00 PER ACRE

March 21, 1952

The 'Nell ton-Mohawk Irrigation District in southwestern Arizona has signed a contract whereby it agrees to repay to the govern- ment

~560~00

per acre over a 60 year period, preceded by alO year development period. The project works include the Vlellton- Lohawk, 'ivellton, and Mohawk Canals, three main pumping plants, a distribution system, protective works, and drainage works.

vJater will be supplied to 75,000 acros. About 13,000 acres of this land was previously irrigated from wells, but the water is becoming salty, thus limiting the crops that can be raised. The first water from the canal system will be delivered this spring.

About 15,000 acres, are gov,e,r~ment owned, lands which will.'be made available to veterans, altp.ou,gh t.his· land will not be available for settlement for at' l~ast ~ year.

It is particularly significant that on this project there was no aid or assistance in repayment from non-reimbursables or power revenues or any other source.' The entire amount of $560.C~0 per acre allocated to irrigation is to be repaid by water users alone.

_.

_.

_{. - .}

...--^..- .-.

SUPPLEMENTAL ALL AMERICAN CANl-\L- C0NTRACT

EXECU~ED

WITH IMPERIAL IRHIQATION DISTRICT

Secretary of Interior, O~car I.. _Chap~an, has released a state- ment announcing that a contract .has be'en e'xecuted with the Imperial

Irrigation District author.izing' 'tpat district "to operate and main- tain the diversion works on the California Sid~ 6f Imperial Dam, all of the American Canal, with the exception of turn-outs for the Yuma Reclamation Project ^tt and. the Coachell·a Ganal to the river side county line.

The announcement states that. the, Secretary will exercise full supervision and control of the' Iniperial Dam and Pilot Knob Section of the All American Canal inclUding the diversion of water from the Colorado River to the canal. Jt

al~o

states that the

S~cre­

tary will operate, through the Bure'au of Reclama tion, turn-outs on the All American Canal for the Yuma Project _i~ Arizona, for the generat ion of power at Yuma Siphon Drop

Powe~

l'lant and diversion works on the Arizona side of Imperial Dam to supply

~ater for the Gila Canal and Pr6j~~t, in A~izona •. '

The release further states that·the Secretary through the Bureau of Reclamation will be in a position to discharge his responsibilities relative to the diversion of Imperial Dam and the delivery of water through the American Canal destined for

IViexi co .

SPECIAL CIVIL WORKS SUBCOMMITTEE \*jILL HOLD

H~ARINGS

Hearings starting March 26th will be held by the special sub- committee to study civil works on the committee on public works of the House of Representatives. The release by Congressman

Robert E. Jones Jr., Democrat of Alabama, Chairman, said the hear- ings will constitute a part of the subcommitte study of the poli- cies and practices and procedures in connection with authorization and construction of river and harbor and

f~ood

control. projects.

Phases of the program. to be

consider~4

at the hearings will include authorization procedures, project.formulation, standards of economic justification, questions of ~ocal participation, dis- posal of products, allocations of costs of multiple-purpose pro-

jects, and organization improvements, also such related items as the 'basin account procedure and its impact upon the justifica- tion and economics of projects.

·'']·he committee will re.quire prepared statements to be submitted 48 ·ho~rs in advance of witness' appearance. Testimony will be, ' restricted to'a discussion directly pertinent to the specific

subj~~t

under consideration. First witnesses to be heard will be the' Corps of Engineers, followed'by Department of Agriculture.

A definite schedule has not been announced, but it is tentatively expected that hearings will recess for about 10 days beginning April 8th. In that event, outside witnesses

wi~l

not be heard until ab,out April 21st-'. :

'.

LEGISLATION TO ILfPLElVIENT REPORT OF PRESIDENT'S W.R.P.C.

Legislation to _imple~ent the'report of the President's,~~ter

Resource Folicy Commis~ion is still under consideration'in the executive department. It is being studied by various agencies and a special subcomrnitt'ee under the direction of. the Budget.

It is still the intention of the Administration to submit legis- lation tn the Congress. during this sessi9n.

MISSOURI BASIN 'SURVEY COtTi'ISSION MEETS

The Missouri Basin Survey Commission will hold itR first meet- ing for the purpose of organizing" In Kansas City, Kansas ~~ '.

the ,'Town House, April 3rd and. 4th.

WATER RESouRCES LUNCHEON'DISCUSSION

""~'vho- s'hould, d'evelop' our 'water resources?" will be the 'subject for a round ~able' discussion at a noon luncheon April 29th, when the United Stat,es Chamber of Commerce holqs its annual meeting in ','iashington D.C. r·arti.cipants who have been invited to speak

will include former 'F.P.C. Chairman, Leland ulds, and former Governor pf iijyoming., Les,lie Miller. (Comments withheld)

2,

HOUSE INTERIOR SLJBCOrvIrITTE~ ON APPRO PRIAT Ie.: 3 _l1EP6~rrs~ ,.:.-.., ,:,:'

The following is a tabulation and excerpts from the committee's report:

Budget Project or unit estimate

Carryover funds

Appropria- tions for

1953

Total program approved for 1953

/

222,000

$13,000,000 '5,,582,000 1,209,362

111,000 111,000

,,-.-'''~---.

321,000 13 ;245, OOO~'

^{! " .}

13,245,090 40,000"" ," 40,000 ,.- .' 204',-000 35:4,000 --- '225,000 150,000:' ,,: ',' 161,118

~0,Q09, 30,000

---.---- 352,264

--- 4,287

368,000 36$,000 2,310,000 ,2,310,000 20,000,000 '20,91~,~54

. 106,000 . : :151>, 500 760, 000 .', ,~: ?6C)",000 4,100,000 ,- ,

'~.,

lOa, 000 437 , 000 - ' 5,97 , 000 ,$13,000,000

5,582,000

100,000 917,754 45,500 321,000

150,000 225,000 11,118 yl,209,362

I -.-:--~-:-:~~"""-

'. , .. 352,.264 4,287 420,000

368,000 2,310,000 20,000,000 106,000 , 760,000 4,100,000 437,000 '1(13,000,000

5,582,000 Eklutna

Gila

All A.merican Canal

Colorado River.

Front Works and

Levee System 2,OO~',OOO --- 2,007,000 2,007,000 Boulder Canyon --- 435,000 --- 435,000

Davis Dam 1,754,000 1,528,661 1,754,000 3,282,661

Cachuma 6,270,000 2,230,000 6,270,000 8,500,000

Central Valley 40,000,000 --- 37,940,000 37,940,000

Kern River 15,000 26,085 15,000 41,085

Kings River --- 34,000 --- 34,000

Colorado Big

Thomp:son 18,000,000 1,000,000 18, 000,000 19,000,000 San ,~u.is ,Valle'y-'~'---'-~~~:--- ,,' 312,221 --- ~1_.$,221

Boi.;3.e, Drainage ----'.:~;;..'-":..-- 5,000 -,~_---,-.~.,:,: .. ~-~.:. ... :, ";:5'~'OO,O

Bo ise Anderso.I.1... .' ':,..:. . ' .,... " . -, ..

-~..

.' ,;

^{'J • '}

-Ranchu,,,,,"~" --- ,276,058 -~.;.~--- .276;'0'58

Boi~e Payette'" - .... ~:..~--- . ,'. 215,000 ---.:.. ..' ,21Q;OOO Lewiston Orchards--- _10~911 ---'. 10)911 Minidoka-Gooding--- 12,500 --- " 12,500 Palisades 10,000,000 ---' ~O;OOO,OOO 10,000,doo

B~·ffalo

Rapids .

