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16 I SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

GOVERNMEN i

Storage 174

HEARING

BEFORE THE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON

WATER AND POWER RESOURCES.

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON

INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS13

UNITED STATES SENATE

NINETIETH CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

ON

S. 697

A BILL TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR

TO CONSTRUCT, OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN THE SOUTHWEST

IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, AND FOR OTHER

PURPOSES

AUGUST 15, 1967

Printed for the use of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs

C41'2

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

83-181 WASHINGTON: 1967
e:t

COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS

HENRY M. JACKSON, Washington, Chairman

CLINTON P. ANDERSON, New Mexico

ALAN BIBLE, Nevada

FRANK CHURCH, Idaho

ERNEST GRUENING, Alaska

FRANK E. MOSS, Utah

QUENTIN N. BURDICK, North Dakota

CARL HAYDEN, Arizona

GEORGE McGOVERN, South Dakota

GAYLORD NELSON, Wisconsin

LEE METCALF, Montana

THOMAS H. KUCHEL, California

GORDON ALLOTT, Colorado

LEN B. JORDAN, Idaho

PAUL J. FANNIN, Arizona

CLIFFORD P. HANSEN, Wyoming

MARK 0. HATFIELD, Oregon

JERRY T. VERKLER, Staff Director

STEWART FRENCH, Chief Counsel

E. LEWIS REID, Minority Counsel

PORTER WARD, Professional Staff Member

SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER AND POWER RESOURCES

CLINTON P. ANDERSON, New Mexico, Chairman

HENRY M. JACKSON, Washington

FRANK CHURCH, Idaho

FRANK E. MOSS, Utah

QUENTIN N. BURDICK, North Dakota

CARL HAYDEN, Arizona

II

THOMAS H. KUCHEL, California

GORDON ALLOTT, Colorado

LEN B. JORDAN, Idaho

4
CONTENTS

Page

S.697 1

Departmental reports:

Agriculture Department 4

Bureau of the Budget 3

Interior Department 4

STATEMENTS

Benson, Alvin, director, Southwestern Idaho Water Development Association, also representing Owyhee County; chairman of West Reynolds Irrigation District; and chairman of the Idaho Landholders

Sportsmen's Council 47

Branch, Milton W., secretary, Idaho Soil Conservation Commission,

Midvale, Idaho 59

Church, Hon. Frank, a U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho 12

Crookham, George L., Jr., chairman, Idaho Water Resources Board;

accompanied by Dr. Robert R. Lee, director, Idaho Water Resources

Board 38

Gartin, W. W., president, Southwestern Idaho Development Association__ 43

Hansen, Hon. George V., a U.S. Representative in Congress from the

State of Idaho 19

Hawes, Rodney A., publisher, The Owyhee Nugget, Marsing, Idaho 48

limes, Elbert V., and Frank A. Puser, Central Mesa Grange No. 145,

Emmett, Idaho 46

Idaho Farm Bureau Federation 58

Idaho State Chamber of Commerce 58

Jordan, Hon. Len B., a U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho 8

McClure, Hon. James A., a U.S. Representative in Congress from the

State of Idaho 13, 56

Schlottmann, Max, director, Idaho Reclamation Association, Parma,

Idaho 51

Stamm

'

G. G., Assistant Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior; accompanied by Harold T. Nelson, regional

director, Boise, Idaho, and Allen McGregor, project development

engineer 24

Water Resources Institute, University of Idaho 66

Wilfong, Earl, a farmer in the irrigated section .of the Payette River 42

COMMUNICATIONS

Binning, Geo. H., Weiser, Idaho: Letter to Hon. Frank Church, a U.S.

Senator from the State of Idaho, dated August 10, 1967 

Brummett, William E., mayor, Weiser, Idaho: Letter to Hon. Len B. Jordan,

a U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho, dated August 11, 1967 

Butler, Harold, Twin Falls, Idaho: Letter to Hon. Len B. Jordan, a U.S.

Senator from the State of Idaho, dated August 15, 1967 

Degorgi, Henry, Northwest Savings & Loan, Mountain Home, Idaho:

Letter to Hon. Frank Church, a U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho,

dated August 15, 1967 

Derig, Vincent F., secretary, Weiser Irrigation District: Letter to Hon.

Frank Church, a U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho, dated August

7, 1967 

Edwards, John A., M.D., the Council Clinic Council, Idaho: Letter to Hon.

Len B. Jordan, a U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho, dated August 12,

1967 

In

64

62

66

66

62

63

z
IV CONTENTS

Evans, Lyle, district chairman, Elmore County Republican Central Committee: Letter to Hon. Frank Church, a U.S. Senator from the State of Page

Idaho, dated August 14, 1967 66 Fairchild, Ruth J., Mountain Home, Idaho: Letter to Hon. Frank Church,

a U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho, dated August 15, 1967 6

Fairchild, Thomas A., president and general manager, KFLI Radio,

Mountain Home, Idaho: Letter to Hon. Frank Church, a U.S. Senator

from the State of Idaho, dated August 15, 1967 66

Fuller, Lewis N., chairman of the board, Gem County Commissioners,

Emmett, Idaho: Letter to Hon. Clinton P. Anderson, chairman, Water

and Power Resources Subcommittee, dated August 11, 1967 46 Gailey, B. B., and F. H. Bradbury, Mountain Home (Idaho) well drillers:

Letter to Hon. Clinton P. Anderson, chairman, Water and Power Resources Subcommittee, dated August 15, 1967 61

Higley, Everet T., and James E. Hughes, United Brotherhood of Carpenters ez Joiners of America, No. 2816, Emmett, Idaho: Letter to Hon.

Frank Church, a U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho, dated August 10,

1967 60

Jerome, Ermil S., Master, Idaho State Grange, Meridian, Idaho: Letter to

Hon. Len B. Jordan, a U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho, dated

August 4, 1967 60

Jones, Bud, president, Council (Idaho) Chamber of Commerce and others:

Letter to Hon. Len B. Jordan, a U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho,

dated August 1, 1967 63

Larsen, Paul B., and Associates, Inc.: Letter to Hon. Len B. Jordan, a

U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho, dated August 10, 1967 65

Mayor and City Council of Mountain Home, Idaho: Letter to Hon. Len

B. Jordan, a U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho, dated August 15,

1967 68

Perry, A. 0., president, Gem County Chamber of Commerce: Letter to

Hon. Len B. Jordan, a U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho, dated

August 11, 1967 61

Rowett, Robert N. Idaho State Senator, Mountain Home, Idaho: Letter

to Hon. Len B. lordan, a U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho, dated

August 15, 1967 (0)

Russell, C. Alfred, New Plymouth, Idaho: Letter to Hon. Frank Church,

a U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho, dated August 9, 1967 

Sanders, W. W., chairman, Board of County Commissioners, Elmore 65

County, Idaho: Letter to Hon. Len B. Jordan, a U.S. Senator from the

State of Idaho, dated August 14, 1967 60

Starr, Ernest E., mayor, Nampa, Idaho: Letter to Hon. Frank Church, a

U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho, dated August 11, 1967 68

Streeter, Jack, commander, Post 26, American Legion, Mountain Home,

Idaho: Letter to Hon. Frank Church, a U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho, dated August 10, 1967 61

Vegwert, Jerry, president, Weiser Chamber of Commerce: Letter to Hon.

Len B. Jordan, a U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho, dated August

14, 1967 62 Warnick, C. C., director, Water Resources Research Institute, University

of Idaho: Letter to Hon. Len B. Jordan, a U.S. Senator from the State

of Idaho, dated August 15, 1967 66 Williams, John, Master, Council Valley Grange: Letter to Hon. Frank

Church, a U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho, dated August 1, 1967_ 62

Yost, Harry L., Boise, Idaho: Letter to Hon. Frank Church, a U.S.

Senator from the State of Idaho, dated August 9, 1967 65

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Joint Memorial, Legislature of the State of Idaho, 39th session, in the

Senate, Irrigation and Reclamation Committee 69 Resolution No. 15, Southwest Idaho water development project 55
4

SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1967

U.S. SENATE,

SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER AND POWER RESOURCES OF THE

COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS,

Washington, D.0 .

The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10 a.m., in room 3110,

New Senate Office Building, Senator Clinton P. Anderson, presiding.

Present: Senators Anderson, Church, Moss, Burdick, Kuchel, and

Jordan of Idaho.

Also present: Jerry T. Verkler, staff director; Roy Whitacre, professional staff member; Porter Ward, professional staff member; and

E. Lewis Reid, minority counsel.

Senator ANDERSON. The committee will be in order.

The subcommittee meets today to hear testimony on S. 697, a bill

to authorize, operate, and maintain the southwest Idaho water development project, and for other purposes. It was sponsored by the Idaho

Senators after careful study over the years in an effort to join in the

best bill possible. I am sure they will provide full information on the

project, along with our other witnesses from the Department and the

State.

At this point we will insert the bill and reports from the departments

into the hearing record. Then I shall call on the sponsors of the

measure for their statements.

(The data referred to follows:)

[ S. 697, 90th Cong., first sess.]

A BILL To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct, operate, and maintain the southwest Idaho water development project, and for other purposes

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States

of America in Congress assembled, That, in order to provide for the comprehensive development of the Snake River and its tributaries in southwestern Idaho for

the purposes, among others, of furnishing water for irrigation and for municipal

and industrial purposes, controlling floods, controlling water quality, producing

and transmitting hydroelectric power, conserving and developing fish and wildlife resources, enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities, and for other purposes, the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized—

Garden Valley Division

(a) To construct, operate, and maintain the Garden Valley division of the

project, providing a supply of irrigation water to approximately one hundred

and sixty-five thousand acres of land. The principal features of the division shall

consist of the Garden Valley Dam and Reservoir on the South Fork of the

Payette, and other dams, reservoirs, powerplants, transmission facilities, and

appurtenant facilities: Provided, That construction of the Garden Valley division, excepting the Garden Valley Dam and Reservoir and related power
2 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

facilities, shall not be undertaken until the Secretary has submitted his report

and finding of feasibility on this division to the President and to the Congress;

and

Mountain Home Division

(b) To construct, operate, and maintain the Mountain Home division of the

project, consisting of the Guffey, Long Tom, and Hillcrest units, and providing

a supply of irrigation water to approximately one hundred and thirty-one thousand acres of land. The principal features of the division shall consist of the Guffey Dam, Reservoir, and powerplant, the Long Tom diversion dam, and the upper

and lower Canyon Creek division dams, together with reservoirs, transmission

facilities, and appurtenant facilities; and

Weiser River Division

(c) To construct, operate, and maintain the Weiser River division of the

project, providing a supply of irrigation water to approximately sixteen thousand

five hundred acres of land. The principal features of the division shall consist of

a diversion dam on the West Fork of the Weiser River, enlargement of the

existing Lost Valley Reservoir, other diversion dams, reservoirs, canals, and

pumping plants and appurtenant facilities: Provided, That construction of the

Weiser River division shall not be undertaken until the Secretary has submitted his report and finding of feasibility on this division, including a reevaluation of the proposed Goodrich Dam, to the President and to the Congress; and

Bruneau Division

(d) To construct, operate, and maintain the Bruneau division, including the

Wickahoney unit, of the project, providing a supply of irrigation water to approximately two hundred and forty thousand acres of land. The principal features of the division shall consist of Grindstone Butte Dam and Reservoir on

Deadman Creek, Clear Lakes Dam and Reservoir on the Snake River, other

diversion dams. reservoirs, canals, and pumping plants and appurtenant facilities: Provided. That construction of the Bruneau division shall not be undertaken until the Secretary has submitted his report and finding of feasibility on

this division to the President and to the Congress.

SEC. 2. The authority contained in section 1(d) of this Act shall constitute the

authority required under Public Law 89-72 to initiate the feasibility studies of

the Bruneau division of the southwest Idaho water development project in the

Snake River Basin in Twin Falls, Elmore, and Owyhee Counties, Idaho, including the Wickahoney unit.

SEC. 3. In carrying out investigations under the authority of this Act, the

Secretary shall expedite completion of feasibility reports on the Garden Valley,

Weiser River, and Bruneau divisions of the southwest Idaho water development

project, and shall submit the feasibility report of the Garden Valley division to

the Congress by January 1, 1969. The exchange of water in connection with the

operation of the project authorized by this Act shall in no way jeopardize,

diminish, or otherwise alter contractual rights and obligations now in existence,

and shall not exceed 600,000 acre-feet annually from the Payette River Basin.

SEC. 4. The period provided in subsection (d) of section 9 of the Reclamation

Project Act of 1939, as amended, for repayment of construction costs properly

allocable to any block of lands and assigned to be repaid by the irrigators may

be extended to fifty years, exclusive of a development period, from the time water

is first delivered to that block, or as near that number of years as is consistent

with the adoption and operation of a repayment formula as therein provided.

Power and energy for operation of project pumping and other electrical facilities

shall be supplied from the project power facilities and from the Federal Columbia

River power system at charges to the water users as established by the Secretary. Costs allocated to irrigation in excess of the amount determined by the

Secretary to be within the ability of the irrigators to repay within a fifty-year

period shall be returned to the reclamation fund from revenues derived by the

Secretary from the disposition of power marketed through the Bonneville Power

Administration.

SEC. 5. The Secretary is authorized, as part of the project, to construct, operate,

and maintain or otherwise provide for public outdoor recreation and fish and

wildlife enhancement facilities, to acquire or otherwise make available such

adjacent lands or interests therein as are necessary for public outdoor recreation

or fish and wildlife use, and to provide for public use and enjoyment of project
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 3

lands, facilities, and water areas in a manner coordinated with the other project

purposes.

SEC. 6. No lands may be acquired for any of the purposes herein authorized

without the consent of the owner thereof except lands that are within

three hundred feet of the maximum flowage line of project waters measured

horizontally therefrom.

SEC. 7. In order to maintain the local tax base, the Secretary of the Interior

and the Secretary of Agriculture shall make available and shall sell to individuals

or organizations described in the Small Tracts Act, as amended (52 Stat. 609;

found in 43 U.S.C. 682a et seq.), reserved lands of the United States within the

project area which are chiefly valuable for residence, recreation, business, or

community activity purposes. The values of the lands made available under this

section shall equal the values of the lands taken. Determination of the values of

the lands taken and the lands made available in lieu thereof shall be based upon

values as of the date of the taking. Private owners whose lands have been taken

for project purposes shall have a right of first preference to purchase such tracts.

Each such tract shall not exceed five acres, and no person or organization shall

be permitted to purchase more than one such tract except upon a showing of

good faith and for reasons satisfactory to the Secretary of the Interior or the

Secretary of Agriculture. Lands available for the purpose of this section shall

be not less than three hundred feet above project waters measured horizontally

from the maximum flowage line of such waters. Sales of such tracts shall be made

in accordance with the provisions of the Small Tracts Act, as amended, except

as herein modified.

SEC. 8. The interest rate used for purposes of computing interest during

construction and interest on the unpaid balance of the capital costs allocated to

interest-bearing features of the project shall be determined by the Secretary of

the Treasury, as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which construction is

initiated, on the basis of the computed average interest rate payable by the

Treasury upon its outstanding marketable public obligations, which are neither

due nor callable for redemption for fifteen years from date of issue.

SEC. 9. For a period of ten years from the date of enactment of this Act, no

water from the project authorized by this Act shall be delivered to any water

users for the production on newly irrigated lands of any basic agricultural commodity, as defined in the Agricultural Act of 1949, or any amendment thereof, if

the total supply of such commodity for the marketing year in which the bulk of

the crop would normally be marketed is in excess of the normal supply as defined

in section 301(b) (1) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended,

unless the Secretary of Agriculture calls for an increase in production of such

commodity in the interest of national security.

SEC. 10. The Secretary shall construct, operate, and maintain the southwest

Idaho water development project in accordance with the Federal reclamation

laws (Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388), and Acts amendatory and supplementary thereto), and nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting or

intended to affect or to in any way interfere with the laws of the State of Idaho

relating to the control, appropriation, use, or distribution of water made available

by the project, or any vested right acquired thereunder, and the Secretary, in

carrying out the provisions of this Act, shall proceed in conformity with such

laws, and nothing in this Act shall in any way affect any right of the State or of

the Federal Government or of any landowner, appropriator, or user of water in,

to. or from the project.

SEC. 11. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.

SEC. 12. This Act shall be cited as the Southwest Idaho Water Development

Project Act of 1967.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT,

BUREAU OF THE BUDGET,

Washington, D.C., August 4, 1967.

Hon. HENRY M. JACKSON,

Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, U.S. Senate, Washington,

D.C.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This responds to your letter of July 18, 1967. requesting

the views of the Bureau of the Budget on S. 697, a bill "To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct. operate, and maintain the southwest Idaho

water development project, and for other purposes."
4 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

The purpose of this legislation is stated in its title.

In view of the fact that the Secretary of the Interior's feasibility report on

the project has not been completed, we are not in a position to comment on the

legislation at this time. Thus, we suggest that action on the bill be deferred until

such time as the report has been completed and transmitted to the Congress.

Sincerely yours,

WILFRED H. RoMMEL,

Assistant Director for Legislative Reference.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,

TVashington, D.C., August 15, 1967.

Hon. HENRY M. JACKSON,

Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, U.S. Senate.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This is in response to your letter of February 20, 1967.

requesting the views of this Department on S. 697, a bill "To authorize the

Secretary of the Interior to construct, operate, and maintain the southwest

Idaho water development project, and for other purposes."

The bill would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct, operate,

and maintain the southwest Idaho water development project consisting of the

Garden Valley, Mountain Home, Weiser River, and Bruneau divisions for the

purposes of providing a supply of water for irrigation of some 552,500 acres of

land and of furnishing water for municipal and industrial purposes, controlling

floods, controlling water quality, producing and transmitting hydroelectric

power, conserving and developing fish and wildlife resources, enhancing outdoor

recreation opportunities, and for other purposes.

Several of the reservoirs and appurtenant improvements that would be authorized would have a substantial effect on operations of the National Forests in

southern Idaho. The Garden Valley Unit in particular would flood some 2,000

acres of National Forests. More important, many miles of the shorelines of the

South and Middle Forks of the Payette River arms would be National Forest

lands. The shoreline of an enlarged Lost Valley Reservoir, Weiser River Division,

would be almost entirely National Forest. National Forest lands will be involved

in lesser amounts on other projects.

We recommend that action on S. 697 be deferred until the Department of the

Interior can complete its review of this project.

Section 7 of S. 697 would provide for the disposition of lands, including

reserved National Forest lands, with right of first preference to purchase being

given to those owners whose lands would be taken for project purposes. We

recommend that at such time as this bill is considered this section be deleted.

The Bureau of the Budget advises that there is no objection to the presentation of this report from the standpoint of the Administration's program.

Sincerely yours,

ORVILLE L. FREEMAN.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY,

Washington D.C., August 14, 1967.

Hon. HENRY M. JACKSON,

Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs,

U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.

DEAR SENATOR JACKSON: This responds to your request for the views of this

Department on S. 697, a bill "To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct, operate, and maintain the southwest Idaho water development project,

and for other purposes."

There are four divisions within the project. Studies on two of these, the

Garden Valley Division and the Mountain Home Division, are complete. The

statement enclosed with this report discusses them in more detail than the

others.

The planning report on the southwest Idaho project has not been completed.

However, information now available concerning the project leads us to believe

that the bill will present some problems. Section 2 of the bill cites section 1(d)

of the bill as authority to initiate feasibility studies on the Bruneau division.

Specific authorization of feasibility studies for this division appearing in Public

Law 89-561 (80 Stat. 707) makes this section unnecessary.

The policy concerning costs allocated to irrigation which are in excess of the

irrigators' repayment ability has been changed by the enactment of section 2 of
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 5

the Act of June 14, 1966 (80 Stat. 200), as amended by section 6 of the Act of

September 7, 1966 (80 Stat. 707). This change will require that section 4 of the

bill be modified.

The enactment of the Federal Water Project Recreation Act (79 Stat. 213)

makes necessary the substitution of new language for that found in section 5 of

the bill.

The provisions of section 6 limit acquisition of land by condemnation to that

land within three hundred feet of the maximum flowage line of project water.

This restriction could result in a very irregular boundary for the project, making

administration difficult. By eliminating the use of condemnation in the acquisition of lands, this section may greatly hamper the construction of transmission

lines, which will certainly extend beyond the three hundred foot limitation, irrigation works, and recreation facilities. The acquisition of land for purposes of

preservation of wildlife, or forests restoration or replacement of such values

destroyed by reservoirs or for creating additional values of like nature seems

unnecessarily curtailed by the language found in section 6.

Section 7 would, in order to maintain the local tax base, authorize the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to make available and sell

to individuals or organizations described in the Small Tracts Act (52 Stat. 609),

as amended, reserved lands of the United States within the project area. The

lands made available would be those chiefly valuable for residence, recreation,

business, or community activities. The values of the lands made available under

this section would equal the values of the lands taken for use within the

project. Those persons whose lands have been taken for project purposes would

have a right of first preference to purchase such tracts.

There are phrases in section 7 which require clarification in order that this

Department can comment on the merits of the section. The limits of the project

area need to be defined. Also, it should be made clear who is to decide which

lands will be made available. Presumably, since the sale of such lands will be

made in accordance with the Small Tracts Act, the lands would be classified by

the Secretary of the Interior as to value for residence, recreation, business, or

community activity. Also, the criteria for determining the values of the lands

taken and made available should be spelled out more clearly.

Section 10, as presently worded, could be interpreted to make the 160-acre

limitation found in Federal reclamation law inapplicable to the project because

control "of water made available by the project" is to be consistent wtih Idaho

law, which has no 160-acre limitation. The Department finds section 10 unsatisfactory for this reason and would insist on some alternative language.

Because the planning report on this project has not yet been presented to the

Congress, we assume that the Committee will wish to defer action on S. 697.

The Bureau of the Budget has advised that there is no objection to the

presentation of this report from the standpoint of the Administration's program.

Sincerely yours,

KENNETH HOLUM,

Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

Enclosure.

DESCRIPTION STATEMENT OF THE SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

The Southwest Idaho Water Development Project would have a great economic

impact locally, statewide, and nationally. It would bring into production some

490,000 acres of dry sagebrush land and stabilize and increase the production on

over 60,000 acres which are now inadequately irrigated. It would provide flood

protection to cities and farms throughout the area and improve the quality of

water in certain streams and municipal systems. A municipal and industrial

water supply would be provided to the city of Mountain Home. The electric

power generation potential of the area would be increased by over 450,000 kilowatts of installed capacity in the proposed hydroelectric plants. Opportunities

for new recreation developments and for enhancement of fish and wildlife

resources would be of major significance.

The Weiser River Division would encompass the development of the water

resources of the Weiser River Basin for irrigation, flood control, recreation, and

fish and wildlife. It would include several units involving storage regulation on

tributary streams and distribution of water to lands which are now dry or partially irrigated. Studies of the Weiser River Division are underway and our conclusions and recommendations will be included in the feasibility report on that

division of the project.

S3-181-67--2
6 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

The Bruneau Division lies south and east of the other divisions and consists

mainly of dry public lands now used only for limited grazing. The major part of

the water supply for irrigation development of these lands would be pumped from

the Snake River. Feasibility studies of this division are included in the Department's investigation program, and our conclusions and recommendations will be

included in the feasbility report when completed.

The Mountain Home Division is a multiple-purpose development designed to

utilize more fully the water resources of the Snake River and the Boise River for

irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, municipal and industrial water supply, water quality control, recreation, and fish and wildlife enhancement purposes. The control of floods also would be a purpose of the division. Development of its three units—Guffey, Long Tom. and Hillcrest—would provide the

entire water supply for irrigation of about 105.000 acres of presently dry lands

and supplemental water for about 25.700 acres of irrigated land which now have

less than a full supply of water.

