AZ vs. CA:25 California Exhibits, Vol. XXV; Nos. 7501-7859

page 29

THE BOULDER CANYON PROJECT DIVISION OF LOWER BASIN WATER According to the terms of the compact there is available in the lower basin what might be termed three kinds of water (See Colorado River Compact, Appendix B), paragraph III (a) water, i.e. 7,500,000 acre-feet, paragraph III (b) water, i. e. 1,000,000 acre-feet, and physical water actually present in the system over and above (a) and (b) water. For the purpose of discussion this might be termed (c) water. From this (c) water must be taken any water used to satisfy any Mexican obligation, the balance is available for use in the lower basin. In making an estimate of the water available for use in the lower basin it is assumed that the upper basin use may reach, but not exceed the 7,500,000 acre-feet apportioned to that basin by paragraph III (a) of tbte pact. The pact defines Colorado River System as the Colorado River and its tributaries within the United States. The water considered in the pact is all the water in the system and the division of water is that of the system. The pact proceeds to divide the system into the Upper Basin and the Lower Basin, the point of division being Lee Ferry. No mention is made in the pact of dividing main stream water, but in every case it is the water of the system. As a terse, clear explanation of the meaning of the pact in connection with the above points the replies by the Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover, who was Chairman of the Commission which drew up the Colorado River Compact, to questions submitted by Congressman Carl Hayden and published in the Congressional Record under the Exten-