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Show Chapter 1 Regional Character and Problems' The priceless value of water to the people of the West and the extraordinarily difficult problems associated with its control and use are nowhere better exemplified than in the history of the devel- opment of the waters of the Colorado. Water was used by the first white settlers for irrigation. Before the white man came to the basin a previous civilization had irrigated the Salt River Valley, and present canals clearly follow the location of previous ones. Thus the Colorado and its tributaries have contributed to the life of others who knew the value of irrigation. First the diver- sions of the white settlers were small and inexpen- sive, and came from the tributaries, where the cost was small. But these diversions enabled the 1 The original draft of this study was prepared during 1950 by the Committee on River Program Analysis of the Commission. The following persons served on the committee, participated in the planning or review of the report, and contributed data to it: George Adkins, Federal Power Commission; James Bowman, Tennessee Valley Authority; Raymond H. Davis, Soil Conservation Service, De- partment of Agriculture; H. Dean Fravel, Bureau of Public Roads, Department of Commerce; Fred F. Friend, Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army; S. H. Gale, Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army; William E. Holy, Public Health Service; Cecil B. Jacobson, Bureau of Reclamation, Depart- ment of the Interior; James G. Jobes, Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army; Vaud E. Larson, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior; E. N. Munns, Forest Service, Department of Agricul- ture; E. G. Neilson, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior; settlers to lay the foundation for the civilization that has developed and that provided sustenance and shelter for those migrating westward. The small irrigation projects developed into larger and costlier ones, drawing more heavily on the limited water supply. Because each of the seven States in the Colorado River drainage system are water-deficient, each has defended vigorously its claim to the river's water. For years contro- versies, conferences, and negotiations have taken place among the various States on the allocation of the river's water. After years of negotiation, the Colorado River Compact2 was approved in 1922, and became the "law of the river" by Presidential proclamation on Richard F. Poston, Public Health Service; Victor Roterus, Department of Commerce; George E. Tomlinson, Bureau of Reclamation, De- partment of the Interior; Frank L. Weaver, Federal Power Commission; Clifford H. Wilson, Department of the Interior; Wesley Calef, President's Water Resources Policy Commission, committee secretary; Edward A. Ackerman, President's Water Resources Policy Commission, committee chairman. The study is based on information available between May and October 1950, including special basin reports submitted to the Commission by interested Federal agencies. Following preparation of the original draft by the Committee on River Program Analysis the study was edited and revised by Edward A. Ackerman, John G. Beebe, John M. Cannody, Patricia Howse, Edward N. Munns, Evelyn S. Myers, and Jane G. Perry. Individual committee members or the agencies where they are em- ployed therefore may or may not be in agreement with particular conclusions here presented. 2 The Hoover Dam Documents, H. Doc. 717, 80th Cong.^ 2d sess., p. A17 (1948). The compact was signed by the State and Federal representatives on November 24, 1922. It was approved by six of the seven basin States in 1923. Arizona did not ratify the compact until February 1944. 355, |
