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<br />U .5. NEWS Be 'l<<>RLD REPORT
<br />
<br />March 4-, 1968
<br />
<br />FOR 17 WESTERN STATES-
<br />YEAR OF DlECISION ON WATER
<br />
<br />Leaders of Western States are
<br />girding for a decisive battle. .
<br />States of the Southwest, run-
<br />ning short of water, eye their
<br />neighbors' water sources.
<br />Result is a fierce fight, with
<br />the outcome hinging on actions
<br />of Congress in 1968.
<br />
<br />DENVER
<br />
<br />A bruising, bitter fight over the water
<br />holes that are few and far between in
<br />most of the American West is nearing a
<br />showdown. The stakes are high.
<br />Decisions made this year by Congress
<br />in Washington will affect development
<br />of water projects and economic growth
<br />of 17 Western States beyond the turn of
<br />the century.
<br />Basic points at issue are outlined for
<br />you alon~ with the accompanying map.
<br />The battle reflected in this outline was
<br />predicted 75 years ago by one of the
<br />foremost 'Western explorers, Maj. John
<br />Wesley Powell. In 1893, he gave the
<br />first International lITigation Conference
<br />in Los Angeles this warning about plans
<br />for Western development:
<br />"I tell you, gentlemen, you are piling
<br />up a heritage of conflict and litigation
<br />of water rights, for there is not sufficient
<br />water to supply the land."
<br />Population shift. Until recent years,
<br />Major Powell's waming was largely for-
<br />gotten. Since World War II, a "west-
<br />ward tilt" in U. S. population expansion
<br />has brought people swarming into this
<br />part of the nation.
<br />Arizona, for example, ranks second
<br />only to Florida in rate of growth among
<br />the 50 States. California and Nevada are
<br />tied for third. New Mexico ranks next.
<br />Texas, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming all
<br />are increasing at a rate faster than the
<br />national average.
<br />"Vater experts in the "Vest, and in the
<br />U. S. Bureau of Reclamation in Wash-
<br />ington, still hope to prove Major Powell
<br />wrong.
<br />These experts have drawn a dozen or
<br />more plans to show how water can be
<br />talcen hundreds of miles and pumped
<br />over mountains to irrigate deserts and
<br />supply big cities.
<br />Until these blueprints are transformed
<br />into dams, reservoirs, pumping stations
<br />and canals. Western States have little
<br />
<br />choice but to fight for every available
<br />drop of water.
<br />The fiercest fi ht of all-that between
<br />Ariz na " rn'a-entere Its nal
<br />phase on January 30 with hearings be-
<br />fore the lITigation and Reclamation Sub-
<br />committee of the House Committee on
<br />Interior and Insular Affairs. These hear-
<br />ings centered on bills be-
<br />fore Congress to authorize
<br />a big water project for
<br />Arizona, and other works
<br />involving the Colorado
<br />River and its tributaries.
<br />Now all the \vitnesses
<br />have been heard. The
<br />Subcommittee is behind
<br />closed doors hammering
<br />out a bill that is expected
<br />to be reported to the full
<br />House in April for a de-
<br />cision. If approved by the
<br />House, the bill will have
<br />to be adjusted for differ-
<br />ences \vith one passed by
<br />the Senate in 1967.
<br />Arizona, for 20 year~
<br />has been til!html! tor an-
<br />pJ:Wl. of the Central Ari-
<br />zona Project. This is an
<br />aqueduct system that
<br />would draw water from
<br />the Colorado River to aug-
<br />ment supplies in the Phoe-
<br />nix and Tucson areas.
<br />The battle bel!all in
<br />COlll!reSS in 1 ~47 Then
<br />it shifted to the courts in
<br />1952. Finally, in ~
<br />the Su reme Court in th
<br />case 0 z nu
<br />
<br />the water it soul!ht from
<br />thp. C;olnrrlrln, Since that
<br />decision, Arizona has been
<br />seeking congressional ap-
<br />proval of its project.
<br />California is wilIinl! to
<br />snnnort the Arizona 'Oroiect-fQr a 'Orice.
<br />~ll; n:ce i~ first call on the Colorad9
<br />'v r t kee water flo\vinl! throul!h an
<br />a~ueduct alread~ in ~lace an~ ~~IOi:~
<br />t sunolv the eeml l! nnnt:1 n
<br />southern California.
<br />The battle lines. Arizona Congress-
<br />men charge that Califomill;<cby demand-
<br />ing this price, is saying in . eHect: If
<br />there isn't enough water in the Colorado
<br />to supply both of us,. youC\ln. have only
<br />what is left after \ve draw our share.
<br />
<br />"
<br />
<br />To which Californians reply that the
<br />Boulder Canyon Project Act, approved
<br />by Congress in 1929, guarantees Cali-
<br />fornia the amowlt of water that the State
<br />is demanding as the price for supporting
<br />the Central Arizona Project.
<br />The California position is that the
<br />Supreme Court decision assumes that the
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<br />-MetropolItan Water District Photo
<br />Giant aqueduct in southern California draws from the.
<br />Colorado, a river that is running short of water.
<br />
<br />Colorado produces more water than it
<br />actually does.
<br />The sad fact is that the Colorado
<br />River is overcommitted. Five other
<br />States in the river's basin. have been
<br />drawn into the Arizona-California dis-
<br />pute. They are: Nevada, Utah, New
<br />Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming. Each
<br />has been promised water from the Col-
<br />orado, and each is pressing its claim.
<br />The way to resolve the bitter dispute.
<br />
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