|
<br />.
<br />
<br />48
<br />
<br />FEDERAL WATER nIGHTS LEGISLATION
<br />
<br />FEDERAL WATER nrGHTS LEGISLATION
<br />
<br />49
<br />
<br />of t.he claim t.hat t.he. Federul Government can, nt any time In the
<br />futuro when it dc~ircs water for the lIse of wit.hdrawn or reserved
<br />lalHls, ueprive these prior appropriators of their "ateI' rirrht.s,
<br />What is the solut.ion! ~
<br />The importance of proper wat.er conservat.ion and development,
<br />part.icularly in the Western States, dicl.ato.s that these basic cont.rovo..r-
<br />sial conlliets between the States and Federal Government should be
<br />determined as a matter of policy by t.he Conrrress und not by piece-
<br />mea.! 1 i.tigatio.n. The Pelton Dam (lecision is ~ good example of the
<br />confUSIOn whleh can result by attemptiner to determine these questions
<br />by the judicial proe['ss, ~
<br />This IIla1.h~I' h:lS Deen l~cforc Cong'!'('ss since ID~G, when S. 8G3 (the
<br />Barretol water hdl) "as mtroduco.d m the V,S, Senate, Tho matter
<br />is still }wfore COllgTC'SS ill the form of several bills, n.l1d considerable
<br />progTl'SS has heen made.
<br />Olle hill whil'.h w:\::.; proposed by t.he Dcpal't.llw-nt of Interior 1S c1e4
<br />si:.-''11['d t.o elimillat~. the claims of the Fo.tlo.ml GO\'erumellt under t.he
<br />Pelt.on ham c1eei.sion to t.he V('St-illO" of watp,' rifl'hts by virtuC'. of with-
<br />drawals or 1'eslw\"atiolls of puhlie/'""'lnnd. This~pl'opos:l.l has the sup-
<br />port of t.he :Hllllinistrat.ioll, including' the support. of the Department
<br />of .Justice. It, wOllhl appear hig-hly arlvisablc to press for the passage
<br />of t.his leg-isbtion while it. has ful! :l.(hllinistration snpport.
<br />There is also pcnding" in t.he Congress legislation similar to the Bar-
<br />rett \\'att'r bill which is dpsig"ned not only to eliminate claims of the
<br />Ff'dcl':l1 Gon'-I'IIIlWnt based on the theory of withdrawal or reservation
<br />of lamI, hut. dl'si:-'11ed also to make it clear that aU rights t.o the use
<br />of ,vater, whether by the Federal Go\"el'nment, private appropriators,
<br />or political Sllhdi\"isioIlS, shall be obtainl'(} in eonformity wit.h St,nte
<br />laws. Some of the Federal departments and ap:('ncies support this
<br />Jf;"g-islntion; othCI"S uelicye that the Federal Government cannot a.nd
<br />should not be required to obtain its rights to the use of water in ac-
<br />cordance with State law.
<br />To us in the 'Vest. it. seems only reasonable that the Federal Gov-
<br />ernment. should be bOlmd by t.be samo.. rules of priorit.y of water me
<br />as fIre its citizens. To the ext.ent that Federal needs may be over-
<br />riding, the nec6sary water supply may be obt.uiued by the power of
<br />emill('lIt domain.
<br />As I han~ p1"evio\lsl~y st.ated, we are g':l.ining- support in other parts
<br />of tile Xation for our comprehensive water leg:islnt.ion. As an in(1i-
<br />cat.ion of the support which mig-ht be expected. is a recent statmnent
<br />of So.nator ,rallieS 0, Eastland of Mississippi who said with reference
<br />to the pending water legislat.ion:
<br />I helie,c tllnt thi:o: proposp.d legi.sl:1tion Is of such importance that n compre.-
<br />h('lI:;i\'l' hill'should be reportpd nml p:l....;;:;;ed nt thi~ !':e~sion of the Congrp~s. This
<br />I~ a prOllitious timc for II!'; to unite and enn('t ndequnte nnci cnmprehen~ive le,:;iR~
<br />lation to protect the water resources of all the Stutes, the arid as well DS the
<br />humid. 3A'aingt further encroachments by the Federal Government.
<br />In conclusion, I repeat my opinion that a dun I system of water
<br />ricrhts and water control and llse, one set of rules applyin~ to the Fed-
<br />er';,l Government and another set of rules applying- to other water
<br />users, cnn only result in confusion and chaos.
<br />Future development of t.he water resources in the West will require
<br />more and more the cooperation of the States and the Federal Govern-
<br />
<br />nlC'lIt.. As time g'<X";S on, water dcv(~lopm(mt becom('~ more C'omplcx
<br />and more t'xpensi\'c. If t.hc supply is to kcep pace wit.h t.lle demand,
<br />it will rCfluire the cooperation, coordinat.ion, :1I](11)f'~t, cll'orts of Fcd-
<br />('1':11, Stat~, and local g-overnments and public and pri",lte institutions,
<br />nTlll pJ'iv:1tC'. r.itizens.
<br />So lonrr as the conflict. between tho vVl'stern States and the Federa'
<br />GOVCI'IlIl~lIt, cxisls ovel. wliat Ln..... nTHI what rules and l"cgul:1..tionsshall
<br />g'ovcrn the cOlltrol, use ':1nd distl'ihlltion of tlle wilters of the 1Ycstern
<br />Slates, so long- will the ill will, mistrust, find fear cng-cIlde.red by this
<br />('ontlict. C'_ontinue to hamstring and hinder the close and ha.rmonious
<br />Federal-State relationship in the water resource field which is so
<br />essent.ial for the welfare of the West and the Nat.ion,
<br />
<br />"
<br />
|