AZ vs. CA:25 California Exhibits, Vol. XXV; Nos. 7501-7859

page 16

16 THE COLORADO RIVER which are in the lower basin as defined by the Colorado and will be available shortly for settlement by veterans River compact. Nevada has a contract with the United of the armed forces of the United States. States, acting through the Secretary of the Interior, for Further investigations by the Bureau of Reclamation delivery of 300,000 acre-feet per year for use in Nevada, have indicated that it would be more in the public which it is believed is as much as Nevada can reasonably interest to leave out of development a portion of the expect to put to beneficial use. land in the Yuma-Mesa division, which was included Deducting the 4,400,000 acre-feet for California and in the original plans, and to rearrange the project bound-the 300,000 acre-feet for Nevada, there is left 3,800,000 aries and in lieu of the lands recommended to be elimi-acre-feet of apportioned water which cannot lawfully nated on the Yuma-Mesa division of the Gila project, to be used anywhere except in Arizona and those small include lands of approximately equal acreage in the parts of Utah and New Mexico which are in the lower Wellton-Mohawk division of the Gila project. Ac-basin, cordingly it is hoped that the next Congress will pass It is indicated by your report that the total ultimate a bill reauthorizing the Yuma-Mesa division as reduced possible use of water of the Colorado River system in and authorizing the Wellton-Mohawk division, both in those parts of Utah and New Mexico which are in the the first unit of the Gila project. The Wellton-Mohawk lower basin, including all present and possible future division is referred to in the comprehensive report on uses, will amount to not more than 131,000 acre-feet per pages 164 and 170-172, and it is not made clear in the year. There is thus left 3,669,000 acre-feet per year report that the Wellton-Mohawk division is not a new which cannot be used lawfully anywhere except in project, but constitutes merely a reorganization of the Arizona. first unit of the Gila project which has been previously Arizona is using out of the main stream of the Colo- authorized, and I would appreciate it if your report made rado River and out of the tributaries of the Colorado that fact clear. in Arizona, a grand total of 1,407,000 acre-feet of water It is hoped that the Bureau of Reclamation will soon per year. Thus there is left for Arizona, of the appor- complete its report on the Bridge Canyon and central tioned water in the main stream of the Colorado River, Arizona project. 2,262,000 acre-feet for additional apportionment and Arizona, therefore, desires to select two projects for beneficial consumptive use. This quantity of water is immediate construction-the first unit of the Gila proj- apportioned water and does not include any water ect. including the reduced Y'uma-Mesa division and the legally usable elsewhere in either the upper basin or in Wellton-Mohawk division thereof, and the Bridge Can- the lower basin and ample provision has been made for yon and central Arizona project. We are informed the ultimate possible uses in Nevada and those portions that consumptive uses of water on the first unit of the of Utah and New Mexico which are in the lower basin. Gila project, including the Yuma-Mesa division and the Arizona has a contract made with the United States, Wellton-Mohawk division, will not exceed 600,000 acre-acting through the Secretary of the Interior, under which feet per year, and that consumptive uses op the Bridge the United States agrees to deliver the quantity of water Canyon and central Arizona project will not exceed hereinabove indicated from its storage on the main 1,100,000 acre-feet per year. These combined quanti-siream of the Colorado River for beneficial consumptive ties of 1,700,000 acre-feet, deducted from the 2,262,000 use in the State of Arizona. The State of Arizona has acre-feet to which Arizona has a clearly established appropriated $200,000, matched by an equal amount right, leaves 562,000 acre-feet of main stream water to from the Bureau of Reclamation, with which funds the which Arizona has a clearly established right for future Bureau of Reclamation and the State of Arizona have and further development along the main stream of the cooperated and are now cooperating in making investi- Colorado River in the Parker area and in Mohave Valley, gations and surveys concerning projects in Arizona for and in the Little Colorado River Basin, the utilization of the water above referred to, which You will note that in these figures of water supply investigations and surveys are now nearing completion. and use we have not taken into account any of the It is believed that final reports of the Bureau of Reclama- surplus water. Arizona, under our contract with the tion on some projects in Arizona will be completed and United States, is assured of delivery by the United States, submitted in the very near future. for use in Arizona, of one-half of the surplus in the main In 1937, by Executive order, the Bureau of Reclama- stream of the Colorado River in the lower basin, less tion was authorized to construct works for the develop- one twenty-fifth of such surplus which Arizona has ment and irrigation of 150,000 acres of land in the first agreed may be utilized in Nevada in the event they unit of the Gila project in Yuma County, Ariz. Con- should ever be able to use it. siderable progress has been made in the construction of In addition there is left in the main stream of the Colo-such works and part of that land is now in cultivation rado River 222,000 acre-feet of water in the lower basin