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RAPHAEL J. MOSES 3%. This is no.t enough to maintain a constant dollar. Are we sounding off on a frequency that can be heard? There are 3.4 Billion dollars of authorized projects for western reclamation. There are 3.5 Billions more approved by the Governors of reclamation states but not yet authorized - - almost 7 Billions in all. Then there are som 6 Billions more on the drawing boards but not yet ready for state approval. Even if no new projects were authorized or planned, it would take 52 years at the present level of $250,000,000 a year to catch up. And this is on a constant dollar basis, itself a fallacy. What is a reasonable level of funding? It should be at least a half billion dollars a year, but in- stead of favoring this kind of an increase in appropriations, many congressmen urge cutting of what they call "Pork barrel" public works expenditures at the same time that they caution against reduc- tions in welfare spending. In Honolulu, at the recent meeting of the National Reclamation Association, Senator Jackson spoke with approbation of a suggestion made by Charles Hodde, Chairman of the Pacific Northwest River Basins Commission. Basically, Mr. Hodde suggested that the Federal government could guarantee the payment of interest and capital on bonds issued by state chartered irrigation districts. Money from these bonds would be used to finance the construction and operation of facilities for conveying water to land- owners. , If the water users represented by this organization favor some kind of federal guarantee of state obligations spent on water resource projects, it seems to me that the Western States Water Coun- cil might be an appropriate organization to assist your organization or other similar but more locally- oriented organizations in a study of the proposal and possible means of implementation. The Western States Water Council is not a lobbying organization - - your organization, the grass-roots water users type of organization - - is much more effective in that area. However the West- ern States Water Council is a study and planning organization, and should your organization desire assistance in these areas, I am sure you need only let your representatives on the Council know of your wishes. Speaking as an individual from Colorado, I can see great promise of some kind of legisla- tion that would guarantee the availability of Colorado's share of Colorado River Storage Project reve- nues to payoff state bonds for water resource construction. And, similarly, if we can render assistance in any other area of western water planning, your organizatoon and any other similar organization should let us know. As we rebuild our staff, we hope to have available experts to help your experts, and through the exchange of information and the cross- fertilization of ideas to reach common objectives - - the wisest and best utilization of our most prec- ious resource - - water. The Western States have certainly not solved their serious water problems by the formation of the Western States Water Council. If the United States Congress cannot - - after 20 years of debate and the involvement of the Supreme Court - - even agree to report out of the Rules Committee, proposed legislation for projects on the Colorado and in Central Arizona, certainly a small new organization such as our Council, cannot expect to perform a miracle overnight. But the wise and experienced legislators, lawyers, judges, engineers, economists, politicians and voters know that there are important state and local responsibilities in developing acceptable and workable water projects. The federal government has begun to realize it needs support and assistance from local and state echelons to assure successful planning and formulation for large, regional, multi- purpose developments. Some state laws may have to be revised. New laws may be required. Adjust- -45-