.~,~..

\,. . .

First Division '222,000 --- 222,000 Buffalo Rapids

Second .Division" 111,000 --- Fort Peck ---

Hungry Horse ~3,245,000 --- Sun Bi ver . 4:0,000 ---

Tucumcari 204,000

Ve'rme j ⁰ - - - - :. '':'

:"-"-'~ -

Rio Grande 150,000

W.C. Austin _30~000 --- Deschutes-

North Unit

o cho co "

'~ ~

"

Klamath .tJrovo River Columbia Basin Yakima-Roza

Eden, Kendrick Riverton

,:~

3,-

,

,

50,915 500,000 287,651

57,000 100,000 483,622

6,000,000 3,965,000 810,000 1,158,000 3,543,000 26,000 435,000

55,749,529 45,56:?,63?

4,182,'892 1,000,000 5,000,000 22,48.1,400

154,202 29,200 .2,000 17,298 4,754,000 . 1,000, 000 Total

Program approved for 1953

'57,000

5,000,000 1,000,000

'~', 500 , 000 3,124,000, 610,000 1.~·'15~ ,.000

'I , 00.0 ,·000 .

'" .

.

.

44,146,400

---,-.

Appropria-.

tions for 1953

•• k • " I

- "~

.^,"~:~.' -~.

29,200 483-""622

435 , oOb·

^{. '}

.~---~-~-

^{., . ~}

154,,2-02·

841., 00'0' 200,000

11,603,129 C'arryover

Funds ...

_{. ...}

'

2tS'

I . . ,

00"0

. .~..

_

_..:~

.

.:--.:-~ ~

.

53,031,000

4:4,531,000:·.. > 9,920,237: . ':' .:?5, 646,400

...

. l3udget

~

..

;,

~roject'or unit Estimate

.,~

Shoshone, :

1.'iis _sou~,:i.. <Hi ver B~'s in Pr 0 j e c t.

Phase ·A···· .

Bo s t wi c k. " 3, 12 4 ~ abb.. _~.' '..

. Bbyse.n .. ',' ,.... . '61'0',000

Cheyenne . .

Angos.tora ... , '1,158';000 --- Frenchman

Cambridge 2,043, QQ.Q..,.... 1

^J

5.0.0:,.000 2, Q43 ,;000 .f.--' Grand qna·dehill--..:·";'-·":·-:-.- ·2·6··,{}OO ... :-""-.-..:----.-.,:--,

Heart", .H'ear,t· ., . ..- '.:.' ' But t e',

~.'

.

~

- .. - _..

1- - - ...: . :.

Helena-·Gres. t, ". . '." .

.Fall S ~ :,Canyori.· . . ," .. . Ferry. 4,75:4~'OOO ---... -.-.:.; .. ,. '4:,754,.000 Missourii,Souris,

J~mestown 1,000,000 ---~

North Dakota:

pumpi'ng ," F·ort

Clark ... " 57'~;6o'o ---

Oregon T r a i l . . .., ..

Glendo .... ," '100,000,' ---.,;. .. - '. _~ . _~q();OOO··

Smoky Hill .. · " '. ,.

Cedar.Bluff-~~~~--~~-~~

. Solomon, .. Glen ...-

Elder',. '3'·, 620':;OQj' --- ---.--.-,..

Solomon,Kirwin 6,000,000

-.,:,,".~_-.~---.---

. 6,000',000 Sou t h PI a t t e

~

. ' .

Narrows' ---

.

..

. .

...

.

... 50915~· , ... ---':"--.:.--':' .rrhre e Forks,. ':" - . - ... -

Crow Creek 500;000

.:.-':':-~----:--

'. 500,000 Transmis s ion . ' . . ' . .

~

.

,>- Divisio.n . ·21,563;'00'0'" 6,183,00'0' ··1~.,.298,400 'Upper Repub,lfcan ' ..

···St. Franc i s' -..:-'-";'- '..:"- - - -;":'-"

. ,<. Yellowstone, . . '. Cartwright; ~---':'­

'. Yellowstone,

. Savage , .

~'-"

. '2,000' .--- - ' .. '2,000 ... '. Yellowstone ." - . . , '. " .

.. , '.' ,~idney ..;.;.'--- 17, _2.~.g:

^{t '}

-:'---":'--~'--'-:'"

. S.ubtot al

~

,?pase A.

'.. rn.a.se B

ⁱ

Phase C./ ..2.,.500,0.0.0, ..,.' 1',682, 8~'2 ' ::' ·'Phase D ... ,,, '.

< . ' .•

",Phase E '1,000,000 --- Other Interior

agencies 5,000,000 --- Total Missouri

Hi ver Basin - - - - Project

-4-

~:Udget

Projedf or unit Estimate Rehabilitation and .

betterment of exist-

ing projects _2~342,000 Inactive projects--- Adjustments

Provo Biver

(General Investi-

gations) --- Missouri River

Basin project--- Subtotal 194,720,000 Reduction to offset

1952 unobligated balances available

in 1953 ---

Total 194,720,000

Carryover funds

246,343 359,988

. -lS,OOO -24,019 21,660,813

21,660,813

Appropria- tions for

1953

2,342.,000

183,355,400

-30,000,000 153,355,400

Total Program Approved for 1953

2~5S8,343 359,988

-18,000 -24,019 205,016,213

205,016,213 BUREAU OF

RECLAr:~TION:

The budget estimate of the Bureau of Re- clamation for the fiscal year 1953 is

~224,620,000,

a decrease of

~9,788,522

below the appropriations for 1952. The Committee has made a further reduction amounting to

~43,364,600

and has allowed an appropriation of

~18l,255,400.

The policy of no new starts has been adhered to and no funds are allowed for this purpose in the appropriation recommended~·:~·

The funds provided will permit the orderly continuation of

con~

struction programs the essential features of which have been pre- viously approved by the Congress. - Some expansion of existing

power developments is provided for by the extension of transmission facilities. The continuation of work on some extensions to irri-

-':ga~ion

features already under way' is also approved.

The budget submission con~~ined a new proposal to the effect that

~12,000,000

of an anticipated unobligated surplus for 1952 of ~21,660,813 in construction' activities be reprogrammed for the fiscal year 1953, thereby reducing. the amount of newly appropriated funds necessary. The Committee's approv.al of the program which is

detai~ed

in the following paragraphs includes approval of the re-

progra~ing

of these funds to specific projects.

GENERAL INVESTIGATIONS: The Committee recommends an appropriation of y3,000,000, a reduction of y2,000;000 below the budget-estimate.

In applying this cut it is the Committee's desire that no reduction be made in those investigations scheduled for completion ·in 1953.

Further ,_. the full arnoun.t·s programmed-' for inve st igat i;ons of exist- ing projects and for Alaskan investigati6ns are to

b~

expended for

these purposes. ' ' .

CONSTRUCTION ANP. -REHABILITATION: The construction and rehabilita- tion program estim~te has been reduced from 0194,720,000, to the amount of ;W153,355,400. This is' 'a reduction of: ';54,397,325 below

- 5 -

.' '

,'.

the .qur~e.nt ^year .~~g~~e .~.~<?- $41,36,4.,.600 be~C?v~. t~~ ^_.1?\ldget estim~t~.

