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<br />A, B. WEST
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<br />about 12 miles south of Parker and begin dredging a new channel in the first 7 miles of the lower por-
<br />tion of the Parker Division. All of this reach is through Indian lands, Channel dredging will be a start
<br />toward our planned salvage of 24,200 acre-feet of water per year, Reinforcing the work in the Palo
<br />Verde and Cibola Divisions, it will reduce the sediment inflow to the Imperial Division nearly 800,000
<br />tons per year.
<br />
<br />The total estimated cost of the work in the Parker Division is $11,640,000, Of this amount,
<br />$2,520,000, or about 22 percent, is allocated for recreation, fish, and wildlife features.
<br />
<br />The Yuma Division extends downstream from Laguna Dam about 20 miles to Pilot Knob, west
<br />of Yuma. We have worked out a plan for this reach of the river which will encourage further recrea-
<br />tional development of the area, provide increased security from floods, and salvage 22,000 acre-feet of
<br />water per year. The plan includes development of Mittry Lake as a fishery oriented recreation area,
<br />Fish and wildlife features are also provided on the California side of the river.
<br />
<br />Since 1958, the riverflow in the Yuma Division has diminished to a relative trickle. Below La-
<br />guna Dam it now varies from about 100 to 300 cubic feet per second. Heavy brush has grown on the
<br />dried-up portions of the riverbed creating a hazard, espe'cially to the North and South Gila Valleys, if
<br />flood-producing storms of even moderate severity occur upstream from Imperial Dam, We presently
<br />have a contractor clearing this growth from the riverbed. When this clearing is complete, we will exca-
<br />vate a pilot channel for flows under 5,000 cfs from Laguna Dam to the confluence with the Gila.
<br />
<br />Planned work in the Yuma Division will cost $4,280,000, Of this amount, $1,460,000, or a-
<br />bout 34 percent, is for recreation and wildlife features.
<br />
<br />The Imperial Division comprises about 37 miles of the river above Imperial Dam. The Limi-
<br />trophe Division is the 20 miles of river which constitute the International Boundary with Mexico, Be-
<br />cause coordination of multiple-purpose planning in other reaches has required all of our funds and
<br />manpower, we have been able to deal only with the day-to-day problems in these two Divisions. But
<br />we know that these Divisions have long-range problems. In"the Imperial Division, for example, a very
<br />large load of sediment is dumped from upstream areas, and it is possible that even with expedited
<br />dredging upstream we may not be able to avoid direct removal of sediment from Imperial reservoir,
<br />The choking of the California Sluiceway with the sediment returned to the river from the desilting
<br />works in the All-American Canal has been solved temporarily by a plan of intermittent sluicing.
<br />
<br />A similar problem at the Gila head works is bei\1g investigated. The channel along the east bank
<br />of the reservoir to the Gila head works is nearly closed by sediment, and most of the riverflow has been
<br />forced to the west bank, The main channel for delivery of water to the Gila Canal is from the All-Am-
<br />erican Canal head works across the diversion pool adjacent to the upstream face of the dam, Sedimen-
<br />tation occurring in this channel, if allowed to continue unchecked, will restrict the delivery of water to
<br />the Gila Canal. Some difficulty was experienced last summer in delivering peak irrigation demands on
<br />the Arizona side.
<br />
<br />Investigations are underway to determine the best method of keeping a clear approach channel
<br />to the Gila Canal headworks. Fundamentally, the best method is to keep the sediment in place up-
<br />stream, rather than eroding it for transport to our diversion facilities. Unless this is done soon, we shall
<br />have a major and costly problem at Imperial Dam,
<br />
<br />The water I have been talking about is your water, water for you and the people you represent.
<br />It is water for the States of Arizona and California and Nevada, to be used in the manner which best
<br />meets their needs,
<br />
<br />There has been controversy concerning our river program. The uninitiated assert that the river
<br />must be left in its natural state. The basic truth is that the lower Colorado River is now a stream whol-
<br />ly controlled by man, It was in its natural state, or nearly so, prior to closure at Hoover Dam, Try as
<br />anyone will, it cannot be characterized other than a fully controlled river. The water that enters the
<br />river at Lee Ferry, with the exception of the tributary inflow about equal to the annual evaporation
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