The Guffey unit would consist of the proposed Guffey Dam, Reservoir, and

Powerplant on the Snake River, pumping plants, conduits, canals. relift pumps,

and other features to distribute the water to some 30,000 acres of land on both

sides of the Snake River southwest of Boise.

Guffey Dam would be a major earthfill structure rising 162 feet above streambed of the Snake River, directly south of the town of Nampa. It would raise the

normal water surface at the damsite about 100 feet to form a reservoir with a

storage capacity of 332,000 acre-feet. Active capacity of the reservoir would be

limited to about 27,000 acre-feet, as the water surface under normal conditions

would not fluctuate more than 3 feet. As a result, the dam and reservoir would

provide unusually constant head for power generation and an attractive pool for

irrigation pumping, recreation, and a resident fishery. The Guffey Powerplant

would be located at the toe of the dam. It would have four generating units with

a total installed capacity of 85,000 kilowatts.

At its normal water-surface elevation of 2.354 feet the reservoir would inundate about 9,450 acres, of which about 3.330 acres are irrigated land. The remainder is grazing and dry cropland. The Idaho Power Company's Swan Falls

run-of-the-river powerplant is within the reservoir site. Relocation or removal

of roads, transmission lines, and an abandoned railroad bridge would be required

as a part of the reservoir construction.

The Long Tom unit involves a diversion dam on the South Fork Boise River

downstream from Anderson Ranch Dam, the Long Tom Tunnel, and an extensive

system of canals and laterals to supply water to about 96,400 acres of irrigable

land and to the Long Tom Wildlife Refuge Area. The Long Tom Diversion Dam

would be an earthfill structure 62 feet high. The Long Tom Tunnel, with a capacity

of 1,960 cubic feet per second, would begin immediately upstream from the diversion dam and would be almost 7 miles long. It would discharge into Canyon

Creek, a minor tributary of Snake River, which carries the water supply for

the lands now irrigated in the vicinity of Mountain Home (about 4.400 acres).

The 4,150-acre Hillcrest unit would involve a pumping plant on Boise River.

a main-canal, a relift pumping plant, and distribution and drainage works. The

unit is south of and adjacent to Gowen Field. Boise's municipal airport.

A coordinate operation of the above-described facilities of the three units

of the Mountain Home Division with the complex system of water resources developments now in operation, including water exchanges, will be required. There

is adequate water in the Snake River for purposes of the division.

The irrigable lands of the Mountain Home Division vary from good to excellent quality for irrigation, although there is considerable variation in soil

types, topography, texture, and other characteristics. Detailed land classification studies and the long history of successful irrigation of similar lands on the

Boise project indicate the suitability of the lands for a variety of climatically

adapted crops. The average annual net diversion requirement for irrigation is

about 5.2 acre-feet per acre. •and the overall water requirement for the Mountain Home Division is about 700,000 acre-feet.

Livestock production and dairying on irrigated farms are an important segment of the existing economy of the Boise Valley. The area now imports some

of the hay and feed grains required by the livestock. The principal cash crops

include potatoes, sugar beets, seeds, fruits, and other vegetables. Of the total

130.750 acres to be irrigated in the Mountain Home Division, over 100.000 acres

now are in sagebrush. About 40 percent of the new lands are in public ownership. Privately owned lands are mainly in tracts consistent with the excess land
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 7

provisions of reclamation law, and no difficulty is foreseen in conforming the

remainder to those provisions.

The National Park Service found that the reservoirs of the Mountain Home

Division would provide needed opportunities for water-oriented recreation. Camping, picnicking, boating, and water skiing would be the primary recreation

facilities recommended by the National Park Service and the Forest Service.

The recommendations of the Fish and Wildlife Service for mitigation and

enhancement of fish and wildlife resources are incorporated in the plan of

development. Release from Guffey Dam and Powerplant would be sufficient in

all seasons to maintain a live stream and to support an anadromous fishery

should the problems of passing anadromous fish at Brownlee Dam be solved.

The relatively stable Guffey Reservoir would support substantial populations of

resident fish. Releases into Boise River and Canyon Creek and return flows in

several other streams would present opportunities for further enhancement of

sport fisheries.

As recommended by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, four privately

owned islands in the Snake River would be acquired and made a part of the

existing Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge to mitigate losses through inundation of habitat in the Guffey Reservoir area. Wildlife enhancement plans also

include a waterfowl refuge of national significance to be created on desert lands

by impounding return flows from the Long Tom unit.

The city of Mountain Home now obtains its water by ground-water pumping,

but is encountering difficulties in developing sufficient water to meet its rapidly

growing requirements. The aquifer appears to have been overdeveloped and the

quality of the water is deteriorating. Alternative sources of water supply would

be excessively costly to develop. The city of Mountain Home has expressed its

interest in obtaining 5,000 acre-feet of water annually from the Mountain Home

Division.

The Garden Valley Division comprises (1) the storage and power features of

the Garden Valley and Scriver Creek units, (2) irrigable lands within the Payette River Basin, and (3) irrigable lands lying outside the Payette drainage

which may be provided water from Payette River. Only the Garden Valley and

Scriver Creek units are included in the plan of development for the initial phase.

Investigations of potential units involving irrigable lands are in progress. However, the computations relating to the Garden Valley-Scriver Creek complex

fully recognize the effect of future irrigation developments on hydrology, power

output and irrigation pumping requirements, storage and cost allocations, and

financial analyses.

The installed capacity at the four powerplants of the Garden Valley Division

would total 368,500 kilowatts, and the average annual electric energy production,

adjusted for losses at Black Canyon Powerplant, would be 1,346,000,000 kilowatthours. Garden Valley Powerplant could be operated when needed to meet shortterm peaking power requirements. Together with the output of the Guffey

Powerplant, all the pumping power requirements of the initial phase irrigation

developments could be met, and a substantial amount of power and energy

would be available for commercial sale through the Bonneville Power Administration. As the future irrigation phases of the project are developed, this situation will change. Total annual energy production will still exceed project pumping requirements, but in the summer months, deficits in energy production will

be supplied from the Federal Columbia River Power System to meet irrigation

pumping power requirements. Diversity of seasonal peakloads and peak generation between southwest Idaho and the remainder of the Federal Columbia River

Power System will minimize the effect of these seasonal deficits upon the capability of the system.

The multipurpose storage capacity in Garden Valley Reservoir would have

the ability to regulate and control floods of the Payette River. Spring snowmen

runoff in the Payette River watershed almost every year exceeds safe channel

capacities and causes extensive flooding in the highly developed irrigated lands

and communities of the lower valley. The Corps of Engineers in 1961 estimated

the benefits to be derived from operation of the reservoir for flood control. Those

studies will be updated during future coordination studies. Operation of storage

space for flood control would be in accordance with regulations prescribed by

the Secretary of the Army.

The Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and the Forest Service have formulated

an overall plan for development of the extensive recreation potentials of the

Garden Valley Division. All of the estimated costs for initial recreation developments at Smiths Ferry and Garden Valley Reservoirs and the costs of future
8 SOuT.H.VVEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

development on the west side of Garden Valley Reservoir have been included as

Division costs. The Forest Service would provide the additional recreation facilities needed to meet future requirements in the areas within the boundaries

of the Boise National Forest. All recreation development outside the boundaries

of the National Forest would be administered by the Idaho Department of Parks

and would be subject to cost sharing under provisions of the Federal Water Project Recreation Act.

Senator ANDERSON. Senator Jordan, would you like to lead off?

STATEMENT OF HON. LEN B. JORDAN, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE

STATE OF IDAHO

Senator JORDAN. I am very pleased, Mr. Chairman, to have the opportunity to testify in support of the southwest Idaho water development project. Many men over many long years have dreamed of and

planned for the kind of development on southwest Idaho's rich desertlands which this project proposes. It is the concrete formulation of

a vision of productivity and growth which everyone who has ever

worked in the field of land and water resources in Idaho has hoped

would someday become a reality.

To convey the basic idea of what is proposed in S. 697, I believe the

key words are "comprehensive development." This bill is an attempt

to apply the broadest kind of planning for the broadest conceivable

range of benefits.

Let me quote briefly from the bill itself. It proposes the authorization of the project—

in order to provide for the comprehensive development of the Snake River and its

tributaries in southwestern Idaho for the purposes, among others of furnishing

water for irrigation and for municipal and industrial purposes, controlling floods,

controlling water quality, producing and transmitting hydroelectric power, conserving and developing fish and wildlife resources, enhancing outdoor recreation

opportunities * * *.

This language demonstrates the scope of the project. It is to be a

multiple purpose project in the widest sense of the term—involving

11 counties, a 15,500-square-mile area, water for a half million new

acres and supplemental water for 60,000 more. I personally believe

that when constructed the southwest Idaho water development project

will represent a model of multipurpose planning. I certainly agree

with my colleague Senator Church who has called the development,

one of the finest potential reclamation projects remaining in the West.

NEED FOR THE PROJECT

In the United States in recent times we have been in the peculiar

position of having to deal with problems of surplus in agricultural

production. The bill we are commending to your attention contains

safeguards for the short run against project production contributing

to commodity surpluses.

But I firmly believe that the days of such problems are numbered.

Over a billion people have entered the world since 1940. I believe our

present concern with surpluses is a concern over how to get through a

transition period. Very shortly increased production will be absolutely

necessary and, in the not too distant future, even this marvelously

productive Nation may not be exempt from the problems of shortages.

The world's food needs are rapidly outstripping the ability of
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 9

present productive capacity to meet them. Of course, the continued

use of technology to increase yields per acre is desirable, but ultimately

the present acreage will have to be expanded as well. Authorization

now of the southwest Idaho water development would be action taken

none too soon to help avert a food crisis which, we all know, is possible

by the turn of the century.

BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT

The benefits of the development contemplated by the southwest

Idaho water development project are manifold. Foremost, there is the

produce which will come from newly irrigated land. But further, the

project will provide nearly 500,000 kilowatts of new power. It will

provide new habitat for fish and wildlife and new recreation resources

for countless people. It will provide new water supplies for municipal

and industrial uses and through harnessing streamflows it will provide

needed additional protection against damaging floods.

Like all reclamation projects, a major portion of the cost of this

proposal will be reimbursable—to be paid out by water users and

through power revenues. Yet, apart from this bookkeeping aspect,

it is obvious that the economic growth fostered by this development

will ultimately stimulate tax returns to the Treasury far in excess of

the initial government investment. It will strengthen the present tax

base; it will increase employment and raise incomes.

The positive impact of the project will be a great shot in the arm

for Idaho. Population in the project area is expected to double as

the result of its construction. But, the production and business generated will make a significant contribution to our total national economy;

its influence will be felt far beyond Idaho's borders.

DESIGN OF THE PROJECT

The southwest Idaho water development project is designed to fit

into total comprehensive plans for the development of the entire Snake

River Basin. It will be integrated with older projects such as the

Boise project as well as with new development plans such as the southeast Idaho water development proposal for the upper basin.

The ultimate goal is the full development of the entire Snake River

Basin. And I feel that I should emphasize that in order to reach this

goal, we will need to put to beneficial use the total water resource of

the Snake above the Weiser gage. At least figuratively, we will have

to dry the river up. Under full reclamation development, the basin

will be a region of water shortage.

Great care has been exercised in the design of this project to insure

that existing water uses are not impaired. There was early in our discussion some question about threats to established water rights, particularly from users in the Payette River Basin. I think we have provided adequate safeguards in the language of S. 697. It is the specific

intent of the authors of this legislation that present water rights will

in no way be impaired. The bill states:

The exchange of water in connection with the operation of the project authorized by this Act shall in no way jeopardize, diminish or otherwise alter contractual rights and obligations now in existence, and shall not exceed 600,000

acre-feet annually from the Payette River Basin.
10 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

In considering repayment of the cost allocated to irrigation exceeding the amount the water users can repay in 50 years, the recent establishment of a Columbia Basin accounting system has considerably

enhanced the feasibility. The law now provides for the application

of revenues marketed through the Bonneville Power Administration

to all Federal projects in the Columbia River system in the United

States. The southwest Idaho water development project will qualify

for such revenues.

Mr. Chairman, as I intimated earlier, it is my feeling that the needs

for water resource development in bringing arid lands into cultivation

are pressing. I believe we must move as quickly as possible on the

broadest front to achieve our comprehensive development objectives.

While pursuing Federal development, I think we must also allow

private development to proceed rapidly. Where people are willing to

expend their own time and money on the land, we should encourage

such initiative. This is the great heritage of the Homestead Act.

Presently, in the proposed area of the Bruneau Division of the

project under consideration, there is some overlap with lands under

application for private entry. S. 697 contains authority for the initiation of feasibility studies on the Bruneau Division. With a, little

flexibility and imagination, I believe we can allow private enterprise

to go ahead now in this area and gear the feasibility studies to take

into consideration the development going forward. I don't believe that,

there need be any conflict. I don't believe that it is impossible to permit some immediate development and mesh long-range planning with

such development.

TIMING OF THE PROJECT

Mr. Chairman, I have been rather general in my remarks. I will leave

to others of my good friends who are here today the more technical

aspects of this project—and I must say that we have assembled here an

impressive array of expertise.

In closing, I wish to emphasize again that I feel the time to move

ahead on the southwest Idaho water development project is now. The

language of S. 697 provides for orderly progress. It provides for getting started, for approval of the Mountain Home division where, so

to speak, all the returns are in. And it provides for accelerating studies

on other divisions.

All of Idaho is united in support of this project. My colleague Senator Church and I have been joined in sponsorship by our Idaho delegation in the House of Representatives. We have on various occasions

supplied for hearing records and for the Congressional Record various

memorials, resolutions, and communications reflecting the broad support the proposal has.

I wish again today to submit for the record a series of such expressions and ask that they be included in the record at the conclusion of

my remarks.

In addition, I ask that there be printed in the record a copy of m37

letter to Commissioner Floyd E. Dominy of the Bureau of Reclamation regarding these hearings and a copy of the Bureau's response

to me.
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 11

Originally we thought that Congress would be adjourned by the time

these hearings were held and had hoped that they could be scheduled

to take place in Idaho. Since it appears that the Congress will be in

session here for some little time yet, the hearings for convenience sake

were scheduled for Washington, D.C. I am glad that so many of the

men who are vitally interested and intimately connected with the proposal could come here today. I ask to include my correspondence with

the Bureau in the record to show that agency's very cooperative spirit

in regard to holding hearings on S. 697.

Senator ANDERSON. Without objection, that will be done.

(The documents referred to follow:)

MAY 24, 1967.

Hon. FLOYD E. DOMINY,

Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation,

U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C.

DEAR FLOYD : Enclosed is a copy of a letter to the Honorable Clinton P. Anderson, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Water and Power Resources of the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee of the Senate, requesting consideration for

a hearing on S. 1697 in 1967 on the Southwest Idaho Water Development project.

I realize that full information is not yet available on some units of this

complicated water development project, but it seems to me that the Bureau may

well profit and certainly the people of Idaho could be much better advised if

a hearing were held out in Idaho during 1967 to give sort of a progress report

and have an opportunity to ask and answer questions concerning phases of the

proposed legislation.

If such a hearing could be arranged, would it be possible for members of your

staff to participate, particularly those in Region I of the Bureau of Reclamation,

in assisting to coordinate the people of that area with the features of the proposed bill.

With best regards, I am,

Sincerely yours,

LEN B. JORDAN, U.S. Senator.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION,

Washington, D.C., June 5, 1967.

Hon. LEN B. JORDAN,

U.S. Senate,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR SENATOR JORDAN: This is in response to your letter of May 24, in which

you discussed the possibility of a hearing being held in Idaho by a subcommittee

of the Senate Subcommittee on Water and Power Resources to consider pending

bill S. 697, to authorize the Southwest Idaho Water Development Project.

The Bureau's plan of development for the Southwest Idaho Water Development

Project, as set forth in our proposed report of September 2, 1966, has been given

much publicity in the State of Idaho and elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest. It has

been endorsed by State and local agencies. A subcommittee of the House Interior

and Insular Affairs Committee held an informational hearing last fall in Boise.

We believe, however, that there may still be some misunderstanding among the

local people and that members of the Senate Committee may wish to obtain firsthand information as to the plans and the local attitude toward them.

If such a hearing as you have proposed can be arranged, you may be assured

of our whole-heared cooperation and active participation, to the extent desired

by the subcommittee, by our Regional Director and his staff.

Sincerely yours,

N. B. BENNETT, Jr.

Acting Commissioner.
12 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Senator ANDERSON. Senator Church.

STATEMENT OF HON. FRANK CHURCH, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE

STATE OF IDAHO

Senator CHURCH. Mr. Chairman, I want to join this morning in giving my strong endorsement to the bill that is the subject of this hearing. I associate myself with the fine remarks that have been made by m)

colleague concerning this project.

It is one of the finest potential multipurpose projects to be developed

in the Far West. It would link the vast and fertile plains along the

mighty Snake River in the southwestern section of my State of Idaho,

not only with the waters of that river, but also with a network of cold,

clear streams that pour out of the nearby mountains.

I hope that the departmental witnesses will emphasize what has

already been stressed in the feasibility report: That it is because of

the extremely unusual geographic and topographic relationships that

this project provides a most advantageous arrangement for storage,

power production, reregulation, reclamation, municipal and industrial water, flood control, improved water quality, fish and wildlife

enhancement, and recreation.

The benefits of this correlated project are so great as to directly

affect the welfare of more than 200,000 people who live in an area

the size of the States of New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delaware

combined.

Nearly a half million acres of vacant desert land will open for cultivation. More than 60,000 acres of cultivated farmlands will receive a

greatly needed additional water supply. New power generation will

put almost 500,000 kilowatts on the line. New reservoirs of sparkling

water, located in attractive mountain valleys, will offer extensive recreation playgrounds. Growing cities and towns in the area will be assured industrial and domestic water supplies.

Deeply cognizant of these factors, we urge the authorization of the

southwest Idaho water development project, which embraces under

a single concept several well-developed and already studied plans for

utilizing the unappropriated waters of the Snake River and its tributaries in 11 southwestern Idaho counties.

This project has wide-based support in our State. Representatives

are here today from the Idaho Water Resource Board, the State's principal water policy agency, to testify in its favor, as are other individuals representing important segments of our economy.

The Idaho State Legislature has memorialized Congress endorsing

the project. The project has received enthusiastic support from public

and private organizations and individuals throughout the State.

Farmers, ranchers, conservationists, and leaders of business and industry, all have recognized the need for balanced and integrated development of these resources.

The costs of construction will be repaid from numerous sources.

While irrigators will be charged a substantial share of the overall

costs, a part will be charged to recreational benefits, to municipal and

industrial users, and to fish and wildlife benefits.

A major portion of the costs would be covered by a project basin

account against Federal power-producing sources. Idaho water provides a sizable share of the flow energizing the Columbia River Federal power system.
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 13

The Snake River enters Idaho with an annual flow of 4 million

acre-feet at our eastern border. When the Snake leaves Idaho and

crosses into Oregon and Washington to finally join with the Columbia

River, it is carrying an annual flow of 38 million acre-feet—more than

a ninefold increase in its passage through Idaho.

Accordingly, it is both just and necessary that a subshare of the

overall costs be repaid through surplus power revenues of the Bonneville Power Administration.

I believe, Mr. Chairman, that this is one of the most comprehensive

and well-developed plans that has ever been presented for the multiplepurpose utilization of a great natural resource, and I hope it will have

favorable consideration by this committee and the Congress.

Mr. Chairman, may I just conclude by saying a word concerning

the bipartisan character of this project.

Senator Jordan and I have worked very closely together in drafting

this legislation, and we have worked very closely with all of the interested parties in Idaho over the past couple of years.

Both Members of the congressional delegation have introduced

identical bills, and I think that I would be amiss if I did not also

pay special credit to a former Congressman, Congressman Compton I.

White, in whose vision this bill was largely east, because it was he

who suggested that several piecemeal projects long considered be

drawn together under one comprehensive plan for development. This

is the bill we are considering now.

With those words, Mr. Chairman, and my appreciation to you for

holding these hearings, I think we ought to get on with it.

Senator ANDERSON. Congressman McClure is our next witness.

STATEMENT OF HON. IAMES A. MeCLURE, A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE

IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF IDAHO

Mr. McatinE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I appear here today to speak in favor of S. 697, which authorizes

the southwest Idaho water development project, a measure whose

companion bill in the House of Representatives, H.R. 3971, bears my

name as sponsor. Furthermore, I am not solely motivated by regional

interests, although they are important, but because I believe that

development and harnessing of our natural resources is fundamental

to the increased wealth and prosperity of the entire Nation.

Since the past is prolog, perhaps we can measure the potential by

evaluating benefits derived from projects such as this one already

completed.

A study by Washington State University on the effect of irrigation on the economic growth of 10,000 acres of irrigated land in the

Columbia Basin project and a neighboring 10,000 acres of equally

fertile dry farmland is startling. Growth in population was in a ratio

of 17 to 1; business establishments, 17 to 1; and wages, 20 to 1. The

effect on the tax base was equally impressive. Growth in retail tax

collections was 17 times that of the dry farmland, business and occupation tax collections 19 times better, and Federal income tax payments 17 times better.

Other studies not only corroborate this, but also reveal the immense

values felt on a national scale. One study revealed that benefits to

83-181-67 3
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

irrigation farmers accounted for only 6 percent of the total benefits

of the project.

Other purely local interests benefited by 16 percent. Regionally, the

figure was 31 percent, and to the country as a whole 47 percent. in

other words, nationally a reclamation project benefits the Nation

nearly eight times as much as those most directly affected locally.

Conversion of dry land to irrigation means greater gross returns

to the food processor, the warehouser, the transporter, and the marketer

than to the farmer. It contributes to the health and welfare of all the

people by increasing employment and by removing pressures on the

balance of payments.

But of all those who benefit, either directly or indirectly, from reclamation, the one who gains the most—and realizes it the least—is

the consumer.

Here in the East it is not uncommon to hear the complaint, "What

good does reclamation do me?" The answer is that in keeping up with

the food needs of the people, all of us, as consumers, can enjoy stable

food prices. In the long run, the consumer's best friend is a healthy

agricultural economy.

. If our efforts are dedicated to the goal of a better tomorrow, then

the manner in which we approach the development and use of the

resources at hand will determine how soon that better day is here.

At the present time Idaho has 3.5 million acres under irrigation,

one-half of which was developed by private means. The southwest

Idaho water development project covers an area of 10 million acres;

650,000 acres of this are already under irrigation. A total of 1.4 million acres in the project area are irrigable, of which this project will

actually bring in 490,000 acres of new land and provide supplemental

or replacement water for an additional 60,000.

The bill expresses a new concept of integrated regional planning,,

bringing together several individual proposals and projects long proposed by planning agencies and interested local groups. This concept

was first put forward by members of the Southwest Idaho Development Association and I salute them for their vision.

Although this integrated proposal was first advanced less than

2 years ago, all of its parts have been under sutdy and consideration

for many, many years. The interrelationships of the several divisions

are set forth in a logical plan for regional development. The merit of

this approach can best be shown by its universal acceptance.

State law requires that the State agency conduct hearings and such

hearings have been held in each of the counties affected by initial

development under this bill, with enthusiastic endorsement.

That it has received such unanimous approval is a tribute to the

careful concern for the legitimate interests of the people affected. For

example, all parties have agreed that 660,000 acre-feet of water may be

transferred each year from the Payette River Basin for project

purposes.

I congratulate the two able and distinguished Senators from my

State, members of your committee

'

for having included that figure

in the bill. Other provisions to meet other specific problems have likewise been carefully incorporated in the bill as the result of suggestions

from many interested people and agencies and reasoned reflection.
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 15

As a result, the bill before you has the support of the entire Idaho

congressional delegation; the former Governor of my State, the Honorable Robert E. Smylie ; the present Governor, the Honorable Don

Samuelson; the Idaho Water Resource Board; the Southwest Idaho

Development Association; and the leaders of both political parties

in my State. It has also been endorsed by all major reclamation associations and water user groups.

