Laserfiche WebLink
<br />- <br /> <br />,,!<y;'" :')'y,-.'id'7.~{~";":,.'~....?Ml"">Wr"t""",,~"~~,,,<,-~~~$"~-""'J.~""~_.~-,,..:.;,,~. ,N" <br /> <br />LEEDS,HILLAND JEWETT, INC. <br /> <br />considered to be only a major step toward such full development of the <br /> <br />water resources of the Upper Basin. <br /> <br />The Special Master, however, questioned this premise. He in <br /> <br />effect assumed that the Upper Basin will be limited to about two-thirds <br /> <br />of its "ceiling" on appropriations. The following statements in the <br /> <br />Report are significant in this connection: <br /> <br />A second and controlling assumption. ... . is that the <br />Upper Basin will deplete the virgin flow at Lee Ferry <br />by between 6,500,000 and 6,800,000 acre-feet per <br />annum. Yet there is nothing to indicate that the Upper <br />Basin depletions, which have never exceeded 2, 200,000 <br />acre -feet per annum measured at Lee Ferry, will <br />expand to anywhere near 6,500,000 acre -feet. ...... <br />In sharp conflict with this assumption is the estimate <br />expres sed in the Report of the Senate Committee which <br />studied the Colorado River Storage Project and potential <br />reservoir construction in the Upper Basin. That Report <br />estimates that future Upper Basin consumptive use will <br />not exceed 4, 800, 000 acre-feet per annum (depletion of <br />the flow at Lee Ferry would be less), even if the <br />extensive storage capacity envisaged but not as yet <br />authorized for the Upper Basin were eventually <br />constructed. (Pages III -112). <br /> <br />Then on page 115 of his report the Master concluded: <br /> <br />Existing California uses are in no danger of curtail- <br />ment unless and until many vast new projects, some <br />of which are not even contemplated at this time, are <br />approved by Congres s and cons tructed. <br /> <br />In this connection, the Master stated on the preceding page: <br /> <br />Moreover, if ever the equities between California's <br />existing uses and new uses in the Colorado River <br />Basin have to be resolved, it will be for Congress to <br />resolve them. No new projects, whether in the Lower <br />or Upper Basin, which would affect Lower Basin main- <br />stream supply can be constructed in the Colorado River <br />Basin without Congressional action or acquiescence. <br /> <br />-2- <br />