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Show CHAPTER XII 201 magnitude of surplus revenues in the development fund and not adversely affect the financial feasibility of the authorized projects. In his testimony, Secretary Udall stated that the objectives were: (1) Studies on how and where to get the much needed water. (2) A Lower Basin Development Fund to assist in meeting the cost of water development. (3) Authorization now of needed Lower Basin works; e.g., CAP, Marble Canyon, water salvage, and recreation, fish and wildlife facilities, although Interior agreed on the deferral of Bridge Canyon Dam. The basic problems to be resolved included: (1) The Mexican Treaty burden as a national responsibility. (2) Protection of areas affected by the import of 2.5 maf of water to the Colorado River system. (3) Provision for future water needs of both Upper and Lower Basins (pages 103 through 105, Serial No. 17, August 23, 1965). H.6. Basin States Consensus During July and August 1965, numerous meetings were held among representatives of the seven Colorado River Basin States to discuss the proposed legislation and to attempt to resolve some of the remaining issues, particularly those between the Upper and Lower Basins; e.g., New Mexico's request for more water, questions as to the availability of water, the need for augmentation, and Colorado's former U.S. Senator Johnson's proposal that the Upper Basin sue the Lower Basin over apportionment of water between the two Basins and the different interpretations of "surplus" waters as used in the Compact. On August 20, 1965, representatives of the seven States reached a "consensus" on general principles relating to the respective rights, obligations and requirements of each Basin. These were testified to by Congressman Udall on August 23, 1965 (pages 48 and 49, 302 through 304, Serial No. 17, August 23, 1965): (1) The Upper Basin's right to the use of water of the Colorado River, pursuant to the Colorado River Compact, shall not be jeopardized by the temporary use of unused Upper Basin water by any Lower Basin projects. (2) The importation of substantial quantities of water into the Colorado River Basin is essential to the adequate development of both the Upper and Lower Colorado River Basins. It is recognized that this importation must be accomplished under terms which are fair to the areas of origin of the water so imported. The pending legislation should authorize the Secretary to construct importation works which will deliver not less than 2,500,000 acre-feet annually, upon the President's approval of the Secretary's finding of feasibility. (3) Such importation works should be planned and built so as to make the imported water available, if possible, not later than 1980. Water supply prospects on the Colorado River, based in part upon the temporary use of water allocated to the Upper Basin, appear adequate to furnish a full supply to the Central Arizona Project accompanied by the safeguards for existing projects agreed to by Arizona and California, until sometime during the last decade of the present century. Thereafter, the Central Arizona Project supply would diminish unless supplemented by importation. (4) Satisfaction of the Mexican Treaty burden should be the first priority to be served by the imported water. The costs of importation allocable to the satisfaction of that burden, which is a national obligation, should be nonreimbursable. H.6.1 House Subcommittee Hearings The House Subcommittee on Irrigation and Reclamation of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs met on August 23-27, 30, 31, and September 1, 1965, to consider H.R.4671 and the bills similar to it. (The hearings are published as and identified herein as Serial No. 17 and Serial No. 89-17.) This bill was designated "Lower Colorado River Basin Project Act" although its stated objective included the provision of additional water supplies for use in the Upper as well as the Lower Colorado River Basins (page 1, Serial No. 17). |