The "niajG'r"-por:~ion -:o:f' the··.~reduO't ion' :has' 'been .re al'i-z-ecl;-:-by 'e 1 imina t ing

$30,boO,000 ~hich it i~~e~timated will be offs~t bY-~riobligate~.· . balances accruing during the

remaini~g

part of the current

ye~r.

. This estimate is over and above the $21,660,813 unobligated _b~laric~ . esttmat~_a~ .tbe time ~he budget w~~.prepare4.~~d whf¢h was contem-

plat~4 _.in-~ayi.ng.·.6.ut .... t:he ~_19 ..5.3..:_program ...A. r.e can.t .c.heck on balances

curr~ritlj estimated:sh6ws'a substantial incr~a~e ove~ the original estimate, This fact and a review of balances carried over in pre- vious years _~c6nvinces the Committee that a:t ·leaslf.;:-the.·.addit.ional .

$30;600.;oOO~·v,ill be avatlable • . In ·taking the 'action ·to"·reduce 'the budge·t '-:e st imate 'by':th~s . amount, the Committee 'has riot· al·tered· the' amounts programmed for-specific proJects, but has provided the means of recapturing for the Treasury afl amount equal to that part of the funds. approved for 1952 which cannot be obligated before the end of··the··current...fi·$.cal.·ye.ar.·.and .w.il~ :'c.arJ;'Y o.v.e~ ..J',Qr use', in .:3:_ 953 •

.. . " • .; I ' • •

MISSOURI:'RIVER BASIN' ?ROJECT: 'The to _tai-~:e stimate for" the Missouri River tRast:q. program w~s ~031,000.· The Committee 'has made a re- ductioI:l":of $8,884,6dO; "~d'has :allowed $44,146;400.

- ·brie new: start·w~~ p~o~o~ed i~' the bu~get ~sti~at~s of t~e B~r­

eau for 1953. This vias ·the ·Glen Elder Dam in Kansas,"'fbr which an' appropr.iation of $3,620,000 was requested. The Committee has not allov/ed': the" proJect. In the' first ,pIa.·ce', hO' inform·at3..on· was pre- sented . to indicate" why thi:s' par~icular p're ject was singled out by the B~reau of· the Budget when it'disallowed other~new. starts which had' beeJ;1 'requested by the' Bure·au •.. "v';ithout probing into: the rela- tive merits' of all of the new projects wn1.ch· have been';under con- sideration during ·the p·ast· several Y'ears~ the Committee··finds it- se If in no po sit ion to ,. appro ve -thl.s. part i cular . new ·s t art on" the

basis t~at it is more necessary th~n some others might be. Further- more· tp.e· President has' rec'ently app6inted a Cornrniss.iqp." .-tQ.. m.a.ke req0111- mendat;i.ons ....on .. all .. pro Je c.t s:.. .. o..f. thi.s: type.::. in .. tbe 1v11s s.ouri Hi ver Bas in and· the' C6~it~e'e' does not favor beginning construction of any new project. untii. the report. 6(' _~his Commission _~~ available •. ' .

. The C'ommittee 'has' disailo\~ed' thr-ee other items proposed' in the Missouri River Basin program. All of these were sch'eduled in

th~. ~ctivities

of the

transmissio~ divisio~

and they are as follovils':: ., . ' ': . .. : : _ :.~ :.... . .'. ~:.: "_'.'

': . .

. '.

YelTowtail-B-ill'ings tran·smis·sion lIne' (li5KV and' ..

substations)- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -$875,000 Sioux City-Omaha (230 KV transmission' line and

related substations)- - - - - - - - - - - - - 1,476,000 Minnesota program:

Jamestown-Fargo-Fergus Falls-Bcnsen-Granite Falls- mankato-Blue Earth-Jackson-Fort Randall (239 KV

line and substations)- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2,913,600 The Yellowtail-BillinEs line and the Sioux City-Omaha line were denied last year and the Committee was given no justification

- 6 -

this year adequate to alter its position. The Minnesota program proposed had the indorsement of both the private utilities and the cooperatives throughout the areas to be served. However, the Committee was not convinced of'the need for constructing the pro- posed lines with Federal funds.

LANGUAGE PROVISIGNS: The language in the bill under the construc- tion and rehabilitation heading includes a new provision to the effect that no part of the appropriated funds shall be available for the initiation of construction on any new dam or reservoir with the dominant purpose of water storage for irrigation or water water supply purposes, canal tunnel or conduit for water, or' water distrubution system, unless a repayment contract has been concluded between the United States and the water users.

The language provides further that for all projects currently under construction, repayment contracts are to be concluded

within 18 months from July 1, 1952. It is the Committee's inten- tion to deny any further appropI'iations after January 1, 1954

for projects now in the construction state unless a repaymeni con- tract has been concluded by that time.

CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT: The"budget estimate for the Central Valley Project for 1953 was $40,000~000. 'The Committee recommends

$37,940,000, having deleted $2,000,000 for the proposed inter- connection of the Central Valley power system with the Bonneville power system, and $60,000 for substation additions for the Tracy- Contra Costa, Clayton-Ygnatio transmission line.

Deletion of the intertie from the 1953 program is the result of the Committee's desire to postpone consideration of the very critical question of·,tyinG the two areas of the Pacific North- west and California. It is the Comnlittee's opinion that such an action by use of either government or private transmission

facilities is not desirable until the most exhaustive study de- lineating all economic factors affecting these widely different areas has been accomplished.

The substation additions eliminated were for the purpose of providing government power direct to Camp Stoneman. Testimony given to the Committee indicates that the Camp is being adequately supplied by the Pacific Gas & blectric Company at the present time.

The above does not constitute the complete report b'y the committee on reclamation matters, but it does include the most significant comments from the report.

Respectfully submitted, William E. Welsh

Secretary-Manager

Legislative Digest

OFFICE OF SECRETARY-MANAGER • II

i9

NATIONAL PRESS BLDG. • WASHINGTON 4, D. C.

Vol. II, No. 8

~

ILLS SIGNED BY THE PRES IDENT

March 14, 1952

H. R. 5097 was signed by President Truman and became law March 12. This bill extends for another three years the general authority of the Secretary of the

Interior to enter into amendatory repayment contracts with the water users.

HEARINGS SCHEDULED

" .

A.·--Hearings have been scheduied' be'fore t.he House Interior and Insular A.ff?i.rs Committee on bills now pending· as: t,ollows:' .

Canadian River Compact, H. R. 4268 •.•..••.••••Marc.h.. _~l

. '. . . .

;:

^{~.- ' . .} .

B--6. 1798, a· companion bill has pa'sSBd th~ ^Senate a~ ~~P.9~t¢d ^{in the} Legis~

lative Digest, Vol. 'II, No'.. 7,

M~rc:l:. 6~

.', . ':. ;'

• , .1" •

Hells Canyon, H. R. 5743 ••• : .•..• ~ ~ ^{•••• : •.} ~ ^•• M~u~·ch ^{26'; 27} ~ ^{28 and 31} Recreational Facilities, 'H~ R. 6804. ~ ... ~ .A.pril 9

Palo.Verde, H.... R. 6591 (tentatively) •••.·•..•A.pril 15 and 16

NarE: For further neference to the above billS.'.see Legislative'Digest, Vol. II, No •. 7, March .6. . ' " .

