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Show DIXIE PROJECT, UTAH 27 The Utah Water & Power Board, of which I am executive director, is the agency of State government charged with promoting the development of the State's water resources. Today we appear here to ask your favorable action on legislation that would authorize the Dixie project and provide that funds raised in part from revenues from Federal lands would be invested in development of a potentially rich area now stunted by an erratic and meager water supply. We believe the principle of using " surplus" or unassigned power revenues to complement other sources of revenue to repay reclamation costs is well established in the Central Valley of California, the Missouri, the Upper Colorado and Columbia Basins. The future development of the West will require an even broader application of this principle which we support. Can there be a sounder approach than harnessing the revenue producing capability of power from falling water to assist in bringing water to thirsty acres? , We do not come idly here to court your favor; we come here because we have a great need, a project beyond our means. May I present to the committee a publication summarizing the efforts of the State in financing small water conservation projects. I call this to your attention for two purposes: First, to demonstrate that we are making a significant State and local effort to develop our water resources; secondly, to give you proof of the integrity of our people and the repayment ability provided by bringing together good land, resourceful people and water. This, folder tabulates pertinent information about State- assisted projects. In summary, 201 projects have been constructed as of June 20,1962. The total cost of these projects is$ 10.75 million. [ The State has advanced $ 7.1 million for the construction of these projects. The total appropriation to the board since 1947 has been $ 4 million. An additional $ 2 million reimbursable loan was made to the board from fund balances of the State. The revolving nature of the fund is indicated by the fact that the board has been able to invest $ 7.1 million in the program. The projects have reached, both on full supply and supplemental supply basis 526,000 acres of crop land. It is interesting to note that this represents 37 percent of the total cultivated area of the State. . . The program is responsible for providing, either by water yield from reservoirs or water supplies saved or created by projects each year, 256,000 acre- feet of water. I would like to add that we extended ourselves and have constructed without Federal reclamation assistance, the Woodruff Narrows Dam on the upper Bear River. We made this effort in order that you might be more inclined to give special consideration to the Dixie project, which is beyond our ability to finance. You will find tabulated in the accomplishments folder eight projects constructed in Washington County with State assistance. All of these compliment the proposed Dixie project. The Kolob Reservoir is, in fact, an integral part of the project since it provides storage regulation that will permit transbasin diversion of water to Iron County. Among other things you probably have some concern over the ability of the Dixie project water users to repay the costs allocated to irrigation. The experience of the board is of significance here. The |