| OCR Text |
Show DIXIE PROJECT, UTAH 77 Mr. WHITE. I just would like to comment on both Mr. Burton's and Mr. Udall's comments. I hope they will both be with us for some time and I hope we do not have to wait until this " up yonder" roll is called before we can vote favorably for these two particular projects. Mr. Lloyd, are you familiar with the land classifications, the lands to be irrigated under this project ? Mr. LLOYD. We have technical witnesses from Utah here, Mr. White. Mr. WHITE. I wanted to ask you. Mr. LLOYD. Not thoroughly. Mr. WHITE. Then I will wait for the technical witnesses. One point that I think should be made here is that after the time the field hearings were held, and in concert with the gentleman from Florida's question as to the crops to be raised in the area, you indicated fruits, nuts, vegetables, and so forth. They are the main products? Mr. LLOYD. I would say they would be among the products. Mr. WHITE. I remember there is quite a bit of forage, alfalfa seed, and other crops. H > Mr. LLOYD. That is correct. Mr. WHITE. I think the point was made at the field hearings that most of the crops raised in this particular area would not be crops that are now supported. Those arguments would not apply to this project, such as contributing to the surplus situation in the United States. Am I correct in that assumption ? Mr. LLOYD. Yes, that is a matter of record. I might say my own view on this is that when we look at food supplies we must look ahead to decades, rather than years, however. Mr. WHITE. I think the point should be made that the presented prospect would be Mr. LLOYD. The immediate prospect is that it would not increase the surplus crops of this country. Mr^ WHITE. I have no further questions. Mr. GILL. Congressman, in your statement you say that the dams and reservoir in this project will materially reduce the silt working its way downstream to Lake Meade. In general, what proportion of Lake Meade is contributed by this particular water system, and affected by this project ? Mr. BURTON of Utah. Will my colleague yield to me at this point? Mr. GILL. Surely. Mr. BURTON of Utah. It is my understanding that less than one- half of 1 percent of the intake into Lake Meade comes from this river, and part of the reason is that it is long and arid, and the river bottom is covered by phreatophytes. The runoff comes in a rush. If it can be captured farther upstream, much of the water can be utilized, or put to beneficial use. If it is allowed to run its course, as it is running now, it contributes very little to anybody. Mr. GILL. Is this contribution during one period of the year or is it spread over a fairly long period of time ? Mr. BURTON of Utah. It is a continuously flowing river, but the main runoff we are trying to capture occurs in the spring of the year. Mr. GILL. Most of your one- half of 1 percent is in the spring ? Mr. BURTON of Utah. Yes, sir. Mr. WHITE. Would the gentleman yield at that point ? 36- 351- 64 6 |
