OCR Text |
Show VI-14 UPDATING THE HOOVER DAM DOCUMENTS COLORADO RIVER STORAGE PROJECT 9 water otherwise would have been released at Hoover. We believe this accommodates the intent of that suggestion. Ptincijrffs 6 and 7.-No adverse comments or suggestions were received relating to these principles. Principle S.- It was proposed that any water stored in Lake Powell above elevation 3,490 should be subject to release to maintain rated head at Hoover powerplant. We recognize the desirability of maintaining rated head at both Hoover and Glen Canyon powerplants, and one of the operating rules might well recognize this as far as it' is consistent with the nroad objectives of the filling criteria. It should not be a part of the filling criteria, however. Lower basin interests indicate that the offsetting of Hoover impairment should have priority on upper basin power output to the extent that the Secretary cannot find replacement energy for purchase. Although we are willing to devote nonfirm energy to this purpose, as previously indicated, we do not believe the proposal should contemplate use of firm energy. We are confident that arrangements for the purpose of replacement energy combined with the availability of energy produced by upper basin powerplants which cannot be marketed at firm power rates will be adequate to meet the proposed formula. Principles 9 and 10.-No comments or suggestions were received relating to these principles. Several other comments and suggestions were received that do not relate to any specific principle. The point was made that the impact of the storage project operations on the Parker-Davis projects received no attention in the filling criteria. The point was made in relation to a possible power rate increase. The likelihood of the filling operations of Lake Powell causing a need for a power rate increase at Parker-Davis is so remote that we consider it unnecessary to relate the filling criteria to these projects. The suggestion was again advanced that the upper basin should be formally represented on a river operations committee. It was suggested also that working committees should be formed which would include representation of lower basin water users as well as power contractors who would have an effective voice in secretarial decisions in resolving problems which may arise in filling Lake Powell. In both cases it was indicated that congressional authorization of such committees probably would be necessary or desirable. Responsibility for operation of the Federal projects involved is now vested in the Secretary of the Interior and, we, believe, properly should remain so. Creation of new bodies with statutory powers which might tend to limit or diffuse this responsibility would, in our opinion, unnecessarily complicate and make more difficult the coordinated operation of a widespread river basin system. As pointed out in my memorandum of June 13, 1901, we would gladly assist in the formation of a group on an informal basis. In our view, that group could function most appropriately in an advisory capacity to the Secretary. 1 recommend that- 1. You adopt the attached general principles and criteria subject to whatever reconsideration, if any, may appear desirable after having afforded the Hoover power allottees an opportunity to present their views on the additional regulation No. 1, in |