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Show 228 UPDATING THE HOOVER DAM DOCUMENTS Section 102 (e) - authorized the Secretary to cede certain lands to the Cocopah Tribe of Indians; that three bridges be constructed over the right-of-way for the reject stream channel; and that the foregoing constitute payment for such right-of-way. Section 103(a)(l) - deleted a condition relating to an agreement on ground water with Mexico before the Secretary is authorized to construct a well field adjacent to the Mexican border east of San Luis, capable of furnishing approximately 160,000 acre-feet per year for use in the United States and for delivery to Mexico. Section 103(a)(2) - authorized Arizona to exchange State owned lands, to be acquired for the well field, for Federal lands. Section 103(a)(3) - authorized substitution of lands within Yuma Mesa Irrigation and Drainage District for lands removed from the District for the well field and for full utilization of capacity in the Gila Gravity Main Canal in addition to contracted capacities in the development of the substituted lands or any other lands in the Gila Project. Section 103 - increased the amount authorized to be appropriated by $3 million. E. Senate Bills The Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs considered three bills relating to salinity control measures on the Colorado River: (1) S.1807 - to authorize several salinity control measures within the Basin not specifically associated with the Mexican agreement; (2) S.2940 - to authorize salinity control measures within the entire Basin as well as those measures necessary to implement Minute No. 242; and (3) A.3094 - the Administration bill to authorize the salinity control measures necessary to implement the intent of Minute No. 242. Reports were received from the Department of the Interior, State Department and Environmental Protection Agency urging delay on Title II measures of S.2940 and stating that enactment of S.3094 is in accord with the President's program. Nevertheless, following subcommittee hearings on April 26, 1974, the full committee ordered S.2940 reported with an amendment. The amendment consisted of a new text, essentially that of H.R. 12165, as amended by the full House Committee. On June 11, 1974, the House passed H.R.12165. On June 12, 1974, the Senate passed the amended S.2940. On June 13, 1974, the House concurred in the Senate amendment. It was signed by the President on June 24, 1974. (The text of the law, cited as the "Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act," Public Law 93-320, 88 Stat. 266, June 24, 1974, appears on Appendix 1403.) F. Status of Program Congress authorized appropriation of $155.5 million for construction of Title I programs and through fiscal year 1977 appropriated $93.6 million. Extensive testing of Welton-Mohawk drainage of water for problems to be overcome in desalting the water has been done. Desalting equipment and alternative desalting membrane combinations have been tested. The portion of the brine disposal channel in Mexico has been completed with funds advanced by the United States (see "The 1973 Agreement on Colorado River Salinity Between the United States and Mexico" by M. B. Holburt, Colorado River Board of California). Contracts have been approved between the United States with Coachella Valley Water District, dated March 14, 1978, for construction of and repayment for a new concrete-lined 49 mile section of the Coachella Canal; with Imperial Irrigation District, dated March 27, 1978, for relinquishment of capacity in the Coachella Canal and adjustment of its repayment obligation; and a contract is being finalized with Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District for reduction of its irrigable acreage and adjustment of its repayment obligation because of that fact and its reduced operation and maintenance base. |