This proposal is not the complete or final development of all land

and water in the area, but it is a giant stride in that direction. Idaho

has recognized the importance of the development of its water resources. In addition to our long history of constructive effort in this

field a special session of the Idaho Legislature submitted a constitutional amendment to the people, which was ratified by the people at

the next election, and implemented by the creation of the Idaho Water

Resource Board. Appropriation for activities in this field have been

dramatically increased by the current legislature. And I might add

parenthetically, at this point, we have appropriated in the State four

times as much money in this field of water resource development.

There is no doubt that some time must pass between the rooster's

crow and the chick's peep, but the incubation period of an idea need

not be likened to the gestation period of an elephant or the long

years of waiting of the century plant. Although the regional concept

is new, the gleam in the eye that launched these projects and led to

the detailed study and planning which has been completed occurred

many years ago.

I ask that you give this bill your favorable consideration and that

the citizens of Idaho be given the opportunity in building a better

tomorrow, in developing their rich resources of land and water, for

the benefit of all of us.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Senator ANDERSON. There is a statement here on page 3:

All parties have agreed that 600.000 acre-feet of water may be transferred

each year from the Payette River Basin for project purposes.

Mr. MCCLURE. Yes, sir.

Senator ANDERSON. Which groups approved that?

Mr. MCCLURE. Each of the groups consulted has approved it. I

have been a member of the Payette Water -Users Association, and my

home is in that valley. The irrigators have consulted and have determined that this is a reasonable figure that can be voted to the project

purposes without any damage to their present or future interests, and

they have agreed to it.

Senator ANDERSON. And these water rights will be transferred to

the district?

Mr. MCCLURE. The water itself. It is unappropriated water at the

present time.

Senator ANDERSON. There are 490,000 acres to be irrigated?

Mr. MCCLURE. There will be 490,000 acres of new land and 60,000

acres affected with replacement water.

Senator 

Mr. MCCLURE. 

ANDERSON. 

Yes.

Are you familiar with the requirementsSenator ANDERSON. That doesn't worry you at all?

Mr. MCGUIRE. No; it does not.
16 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Senator ANDERSON. You could develop much quicker if you had

permission to do so.

Mr. MCCLURE. We are ready to develop. As is pointed out in each

of the statements that preceded mine, and alluded to in mine, each

of these projects has been under consideration for many, many years.

The only thing that is new is putting together in a regional concept

the things that have been under consideration for many years.

Senator ANDERSON. On page 2, the statement mentions the growth

in population of 17 to 1. What do you mean by a ratio of 17 to 1?

Mr. MCCLURE. Seventeen times as much population on the irrigated

land as compared to the comparable dry land. The land itself supports

17 times as many people as the comparable quantity and quality of

dry land.

Senator ANDERSON. Senator Kuchel ?

Senator KUCHEL. This appears to me to be a proper channel by

which you seek approval of water resource development in your

State. What is the cost expected to be?

Mr. McCutTRE. $710 million, estimated, for all the divisions.

Senator KUCHEL. The staff has prepared a memorandum which says,

in part, that the combined first stages of developing a project would

cost an estimated $346,733,000.

Is this bill before us limited to the combined first acres, or does

this bill constitute the complete authority?

Mr. MCCLURE. The bill itself authorizes the construction and operation of the initial development. It also calls for feasibility studies of

the additional divisions.

Senator KUCHEL. I see. So it would be your statement to the committee that the cost of the presently envisioned projects in this bill

would be limited to $346 million?

Mr. MCCLURE. That is correct.

Senator KUCHEL. I think, gentlemen, that we have usually had a

rule in this committee that the precise amount that we are talking

about be written into the bill, setting down the ceiling, which would

certainly cause no problem.

Have studies been made over the past many years of these different

divisions that are set forth in the bill?

Mr. MCCLURE. Yes; they have.

Senator KUCHEL. They represent different sections of Idaho?

Mr. MCCLURE. Senator Kuchel, they are in an 11-county area in

southwestern Idaho. You asked if studies have been made. This is the

complete study that has been made. The frontispiece in that study is a

reproduction of the map which is before the committee and shows

the areas in which the development can take place in that 11-county

area. Eight counties are affected by the initial development.

Senator KUCHEL. I think your statement to the committee was that

this constituted a comprehensive development. Would it be your statement to the committee that any legislation authorization for the first

stages of the development of only one of these divisions would not be

in the public interest?

Mr. MCCLURE. No; I wouldn't want to leave that impression. We

think that the entire development, a comprehensive regional approach, 

is the best, but I think the initial stages, which are authorized under

this bill, standing alone would be in the national interest.
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 17

Senator CHURCH. Senator Kuchel, if I may at this point, I think

it needs to be pointed out that this bill, as it is presently written, does

contemplate the authorization of the entire project.

Senator KUCHEL. Oh, it does?

Senator CHURCH. The parts for which feasibility studies have not

yet been completed, but are now underway—the authorization is made

dependent upon completion of a feasibility study, so that construction could not go forward, and money could not be appropriated for

construction purposes until a satisfactory feasibility study and determination has been made.

Senator KUCHEL. I, of course, have not seen this bill until this

morning.

Senator CHURCH. I didn't want you to labor under any false impression on that score, because the bill does authorize the Whole

thing, subject to feasibility reports which have not yet been completed on certain portions of the project.

Mr. MCCLURE. I concur in that statement.

Senator KUCHEL. So that it will be understood, we deal here with a

bill authorizing $710 million.

Mr. MCCLURE. $710 million.

Senator KUCIIEL. Part of which would be contingent on feasibility

findings by the Secretary. Where will the hydroelectric power be generated ?

Mr. MCCLURE. There are three primary points in the project. The

Scriver Creek project, which is distinct from the Garden Valley Dam,

and reregulate the dam at Garden Valley and the Guffey Dam.

Senator KUCHEL. Do we have estimates as to the amounts of electricity that would be produced?

Mr. MCCLURE. Yes. The Guffey Dam would have a powerplant having four generating units with a total installed capacity of 85,000

kilowatts.

Senator KUCHEL. That would be in connection with which division?

Mountain Home?

Mr. MCCLURE. Mountain Home. The Garden Valley 

Senator KUCHEL. What is that you are reading from?

Mr. MCCLURE. This is the report dated May 1967.

Senator KurpHEL. I would have no objection to having at least excerpts of that brochure appearing in the record, Mr. Chairman.

Senator ANDERSON. Without objection, that will be done.

(The excerpt referred to follows:)

MOUNTAIN HOME DIVISION

The proposed Mountain Home Division, consisting of three units [Guffey, Long

Tom and Hillerest units] is a multiple-purpose developument designed to serve

the functions of irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, municipal and industrial water supply, water quality control, flood control, recreation and fish

and wildlife enhancement. It is located in portions of Elmore Ada, Canyon and

Owyhee Counties. Most of the division is between the Boise River on the north

and the Snake River on the south.

• •

GUFFEY UNIT

The Guffey Unit would consist of the Guffey darn, reservoir, and powerplant

on the Snake River, pumping plants to lift water from the reservoir, and necessary conduits, canals, relift pumps and other features to distribute the water

to some 30,000 acres on both sides of the Snake River.

z
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Guffey dam would be an earthf111 structure rising 162 feet above streambed.

It would form a 332,000 acre-foot reservoir that would extend up river about

40 miles to the town of Grand View. Under normal conditions the water surface

would not be permitted to fluctuate more than 3 feet, thus limiting the active

capacity of the reservoir to 27,000 acre-feet. As a result, the dam and reservoir

would provide an unusually constant head for power generation and an attractive pool for irrigation pumping, recreation, and a resident fishery. A powerplant having 4 generating units with a total installed capacity of 85,000 kilowatts

would be located at the toe of the dam.

Senator KUCHEL. Where will the power be used?

Mr. MCCLURE. It is used primarily for pumping during the irrigation season, and would be marketed to the Bonneville Power Authority

during the balance of the season, as well as any excess during the

irrigation season.

Senator KUCHEL. Thank you very much.

Mr. MCCLURE. Thank you, sir.

Senator ANDERSON. What is the total acreage now?.

Mr. MCCLURE. 490,000 acres of new land, with 60,000 acres of old

land receiving supplemental or replacement water, under the total

development.

Senator ANDERSON. How much money will it all cost?

Mr. MCCLURE. $710 million estimated for the total development.

Senator ANDERSON. How would the power be marketed?

Mr. MCCLURE. Through the Bonneville Power Authority.

Senator ANDERSON. A postage stamp rate?

Mr. MCCLURE. Under the prevailing rate of the Bonneville Power

Authority.

Senator ANDERSON. Senator Jordan, do you have any questions?

Senator JORDAN. No. I just want to compliment my colleague for a

good statement and stress one point he made, and I refer now to

page 2.

It says:

At the present time Idaho has 3.5 million acres under irrigation, one-half of

which was developed by private means.

Idaho is not standing by, hat in hand, waiting for the Federal Government to come and help develop its resources. Of the 3.5 million

acres we have under irrigation at the present time, half of it was developed by private means.

Mr. MCCLURE. I might add that this private development has been

going forward at the rate of 20,000 or 30,000 acres a year.

Senator JORDAN. Yes, I saw a figure of 1 million acres that have

come in by private development in the last 15 years.

Senator CHURCH. Any further questions?

Senator BURDICK. Yes. I have a resume here that says the installed

capacity is 450,000 kilowatts. Certainly that is more than necessary for

pumping for the project, isn't it?

Mr. MCCLURE. Yes, it is.

Senator BURDICK. As a matter of fact, it is much, much more.

Mr. MCCLURE. The Guffey Dam itself would not produce all the

power necessary for pumping within the project. The other dam would

be necessary for the needed power 450,000 kilowatts would be the full

development of that site.

Senator CHURCH. I think Congressman McClure's original answer

had to do with the Guffey Dam, but also included is the Garden Valley
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 19

Dam, and power from that would go into the general pool and be

marketed by the Bonneville Power Authority.

Mr. MCCLURE. While it wouldn't require the full amount produced

by one dam, it would require in excess of what could be produced in

the project without this dam.

Senator BURDICK. Has this land ever been farmed?

Mr. MCCLURE. Portions of it have been. I wouldn't have the exact

acreages.

Senator BURDICK. Is it being farmed now?

Mr. MCCLURE. Some is being farmed now. Some is grazing land.

Senator BURDICK. You say the cost-benefit ratio is 1.66 to 1. Is that

based on 50 or 100 years?

Mr. MCCLURE. I am afraid I cannot answer that. I defer to the

Department witness on that point.

Senator BURDICK. Do you know whether or not this project will pay

out in 50 years plus 10 years' development?

Mr. MCCLURE. It will pay out those portions that have been allocated

to repayment, but it would require Idaho's share under the basin

account, authorized by Congress, but not those portions deemed to be

not repayable by irrigation and development.

Senator CHURCH. It is true that the power development would also

be within the 50-year period?

Mr. MCCLURE. Yes.

Senator GriuRcH. Subject to the provisions of the basic account approved last year by the Congress.

Mr. MCCLURE. That is correct.

Senator BURDICK. Perhaps these other questions I will leave for the

technical people.

Mr. MCCLURE. I think the technical people would give you more

accurate answers than I could off the top of my head, sir.

Senator CHURCH. Senator Moss?

Senator Moss. I have no questions at this time, Mr. Chairman. I was

a little late and didn't get to hear Congressman McClure, but I am

reading his statement now.

Senator CHURCH. If there are no further questions, Congressman,

I want to thank you for your testimony.

Mr. MCCLURE. Thank you very much.

Senator CHURCH. Our next witness is Congressman Hansen from

the Second Congressional District.

We are happy to have you here, Congressman.

STATEMENT OF HON. GEORGE V. HANSEN, A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE

IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF IDAHO

Mr. HANSEN. I am privileged to be here in support of the legislation

calling for the orderly and early development of the water resources

in a broad area of the southwestern part of Idaho.

I want to congratulate the Idaho senatorial delegation, my good

friends, the acting chairman, and Senator Jordan for their good work

in bringing these things to pass, and certainly I think this is indicative of the unity and bipartisanship feeling that exists in the State

over the development of this project.
20 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

I would like to say that very little of this project lies in my district 

now, since we have had redistricting recently in the State, so Congressman McClure, in his own congressional district, would be more—

shall I say this would affect him much more than it would affect me.

I am not here to present a formal statement at this time, but I will

submit this for the record, if I might. I have a problem this morning

of two conflicting committees, and one was a key REA vote on the telephone bill, and the other agricultural, in which we have substantial

hearings.

If I might, I would like to briefly summarize those things I would

say in my formal statement. Before I do, I would like to say I appreciate the delegation Idaho has here. I think they are some of the best

water authorities that could be at• this hearing, and I am stir they

are going to do a creditable job in informing the committee on the

need of this project. Some 15,500 square miles spread across 11 southwestern Idaho counties are included, and it will provide full irrigation

water to nearly a half million acres of new land and supplemental

water for 62,000 acres now insufficiently irrigated.

The four divisions in the project would affect nearly 250,000 people

directly and would have beneficial impact, not only on Idaho, but on

the entire Pacific Northwest. In addition to irrigation and reclamation

it provides for flood control, municipal water supplies, recreation,

fish and wildlife benefits, and power.

In regard to the latter item, power, the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, in its wisdom, gave its approval to a Columbia River Basin account on which our project will depend in part, at

least, for funding. In so doing, the committee recognized the fact that

much of the water which produces power in the Columbia River Basin

is Idaho water. It recognizes there is a tremendous potential for growth

in the area and by its action paved the way for orderly growth process.

The basin account will be a catalyst which could cause the desert to

continue to bloom through this and future project legislation.

The Legislature for the State of Idaho passed a joint memorial, and

this has appened in two different sessions of late, urging adoption of

this project. The southwestern Idaho water development project will

lead to an unlimited richness.

This development should be started at the very earliest moment

possible, and I strongly urge the early and favorable consideration by

the Congress of this project.

Mr. Chairman, I think that I should say that last year, almost

exactly a year ago, we had a hearing by the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs in the Boise area, which is the heart of this

project, and I think it developed at this point, and by one of the earlier

sponsors, then Congressman White, along with myself at this hearing,

and other Members of the House—Congressman McClure appeared

there also—and I think there was complete unanimity for the need of

the project.

There were a few small details as far as water rights and other

things were concerned that seemed to present themselves at the time,

but this has since been cleared up in the new bill. It seems to be a

very clean bill, and again I would urge favorable consideration by

this committee, in getting this project underway as quickly as possible.
SOUIHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 21

Again, Mr. Chairman, I am sorry my appearance has to be brief.

I thank you for the privilege of submitting a full text at a later time,

and hope that it might be all right if I may leave as soon as possible.

Senator ANDERSON. Which bill are you supporting, the Senate bill?

Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Chairman, they are all, I think, the same bill

now, and so there is no conflict at all.

Senator ANDERSON. All the House bills are identical to the Senate

bill?

Mr. HANSEN. That is correct, Mr. Chairman. I don't care which

number you put on it or which House it comes from.

Senator ANDERSON. You spoke about a bill being altered in some

way.

Mr. HANSEN. That was in the 89th Congress.

Senator ANDERSON. The House bills and the Senate bill are all

identical?

Mr. HANSEN. Yes, they are.

Senator ANDERSON. Senator Kuchel ?

Senator KUCHEL. No, no questions. I am glad to welcome our friend

from Idaho to this committee.

Senator JORDAN. No questions.

Senator CHURCH. I would like to underscore the point that the

Congressman made about the House hearing last year.

It was remarkable in the unanimity of support that was evident

in Boise from the people who would be most directly affected, and

this, as you know, Mr. Chairman, is unusual where a large water

project is concerned. I think it speaks well for the bill that we presently have under consideration.

Mr. HANSEN. I thank you, Senator.

The then chairman has retired, Mr. Rogers of Texas, but Mr. Johnson from California, the new chairman, was there on the trip and

heard all the testimony, so I am sure our side of the Hill is very

familiar with this project, and it seems to be in good favor. Our only

problem, of course, is to wait for some of the final reports to come up.

Senator ANDERSON. Have you any idea how much the per acre cost of

this roughly 500,000 acres would be?

Mr. HANSEN. I can answer, but I would rather defer to Mr. Harold

Nelson.

Mr. NELSON. Would you repeat the question, Mr. Chairman, please?

Senator ANDERSON. Someone had asked how much the per acre cost

will be.

Mr. NELSON. It will be about $965 an acre, total investment.

Senator ANDERSON. Aren't there other divisions?

Mr. NELSON. The other divisions have not yet been worked up. It

will probably be within that range, somewhere between $900 and

$1.000 an acre.

Senator ANDERSON. They haven't been worked out?

Senator CHURCH. The feasibility reports are not completed yet.

Mr. McauRE. They are completed on the Mountain Home division.

only. There are two more to come on irrigation, the irrigation connected with the Garden Valley division, which would involve use

of Payette River water, and the southside of the Snake River and a

83-181-67---4
22 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

feasibility report is expected on that one in about 1975. It is expected

on the Garden Valley division about 1970, and on the Weiser division

about December of this year.

Senator ANDERSON. You said that one would be available in 1975?

Mr. NELSON. For the last unit, yes, sir.

Senator ANDERSON. You are now trying to have that approved? You

hope to have that approved now.

Mr. NELSON. The two feasibility reports have been completed. That

is for the Garden Valley power facilities, and the complete Mountain

Home division. There are three more to come.

Mr. HANSEN. I would say, Mr. Chairman, if I might, that this is

a series of projects. This is not one great project.

Senator ANDERSON. You are asking one great approval?

Mr. HANSEN. I think the way the approval is being requested, it

isn't necessarily one great approval, but that it itself would be in steps,

also.

Senator ANDERSON. We don't approve it in total, then.

Mr. HANSEN. Pardon?

Senator ANDERSON. We don't approve it in whole?

Mr. HANSEN. I think the steps would have to be authorized as they

are ready.

Senator BURDICK. Do we understand you are only asking for approval of that portion that is being studied at the present time?

Mr. HANSEN. I might defer to my colleague from Idaho to state that.

Senator CHURCH. This bill would authorize the project in toto.

However, each division of the project would have to wait the completion of a feasibility report before any construction work could go

forward.

One of these reports is ready, and another will soon be ready, and

the third and the fourth divisions will not be completed for some time.

But the language in the bill, which typifies the authorization subject

to a feasibility report being completed, is found on page 3, beginning

at line 11—this is typical language with regard to the deferred portions of the project:

Provided, That construction of the Weiser River enlargement shall not be

undertaken until the Secretary has submitted his report and finding of feasibility

on this division, including a reevaluation on the proposed Goodrich Dam to the

President and to the Congress.

No phase of this project can actually proceed into actual construction without prior completion of the feasibility report and its submission to the Congress.

Senator Moss. Does this require, then, any affirmative action of either

the Congress or the President to go on, or does it simply have to be

submitted?

Senator CHURCH. It requires that the feasibility report be affirmative and satisfactory.

Senator BURDICK. To whom?

Senator CHURCH. As the bill is presently drafted no further action

would be required by the Congress.

Senator BURDICK. It must be satisfactory to whom?
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 23

Senator ANDERSON. May I read this:

Because the planning of work on this project has not been presented to Congress, we assume the committee will wish to defer action.

The Department doesn't know what the feasibility studies are, and

can't predict them very well.

Senator CHURCH. Mr. Chairman, we will have—and before the Congress takes action—the studies completed on the first phase of the

project. The formula that the bill contains with respect to the other

phases of the project does coincide with provisions that have been

made in some previous bills that have been approved by the Congress.

This is a matter that we will want to take up and examine carefully in executive session, but we do have precedents that we would like

to cite on which this formula contained in the bill is based. However,

it is a question of importance that the committee should consider in

executive session.

Senator JORDAN. May I add, Mr. Chairman, as has been pointed

out, this does involve interphasing the transfer of water, so that several

divisions of the project are interrelated in a sense. We seek authorization of the complete group of divisions inasmuch as they are so

interrelated.

Senator ANDERSON. It is pretty hard to pass on a piece of legislation which is not yet ready to be passed upon.

Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Chairman, might I state that I think that all

concerned with the project, especially the technicians have enough

figures at this time, as Mr. Nelson stated, to estimate that this will be

in a certain range that does have favorable feasibility.

On the House side, I might say that this is one reason we have not

had hearings yet, because we do not have the final figures. So it would

have been more comfortable for us to have waited for those figures,

but I commend those who will strike out and go ahead and try to get

something done without waiting for the final gun. I think this is

what is before us today: That this is a good project, that it has plenty

of backing, that it is a project, as Senator Jordan says, where there

is a lot of interrelationship, where you cannot authorize one piece

without considering the rest of it.

It is a question of getting it moving and then, as we come to the

other projects, have the assurance that they will be in order technologically as much as the original project.

Senator ANDERSON. I remember we had some long discussions before on a project, and we had to wait until the feasibility reports

arrived. Now you are talking about a 1975 date for a feasibility report. That is a long time.

Senator Moss?

Senator Moss. No more question, Mr. Chairman.

Senator ANDERSON. Any other questions?

If not, thank you, Mr. Hansen.

Mr. HANSEN. Thank you very much. I would say that I found a

penny on the floor, and if that is all the money floating around here

you are in good shape.

Senator ANDERSON. It was lost by a Member of the House.

Senator CHURCH. You can have that for your efforts, George.

Senator ANDERSON. Mr. Stamm.
24 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

STATEMENT OF G. G. STAMM, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER; BUREAU

OF RECLAMATION, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ACCOMPANIED BY HAROLD T. NELSON, REGIONAL DIRECTOR, BOISE,

IDAHO; AND ALLEN MeGREGOR, PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

ENGINEER

Mr. STAMM. Mr. Chairman, I have Harold Nelson with me at the

table and at the map is Allen McGregor, who is our project development engineer.

He will point out to you the various features of the project as I

make reference to them.

We appreciate the opportunity to explain the southwest Idaho

water development project as presented in our proposed report of

September 2, 1966. As that report has not yet been cleared by the

executive branch, the Secretary's legislative report on S. 697, which

I believe came up to this committee just last night, makes the suggestion that the committee might want to defer action on this bill.

However, we are prepared to discuss the proposed project as much

as the committee wishes.

Senator ANDERSON. Do you approve of it today?

Mr. STAMM. The legislation before the committee would authorize

construction of an initial project phase, and the initial phase is composed only of the portions of the project that have been investigated to

feasibility grade standards, and for which we do have feasibility

reports, but the Department's official report to this committee indicates

that because the combined report, including both the initial phase and

the ultimate phase, has not yet cleared the executive branch, the committee may wish to defer action until executive branch approval can

be obtained.

Senator Cutrizcx. Mr. Stamm, do you mean there will be no executive report submitted on this project until all feasibility studies are

completed?

Mr. STAMM. No, sir. I don't think that is what the Department means

at all.

Senator CHURCH. What does it mean?

Mr. STAMM. It means that the report which was submitted to the

States and the Federal agencies last fall for review 

Senator CHURCH. That is the report that has to do with the Mountain

Home division?

Mr. STAMM. No, sir. That is the larger report that puts all project

divisions together. It is a report about 2 inches thick that brings the

whole package together and includes both the initial phase and the

ultimate phase.

Such reports are submitted to the State and Federal agencies for

comments, and when those comments are received, the Secretary finalizes his report which he submits to the Congress through the Bureau of

the Budget.

The southeast Idaho report has been submitted to the State and Federal agencies. The comments have been received and considered, and

have been incorporated in a revised report. That report is about ready

to go to the Bureau of the Budget, and then will go to the Congress.

