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

page 58

S8 THE COLORADO RIVER of their assumed ultimate capacities. At the same time status of utilization or depletion of Colorado River the report concludes that inadequate water supplies will water. Colorado notes that the water utilization and prohibit the construction of some of the so-called poten- depletion estimates of the report are in terms which are tial projects. Thus, these conclusions are inconsistent not consistent throughout both basins and in all States, with each other, in that the reported total construction Although the reported depletion quantities are said to costs include estimates for projects which, if not con- represent the resulting effects upon outflows from the structed, will require no financing, and the reported upper basin at Lees Ferry, and from the lower basin total benefits and collectible revenues are misleading, at the international boundary, that rule appears to have since they include items that cannot be realized. The been applied only on the lower Gila River at and below assumption of the report that all the so-called potential the Phoenix vicinity in Arizona. All other depletion projects, or their alternates, will be constructed, dis- estimates presented in the report are based on the rule regards the findings which ultimately must be made as of evaluation at the site and, to indicate their resulting to individual project desirability, financial feasibility, effects upon outflows at Lees Ferry or the international and economic justification, and hence disregards the boundary, it becomes necessary to allow for and subtract probability of authorization and appropriations by the the losses which the water, if not consumed at the site, Congress, which must be based on subsequent detailed would suffer incident to its conveyance to Lees Ferry or investigations and reports on each project possibility. the international boundary. It likewise entirely overlooks the possibility of private To make the necessary corrections in reported deple- development. tion quantities, information is necessary concerning Upon investigation, some of the so-called potential channel conveyance losses. The report contains esti- projects will no doubt be discarded as undesirable or mates of channel conveyance losses under virgin condi- infeasible, and those which are financed and constructed tions on the Gila River below Phoenix, which appear will have been designed upon a basis which, instead of to have been employed to estimate the depletions in ultimate and largest possible capacities, will give con- Arizona shown in the report. It also contains estimates sideration to essential needs and to proper and more of channel conveyance losses upder virgin conditions on economical capacities. The report speaks of "full de- the lower Colorado River below Boulder Dam. These velopment in the United States"-meaning a stage of appear to have been employed to calculate the outflows development which is fixed by available water supplies, to Mexico across the international boundary, but to have and which is something less than the ultimate stage for been disregarded in estimating the depletions in Cali- which estimates of construction costs, benefits, and col- fornia. The report contains no information concerning lectible revenues are presented, but the report fails to channel conveyance losses along the Colorado River and submit information or estimates as to the supplies of its tributaries above Boulder Dam, or in the upper basin water to become available for use with full development above Lees Ferry. in the United States, or as to the construction costs to be Colorado recommends, since this information is es-encountered, or the benefits and collectible revenues to sential for the determinations of water supplies avail-result from that stage of development. able for utilization, and for the appropriate adjustment and maintenance of interstate relations, that the report Channel Losses in the Upper Basin Must Be Estimated be modified to include estimations of channel convey- and Used in Computation of Water Supply and ance losses under virgin, present (existing), and full Depletions development conditions. The report contains estimates of so-called "present^ w s &y d D leUonf should be Presented in uses or depletions. Included in the reported present" Jerms Comparable to Those of the Colorado River totals are items representing the present uses by existing Compact in-basin and diversion enterprises. Colorado notes that the existing total depletions summarized in the report In order that affected States may make use of, so far for the upper basin are not in agreement with the as possible, the plans, proposals, and recommendations of depletions employed in appendix I to estimate the water the report, it is essential that all determinations and esti- supplies at Lees Ferry. mations of water supplies, stream-flow depletions, and The report also contains allowances for future uses of water utilization and disposal be in terms, directly com- water by projects now under construction or author- parable with apportionment provisions of the Colorado ized, and for future increased uses by reason of assumed River compact. A necessary first step, in order that both expansions to ultimate limits under existing projects. basins may know what further developments are pos- Together, the estimated existing uses, plus the above- sible, and what further uses of water are permissible, mentioned allowances, represent the so-called "present" within presently authorized limits, is a comparison be-