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r\ ~ 0:-> On June !rJ,LI967, the Senate Intetior and Insular Affairs Committee approved S. 1004, pri- marily a Central Arizona Project authorization bill, with certain modifications. Members of the Board's staff in collaboration with Mr. Ely, and others, assisted Senator Kuchel in the prepara- tion of minority views to accompany the repon of the Interior Committee: Senate Report 408, together with minority and individual views. During a meeting of the Colorado River Board on July 5, 1967, the Chief Engineer analyzed the key provisions of S. 1004 and pointed out that the water problems of the Southwest would not be solved but rather compounded if such legislation were to be enacted. The Board op- posed the bill by unanimous resolution: The Colorado Ri,'er Board of California op- poses the enactment of the Central Arizona Proj- ect bill approved by the Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs on June 29, 1967. The proposed bill does not contain the essen- tial elements of a fair and equitable settlement of the many problems of the Colorado River water supply. It diverts revenues from Hoover, Parker and DaI'is projects after 1987 to the sup- port of the Central Arizona Project instead of to the augmentation of the water supply of the Colo- rado River, which is so urgently required to meet Upper Basin as well as Lower Basin water needs, 'Ve again urge that the Senate adopt Senator Thomas Kuehel's Colorado River Project bill S, 861, as outlined in the resolution of this Board adopted May 17, 1967, Following Roor debate which culminated on August 7, the Senate by voice vote approved S. 1004. This bill is unacceptable to California for several reasons: 1. Provides protection of the 4.4 million acre feet per year for only 27 years. 2. Contains no provision for commencement of water augmentation studies. 3. Does not provide for construction of Huala- pai Dam. 4. Earmarks Hoover-Parker-Oavis power reve- nues to help contribute to payoff of the Cen- tral Arizona Project with higher rates for Southern California and Nevada power users. Chairman Aspinall criticized the Senate action and stated that no action on Colorado River Basin legislation would be taken by his commit- tee in the first session of the 90th Congress. On August 17 the committee voted to hold no more regular meetings after the week of August 28. 18 Mr. \Nin Adams, Assistant Administrator, Re- sources Agency, and Mr. Gianelli, met with the Colorado River Board on September 5, 1967. Mr. Gianelli discussed various problems faced by California in relation to possible courses of action which might be followed to achieve California's . _,.1- :._ __...1:__ r"~1~_~...1~ 0:........ u......:.... 1...........;...1... gual~ 111 }Jt:lIUIII~ '-...'-'H,HdUU J.'\.1VI,.,I LIId':'.lI1 1\..5.1JJa- tion. He emphasized the continuing need for augmentation of the Colorado River, based upon meaningful studies, as the real basis for solution to the Colorado River problem. On September 28, 1967, Senator Hayden an- nounced a move to amend the House Public 'N orks Appropriations measure by adding to it the text of the Central Arizona Project bill, S. 1004, as passed by the Senate. Such a move would in effect circumvent the House Interior Commit- tee and bring the measure on the Roor of the House for vote. The California House delegation met on call of Congressman Holifield and voted to oppose the Hayden amendment. Representa- tives of other Colorado River Basin states simi- larly opposed such action by Senator Hayden. On October 10 it was reported that Senator Hayden had withdrawn his motion, on the stringth of a promise that the Honse Interior Committee would consider the Colorado River Basin Project legislation early in the second ses- sion of the Congress. Because of the major differences between the Senate legislation, S, 1004, and H.R, 3300, pend- ing in the House, there ensued a period during which many suggestions were made by Cali- fornia representatives, the Upper Basin states, the federal government and others as to possible shifts in policy and lines of cooperative action which would perhaps achieve the desired results without sacrifice of basic regional principles. Members of the Board and its staff took active roles in meetings involving California interests and representatives of other basin states. On November 28, 1967, Governor Reagan wrote to Chairman Rummonds concerning the status of Colorado River legislation and express- ing his conviction that it was essential that all possible effort be made to further the augmen- tation of the inadequate water supplies of the Colorado River and yet provide for optimum protection for existing economies in California until the river is actually augmented, and stating his view that California's position could be im- proved through negotiations with Arizona. The 1 ,~