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<br />... <br /> <br />need for support from the Upper States will be largely gone; once the <br />Colorado River bursts through the man-made levees that stand <br />between it and the great Imperial Valley, as it may do any day, public <br />sentiment will force a bill through Congress providing for relief. ,>67 <br /> <br />Delph Carpenter was also concerned about power issues. Southern California's rapid growth <br />was generating a demand for power as well as water. By 1925, 24 applications involving the <br />Colorado River were pending before the Federal Power Commission.68 Without ratification of a <br />compact, construction of a large power dam on the lower river could create a priority call on future <br />Upper Basin uses. <br /> <br />Thus, the Upper Basin States were forced to change tactics and adopt a six-state ratification <br />strategy. Tyler credits Carpenter with authorship of the six-state plan.69 Eventually Congress took <br />control of the six-state process as it became a part of California's strategy to pass the fourth Swing- <br />Johnson bill in 1928. As the debate in Congress evolved Carpenter turned against the six-state plan, <br />but he could not turn back the tide.70 <br /> <br />On December 21, 1928 Congress enacted the Boulder Canyon Project Act (1928 Act).71 The <br />1928 Act authorized the construction of Boulder Dam and the All-American Canal. The Act <br />authorized the Secretary of the Interior to enter into water and power contracts and it prohibited the <br />Federal Power Commission from issuing any permits or licenses upon or affecting the Colorado <br />River or any of its tributaries, except the Gila River. <br /> <br />The 1928 Act established priorities for the use of the dam and reservoir: "First, for river <br />regulation, improvement of navigation and flood control; second, for irrigation and domestic uses <br />and satisfaction of present perfected rights in pursuance of Article VIII of said Colorado River <br />Compact; and third, for power." <br /> <br />The act pre-approved a compact agreement among the Lower Division States apportioning: <br />· 300,000 afto Nevada. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />2,800,000 afto Arizona plus 'li of the excess or surplus waters unapportioned by the <br />Colorado River Compact. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The State of Arizona would have exclusive beneficial consumptive use of the Gila <br />River and its tributaries within Arizona. <br /> <br />67 House Resolution Document No. 717, Eightieth Congress, Second Session. see note 12 at A13l. <br /> <br />68 Tyler, page 257. <br /> <br />69 Tyler, page 259. <br /> <br />70 Tyler, pages 259-263. <br /> <br />71 45 Stat 1057.(1928). <br /> <br />Page -24- <br />