BILIS INTRODUCED

^{" .}

The following bills pert.?ining .t.o

Re9,l~mat'ion:

:.have been"introduced

·~ut':ing

the

pas't w e e k : ' . ,

S. 2809 - By Senator Kn.o~land· £:O~:·'h~s'~if .and··Sena.tor· N~:ixo~ ^. (S~nta ^Margarita

'. , B'ill 'and" co'rnp£ai~d;n,p~~~~"to. H. ;R •. 536cf by Congressma.n McKinnon) ..

~ • _ 4• • . . , I " • "' .• • . ' ,

..

S •. 2863' - By·Senator Knbwland' tcr~~uth6riz~. ^the 'integratio~ ^of, t~ ~S'Q1:ano County Pr-6ject' with the p'ent.ra,l Va'lley ~oject· in California'.

'-. l ' _• '. • • . ' : , . '. . . .#; . :_.~ )':".' .l~. t~'-

,

CMNmus BILL ^{•. ' p...,.:' .}

^'~.

A. t .-this' time it is antic ip~ted.· tlwt: t~erE? ~l~'+l. b~. ^a·'.SID?ll Omn~bU:s·· ·B~l.l ^•. ,t,I:Iowe~er, consiClerationof'an Cmnibus B:ilt:by th~ House 'Pub,iic Works Coriunitte,e will,not come before"the (roI.nnlitt~e·~·'unt:ti htie'f: ~t ~~ ,r~por;ted' the··Highway Bi'rl. The·.

Committee' expects "£"O ~b~tt m~~~~~ ,~l" t.b.~· H·~~?viay:.,.:B i~l about _Tuesd~y, March 18.

..., '. ' . . ' . .

.

^~

9.. :'~. . I · ....• :".ll , ~.

"::.'

:'. '.,'. ..'\:'~,'~

" .

, .~

..

t.·· " , ^{\. .~. ~,~ .:.,. . = ~..}

'~

..

-':'

. . .:.' .

... :', :

~

'; ... >,,: .. :. . '. '::.'. ;'

^{'~ ~:}

.

^'. '. .'.-:..

.:

Iitle: "A bill to provide for correlation and coordination of research 'into practical means for the economical production, from sea or other saline waters, of water suitable for agricultural, industrial, municipal, and other beneficial consumptive uses, and for other purposes. ^tt

Policy of Congress: "That in view of the acute shortage of water in the arid areas of the Nation, it is the policy of the Congress to provide for the de- velopment of economically feasible means of producing from sea water, or

other saline waters, water of quality suitable for agricultural, industrial, municipal, and other beneficial consmnptive uses. n

To this end the Secretary of the Interior is authorized (a) to supervise and direct research; (b) to engage by contract, chemists, physicists, engineers, and personnel from educational institutions, scientific organizations or in- dustrial or engineering firms to do research work; and, (~) to. perform numer- ous other functions considered necessary to carry out 'the' "purpos'es of the act.

'.." l~ .. ~:~:lthorizes $1,000,000 for five years, $250,000 of this to the Department.

SMALL PROJECTS LEGISLATION

As the result of a conference with Bureau .of. B,udge.:.t. :r,eprese'ilt'atiV'es _~"on Feb- : }'ua~y ~9,,)Jpng~e~13Y1oman~ Boson'e\ has. '.h.aCi :.. _~~jlew .. ~·s·m.~ii:. ~9j~cts' bi~l' dr:a.fted

". ' .. J:, whicp: .. spe.· ..expectsr:.to. introduce/on "Monday;', M. 9 .rch,:l7-•. ,.This· bill 'is designed ':c: ,··to. 'ine~t'the:,pr,iriq~ipal::ohject-i6hs"::b!' 'Budget to ^{H. R. 2646.} HOVJever,.}.t may ..';::' nbtconiply'entirely with Budget views. Congresswoman Bosone ::t'elt that she

could not abandon fundamental reclamation principles 'which have b.een radhered to and recognized as reclamai{ion policy.. for .half,.: a·!century~· 'Thi~' applies . pa.rti~ul~.:r:ly· ^.. tb·:·:interest':'free::,rn6n~y·,-· ·.~hi.Gh ~~ a.·recognition of the public

'. benetits nationwide from recitimation'" '.

•~' • . '.';•• "....,!

The bill prov.ide:s··-t~hat ^,a .special:·~·as~·, 'whe~~ jus·tiii~d., ~ay b~. mad~ .. Xor non- reimbursability in the ma.pner pro\T.ided,by ~~,isting' l~wT' upon );~cq~eridation

,: by the· ~ecretary~of 'the... ···Interi6r~ ·a.nd 'with .thf3 a·ppr.oval ·or' 'the 'Hous'e and '-'- Senate Interior and Insular Affatrs COIIll'I1ittee, such items Rf. pub:+'ic benefit

shall be non-reimbur.~able. The bill groy:ides that a·· loan'>of-hbt' ·to exceed f.ifty per ·cent· or"'the' cost of' the project shall be made py.',th~. R.F.C. upon recommendation of. the Secretary•..The size ,of"the; projedt .. shali not exceed 5,000 acres, w:ith·i fetal cost' of not over $1,.000,.000; it . is. nqt. :limited to the We~~; the ::r.eview by (~r~her Ji~~de-ral- agencies 'has- been 'eliminated; and, more responsibiiity 'has ''been placed with State ~gencie~;, .. ~here,by rS'quiring a less d~as~i,c_ reyi~Yl ,by, the'. 'Secretary' a"s . t~o;finarlcial and e~g_i.~~ring feasibility.

• :. • •~ • • • • • ~.' ~ ~.,• • • ~: ' : : ' . , .. ' .I _

It requires the State agencies to assure continuation 0', ;:tJ:le'

princiP;~~.

of the family-size farms. It is quite possible that a meeting'-'~'~:f the sniall Projects Committee will be held very

short~y ~o ~0!l~i¢l~r:jtpis:~~gislation

.•

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'. Se'c'retary-Manager

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(Excerpts From) ': REPORT ~,

OF A

, '.' SPECIAL SUBCOMMITT'EE' OIr ·IRRIGATION' Jdm- RE'CtAMATION

BY . '

CLAIR ENGLE, California~' Chair'man" ·'WES~EY"'A·. D'EVifART, Montana WAYNE N. ASP:[NAtL', Colorado .... N01,111S: POULSON, 'California

SAMUEL W. YOJ{T"¥, Calif0rn.ia' ~.~~t!~T~::_1?,OW, ~~3:g:

i t ' ,

CENTRAL,VALLEY PROJECT,' CALIFORNIA

HEARINGS HELD OCTOBER 29" _.~O, AND 31 , 1951 . SACRAMENTO, CAL IF •. '

~ ~^I....

Congressman Engle's opening statement--The purpose of this hearing is-two-fold: First to determine a basic fact; and second to establish a policy.

,.: . 'rhe fact we would like to determine is whe·ther· or not the developed water in the' Sacramento River is now'

over'~suhscribed.

The policy we would like to ,establish is a proper divisi.on' of function between th,e federal" apd s tate governments in the '.

ope'rat ion of the Centr,al Valley Pro ject, which c ommenced _full~ op- eration for the first time this year.

FIFD'INGS AND RE-COMMENDAT IONS 1 .

