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1952 at a cost of $4,500,000 and a second unit of 100,000 horsepower is being added at a cost of $9,000,000. Total cost of Project works to date has been $72,300,000, of which approximately $20,000,000 was financed through the United States and $52,000,000 from private sources. Today the Project is operating six dams, four hydro plants with a total capacity of 95,000 horsepower; two steam plants with a capacity of 100,000 horsepower; 1,327 miles of canals, latel'als and ditches, 2,500 miles of power lines with associated facilities to serve 38,000 irrigation water accounts and 34,000 electric consumers. It would have been impossible at the time this Project was conceived to have constructed such an excellent medium for distribution of power and water in Central Arizona without assistance and initial financing by the United States. We have had our differences with various departments of the Government, but they have been settled to the satisfaction of both parties, allowing the continued construction and operation of what we consider the first and most successful multiple purpose reclamation project in the United States. *********** ABSUMING '!'HE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF A BUREAU OF RECLAMATION PROJECT BY A WATER USERS GROUP John C. Slnith, Jr., President Yuma County Water Users Association, Arizona ~he YUllla County Water Users Association took over operation 01' the Valley Division 01' the Yuma Project from the U.S.B.R. only 2 years ago. The Valley DiVision is in the extreme southwest part 01' Arizona on the delta of Colorado River and was constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation prior to World War I. Comprising 50,000 acres, this area receives water diverted 1'l'om Colorado Rivel' at Imperial Dam and down the California side of the river by canal to a point north of Yuma, where it is siphoned under the river into our Main Canal. Main features of the Division are the distribution system, drainage system, Colorado River siphon and the protective levee. The distribution system has 200 miles 01' canals and laterals. Water is diverted from the Main Canal into the East Main and the West Main Canals and from them into smaller canals and laterals. The two main canals traverse the length of the Valley, one on either side, and irrigate 25,000 acres each. There are 100 miles 01' drainage canals. One large drain, centrally located extends the length of the valley, with smaller drains emptying into it. The south boundary of the valley is the Boundary between the United States and Mexico and because of this and the fact that the slope of the valley is only one foot to the mile, the collecting sump at the Boundary Pumping Plant is below the l'iver level making it necessary to pump the drainage water into the river. The river runs at an elevation of 85 ft. at the Boundary. and we need to keep our drainage elevation down to at least 75 ft. The Yuma County Water USel'S Association is a private corpol'ation set up under the laws of the state 01' Arizona, with each acre entitling the owner to one share in the Corpol'ation. The Board of Governors 01' which there are five, elected by the shareholders, constitutes the policy-making body. -19-