OCR Text |
Show Thus far no adequate tests have been made of raising intermediate base levels of stream erosion as a supplementary measure to revegetation of a drain- age. These and related problems cannot be deter- mined from computations on the basis of collected basic data. Solutions require attacks equivalent to model studies of hydraulics or hydraulic engineering. Data of all kinds are usually made available or published on a State basis. Some are available by counties. These compilations are always useful, but in view of the growing interest in river basin planning, data should be released on a watershed basis. In the Rio Grande, for example, all agencies interested in planning programs are handicapped by the need to separate out data for parts of States, and in some instances to split data for counties. All data collecting agencies could therefore be of inestimable help to planning and constructing groups by providing basic information for a river basin, broken down into workable units. For the Rio Grande, the data should be divided into the three major divisions: the Pecos, Upper Rio Grande, and Lower Rio Grande. 7. Policies for Power Development and Power Marketing The Problem Policies which should guide the orderly develop- ment and marketing power in the Rio Grande Basin. The Situation Mineral fuels provide and must continue to pro- vide most of the electric power the Rio Grande Basin requires in increasing amounts. The basin and dosely adjacent areas are abundantly endowed with petroleum, natural gas, and coal. Although the hydroelectric potentialities of the basin are sig- nificant, th.ey are not large in proportion to the total demand for potential electric energy. The only Federal hydroelectric installation is a power plant of 24,300 kilowatts at the Elephant Butte Dam. The International Boundary and Water ConiLmission is planning a hydroelectric pow- er installation of 63,000 kilowatts at Falcon Dam now under construction on the Lower Rio Grande. Half of this cacapity is available for use in the United States. As foreseen at this time, there may be as much as 200,000 kilowatts of capadty, includ- 336 ing that at Falcon Dam, at the three international dams to be constructed under the 1945 treaty with Mexico. The major potential for further hydroelectric power development in the basin is found in the proposed San Juan-Chama diversion project which, by diverting water from the Colorado River Basin into the Rio Grande Basin, would make feas- ible hydroelectric power installations of from 195,- 000 to 248,000 kilowatts, depending upon the amount of the diversion. Other hydroelectric power developments of lesser magnitude are now being investigated, in- cluding installations at the Wagon Wheel Gap Reservoir site, run-of-the-river plants along the up- per Rio Grande, at the authorized Chamita Reser- voir, at Caballo Reservoir, and at the proposed Chiflo Reservoir site. At several of these sites as- surances that power development will not inter- fere with diversion of water under the Rio Grande compact will have to be given before support for their construction will be possible. The Department of the Interior is the marketing agent for all surplus power produced at Federal plants in the Rio Grande Basin. The Rio Grande area is essentially a power short- age area. Nearly every section undoubtedly would use considerably more electric energy if it were available at low rates. The availability of low-cost electric power would encourage the establishment of local industries and thus would make a major contribution to the local economy. National de- fense installations are important users of power in the Rio Grande Basin. Potential hydroelectric developments, however, are an important undeveloped source of electric energy, and incorporation of power installations at all future multiple-purpose reservoir projects should be made wherever feasible. Conclusions Federally constructed power generation and transmission facilities should be interconnected and integrated with the non-Federal system for optimum use. Any operational plan involving hydroelectric power generation at Federal dams must take fully into account international treaties and interstate compacts pertaining to division and delivery of the waters of the Rio Grande Basin. |