WSP11698

• File Number: 8210.470
• Description: Pacific Southwest Interagency Committee
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 8/6/1964
• Author: Unknown
• Title: Lower Colorado River Basin Project - Report with Individual and Minority Views - To Accompany S 1658 - Calendar Number 1267
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

OOH96

THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER BASIN PROJECT

the commitment of any Federal funds for the purpose beyond those
available in the development fund, nor would it constitute the United
States an insure1' of the availability of water, The United States
traditionally has not warranted the achievement of the purposes of
water resource projects. .
The proviso anticipates the contingency that in any given year the
"makeup" water may not be required. In that event the extra water
will be disposed of at rates determined in the regular course of law.

Accretions to the development fund
In developing an estimate of annual credits to the development
fund recent adverse streamflow together with an optimum rate of
Upper Basin development were used. Power rates were assumed to
continue at the same level after payout as those used in the repay-
ment analysis. After the specific costs of existing features and of
work authorized by this act have been returned to the Treasury, annual
credits to the development fund will exceed $54 million. This, when
projected over an additional 50-year period, would aggregate $2.7
billion which would be available under the provision of section 102 of
this act to aid in the ultimate solution of the water problems of the
Southwest and to help this region and the entire Nation attain its
economic potential.
Revenues expected from water and power sales after payout of
specific chl1rge are tabuhtted as follows:
~arble Canyon______________________________________________ $9,600,000
Bridge Canyon___ __ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ __ __ _ _ __ __ __ _____ _ _ _____ _ _ 22, 300, 000
Hoover____ _ __ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ ____ ______ _ _ _ _ _ _ _________ ___ __ _ _ _ 14,400, 000
Parker-Davis_c__ _ ___ _ _ __ ____ ______ _____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ____ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ 2, 900, 000
Net water revenues___________________________________________ 5,000,000

Total amount__________________________________________ 54,200,000
Section 103
Section 103 requires the Secretary of the Interior to investigate and
report on the water supply and water needs of the lower basin, and
on various alternative sources of water to meet those needs. Although
suggested by the similar provisions in the Colorado River Storage
Project Act, the requirements of section 103 are both more specific
and more rigorous. The reason for this specificity and rigor is to
meet, insofar as practical, the needs of the lower basin States by the
time the anticipated shortages occur.
California wishes to be protected against a Central Arizona unit
which simply diverts more water from the Colorado River without
providing means to increase the water supply. Thus, some Cali-
forriia users suggested that if Congress authorizes the Central Arizona
unit, it should simultaneously authorize projects to protect California.
Since such projects have not yet been investigated sufficiently to per-
mit their immediate authorization, the suggestion can be stated con-
versely, i.e., that the authorization of the Central Arizona unit be de-
layed until Congress can properly authorize the projects to protect
California.
On the other hand, Arizona urgently needs immediate construction
of the Central Arizona unit and the development of additional im-
ported supplies, if she is to forestall the disastrous impact upon her
existing and expanding economy which will inevitably follow the ex-
haustion of her ground water resources. Authorization of the Cen-

i.

!, ',~,

',.,,';

<.,,'

"" ",

'....'