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Supervision of Burley and Minidoka irrigation districts_
Power system operations (including transmission lines) Burley irrigation
district___

Total...

$4,000

25, 000

75,000

The Burley and Minidoka irrigation districts are operating and maintaining all other irrigation features.

Operation of commercial power system (power revenues)

$50,000

In addition to generating electrical energy for irrigation purposes the Minidoka power plant, which is operated by the United States, is used to supply power to several towns on and in the vicinity of the project and to about 20 companies for rural distribution. The net revenues for the fiscal year 1936 amounted to $77,445.59. The power system is operated for commercial purposes from grosss revenues collected during each fiscal year. Not to exceed $50,000 from power revenues, the same limitation that has been imposed for several years, is requested for the fiscal year 1938 to continue such operation. Continuation of construction (power revenues) – –

$100, 000 Net power revenues are creditable annually to the construction charge obligations of the irrigation districts. Contract dated March 15, 1926, with the Burley irrigation district grants that district the option of having its share of net power revenues expended by the United States for betterments and enlargements of the canal, pumping and drainage systems. To perform such work, $100,000 was available during each of the fiscal years 1935, 1936, and 1937. However, no expenditures have been made during the past few years as the district elected to apply revenues to the payment of annual construction charges. An amount of $100,000 from net power revenues is requested for the fiscal year 1938 for continued enlargement of the main South Side Canal and installation of two pumps of 180 cubic feet per second capacity to replace pumps of 120 cubic feet per second capacity at the first and second lift pumping stations, which amount, if made available, will practically complete the program contemplated by the contract mentioned.

NORTH PLATTE PROJECT, NEBRASKA-WYOMING

Mr. SCRUGHAM. The next item is the North Platte project, which is as follows:

North Platte project, Nebraska-Wyoming: Not to exceed $60,000 from the power revenues shall be available during the fiscal year 1938, for the operation and maintenance of the commercial system; and not to exceed $6,000 from power revenues allocated to the Northport irrigation district under subsection I, section 4, of the Act of December 5, 1924 (U. S. C., title 43, sec. 501), shall be available during the fiscal year 1938 for payment on behalf of the Northport irrigation district, to the Farmers' irrigation district for carriage of water.

Mr. PAGE. The justification in support of this item is as follows: Description of project.-The North Platte project is located in the valley of the North Platte River in western Nebraska and eastern Wyoming. Irrigation development, which began in the eighties, has made substantial progress under private and Government auspices. The total irrigable area of the project proper is about 235,000 acres, of which nearly 192,000 acres were irrigated during the calendar year 1935 in the Pathfinder, Fort Laramie and Gering, Goshen, and Northport irrigation districts. In addition, 99,400 acres in the same general area received supplemental water under Warren Act contracts from project reservoirs. The project is divided into the Interstate, Fort Laramie, and Northport divisions. The Pathfinder Reservoir (capacity, 1,070,000 acre-feet) in south central Wyoming and Guernsey Reservoir (capacity, 72,700 acre-feet), also in Wyoming, have been constructed to store flood waters of the North Platte

River and three other reservoirs within the confines of the project, having a combined capacity of about 75,000 acre-feet, have been provided for regulatory and storage purposes. Facilities for generating electrical power have been installed at the Guernsey Reservoir (capacity, 6,000 kilowatts) and at the Lingle power plant (capacity, 1,750 kilowatts) on the Fort Laramie Canal. The Whalen diversion dam, 10 miles below Guernsey Reservoir, diverts water from the North Platte River into the Interstate and Fort Laramie Canals for general distribution over the project. In addition to the reservoirs, dams, and power plants above mentioned, the principal features of the project system of works include 1,620 miles of canals and laterals, of which about 7 miles are concrete lined, 348 miles of land drains, 10 tunnels with a combined length of nearly 3 miles, approximately 23,700 water control and other structures (principally of concrete) in canals, laterals, and drains, 260 flumes with a length of about 3.5 miles, about 7 miles of pressure pipe, 210 miles of telephone lines and about 475 miles of electrical transmission lines.

