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<br />A. B. WEST
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<br />end of the Cibola Valley at Adobe Ruins. Our work in the Cibola Division is principally the dredging
<br />of a new channel and stabilizing the bank lines. Several sections of the river are being shifted to a new
<br />location so that water losses may be reduced. Our estimates indicate that 35,000 acre-feet of water
<br />will be saved by improved land drainage resuIting from the combined efforts of Reclamation and the
<br />Palo Verde Irrigation District. The District and the Bureau of Reclamation are already well into their
<br />respective work programs and large areas of land are being returned to production because of the im-
<br />proved drainage. Reclamation's work here will be essentially complete in about 2 years.
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<br />As rapidly as completion of the new river channel will permit, we are installing fish and wild-
<br />life features which were incorporated in the project plan at the recommendation of fish and wildlife
<br />agencies. At the new Oxbow Lake created by our work south of the Palo Verde townsite, we have in-
<br />stalled permanent structures that will freshen the water and preserve the quality of the lake. We have
<br />completed one of the planned boat ramps at this site. Planning for Reclamation-constructed features
<br />of the new Cibola National Wildlife Refuge is moving along in step with our other work.
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<br />Completed work in this Division will reduce the sediment inflow into the Imperial Division by
<br />350,000 tons per year. Total costs are estimated to be $18,200,000, with $6,680,000 or about 37 per-
<br />cent of the total being for wildlife and recreation features. Most of the wildlife costs, $5,767,000, are
<br />for purchase of refuge land. This purchase has not yet been included in an approved budget. As time
<br />goes on and land costs increase this amount could double or triple.
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<br />The work in these three divisions, when done, will achieve stabilization for important seg-
<br />ments of the river where it was necessary and practicable to make an early start on river management.
<br />Our total river management program, however, looks at the full length of the river below Davis Dam.
<br />Our goal is to be able to assure the people of the Southwest that they ani receiving the maximum at-
<br />tainable efficiency in water saving, sediment reduction, operating convenience, and protection of their
<br />land and other resources, in keeping with attainable goals for fish, wildlife and recreation.
<br />
<br />Some divisions have special problems.
<br />
<br />The Topock Gorge Division has received a lot of attention this past year. It extends from To-
<br />pock, Arizona, 12 miles below Needles, California, to the upper end of Lake Havasu. The total
<br />length is about 14 miles. Of this, about 8 miles are actually within the Topock Gorge, and 6 miles are
<br />either wide sections of the river below Topock, or the sediment-filled upper arm of Lake Havasu. We
<br />completed a plan last year for deepening the main channel to restore the river upstream to its historic
<br />level. This would recover some of the water which is presently being lost because of backwater effects
<br />from sediment deposits in this Division. Designing the channel proved to be much easier than working
<br />out acceptable methods for disposal of the excavated sediment. Nevertheless, a plan which recognized
<br />wildlife and recreation needs was completed.
<br />
<br />In October, 1967, we began dredging just above Topock Gorge and completed 1.7 miles of the
<br />initially proposed channel improvement. In June of this year renewed protests from wildlife interests
<br />resuIted in suspension of all work in the Topock Gorge Division pending a reevaluation. The dredge
<br />was returned to Needles for repair, overhaul, and reassignment to other work. The total cost of the
<br />program in this reach of the river is estimated to be $4,520,000, of which $917,000, or about 20 per-
<br />cent, is for fish, wildlife, and recreation.
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<br />The Parker Division extends from Headgate Rock Dam near Parker, Arizona, almost to the
<br />Palo Verde Diversion Dam 43 miles downstream. Indian land has been developing rapidly in the upper
<br />part of the Parker Division. We have stabilized the riverbanks and narrowed the channel in this area
<br />to assist the Indian development programs. This was all contract work and involved no dredging.
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<br />Late this summer we reached agreement with the Colorado River Indian Tribes, the Bureau of
<br />Indian Affairs, and the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife on accomplishment of additional work
<br />within the boundaries of the Reservation. The dredge released from the Topock Gorge has begun work
<br />near Deer Island south of Parker. It will first deepen a backwater lake for fishing and related recrea-
<br />tional developments. When this work is completed next summer, the dredge will move into the river
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