History of Diversion Dam Celebrated

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History of diversion dam celebrated http : / /www.blythecanews.com /main. asp ?SectionID= 24 &SubSectionl... In 1994, PVID began meeting with the federal government to find a permanent solution to their diversion problem. "In April 1944, Congress approved $250,000 for a temporary rock weir and generally approved $25,000 per year for Bureau of Reclamation crews to provide maintenance. In 1950, PVID formed their Gravity Diversion Committee. In 1952, a 150 foot long section of the rock weir washed away and it took three weeks and $75,000 to repair. "This failure brought to the forefront a need for a permanent structure," Seiler said. Talks between PVID, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) concerning the building of a permanent structure continued for the next four years until an agreement was reached and HR Bill 8498 was drafted and approved by the House and Senate. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Bill on Sept. 2, 1954. On Sept. 20, 1954, the project was submitted to landowners for a vote and was overwhelmingly approved. The Bureau of Reclamation contractor began work on the dam within 30 days after bids were opened on Dec. 6, 1955 and the Diversion works were turned over to PVID on Oct. 3, 1957. A dedication was held on Dec. 17, 1957. According to Ed Smith, general manager of PVID, the no- interest loan PVID received to build the dam was paid off this year and PVID has taken over sole ownership of the facility. "This one is the first permanent structure where they didn't have to worry about the river washing it out," smith said. "It took the uncertainty of irrigating out of the equation. Even the rock weir that was there, high floods would knock them out and the level would go down and they had to put more rock. This dam has been a real stabilizing influence for the farming economy of the valley." The Palo Verde Diversion Dam is located 12 miles north of Blythe on Highway 95. Article Comment Submission Form Please feel free to submit your comments. Article comments are not posted immediately to the Web site. Each submission must be approved by the Website editor, who may edit content for appropriateness. There may be a delay of 24 -48 hours for any submission while the website editor reviews and approves it. Note: All information on this form is required. Your telephone number is for our use only, and will not be attached to your comment. Name: Telephone: E -mail: of 4 11/26/2007 10:52 AM