OCR Text |
Show no development in either State during the life of the Compact should have the effect of establishing any claim upon the river or its tributaries as against the rights, or to the prejudice of any of the signatory States Negotiations were continued from time to time during the 5~year life of this temporary Compact*, looking to the consummation of a permanent Compact* without tangible results. The Legislatures of the three States* by unanimous agreement* extended the life of the Compact to June ls 1937* and again until October 1, 1937* when the temporary Compact was allowed to empire. Prior to the latter date however, the Commissioners duly appointed by the Governors of the three States (for Colorado, M Co Hinderlider* M. Am. Soc. C. E *% for New Mexico, Thomas M. McClure* M. Am. Soc. C» E*, and for Texas, Mr. , Frank B« Clayton)* and a representative of the United States (S» 0» Harper, IU Am. Soc» C-> E«)* continued with their negotiations for a permanent compact* On September 23* 1936* however* the President* by executive order, instructed the appropriate Federal agencies "* * * not to approve any application for a project involving the use of Rio Grande viators without securing from the National Resources Committee a prompt opinion on it from all relevant points of view." This executive order was based upon the assumption that further developments in the Rio Grande Basin above Fort Quitman might impair exist- ing Federal investmentss and also violate the terms of the temporary PAo Grande Compact* to which the Federal Government was a party e Following the issuance- of the foregoing order, the three Interstate River Commissioners entered into an agreement with the National Resources Committee for a com- prehensive and detailed survey of the land and water resources of the Upper Rio Grande Basing present uses, deficiencies * surpluses* and future re- quirements-, together with a determination of the feasibility of supplement- ing existing water resources of the basin through the importation of waters from the Colorado River Basin. The investigation was conducted by the Hater Resources Committee under the general supervision of the National Resources Committee, and under the immediate supervision of Harlan HY Barrows and Prof. Frank Adams* repre- senting the Water Resources Committee* and No C* Grover* 11. Am. Soc. Ct E. Chief Engineer of the United States Geological Survey* representing that Department. Separate phases of this investigation were allocated to the United States Bureau of Agricultural Engineering* the United States Geological Survey* United States Bureau of Reclamation* and United States Bureau of Plant Industry* ;bhe three States cooperating through their Interstate River Commissioners and State Engineers* and through financial assistance to th© sum of si>55*QOO* The major cost of the investigation* amounting to about ^l+OO^OOO* was borne by the National Resources Committee and various agencies of the Federal Government. This investigation* it is believed* was the most complete ever undertaken by the Federal Government in connection with an in- terstate stream. The investigation covered a period of about 1-1-2 years» and the results have been compiled in two volumes by the National Resources Committee. "3 Following the conclusions of this investigation in the Summer of 1937* the Interstate River Commissioners and their advisers* after six different ^Regional Planning, Part VI, Upper Rio Grande, Feb. 1938, National Resources Committee. |