~

_'. Pro j ec t water: suppli e:s are inadequate

~ F'ltlctings. ---:- ( a) Tha t i'or, ,a II practlcal·\ pur'pos e s the de've,lbped water supplies of the S'acramento River are :o-vercommitted and over- subscribed;

(b), Increased uses of water from the Sacramento River from ,the beginning of project constru.ction in' 1,935 t.o the present are

about three times the, expected,' i.ncrease of 300;.000 acre-feet which was ,estimate,d by the State of, ,C:alifornia and Bu·reau of Reclamation officials in their original plarts

_~or

operation of the Central Valley p r o j e Q t ; ,

....~ .~.

...

.".^~...^--"

(c) Testimony _'indic~ted diversions from the _Sacrame~tb River':' would have caused' the river to be dry for ;about 40 miles in. July '.

1951 if stored water had not been avail'able: from Shasta Re servoir:"

for Sacramento Valley use, and' a'.-large part of' this water is des- '.-' tined for the San Joaquin Valley; under the; proposed Central Valley'

pr0ject·, operation;

^{' c . ' • .}

(d), Applications for use of _Americ~n River water'to _be'·dev~l­

oped by: Folsom Dam, an additional: storage unit 'of' the project now under 'construction, exceed by: "several time,sf

^l

the probable supply that can be made available through this source; ~

.: ... · r : :

'-3":'·

Excerpts from report-2- (e) Construction of additional storage facilities to conserve water for use in the Central Valley should be commenced as soon as possible.

Recommendation.--That additional·.storage faci,lit'ies be construct- ed as soon as possible to augment the deficient supply of developed water in northern California, and to firm up the water supply for

the Central Valley project, if

su~h fac.ilitie~.are

reasonable in cost and ar'e 'within the limi'ts~ of economic feasi~ilft,y . . .

2. There has been a lack of frankness wfth the Dong~es~ ~egarding

project water supplies.

Findings.--(a) That misleading'.inf6rmation has been given to the Congres:S--by the sponsors of the Central Valley proje'Jt ard Federal representatives regarding the supply of wate~ neoessary to operate, if present Sacrament6 Valley and Delta water

righ~s

claims are valid;

(b) There has been an _amaz~ng lack of frankness, bordering on bad faith, in dealing:w.ithc:the Coricress in vie'w;of the rapidly mounting uses of Sacramento -Rive-a.'" wate·r

^'S

irice the' construction of Shasta Dam;

(c) The project was apparently drifting into danger as far as water supplies are concerned:; .. a;ridState and Federal

adVOC&te3

failed to direct attention to this ·s·e·ri-aus dil:emma.s 'or to

'~ake

any action to halt the trend before serious

difficul~y

waa encountered.

In fact; State and Federal representatives adopted a. 'ldrtft and hope" policy wi th respect .'·to··:pro:j:e:~ct .. water sn.ppl-<ies·;; '.

(d) Both S ta te of Cal ifo.rni:a :t'Je·pre·s·eri ta t i ve'8 ·',8. nd. Bure au of Reclamation employees have reque.steGl Lf:unds" annuall'y

a~d

failed to indicate to the Congress that there was any question

.:::bo'vi.·:~

>Jl"'..ffi- cient water to meet all ·needs. whi'ch th'e initial

'proje~~t

feat;ures were designed to serve, including uses along the

Sacr~meuto

River.

Recommendation. --'I'hat ..:t.he.. :..B.ureau'·oi' ':Re"clamation

D:ld·

the State engineers office, State of·;·C"a,-Yrfox'ri:ii:i'·be:· ..:reques:·'jed to su]Jmit a

statement and tabulation base.·d 'on past ·-ye.ars of'record sho.wing the probable deficiencies in project water supply

i~

Sac!'amento'Valley users continue their present. use along the Sacranenta niver. The

statement should also estimate·.·.ruture S'acranento Velley us.es, giving the probable year and probable: 'amount whi'ch l;lay be'used through

existing systems such as the Glerin-Colusa

irrigat~bn

district and proposed systems such as the Sacramen'to .,.Valley canal;s;.: :

3. Pol icy s taten:ents regarding transfer of surplus 'water are mis-

leading.

r, - - : ".

Findings.--(a) That the staiements of p~l{cy ~~~h respect to the importation of surplus vlater from the' SaC'.. r~.iDF:·l·lt.S "Jalley made by the State of California, the. origina1 ,s.p0nsors

~f

-t,he project, and subsequently repeated

in.~

similar manuer by

l~t~rior

Depart- ment representatives, are certainly confusing,

i~.no~

.mi.sleading;

(b) Categorical stateMents about the reser~ation of water for Sacramento Valley needs,.

sU.9h··~s

the a,sSl.:,T':8J.1c·e

g:i_v~n

by

~ecre­

tary Krug in Oroville ·on Octo.be,r 1;2." 194$,. cannot be .

~n:.t.s

t an.t.iated as a practical matter in view ..o:f tqe increasing

.~acramento

Valley

uses; . ,

(c) The water _'~upplies in the Centr~i'Valley 'Iasin fail into two categories--developed, or

u~~eveloped,~and

both classes of water

- 4 -

...

i · . ,

j

Excerpts from Report -3-

need :to'be defined and

~aken ~nto

consideration in any plans for expansion'for water development in'the Central Valley Basin of

Californ.ia;. ' , ' , , , ; : . . , ..

,~

';,

(d) Any reservl?ticD,s of water for use in watersheds of origi.n:

need to be specific ,.in 'amount·, and also in the length of time that the amounts, of

wat~r

will be reserved

~nd

available for use;

~. (e) The San Joaqufn Valley water users cou}'d experience a

water shorta~~ 'unless' additional storage is provided for the Central Valley project if present Sacramento Valley uses continue to be

supplied from project storage;" ,

(f) It is impractical to predicate expansion of irrigated agricul ture in the San Joaquin Valley on firm canun} tf;ients of water from Sacramento River sources, and then imply that the water can be "pulled back!' for use in the Sacramento Valley, at, ,f? J-?ter date.

upon demand as has been' implied by inadequate poli)J)):s:t,~~:er.1.e:nt~, .. " .

regarding "surplus water.

ff .. . ' '.

Recommendat ions. -- (a). Tha t any future statement.s o'n ^{the importa·}

tion of surplus. water, or the

r~servation

of water ,fbr

wate~sh~ds

of origin, should disti,nguish between natural runo,f,~f'an\d Vilater which is stored" develop'ed, and now available for use through pro-:"

ject works; ' : , . : ' , ,

(b) That the appropriate official of the State of California"

and also _t~e Sepretary of,:the Interior, issue new, _c~ear-cut, and accurate statements for,'the benefit of the people of the Central Valley regarding the transf'er of surplus waters, the"reservations;

of water for,watersheds of origin,~,and, the possible: temporary water shortages -that may develop': if 'additional storage faci'lities are not const~,u,ct.ed to meet expanding vvater uses. " , . ,."., 4. A mbhsirous lawsuit should be avoide~ and a practical'oper~ting

agreement should

b~

obtained . ,

Findings.--(a) The State of California' a'nd :Bur-e',8.u'of'·Re,cla.'ma- tion officials have been making plans for an adjudiGatl,0rl ')f 3acra~:"·

mento:V~lley wat~~"rights in the Federal court'instead,'of the State

court'~'

State court action is favored by the members of the sub- cormnittee, if any court action is necessary'. Under 'the,plan b,eing discussed.,.. _~',the United States Departmen:t of Justice would .:undoubtedly':

represent,:'the inte'rest· of the Federal GO'v$,rnm~nt an,d: a.:sser:t, ever'y' .', possible claim to