That step has not yet been completed, and the Department feels that
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 25

mita the executive branch approval of that report has been obtained it

is not in a position to take a stand on the legislation.

Senator CHURCH. How soon would you anticipate that process would

be complete? As far as the Department of the Interior is concerned,

the process has been completed except that the report has not been

submitted for clearance to the Bureau of the Budget. Is that correct?

Mr. STAMM. Essentially, that is the status. It is still in the process of

review in the Department. It has been pretty thoroughly reviewed.

The remaining step before it comes to the Congress could take some

little time. This is a very complicated and large project, and I think the

Department feels that they don't want to unduly urge premature

action on it, or action without careful consideration.

So it is hard for me to estimate but I would assume that clearance

by the Bureau of the Budget would take 60 days.

Senator Anderson. And we should wait that 60 days to find out what

we are going to do?

Mr. STAMM. I am only estimating how long it would take for executive department clearance.

Senator ANDERSON. You cannot testify favorably until the Bureau

of the Budget has passed on it?

Mr. STAMM. That is correct. We cannot specifically recommend

enactment of this bill until executive department approval is obtained.

Senator CHURCH. How long have the studies that have been brought

to this stage of completion been going on?

Mr. STAMM. There are several phases. The portions of this project

that constitute the initial phase, which are the Mountain Home division and the Scriver Creek facilities, have been under investigation

almost as far back as I can remember.

Senator ANDERSON. Can you remember more than 20 years?

Mr. STAMM. I can remember 20 years.

Senator CHURCH. That corresponds with my recollection, too.

Mr. STAMM. Some of the additional aspects of tying the three

rivers together into a large complex interrelated regional development

for southwest Idaho are comparatively new, and the Bruneau division

will be the last one studied. Although the Bruneau division has been

on the books for a good many years, there has been no detailed investigation of it heretofore. A project of this size would not normally be constructed at one time anyway.

Senator ANDERSON. Should it be approved at one time?

Mr. STAMM. That is the recommendation of this bill, that it be

approved now, but that construction be limited to those phases that

have been shown to be feasible and that other construction not be

undertaken until feasibility is demonstrated by future reports.

Senator ANDERSON. The lands have not yet been made available?

Mr. STAMM. I don't know of any delay involving the availability of

land, Mr. Chairman.

Senator CH-um'. The land is public land, is it not?

Mr. STAMM. It is largely public land.

Senator ANDERSON. The report you submitted reads:

Section 7 would, in order to maintain the local tax base, authorize the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to make available and

sell to individuals or organizations described in the Small Tracts Act-52 Stat.

609—as amended, reserve lands of the United States within the project area.
26 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Mr. STAMM. You are reading from the bill?

Senator ANDERSON. I am reading from the report.

Mr. STAMM. This has to do Mr. Chairman, with the fact that there

are some folks living in the Garden Valley Reservoir area who would

be displaced when the land is acquired for the reservoir.

Those people love to live in that beautiful mountain valley area,

and they would like to relocate in that area, if possible, but all the

adjacent land is publicly owned. It is in the national forest area,

primarily.

This bill would provide that the people displaced in the reservoir

area would have priority in acquiring adjacent Federal land proposed

to be made available in the general area.

Senator ANDERSON. Is this generally your practice?

Mr. STAMM. No, sir that is a unique feature.

Seantor ANDERSON. It sure is.

Has there ever been any preferential right of people displaced to

come back and claim land?

Mr. STAMM. Yes. There have been some cases where former owners

have had the priority right to reacquire lands they once owned or

at least to meet the high bid if the land was put up for sale.

But this is a little different situation. There is no private land available to be purchased, and the only way displaced people could relocate

in the area would be to obtain public land.

This,incidentally, Mr. Chairman, is a picture of the Garden Valley

area that would be inundated by the Garden Valley Reservoir. As you

can see, it is a beautiful mountaneous timber-covered area.

Senator ANDERSON. Does the Sierra Club approve of this, sir?

Mr. STAMM. So far they haven't either approved, disapproved, or

commented.

Senator ANDERSON. It is flooding some forest, isn't it?

Senator KIICHEL. You are getting dangerously close the minute you

start talking.

Senator ANDERSON. They gave us a bad time on the Hooker Dam in

New Mexico. What about this?

Mr. STAMM. The national forest isn't quite in the same category as

the wilderness area. We have a good many reservoirs located in national forest areas.

My statment is a little longer than I had hoped for, but this is a.

large and complicated project, and I would like to give you some indication of what is involved.

The southwest Idaho water development project is a multiplepurpose project and extends from the town of Bliss on the Snake

River on the eastern side westwardly to the confluence with the

Weiser River and includes all the tributary drainage basins in Idaho

between these points.

There are four interrelated divisions—the Mountain Home division,

the Garden Valley division, the Weiser River division, and the Bruneau division. These four divisions together make up the southwest

Idaho water development project.

The initial phase, for which we have feasibility reports, is composed of the Mountain Home division and the Garden Valley and

Scriver Creek units of the Garden Valley division.
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 27

It is designed to serve the functions of irrigation, municipal and

industrial water, power, flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife

enhancement. Future plans will include the remaining units of the

Garden Valley division and the Weiser River and Bruneau divisions.

Construction of the future phases will follow completion of the necessary feasibility studies and submission of the Secretary of the Interior's finding of feasibility to the Congress.

The southwest Idaho water development project encompasses an

area of about 15,500 square miles, or almost 10 million acres. Much of

this area is mountainous and not susceptible to agricultural development. Of this total, however, some 650,000 acres are now irrigated, 

with 340,000 acres in the Boise River drainage area, 180,000 acres in

the Payette River drainage area, 40,000 acres in the Weiser River

drainage area, and 90,000 acres in the Bruneau area and other locations.

The large green area on the map is the Boise project comprising

325,000 acres of irrigated land. These lands are served by the Boise

River Federal storage system composed of Anderson Ranch, Arrowrock, Lucky Peak, and Lake Lowell Reservoirs which regulate and

thereby augment natural riverflows.

The Mountain Home division includes the land area surrounding

the town of Mountain Home, the Dry Lake area south of Lake Lowell,

the narrow strip of land lying on the south side of Snake River west of

Guffy Dam site and the Hillcrest unit south of Boise. More than 105,000

acres of this land is now dry nearly 26,000 acres need supplemental

water.

The Garden Valley division is composed of the land areas drained

by the Payette River, and the Willow Slope and the Initial Butte

areas in the central portion of the project. The Cascade, Deadwood,

and Black Canyon Federal Reservoirs now store water for multiplepurpose use in the lower Payette and Boise River Valleys.

The Weiser River drainage basin in the northwest corner of the

project area makes up the Weiser River Division. Within the basin

there are about 40,000 acres of presently irrigated land and about

100,000 acres that are dry farmed.

Three private storage reservoirs, Lost Valley, Crane Creek, and C.

Ben Ross and the Federal Spangler Reservoir, which is a brandnew

one, incidentally, to be dedicated by Senator Church on September 9

of this year, with a combined capacity of about 83,000 acre-feet, are 

located in the Weiser River area.

The Bruneau division encompasses the land areas in the Bruneau,

Wickahoney, and Castle Creek drainage basins and other minor basins

south of Snake River. Within the Bruneau area about 240,000 acres of

dry, sagebrush-covered land now primarily used for seasonal grazing

could be irrigated.

Present irrigation is limited to the small valleys along the lower

•reaches of the Bruneau River and below C. J. Strike Dam. In recent

years, about 20,000 acres have been irrigated by pumping from wells

and the Snake River.

In the southwest Idaho water development project area, 1.4 million

acres of land with physical characteristics suitable for irrigation have

been identified. The plan of development for this project would bring

490,000 acres of these dry, sagebrush-covered lands under irrigation
28 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

and would supply about 62,000 acres of presently irrigated land with

supplemental water.

Senator ANDERSON. Would you give us those figures again?

Mr. STAMM. 490,000 acres of dry land.

Senator ANDERSON. The one just ahead of that.

Mr. STAMM. 1.4 million acres that are physically suitable for

irrigation.

Senator ANDERSON. All right.

Mr. STAMM. The primary water resources for the project *include

ground water and unappropriated flows of the Snake River and unappropriated flows of the Boise, Payette, and Weiser Rivers and

tributaries.

The Boise, Payette, and Weiser Rivers contribute about 3.5 million

acre-feet annually to the Snake River. These flows together with the

flow of the Snake River would provide an adequate water supply for

all phases of the southwest Idaho water development project.

Existing storage reservoirs fully regulate the Boise River in normal

and dry years, and in dry years all of the water is appropriated and

used for existing needs. Weiser River is also fully used during the

irrigation season in dry years.

In the Payette River there is an abundance of water for existing

and future needs. This water could be made available for multiplepurpose uses in the overall project plan. The Bureau of Reclamation

has water storage and diversion permits on the Snake River, approved

by the State of Idaho, which will assure an adequate water supply for

the initial phase. Other filings will be made as studies progress.

The Mountain Home division is composed of three units: The

Guffey unit, the Long Tom unit, and Hillcrest unit. Most of the division lies between the Boise River and the Snake River in the Mountain

Home Desert.

The Bureau of Reclamation and others have examined many proposals to irrigate the fertile Mountain Home Desert. Such proposals

have included not only transbasin diversions from Payette River, but

also transbasin diversions from the Salmon River, gravity diversions

from the Snake River as far upstream as Milner Dam nearly 100 miles

to the east, and numerous pumping schemes, including ground water

pumping within the Boise Valley.

The plan of development under consideration today has been formulated to meet the multiple-purpose needs of the area and is the only

plan that has received wide acceptance by the many diverse local

interests.

One important factor in achieving this support is the areal scope

of the plan which provides a water supply for good quality lands at

reasonable cost regardless of their location with respect to water

supply sources.

Senator ANDERSON. Hasn't it been under investigation many times?

Mr. STAMM. It has been under investigation for many years, and

a feasibility report has been submitted to the Congress, yes. The

Mountain Home report was submitted several years ago.

Senator ANDERSON. Why was it turned down at that time?

Mr. STAMM. I don't think it ever came up for hearing. Bills were

introduced, but I don't think hearings were ever held. I don't think

it was adverse action, rather it was lack of action.
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 29

Senator CHURCH. That is correct. There has never been adverse action on this project, and I think it is true no hearings have been

held.

Mr. STAMM. A key element of the plan is the provision for exchange

of water between the Snake River and the Boise River to provide adequate supplies for new water users and still assure full entitlements

to present water users.

Water supplies for present water users could, in fact, be improved

by providing an alternative source as a supplemental supply in dry

years and for emergencies.

This hydraulic integration between these two rivers provides a

means for taking water from the Snake River to supply areas presently served from the Boise River. In turn, water from the Boise

River will be released for upstream uses.

Major facilities to be constructed for the Mountain Home division

include the Guffey Dam and powerplant, pumping plants, canals, the

Long Tom tunnel, Long Tom and Canyon Creek diversion dams,

recreation and fish and wildlife facilities, and ne,cesary distribution

and drainage facilities.

Guffey Dam would be an earthfill structure, 162 feet above streambed, located on Snake River north of the town of Murphy. It would

form a 332,000-acre-foot reservoir extending upriver about 40 miles.

The water surface, under normal conditions, would not fluctuate

more than 3 feet. As a result, a constant head for irrigation pumping

and for power generation, and an attractive pool for recreation and

fish and wildlife would be provided.

The Swan Falls powerplant, owned by the Idaho Power Co., would

be inundated by the reservoir.

There are no other major improvements within the basin. A system

of canals and pumping plants would be constructed to convey water

from this reservoir to Lake Lowell, which is an existing reservoir for

exchange purposes and to supply lands of the Guffey unit. The Guffey

unit includes about 23,000 acres in the Dry Lake area and 7,000 acres

south of Snake River.

A powerplant with four generating units having a total installed

capacity of 85,000 kilowatts and an average annual energy production

of 525,600,000 kilowatt-hours would be located at the toe of the Guffey

Dam.

Boise River water made available by the Snake River exchange

would be used on the Long Tom unit. This water would be diverted

from the South Fork of Boise River, about 7 miles below the existing

Anderson Ranch Dam, through a tunnel into an extensive system of

canals and laterals to serve 96,000 acres in the vicinity of Mountain

Home. This system would also provide 5,000 acre-feet of municipal

and industrial water for the city of Mountain Home.

Flood control benefits provided by the Mountain Home division are

based on diverting flows of the South Fork through the Long Tom

tunnel at times when such diversions would be effective in reducing

flood peaks in Boise Valley.

A national wildlife refuge would be established in connection with

the Long Tom unit and would provide major waterfowl enhancement benefits. Two small lakes totaling about 5,000 acres and containing about 10 islands, and provisions for developing marshland

habitat would be features of the refuge.

83-181-67 5
30 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

This development would provide an excellent waterfowl area, strategically located within the Pacific flyway. The Bureau of Sport

Fisheries and Wildlife finds that resident fisheries in the reservoirs

plus guaranteed minimum flows in the South Fork of the Boise

River from Anderson Ranch Dam to Arrowrock Reservoir would

yield substantial benefits.

The construction of the three reservoirs, Guffey, Long Tom, and

Canyon Creek, would provide stable water surfaces attractive for

lake-type recreation activities in southwestern Idaho. The Bureau

of Outdoor Recreation has evolved long-range plans for use of these

recreation facilities.

Water would be pumped from Boise River at the existing Boise

River Diversion Dam to serve the 4,000-acre Hillcrest unit south of

Boise.

Senator ANDERSON. What is open in this 10,000 acres?

Mr. STAMM. The 4,000 acres in the Hillcrest division is all privately

owned land.

Senator ANDERSON. Would it meter this water out to them?

Mr. STAMM. Yes, sir. We would negotiate a repayment contract with

an irrigation district type of organization, and they would assume a

repayment obligation. Water would be measured to them.

Senator KUCHEL. What do you do about the acreage limitation, Mr.

Stamm?

Mr. STAMM. No problem on the Hillcrest unit. These are small holdings. But the acreage limitation would apply to the entire southwest

Idaho project.

Senator ANDERSON. It applies all the way?

Mr. STAMM. Yes, sir.

Senator ANDERSON. You have no problems?

Mr. STAMM. I think not. There may be some individual problem

cases, but when surface water delivery is involved, as you know, we

simply do not deliver water to a man who is in nonconformance with

the 160-acre law.

In summary, the Mountain Home division would supply irrigation

water to about 131,000 acres of land, 105,000 acres receiving a full supply and 26,000 acres receiving a supplemental supply.

Most of the new land proposed to be irrigated now supports only

sagebrush and native grasses used for livestock grazing. About onethird of this land is now in public ownership. With the proposed development2 most of this desert land would be converted to family sized

farms raising hay, pasture, seed, small grain, and row crops.

Senator ANDERSON. You mention what might be done with it. What

crops would be grown on it?

Mr. STAMM. It would be general farming. It would shift from sagebrush to general farming. There would be some small grains, feed for

livestock, row crops, cash crops—there is a wide variety of crop production in the Boise Valley, and I believe the same pattern would

develop here.

Senator ANDERSON. How long is the growing period?

Mr. STAMM. 180 days.

Senator ANDERSON. What is the elevation?

Mr. STAMM. About 3,000 feet, or a little less.
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 31

Senator ANDERSON. This is now sagebrush and native grasses, and

you would plant what, alfalfa?

Mr. STAMM. Alfalfa sugar beets, etcetera.

Senator ANDERSON. How would you get the acreage on sugar beets?

Senator Moss. No potatoes?

Mr. STAMM. Some potatoes.

Senator ANDERSON. But the acreage on sugar beets, what would you

do about that?

Mr. STAMM. You are right, there is no quota for sugar beets there

now.

Senator JORDAN. Pertinent to that, Mr. Chairman, this whole area is

a feed grain desirability area. We bring feed grains in from as far

away as Montana.

Senator CHURCH. Mr. Stamm, I think the elevations you have given

may be a little high. Boise, as I recall, is about 2,700 feet, and portions

of this project, lying downstream, would be probably lower.

Mr. STAMM. Yes. I agree.

The Garden Valley division will provide for greater use of the

Payette River water resource. Division operation would be integrated

with and would increase the benefit from two existing reclamation

reservoirs in the Payette Basin—Deadwood and Cascade.

Deadwood Reservoir on Deadwood River would be operated in

conjunction with the proposed Garden Valley Reservoir to achieve

the optimum regulation of the south fork of the Payette River. The

700,000 acre-foot Cascade Reservoir on the north fork of Payette

River was built to provide storage for irrigation, not only in the

Payette River Basin, but also the Boise River Basin, and eventually

to provide irrigation water to the Mountain Home Desert. There is

some unsold space in Cascade for this purpose.

The initial phase units of the Garden Valley division—Garden

Valley and Scriver Creek—are located in the Payette River Basin.

Principal facilities of these units are the Garden Valley Dam, Reservoir, and powerplant; Garden Valley reregulating dam and powerplant, and the Scriver Creek complex, which consists of Smiths Ferry

diversion dams, Scriver Creek Dam and Reservoir and two tunnels and

powerplants. Recreation and fish and wildlife facilities also would be

constructed.

Senator ANDERSON. What is the capacity of those tunnels?

Mr. NELSON. Thirteen feet in diameter, as I recall.

Mr. STAMM. The capacity of the upper tunnel is 1,385 cubic feet

per second. The lower tunnel will be 2,488 cubic feet per second.

Senator JORDAN. These three plants have a tremendous head, Mr.

Chairman.

Mr. STAMM. From the point of diversion at Smiths Ferry through

the hill is a 1,200-foot drop. That drop provides the head for these

plants.

Garden Valley Dam would be about 4 miles downstream from the

confluence of the middle and south forks of Payette River. The dam

would be a concrete arch structure, 435 feet above streambed. The

reservoir would have a total capacity of 2,400,000 acre-feet and would

cover an area of approximately 13,600 acres. A State highway and

other roads and a Forest Service headquarters will need to be relocated
32 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

and other improvements acquired in the Garden Valley Reservoir

basin.

Garden Valley reregulating dam would be constructed approximately 3 miles downstream from Garden Valley Dam. The reregulating dam would be a concrete-gravity structure 130 feet above

streambed. Its active storage capacity of 5,900 acre-feet would be used

to permit greater flexibility in power generation at the larger dam.

Storage regulation of the Payette River is required to develop the

irrigation potential in southwestern Idaho; therefore irrigation storage has been included as an important function of the Garden ValleyScriver Creek units.

The four powerplants of the Garden Valley-Scriver Creek complex

are Garden Valley, 175,000 kilowatts; Garden Valley reregulating

powerplant, 36,000 kilowatts; Upper Scriver Creek, 37,500 kilowatts,.

and Lower Scriver Creek, 120,000 kilowatts.

Average annual energy production of these four powerplants would

be 1,346 million kilowatt-hours. The Garden Valley-Scriver Creek

powerplants, together with the Guffey powerplant, with an average

annual energy production 525,600,000 kilowatt-hours, would meet all

the pumping power requirements of the initial phase irrigation,

development.

When all phases of the project are completed deficits will occur in

the summer months although the total annual energy production will

still exceed annual project pumping requirements. These deficits can

be met from the Federal Columbia River power system.

Incidentally, the Federal Power Commission has suggested that we

make studies of peaking power installations or pump-back storage.

installations. This would be done during preconstruction studies, and

appropriate design adjustments to the extent justified would be made.

Of course, any such changes in this direction would only enhance

the financial returns from the complex.

The December 1964 flood in the Payette River Basin-33,000 cubic

feet per second at Black Canyon Dam—was the largest historical flood

peak. Mr. Nelson has a picture here of the flooding in the city of

Emmett, which is a few miles downstream from the Black Canyon

Dam. Damages were estimated to be about $2.9 million. The peak flow

at the Garden Valley site was 20,700 cubic feet per second. This flow

could have been completely controlled by the Garden Valley Reservoir

and by diversion of up to 1,358 cubic feet per second from the North

Fork.

If the reservoir had been in operation Payette River could have been

held to its natural bankful channel capacity of 12,000 cubic feet per

second, instead of 33,000 cubic feet per second that occurred.

Garden Valley Reservoir would also assist in controlling floods in

the lower Columbia River.

Recreation would be an important function of the, Garden ValleyScriver Creek units. The reservoir will be located in an area of scenic

beauty and pleasant summer temperatures. These factors, together

with easy accessibility and the short distance from Idaho's largest

urban concentration, will assure heavy public use. The Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and Forest Service have prepared plans for enhancement of the recreation opportunities, such as boating, fishing, camping,

hunting, picnicking, and swimming.
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 33

The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife finds that there would

be no fishery benefits in the Garden Valley and Scriver Creek Units.

To preserve existing fish and wildlife values in the area it would be

necessary to provide mitigation measures.

The annual net benefits for the functions served by the initial phase

of the southwest Idaho water development project, with proper recognition of adverse effects and time of occurrence total $24,978,600.

A comparison of the annual benefits to the annual equivalent cost of

amortization and operation and maintenance of project works—

$15,011,500—yields a benefit cost ratio of 1.66 to 1. Based on direct

benefits only the ratio becomes 1.29 to 1.

The estimated cost of constructing the initial phase of this project

is $344,140,000 at January 1965 prices. This is composed of $153,-

700,000 for the Mountain Home division and $190,440,000 for the

Garden Valley and Scriver Creek units.

The cost to be allocated to the various functions served totals $346,-

773,000. It is composed of the construction cost, settlers' assistance cost,

and assigned costs from the existing Federal reservoirs. These costs,

allocated by the separable costs remaining benefits method, follow:

Irrigation $187,351,000

Commercial power 125,165,000

Municipal and industrial water 379,000

Flood control 10,537,000

Recreation 11,491,000

Fish and wildlife enhancement 8,950,000

Highway improvement 2,900,000

Total 346,773,000

Senator ANDERSON. And how much of the $187 million would be

paid by the user?

Mr. STAMM. About 18 percent would be paid, and that amounts to

about $34 million. That is for the initial phase units. We don't have

the detailed figures on the other divisions as yet.

Senator ANDERSON. You would get quite a bit of money from the

users.

Mr. STAMM. Yes, sir. The remainder would be paid from the power

revenue.

Senator ANDERSON. That is all you figure can be paid by the users of

the water?

Mr. STAMM. Well, based on the studies we have made • yes, sir. We

make detailed farm management analyses, as you know. Now, some of

our own in-house conversations have been along the line that if the

units develop in larger farm sizes than we anticipated, the repayment

capacity would increase somewhat.

As you know, the ability to pay varies, within limits, relating to the

size of the farm, and it may be desirable to make some refinement of

these analyses on the basis of somewhat larger units. If there is any

change in this repayment analysis, I believe it will go up.

Senator KIICHEL. Just one question at this point, Mr. Chairman.

The cost of the bill, it was said, would be in the neighborhood of

$720 or $710 million, so that what you have just testified to generally

would be about one-half of the estimated total cost of the integrated

regional project.

Mr. STAMM. Yes sir.
34 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Senator KUCHEL. Where would the rest of the moneys be spent?

Mr. STAMM. On the two remaining division,s. Mr. McGregor is pointing now to the Bruneau division, which lies entirely south of the Snake

River. For that division we have very little reliable data, but a sizable

acreage of it is fertile land, suitable for irrigation.

A large portion of the remaining costs would go for development

of that area, and it is for that area that the feasibility report is not

scheduled for completion until 1975.

Mr. KUCHEL. Why would you not schedule completion of that feasibility report for a 10-year period?

Mr. STAMM. I think there are two reasons: One is, again, that the

Bruneau area is a large area, and the normal time to make a feasibility

investigation would be several years at best even under a concentrated

program. As a matter of fact, the study for the Bruneau division has

not yet been financed, and in the present tight money situation we

doubt whether it will be financed in either 1968 or 1969, so it would be

probably 1970 before the study even starts.

