BOARD02551

• Board Meeting Date: 8/11/1965
• Description: Minutes and Resolution
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

require release of water from Lake Mead
even though it interfered with power,
theoretically that could be done. So if
Lake Mead were completely drained, and that
was included in some of our studies, after
it was drained shortages would still occur I
in the Lower Basin. Shortages would persist
unless suodenly streamflow of rather large
magnitude happened which would replenish stor-
age in Lake Mead, build it up to power head
and above. All of which supposition would be
entirely unlikely.

It is our firm conclusion that the Cen-
tral Arizona Project should not be authorized
for construction unless there is authorized,
in some fashion or unless we can be assured
in some fashion, that there will be substan-
tial importations of water from areas of
surplus.

I didn't tell the group yesterday but
I think I will today, Felix. It is rather
ironical, Colorado's position in this matter
and even the Upper Basin's position in this
matter, in respect to the Central Arizona
Project. We found, at one time, three open
ends on the river which made uncertain the
amount of water that might be utilized in
the upper Basin or in any of the respective
states. One was the fact that Arizona had
not ratified the compact. Well, what was
the limit of her claims? We knew what her
claims were. ~fuat would be the limit as to
what the courts might recognize as to her
claims? It might be way beyond what she
might get out of the compact.

Three of us went down one time to talk I
to Governor Osborne to persuade him to have
their legislature ratify the compact in order
to close that open end. We indicated that
it was to Arizona's benefit to come under the
tent of the compact. We promised, and we ful-
filled the promise, that we would aid in
getting a contract with the Secretary of the