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Show 108 DIXIE PROJECT, UTAH ever stopped. The State of Utah believes that she has the right to a reasonable part of the waters which originate in the Virgin River drainage in Utah. Of real national significance is the fact that without this, or some alternative development, there simply is no way to stop the great losses of water to non- beneficial uses along and in the channel of the Virgin River. Natural vegetation covering many acres of river bottom channel, and evaporation will continue to waste this precious commodity if the river remains uncontrolled. The U. S. Government and the people of Arizona, New Mexico, California, and other Western States are expending large sums of money to eradicate non- beneficial water loving plants. The Dixie project, when built, will automatically reduce or eliminate water waste by such vegetation. The Virgin River is a small contributor to the lower Colorado River system. Historically, it is estimated to discharge some 180,000 acre- feet past the Littlefield, Ariz., gaging station. The Dixie project, which is so important to the people of Utah and which is so economically feasible, will reduce the flow at Littlefield to about 113,000 acre- feet. This represents a net loss of 67,000 acre- feet. The net effect of the Dixie project on the flow into Lake Mead will be much less than 67; 000 acre- feet because of the elimination of considerable water loving vegetation and flooding downstream from Littlefield, Ariz. We, in Utah, believe this to be a good project. It will do much to relieve the water shortage in the southwest corner of our State. It will also benefit our neighbors in Arizona and Nevada downstream. It will benefit the entire Lower Colorado River Basin by reducing silt movement into Lake Mead. The Dixie project will consume only a relatively small proportion of the total waters of the Virgin River that arise in Utah and it will make possible the salvage of considerable water now wasting to nonbeneficial uses. Mr. CRIDDLE. I was asked by Governor Clyde to appear before your committee as an official representative of the State of Utah. s He sends his sincere regrets at being unable to appear before you today. There are several points which I would like to make from this statement which we have prepared. First, of course, the State of Utah officially has gone on record many times supporting this project. I think it has the undivided support of the entire State" of Utah. Another thing which we would like to call to your attention is the benefits to the area as a whole and to this national product of water resource, which this project will have. Only through the construction of storage reservoirs and prevention of flooding and silting- up of the river channel can some of this water be salvaged from nonbeneficial use. We feel this has benefits directly to the State of Utah and indirectly for the users downstream, and indirectly for the Nation, because it is salvaging water from a nonbeneficial use, making it a beneficial use. We realize this project has been long in the offing. We urge you to give it your favorable consideration. Mr. ROGERS. Thank you, Mr. Criddle. Without objection your written statement will be included in the record as though read in full, and your supplemental remarks will follow. Are there any questions, Mr. Johnson ? Mr. JOHNSON. NO questions. Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Skubitz? Mr. SKUBITZ. NO questions. Mr. ROGERS. Mr. White? Mr. WHITE. NO questions. Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Burton ? |