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Memorandum Concerning Central Arizona Project
No full textMemorandum: To Stewart Udall, from Solicitor, Central Arizona Project, September 30, 1965, page 4for projects between Glen Canyon dam and Lake Mead until after December 31, 1966.
5. The matter of water rights in the Yuma area has been a tender subject within our Board for several years and one group of farmers in Yuma County has withrawn from the Association because of our financial support of C.A.P. The Yuma people, and these are primarily in the older Yuma Valley area, say that their water rights need to be specifically spelled out in any legislation authorizing the Central Arizona Project. would you care to comment on this matter?
Comment: The statement entitled "Section 304(a) As It Affects Present Arizona Contractors With The United States For Colorado River Water" which was presented by Commissioner Dominy during his testimony before the House Committee fully covers this issue. A copy of that statement is attached.
Solicitor
EnclosuresEpson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 24 bit, 1,431,559 byte
Letter Concerning Qualifications as a Witness
No full textLetter: To Wayne N. Aspinall, from Anthoy Wayne Smith, September 14 1965, (mimeograph), page 12Hon. Wayne N. Aspinall
12
September 14, 1965
instructors as Sullivan, Froum, Froum-Reichmann, Thompson, Benedict, and Mead. This wide versatility in the Social sciences, or something which approximates it, is in my opinon essential to any claim of expert competence in the river basin or regional planning field; or, indeed, in governmental science generally.
The sciences mentioned are essential because it is they which make the greatest contribution to the solution of the teleological problems involved; that is, to the questions of purposes and destinations which are crucial for human welfare. Moreover, the specialist in any discipline, if he has concentrated completely on his specialty, can contribute very little where the problem is the interrelationship of specialties; he should at least have concentrated on the relationship of his own specialty to the entirety, if his advice is to be relied on. This is particularly true of the operating specialist, including the engineer or economist who is concerned exclusively with efficiency or productivity, without asking why the work should be done or considering its effect on the quality of life as a whole.
These are some of the reasons why I see merit in the proposal of the Bureau of the Budget for a Water Resources Commission; the nation is sovereign, and Congress, representing the people, makes the policy decisions, subject to its responsibility to the people; but the Congress, and its committees, are entitled to have proposals laid before them which are the work of qualified policy minds, utilizing the efforts of specialists and operators, but adding the essential element of integration and synthesis which relates them to human purpose.
This letter summarizes only the highlights of my practice in regional planning and resources management over the years; I have omitted many items which have a less direct bearing on my testimony before this Committee, to lighten the burden on the record. I wish to express my appreciation again for the opportunity to submit this supplemental statement.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ Anthony Wayne SmithEpson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 24 bit, 2,465,461 byte
Economic Significance of Water Supply
No full textAttachment No. 2, Lower Colorado River Basin Project, Economic Significance of Water Supply for Homes, Industry, Agriculture, page 2Lower Colorado River Basin Project
Economic Significance
of Water Supply
for HOMES INDUSTRY AGRICULTURE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF RECLAMATIONEpson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 581,177 byte
Economic Significance of Water Supply
No full textAttachment No. 2, Lower Colorado River Basin Project, Economic Significance of Water Supply for Homes, Industry, Agriculture, page 7THE LOWER BASIN
The Lower Colorado River Basin is considered that area served by the waters of the Colorado River downstream from Lee Ferry, excluding Mexico. Its area includes the portion of California south of the Tehachepi Mountains, because of the southern California area's dependence on the Colorado River for water. Including southern California, it encompasses approximately 190,000 square miles. More than 10 million people live in this area, and the population over the past 10 years has grown at the rate of 5 percentannually. This growth rate greatly exceeds that of any other region in the United States. The water resources of the lower basin area, with the exception of Arizona's entitlement to the Colorado River, have been extensively developed.
The climate of the Lower Colorado River Basin is a strong attraction. The enjoyable Mediterranean-type climate of the coastal area of southern California has been the main contributing factor in the development of the region from Los Angeles to San Diego. With the development of air-conditioning, the inland desert areas of the basin now also offer year-round comfortable living.
Manufacturing, agriculture, mining and tourism are major sources of employment and income. Population growth long has been above the national average. Crude petroleum production is an important industry in southern California. Arizona produces more than half the Nation's copper. Agriculture is an important industry in the region and the crops produced are widely distributed. Specialty crops, such as winter lettuce, citrus fruits, avocados, dates, and cantaloupes are marketed nationally. Virtually all of the agriculture depends on irrigation.