Secondly, we have feasibility studies completed for the Mountain

Home division, which contains another sizable acreage of irrigable

land. It lies closer to the centers of population. It is logical that that

area be developed first, and we find from experience that these lands

need to be brought in in a logical sequence.

Senator KUCHEL. Do you agree with the figure of $710 million as

indicated to the committee as roughly what the total cost of the provisions of the bill before us would be?

Mr. STAMM. Yes; $700 million is a good, round figure. Actually we

have very little data on the Bruneau division, and we do not have completed feasibility studies in the Weiser division or the remainder of

the Garden Valley. So, I repeat, it is just a good round estimate.

Senator KUCHEL. An estimate. I say to the chairman, and I say to my.

colleagues, I am sold on the theory of a regional approach to the solution of the water problems, for which I contend sometimes on the losing

side, and I want my colleague to know I approve this kind of approach, but it is something we should consider, that one segment of it

is not going to be completed, or studied, until 10 years away.

You have the problem of what money is going to be worth then. I

think it is important that we find a regional bill that we can help

an area like Idaho by including the different projects in one bill and

going forward within a time area, however, that will stand up, that

won't be subject to any holes being pushed in it.

Senator CHURCH. May I say to the Senator at that point that I

think his observation is well taken. What we are envisioning here is

a blueprint for the development of southwestern Idaho over the period

of the next 25 years; that is, in terms of the timespan between authorization and actual completion of the construction of all phases

of this project.

But I think the Senator is right, that we must be certain that the

bill contains a provision that enables us to give a continuing review

to the feasibility of the project, step by step, so that we don't undertake to bite off a 25-year hunk in one chunk, without making certain

that adequate safeguards are contained in the bill itself.

Senator KUCHEL. It just seems to me that to consider a policy of

authorizing a project, the feasibility report of which by agreement
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 35

would not be available for a decade, does raise problems which might

imperil the whole bill.

I like the idea of Congress setting forth a general policy that, "Here

is an area that we think ought to be improved," including some that

will come along later on, but I raise that question by way of healthy

criticism.

Senator ANDERSON. That is one of my problems now, because we are

talking about authorization now.

The Department of Agriculture says:

We recommend that it be deferred.

The Department of the Interior says:

Section 7 of S. 697 would provide for the disposition of lands, including reserved National Forest lands, with right of first preference to purchase being

given to those owners whose lands would be taken for project purposes. We

recommend that at such time as this bill is considered this section be deleted.

I think if we tie everything together, we are going to scare some

people, me included.

Mr. STAMM. I think the Department of the Interior's comments are

to the effect that that section would certainly need to be clarified and

guidelines established, if it were retained.

Senator ANDERSON. I think I can call some people in the Department

of Agriculture who are worried about these things. I wrote a strong

protest of my own on a project to establish a park in California. I think

the members of this committee should stop and think, and that it might

well be in smaller units rather than in one bill.

Senator JORDAN. Mr. Chairman, may I inject a comment here ?

This bill was conceived before we ever had the Columbia Basin

account. We didn't wait at that time to divorce the area on the south of

the river, which still has to be studied for economic feasibility.

It is some of the best land and about half of the land in the whole

bill. We didn't want to divorce it, so we included it all in because of the

interrelated nature of the land concerned here and the fact that four

river basins are involved, directly and indirectly, even in the interbasin

transfer of waters in two instances.

Senator CHURCH. I think we could add that it was the general blueprint which involved the comprehensive scheme of development that

brought the people of southwest Idaho together behind this project.

Now, I think that it is perfectly clear that this bill must, first of all,

await the completion of the feasibility study that is now pending before

the Bureau of the Budget, but we have waited all year for that feasibility study to be brought to the Congress, and we wanted, before the

end of this session to hold these hearings to spread upon the record

the case that can be made for this project, expecting that the committee

action would await the submission of the feasibility report. That is the

first point.

With respect to the deferred phases of the project, I think the committee wants to look carefully, in such fashion that Congress would

have a continuing review, and I think this can be done within the

precedents that we have already established for other projects. I would

like to present that case at the proper time, Mr. Chairman.

But the important thing this morning is to spread upon the record

the affirmative case that can be made by the citizens of our State for a
36 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

blueprint which by virtue of its size and comprehensive character,

has attracted the enthusiastic support of the people of southwest

Idaho.

Senator ANDERSON. I want to say in turn I have difficulty in voting

for a bill which the Department of Agriculture says should be delayed,

and which the Department of the Interior says should be delayed.

Senator CHURCH. Yes. We won't press for action in the committee

until the feasibility report comes up.

Senator JORDAN. May I add a word for the record, Mr. Chairman.,

that the records of both the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture came to my view only this morning, although

hearings have been set up on this bill for some little time. It is only

this morning that I see the language expressing their disapproval at

this time.

Senator ANDERSON. I think the committee wanted it for the hearing,

and they rushed off and got it yesterday. I saw it this morning also.I

am very happy to aid the Senators from Idaho. We want to help

the State in any way we can. But helping the bill to get vetoed wouldn't

do any good.

Mr. STAMM. If I may proceed here and finish this up, you asked

about water user repayments, and I responded that of the irrigation

allocation the water users would pay 18 percent.

I think it is important to note that about 90 percent of the total

project cost would be reimbursable.

Senator ANDERSON. Paid by other users?

Mr. STAMM. By water users, by power revenues, by the State division of parks repaying half of the separable recreation costs, and some

contribution by municipal and industrial water users.

Senator ANDERSON. We are going to be a little late here if we are

not careful.

Mr. STAMM. The remainder of the statement does deal primarily

with the specifics of the remaining units. We have discussed the two

divisions involved in the initial phase and the remaining discussion is

primarily related to those phases for which detailed studies have not

yet been completed.

The costs allocated to irrigation, $187,351,000, would be reimbursable without interest. This consists of the irrigation allocation, $130,-

531,000 and that part of the power allocation suballocated to irrigation, $56,820,000. In a 50-year period, the Mountain Home division

water users could repay $34,143,000 or 18 percent of the amount allocated to irrigation.

It is proposed that the remaining costs allocated to irrigation—

$153,208,000—be repaid from revenues of the Columbia River Federal

Power System in accordance with provisions of Public Law 89 118,

as amended by Public Law 89-561.

Adequate power revenues will be available during fiscal years 2028

to 2044 to meet the financial assistance requirements of the initial phase

of the project within the criteria set forth in those acts.

The Garden Valley-Scriver Creek and Guffey powerplants would

be integrated into the Federal Columbia River Power System and

Bonneville Power Administration would be the marketing agent for

the commercial power production. Repayment of the commercial
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 37

power investment would be scheduled for a 50-year period from time

each power facility is placed in service.

Cost allocated to municipal and industrial water would be repaid

with interest in accordance with the provisions of the Water Supply

Act of 1958, as amended.

The costs allocated to recreation and fish and wildlife enhancement

total $20,441,000. The portion of the recreation and fish and wildlife

enhancement costs which would be reimbursable under the Federal

Water Project Recreation Act, Public Law 89-72, consists of one-half

of the separable construction costs, and all of the operation and maintenance costs allocated to those functions except where the facilities

will be part of a Federal program.

Separable costs of $1,480,000 allocated to recreation and fish and wildlife enhancement, and $56,200 associated interest during construc- tion would be reimbursable. The remainder of the costs would be nonreimbursable.

A portion of the Garden Valley Reservoir area is within the Boise National Forest, and the U.S. Forest Service will administer the rec- reation development in that area. The Idaho State Department of Parks has expressed in writing a desire to administer the remaining recreation areas at Garden Valley Reservoir and at Smiths Ferry and Guffey Reservoirs and to assume the necessary cost-sharing obligation. The Idaho Fish and Game Department has indicated in writing its interest in assuming responsibility for cost sharing and administration

of fish and wildlife facilities on the Mountain Home Division except for the proposed wildlife refuge which would be administered by the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The plan of development includes provisions to relocate the highway and other roads around the Garden Valley Reservoir. These road relo- cations would be constructed to current standards for current traffic with the incremental cost above replacement in kind—$2,900,000—

nonreimbursable.

The costs allocated to the function of flood control—$10,537,009—

would be nonreimbursable.

The facilities shown in gray on the map are associated with future phases of this project.

The remaining units of the Garden Valley division would supply irrigation water to land areas in three locations.

A dam and reservoir on Gold Fork Creek and a system of pumping

plants, canals, and laterals would be constructed to serve water from

Gold Fork Reservoir and Cascade Reservoir to the lands in the upper

Payette River Basin.

A system of pumping plants, canals, and laterals would be con- structed to serve water from the Payette River at Blank Canyon Dam

to the North Side unit.

By extending and enlarging a portion of the existing Black Canyon

canal and building a system of pumping plants, tunnel, canals, con- duits, and laterals; 600,000 acre-feet of water can be transported from

the Payette River Basin to serve the Willow Slope unit and to existing

canals in the Boise Valley. Water could then be pumped from Lucky

Peak Reservoir to serve the initial Butte area.

In the Weiser River Basin, storage at an enlarged Lost Valley Reservoir and at Goodrich, Monday Gulch, Mosquito, and Price Val- ley sites is under study. In addition to the storage dams and reservoirs,
38 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

diversion dams, pumping plants, canals, distribution, drainage systems, and land areas are being investigated.

In the Bruneau division, water would be pumped from the pool

behind Clear Lakes diversion dam to serve lands lying south of Snake

River. An offstream storage reservoir at Grindstone Butte, a small

reservoir on Castle Creek and an extensive system of pumping plants,

canals, and laterals, are also being investigated.

Feasibility studies on the Weiser River Basin are nearing completion. Studies on the remaining units of the Garden Valley division are

underway. Feasibility investigations of the Bruneau division will be

started when funded.

The initial phase of the project would be an important step in the

multiple-purpose development of the resources of southwestern Idaho.

It would produce economic and social benefits of great magnitude

which would be extensive in scope and of primary significance to the

towns, cities, and populace of the area. The construction and operation

of the project would create new job opportunities; add to local,

State, and National productivity; and expand the recreation attractiveness of the area for the benefit of the entire Nation.

There has been intense and widespread interest in and support for

the project.

The Legislature of the State of Idaho has gone on record in support

of the proposal. The Idaho Water Resources Board has strongly supported the project. In its official comments, the State of Idaho gave its

endorsement of the project as presented in our June 1966 report.

Senator ANDERSON. Mr. Crookham.

Senator JORDAN. May I say, Mr. Chairman, that George Crookham

is no stranger to this committee. He has been here many times. He is

chairman of the Water Resources Board of the State of Idaho.

It is a pleasure to welcome you. Introduce your colleague, if you will.

STATEMENT OF GEORGE L. CROOKHAM, JR., CHAIRMAN, IDAHO

WATER RESOURCES BOARD; ACCOMPANIED BY DR. ROBERT R.

LEE, DIRECTOR, IDAHO WATER RESOURCES BOARD

Mr. CROOKHAM. Thank you, Senator, this is Dr. Robert R. Lee.

Senator CHURCH. I want to join Senator Jordan in welcoming both

of these gentlemen.

Mr. CROOKHAM. The Idaho Water Resources Board, a constitutional

agency which has the responsibility of formulating and implementing

a State water plan, appreciates the opportunity to present this statement in support of Senate bill 697, authorizing the southwest Idaho

water development project.

Gov. Don Samuelson, Idaho's congressional delegation and board

members, representing all areas of the State, have unanimously endorsed the southwest Idaho water development project as a desirable

step toward the comprehensive development of the State's water and

land related resources.

The southwestern area of Idaho has long been recognized as an area

for potential irrigation development. As early as 1918 the Boise Chamber of Commerce advanced funds to the Bureau of Reclamation to

study the possibility of bringing water from the Milner Dam on the

Snake River to the Mountain Home Desert via a long canal.
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 39

The proposal proved infeasible at that time. Private interests then expended considerable sums on surveys and cost estimates for bringing Salmon River and Boise River water to the area by means of a system of dams, tunnels, and canals.

Additional proposals have been made, but none has proved feasible.

Now, after 50 years, the comprehensive southwest Idaho water development project promises to be feasible where previous piecemeal plans were not. Complicated water exchanges are a key to this plan, and agreement has been reached only after years of negotiations.

Senator CHURCH. May I interrupt there, because I think a good deal of emphasis needs to be given to this part of your testimony where you

say:

Now, after 50 years, the comprehensive Southwest Idaho Water Development Project promises to be feasible where previous piecemeal plans were not. Com- plicated water exchanges are a key to this plan and agreement has been reached only after years of negotiations.

Wasn't one of the difficulties with a piecemeal approach the prob- lem of the exchange of water?

Mr. CROOKHAM. Yes. We have three rivers, and they are coordinated

to where everyone is better.

Senator CHURCH. And it was only after we got to this blueprint that

we could reach the popular consensus that was necessary if we were to

go forward with it?

Mr. CROOKHAM. Yes plus the cash register part for it. When the reclamation program was first initiated 65 years ago, the

purpose was to develop the arid and semiarid lands of the West for agricultural purposes, but through a process of evolution the program's

scope has broadened. In keeping with the trend of the times, the pro- posed southwest Idaho water development project contemplates com- prehensive development including water not only for irrigation but for recreation, fish and wildlife, industrial and municipal needs, hydro- electric power, navigation, water quality control, and flood control. Details have been submitted on these.

The primary reason for the economic feasibility is the proximity of fertile lands to the source of water. In the present era of lengthy aqueducts traversing hundreds of miles the distances involved in this project are small indeed. They are financially feasible because the units will return to the U.S. Treasury all reimbursable investment costs as determined by the U.S. Congress.

The 50-year-old Boise reclamation project which is next door or adjacent to the proposed new project has made a remarkable record for production of fruits and vegetables and especially high-quality vegetable seeds.

The Boise project also demonstrates the permanent nature of rec- lamation projects. It is literally dotted with hundreds of beautiful homes and communities that are an asset to the West and to the Nation. The people living on the Boise project are longtime residents. Approximately 60 percent of the reimbursable costs have been repaid by beneficiaries with none of the participants in arrears. Sev- eral hundred families are second and third generation farm residents which emphasizes the stability of the Boise project. Moreover, several thriving communities with accompanying colleges, business, and in- dustry are a direct result of past investment in irrigation in the Boise project area.
40 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

This is a remarkable testimonial to the permanence of the reclamation. It is a tribute to the farsighted vision of Theodore Roosevelt,

who in a message to Congress in 1901 said:

The reclamation and settlement of the arid lands will enrich every portion

of our country.

And again in 1903, he said:

The nation as a whole is of course the gainer by the creation of these homes,

adding as they do to the wealth and stability of the country, and furnishing a

home market for the products of the East and the South.

The economic and social benefits from the project to southwestern

Idaho will be substantial. The construction of the projects will produce additional employment opportunities and stimulate the demand

for goods and services throughout the region. The greatest benefits to

the area, however, will derive from the operation of the project.

In addition to economic benefits, it will provide opportunities to

young families who must often leave the State for want of suitable

employment. Service industries and agricultural processing industries

will provide additional employment opportunities within the State.

Communities will be developed offering a quality of life often missing in congested urban areas.

The Idaho Water Resource Board wishes to emphasize that State

agencies are working with local interests to remove obstacles to the

development of the project.

For example, the State department of reclamation is expediting a

resurvey of water uses on the Payette River to facilitate the adjudication of water rights on that stream. The water resource board will work

closely with the Bureau of Reclamation and the State and local interests to see that any differences are satisfactorily resolved.

The board feels it would be prudent to expedite the completion of

the feasibility reports as authorized in the proposed Southwest Idaho

Water Development Project Act. The project has the potential of

being one of the most beneficial reclamation projects in the West.

Southwestern Idaho has a record of successful irrigation investment, the region's farms are not contributing to crop surpluses, the

project's crops will be in great demand, Idaho's congressional delegation is unanimous in its endorsement and there is strong local support.

No other form of Federal investment can contribute to Idaho's economic growth as can dollars invested in water and related land resources development. The Idaho Water Resource Board urges favorable action on the bill.

Senator ANDERSON. Thank you, Mr. Crookham.

There is need for help in that area?

Mr. CROOKHAM. I would say so; yes.

Senator CHURCH. I want to commend you, George, for a fine statement, and also for the excellent performance of the board under your

chairmanship, and I want to commend Mr. Lee, here, for the fine

services he has been rendering to the board.

I think the important consideration that you have emphasized in

your testimony is that we must envision the total regional program

for the entire southwestern part of Idaho if we are to get the general

public support that is indispensible, and for this reason have undertaken to draft the bill in such a way as to embrace the entire project,
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 41

and we will try in the committee to find suitable language to meet some

of the questions that have been raised in the course of the hearing

this morning.

Mr. CROOKHAM. This is true. I think two things we should emphasize on this are, first of all, Idaho has good cause for use of her

resources, and this project is part of this development.

We should enter these lands into the programing, because it is part

of the western desire to see waters used within the proximity of their

own regions.

The second thing that is quite important on this is that there are

certain plants that will be coming up for relicensing, and some of

these will be put to our use. I think it is well to observe that there is

a higher use at Swan Falls than the total capacity.

Senator CHURCH. The Guffey Dam, as envisioned here, would inundate the Swan Falls powerplant, which is an Idaho Power Co. plant; is

that not so? Is it not also true that the license for Swan Falls is

approaching its termination date?

Mr. CROOKHAM. The termination date is 1970; this is true.

Senator CHURCH. So that the power company will then have had 50

years benefit from the powerplant which was the full life of the

license as contemplated at the time of its issuance.

Mr. CROOKHAM. That is true.

Senator CHURCH. Has the Idaho Power Co. determined on a course

of action with respection to Swan Falls?

Mr. CROOKHAM. In compliance with the procedures outlined by the

FPC, they have been asked for their intentions as to the desirability,

and they have entered no—Senator Anderson, this may seem like a conflict, but the evidence here today is that the power company has not

appeared in opposition to the higher use of the Swan Falls site.

So on the basis of their technical demands, they had for their own

purpose of hydroelectric development, they have made the statement

that they would like to enlarge Swan Falls.

We, in turn, in the southwestern Idaho programing feel that Swan

Falls should be eliminated with a higher use of the river.

Senator ANDERSON. Senator Jordan?

Senator JORDAN. I want to compliment you on a good statement,

George, and stress the point that you have made here that this does

involve a complicated water exchange which you say is key to the

plan and this complicated exchange has been worked out over a long

period of time, and now virtually has the agreement of all people

affected in the area.

Mr. Stamm mentioned this when he talked about the four interrelated divisions and the fact that even though only part of them are

ready to go now, that this is a case where the whole is greater than the

sum of all of the parts because of the interrelated nature of these

various divisions.

In fact, we have got to get them going, Mr. Chairman, so that we do

not do this thing piecemeal again.

Mr. CROOKHAM. Each watershed receives different characteristics

of waterfall. Sometimes one is favored and sometimes others. By sheer

hydrology, we come out with a better system by combining the three..

Senator JORDAN. They complement each other.
42 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Mr. CROOKHAM. They complement each other. This is why we must

include the Bruneau as part of the package, because it is a part of the

total picture.

Senator ANDERSON. I think it could be included in the package, but

I think we should be careful to say that we do not approve them all at

this time.

Senator JORDAN. Subject to the review of the Congress.

Senator CHURCH. It might be possible to work out language, George,

that would bring in the whole project, if the studies prove satisfactory, subject to bringing back each phase as the study is completed

for a review and ratification by the Congress. I think this is something

-the committee needs to work on in order to find a way to cut the

Gordian knot here.

Senator ANDERSON. Thank you very much for coming.

Mr. Wilfong.

STATEMENT OF EARL WILFONG, A FARMER IN THE IRRIGATED

SECTION OF THE PAYETTE RIVER

Mr. WILFONG. Mr. Chairman, thank you.

Senator CHURCH. It is nice to see you here today.

Senator ANDERSON. I want to compliment you on the size of the

report.

Mr. WILFONG. I have a personal report, and then I have the report

of W. W. Gartin, president of the Southwestern Idaho Association.

Senator Circrucx. May I suggest that you give us your personal

report and then we incorporate Bill Gartin's report in the record. It

will appear in full there, and that will be the basis on which the committee reviews the project.

Mr. WILFONG. Bill does have a good statement, and it brings out

a lot of fine points.

I will read my own, and it is in part an introduction.

I. have farmed irrigated lands in the Payette Valley for over 40

years. During that time I served 21 years as a director for the Emmett

Irrigation District which distributes water to 23,600 acres of fertile

farmland and much of that time I served as chairman.

I am also a member of the Idaho State Reclamation Association,

Inc., and have served as a director for over 10 years. I have also taken

an active part in other organizations conperning our water resources

such as Lakes Reservoir Co., Payette Valley Water Users Association,

and presently a member of the board of directors for the Southwestern

Idoha Development Association.

Therefore, I feel that I am qualified to predict production and the

amount of water necessary to produce profitable crops in our area.

I also realize that there is a surplus of water in the Payette River,

and that it should be put to work developing the thousands of acres

of land in southwestern Idaho.

My main concern over the years has been in developing and protecting our old established water rights, and having studied the plans

of the southwest Idaho development project feel that these rights will

receive first consideration and are protected by addenda and guidelines which accompany this Senate bill.
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 43

I therefore pledge full support of Senate bill 697 and feel sure that

it will receive the full support of my district, for we all realize the

need for further development of our water resources.

Senator CHURCH. Earl, I want to commend you for this statement,

and for incorporating Mr. Gartin's statement in the record. We will

look very carefully at these.

I want to say further that. I think you are to be strongly commended, and those whom you represent, because no one who lives in

Idaho fails to appreciate how essential water rights are to a farmer.

I want to commend the capacity for statesmanship that is reflected

here; to be willing to recognize that a surplus does exist in Payette

River that needs to be put to good consumptive use for the benefit

of all of Idaho. I think this reflects great credit on you and on the

farmers of the area.

I want to commend you on the way you have worked this problem

out to enable us to divert part of this water and put it to good productive use in southwestern Idaho.

Senator JORDAN. I want to join Senator Church in commending

Mr. Wilfong.

As he testified, he does come from the Payette River Valley, and

when we first started to talk about this project 15 or 20 years ago,

The fear was that it would jeopardize water rights of those there.

But through the stature of men like Earl Wilfong, it enabled us

to make it available to somebody else.

Senator ANDERSON. I think it is Very good that your people work

out your own arrangements on these things.

Mr. WILFONG. In going over Mr. Gartin's statement, this is attached to his statement, and this is on a basis of how we all got together, and an agreement was arranged, and I think it is very important that this Is considered with the bill.

Senator ANDERSON. It surely will be.

Mr. WILFONG. In the valley, I have never had a dissenting comment on this. It has been thoroughly agreed to.

Senator CHURCH. I think it is extraordinary.

Mr. WiliroistG. It is good the way it has been accepted. We do have

two branches of the river that are not controlled at all. We have the

middle part and the south part. Of course, Deadwood flows in the

south part, but we have no dams. It runs free. If we can control the

floodwater and provide for irrigation, that will be a benefit.

I also have a statement which I would like to enter for the record

from our county commission. It is a very short statement, and I will

just leave it for the record.

Senator ANDERSON. We will put Mr. Gartin's statement in the record at this point followed by the statement of the county commission.