'~'he'

water in behalf of the Feder'al

Gov~rnme:nt,;:,

.. " '"

,'Ct') ,The Stat"e of California and Bur€au o'f' Recl'amation' of-fic-iats:

may creat a "legal: Frankenstein" which w'ould destr6y,/all·:',hope .tor

State, c.,o,ntr,ol of ,.Centr'al Valley water rights, 'e spe~'iallly :':if' the a:d-, judication is in the .F~deral court with ,Deparfment 'of Justice repre- ' senta t ion in behalf or -: the Government; ,

^{t . .} , " " . '

(c) The issues iri':the proposed lawsuit ar,e obscure' and inde- finite, and apparently the State and Federal officials"do n'ot realize the nature and extent 6r th~'litigation th~y are ,in~itin~;'

: (d) The _co~t ,of lhe 'propo'sed lawsuit would, be enormous, and the number- of per's,ons who would be invol ved' is indefini te, having said to be "astron'omicallfin 'number by' one 'Federal witness;

(e)' .A lawsuit Qver presently developed 'limited water supplies would nc;>,t :put ·any more .w'8:ter

·~on

the land, and would probably delay further 'Vi{ater .development ':in:northern California. 'Further, it would :'emb.roi,l the )?e!:~ral ~af~~y,,'project in litigation for decades;

-5-

^' . . " ...

Excerpts from report -4- (f) 1m ,adjudic.a~t~.qn .of w~t~r rights,shoulq: be the last possible recours'e in a ,soll.:lti:o.n,'of.

th~"probler.l,

and, i,r

an'-~d.judica,tion

is

ne6ess~ry, it should ~e conduct~d in' the State courts. B~f~re such action is ta.ke.n, .f'ull consider·ation should. be given to the use of administr~i1ve .pr6cedure~ ~ut~in~d in the State _wa~er code, which would allo'w the .State engineer.. to make ~n administrative dete~mina­

tion of 'right's ..and appo1nt, a ,St·ate watermaster under' the .State courts;

. (g) . A .practical operating' .~greement could probably be 'Rchieved amo~g the.:6wn~rs 6f ~ajo~ wat~r rights which would c~ver nearly

90 percent of the water involved., It is reported these rights are held by 25,or 30 irr~gation dist~icts and other owners pf water

rights.'. . . '- . . ' . . " .

, Recommendations.--(a) That a ,monstrous 'lawsuit over the waters of.the Sacramento River s'hould 'be' avoided if a't "all. pos.sible in

view of the alarming

experien~e.of

the Santa Wargarita River water users with ··the Department of Justice' ·'in the f.antastic and notorious water-rights

controver~y

in southern

C~li~ornia;

(b). T,hat the State Enc;ineer of Califc5rhi:a. should pr·oce.e·d as fa.r as poss,ible to settle the problem by .exercising the a'dm-inistra- tive power-s' . and proG-edur~s as outlined in the California VTat'er

Code and, if sufficient authority does not exist, the 'major water users shouJ:-d reque.st the State' Engineer to take the le adership in

n~gotiatioqs

,looking toward the achievement of. a practical

o~rat­

.ing agreement. At the conclusion of. such negotiations,_ 'a State watermast,er .shquld ··be assigned to the Sacramento River ··to .. insure

compliance; with the u,ses of water in ·accordan.ce wit-h the rights

as dete~~ined; ; , ' . _

(c) . 'That legislation should be ·e.nacted .s imil-ar -t·o S. 18 of the

nighty~second

Congress which.would make it

possi~le

to bind .the:, Feder-a.t·:Government in an ad-judi:ca-t;-i~ -of, wat·e:r.'~igtit.-'s::-in the

State courts; .

"~:.,,.:"4~' - .

(d) :' That the Commis'sioner of Reclamati.on 're'P9.:r:'t' to·.,the Com'- mittee on Interlor and Insular Aff'airs on the' progre'ss in reaching an operating agreement •. , Such repor·t shoutd be made prior to Decem-

ber 31, 1952. .

5. State of Califo'rnia: 'now inviting' pro·tests. 'on wate'r-'right appli- cations whi'ch w.ere 'ass'igned to the Federal Government .in 1938

Find·ings.-.- (a) It was intere s't ing to 1 earn that. th,:e state of California was advertisi-ng for 'prote:sts on the·.water

j

rights which had been assigne~ to the Federal Gov~r~ment in consider~tiDn·of Federal construction which was st~rted in 19~8, and that the pro-

tests were invited after the Federal. Government had' spent,·· .'

$400,000,000 on construct.ion .. of the Central"Valley pr.oje'ct;

: (b) That ,the congress'ional c·ommi-~~e-e. was ·.cl·isturbe'd to learn that instead .o.f. firm water rights. nece~sary .for. the oper.ation .of the qentr'a:l Valley proje~.~, the 'Bur~au of -Reclamation 'had in effect me,rely ttfour pie ce s of paper" which th~ State' :of California has in effect s-aid the- 'Bl~Teau should "take to· court tt, to find out if. it

has .any wa·ter rights;, . ' ". . " .

'. (c). Th~t. t'he pre sent S'ta.:te l.aw.: which· require s thi~s .invi tat ion for protests.by the State Engineer ·9~,water-right. applications is

indeed a ~trange' proc·edq.re ....if i t a?plies to. wate·r-right applica-

ti.o~··s, which th'e' S,tat~' .o.f:. Galifornia i,~self c,laimed' a'nd: la'ter' ,assigned to the Federal Government. '

'.' • -.r.

-6-

.'

Excerpts from Report -5- (d) That such an unintelligent procedure could seriously

jeopardize future appropriations by the Congress for vitally needed

water development in the State of California. .

Recommendations.~.-(a) ,That the· State ,of'Califarn'i'a official.s immediately review ~he law which requires ·this 'actiolf. o,r1: water'- rights applications to,see .if

~

more intelligent Rrocedure Gan

b~·

devised regarding the. transfe'r ''Of assignment of wate'r rights .,.to 'the Federal qov~~nment whio~ are _~lready owned by' the people aD the S.ta.te).·'" ',': .'.., . . : ' :,' . . . , " , . _ .

. (b) That the, Bureau of Re'clamation 'shall "be required in any presentation regarding a nevI pro'jec't to' the Congress to obtain from the State of California a clear-cut statement show1ng th~. availabil- ity of the necessary water.

6. Water used for 'sal'ini ty co'nt'rol is a wasteful, inefficient use of precious water supplies .

Findings.--(:a) That much l'arger amounts' o.f·water than origin- ally estimateP-o P.. y' the Stq.te of California are' necessary' and' are being used t~~epel damaging salt'water from'projectcanals and

lands"in ~he'Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta above the city' of Antioch;

, (b)' . Inste~d of 6,600 acre -feet, a day (3,300 cubic f~et per second) as originally estimated, the project is now using abou~'

9, 000 acre -feet a day (4., ~OO cubic feet per se c'ond)' to repel the':

salt water from. the Delt~;; epough water to meet the combined'·:fieeq.s.

of the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicag6,-:'and':

the District of Columbia; . _ ' ;:' :...

~~

,I(C) _Nearl~ 3,000 _a~~~$ dotild be _irrig~ted for an entire _~~~1~

gation season with the water now flowins each day'into,the Pacific Ocean through San:F~ancisco Bay, which is being us~d io repel salt

wat~r

from the

D~lta;'

.' ,

~ .. (·d) This"wasteful and inefficient u~e tif California~s p~ecious

water supply cannot be condoned further

an~

alternative methods of providing salinity control should be inv~~tigated;

(-e) That more than 100,000 acres of rich deep farm land i,n the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta which was formerly threatened· peri- odically by salt water is now receiving a guaranteed fresh water supply from the Central Valley project without contributing a single penny for this benefit through repayment

~ontracts.

