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Show BOULDER CANYON PROJECT 11 A disadvantage which has been urged against both the upper and lower Boulder Canyon locations is the existence of extensive salt deposits within the reservoir area. The matter has been made the subject of most careful examination by the writer and a number of geologists, notably Dr. F. L. Ransome. The salt outcrops are generally in bluffs covered with heavy insoluble overburden. The total quantity is impossible to estimate but the amount which would go into solution in the reservoir water is so negligible that it would not noticeably affect its salinity. The action of the water on the salt would be to undermine the insoluble overburden and cause it to settle on the exposed salt faces. This action, together with an additional covering of silt deposited from the reservoir water can be depended upon to minimize the dissolving action. For all practical purposes the dilution of the salt will be so great as to render it harmless. The statement of Governor Emerson in his report as special adviser on the subject is as follows: A reservoir of 26,000,000 acre-feet capacity, created by the construction of a comparatively high dam at Black Canyon on the Colorado River some 40 miles distant from Las Vegas, Nev., would afford satisfactory solution of the problems set forth in paragraph 3 herein and would also meet the requirements specified by paragraph 4 herein. In addition, such a reservoir project would make practical the development of a large amount of hydroelectric power as well as provide for the extension of present irrigated areas and for additional valuable uses of water for domestic, municipal, industrials and other purposes. The most feasible site for a high dam upon the Colorado River to solve the major problens now existent upon the lower river is situated at Black Canyon, some 40 miles from Las Vegas, Nev. The reservoir project described in paragraph 5 and commonly known as the Boulder Canyon project, would constitute a great constructive undertaking and appears to afford the best solution of the entire situation applying to the lower Colorado River. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THE PROPER AGENCY TO UNDERTAKE DEVELOPMENT Because the Colorado River is an interstate and international stream and because of the various conflicting uses of water such as for flood control, reclamation of public lands, and power generation, the Government is the proper and logical agency to undertake this development. It is well equipped for this purpose. The Reclamation Service has had wide experience in large dam construction. For the Government to undertake this work does not mean its going into business in an objectionable sense. Even if the Secretary of the Interior elects to build a power plant at the dam and operate it, this will mean but a very small force of men in the Government service and the most the Government will be authorized to do will be to sell energy wholesale at the plant. Again, the economic consequences of a development of this importance are such that the Government should maintain a control greater than can be secured through the usual regulatory processes. Benefits from natural assets of the magnitude here involved should be fairly and widely distributed. This can best be accomplished by the Government taking the initiative, as in the bill provided. This idea was well expressed by the Secretary of the Interior in his report of January 12, 1926, on the project, where he said: Interstate and international rights and interest involved, the diversified benefits from the construction of these works, the waiting necessities of cities, for the protection of those already developed, and the immense industrial benefits which may come from the production of cheap power, which together appear to render the construction and subsequent control of these works a measure of such economic and social importance that no agency but the Federal Government should be entrusted with the protection of rights or distribution of its |
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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] : California exhibits. |