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<br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />MR. STAPLETON: <br /> <br />MR. PETERSON: <br /> <br />J./OJ. <br /> <br />Now the line that I am following, and I <br />might add also there is another area down there <br />just north of Yuma and west of the Colorado Riv- <br />er - I don't know the tribe and I don't know the <br />name of the reservation - but the same situation <br />prevails there. It is presently partially irri- <br />gated. The irrigation can be expanded. Now if <br />that right comes into existence then that water <br />will have to pass Lee Ferry and it will be over <br />and above our apportionment. In other words, <br />we'll have to pass water by Lee Ferry to take <br />care of those lands if those conditions come into <br />existence. <br /> <br />My suggestion is that we couid very possibly <br />meet that very serious danger headon in this act, <br />and it's merely a suggestion, by providing that <br />in consideration of the adop~ion of this act and <br />taking care of the Indians in New Mexico and <br />whatever language you want to put in it - I'm <br />not smart enough to devise the language - language <br />which would Qut off the right of the United States <br />to claim any water for the irrigatio~ of any <br />Indian lands, including those which are in New <br />M~xico. The right to claim any water of the San <br />Juan River or its tributaries for that purpose. <br />I"can't see where New Mexico could object to such <br />language. Certainly they don't want enough water <br />to go' down to irrigate the Colorado Indian Reser- <br />vation land. Certainly we can support it by <br />California and undoubtedly by the other basin <br />states and I think it is well worthwhile to head <br />off what I can see as a very serious threat to <br />all of the Colorado River by trying to incorp- <br />orate something into the. language of this bill <br />and getting it approved by Congress. <br /> <br />Now that's just a suggestion Mr. Chairman <br />and Mr. Director. I'm hepped on fhat thing. I <br />don't want to see us' having bo bypass water at <br />Lee Ferry to irrigate lands which are called <br />Indian lands, but that's a complete misnomer <br />because 90% of them have been leased out to' white <br />men for irrigation purposes.- <br /> <br />"Thank you, Mr. Barnard. <br /> <br />Mr. Peterson." <br /> <br />"Mr. Chairman, I can see the' possibility <br />where such language incorporated in this bill <br />might be objected to by New Mexico. I'll go <br />along with what Mr. Barnard has said about the <br />