AZ vs. CA:18 California Exhibits, Vol. XVIII; Nos. 3500A-3550

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[1] UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation Office of Indian Affairs Region 3 District 4 Boulder City, Nevada Phoenix, Arizona To: Commissioner, Office of Indian Affairs Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation From: District Director, District 4, Office of Indian Affairs Regional Director, Region 3, Bureau of Reclamation Subject: Transmittal of Joint Report on Preliminary Investigations of a Permanent Solution of the Palo Verde Irrigation District Diversion Problem, and the Appendixes thereto. 1. The bed of the Colorado River opposite the intake for the main canal of the Palo Verde Irrigation District has been a changing thing, and as a result, the District has had a diversion problem throughout its history. Beginning in 1937, there has been a progressive retrogression at this point, until in 1942 the river surface elevation at normal flows was below the elevation required for adequate gravity diversion. In 1943 and 1944 the problem became serious. 2. To insure production of crops in the Palo Verde Valley for the war effort, there was included in the First Deficiency Appropriations Act, approved on April 1, 1944, the following language: ". . . . $250,000 to be available for the construction, operation, and maintenance of a temporary weir in the Colorado River below the heading of the diver-