(The statements referred to follow:)

STATEMENT OF W. W. GARTIN, PRESIDENT, SOUTHWESTERN IDAHO DEVELOPMENT

ASSOCIATION

The Southwestern Idaho Development Association welcomes this opportunity

to testify in support of this "Water Project" which will mean so much in the

economic future of Idaho. There is a real feeling of satisfaction that the legislative process of our government provides for and requires hearings from the

grass roots so that the people who will be most directly affected by this project

will have opportunity to present statements in its favor and to set out guidelines

and the provisions that will result in a workable and satisfactory project.
44 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

The purpose of this project is to utilize the waters of the Snake River and

tributaries in this area in the best possible way. Irrigation and reclamation is

the first use, furnishing supplemental water to some 60,000 acres where more

water is needed to make most efficient use of the land. In addition, water would

be provided for 490,000 acres of new land. The creation of a pool of reserve water

from the Weiser, Payette, Boise, Bruneau and the Snake Rivers would not only

furnish supplemental water to relieve water shortages on presently irrigated

lands and stabilize the economy of local areas and assist in flood control, but will

also bring in much new agriculture and many agricultural industries.

The Southwestern Idaho Development Association supports this Water Development Project as its first goal and objective. On the other hand, this Association

also supports and encourages private development where this is feasible. Farmers.

who have developed lands under reclamation projects are the very finest examples of private initiative and enterprise. These fine people add to the stability

of an economy not only their own investments of money for land development and

improvements, but their very ownership, even though small, individually adds in

total to the taxes paid and Oyes areas permanence, and they become a part

of the local economic, cultural and political life. Idaho citizens who really want

the State to get the maximum benefit from Idaho waters understand that there

is no conflict and that everyone should work together now to secure approval of•

the Southwest Idaho Water Project.

The record in our state shows that reclamation projects sponsored by farmers

and businessmen have formed the nucleus of agricultural and business development in this arid western area. The Boise Valley has benefited from the Arrowrock Dam, the Anderson Dam, and Lake Lowell. What would Boise Valley be

without these dams? The Payette Valley has benefited from the Black Canyon,

the Deadwood and the Cascade Dam. What would the Payette Valley be without

them? The Weiser Valley has benefited from Lost Valley, Ben Ross, and

Spangler. The individual and private enterprise that has gone into the family

farms and privately owned farms contracting for water from reclamation projects has been the foundation for our entire economy in each of these areas, and

the water rights and management of the irrigation districts contracting for the

water has remained with the individual farmers who use it. The farmers have

paid back, or are paying back the cost charged to agriculture.

Businessmen, whether retailers, service men, bankers, insurance, utilities, doctors, lawyers, etc., all recognize the very great contribution made by these projects

and the far-seeing citizens who have worked for them. Without reclamation projects, our area would not be what it is today. Business men and corporations know

that the future soundness and growth of the economy of the area which they

serve calls for an overall plan which includes maximum use of Idaho's water

on multi-purpose projects so as to use all of our arid lands and other natural

resources in the very best way.

The economy of Idaho is based upon its natural resources. Water is of most

importance, not only in agriculture but for many other purposes. It is important

that it is fully understood that this project has given consideration to these other

uses and that the governmental units, public associations and interest groups have

all been considered in making these plans. Consideration has been given to the following: Recreation, Fish and Wildlife, Flood Control, Public Health and Sanitation. the Forests, Grazing, Municipal and Industrial Waters, and others.

The detailed project plan contains provisions for the generation of power necessary for pumping on the entire Southwest Idaho Water Project. The plans and

feasibility reports include power generation to meet the estimated summer irrigation pumping loads of the project. The construction of power facilities should be

spaced and timed to be ready at the same time that the area to be served is authorized and ready.

At this time, it is appropriate to compliment the Idaho Congressional Delegation for their united support of this bill and this project: Senator Frank Church,

Senator Len Jordan, Congressman James McClure, Congressman George Hansen.

The citizens of this area appreciate the action of the Idaho Congressional Delegation in submitting the tentative drafts of the legislation to the Idaho Water

Resources Board and to their constituents for review, consideraion, and recommendations. The Board of Directors of the Southwestern Idaho Development Association was advised of this request and the Bill has been widely discussed by the

Irrigators, the farmers, stockmen, and businessmen of all kinds throughout the

area. It is believed that these suggestions were very helpful in forming a hill that

has the enthusiastic endorsement of all of Idaho.
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 45

It has seemed at times that the interests of these various groups and corporations were too diverse for agreement. It has seemed at times that there is a direct

conflict of interest, but these individuals, irrigation districts, and other groups

have made lists of their present and future needs and have placed them on the

table to be discussed and examined openly. To these lists have been added the

doubts and fears for the future. From the ensuing examinations of facts and discussions have come some few corrections and additions.

The addenda and guidelines as amended and submitted by our association

were prepared by a Committee on the Association. These matters must not be

overlooked or the problems side-stepped, as they contain the elements of a successful project and the strong convictions of those who wish the Southwest

Idaho Water Project approved. ( Guidelines and addenda attached.)

It might be well to explain the way in which the Southwestern Idaho Development Association is organized and the steps that have been taken to be sure that

all areas and all fields of interest were represented. The purpose of our Association is to promote the development of all water projects the Association believes

to be in the best interest of the area.

Southwestern Idaho is roughly divided into five geographical areas and each

has its own problems and/or possibilities in the field of water and land development.

It is also found that these problems cannot be resolved nor can the possibilities

be realized without the concerted effort and common interest in an overall

plan which recognizes the problems and possibilities, and which plan is conceived for the individual private good and general public interest of all concerned.

1. The Weiser River Valley.

2. The Payette River Valley.

3. The Boise River Valley.

4. The Mountain Home Project and desert area includes the Long Tom

Project and the Initial Butte Project area.

5. The area south of the Snake River which is referred to as the Owyhee

Area.

During the past thirty or forty years, attempts have been made to secure

approval of separate projects involving exchange of water between two or more

watersheds without considering all of the problems involved in both areas.

Meetings were held but without answering objections or coming up with solutions

to all of the problems or answers to all of the questions.

After many meetings, it became apparent to the farmers that the only solution

was to consider all of Southwestern Idaho as one project and to work out the

individual problems and the area problems as one project. This idea of a united

approach came from the grass roots, from the farmers and from businessmen.

The Board of Directors representing the membership was nominated from

the several natural geographical areas and fields of interest. (List attached).

An attempt has been made to bring all suggestions and provisions, for

consideration.

I can think .of no single development that would have a better or more lasting

effect upon the growth and general economic life of this area than approval

and accomplishment of this project. It is really too big and too complex for

private development. Even large 10,000 acre farms financed by individuals or

corporations on patented lands can hardly support communities and towns. This

project envisions people and homes and permanent communities. Without irrigation in Southwestern Idaho, this vision of the future is only a mirage.

The Board of Directors of the Southwestern Idaho Development Association

appreciate this opportunity to support this bill and hope that Senate Bill S. 697

will receive your favorable consideration.

ADDENDUM AND GUIDE LINES

The following concepts have been expressed by members of the Board of

Directors and, if unanimity is to be achieved by the Southwestern Idaho Development Association, as well as the Boise and Payette Valley residents, in favor

of the bill, the concepts must be included in the bill or in the feasibility reports,

and in fact accomplished:

In preparing the reports and feasibility findings authorized by this Act, the

Secretary shall provide adequate capacity in the projects works to assure that

the existing water entitlements can be met during each irrigation season.

Payette Valley water users desire that water diverted under this Act from

the Payette River shall be limited to 600,000 acre feet annually and to be so
46 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

stated in the feasibility reports, and that such diversion shall not exceed the

stated amount.

The feasibility of the Garden Valley Dam, powerplants, transmission lines

and other appurtenant facilities be determined feasible before construction

begins.

The facilities used (dams, canals, etc.) of the Black Canyon Project for the

proposed diversion are in large part beneficial to the new lands. Therefore, the

feasibility reports under this Act shall provide for a fair and equitable cost

allocation to the Emmett Irrigation District users for Black Canyon construction costs and for the facilities used.

This Act is intended to include the authorization for a complete feasibility

study, construction, operation and raaintenance of the bottom land area below

the Black Canyon Dam, including a comprehensive drainage plan.

That the strongest consideration be given to the Clear Creek Dam of the

Bruneau Division to be planned for a low height in order to form only a pumping

pool, and thereby eliminating the obvious objections that a high dam will create

by flooding the valley and inundating farms, commerce and highways. Also that

strong consideration be given to full development of fish and wildlife on the

Bruneau Division lands for hunting and fishing facilities.

The reports shall also include provision for increasing the capacity of the works

for the lands of the Black Canyon Irrigation District.

Weiser River Valley irrigators expect that the following projects be investigated in the feasibility reports: Mosquito Creek Dam and reservoir, Price Valley

Dam and reservoir, Monday Gulch Dam and reservoir and especially Goodrich

Dam and reservoir.

It is hereby specifically provided that our endorsement of this Bill shall,

in no wise, prejudice our support of private development of lands, individually

or cooperatively, under the desert entry or otherwise, provided such development shall not defeat the larger project of which these lands may be a part.

Finally it is understood that the Southwestern Idaho Development Association's agreement with the Southwest Idaho Water Development Project Act is

subject to the feasibility of the project.

GEM COUNTY COMMISSIONERS,

Emmett, Idaho, August 11, 1967.

SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER AND POWER RESOURCES,

Interior and Insular Affairs Committee,

New Senate Office Building,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR COMMITTEE MEMBERS: The Board of Gem County Commissioners of

Emmett, Idaho, do hereby go on record as supporting S.B. 697 and recommend

its passage.

Very truly yours,

LEwis N. FULLER,

Chairman of the Board.

Mr. WirxoNG. And also a statement in support of the bill—and each

of these are—from the Central Mesa Grange, which is in our valley,

and it all to me means quite a bit coming from a valley where we have

an interest in taking a diversion of the basin water. This is something

that is quite controversial.

(The document referred to follows:)

STATEMENT BY THE CENTRAL MESA GRANGE No. 415 OF EMAIEVr. IDAHO

We the members of the Central Mesa Grange representing a majority of the

farmers and ranchers along the Payette River in Gem County, wish to go on record in support of Senate Bill ±±697 with the attached addenda and guide line z. It

Is our opinion that this water development project is an absolute necessity for the

future development of Southwest Idaho.

Respectfully,

ELBERT V. HIMES, Master.

FRANK A. PUSER, Secretary.
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 47

Senator CHURCH. I commend you for your statement.

Mr. WILFONG. That is all I have.

Senator ANDERSON. Thank you very much.

Mr. Benson?

Senator CHURCH. May I say, Mr. Chairman, that Al Benson is an

old friend of mine and one of the outstanding citizens of southwest

Idaho. He is representing Owyhee'County.

I am happy to welcome him here.

Senator JORDAN. I join Senator Church in welcoming an old friend.

STATEMENT OF ALVIN BENSON, DIRECTOR, SOUTHWESTERN

IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION, ALSO REPRESENTING OWYHEE COUNTY, CHAIRMAN OF WEST REYNOLDS IRRIGATION DISTRICT, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE IDAHO LANDHOLDERS

SPORTSMEN'S COUNCIL

Mr. BENSON'. My name is Alvin Benson. I am a farmer and dairyman

living in Owyhee County, Idaho, 7 miles from the proposed site of

Guffey Dam, which I consider an integral part of the southwest Idaho

plan as proposed by the Bureau of Reclamation.

Together with my wife, our two sons, and their families we farm

400 acres of diversified cropland, milk some 40 cows, and do custom

work in the area when we have time.

Our water supply comes from a mountain stream with supplemental

and late water pumped from the Snake River. Some years we pump all

of it.

My parents homesteaded in the Melba area, Boise project, in 1918

and I well remember the thrill of ownership and the prayer of thanks

as we watched the first muddy water come out our headgate.

I would like to offer my qualifications for being here today.

(1) As an operating farmer who lives on and from the farm.

(2) As a local soil conservation district supervisor, past director and

past president of the Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts,

and chairman of its water resources committee.

(3) As a former State legislator and member of the resources and

conservation committee of the house of representatives.

(4) Manager of our local, private irrigation district.

Senator ANDERSON. It is a very fine recommendation.

Mr. BENSON. (5) Membership in and working with many commodity

groups. As a director of Southwest Idaho Development Association,

representing particularly the Bruneau portion of the plan, I recommend the Bureau of Reclamation approach for these reasons.

It will provide thousands of homes on the land under repayment provisions that are livable;

Boost the economy of cities and towns in the area who will supply the

building materials, furnishings, and equipment for the farms;

Create a stable demand for power and gas;

Widen the tax base for every taxing unit;

Cause little surplus because of the type of crops grown and insure

against a future shortage of food and fiber.
48 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

As each portion is built, according to plan, maximum development

of the potential will be realized with a minimum of built-in conflicts,

particularly in regard to rights-of-way, access and use priorities.

Further, this project gives unprecedented opportunity for planned

recreational facilities utilizing waste water, seepage and land unfit

for productive agriculture to build fishponds, trails, campsites, and

game habitat.

Thank you.

Senator ANDERSON. You have a nice organized statement. We

appreciate that a lot.

Mr. BENSON. I would like to offer this statement presented by our

local editor, in which he incorporates some of the ideas of the local

organization and his longtime conclusions. I think this man has worked

for this all his life.

Senator ANDERSON. We will put all that in the record at this point.

(The statement referred to follows:)

STATEMENT OF RODNEY A. HAWES, PUBLISHER, THE OWYHEE NUGGET, MARSING,

IDAHO

The entire world will benefit if the provisions of Senate Bill No. 697, a bill to

authorize the Southwest Idaho Water Development Projects now pending before

your committee, become law. The bill is the culmination of years of study by

competent reclamationists, and the bi-partisan efforts of hundreds of interested

persons. The Hon. Frank Church, the Hon. Len B. Jordan, U.S. Senators from

Idaho; the Hon. George Hansen, the Hon. James McClure, U.S. Representatives

from Idaho; and the Hon. Compton I. White, former Representative from Idaho,

are to be commended for their work in bringing this bill to its present conclusion.

Just last September President Johnson, speaking at Dallastown, Pa., called

for a vast American counter-migration out of the cities and back to the land.

"We will make our mark on history," Johnson said, "if America can begin to

stem the migration of millions of people streaming from rural to urban areas."

"Does it really make sense. . . to have 70 percent of our people crammed onto

one percent of the land?" the President said.

Later at 'Summersville, W. Va., the President announced a water resources

program to help head off mass starvation and poverty at home and abroad.

In February of 1966 President Johnson proposed to Congress a food for freedom

program to "lead the world in a war against hunger."

Speaking in Idaho just last August of 1966, President Johnson urged the continued search for peaceful uses of Atomic Energy.

We refer to an issue of "Presbyterian Life," dated November 1, 1965, wherein

an article appeared by William Lee Miller, entitled "Stewart Udall Fights for

the Future." Mr. Miller writes: "Conservation, therefore, is a field of public

policy peculiarly dependent on leaders, leaders who can see the whole picture,

spot each particular battle, and dramatize the problem to the broad public. The

Conservation battle especially depends on public officials who can keep recalling

the attention of an absentminded populace, and who can fight continuously for

the long-run interest of the community against the many, powerful short-run

private interests. We are fortunate now to have such a leader: Secretary of the

Interior, Stewart Udall."

Rep. Wayne N. Aspinall, D-Colo., has said, "The government must supply the

public with recreational facilities as the demand increases."

RE THE BRUNEAU DIVISION OF THE SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

One cannot realize the 'magnitude of the potential of the Bruneau Desert,

unless one views this million acres with vision you must possess. This proposed

project, properly constructed for multi-purpose use, has great value for the

United States and her citizens. Abundant water is no problem—the Snake River

flows on the North—the Bruneau River on the South.
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 49

We believe the time has come for the federal government to "practice what

they preach," and prove by practical means, they can and will develop the public

lands of Idaho for the best multiple use of all United States citizens. You may

be sure Idaho people are ready and willing to cooperate. We do not want huge

corporations exploiting the "cream of this land and water," with no thought

being given to preservation, recreation, or family-sized farm units.

We believe the time has come for the Department of the Interior to supervise

the construction of an ideal reclamation project, putting to practical use their

teachings of multiple use of the land. For their example they could well use the

proposed Bruneau Division of the 'Southwest Idaho Water Development Projects

in Owyhee County, Idaho.

While Senate Bill No. 697 calls for the irrigation of approximately 240,000

acres of land in this division--an EMPIRE exists on the Bruneau plateau between the Snake River on the North, the Bruneau River on the South—containing over one million acres. The area is a natural for a multi-purpose project..

Private irrigation studies of this area were made as far back as 1911. This was.

one of the 'first projects investigated by the Bureau of Reclamation when they

came into being. The project has always been found logical and feasible, but

lack of money has been the deterrent.

Irrigation of over 500,000 acres of this plateau could be made possible by

pumping water from the Snake and Bruneau Rivers. The project is practical and

feasible, but has not been constructed because few people of influence know the

area exists. Picture if you will about 30,000 family-sized farms on the highest

quality land; homes for over 120,000 fine people; cattle, horses, sheep; reservoirs

filled with rainbow trout; man-made trout streams rushing toward the Bruneau

and the Snake; knolls of native grass kept for the habitat of winged and fourfooted creatures; recreation possibilities all over the area.

In line with President Johnson stressing the need for the peaceful use of atomic

energy, we would have the National Reactor Testing Station in Idaho construct

the necessary installation and use nuclear fuel to pump the water. We would

have the Nuclear Cratering Group of the T.J.S. Army Corps of Engineers try

out their experiments in explosive, by building the ditches for the project.

If a truly wild river is needed for the project—it is there, the Bruneau. This

magnificent river has about sixty miles of the most breathtaking, deepest-narrowest canyon you have every seen. River men of national repute, have traversed

the rapids of the Bruneau and say for this type of solitude enjoyment, the

Bruneau River can't be beat. Today wild sheep, cattle and horses roam in this

rugged canyon, seldom seen by the human eyes. The tallest sand dunes of their

kind in the world, and natural hot springs could also be included in this project

for recreational purposes of national interest.

We present the suggestion that the Bruneau Division can be and should be

constructed today for the benefit of all United States citizens, by the Department

of the Interior, using the know-how and resources of all the applicable government agencies now in existence. These same government agencies, with their

multitude of well educated and trained employees, could just as well do their

experimenting and put their pet programs to work on this project at no additional cost to the government.

The cooperation of all interested government groups would make each phase

of the project a masterpiece—all working together—the Bureau of Reclamation, the Army Engineers, the Idaho National Guard, the Fish and Wildlife

Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Farmers Home Administration,

the Soil Conservation Service, the Extension Service, the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, the Forest Service, the Job Corps, and many,

many others.

Pumping water from the Snake and the Bruneau Rivers at the head of the

Bruneau Plateau, would disrupt no person, firm or corporation, and would help

stabilize and conserve the water in both rivers for downstream re-use. Most

water used on this project would eventually find its way back to Snake River.

Water could even be pumped from these rivers in the winter time into reservoirs

for storage and summer use. This would stabilize the summer flow of the rivers.

Veteran's preference should be used for the allocation of the family-sized farms

in this project. Many of our men now fighting in Viet Nam would love to be

included in this project, to make a home for their loved ones. All the United

States citizens would love you if you gave these veterans the opportunity for

a home.
50 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

This project, too, has local governmental support. January 11, 1966, the Board

of Owyhee County Commissioners directed a letter to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation respectfully requesting that the Bureau take the necessary steps to

withdraw the entire Bruneau Desert from the Snake River on the North, to

the Bruneau River on the South, for full investigation for a multipurpose project ; further stating a reclamation project, utilizing the entire area, would be

a great asset to the entire United States; also that adequate water is available

adjacent to the land and should be reserved now for the entire project.

We urge your committee to take a special look at the proposed Bruneau

Division with vision and foresight, willing to add your strength and abilities to

make the proposed project a reality and the prime example for all the world

to see and enjoy.

We do hope your committee will report favorably on the passage of the

entire Southwest Idaho Water Development Projects for the use of water on

this Idaho land is in the highest and best national interest.

Idaho is situated only two shipping days away from the major population

areas of the west—they, as well as the rest of the world, will be needing food soon

from tbesevrojects.

Reclamation, Conservation, and Recreation are not local problems, but national

ones. Credit extended by the Federal Government today to construct these projects, will in a few short years, be repaid over and over again, not only by

direct payments for the land and water, but also in indirect payments such

as income taxes and other taxes derived from the products produced.

Our nation was founded and grew to greatness primarily by the efforts of men

and women of the soil. It is time that we afford many willing people a chance

to return to the soil, and the Southwest Idaho Water Development Project

is a start ,in the right direction. It will afford many thousands of family-type

farm units to be established.

Farming a family-sized farm unit in Idaho cannot he compared by statistics

with other like farms in the United States. A family farm unit in Idaho would

be a concrete and stable operation, for here you have the best producing land

in the world. With water on our desert land, maximum yields of quality food

can be grown. The area is noted for its seed producing ability. Diversified crops

meean more revenue to the farmer. Irrigated pasture land will produce beef and

mutton that is unsurpassed anywhere. Days of the open range for cattle and sheep

are becoming limited in the west, and soon the cattle and sheep raised on irrigated pasture land will be needed to feed our population.

A family-sized farm in Idaho, operated properly, can produce nearly all the

food required by the family. It has always been true that it is not the dollars

you make that count—it is the dollars that you save.

Just stop and think of the potential buying power of the many happy farmers

on the family-sized farm units. Just think about the taxes they would pay,

the boost it would give the economy of Idaho and the Nation. Just think about

the churches and the schools they could and would support.

Contrast this with the huge corporation farms operating with a few hired

hands—often operated so the company can take a tax loss.

In conclusion we present a prayer by Father George Brennan, a prayer, we

think, is applicable to all:

"BLESS US ALL, 0 GOD"

"Let those who possess the land and work it, be blessed in their work. Grant

that they be not moved by greed to impoverish the land, but rather that they be

good stewards, 0 Lord, and conserve faithfully for their children and future

generations the good earth which Thou has created.

"Bless, 0 Almighty God, all those who are engaged in commerce, and let them

prosper; but not so as to do wrong to others. Let them be directed in their actiong

by Thy divine commandments of justice and charity, so that in their business

practices they establish and leave a legacy of honest and fair play.

"Pour out, 0 God, Thy abundant blessings on all those who are engaged in

disseminating the news and molding public opinion. Assist them in their high

calling, so that their minds be illuminated with Truth, and their hearts warmed

with Charity, that they always be the courageous standardbearers of truth, defenders of the poor and downtrodden, and promoters of good will among men.

"Bless us all, 0 God that we be instruments of Thy peace, and each and

every one of us, in our own sphere of activity, may so live our lives that our

country and our fellow-men be better for our existence."
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 51

We thank you, Senators, for your consideration. We invite you to visit Idaho

-anytime.

Mr. BENSON. If I might add a strong conclusion that I have drawn

from listening to the testimony, we have a goodly portion of this

property developed, and I am rather astonished at the amount of

time it is going to take, apparently, to come up with feasibility

reports on land that any good farmer can eyeball and with a few test

holes as to the alkilinity of the soil determine whether he could make a

living on any different parts of it.

Admittedly, I recognize that private development is easier, but

when I was in the legislature, when I left home early in January, the

rimrock across from my home was unscarred.

When I came back in the middle of March, there was a 45-acre

pumping project in action on this rim. The papers were in, and the

pumps were in, and the whole thing was going as a paying proposition.

Further, at the present time there are numbers today trying to

determine the amount of water that there is in all areas

'

so that all our

United States may have this surplus water or use it to the best advantage, and all of these have a completion date of 1970, and it seems

to me that perhaps these feasibility plans are going to take a long time.

Senator ANDERSON. I am sure that happens very frequently. I came

into the Congress in 1940, and it was a good many years before the

Colorado River storage project got into operation.

Everybody wants to push at the same time, and we don't have

enough money to do every job.

I am sure that we do the best we can, but it may be 5 years from

here on out. I think you have got to wait for a little while.

Mr. BENSON. I am sure we will.

Senator CHURCH. You haven't any doubt in your mind, though, have

you, Alvin, that the feasibility study could be undertaken and completed on the Bruneau phase of this project well before 1975 so far

as the scope and character of the study is concerned?

