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<br />('r1(,63
<br />12
<br />
<br />ARKANSAS RIVER COMPACT
<br />
<br />than would be otherwise necessary, because the intrastate situation
<br />in Colorado between the users below the Caddoa Dam and the users
<br />above the dam necessitated representation on that administration or a
<br />water user and resident below the dam, and one above, on the main
<br />stem or the river. And ror purposes or adjusting possible conflicts,
<br />a third member was to officiate, and that is the Director or the Colorado
<br />Water Conservation Board,
<br />In Kansas the situation was not quite the sam.e, but none the less
<br />the situation is that there are three members, two residents and water-
<br />right owners in counties in Kansas rrom the State line down to Garden
<br />City, and the chier or the water-resources department or the Depart-
<br />ment or Agriculture or Kansas,
<br />Now, as I say, by using water that was hitherto not only unavailable
<br />but damaging, we have conrerred a benefit upon all or the ditches in
<br />Colorado and in Kansas. The Caddoa Reservoir has a capacity
<br />originally or some 702,000 acre-reet, or which 280,000, in round num-
<br />bers, is allocated to flood-control purpos.,,!,; the rest conservation,
<br />Siltation is an important problem, We had an engineering com-
<br />mittee consisting or the Federal representative, General Kramer, who
<br />is an engineer, and who participated in the construction or Caddoa
<br />ror the government, Mr. Knapp or Kansas, and Mr, Patterson or
<br />Colorado, who since then has resigned and left the State,
<br />We have round, however, that the actual experience as to siltation,
<br />which has involved occurrences during quite heavy water years, par-
<br />ticularly 1942, ,which was the heaviest yea,r or water supply in the
<br />Arkansas River, has perhaps made it less serious a problem than we
<br />had anticipated and that the engineering reports based on theoretical
<br />operation had allowed ror.
<br />I reel, and say as seriously as I can, that this compact would be or
<br />benefit to both States. I know I approached my runction in the Com-
<br />mission ror the purpose only or bringing about a result that I thought
<br />was rair and equitable to all interested, including the Government
<br />agencies, and we think we have accomplished the purpose sought.
<br />Now, ir I have not said enough or have said too much, I will be glad
<br />to elaborate,
<br />The CHAIRMAN. I am interested, Mr. Vidal, in a little further de-
<br />velopment or the manner in which you reached this 60-40 division.
<br />As I glanced through the compact, I observed that the users in the
<br />State or Colorado had the right to use and reuse the water without
<br />regard to priorities below the dam, and that each State is permitted
<br />to demand and use the water in such rashion that the Kansas'draft
<br />depends upon tbe flow in the river to which is added the return flow
<br />at the State line, Am I correct in that!
<br />Mr, VIDAL, The delivery to Kansas is or an equivalent to that 40
<br />percent at the State line,
<br />Senator KERR, I did not understand,
<br />Mr, VIDAr" The delivery to Kansas is the equivalent or that 40 per-
<br />cent or 'the storage at the State line j and, or course, accretions which
<br />may be large or small help make up tnat amount, '
<br />The CHAm'fAN, That is, whatever return flow there may be helps
<br />to make up that 40 percent!
<br />Mr, VIDAL. Yes. Out or the Colorado irrigation which is measured
<br />at the State line,
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