The Delta independent., 1923-03-23
Rockwell's Letter
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The bills for the approval of the
interstate compacts respecting the
Colorado River and the La Plata
river "a tributary of the Colorado
river) have received the most exhaus-
tive consideration of any measures
introduced at this session of the legis-
lature. The governor submitted the
compacts to the legislature at the be-
ginning of the session. The bills for
their approval were introduced
promptly. A report OF the Commits
sioner for Colorado accompanied the
compacts at the time they Were sub
mitted by the governor. These re-
ports were printed and distributed
throughout the state. There have
been daily conferences with the var
ious interested parties and their re-
presentatives. And every phase OF
the compacts have been discussed
over and over again and the search
light of criticism has been directed
upon the entire subject.
AS result the legislature is ready
to approve both compacts.
The LaPlata river compact involves
the La Plata river which rises in the
Ia Plata mountains in Colorado and
flows south into New Mexico where it
joins the San Juan, Immediately be-
low Pennington. The stream is small
and the irrigable acreage is out of
proportion to the limited water sup
ply. The first development was in
New Mexico at which time the area
r-1- ;v, 20 Ind 1toy,
reservation. The subsequent devel-
opment in Colorado so absorbed the
flow of the river (excepting during
floods) that the situation became very
acute. Both states were preparing
for an Interstate suit at the time the
legislatures authorized the compact
commission. The compact signed by
the commissioners has been the sub
ject of thorough consideration and
meets with general approval. 1t is
happy and fortunate solution of a diff
ficult problem. It assures maximum
future development of the Colorado
area without detriment to New Mex
leo. 1t opens the title to the water to
be impounded. The fixings of the
title affords assurance to the invest
ment of capital necessary to the con-
struction of large irrigation works
upon the river The increasing re-
turn waters from the irrigated lands
in Colorado are automatically solving
the interstate difficulties and ulti-
mately will care for the greater part
of the obligations undertaken by Col
orado.
The Colorado river area, including
parts of the seven states. has been
previously described in many articles
appearing in the press. The article ap-
pearing in the Rocky Mountain News
of March II, 1928, by Haskin, gives
terse description of the stream and
its problems. The interstate relations
upon that stream are brought to the
fore by reason of the increasing flood
menace to the Imperial Valley in Cal
ifornia- There must be immediate
and enormous reservoirs constructed
to control the floods of the river. The
physical conditions are compelling ac-
tion. But the construction of such
reservoirs must not result in prior ap-
preparation of the waters Of the river
to the detriment of the upper states.
The cost of the construction must be
repaid by the use of the water both
for power and irrigation. But such
uses must not result in an embargo
against future development in the
states OF origin OF the water.
In this connection one must not
overlook the recent decision of the
United States Supreme Court in the
case of Wyoming VS.. Colorado, which
established the principle of priorities
on interstate streams between differ
ent states. discussed this phase of the
problem in former letter This ex-
perience on the Rio Grande and North
Platte rivers where claims of prior
appropriation were made to the whole
remaining flow of the river, brings to
the fore the necessity of protecting
our future development against
claims Of prior appropriation by lower
states. This is accomplished by re-
sort to the treaty making powers Of
the states.
The Colorado river compact furnish