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Show plies. The intermingling of water from natural underground sources with water added from surface sources complicates the already difficult identification of stored waters for collection of charges. The growing importance of underground water storage, together with the nature of con- tracts under which federally stored waters are delivered to users and the State laws governing the operation of organizations negotiating these contacts with the Federal Government, create a legal and physical problem which increases the difficulty of enforcement of the acreage limita- tion provisions of reclamation law. These are the more formidable and more gen- uine obstacles pointed to by those who have ad- vocated the repeal of the acreage limitation fea- tures of the reclamation law insofar as they apply to private land. The Commission believes, how- ever, that the original reasons for the policy are still sound, and that it should continue in force. Possible Answers.-Many substitutes for the acreage limitation features of the reclamation law as applied to private lands have been pro- posed by various individuals and groups. Among these is a system of taxation which would tax speculative earnings. A substitute measure which would have some advantages over such taxation is an increase in water charges. A system of assessment of construction charges which would require repayment of all such costs with interest by owners of land held in large ownership or operating units might accomplish this purpose. Such a provision would eliminate two difficulties-the complexities of endeavoring to apply the existing law where large aggrega- tions of tenant holdings are operated as a unit, and the problems encountered in the appraisal and sale of excess holdings. The third major problem, the development of adequate control of the underground waters, cannot be solved without the removal of legal dif- ficulties and the acquisition of more knowledge about ground water. This latter would require study of ground water movements, replenish- ment-both natural and artificial-rates of de- pletion, and depths, in order to measure the effects of artificial ground water storage under specific conditions. Careful review of the entire situation indicates that a reasonable application of the family-sized farm principle is desirable, based on the present 160-acre limitation with authorization to the Sec- retary of the Interior, after hearings, to adjust this limitation downward to adapt it to types of farm- ing characteristic of different areas. On this basis the limitation should apply to all new rec- lamation projects involving Federal investment, including irrigation or drainage undertakings. It should apply, however, only to the irrigated or drained portion of a farm. In connection with projects designed to de- liver supplemental water to areas already under irrigation, the existing acreage limitation pro- vision should be modified to make it possible to supply an equitable share of the supplemental water to existing farms exceeding the limitation under utility type contracts. Charges for the water supplied to such excess lands should be fixed on the basis of full costs, including amorti- zation with interest of the full investment alloca- ble to this purpose. An effort would also be made to work out agreements or contracts with an interested State or the local interests to be benefited under which surface and ground water benefits should be considered together for purposes of reimburse- ment. In general, the Commission is convinced that the present acreage limitation is sufficiently large to make possible irrigated family-sized farms in any area where irrigation is feasible, especially as the limitation would apply only to the irrigated acres of a farm. There are very important con- servation opportunities in connection with the irrigation of the valley portions of larger livestock farms. Cost to Federal Government The cost per acre of reclamation projects has been tending upward. In connection with cer- tain proposed projects it is greatly in excess of the 171 |