Mr. BENSON. This would be my impression, yes, because in the report

on this—we have a number of them in bound form, and the committee

can have them—have gone far enough to clarify the amount of land in

classes 1,2, and 3. I am not a professional man—I am a farmer. I will

plant the crops and harvest them, but I cannot understand why it takes

so long to do these.

Senator ANDERSON. The central Arizona project was started a long

time ago. The Senate has approved it, but it will be several more years

before any water comes out of this project. It has been 20-something

years, as a matter of fact, since the project was proposed.

Thank you for being here today. We all appreciate it.

Mr. Schlottmann.

STATEMENT OF MAX SCHLOTTMANN, DIRECTOR, IDAHO

RECLAMATION ASSOCIATION, PARMA, IDAHO

Mr. SCHLOTTMANN. Mr. Chairman, and gentlemen, my name is Max

B. Schlottmann. I am actively engaged in farming near Parma, Idaho.

I appear here today as a representative of the Idaho State Reclamation Association of which I am currently vice president. Ours is a

typically grassroot association, its membership comprising more than
52 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

200 canal companies and irrigation districts, which operate the systems delivering water to more than 2 million acres of land. Its membership comprises a large percentage of the active irrigation projects

in Idaho. Since its organization in 1937, it has been the leader in

irrigation development in our State and is always anxious to work

for the completion of sound, feasible irrigation projects.

The great irrigation project being considered by your committee

today would, of course, be a welcome addition to the irrigation development in our State, and would give Idaho a great economic boost. It

would be particularly valuable to the southwestern portion of the

State where I reside. Also, if carefully planned and developed, it will

be of great value to the entire State.

Accordingly, the association, at its last meeting in December 1966,

announced its suport of the basic idea of the southwest Idaho development project and urged its completion. The practical, experienced men

comprising this organization suggested, however, that care should be

taken to comply with these guidelines:

(1) All existing water rights and priorities previously acquired under State law be honored.

(2) Those Federal agencies charged with obtaining a water supply

for this proposed project comply with our State water laws and honor

the existing water rights.

(3) That this project obtain no priority over those other proposed

projects which would provide an adequate water supply for lands under cultivation.

(4) That this project not be undertaken in such a manner to prohibit and exclude private development of those suitable lands during

an extended period of future study.

(5) That all proposed water exchanges contemplated under this

project be carefully monitored to protect those landowners with prior

water rights.

I wish to urge upon you the importance of all of these items, and request that any legislation concerning this project take them into account. If we are to preserve the well-established and efficiently functioning system of water rights prevailing in our State, it is important

that all agencies, including Federal agencies, comply with our State

water laws, and that existing priorities be protected.

With over 31/2 million acres of irrigated land in southern Idaho,

there exists a sound and well-established economic base which is the

principal foundation of the State's economy.

Nothing should be done in connection with new development which

would, in any way, jeopardize or put in question those existing projects. And may I add particularly that existing water rights must be

carefully protected if there is to be any interchange of water in connection with this new project.

Also, I urgently request that the consideration of this project should

not interfere with continued orderly development of large areas of

public land by private developers. There has been this kind of development amounting to approximately 50,000 acres per year over the

last decade.

This has resulted in some of the finest and most profitable farming

areas in our State. This type of development will continue if not interferred with.
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 53

• Accordingly, particularly if it develops that plans for this project

will take a period

i

of years, I urge that this orderly private development be not nterferred with. Certainly there is room for both private

and public development in this area.

Another factor which could have a serious impact upon the success

of this project would be the extent to which the outdated 160-acre

limitation provision is applied. Obviously this limitation should not

be applied to existing irrgat,ed areas which will receive either supplemental water, or exchange water, from this new project.

Personally, I believe that it should be waived even as to new lands

in order that those developing them may be given a better chance

of economic survival. Under today's farming conditions, the 160-acre

limitation places an almost insurmountable obstacle upon the farm

developer.

I urge that this project will be much more of a financial success if the land limitation is waived as to it. I realize that this is.

a controversial subject, and that it will take some time before a

complete nationwide change can be made. But I suggest that a first

step can be taken on this project.

Senator ANDERSON. Are you pretty strongly opposed to the 160-acr(

limitation?

Mr. ScuLorrmAN-N. No. In some areas it is economic, and in others

it is not.

Senator ANDERSON. I thought I heard somebody testify it was not

involved in this case. Do you think it is involved in this particular

matter?

Mr. SCHLOTTMANN. Yes, it is. There are many large farms under

private development.

Senator ANDERSON. Is Idaho a community property State?

Mr. SCHLOTTMANN. Yes, it is, a man and his wife can own 320

acres.

Senator ANDERSON. Are there many cases where there are more than

320 acres?

Mr. SCHLOTTMANN. Yes, there are in my opinion. They have had

ways of getting around the limitation. There have been incorporations.

Senator ANDERSON. A man who wants to farm and has himself and

his wife in a community property State, and grown sons—we have

many people who have 600 or 700 acres where there is no trouble.

But you say this should go in without the 160-acre limit.

Mr. ScHLorrmANN. May I say, Mr. Chairman, that under the present law, this being a reclamation project, I do not think it is possible. I just say it personally.

Senator ANDERSON. You do not think what is possible?

Mr. ScHLorriviANN. To waive the 160-acre limitation. I only suggest it personally.

Senator ANDERSON. And I do not believe that if we waive the 160-

acre limitation that the development would go through.

But I wonder how important this is. Do you personally know of

a farm of more than 320 acres?

Mr. ScHLorrmArmr. That has been developed by private enterprise?
54 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Senator ANDERSON. You are talking about .a new development now,

not the old situation.

What I am trying to get to is that I had a little farm which I

developed, 1,700 acres. I had to sell some land to pay taxes and so

forth, and it is down to 388 acres now. My wife and I can operate

that if we want to, and I don't know many people who are bothered

by it.

Mr. ScinorrmANN. I think there have been some failures on these

projects because of the inability to obtain larger acreages.

Senator CHURCH. I take it, Max, that you would favor general review of the whole 160-acre limitation concept in connection with future projects?

Mr. SCHLOTTMANN. Yes. It was a 1902 law, and when it was established at that time, a man and his wife owning 320 acres couldn't have

handled it anyhow.

At that time it was a massive block of land. With the techniques that

we have today, 320 acres isn't a massive block of land, and with the

advent of better and newer machines and so forth 

Senator CHURCH. But you are not conditioning your endorsement of

this project on a waiver of that limitation?

Mr. SCHLOTTMANN. Oh, no. That was only a personal opinion.

Senator CHURCH. I understand.

Senator ANDERSON. You say that you believe it should be waived,

personally?

Mr. ScHLorrivrANN. But if it isn't waived, I would most certainly

endorse the project in its entirety.

Senator ANDERSON. 320 acres is a pretty good sized area. They can't

have five crops of alfalfa 

Mr. SCHLOTTIVIANN. NO.

Senator CHURCH. Do we have on record or available for the committee the average size of farms in southwestern Idaho?

Mr. NELSON. It is about 90 acres.

Senator ANDERSON. I want to know how many farms of more than

320 acres would be caught by the 320-acre limitation.

Mr. NELSON. I don't believe I could answer that, sir.

Mr. STAMM. I think I could shed some light on this, Mr. Chairman.

Senator ANDERSON. GO ahead.

Mr. STAMM. The 160-acre law does apply to the Boise project, for

example, now, and all the existing repayment contracts make it applicable to those areas, and so presumably all of the units are in cornplia,nce. We make investigations annually to determine the extent to

which there may have been noncompliance, and we find some small

percentage, 1, 2, or 3 percent, but this is usually something that comes

and goes.

Some lands may be temporarily in noncompliance because of acquisition of holdings or foreclosure of mortgages, or deaths in the

family, and that kind of thing.

But within a year or two, this straightens out, so this minor amount

of land in excess ownership is not the same acreage each year.

Also, I might mention that in many recent authorizations, and by

"many" I mean at least half dozen authorizations, the Congress has

modified this law to entitle a man to receive water for 160 acres of

class 1 land of the equivalent thereof in other classes, and this auto-
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 55

matically gives some relief in areas where the land is not all class 1,

and of course, in most cases it is not all class 1.

In the case of the Mountain Home division of this project, I think

only 19 percent of the land is class 1, so this kind of a formula that

has been accepted by the Congress, in a good many cases, is a step in

the direction that the witness is advocating.

Mr. MCCLURE. I would like to add a statement on this:

I think there would only be a few areas where there would be

problems on this as distinguished from the general problem.

One is the valley area where it is pretty largely in grazing and

hay production, and very small potato production, and small seed

production. There might be a problem applicable there.

There is also some private development in the southern end of the

area which is in excess of the 160-acre limitation which might be

precluded from coming in on a basis of their desire to be included.

I think we could also hold a general discussion of the 160-acre

limitation and confess that it does present some problems to a good

many farmers, but they are in technical compliance with the law

at the present time.

Senator ANDERSON. I am not saying there are no problems. What

I am saying is that we tried very strenuously to discuss the 160-acre

system. I couldn't get any bill to waive that. I also wager you couldn't

either.

Mr. MCCLURE. Mr. Chairman, your wager wouldn't be taken by me.

I would hope it could be revised by Congress. I do not think it is

involved except in a few instances here.

Senator ANDERSON. A few years ago in Colorado we got a waiver

because it was a very short growing season, and I also know that we

had some in a project in California, and we have had no trouble.

Mr. MCCLURE. That was the San Felipe project in California.

Senator ANDERSON. That is a pretty good piece of ground, 320 acres.

It hasn't been bothered very much, and I hope we wouldn't try to

revise that law at the present time. I don't believe it could be done.

Senator CHURCH. I notice, Max, that you have a resolution here on

the southwest Idaho water development project that you have attached to your statement.

Would you like to have that included in the record along with your

statement?

Mr. SCHLOTTMANN. Yes, I would.

(The document referred to follows:)

RESOLUTION No. 15

SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Whereas, The Southwest Idaho Water Development Project contemplates irrigation of some approximately 450,000 acres of arid desert land in the State of

Idaho; and

Whereas, The completion of this project would contribute substantially to the

economy of our State and nation;

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved, That the Idaho State Reclamation Association supports the basic idea of the Southwest Idaho Water Development Project

and urges completion of such project giving full consideration to the following

guidelines:

(1) All existing water rights and priorities previously acquired under State

law be honored.
56 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

(2) Those Federal agencies charged with obtaining a water supply for this

proposed project comply with our State water laws and honor the existing water

rights.

(3) That this project obtain no priority over those other proposed projects

which would provide an adequate water supply for lands already under

cultivation.

(4) That this project not be undertaken in such a manner to prohibit and exclude private development of those suitable lands during an extended period

of future study.

(5) That all proposed water exchanges contemplated under this project be

carefully monitored to protect those land owners with prior water rights.

Be it further resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to the Idaho Congressional Delegation, the Governor of the State of Idaho, the State Reclamation

Engineer, and the Director of the Idaho State Water Resource Board.

Senator CHURCH. I have no further questions, Mr. Chairman.

Senator ANDERSON. Senator Jordan?

Senator JORDAN. No; I have no questions. Mr. Schlottmann represents a very fine organization in our State, the State reclamation association, and we are pleased to have that testimony.

Mr. Chairman, we are through with this witness. Congressman McClure would like to raise one additional point he overlooked this mornfling, if he could.

Senator ANDERSON. Thank you very much for your testimony. I did

think I ought to speak up promptly and say I thought it would be hard

to waive that 160-acre limitation, because at that time Senator Morse

was quite concerned about it.

Mr. ScHLorriwANN. I realize his problem, but that was just a personal opinion.

STATEMENT OF HON. JAMES A. McCLURE—Resumed

Mr. MCCLURE. I am tempted to take a long period of time here to

give some eulogies to the people who have testified today and identify

myself with them, and further underscore their ability in presenting

to this committee their views, as well as the kinds of relationships We

have had with the regional offices of the Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior, with Mr. Nelson as present Director.

I did want to bring out one thing not completely covered in the

questioning, and that is with respect to section 7 of the bill, with respect to the replacement of land to provide a tax base or to replace a

tax base.

The reason for this is a peculiar and unique problem being presented

under this bill because of the character of Boise County, and over

90 percent of that particular, county is now in the Boise National Forest, and there are also some other public lands involved.

A small percentage of the remaining percentage of the lands are in

mining claims which are not now productive, and, therefore, do not

provide a very substantial tax base, and if we remove this private land

which would be taken by the Garden Valley Dam from the tax rolls of

Boise County, they simply are no longer a viable taxing unit, and as

a unit for government in the State, they just couldn't exist.

So it was the purpose of the drafters of the bill to protect the tax

base of this county because of their very unique problem, and I think

that this needs to be into the record as to the fact that the situation

shouldn't be necessarily viewed as a precedent for other like action

other places.
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 57

Senator ANDERSON. What about the Department of Agriculture report. It says :

Section 7 of S. 697 would provide for the disposition of lands, including reserved National Forest lands, with right of first preference to purchase being

given to those owners whose lands would be taken for project purposes. We

recommend that at such time as this bill is considered this section be deleted.

Are you in favor of deleting it?

Mr. MCCLURE. I am not in favor of deleting it. I had not seen this

letter of transmittal from the Department of Agriculture until this

morning.

I would hope it would not hold up the bill, and I would hope when

we have the opportunity to discuss this with the representatives of

the Department of Agriculture, we can convince them that there is

a unique and special reason for this provision in the bill.

Senator ANDERSON. What is it?

Mr. MCCLURE. The unique reason?

Senator ANDERSON. Yes.

Mr. MCCLURE. The county involved has such a small amount of

land on the tax rolls now, that if we move a substantial part of the

tax base, it would be a terrific blow to that county to sustain its operation, and it was our hope in the provisions in this bill that the replacement provision would sustain the tax base for the county and

enable those people to continue as they have so strongly stated, and

for years past, their desire to continue as a county.

Senator ANDERSON. This is not a new problem, of course.

Mr. MCCLURE. It is not a new problem, except that in this county

it is one of magnified proportion. In this particular project it is

magnified very, very highly.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Senator ANDERSON. Any questions?

Senator JORDAN. No, except to endorse what the Congressman says:

The Garden Valley constitutes a very large percent of the taxable

land there, and it is our hope that these people who are dispossessed

by reason of the Garden Valley Reservoir might be able to buy

some land on the perimeter of the reservoir and stay on the tax rolls.

Senator ANDERSON. I believe there were some Indians in the State

of Pennsylvania, or Ohio, and we made a satisfactory provision for

them. They didn't get priority. You can't take damages and take

payments and say, "In addition to that, I would like to have another

piece of land," and certainly when we take it out of the forest, we

have real 'Problems.

Mr. MCCLURE. I recognize that, Mr. Chairman, but we hope we

can convince them it is a unique situation.

Senator CHURCH. It comes as no surprise to us that the Forest

Service has asked that this portion of the bill be deleted, but we

would like to take it up in the committee and press for it, because we

think on the facts there is a strong case in this instance.

Senator ANDERSON. I certainly would suggest that you not try to

delete this provision. It is like somebody selling a schoolhouse without Wayne Morse being there.

He watched that a long time, not because he thought it was the

only thing to do, but because he would talk a good many days about

it.
58 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Mr. MCCLURE. Thank you very much.

Senator ANDERSON. Are there any further witnesses?

If not, at this point in the hearing record the statements, letters,

and resolutions submitted or sent into the committee will be included.

(The data referred to follow:)

STATEMENT OF THE IDAHO FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

We welcome the opportunity to testify on S. 697, a bill to authorize the Southwest Idaho Water Development Project. The Idaho Farm Bureau Federation

has a voluntary membership of 11,500 paid family memberships, many of whom

reside within the above mentioned project area.

Farm Bureau policy adopted for 1967 on the subject of development of water

resources is as follows:

"Federal participation in water development projects should be in cooperation

with individual, local and state interests • . . Before a reclamation project is

constructed, provision should be made, . . . (for) repayment and administrative

responsibility for all or portions of the project . . . Revenues from related

projects should go into a 'basin account' to finance further development of the

area, but this procedure should not be abused by the inclusion of uneconomic

projects."

We, the largest voluntary farm and ranch organization representing agriculture in Idaho strongly urge and favor the proper development of the

Southwestern Idaho Development Project. Agriculture is the largest contributor

to the economy of Idaho and its immediate future potential is even greater.

Water, which is the waiting ingredient for this expanded growth will be

supplied by a project such as S. 697. Idaho growth should not be curtailed

because of a limitation of water, especially in the area of agriculture which is

the state's number one revenue producer.

It is the obligation of this generation to make wise use of our natural resources for the needs of future generations. This can best be accomplished by

emphasis on participation and responsibility of individuals, private organizations and local and state units of government in the investigaton, planning

and administration of the development and use of natural resources.

Irrigation water is a vital "input" to farm costs. With farm costs continually

rising faster than farm receipts, irrigation water must be as economical as

possible. Supplied in enormous quantities this can be accomplished. This project

will satisfy that need. This project will permit Idaho water to be most beneficially used in Idaho and help remove the threat of diversion.

With the world starvation problem and many American agricultural products

being for export, farmers and ranchers should not be limited in their ability

to produce any commodity.

Again to emphasize, we strongly urge the proper development of the Southwestern Idaho Water Project.

We request that this letter be made a part of the hearing. Thank you.

STATEMENT OF THE IDAHO STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Idaho State Chamber of Commerce generally supports the principles

of land reclamation embodied in S. 697 and commends the Idaho Congressional

Delegation and other agencies, organizations and individuals involved in the

initial planning phase of this extensive project.

The need for such development cannot be discounted.

Idaho's economy is based on its utilization of natural resources. Agriculture

and related industries have long been leading producers of wealth.

At the same time, the national trend—a reduction in the number of farms,

but an increase in the proportion of land in farms—has prevailed in Idaho.

According to recognized statistical sources, the number of farms in Idaho

has decreased by 25 per cent, but the average size of the Idaho farm has more

than doubled within the last 25 years, principally because of the need for

volume to offset rising production costs and because of improvements in farm

machinery and farming methods.

Particularly significant is the fact that, according to the Idaho Department

of Commerce and Development, virtually all of the increased value of cash receipts from crops in recent years in the result of the expansion of irrigated
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 59

acreage in the last decade. It is also important to note, that of the more than 2.5

million irrigated acres, 800,000 acres have been privately developed within the

past 15 years.

Such private development should be encouraged.

The need for maximum, orderly use of water and land is intensified by a

rapidly-growing population in Idaho and other Western states. U.S. Department

of Commerce estimates place the Idaho population as high as 962,000 by 1985,

compared to the current estimated population of about 700,000.

An expanded agricultural economy, generating new job opportunities in many

fields, is absolutely essential if Idaho is to accommodate its projected growth.

Idaho will gain in importance as a "market basket." U.S. Department of

Interior reports indicate that population in the 17 Western states will reach 70

million in 1980 and 108 million in the year 2000, compared to 49 million in 1964.

The Interior Department also estimates that the same Western states will

require 254 billion gallons of water per day in 1980 and 365 billion gallons per

day in the year 2000. The implications are clear. Idaho must fully justify its

need for use of its land and water if the state is to realize its full potential 'and

also support its growing, neighboring states.

Such objectives appear to be recognized in the Southwest Idaho Water Development project. The proposed legislation, and accompanying feasibility reports

as they become available, should continue to receive detailed and exhaustive

study to assure:

1. Equitable treatment of the various water user groups involved.

2. Consideration for the manner in which private, taxpaying interests are

protected and allowed to proceed with development that is beneficial to the state.

STATEMENT OF MILTON W. BRANCH, MIDVALE, IDAHO, SECRETARY, IDAHO SOIL

CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee, I, Milton Branch, am a cattle

rancher of Midvale, Washington County, Idaho. I have been a member of the

Idaho State Soil Conservation Commission since 1955. I am speaking both for

this Commission and for myself as an individual rancher.

Approval of• the Southwestern Idaho Water Project is something that is vital,

not only to the economic development of Idaho and the welfare of our people, but

also to help produce food and fiber to feed and clothe the rapidly increasing

population of our nation and the world.

The Soil Conservation Commission of Idaho maintains very close contact

with the soil and water of our state through the 54 soil conservation districts

that cover the state. We are in constant contact with the 270 local supervisors

who govern and guide these districts. Developing Idaho land with the water of

Idaho rivers has always been a sound principle and still is. It is a principle that

is endorsed by all 54 soil conservation districts and the locally elected supervisors

who govern them.

This proposal would put water on approximately a half million acres of now

arid land. This involves land lying in eleven counties and twelve soil conservation districts. Most of us cannot begin to comprehend all of the effects of an

operation of this magnitude on the total welfare and economy of this entire

region. This certainly would not be limited to Southwestern Idaho.

Enough preliminary soil surveys have been made, and enough experience has

been gained by those who have already applied water to this land, that we know

that production can be abundant.

The natural resources are here in Southwest Idaho, the soil, the water and a

favorable climate. When you have a combination of natural resources, it is only

good business and sound logic to develop those resources. We have the human

resources too that it takes to go along with these.

Proof that these things are all here and will work together as a combination to

produce highly desirable results has been demonstrated many times in the last

several years by the many thousands of acres that have been put under water

by private interests.

These developments have proven that this can be done. However, it is also

evident that the entire job can not be done that way.

Therefore, we seek the assistance of the federal government through your

approval of S 697 which is before you here today.

Thank you.
60 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT, AUDITOR AND RECORDER,

Mountain Home, Idaho, August 14, 1967.

Hon. LEN B. JORDAN,

Senate Office Building,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR SENATOR JORDAN: It is our understanding that the Senate is about to

commence public hearings on S.B. 697. This is to advise that the Board of County

Commissioners of Elmore County, Idaho, strongly support S.B. 697, and the Board

urges you to do everything possible to see that favorable action is taken by the

Congress on that bill.

The Southwest Idaho Water Development Project, we feel, is the first unified

effort made by the citizens of Southwestern Idaho to provide for a feasible

reclamation project to service the area, and we certainly hope the proposed

project can become a reality in the very near future.

We appreciate your assistance.

Very truly yours,

W. W. SANDERS,

Chairman, Board of County Commissioners, Elmore County, Idaho.

UNITED BROTHERHOOD OF CARPENTERS & JOINERS OF AMERICA,

LOCAL UNION No. 2816,

Emmett, Idaho, August 10, 1967.

Sell. FRANK CHURCH,

U.S. Senate Office Building,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR SENATOR CHURCH: The members of Local Union 2816, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, are very much in favor of Senate

Bill 697. We feel that every effort should be made to keep Idaho water in Idaho.

Thank you very much.

Yours truly,

EVERET T. HIGLEY, President.

JAMES E. HUGHES, Recording Secretary.

MOUNTAIN HOME, IDAHO, August 15, 1967.

Hon. LEN B. JORDAN,

Senate Office Building,

Washington, D.C.:

Thank you for notifying me of the hearing on S. 697. Please advise the committee that the people in my district are solidly behind this bill. Also I hope that

the joint memorial urging authorization of the southwest Idaho water project

passed unanimously by the 39th Idaho Legislature will be called to the committees attention.

Respectfully,

ROBERT N. ROWETT,

Idaho State Senator, Legislature District No. 19.

IDAHO STATE GRANGE,

Meridian, Idaho, August 4, 1967.

Hon. LEN B. JORDAN,

Senate Office Building,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR SENATOR JORDAN: On August 15, 1967 the Sub-committee on Water and

Power Resources of the Senate Interior and Insular Affairs Committee will be

receiving testimony on S. 697, a bill to authorize the Southwest Idaho Water

Development Project. I am pleased to briefly, present the views of our

organization.

