OCR Text |
Show 16 the first Colorado River water brought to the Imperial Valley.49 Today it is perfectly clear that the viability of numerous communities in the Lower Basin is conditioned on and limited by the availability of Colorado River System waters. It is thus manifest that in the Lower Basin the water of the Colorado River System is "more than an amenity"; it is more than a "treasure."50 It is indispensable to life; no substitute for it has yet been invented or envisaged. Even under ordinary circumstances it is natural that grave conflicts should develop over the rationing of such a precious supply. But the circumstances of the past quarter century have not been ordinary. They were such as to intensify the competition for water by every class of demand. The southwest has witnessed an explosive growth of population and industry, accompanied by a sharp rise in every index of prosperity as the accompanying tables indicate. Population Growth61 Per Cent State 1915 1955 Growth Gain Arizona 594,000 980,000 386,000 65.0% California 9,344,000 13,032,000 3,688,000 39.5% Nevada 149,000 225,000 76,000 51.0% Growth of Manufacturing Employment52 Par Cent State 1915 1955 Growth Gain Arizona 11,200 32,700 22,500 192.0% California 636,000 1,113,700 477,700 75.1% Nevada 2,700 5,900 3,200 118.5% Growth of Non-Ferrous Metals Output63 State 1916 1955 Growth Gala Arizona $ 95,963,006 $ 351,631,254 $ 255,668,248 266.4% California 11,152,081 13,882,100 2,730,019 24.5% Nevada 24,186,294 62,436,160 38,249,866 158.1% *«Tr. 7381 (Dowd). 50See New Jersey v. New York, 283 U. S. 336, 342 (1931). "Source: Ariz. Ex. 134; Calif. Ex. 528. "Source: Ariz. Ex. 134; Calif. Ex. 528. "Source: Ariz. Ex. 134; Calif. Ex. 528. |
Source |
Original Report: State of Arizona, complainant v. State of California, Palo Verde Irrigation District, Imperial 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 |