:

Recommendation. --(a) That ·the Committee on Interior and 'In- sular Affairs,' through congressional hearin£s or·.r·equests to the Department o'f the Interi'or', determine as .soon as possible the cost of al ternate', methods of 'salinity control, which' Nould result in a higher and less wasteful use of valuable fresh. water suppljes.

{b) Tha't the Sta.te of C'~l if-crnia should seriously stD-dj ''the adv-isab,ility' of forming ··a.'·sui.ta:ble "conservancY,district" to share.

the cost and· ,pay for the .proJect 'benefits which accrue to the. ;,.

area benefited by repulsiort 'of;s~lt water from the Ce~tral Va~ley.;::

project, inasmuch as the State of California requested ?ederal funds to build the project and assured the Congress a suitable repayment plan could be prepared.

7. State and Bureau of Reclamation are in conflict over Feather River Water neC6ssar to ⁰ erate Central Valle - project

Finding.--(a The record clearly shows a conflict between the Eureau of Reclamation and the State of California over the water

-7.-:-. '.

I~

Excerpts from Report -6- rights of the -Fe'Eithe:'r R'ive'r'--the l~h,~r:eati<¢'laimi'rig ^thos.e' w~te'~ :~-:i.g·hts under an assigned ~'later-r'ight" a:pplication wntch is :·peededf.o~ .the operation ,of the Cer+tral ,Valley project, arid, .the

.St~~e

claiming '.

the water is ava-ilable ·.f:o~ 'the, State. :to .. cpri~tr:uct ind ·-t.o"ope,rate·~"

the proposed b'illion:and"8, quarter dollar· ..;F·eather, River proJect; . (b) The' 'proposal of. the S.t~te· engineer to .uttlize 'the Feathe'r River wa.te'r r~sources w:lthout· proper' cbopd-,ina·:ti·on and· consultation with the Bureau of Reclamation'impinges o'n t'he as'signme'nt already made by the

St~te

engineer to the Federal. Government

~"lhich·

is .neces'-

sary to operate· the Central Valley project; . . . ' (c) "The ·:members of the con'gression~l committee. w;:;.r.e·.···s·ur:- : prised ·to learn that· the: Legislature' of the Stat~, of. Ca.li;fornl~.·

authorized a pro j ect for a tot al est imated capi t'al' cost o'f .' ", '1(1,270

^J

00.0 ,po.O. on ·which· t.he St-ate e.ngine.er ~~ s~ ~fi:~.<l, ... p.,E? ,4,~tq.' .. n:Q::t... <.. _..;... \

know whet'her,·'the pro j e c·t -"was' e corioiriIc'al1y or f inanqj.::g)).. .Y... .f.sfa·~~}..:.bl.e

^11:·,'. • ..., ...

Reco:rnme.ndations •. ~-(a) That th~ Stat,e of. C$lif.orniaoffi,c-;i.als '.

and the Bureau' df _Reclama~t ion offi'c1.al·s come .to an ·agreemen.t~i's;' . soon as possibie' over the",amount ano.. occurrence of,:water; .in th~

Feather Riv.er which '.w.. ill· -:be ne~ded .for the. operatio.n of. the :pentr-al . Valley 'proJE?'ct'under :the. w'ate'r-rigttt ·appl·i.~ations which hav:e, .alr.eady been assign~d to the. Fed.er'al Go'verriinent, ,for use ,by:, :t~he. ~~r~·au. oJ' '.. . R e c l a m a t i o n . : .... ' ... " .

8. Feder.al .Government i~ unnecessarily.·paying-: the cost bf'State emploYees who are 'inveptorying State: water resources :.

Findings. -- (a) That the Federal Government f-s':' un-nec'e s ^{sarily .}

contributing' .JIOO-,OOO· annually' to~ the S·tate· o"f 'California to' 'pay the cost 'of making an inventory of .St·ate water resources by, _·St.~t·e

personnel;. . . . . " ' , '.

(b) Since the water resources of the State are,o~hed by··~he State and' not".the Feder'al' Government:, this" 'cost to' the Fe·deral···.

Government is. unW'arran ted, and the St'-ate shoul'p bear the _~ expertse . of inventorying its own resources';' . ' ',' .... ,. .':.

(c) That the congressional committee opposes this ··kiifd of·,' . expenditure that :'ap-pea.rs· to have occurred when 'some fi'e'ld per'sonnel' ;,:

of the Bure'au' ·of Reclamation' was dismis'sed a11d added to'State"::, -.:

payrolls with -:a concurrent~300,OOO cont~act with th~st~te, ~11

occurring at the ,time' ·the 'Congress imposed a personnel' ce·if.ing on the Bureau, of Re·clamat-inn in an- attempt to reduce admini.,St.r.at:.ive, ...::.. ~.'.

c o s t . . . '

Recommendation.-·... (aJ That. the Bure.au of -Reclamation be re- ' .' quested to s:upmi.t its budget ·t·o the·.Oongress in' stich a manner that···,··

all payment,$:. -to" States or ,)th·er subdivis-ions of Government·. are . ';

clearly and'prominently shown ~s separa~e itecis with separate:

justifications.; , , . . '

. , .

'J>" ' . '

,.

. ^-

• 0":~. ~-:'^...: ~. ~. ^{. . : .} ..,~ ^{• • I '}~t • . . . .~_.:... ^{• -. -} :.

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^~

~'. ..

-8-

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Legislat;'ve Digest

OFFICE OF SECRETARY-MANAGER • 1119 NATIONAL PRESS BLDG. • WASHINGTON 4, D. C.

VO~.

II, No. 7

WATER POLICY

ca~MrrTEE

MEETS m DENVER

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March 6, 1952

The

seventeen~an

Dater Pplicy Committee, chairmaned by Marshall'

N.,D~na~:

met in Denver, March 1st. Twelve states were in attendance'. The

p~1mat'y

purpose of the meeting was to hear a report of the Steering Committee

~lhich

consists of the following members: Clifford H. Stone, Chairman, H. G. Greenamyre, D. D. Harris, Guy C. Jackson, and N. V.

Sh~rp,'who

was

abs~nt.

This Cornmittee recommended that the work of the 'Water Policy Committee be div- ided among three subcommittees as follows: .'

Subc ommit tee No. 1 - Development of Water Resources

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Subc,ommit tee No. 2 - Organizational Responsibility and Related Policy

Subc·ornmi+tee No~ 3 - Hydro-electric Power Development

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When the work of each Subcommittee is completed a meeting of the full Committee vIill be held to coordinate and corr~l~te~ ..the, ''lork of 'the S·ubcommittEies., It

is expected that Chairman Dana will ·annomlce· the membership of the Subc'ommittees

very shortly. ' .

This Committee expects to have·; its' report ready far the Lo~g' Beach Mee~ing.

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PRESIDENT 1ETERSON VISIT'S RECLA.MATION AREAS

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President C. Petrus Peterson"" accompanied"by 1.1rs. Peterson', left Denver immed- iately after the Water Policy Coinmittee' meeting to visit

with:,reclant~tionists

and members of the Association and to get:.an

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on the ground view'" of reclama-

t ion problems. " ,.

