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<br />The plan for the p~Jject, he continued, is based on "10 assumption that claims
<br />of the State of Arizona to the Colorado River water required for the project's full
<br />developI:)3nt are valid, Pointing out that the Sta.te of California challenges the
<br />validi ty of Ari zona's clains and believes that there is no water permanently avail-
<br />able for this project I l'lr. Straus added that "it is assumed that the Congress in
<br />considering this proposed project will do so with full recognition of the contro-
<br />versy involved,lI
<br />
<br />The investigations underlying the report were conducted by the :Bureau of Rec-
<br />lamation under Regional Director E. A, lI.oritz of Boulder City, Nevada, and the
<br />State of Ari zona, with cooperation of other Interior agencies and Federal depart-
<br />ments. The project, as outlined in the report, 'NOuld divert water from the Colo-
<br />rado at Lake Havas'J., back of Parker Dam, through the :241-mile Granite Reef ,Aque-
<br />duct, to the Phoenix area.
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<br />The acldi tional water thus made available would be sufficient to provide ade-
<br />qJ.ate irrigation of the presently irrigated lands, and it 'NOuld prevent further
<br />encroachment of harmful salts which now threaten productivity of the.farms,
<br />
<br />The projeot involves measures to arrest the depletion of ground-water re-
<br />sources in the basin, and an exchange of waters between the Salt River and the
<br />Co lor aOo River to permit additional diversions in the Gila River Basin above
<br />Grani te Reef. Municipal \'i8.ter lru.wlies for the City of Tucson also WJuld be
<br />assured.
<br />
<br />..An addi tiQnal 770,100 kilowatts of hydroelectric power capacity 'NOuld be pro-
<br />vided. for irrigation pumping and industrial and mmicipal uses in the Southwest
<br />area.
<br />
<br />Estimated cost of the project is $738,408,000. Of this total, it is recom-
<br />mended that $80,5'71,000 be allocated to flood control, preservation of fish and
<br />wild life, silt control, recreation, and salinity control. The $658,096,000
<br />allocated to irrigation, power, and D.micipal water features would be reinbursable,
<br />and repayrrent could be rr.ade, }lr, Straus said, in 78 years under the recommended
<br />pro grarl1 , which \..ould require special legislation.
<br />
<br />~he construction features involved include the followingl
<br />
<br />Bri<\,,"'6 Canyon Dam, 6)7-feet high above streanmed, On the Colorado River at
<br />the head of Lake Mead, mich 'NOuld create a reservoir of 3,720,000 acre-feet
<br />capacity for silt retention, floocl. control, and generation of power by a 750,000-
<br />kilowatt-capaci ty plant.
<br />
<br />Bluff Dam On the San Juan River, and Coconino Da.'!l on the Little Colorado River
<br />for silt retention, river regulation, and flood control. The corrbbation of these
<br />three reservoirs would permi t reduction of the flood reserve required at Lake jojead
<br />and allow a higher power head at tb.e F.oover power plant.
<br />
<br />Four Havasu I'urrping Plants along the first twenty miles of the Granite Reef
<br />Aqueduct to rai se the \"/ater from Lake Havasu a total of 985 feet to a saddle in
<br />the ID:)unt~ns from which the water "JOuld flow by gravity.
<br />
<br />Gra'1i te Reef Aqueduct, froI:l Lake Havasu to the Granite :Reef Diversion Dam on
<br />the Salt River, east of Phoenix, v.1th capacity of 1,800 cubic feet of water per
<br />second.
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