WSP07393

• File Number: 8027
• Description: Section D General Correspondence-Federal Agencies
• Date: 4/8/1949
• Author: BOR
• Title: DOI BOR Region 4 Regional Planning Engineer's Monthly Progress Reports
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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know that construction costs for these pro,iects at present prices could

not, in many cases, re met to., the water users in 40, 60, 80, Gr 100 years,

despite the fact that most of the projects would create eJo.."tensive

permanent benefits, both direct and indirect. The question of what to

do with the many worthwhile yet extremely expensive irrigation projects

is in many respects the biggest challenge that confronts us in the

comprehensive development of the Basin. We are now convinced that many

of these costly yet desirable irrigation projects in the states of the

Upper Division can and should be developed. This is just one of a great

many problems,

Full use of apportioned water in the Upper Basin is possible only

if long-term holdover storage is provided to meet delivery reouirements

to the LOW0r Basin in accordance with the 1922 Compact. Compatible with

the operation of these reservoirs for river regulation is the generation

of electric energy. Thus the long-term holdover reservoirs form the

backbone of the Upper Basin plan of development and serve as a basis for

the solution of many existing problems.

Let I S analyze that for a moment. As a result of ey.ist ing

development during the past 100 years, the Upper Basin states are now

denleting the flow of the Colcrado River at Lee Ferry (the dividin~ point

between the Upper and Lower Basin) by about 2,000,000 acre-feet annually.

This will be increased to about 2! million acre-feet upon completion of

authorized projects and projects now under construction, What does this

mean? Our studies show that the Upper Basin eannot safely deplete the

upper river more than another 2 million acre-feet without additional

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