The Idaho State Grange is an agricultural and Rural Community organization with organized groups in most of our rural communities in Idaho. For

more than fifty years it has taken an active part in legislative matters pertaining

to agriculture, community development, the preservation of our natural resources

and development for the future.
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 61

Our organization has consistently adopted policies pertaining to the utilization

of the waters of our state and the conversion of our desert land for agricultural

purposes. At a recent session, the following report was presented by the committee on irrigation and Reclamation and adopted:

"1. The Idaho State Grange reaffirms their stand opposing the diversion of

waters of the Snake River Basin to any other watershed by any state, city, group

or persons for any purpose whatsoever.

2. We encouage the development by private enterprise or Bureau of Reclamation or any other legal means, the development of new irrigation projects in the

state so that we may utilize our greatest resource, water.

3. We encourage the building of new dams, or the improving and enlarging

of existing dams, for the storage of water for irrigation and reclamation uses.

4. We also recommend that the State Grange continue to be vigilant in protecting our present and existing water rights."

We therefore, favor S. 697, with the understanding that water rights under

present irrigation projects will be protected and safeguarded. We believe that a

plan as outlined in the bill will aid in the future development of agriculture,

Idaho's largest industry. We believe that it will utilize water now being lost in

flood season. It will also serve as flood control in many areas, it will produce

hydro-electric power and will put thousands of fertile acres into production.

Sincerely yours,

ERMIL S. JEROME,

Master, Idaho State Grange.

MOUNTAIN HOME, IDAHO,

August 10, 1967.

Senator FRANK CHURCH,

Senate Office Building,

Washington, D.C.:

The 425 members of American Legion Post 26, Mountain Home, Idaho, wholeheartedly endorse S. 697 which authorizes the southwest Idaho development

project. With world food shortages it is inconceivable for this great Nation not

to develop those productive lands laying adjacent to the Snake River—the

Mountain Home Desert. This project, under several names, has been under consideration for over 40 years. We feel that further delay in this area is inexcusable.

With our present technology this project should be well underway and growing

crops by 1973. There is no finer way to increase the economic stability of these

rather repressed areas and increase the gross national product of the State of

Idaho and the United States of America. We beseech you to use every possible

means at your disposal to bring this project to a successful conclusion.

Sincerely and respectfully yours,

JACK STREP. 1ER,

Commander, Post 26, American Legion.

MOUNTAIN HOME, IDAHO,

August 15, 1967.

SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER AND POWER RESOURCES,

New Senate Office Building,

Washington, D.C.:

Mountain Home well drillers wholeheartedly endorse S. 697 which authorizes

the Southwest Idaho development project. With world food shortages it is

inconceivable for this great Nation not to develop those productive lands laying

adjacent to the Snake River. This project under several names has been under

consideration for over 40 years. We feel that further delay in this area is

inexcusable. With our present technology this project should be well underway

and growing crops by 1973. There is no finer way to increase the economic stability

of this rather depressed area and increase the gross national product of the

State of Idaho and the United States of America. We bessech you to use every

possible means at your disposal to bring this project to a successful conclusion.

Sincerely and respectfully yours,

B. B. GAILF,Y,

F. H. BRADBURY,

Mountain Home Well Drillers.
62 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

WEISER, IDAHO, August 11, 1967.

Hon. LEN JORDAN,

U.S. Senate,

Senate Office Building,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR SENATOR JORDAN: Mayor William E. Brummett, and all members of

Weiser City Council, unanimously endorse Senate Bill 697 ( Southwest Idaho

Water Development Project).

At the meeting to be held in Washington on August 15th, we wish to go on

record as being very strongly for all of the development proposed in this bill.

Sincerely yours,

WILLIAM E. BRUM METT,

Mayor, City of Weiser.

WEISER IRRIGATION DISTRICT,

1Veiser, Idaho, August 7, 1967.

In re Senate bill No. 697, 90th Congress, first session.

Hon. FRANK CHURCH,

U.S. Senate,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR SENATOR CHURCH: The Board of Directors of Weiser Irrigation District

takes this opportunity to express its approval of your action in behalf of Southern Idaho Water Development, and to further solicit your continued support

of any and all measures which will protect for the people of Idaho its valuable

natural resources.

By Order of the Board.

Hon. FRANK CHURCH,

U.S. Senate,

Washington, D.C.

VINCENT F. DERIG, Secretary.

COUNCIL VALLEY GRANGE,

Council, Idaho, August 1, 1967.

DEAR SENATOR CHURCH: The Council Valley Project area is happy to receive

word that Senate Bill No. 697—"Southwest Idaho Water Development Project"—

is being reconsidered. We would like to offer the following testimony to the

hearing which is being held August 15th.

We of the Council Valley Grange and the Council Chamber of Commerce

offered testimony through Mr. Andy Lay, of Council at the hearing held in Boise

on September 13th. The people of the Weiser River area still support and urgently request the Bureau of Reclamation to build the necessary dams, and

other works, to completely irrigate the Weiser River irrigable lands.

The farm economy in Southwestern Idaho would be stabilized and the new

Recreation Resources would also greatly stabilize the economy of the entire

area.

Thanking you, we remain,

Respectfully yours,

JOHN WILLIAMS,

Master, Council Valley Irrigation Committee, Council Valley Grange.

WEISER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

Weiser, Idaho, August 4, 1967.

Hon. LEN JORDAN,

U.S. Senate,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR SIR: Directors of the Weiser Chamber of Commerce unanimously endorse Senate Bill 697 ( Southwest Idaho Project).

We wish to go on record at the hearing on August 15, as being strongly for the

reclamation development proposed in the bill.

We feel that the threatening world food shortage makes it imperative that the

United States Congress give most serious consideration to SB 697 and similar

reclamation proposals.

Your most seriously,

JERRY VEGWERT, President.
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 63

THE COUNCIL CLINIC,

Council, Idaho, August 12, 1967.

Hon. LEN B. JORDAN,

Senate Office Building,

TVashington, D.C.

DEAR SIR: Since no one from this area will be able to be present at the hearings

on S. 697, I am making this statement. On behalf of the people of Adams County,

and specifically the Chamber of Commerce, I would like to endorse the Southwest

Idaho Water project. The useful control of the waters of the Payette River

through the Gold Fork and Garden Valley development, as well as the irrigation of thousands of acres of desert lands in the Mountain Home and Bruneau

areas, will go a long way toward permitting Idaho to fully utilize the waters

of Idaho.

I would direct your attention specifically to the Weiser River Division of this

project, primarily the Council Valley portion. The economy of the Upper Weiser

River Valley is logging and agriculture with most of the agriculture devoted to

pasture and hay. The valley bottoms, low hills and draws are ideally suited for

this purpose. The soil is adequate for high grade grass production as I have seen

demonstrated many times in the Grassman program.

There is steadily increasing pressure by the Forest Service to cut down the

allotments of the cattlemen of our area on the National Forest range—that

range which has been the keystone of the cattle industry. As this summer range

is cut down, it becomes absolutely necessary that our private lands be developed

as fully as possible if this industry is to survive. There is adequate land available

that needs only water to fulfill this need. The formula for the area is simple—

we have land; we have know-how; add water and you have grass: which equals

beef—meaning, in turn, livelihoods, money for the economy of our small towns,

and food for the nation.

For years the people of Council Valley have tried to find a way to get additional

water for the Valley. It flows right down through the middle of the Valley in

tremendous quantities in spring flood, but there has been no way to adequately

store it. Lost Valley is an ideal place for a reservoir. A small dam in the narrows

now creates 10,000 acre feet of storage in the saucer-shaped valley above. By

simply raising the dam about 32 feet, the capacity can be trebled to meet the

needs of Council Valley directly, and to help the entire Weiser River farming

area through return flow.

Over the years, efforts have been made to finance this project privately and

with Small Business Administration assistance, but these efforts have failed.

The program is feasable—the water and the land are there, and the nation and

the world need the products that can be grown there. The maturation of the

basin account concept now permits us to make it a reality.

The people of the Valley strongly support the program. A petition has been

presented to the Adams County Commissioners to create a Council Valley Irrigation District. Publication has started, and it should come to a vote in a few

weeks.

This is a small project of about 4,000 acres; small when compared to the other

parts of the Southwest Idaho project, but it is essential to the economic future

of the people of the Valley who are exactly the same kind of people who will be

benefited by other portions of the project.

We respectfully solicit your support for the Weiser River Division and the

entire Southwest Idaho Water project. We furthermore suggest that the Council

Valley project is susceptible to enlargement from additional upstream storage

such as Hornet Creek, and to providing water to several hundred additional

acres to the west of the Valley. These are ideas that might be considered by the

Idaho Water Resources Board at a future time.

Best regards,

JOHN A. EDWARDS, M.D.

COUNCIL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

Council, Idaho, August I, 1967.

Senator LEN B. JORDAN,

Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs,

U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.

DEAR SENATOR: Thanking you for your letter of July 24th, advising us of the

August 15, 1967 hearing on Idaho water development Senate Bill 697.
64 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

In behalf of the people of Adams County, Idaho, of the Weiser River Drainage

Area, we express the desire to endorse a good bill to develop all waters of Southwest Idaho. We stand firm in the belief that development of storage projects are

necessary to save the now lost water and this is the best investment for Idaho

and the Nation. The United States is fast approaching an era of food shortage

and safe drinking water.

Idaho has the land and the water for such development which will avert much

of the shortage. Adams County is the origin of the Weiser River and the storage

sites in Adams County are more feasible. The water quantity and quality is

also very favorable. As an example Lost Valley storage for the Council Valley

irrigation would rate very high in any inspection. In addition the recreation

value is also very high or would be much improved.

With high regards for your endeavor for better legislation for our State and

the Nation, we remain,

Respectfully yours,

ANDY R. LAY,

Water Development Committeeman.

BUD JONES,

President of Chamber of Commerce.

JOHN EDWARDS, M.D.,

FRED GLENN,

FRED MULLER.

WEISER, IDAHO, August 10, 1967.

Re hearing on Senate bill 697.

Hon. FRANK CHURCH,

U.S. Senate,

Senate Office Building,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR SENATOR CHURCH: For the past fifty one years I have resided, at Weiser,

in southwestern Idaho. During th'at period I have been, and still am, very active

in reclamation, irrigation and all forms of outdoor recreation.

Each Spring I have watched the flood waters roar past our homes and cities.

The water thick with the good top-sail of our land which it has washed away.

This flood damage is caused year after year because we have no storage dams

or reservoirs in which to store this precious water.

Later in the year we watch our crops, and trees, grass in our pastures and

feed in our forests, wither, and due to this damage our livestock Suffer and many

die. This also is caused because of water or lack of water. We have the water and

I believe Senate Bill 697 contains projects that will give us the Dams and Reservoirs and other developments that will make this the kind of country that

God meant it to be.

At the hearing in Washington, on August 15th, I wish to go on record as being

very strongly for and endorse said Senate Bill 697 with all its proposed projects

and developments.

Very seriously yours,

GEO. H. BINNING, Accountant.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

Emmett, Idaho, August 11, 1967.

Hon. LEN JORDAN.

Senate Office Building,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR SIR: The Chamber of Commerce of Gem County, Idaho, endorses S. B.

697 and urges earliest possible authorization of the Southwestern Idaho Water

Development Project. Its officers and directors commend the concept of comprehensive, integrated development of water resources as contemplated in this

measure, as distinct from piecemeal authorization of small, isolated projects

that might lack the best possible correlation with each other.

We believe the Southwestern Idaho Water Development Project is a well

conceived and feasible plan essential to the need and future growth of this area,

the State of Idaho, and the Nation.
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 65

We recommend that the limitation on water to be diverted from the Payette

River Basin, as encompassed in the present Bill, be retained.

Respectfully submitted,

A. 0. PERRY,

President, Gem County Chamber of Commerce.

NEW PLYMOUTH, IDAHO, August 9, 1967.

Subject: Hearing on S. 697, southwest Idaho water development project.

Hon. FRANK CHURCH,

U.S. Senate Office Building,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR FRANK: Please carry my support of the Southwest Idaho Water Development Project to the Interior and Insular Affairs meeting August 15, 1967 in room

3110 New Senate Office Bldg. for the 10:00 A.M. meeting and get their acknowledgement of my support of it.

Thanks for your personal attention.

Respectfully, I am,

C. ALFRED RUSSELL.

PAUL B. LARSEN & ASSOCIATES, INC.,

Boise, Idaho, August 10, 1967.

Re Senate bill 697, southwest Idaho water development project.

Hon. LEN JORDAN,

U.S. Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C.

DEAR SENATOR JORDAN: I am very interested in Senate Bill 697 as I believe the

Southwest Idaho Water Development Project is entirely feasible and certainly

most desirable for the people of the State of Idaho. It will permit development

of potentially irrigable land and at the same time protect the water rights which

are so important to the economy of our State.

As a member of the Guffy Committee, the Boise Chamber of Commerce Reclamation and National Resources Committee, and the Southwestern Idaho Development Association, I have had the opportunity of studying the various reports of

the Bureau of Reclamation concerning water development projects throughout

Southwestern Idaho. The Southwest Water Development Project was wisely

conceived. It answered most, if not all of the objections raised concerning the

Mountain Home and other smaller projects. At this time it appears that all of the

water districts and the water users throughout this area are in accord that this

overall project which is not only feasible but highly essential to the comprehensive

development of the arid land in Southwestern Idaho and for the overall economic

development of this part of the State.

I heartily recommend your support of Senate Bill 697.

Very sincerely yours,

PAUL B. LARSEN.

BOISE, IDAHO, August 9, 1967.

Senator FRANK CHURCH,

Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C.

DEAR FRANK: On August 15, 1967 in Room 3110, Senate Office Building, there

will be a hearing on Senate Bill 697. The greatest service you can ever do for Idaho

will be to support and fight for this bill. Please do.

With kindest personal regards.

Sincerely,

HARRY L. YOST.

MOUNTAIN HOME, IDAHO, August 15, 1967.

Senator FRANK CHURCH,

Senate Office Building,

Washington, D.C.:

May I ask you please to vote on S. 697 for its passage for the Southwest Idaho

development project.

RUTH J. FAIRCHILD.
66

Senator FRANK CHURCH,

Senate Office Building,

Washington, D.C.:

SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

ELMORE COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE,

Mountain Home, Idaho, August 14, 1967.

Urge your support on southwest Idaho water development project in Senate

hearing on August 15, 1967.

LYLE EVANS,

Legislative District Chairman.

Senator FRANK CHURCH,

Senate Office Building,

Washington, D.C.:

Our association firmly supports the objectives of the southwest Idaho development project not only from the standpoint of what it means to our local economy

but from a much broader basis—what it means on a national level. We urge

your support.

MOUNTAIN HOME, IDAHO, August 15, 1967.

HENRY DEGORGI,

Northwest Savings & Loan.

KFLI RADIO,

Mountain Home, Idaho, August 15, 1967.

Senator FRANK CHURCH,

Senate Office Building,

Washington, D.C.:

May I ask your support on S. 697, southwest Idaho development project. I

feel there is no finer way to help the economy of this State as well as increase

the gross national product. I respectfully ask again for you to assist on S. 697

and do everything possible to see that this bill passes.

Sincerely and respectfully yours,

THOMAS A. FAIRCHILD,

President and General Manager.

TWIN FALLS, IDAHO, August 15, 1967.

Senator LEN B. JORDAN,

Senate Office Building,

Washington, D.C.:

Bliss Chamber of Commerce urges approval of S. 697. Chamber endorses full

development of Idaho water resources.

HAROLD BUTLER.

WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH INSTITUTE,

UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO,

Moscow, Idaho, August 15, 1967.

Senator LEN B. JORDAN,

Water and Power Resources Subcommittee, Senate Interior and Insular Affairs

Committee, Washington, D.C.:

Representatives of University of Idaho Water Resources Research Institute

have met and considered a statement regarding legislation covered under S. 697

of bill to authorize the southwest Idaho water development project. Request that

permission to include this in hearings of this date be granted. Letter and details

of statement follow.

C. C. WARNICK, Director.

STATEMENT OF THE WATER RESOURCES INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO

The University of Idaho has had an interdisciplinary group concerned with

water resources functioning since June, 161, which was formally recognized by

the Board of Regents in October, 1963. The Coordinating Committee is composed of leaders from the various colleges of the University who have particular

talent and interest in the broad subject area of water. The present composition

of the Committee is presented at the end of this presentation.
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 67

A policy statement issued by this group in January, 1962, states the concern

which the University of Idaho has for comprehensive water resources development and is particularly pertinent at this time with regard to the Southwest

Idaho Water Development Project. This policy statement is here quoted:

"The basic goal of the University of Idaho is to be of service to the people of

this state and nation through teaching and research. The natural resources of

Idaho, especially water, constitute our most valuable assets. The manner in

which we utilize and develop such resources will influence our health, security,

economy, and well-being for all time.

"Therefore, the University of Idaho, in conformity with its tradition of service, has resolved to commit its facilities through teaching and research to assist

in the formulation of coordinated plans and policies for the development of

the water resources of this state. It is imperative that the information and an

understanding of the issues associated with the conservation and development of

water, and all its related uses thus acquired, should be brought to the attention

of the people of this state. This will be accomplished through a program of disseminating information by the University of Idaho and other agencies working

in unison.

"Such an undertaking will give all the people of Idaho an opportunity to make

informed decisions and establish goals with respect to the use of water resources

within the framework of our democratic processes.

"To the end the University of Idaho has established a Water Resources

Committee whose membership is selected from the various Colleges with an

advisory board consisting of the President of the University of Idaho and the

Deans of the Colleges of Agriculture, Engineering, Forestry, and Mines.

"It is the duty of the Coordinating Committee on Water Resources to implement and assist in the development of a comphensive water resources program

within the limits of the resources of the University of Idaho."

Because the Southwest Idaho Water Development Project encompasses a

major portion of any comprehensive water plan for the State of Idaho, it is

our duty to analyze the bill and report our findings. We have studied the bill and

we support it.

We believe this bill provides the framework for the comprehensive development and economic growth of the Southwestern portion of Idaho. We like the

fact that it covers a considerable land area and has broad objectives and thus

will make possible the best integration of various features of earlier studies and

provide flexibility for the private developments now in progress and the various

Public plans that have been under consideration.

We believe that the water resources developments of the past, both from the

public and the private sector, demonstrate that such land and water developments in Idaho can be successful.

We believe planning for such a comprehensive development is in the best

interests of the conservation of the total natural resources of the region.

We recommend the following:

1. That the feasibility studies, now being conducted, be continued with considerable care because there are lands that could be included which might be submarginal to good developments.

2. That the bill should recognize the functions of the Idaho State Water

Agency as recently constituted as well as the broad coordinating and planning

role of both federal and state entities as provided for in the Water Resources

Planning Act of 1965 (PL 89-80).

3. That Section 5 of the Act should be studied with regard to the recent

legislation (See 16 USCA 1-12 to 21, PL 89-72) requiring the States to assume

one-half the costs and the management of the recreational facilities of water

development projects. This is a prime concern within the State of Idaho and

should be well coordinated with the Idaho State Park Board and the Idaho

Fish and Game Department. Certainly the enhancement of recreation through

improvement of the fishery and wildlife habitat should be encouraged to the

utmost.

4. That the wording of Section 4, wherein the bill refers to costs allocated

to irrigation in excess of amounts determined by the Secretary to be within

the ability of the irrigators to repay, should be studied in line with recent or

pending national legislation concerned with basin account financing.

5. Realizing that the project will come under existing reclamation law with

respect to the 160-acre ownership limitation, we suggest that this might be an
68 SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

opportune time to make a study as to whether this limitation is realistic for

such a project as envisioned in this part of Idaho.

We understand that projects resulting from the bill will involve exchange of

water and realize that such is necessary and apparently legally possible in Idaho.

We like the intent of the bill in connection with exchange of water, but would

prefer the wording to make clear that rights attached to substituted water shall

be vested and equivalent in every way with the original water rights and shall

thus in no way jeopardize, diminish, or otherwise alter contractual rights and

obligations now in existence.

The provision for interconnecting the various river systems of the Boise,

the Payette, the Weiser, and the Snake is a desirable and necessary step in the

direction of obtaining optimum utilization of the water resources of the state.

The application of this provision should consider, however, not only the rights

of the present users but also the requirements of competing uses of water.

We firmly believe that the Southwest Idaho Water Project is necessary and

desirable for the general welfare of the State and the Nation and should set

the pattern for other comprehensive projects within the state.

This Committee, while it endorses the project in general, nevertheless reserves

the right to disavow any specific phase of the plan, which in its execution may

not, in the opinion of the Committee, coincide with the general welfare of the

state.

The composition of the Policy and Coordinating Committee is as follows:

Dr. G. L. Corey, Head, Agricultural Engineering.

Professor D. W. Fitzsimmons, Agricultural Engineering.

Mr. D. C. Larsen, Agricultural Extension Service.

Dr. H. R. Alden, Forestry (Recreation).

Dr. G. H. Belt, Forestry (Watershed Management).

Dr. C. MacPhee, Forestry ( Fisheries Management).

Dr. G. C. Lewis, Agricultural Biochemistry & Soils.

Dr. W. E. Folz, Head, Agricultural Economics.

Dr. R. E. Williams, Geology.

Dr. F. W. Rabe, Zoology.

Professor P. Mann, Electrical Engineering.

Professor C. C. Warnick, Civil Engineering, Chairman & Director.

Prepared and acted on by the above Committee on August 14, 1967.

NAMPA, IDAHO, August 11, 1967.

Senator FRANK CHURCH,

Senate Office Building,

Washington, D.C.:

The citizens of our community are in favor of Senate bill No. 697 which would

authorize the southwest Idaho water development project. We urge your support

for this project which is so important to this area of Idaho.

ERNEST E. STARR, Mayor.

MOUNTAIN HOME, IDAHO, August 15, 1967.

Senator LEN JORDAN,

Senate Office Building,

Washington, D.C.:

We are in full support of the development of the southwest Idaho water development project as proposed under S. 697. We respectfully request that you

convey this to the committee at the time of the hearing on this measure and that

you do all in your power to expedite its passage.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL, CITY OF MOUNTAIN HOME, IDAHO.
SOUTHWEST IDAHO WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 69

[Thirty-ninth Session, Legislature of the State of Idaho, in the Senate, S.J.M. No. 4—

By Irrigation and Reclamation Committee]

A JOINT MEMORIAL

To the honorable President of the United States, the Honorable Senate and

House of Representatives of the United States in Congress Assembled:

We, your memorialists the Senate and House of Representatives of the state of

Idaho, hereby request that:

WHEREAS, the ever expanding population of the nation and the world demand

a larger volume of foodstuffs and the surplus foodstuffs of this nation are steadily

diminishing because of increasing demands: and

WHEREAS, the natural resources of the state of Idaho include land peculiarly

adapted to agricultural development, and abundant sources of water which are

not being put to beneficial uses;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Thirty-ninth Session of the

Legislature of the state of Idaho, now in session, the Senate and House of Representatives concurring, that we most respectfully urge the Congress of the United.

States to authorize the Southwest Idaho Water Development Project and appropriate funds upon project surveyed and determined to be economical and

feasible—namely the Mountain Home Division and the power features of the

Garden Valley Division.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Department of Interior direct the

Bureau of Reclamation to undertake and complete feasibility studies upon the

remaining divisions and upon the remaining features of the Garden Valley

Division, in order to develop these areas of the project at the earliest possible

date.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State of the state of

Idaho, be and he is hereby authorized and directed to forward certified copies

of this memorial to the President and Vice President of the United States, the

Speaker of the House of Representatives of Congress, and to the the Senators

and Representatives representing this state in the Congress of the United States.

Senator ANDERSON. That concludes our hearing on S. 697 for today.

The hearing is adjourned.

(Whereupon, at 12:45 p.m., the hearing was adjourned, subject to

the call of the Chair.)