The Pathfinder and Guernsey storage reservoirs, the Whalen diversion dam and the power system, consisting of the Guernsey and Lingle power plants and 171 miles of the transmission lines are operated by the United States. The canal and drainage works on the Interstate division are operated and maintained by the Pathfinder irrigation district. Similar works on the Fort Laramie division in Wyoming are operated and maintained by the Goshen irrigation district and in Nebraska by the Gering and Fort Laramie irrigation district. The canal and drainage systems on the Northport division are operated and maintained by the Northport irrigation district.

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EXPLANATION OF PROPOSED APPROPRIATION, 1938

Operation and maintenance of reserved works (storage and diversion works), funds advanced...

$30,000

The Pathfinder and Guernsey Dams and Reservoirs and the Whalen diversion dam constitute the reserved works operated by the United States, as they are joint facilities operated to serve the various irrigation districts and Warren Act contractors. The necessary funds for such operations are advanced by the several irrigation districts of the project. The estimated cost is prorated among the irrigation districts and Warren Act contractors and collection thereof is made in advance of the irrigation season. The amounts so collected are deposited in the Reclamation fund and expended for the purposes for which advanced in the same manner as if specifically appropriated. The estimated requirement of $30,000 to be so advanced for the fiscal year 1938 is to provide $20,000 for the storage system, $5,000 for the Whalen diversion dam and $5,000 for inspection and general expense for the project headquarters offices at Guernsey, Wyo. Operation and maintenance, power system (from power revenues)

$60,000 The power system, which comprises the Guernsey and Lingle hydroelectric power plants, 171 miles of transmission lines, substations, metering equipment, and communication lines, is operated and maintained by the United States from revenues collected during the fiscal year. Energy produced is used for irrigation pumping, rural, industrial, and other commercial purposes and is disposed of to 14 towns located on or adjacent to the project, to the Holly Sugar Corporation, the Mountain States Power Co. and the Western Public Service Co. Gross power sales for the fiscal year 1936 amounted to $217,123 during which year the cost of operating the power system, including 171 miles of transmission lines, exclusive of depreciation, was $45,341. These revenues are deposited in the Reclamation fund. The appropriation item for the fiscal year 1938 is to provide authority for the expenditure of not to exceed $60,000 from gross revenues to continue the operation and maintenance of the power system, including payment to the Goshen 139751-37-pt. 1—14

irrigation district for carriage of power water in the Fort Laramie canal and payment of a part of the cost of operation and maintenance of the Guernsey and Whalen Dams. The same limitation was contained in the 1937 appropriation in which a like amount was authorized. It is estimated that gross power revenues for the fiscal year 1938 will be about $235,000.

Operation and maintenance-- carriage of water..
From power revenues...

$6,000

6, 000

Net power revenues are credited annually on the construction charges due and payable by the irrigation districts. Under subsection I, of section 4 of the act of December 5, 1924 (43 Stat. 703) the Northport irrigation district is entitled to its proportionate part of the power revenues derived from power operations on this project. The amount requested is for the purpose of making payment out of such revenues to the Farmers' irrigation district for the carriage of water through its canals to the canal system of the Northport irrigation district.

RIO GRANDE PROJECT, NEW MEXICO-TEXAS

Mr. SCRUGHAM. The next item is "Rio Grande project, New Mexico-Texas," for the operation and maintenance, of which $350,000 is requested for the fiscal year 1938.

Mr. PAGE. The justification in support of this item is as follows:

Description of project. The Rio Grande project is located along the Rio Grande, extending for a distance of about 100 miles in New Mexico, northerly from th⚫ city of El Paso, and southeasterly from that city for about 40 miles in western Texas, north of the Mexican border. The project irrigable area is 155,000 acres of which 120,075 seres were irrigated during the calendar year 1935 in the Elephant Butte irrigation district - New Mexico lands and El Pase County improvement distret no. 1 (Texas lands. The United States also furnished water as a partial water supply under special contracts for the irrigation of an additional area of 44,358 seres not included in the project proper. The Ilephant Butte Reservoir, with a capacity of 2,407,009 acr3-feet, is used to store and regulate the Rio Grande dow for irrigation. The Cat alio Dam, which will form a reservoir of 550,000 acre-feet capacity, is now under construction en the same river about 20 miles below Elephant Butte Dam for flood and silt control and irrigation and power purposes. The principal features of the project irrigation system include 7 diversion dams, 6 canal river erosings, 636 miles of canals and laterals, of which 15 miles are concrete hired, 465 mites of land drains (open), about 11,100 water control and ether structures in canals, laterals and drains, including 622 flumes with a combined length of about 7 miles, and 37 miles of telephone lines. Incidental to the construction of the L'ephant Butte Dam, gates and six pensteek connections were installed in the dam to prov.de for possible future power development. When the Caballo Dam is completed the generation of power at Liephant Butte, without waste of water diring the nonirrigation season, will be feasible and is contemplated.