Tourism and recreation create an increasing industry in the basin. The mild winter climate, the wide range of land elevations, and proximity to the Pacific Ocean provide year-round recreation opportunities of all kinds.
Transportation facilities are well developed in the basin. Railroads serve most of the area and all of the major cities. The highway net is excellent in most parts of the basin. Air transportation is available at all major cities. Ocean shipping is available at ports in southern California.
Most of the lower basin is desert. Surface water supplies are inadequate to permanently sustain the existing development. Ground-water supplies are being severely overdrafted. Additional water must be made available.Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 1,490,557 byte
Economic Significance of Water Supply
No full textAttachment No. 2, Lower Colorado River Basin Project, Economic Significance of Water Supply for Homes, Industry, Agriculture, page 12LOWER COLORADO RIVER BASIN
ESTIMATED POPULATION GROWTH
Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 1,589,888 byte
Economic Significance of Water Supply
No full textAttachment No. 2, Lower Colorado River Basin Project, Economic Significance of Water Supply for Homes, Industry, Agriculture, page 23GROUNDWATER CONDITIONS IN CENTRAL ARIZONA
Arizona has one of the largest groundwater basins in the United States. Water stored in this reservoir has accumulated over millions of years. Mining of this groundwater resource has supported the area's unprecedented growth.
In the desert, groundwater recharge from precipitation is minimal. Historically, the major source of natural recharge came from rivers flowing onto and across the desert. Today this recharge is restricted to exceptionally wet water years when the highly developed reservoir systems fill and surplus water can flow downstream onto the recharge area. The current average annual rate of groundwater decline in the area has been about 10 feet per year with a large portion of the area experiencing annual rates of as much as 20 feet or more.
The average water table depth in 1940 was only about 70 feet below ground surface. By 1964 the average had dropped to 200 feet with depths as great as 500 feet. Pump lifts associated with these water table levels vary from 250 to 600 feet. Judging from the present rate of groundwater withdrawal, the average water table can be expected to fall to about 300 feet or lower by 1975.
A typical groundwater section chart of Pinal County illustrates the situation prevalent in most areas. While the configuration of the rock, non-water bearing, poor-water bearing and water-bearing material will vary from place to place, the general decline and dewatering of the storage reservoir is typical. The decline is variable with location as a result of concentrated pumping drafts and the variable storage characteristics of the groundwater reservoir. Some of the aquifers have been completely dewatered, leaving those areas without a groundwater supply.
Water quality becomes poor at greater depths. Geologic studies indicate that this poor quality is caused by deep deposits of salts and gypsum. This poor quality water must be diluted with better quality water from other sources to avoid salt concentrations which exceed agricultural or public health standards.
It is estimated that the quantity of water in groundwater storage above a level of 550 feet below ground level is about 60,000,000 acre-feet. Because of pump costs, the poor water quality, and the physical limitation imposed by the variable nature of the storage reservoir, this entire volume cannot be considered available for use. The present net rate of overdraft of about 2.0 million acre-feet per year will drastically deplete this nonreplenishable resource before adequate water is available to bring supply and demand in balance.Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 1,418,075 byte
Statement of Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Floyd E. Dominy
No full textStatement of Bureau of Reclamation, Commissioner Floyd E. Dominy on H.R. 4671, 4707 & 9248, August 23-27?, 1965, page 15smaller preference customers. The estimated returen of $10 per kilowatt of capacity and 3 mills per kilowatt-hours of energy is substantially less than current values for the type of peaking power that will characterize Marble Canyon production. As new tecnologies emerge, the cost of producing peaking power undoubtedly will decrease. However, we believe that the returns for commercial power which we have projected as an average over the payout period are conservative as a basis for demonstrating project repayment.
Character and Scope of Future Planning
Secretary Udall mentioned the major considerations involved in future studies of potential surface-water imports and of desalting. I would like to review briefly other potentials for augmenting future Colorado Rive water supplies.
This past year our program of applied research in weather modification was greatly expande. We are hopeful that funds will be appropriated to continue and to further expand this activity. Its major aim is to determine, through experimentation under closely controlled conditions, the effectiveness of weather modification techniques in producing actual on-the-ground moisture.
