| OCR Text |
Show -89- by this compact, shall be made within the allocations hereinabove made for use in that State and shall be taken into account in determining the extent of use within that State« The effect of that provision is, if Federal agencies construct, let us say, a reclamation project, or any other project through Federal financing, those Federal agencies shall recognize these compact water allocations, and in those projects provide for the use of water in accordance with the terms of this compact. If that provision were not included, gentlemen j, there would be a question whether Federal agencies would be compelled to respect these compact allocations of watero There is also a question of whether mere congressional approval of the com- pact would affect that purpose, and, therefore, the necessity of this definite and positive legislative provision? Subsaction (b) might be termed the substitute of the so-called paramountcy clause, and it is offered as a reasonable substitute, taking into consideration what we believe to be legitimate objections to the paramountcy clause as former- ly considered. It provides? The United States cr those acting by or under its authority, in the exercise of rights or powers arising from whatever jurisdiction the United States has in, over, and to the waters of the basin,- shall recognize, to the extent consistent with the best utilization of the waters, for multiple purposes * that beneficial consumptive use of the waters within the basin, is of paramount importance to the development of the basin. Anyone familiar with irrigation in the West will recognize that this is a fact» It is a fact in every part of the arid West; and it is a fact which we must recognize if we are to sustain the economy of, and continue irrigation de- velopment in, the West- Any exercise of Federal jurisdiction which defeats this purpose of beneficial consumptive use, we believe in the end will defeat; and seridusly limit continued agricultural development in these arid States* This provision also provides? and no exercise of such power~»- That is, the Federal jurisdiction-- or right thereby that would interfere with the full beneficial consumptive use of the waters within the basin shall be made-except upon a determin- ation, giving due consideration to t he objectives of this compact, and after consultation with all interested Federal agencies and the State officials charged with the administration of this compact, that such exercise is In the interest of the best utilization of such waters for multiple purposes. To my mind, no principle is more important than that we should obtain the highest beneficial use of those waters, and in thinking of the problems here |
