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<br />Water Resources Developlnent
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<br />Statutes of 1935.) Its negotiation was brought about by circum-
<br />stances such that it became apparent no development of the Repub-
<br />lican river could take place in any of the three states without assur-
<br />ance as to what portion of the water supply each state was entitled
<br />to have. The compact, negotiated by the state engineers, acting as
<br />commissioners duly appointed by the governors of the three states,
<br />established the average annual water supply of the basin to be
<br />478,900 acre-feet. It allocates to Colorado 54,100 acre-feet, to Kan-
<br />~as 190,300 acre-feet, and tD Nebraska 234,500 acre-feet. These
<br />allocations are made on the basis of the principle that benefi~ial
<br />consumptive use is the measure of the right to divert and use the
<br />natural waters of the bf1sin. The limit of development on tribu-
<br />taries is defined by the compact in provisions specifying the sources
<br />from which quantities allocated to each state are to be derived. For
<br />example, of the total quantity allocated to Kansas, 23,000 acre-feet
<br />are to come from the South Fork of the Republican river; 8,800
<br />ncre-feet. from Sappa creek; 12,600 acre-feet from Prairie Dog
<br />creek, etc. It is not required under the terms of the compact that
<br />these amounts must be used only on these streams, but only that
<br />quantities used at these locations cannot exceed these limits.
<br />In order for the compact to become effective it was necessary to
<br />secure its approval by congress. Upon being submitted to congress,
<br />objection was made by the Federal Power Commission to language
<br />in the compact stating that "The Republican river and tributaries
<br />thereof within the basin are not navigable ." Sub-
<br />sequently, upon passage without amendment of the bill approving
<br />. the compact, it was vetoed by the President. In his veto message
<br />he said:
<br />
<br />"To Ihc House of Representatives:
<br />"I retum herewith, without my approval H. R. 5945, a bill grant.ing the
<br />consent of congress to a compact entered into by the states of Colorado, Kan-
<br />,"s, and Nebraska with respect to the use of the waters of the Republican
<br />river basin.
<br />"The compact was negotiated by the three states with a view to apportion-
<br />ing the waters of the Republican basin for irrigation and relat.ed uses. I ap-
<br />prove of this purpose and of an interstate compact as a means of making
<br />the necessary apportionment. In this basin, as in other parts of the arid and
<br />semiarid West, the effective use of water and the control of destructive flood.
<br />demand ioint action by the ,tates working in harmonious relation with the
<br />federal agencies concemed.
<br />"It. is unfortunate that the compact also seeks t.o withdraw the jurisdiction
<br />of the United States over the waters of the Republican basin for purposes of
<br />navigation, and that it appears to restrict the authority of the United States
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