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Show $10 million as compared to $4^ million on 51,350 acres for the calendar year 1948. The increased water supply available resulted in a much greater use of project area but did not permit any substantial reduction in pumped water supplies. The underground water supply of the entire valley is rapidly being pumped beyond the safe annual yield and this condition apparently will continue until a maximum economic pumping lift is reached. The Department, at various times, has considered ways and means of limiting project pumping. Due to the fact, however, that 70 percent of the water extracted from the underground in the valley is taken by nonproject land- owners, there has been no incentive for the project man- agement to reduce pumping activities. The area, more- over, has not been declared a "critical area" by the State of Arizona. The Department has recently requested the Geological Survey to make an examination and study of underground water supplies in the entire area of the Gila River Basin. Annual operation and maintenance costs are covered by annual assessments on a per acre basis against all lands of the project, both Indian and white-owned. National Park Service Projects 27. Lake Mead National Recreational Area, Arizona and Nevada.-The unique attractions and widespread in- terest in recreational opportunities on the lake and shore- lands above Hoover Dam led to the establishment of the National Recreational Area there in 1936 under the administration of the National Park Service. The prin- cipal developments have centered around the provision of a road system and recreational facilities at Boulder Beach and other sites on Lake Mead. The principal develop- ment is at Boulder Beach where harbor, bathhouse, picnicking, and swimming facilities have been provided by the Government and where nearby overnight accom- modations are operated by private concessioners. The provision of adequate facilities has been an ever increasing problem. The facilities at Boulder Beach, the lesser developments at other points, and the 180 miles of road and 23 miles of trail already constructed con- stitute only a part of the development planned to meet fully the recreational needs. The total number of visitors to the area in 1948 was 1,607,422, of whom about half utilized the recreational facilities. The construction costs to date aggregate somewhat more than $3.5 million, in- cluding an investment by concessioners conservatively estimated to exceed $300,000. Fees are collected from concessioners by the National Park Service and credited to the Reclamation Fund. Costs to complete the develop- ment are estimated at $9,368,000, of which $7,250,000 is for roads and $2,118,000 for other facilities. Federal Power Commission The Federal Power Commission does not construct or operate power projects, but issues licenses to public and private agencies to construct, operate, and maintain power projects affecting streams over which Congress has juris- diction, affecting Government lands and at Government dams and reservoirs. Licenses are issued only after full notice to all interested States and local groups, a finding by the Commission that the project is adequate to make the best use of the resources, is adapted to a compre- hensive plan of development of the region's resources and will be safe. Preference is given to States and municipalities. Agencies administering Government land or with other Federal interests are asked for recommen- dations as to license terms. Plans for the project are reviewed for adequacy and safety and, during construction, inspections are made as to compliance with plans and as to adequacy of founda- tion and construction. After construction, frequent in- spections are made to assure continued proper main- tenance and compliance with license provisions. The license is for a period of not more than 50 years. At the end of the license period the Federal Government has the right to recapture the project in compliance with the terms of the Federal Power Act, or may issue a new license. Public Power Projects 28. Santee-Cooper project, South Carolina.-The San- tee-Cooper project on the Santee River in South Carolina was constructed between 1938-42 as a navigation and hydroelectric power development and has fulfilled these purposes. With respect to navigation little use of the navigation lock has been made to date but it is probable that navigation will develop in the future. Due to the scarcity of rock a porous concrete slab was used for the upstream slope protection on the earthen structures. After a few years of operation progressive failure of this slab took place making it necessary to break up a major portion of the existing slab and top it with conventional rock riprap. It might have been possible to definitely forecast such failure if adequate tests had been made originally with respect to effect of wave and chemical action. The project is operated economically as a power project even though the annual cost of clearing the Lake Marion Reservoir of floating logs continues to be high due to the fact that the clearing of this reservoir was never completed. The total cost of this project was about $64,880,000, of which only $29,494,000 is the actual cost to be borne by the State of South Carolina. The balance was in the form of a grant by the United States and a contribution for the Works Progress Administration. 29. Diablo project, Washington.-The Diablo project in Washington was constructed between 1927-37 as a hydroelectric power development and has fulfilled this purpose. This project is a part of the Skagit River de- velopment of the city of Seattle which also includes the Gorge and Ross Dam projects. The project is operated economically and the rates charged by the city of Seattle for electric energy delivered to its various customers are among the lowest in the United States. 30. Morris Sheppard (Possum Kingdom) project, Texas.-This project on the Brazos River in Texas was constructed between 1938-41 as a hydroelectric power development and has fulfilled this purpose. This project is part of a proposed master plan involving several projects consisting of dams and power plants principally for the production of hydroelectric power, flood control, and water for domestic, industrial, and irrigation purposes. The project is operated efficiently and the entire output of the plant is sold to the Brazos River Transmission Electric Cooperative, Inc., for an amount purported to be sufficient to pay for plant operation and maintenance, a portion of general and administrative expense, amortization of 397 |