AZ vs. CA:08 California Exhibits, Vol. VIII; Nos. 371-398F

page 5

USE OF WATBB8 OP LOWKB COLORADO BIVEB FOB IRRIGATION. 5 right hank covering areas of agricultural land in California and those on the left bank similar areas in Arizona. Appropriation of the water has been made by the simple process of posting notices and recording these, such notices serving to give information of intention to construct works and to claim various amounts of water. The waters thus filed upon are usually stated in large terms, and, in fact, the aggregate of the paper claims to water tiled in California and Arizona exceeds by many times the available flow. Actual construction of the existing canals and ditches has proceeded to various degrees of completion. The large amount of sediment brought down by the river and the slight fall of the ditches result in rapid clogging of these artificial channels, and as a result each year the amount of land under irrigation is dependent upon 'the stage of the river and the energy of. the settlers in cleaning out or practically reconstructing the irrigation systems. The total area now actually irrigated is very small and almost insignificant in comparison with possibilities of future development through regulation of the waters of Colorado River by storage and by suitable dams placed across the stream, serving to raise the water and make practicable the maintenance of permanent headworks and the handling of the silt. The large and irregular fluctuations of the river, combined with the enormous amount of earthy material in partial suspension, renders the effective utilization of the stream a matter of great difficulty and expense. EXTENT OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. The resolution calls for a report with a view to determining the extent to which the waters of Colorado River may be made available for irrigation through works under the national irrigation act and by private enterprise. The act referred to-that of June 17, 1902 («& Stat., 3X8)-sets aside the proceeds from the disposal of public lands for the survey, examination, and construction of reclamation works. Under the terms of this act extensive surveys have been made along the river and all the irrigable lands along its lower course have been mapped, showing that under various conditions of cost, great areas can ultimately be reclaimed by the construction of reservoirs on the headwaters and by placing dams across the stream, taking water out upon the adjacent areas by gravity and by pumping. The details of this work are given in the first, second, and third reports of the reclamation service. After a full consideration of all the conditions, recommendations have been made to begin this work of reclamation by constructing a dam across Colorado River at a point a short distance above Vuma. Plans and specifications have Insen completed and submitted to the Department and authority asked for advertising for bids. It is assumed that this work of construction will be pushed at an early date, as it is not directly, involved in any of the questions now under consideration. It is expected that under the terms of the reclamation act al>ove noted it will be practicable to take up and complete a number of similar projects on portions of the river where it forms a Inwndary between Arizona and California, and elsewhere, reclaiming many thousands of acres of fertile lands capable of intensive cultivation. The amount of lands which can be irrigated by the complete cod-