The Coolidge examiner., 1945-08-03


formation and data obtained by the
subcommittee. and five days of
public hearings, covering some $50
pages of printed testimony. all may
be summarized In a single four
word phrase - Arizona needs more
water"
Hearings held In Arizona In July
and August 1914. during which SO
persons appeared before the sub
committee and presented testimony.
started the study. AS presented
to the senate three plans as out
lined by the Reclamation Service
are suggested to bring more water
to the state. They are detailed as
the Marble Gorge plan, the Bridge
Canyon plan and the Parker pump
plan.
Among five final recommenda-
tions made In the report Is one
which Is of especial interest to
..
that the Federal Government un-
dertake to develop Arizona sources
for such additional water as are
found feasible; and for the various
irrigation projects to contract di-
rectly with the Federal Govern
ment for such water on an acre
foot basis"
IF this recommendation is fol-
lowed" Senator Mcfarland points
out, 'it will permit each project
to obligate itself for payment of
the water without liability for con-
struction costs. This Is import
ant" Mcfarland explains, because
of the diversity of interest of water
per acre. Some will need a small
amount of additional water to sup
plement their present supply.
others a larger amount: and OF
course the new lands will have to
supply their total needs with Colo
RADIO River water"
Recommendation five of the re-
port suggests that the enactment
of legislation be secured to provide
for preferential rights to veterans
of World War ii for low-cost loans
to purchase lands suitable for
farming. for right of entry to gov
ernment lands and for federal gov
vernment aid in development of
such lands.
The Marble Gorge plan to in
crease Arizona's water supply is
believed to be the cheapest and
most desirable plan on a. long
time basis. 1t calls for a high
dam in Marble Gorge 36h miles
below Lees Ferry, a tunnel from
the Marble Gorge Dam to the
Verde River near Camp Verde and
series of dams along Verde River
to the Granite Reef dam for stream
regulation and power development.
The Bridge Canyon plan appears
to the committee as second In de-
STABILITY and should, the committee
believes, be given important con-
sideration If the Marble Gorge
route Is not found feasible. A dam
at Bridge Canyon, tunnel from
this dam to Sacramento Wash, a
canal to Cunningham reservoir, a
reservoir with 100000 acre feet
capacity for regulating purposes.
and canal from the Reservoir to
the Granite Reef Dam are the pro-
posals in the Bridge Canyon plan.
A third plan. which is believed
by the committee least desirable
of the three suggestions, Is the
Parker Pump plan. 1t calls for a
pumping plant to lift water 1,040
feet out of Lake Havasu, canal
to Cunningham reservoir and
canal from the reservoir to the
Granite Reef Dam. The committee
emphasizes in its report that the
Parker plan should only be consid-
cred in the event final engineering
data prove the Marble Gorge or
Bridge Canyon undesirable.
The report points out that with
each plan distribution systems
would be needed to serve the new
lands selected for development.
In addition to recommending that
the Federal government undertake
to develop Arizona sources for add
itional water with various irriga-
ton projects contracting directly
with the Federal government for
such water on an acre-foot basis
and to recommending prefential
treatment for veterans, are four
other recommendations
The committee recommends that
all possible speed be exercised in
the completion of engineering data,
that surveys to determine feasibil-
ity and cost be completed as rapid
ly as possible and that surveys Of
the smaller Arizona irrigation pro-
he