OCR Text |
Show COMMENTS OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA and there is also left in the main stream of the Colorado River in the lower basin all of the surplus, which it now appears may constitute a sizable quantity of water; however, it appears that at this time I should not propose projects that would use any part of that surplus water, leaving such projects for future consideration when the probable future course of development of Colorado River Basin as a whole has become more apparent. I do not desire to predicate the development of either of the projects herein selected upon the use of any water which might later be withdrawn by any other State, nor do we desire in any way to embarrass or prejudice developments in any other State in the basin. The Wellton-Mohawk division and the Yuma-Mesa divison of the first unit of the Gila project are very desirable and their immediate authorization and construction are very much in the national interest as well as in the interest of the State of Arizona, and I am sure they are feasible from every point of view. The immediate authorization and construction of the* Bridge Canyon and central Arizona project is essential in the national interest and in the interest of the State of Arizona and the people of the central valleys of Arizona, in furnishing a supplemental water supply to lands now inadequately irrigated in order to preserve the civilization now existing in the State of Arizona and to prevent possible economic chaos, for the reason that irrigation of lands in central Arizona has been expanded beyond the water supply of central Arizona, both by diversion from the surface streams and by pumping from the underground reservoirs to such a great extent that I am advised by engineers that the people of central Arizona are now using approximately 800,000 acre-feet of water per year more than comes into that area; in other words, they are exhausting underground reservoirs at a rate in excess of 800,000 acre-feet per year. Such a practice, of course, endangers the entire economy of Arizona and creates a very real danger to the economy of the United States and to the national interest. In view of the rapid exhaustion of underground reservoirs, we in Arizona have determined that two things are necessary: we must adopt an underground water code which will prevent overpumping and we must obtain a supplemental supply of water by the diversion of water from the main stream of the Colorado River to central Arizona. Bridge Canyon and central Arizona project will make possible and bring about the diversion of main stream water to the central valleys of Arizona. We are working on an underground water code. The Legislature of Arizona appropriated $40,000, to be matched by an equal amount from and utilized by the United States Geological Survey, cooperating with the State Land and Water Commissioner of Arizona, in '7 making investigations and compiling information concerning the underground water supply of Arizona. I am informed that such studies are now sufficiently advanced to permit the drafting of an adequate underground water code for Arizona and that a bill has now been drawn for presentation to the legislature which convenes in January 1947. I confidently expect that at that session an adequate, workable, and satisfactory underground water code will be adopted. I believe that the Bridge Canyon and central Arizona project will be found feasible and highly beneficial from every point of view and that it will be found that the people of central Arizona, utilizing the main stream water to be delivered to that area through the proposed works, with the aid of revenue from the hydroelectric energy that will be generated at Bridge Canyon Dam, will be able to repay the costs properly chargeable to irrigation and power within a reasonable time to the Treasury of the United States. The Mexican treaty allocates to Mexico, and limits Mexico's use of Colorado River water to, 1,500,000 acre-feet of water per year. The figures used in this letter make due allowance for such Mexican allocation and Arizona's proposed use of the water allocated to her does not in any way infringe on Mexico's supply. In the following table I summarize Arizona's understanding of the water supply in the lower basin and of the apportionment of water in the lower basin and of the quantities of water available to Arizona, which table, I believe, makes our position clear: Available supply and apportionment of water ... the lower basin Acre-fed Virgin flow at Lees Ferry....................... 16, 271, 000 Less apportionment to upper basin (art. Ill (a) Colorado River compact)................ 7, 500, 000 8,771,000 Natural gain from tributaries Lees Ferry to Boulder Natural gain from tributaries Boulder Dam to Mexican border ............................. Less losses natural and reservoir, estimated Allocated to Mexico by treaty.................... Apportioned to lower basin (art. IIT (a) and (b) Colorado River compact).................... Not apportioned to lower basin but present in lower basin........................ Potential uses of water in other States of the lower basin apportioned to lower basin............... |
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] : |