OCR Text |
Show ming, the members of the Congressional Delegations of those states, and the members of the Upper Colorado River Commission. b. Negotiate with representatives of the Lower Colorado River Basin states. c. Present for the consideration of this Commission any draft of legislation which is prepared as a result of the negotiations authorized herein. The Subcommittee Hearings in the House of Representatives occurred simultaneously with part of the negotiations by representatives of the Upper Divison States with representatives of Arizona, California and Nevada in attempts to reach agreements on terms of amendments to implement the protective principles of the Commission's resolution. During the negotiations Lower Basin representatives refused to accede to the amendments, with the exception of one, that are believed to be necessary to protect the future water and related resources development in the Upper Basin from those dangers associated with permitting the use of Upper Basin, compact-apportioned water by the Central Arizona Project until it is needed by the Upper Division States. At the Hearings the amendments proposed by the Upper Colorado River Commission were opposed by representatives of the Lower Basin. Subsequent to the Hearings before the House Subcommittee another draft of H. R. 4671, dated September 20, 1965, was prepared for the consideration of the various States of the Colorado River Basin. This draft of Bill, generally speaking, does not conform to the resolution adopted by the Upper Colorado River Commission on August 16, 1965. It does not provide for: (1) the conditional authorization of a water importation project; (2) relief from the Mexican Treaty burden (until after the importation of water is accomplished) or for an accounting of uses of water from lower basin tributaries: (3) a statement that the primary purpose of the Colorado River Storage Project is to implement the beneficial consumptive use of water in the Upper Basin and that Glen Canyon Reservoir will not be drawn below its rated head, except as may be necessary to comply with Article III (d) of the Colorado River Compact; (4) direction to the Secretary to plan and operate projects 52 |