OCR Text |
Show -11- chief difficulties as to a division of the waters has always been the waters of the Gila River. California has not been willing, in fact, does not admit, that the 1,000,000 acre feet above mentioned should go to Arizona to take care of the Gila River. If she did, a compact could likely be made. If the Gila River is to be counted as in the Lower Basin and then charged to Arizona, and then the 7,500,000 acre feet allocated to the Lower Basin are divided among the three states, and then California and Arizona are each to have one-half of the surplus waters, the result will be that if there was 1,000,000 acre feet of surplus water to be divided, each state would receive 500,000 acre feet thereof. But if the amount in the Gila is to be counted in the main river, although it never reaches it, then the amount of the surplus is greatly increased and California claiming to be entitled to one-half of the surplus might later make claim that Arizona should surrender a part of its main stream allocation to make up the claimed increase in the surplus waters. Any such theory would prevent the irrigation of any considerable tracts of land in Arizona. Another difficulty seems to be that while California might agree to some division with Arizona of the 7,500,-000 acre feet allocated to the Lower Basin, yet the 1,000,000 acre feet of apportioned water, according to California's demands, should remain open to prior appropriation, giving it to the first state which is able to get it. This means California, for the government is advancing them a great many millions of dollars to build the all-American canal, while no such provision is made to carry waters to Arizona lands. But there is another reason why this offer in regard to this 1,000,000 acre feet |
Source |
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. |