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Show 20 BOULDER CANYON PROJECT protection of Palo Verde Valley. These levees are of necessity built of loose silt upon a foundation of similar material. They are faced with rock, hauled long distances by dump cars upon standard-gauge tracks, maintained on the levees for that purpose. Levees thus constructed afford only partial protection. When the river strikes the levee it is not its overtopping that is so much feared, but the water will quickly eat away the loose material and the levee simply settles down and virtually disappears. EFFECT OF FLOOD MENACE Four hundred and sixty thousand acres are now being served with water by the Imperial irrigation district. There is not only the possibility of this land being innudated, but there is a constant knowledge that a comparatively small break in the levee system could destroy irrigation works and cut off water for irrigation and domestic purposes. This creates a constant feeling of uncertainty. Property values are less than half of what its income would justify. Capital for full development can not be had and where money is obtained it is obtained at an excessive rate of interest. The Federal farm loan banks refuse to lend any money in Imperial Valley because of these conditions. The happiness of the people, the security of their property, and the proper development of this highly productive area depend largely upon adequate flood control. UNANIMITY OF VIEW AS TO FLOOD DANGER AND NEED OF QUICK RELIEF An outstanding feature of the testimony before the committee was the unanimity of view respecting the existence of the flood danger, its seriousness, urgent need for quick action, and that storage up the river was the solution. Engineers like A. P. Davis, F. E. Weymouth, Gen. George Goethals, and William Mulholland joined with responsible executive officials like Mr. Herbert Hoover in voicing this idea. Admittedly and concededly, storage at Boulder Canyon as here authorized will effect the greatest measure of security against the river's floods which may be obtained. Part III. The All-American Canal and Water Supply As said by the Secretary of the Interior in his report to this committee January 21, 1928: The all-American canal for connecting the Colorado River with the Imperial and Coachella Valleys is an essential part of the plan. When the reclamation of Imperial Valley was first conceived that valley was nothing but a desert waste. There were no values, no money, and no credit. The private corporation which undertook the work found that by making use of an old channel in Mexico, water could be diverted from the river and carried into this section at a relatively low cost. With water upon these fertile lands, the community developed rapidly and it was not long until it was found that for a large community to be wholly dependent upon the good faith of |
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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. |