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Show The project has effectively met the purposes for which it was designed. Arrowrock Dam, the highest concrete dam in the world when completed in 1915, contains many features adopted in dams subsequently built. The con- crete utilized did not have good weathering characteristics, necessitating the resurfacing of the downstream face of the dam after 20 years, but has proved to be well suited to the internal mass of the dam. Works to alleviate drain- age problems which developed on some of the valley lands have been effectively used to provide a water supply for other project lands. In addition to meeting fully its irrigation purpose, the project has created other, incidental but substantial bene- fits to flood control, fish and wildlife and recreation. Project reservoirs are operated to reduce flood damages in the Boise Valley, are used for fishing and other recrea- tional purposes, and an off stream reservoir provides one of the more valuable resting areas for migrating waterfowl in the Pacific Northwest. A successful development, the project unquestionably has created benefits in excess of expectations. It is the seat of a prosperous farm and urban economy dependent on irrigation agriculture. The average value of crops pro- duced on lands brought under irrigation by the project was $14,865,000 in the period 1939-48 and the total value of crops from all lands of the valley was estimated to be $30,000,000 in the last year of that period. The latter figure exceeds the total estimated irrigation construction cost of the project, including features not then in opera- tion. Ada and Canyon Counties, embracing most of the project area in 1939, had 1,737 manufacturing, whole- saling, and retailing establishments, employing 7,000 persons. Two parts of the development are just being completed; payments have not started on one and are just beginning on the other. The three parts earlier completed have an aggregate irrigation construction cost of approximately $13,600,000. Of this, water users have returned to date about $9,000,000. Remaining irrigation construction costs will be returned by future payments. 21. Shoshone project, Wyoming.-Originally author- ized for examination in 1902 and for construction in 1904, the Shoshone project was designed as an irrigation and power project. In the light of standards and experience prevailing at the time of its construction, the project was well designed and has functioned efficiently as planned in major respects. Several modifications would now be incorporated in plans for earlier units of the project as a result of contin- uing Reclamation experience during the past 30 to 40 years. Inexperience with the suitability of lands for irri- gation resulted in a land classification and in drainage measures which were inadequate by the standards applied to subsequent divisions, some of which are still being de- veloped. Similarly, the power developments incorporated are not equal to those which would be provided as a result of subsequent experience. . The estimated runoff, though based on only 3 years of record, has been very close to that actually experienced and entirely adequate for project purposes. The full measure of benefits realized was not foreseen. In addition to the planned functions of irrigation and power production, the project has also created unan- ticipated benefits for flood control, and important munici- pal, domestic, and industrial water supplies. Moreover, the power benefits have been far in excess of expectations in view of the early low estimates of demand. The 102,929 acres of project land, of which 63,912 were irri- gated in 1949, support farmers on 1,240 farms at a level of living represented by an index of 143 in 1945 (Park Country) as contrasted with indexes of 124 and 100, re- spectively, for the State and Nation; support the growing towns of Powell, Deaver, and Ralson and contribute ma- terially to the support of Cody, Lovell, Byron, Frannie, and Cowley; and have yielded crops between 1909 and 1949 with a value more than two and a half times the total con- struction costs of the project, including power facilities. Water users on the earlier divisions constructed have been relieved by congressional action of the payment of $1,554,- 972. This is about 7 percent of the total irrigation construction costs of the entire project. Water users, chiefly on earlier constructed divisions which represent an irrigation investment of roughly $10,000,000, have re- turned $1,876,000. The balance and the irrigation con- struction costs of new divisions are to be returned by water users and through power revenues. 22. Provo River project, Utah.-Final authorization for the Provo River project, a development for the pro- vision of irrigation and municipal water supplies, was given on June 22, 1936, and construction started in 1938. Deer Creek Dam and Reservoir were completed in 1941, but work on the other project features was delayed or stopped by the war and the shortage of labor and con- struction materials. At the present time, construction work on the canal system and the Salt Lake Aqueduct is practically completed. Terminal Reservoir and Du- quesne Tunnel are scheduled for completion in 1951 and 1953, respectively. The engineering design and construction of the project features are adequate for the project needs. Because of provision for future municipal needs, the project works have not yet been utilized to their designed capacity, with the exception of the Weber-Provo Diversion Canal. Marked increases in construction costs have resulted in an increase in the estimated total cost of the project from $13,150,000 in 1936 to $31,300,000 as of May 1950. Despite this fact the project remains economically justi- fied. Flood control and recreational benefits along with benefits from industrial use have ensued which were not anticipated or evaluated originally, and full payment of costs is in prospect through requiring a longer period than originally anticipated. Increased construction costs have made necessary the execution of supplemental repayment contracts with the Provo River Water Users' Association and the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake City for the Deer Creek Division and Aqueduct Division, respec- tively. By special legislation, Congress provided that these excess project construction costs can be repaid on an annual basis of fees and charges fixed by the Secretary of the Interior for rental of project water facilities. Both the association and the district have agreed to repay the excess project costs in addition to the amounts called for under the respective repayment contracts. When these excess costs have been paid, the association and the dis- trict will commence payment of the regular 40 equal annual installments under the repayment contracts. 395 |