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Show BOULDER CANYON PROJECT 21 a foreign government, even for drinking water, was not at all satisfactory, but to construct a canal wholly within the United States meant the expenditure of a large sum of money. The financing of this great undertaking by the local communities would be difficult, if not impossible, under good conditions, but with an unstable river and an undependable water supply, the difficulties were much increased. Storage and flood control must be had. Early in the development of Imperial Valley it was found by the promoters of the project that in order to make use of a canal through Mexican territory it was necessary to enter into a contract with that Government whereby lands in Mexico were given the right to take one-half of the water passing through the canal. During recent years development has proceeded in that country to the extent that at the present time something more than 200,000 acres of land are receiving water from the canal system. This can, and doubtless will, under present conditions, continue to be increased year by year, and under the concession they would have the right to increase their use by 200,000 acres before the -jople of Imperial Valley would have the right to complain. In othe words, they have the right to use as much water in Mexico under t s contract or concession as the people in Imperial Valley use. The Boulder Dam, together with 'ie all-American canal, makes possible the physical control of the ri ar by our Government so that undue or unreasonable extension of i b use of water in Mexico may be prevented and treaty rights and obligations enforced. In this regard, the ail-American canal is essc ial to the protection of American water rights in the whole of tl, . Colorado River Basin. A COOPERATIV EFFORT The all-American canal will carry a iortion of the conserved waters to where they can be used for irr vntion and domestic purposes. Looked at in a somewhat narrow way, it represents a cooperative enterprise between Imperial irrigation district, which serves the present irrigated area in Imperial Valley, the Coachella County water district, a public district embracing in its limits the Coachella Valley, and the United States as owner of approximately 200,000 acres of public land about the rim of Imperial Valley, and about 11,000 acres of Indian lands now without water but possessing the same possibilities of development with water as the fertile lands in the valley. Neither Imperial irrigation district, the Coachella district, nor the United States could afford alone to build a canal from the river. Acting in conjunction, the canal is entirely feasible. By this cooperative effort, the water is saved for use in the United States; these communities are relieved of intolerable operating conditions and the United States, as proprietor of public lands, will secure a water supply for these lands under exceptionally favorable conditions, and as economic conditions warrant, the same can be put under cultivation at relatively low cost. ALL-AMERICAN CANAL FEASIBLE On February 16, 1918, by contract between the Secretary of the Interior and the Imperial irrigation district, provision was made for |
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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. |