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Show In cases where supplemental water may be sup- plied to areas already under irrigation but where some existing farms exceed the acreage limitations of reclamation law, provision can be made to supply those farms with an equitable share of water under utility-type contracts, as recommended generally by this Commission.24 2. Acquisition of Property in Reservoir Areas The Problem Hardships caused by land and property acqui- sition for reservoir purposes and means of alle- viation. The Situation As in other basins, a delay occurs under present procedures between authorization of a Federal reservoir project and beginning of property acqui- sition in the reservoir area. This normally results either from lack of appropriations or deferral of the acquisition program by the construction agency, especially when the construction period is long. When the land acquisition program is undertaken, it is usually completed as rapidly as possible in order to clear th,e reservoir area for its intended use. These procedures can produce adverse results, their extent depending on the current economic situation in the locality. Where land is at a pre- mium, the adoption of a project will result in price inflation on reservoir lands due to speculative activity. This will increase with time as the actual acquisition of project lands is deferred. Specula- tive buildiaig and minor improvement will also take place in order further to inflate the land prices. These conditions operate to increase project cost. Under depressed conditions, hardships are im- posed on property owners in the reservoir area in two principal ways: After project authorization and pending Federal acquisition, the property in the reservoir area is generally -unsalable because it has no future use other than, for flowage and if purchased it usually is for speculative purposes. Secondly, upon initia- tion of the acquisition program the accelerated pur- chasing oF reservoir property immediately throws the majori ty of the original owners into the market for replacement of their former holdings. 24 See volume 1, p. 174. 146 The first type of hardship is particularly severe on a property owner who, due to financial circum- stances, may be forced to sell his holdings. The lack of a normal market in view of the impending reservoir construction could result in his receiving a greatly reduced price and consequent financial loss. Also, with impending dislocation, a property owner is deterred from making improvements which might afford him a better return on his investment. When the property owners are bought out, the majority will desire to relocate in the same general vicinity on holdings where they can carry on their accustomed endeavors. In an agricultural area, for example, farmers would normally prefer to buy farms of about the same type and quality as their previous farms, so as to use the knowledge they possess. Although owners receive a fair price for their holdings they are furnished no assistance in relocating. The suddenly engendered competition in the local market may increase prices to where some of them will be unable to relocate and those who do may suffer serious loss due to the higher price they are forced to pay for equal or inferior properties. The knowledge of the difficulties with which they will be faced in relocating has caused owners of property in proposed reservoir areas to oppose the adoption of many worthwhile reservoir projects. These conditions apply mainly to the upper Sacramento Valley. For the Central Valley as a whole, the problem cannot be considered serious. Where relocation of an entire urban community is required, it is usually carried out as a part of the Federal project. Even in such cases hardships are encountered by the affected residents because they are divorced from normal service facilities, stores, schools, and churches during the time removal and relocation are in progress. Any delay in the process results in prolonging upset conditions. One case in the valley is the Isabella Project, which is under construction on the Kern River. The reservoir will inundate the towns of Kernville and Isabella as well as agricultural lands. Isabella will be abandoned as a town, but Kernville will re- establish itself about 8 miles upstream. This en- tails a troublesome problem in the relocation of roads, power lines, and telephone lines to serve the new community, in addition to the acquisition of the properties and improvements which will be inundated. The problem is complicated by inade- quate appropriations to permit satisfactory reloca- tion in a relatively short period. |
