OCR Text |
Show COLORADO RIVER WATER RIGHTS 7 Arizona, under the Colorado River compact and the Boulder Canyon Project Act, of so much water as is necessary to permit the beneficial consumptive use in Arizona of main-stream water to a maximum of 2,800,000 acre-feet of the apportioned water, plus one-half of the available surplus, less such part of the one-twenty-fifth thereof as Nevada may use, the quantity of which surplus, of course, varies from year to year, and which surplus is subject to further apportionment by agreement between all of the compact States after 19G3. Arizona does not claim the right to the use of any water to wliich California is entitled, nor the right to the use of any water to which Nevada is entitled, and I am sure that Nevada does not claim the right to the use of any water to which California is entitled, nor the right to the use of any water to which Arizona is entitled. It tlierefore appears that California and Nevada are now in a position to join Arizona in urging the speedy consideration and passage of S. 433 now pending in the United States Senate and H. R. 1598, its companion bill, now pending in the House of Representatives, which are authorization bills to authorize the construction of the central Arizona project, and H. R. 1597, which is an authorization bill to relocate the boundaries of the Gila project heretofore authorized. I am certain that the passage of these bills and the construction of the works which they seek to authorize, will be of great and incalculable benefit, not only to Arizona, but to California and Nevada and to the United States as a whole. They are vitally necessary to the welfare and to the economy of the whole Southwest region. They do not in any way interfere with the full use in California and in Nevada of the water to which California and Nevada are respectively entitled. If either California or Nevada are interested in the promotion and construction of projects for the utilization of water to which they are respectively entitled, I would like to know it in order that I may render such aid as seems appropriate. It is difficult for me to understand what, if anything further, need be done to place either California or Nevada or Arizona in position to support the utilization in our respective States of our respective shares of the water of the Colorado River, which shares have already been determined by the Colorado River compact, the Boulder Canyon Project Act, the California Limitation Act, the water delivery contracts of the California agencies, the Nevada water delivery contracts, and the Arizona water delivery contract. However, I will be glad to meet and discuss with you and the Governors of the other Colorado River Basin Slates, jointly or severally, any matters of common interest, and if at such conference or conferences it should develop that there are any substantial d'fferences, we can consider and perhaps resolve such differences and if it should develop that anything further is necessary, we can consider the proper course to pursue. During your incumbency we in Arizona have not had the pleasure of a visit from you. We would like to see you over in our State and I will greatly appreciate it if you can arrange to come to Phoenix as soon as possible, either alone or with Governor Pittman, or with such other Governors of the basin States as you desire to have present, in order that any matters which you may desire to further discuss can be gone into fully and thoroughly. With all good wishes, I am, Sincerely, Sidney P. Osbohn, Gorcnutr. |
Source |
Original book: [State of Arizona, complainant v. State of California, Palo Verde Irrigation District, Coachella Valley County Water District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, City of Los Angeles, California, City of San Diego, California, and County of San Diego, California, defendants, United States of America, State of Nevada, State of New Mexico, State of Utah, interveners] : |