His first stop will be in the Sacramento, San Francisco and the Upper Central Valley area in California. From'-·there he will. go' .to southern California for

a few days stop before going on to 'Phoenix and TtiSo'on, A.rizona, and then to EI Paso, Texas, and also Houston, Austin, and other- 'areas t1'sr~. President

Peterson expects to return home to Lincoln, Nebraska, about March 25th.

HELlS CANYON HEARINGS SCHEDULED

Hells Canyon hearings have been vrell)- publicized in: the press. Hhen Hells Can;yon was first proposed in the President's .budget a year ago, there was ·c·otlsiderable concern based upon the language' in the budget as well as discussions vIith Depart- mental officials, lest Hells Canyon legislation should not contain 'provisions for protecting future upstream consumptive us'e, a-nd make power revenues available

as an aid' to irrigation.'

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President Polk, "lhen he appeared before the Subcommittee for Inter ior Appropria- tions on March 7, 1951, had this to say '7ith reference to budget language re- garding Hells

Cariyoni~

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"This language apparently recommends an appropriation of $8 million for the construction of Hells Canyon

Dam~>p,*,~J,y:a.s~·a··,'poYl.$.t:,·~oject,

if

autho~iz~d,_w~thout

reference to the appurtenant irrigation facilities.

We "beiIieve~! ·i1l·:'the 'eveilt "such ,:authorization 'should 'be .'granted by Con- gress',; t-ha't: s:uch

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radica];; depa~ture from: present·. policy" is fundament- ally

wron'giin"pi"~c-iple.-,~~;·'\··'

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"It is our fkin belief;'·, vii thout· 'exce-ption, :·'t:ha~· where. :i,ri. the West rut~

ure irrigation development is contemplated, and where power projects are consider·ed,;:a's:·c'a.- pllrt· -of"'the'· multiple~pui'pose:~'basin-wide develop-to ment program, authorization of such Undertakings' 'should mclude the,:

irrigation features thereof. In order to uphold the economic feasi-

bility~ ·requmment's ''"'of: ·'ther ;193 <} 'R-eclama.t:i.on _Proj~rct A.ct,. net po.'Jer revenues must participate in the project costs allocated to other re-

imburss·bIe 'pUrpo'sef:f~: .This'~ :po:Licy':has' been ;purs'ued:by'. -the Congress for decades

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The bill now being' 6'6bSidered-:'bY.i·the"C·ongre.sa,.·'H.R. 574Jj·"C'ontains the follow- ing provisions:

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"Sec.:-'2.; 'The-<operation _'~f the 'Hells' Ca·nyon::'d-ivi·siolL'sha-ll. be only

':":~'<.." such as does>not·-e,onfliet :Vlith"anY',:pres~nt beneficial,e:ons'umptive:use, valid under State law, of the upstream vlater of the Snake River and its tributaries, and as does not conflict with any future depletion of ,'stream, flows arising-··frOIri

future·.:upstream··dive~sidns

for'beneficial:' ,

consumptive uses under State law---

n (1) In a total amount '7hi~;::is ';~~sO~~ble"!a~d';'~:qUitable for' :.: .. ::,';,.;; ; ..::', '. ':"the' irrigation of' nevI and'.-:supplemental:-Iand .developments \vhich.· .'

.' , '. ··:·are, . in total' areib~·like' those :·:iridicated· .in "chapter "N of the .. _'~' 'Siibst:antiatirig Materials' to the Hells Canyon Project :Report;

as set forth in Volume 2 of House Document No. 473, 81st Con-"

gres.s;

~nd ..' :.

.' :tt,(2) .. ': In a.. :tot81····amount :rlh-ich" :1s~:re~sona'ble' a~d·'equiiable-for

. _.-;~ "future ·tipstreamt.l:~-onsumptive· uSes: f.or 'domesti'C'·; munic'ipal, .. '.' stock·water, mining, 'and induStrial purposes.··· . "

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"Sec. 4. (a) The initial Ylorks of the Snake River Project authorized by 'Section I of this A.ct and any additional vJorks' 'or"dill:is1"ons:, inc'luding ":.

the irrig~,tion features of the Payette Unit of the ~.~·oUritain Home D':Lv'1;';'" '..

s~on, that may ^be' authorized as: hereinafter provided· shall be·treateq·

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"as' 'one proje·ct· for the purpose'," among'·others, of· providing for the: appli- .cation of pr-oject·:·rev.enues to the return of reimbursable costs· in -, .

: . ac'c orda nee 'w'ithj',the provisions cf' the Federal reclamation laws··..··, A.ddi--

.,' tiOha1 Federal··reclarnat-ion. developmenta: proposed to be cOn~truc:teu i~ ,.

the Central and Upper Snake River Ba9in may be t~ntthor.i".Led as Ylorks. <?i'..

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divis ions of the Snake River project, but only i f such authorization is specifically provided by an Act of Congress •.

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Hearings on this bill will b~ .. held 'March 2~, 27, 28 ^and' 31 before the Subcom- mittee on Irrigation and Reclamation of the House Committee on Interior and

Insular Affa irs. ' ,

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HEARmGS SCHEDULED ON PALO VERDE

The House Subcommittee on Irrigation and Reclamation of the Interior and Insu- lar Affairs Committee has scheduled hearings for April 2 and 3 on the Palo

Verde Irrigation District proje~t. This J,20,000 acre district on the California side, has maintained a gravity diversion from the Colorado River over a period '. - of 75· years. The desiltation of the

riv~r

following the construction of Hoover

Dam lowered the water level in the river 'to the point rlhere a gravity diversion could no longer be maintained. As an emergency, provision was made permitting

a rock barrier across the river. This was to exist for the duration of the war ,and s.:i.x months. The Burbau the'n suggested pumps, tlhich the District, by unani- mous 'vote has rejected. '

The proposed bill provides for a diversion some JO odd miles up the river on the opposite side, a canal down through the Indian reservation, and an acque- du;ct.across the :,river to the main canal of the Palo Verde Irrigation District.

This"proposed; program has the support of the local pe·)ple on both sides of the .river, the. l3ur-e.au of Re'c-lamation, and the Indian _S;~rvice, although there is one

provision which would

provid~

for non-reimbursability which has not generally been agreed to by all Federal agencies.

A delegation now in TIashington in

supp~rt

of this legislation includes Tony Seeley, Glenn nhitlock and 'Hayne Fisher, all of Blythe, California and Leo NovIell of

Cool~dge,

Arizona. ,.'

OI'HER BILLS PEND mG

H.R. 6804 by Congressman Clair Engle authorizes the Secretary tQ investigate, construct, operate, and maintain recreational

fa~ilities

adjacent to dam

structures in consultation

~ith

states or local subdivisions. He is also auth- orized to acquire lands and withdraw lands from public entry for such purposes.

The bill also authorizes the Secretary to allocate 0 & M costs in connection with any project to any functions to 'which he is authorized to allocate a por- tion of its construction costs as non-reimbursable and non-returnable. He is ,also aut1:lorized to review existing ,or authorized projects 'for, the same purpose •

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CCNMITTEE PRINT 9(eJ

Congressman Engle has authorized a committee print which is being given some circulation and vlhich follows somewhat the Association's sponsored bill of two years. ago, ·R.• R. 7351, regarding 9(e}. The committee p:-int Vlould -

1. Give to the water users the right of renewal.