The Colorado River Basin is an ideal large-scale laboratory. High mountains create orographic wind currents which are suspecptivle to being milked of their moisture. Complete control of runoff by major storage reservoirs means that artificial induction of precipitation will be effective whenever it can be accomplished, not just during years of
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Statement by U.S. Senator Thomas H. Kuchel
No full textStatement by U.S. Senator Thomas H. Kuchel before the subcommittee on irrigation and reclamation of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affaris, United States House of Representatives on the Lower Colorado River Basin Project Legislation, Monday, August 23, 1965, page 1FROM THE OFFICE OF
U.S. SENATOR THOMAS H. KUCHEL
315 SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
FOR RELEASE AFTERNOON PAPERS
MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 1965
STATEMENT BY U. S. SENATOR THOMAS H. KUCHEL
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ON THE
LOWER COLORADO RIVER BASIN PROJECT LEGISLATION
MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 1965
I am honored to appear before your committee on this occasion to urge approval of the Lower Colorado River Project legislation sponsored by the Arizona Delegation in the House of Representatives, by 34 members of the California House Delegation, and by my colleague, Senator Murphy, and me in the Senate. I think I may truthfully say that our two dear friends in the Senate from Arizona, Mr. Hayden and Mr. Fannin, though not cosponsors, look with great favor on the fundamental aims of our proposal. Governor Goddard of Arizona and Governor Brown of California also concur with our legislation.
What has been introduced into the Congress on this subject represents the culmination of long, constructive, and joint efforts by citizens of good will in both our states, our several state and local water agencies, immeasurably aided by Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall, and his staff, all of us working together, instead of at cross-purposes, to remove a common and growing danger to the common future of our two states.
The future growth and life of the semi-arid Pacific Southwest face a bleak prospect of water shortage. The entire Colorado River Basin, indeed, all the country, confront, inEpson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 24 bit, 1,461,228 byte
Statement by U.S. Senator Thomas H. Kuchel
No full textStatement by U.S. Senator Thomas H. Kuchel before the subcommittee on irrigation and reclamation of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affaris, United States House of Representatives on the Lower Colorado River Basin Project Legislation, Monday, August 23, 1965, page 4-4-
acre-feet annually of the 7.5 million acre-feet which the Colorado River Compact had apportioned.
The President proclaimed the Project Act effective in 1929. Another condition of the statute then came into operation. This provided that no funds could be appropriated or spent on construction of the dam until the Secretary of the Interior had first made contracts for the sale of power and storage of water at Hoover Dam adequate to assure, in advance, repayment of the government's investment there. Similarly, work on the All-American Canal was prohibited until the Secretary should have in hand repayment contracts with its potential users. Furthermore, no one could have the use of the stored waters unless he had first contracted with the Secretary for this service.
These conditions were met, and the two great structures were built. Hoover Dam was completed in 1938, the All-American Canal in 1941. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California contracted for 1,212,000 acre-feet of water and underwrote 36% of the cost of Hoover Dam in order to get the power to pump that water. It financed the construction of Parker Dam and a great aqueduct from Parker Dam to the coastal plain of California. It began service in 1941.
The All-American Canal and Imperial Dam were underwritter by Imperial Irrigation District and Coachella Valley County Water District and commenced service in 1941. Over a half million acres of farmland in California are dependent on those structures.Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 24 bit, 1,623,949 byte
Statement by U.S. Senator Thomas H. Kuchel
No full textStatement by U.S. Senator Thomas H. Kuchel before the subcommittee on irrigation and reclamation of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affaris, United States House of Representatives on the Lower Colorado River Basin Project Legislation, Monday, August 23, 1965, page 11-11-
accepted with reluctance, because of the urgent importance of implementing an importation program for the benefit of the entire region at the earliest possible date.
The essentials of the bill before you can be briefly stated. Mr. Northcutt Ely, attorney for the California agencies, and representatives of Arizona and the Department of the Interior will provide a detailed analysis. Suffice it for me to highlight the following:
1. Investigation of importation projects. Title II authorizes investigations to find sources and to plan projects for importation of at least 2.5 million acre-feet into the main stream in the Lower Basin. No sources are named nor is any construction authorized. The Secretary is to make his report within three year:
2. Authorization of Central Arizona Project. Title II: authorizes construction of the Central Arizona Project, as well as Bridge Canyon and Marble Canyon Dams and power plants to help finance repayment of the cost of that project. Bridge and Marble Canyon Dams would also feed revenues into a basin account to help finance future importation works. The Budget Bureau has recommended deferral of authorization of Bridge Canyon Dam as being unnecessary to make the Central Arizona Project feasible. Testimony by experts before your Committee should provide the basis for a correct decision by your Committee.
3. Basin account. Title IV creates a basin account or development fund into which will be paid revenues from Bridge Canyon and Marble Canyon Dams and, also, from Hoover, Davis and Parker Dams after those projects have paid out. Net revenues willEpson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 24 bit, 1,483,782 byte