The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1945-11-01

1N4l. CO11l1 w dOUd"d
1917 F. Street, N. W.
Washington 4, D. G.
My dear Mr.. Wattawa:
The attached letter from
Commissioner Bashore with ref
erence to the Boysen and Vel
lowtail dams on the Big Horn
River is elf-explanatory.
Sincerely yours, |
James E. Murray
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
Washington rs, D. G.
Oct. IL, 1945
Hon. James E. Murray,
United States Senate.
Dear Senator Murray:
In my letter of September 20, :
I promised additional informa- ,
ton on the proposed order of
construction of Boysen and Vel
lowtail dams on the Big Horn
River.
We have never been able to
advance our plans on Yellow
tail Dam far enough to propose
if; for Immediate consideration.
In Senate Document 19!, Two I!
reservoirs were proposed IN the
lower basin; one at Kane and
one at Yellowtail. The inform
alton on this report was OBJ
tanned almost entirely from for
mel Army Engineer reports.
We have since made turther
studies and have now on hand
an aerial topographic survey OF
both reservoir sites. Delegations
from the lower end of the Sho-
shone River basin called upon
us protesting the construction
of Kane reservoir to the height
proposed, because of the enor.
nous damage it was claimed
would be done to irrigated
lands in the lower part of the
basin. After studying the avail
able data and re-calculating
power possibilities and probable
costs we are personally OF the
opinion that one high lam at
Yellowtail is probably more de-
sirable than the two dams pre-
viously proposed. In this way
we can lower tine maximum
elevation so as to keep the
damage to present irrigated
lands to a minimum. There are
several other reasons which
lead us to believe that one dam
built to a higher elevation is
probably the most desirable ar
rangement. However, we have
not yet been able to thoroughly
explore the foundation condl-
tions nor make detail surveys
of the dam site, and as we have
no funds available for Fiscal
Year 1916 to advance these
studies, we are in no position
to propose construction of Vel
lowtail before Boysen.
Some of the factors which
lead us to consider Boysen first
are as follows:
"a There appears to be no
immediate market for the
large quantity of power which
will be produced at Yellowtail.
co Two-thirds of the land to
be developed below Yellowtail
is in the Crow Indian Reserva-
ton, and we have had so much
difficulty in the past in COM
bining our projects with Indian
Projects that it seems advisable
to initiate at this time a pro-
gram where special Congress-
ional action would he necessary
to obtain development of the
land.
90 A pressing demand for a
small quantity of power in this
Big Horn basin indicated the
need for earlier construction of
a plant which could be devel-
oped in the shortest possible
time. It would require at least
three years longer, to build
Yellowtail than to build BoySen.
az Preliminary figures indi-
cate the cost per acre foot sto-
rage at Boysen would be much
lower than the cost per acre
foot at Yellowtail, in spite of
the heavy expenditures required
for railroad relocation at Boy
sen.
(5) The preliminary work nee
essary to prepare Yellowtail for
plans and Specifications is much
qure much more time than
Boysen.
(6) Water stored at Boysen
will be used temporarily for
projects in Montana as well as
Wyoming until Yellowtail is
built. No infringements on Nom
tana rights will result.
I trust that this will fully ex-,
plain the problem to your sat
isfaction. II you have additional
questions please do not hesitate
to call on me.