Source: http://content.library.arizona.edu/cdm/ref/collection/udallcoloradoAZU/id/8147/
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 02:47:00+00:00

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Home Stewart L. Udall Papers -- Colorado River Letter Discussing "Arizona v. California"
Letter Discussing "Arizona v. California"
Your letter of November 27, 1962, inquiring as to the extent of the Department's present studies and of our views for an outline of a coordinated comprehensive pattern under which the water and power needs of the Pacific Southwest might be satisfactorily provided for is timely indeed. The area of concern in this matter is the lower Colorado River Basin and adjacent areas in California.
In this period, however, the Bureau of Reclamation has carried on in varying degrees investigation of a number of potential projects in the southwest. Some of these,such as for the Dixie Project, Utah, and the Palmdale Project, California, would be unaffected by the outcome of the pending court action. Others, such as those for the Bridge Canyon and Marble Canyon Projects, have been limited as to their consideration of over-all fincancial or comprhensive regionwide plans. Still other investigations, such as those covering supply problems of the Phoenix-Tucson area and other areas in Arizona and New Mexico, have been undertaken with moneys advanced by the affected States. A further category of investigations which involve such matters as water salvage potentials, character and extent of groundwater reserves, existing and projected water supply demands, and river regulation is in progress to provide essential information and planning data needed regardless of the outcome of Arizona v. California. A brief review of all of the foregoing categories of investigations is enclosed as Attachment B.
Title Letter Discussing "Arizona v. California"
Text UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON 25, D. C. January 18, 1963 Dear Mr. Chairman: Your letter of November 27, 1962, inquiring as to the extent of the Department's present studies and of our views for an outline of a coordinated comprehensive pattern under which the water and power needs of the Pacific Southwest might be satisfactorily provided for is timely indeed. The area of concern in this matter is the lower Colorado River Basin and adjacent areas in California. The water supply problems of the Pacific Southwest are matters to which we have given considerable attention in recent months and for which we have developed a broad proposal to bring about their resolution. That proposal, entitled, "The Proposed Lower Colorado River Project", is enclosed as Attachment A. The pending case before the Supreme Court, Arizona v. California, not only has precluded Congressional consideration of additional lower Colorado River Basin projects, as you noted in your letter, but also has seriously impeded comprehensive studies that involve either use of the waters in contest or deal with the over-all problem of lower basin water supply. In this period, however, the Bureau of Reclamation has carried on in varying degrees investigation of a number of potential projects in the southwest. Some of these,such as for the Dixie Project, Utah, and the Palmdale Project, California, would be unaffected by the outcome of the pending court action. Others, such as those for the Bridge Canyon and Marble Canyon Projects, have been limited as to their consideration of over-all fincancial or comprhensive regionwide plans. Still other investigations, such as those covering supply problems of the Phoenix-Tucson area and other areas in Arizona and New Mexico, have been undertaken with moneys advanced by the affected States. A further category of investigations which involve such matters as water salvage potentials, character and extent of groundwater reserves, existing and projected water supply demands, and river regulation is in progress to provide essential information and planning data needed regardless of the outcome of Arizona v. California. A brief review of all of the foregoing categories of investigations is enclosed as Attachment B.

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