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Operation and mar terance direct appropriation), $330,000. The system of works for the entire project is operated and maintained by the United States in accordance with contracts with the Elephant Batte irrigation district and F¦ Paso Courty improvement district no 1 which provide for attual payments by the two districts in the year following the year in which the service is rendered Annual appropriations from the reclamation fund are therefore

necessary.

Appropriations of $340,000 were available for each of the fiscal years 1936 and Expenditures during 1936 amounted to $334,064. An appropriation of 0000 for the fiscal year 1938 is requested.

eir crease of $10,000 is necessary for the cleaning of certain canals and 5s which is now urgent but which has been deferred for a number of years ...e of the economic conditions and the unexpected necessity for using availnds to repair various project features damaged by the Rio Grande flood late A part of the increase is also necessary for the replacement of many ber irrigation structures which have worn out and are no longer serviceable. sements are made with concrete.

I several years the maintenance of the system has been confined to the fea. mest urgently in need of immediate attention. Consequently many miles **e distribution and drainage systems have become inadequate for efficient ration and cultivated lands are being destroyed by seepage and ground-water achments. From 60 to 70 miles of drains should be cleaned each year to **** maintain the drainage system. During the past 3 years only 86 miles en cleaned. To restore the drainage system to such a condition that a rin and routine maintenance program from year to year will be adequate it e necessary to clean from 200 to 250 miles of drains during 1937 and 1938. ider to keep the irrigation-distribution system in proper operating condition 20 miles of canals and laterals should be cleaned each year. As in the the drainage system much of the work which should have been done on the arution system had to be deferred because of insufficient appropriations or necessity for using available funds for other urgent purposes in connection the operation and maintenance of the project.

OWYHEE PROJECT, OREGON

Mr SCRUGHAM. The next item is the Owyhee project, Oregon, for wich $75,000 is requested for the fiscal year 1938, the same amount 2- appropriated last year.

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Mr. PAGE. The justification in support of this item is as follows: Lee uption of project. -The Owyhee project is located on the west side of the River in eastern Oregon and western Idaho. Upon completion the project race a total irrigable area of approximately 106,000 acres, about 75 percent will be irrigated by gravity from the Owyhee River and the remainder pong from Snake River. The project has three principal divisions, namely, Iva: Ox Flat, the Mitchell Butte, and the Succor Creek divisions. Conr. Eas been in progress since 1926. The Owyhee Dam, on the Owyhee erent tig å reservoir of 715,000 acre-feet capacity; 10 tunnels with an aggreat of about 10 miles; the concrete and steel Malheur and Dead Ox siphons 1970-foot diameters, respectively, totaling 94 miles in length; and 2 pumpors have been completed. Other principal features constructed as of » 1936, include 322 miles of canals and laterals in which 3,888 water-control er structures are installed, 25 miles of telephone lines, and 29 miles of Care-transmission lines. During the calendar year 1935 about 4,900 acres were

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struction account, June 30, 1936.

EXPLANATION OF PROPOSED APPROPRIATION, 1938

October 1926.
October 1927.
April 1935.
106,000.
4,917.
$85,268.
$19.49.
$15,986,835.

ration and maintenance (direct appropriation), $75,000. The canal and lateral systems will be completed and water will be available a! lands on the project by the beginning of the fiscal year 1938. The one perg plant and distribution system to supply the four old districts in the es: Fiat division and the pumping plants for the Owyhee Ditch Co. and “ə Or tanio-Nysa irrigation district will also be completed, all of which will be Hrærated and maintained by the Government during the fiscal year 1938. During

1937 about 11,300 acres of the old private lands and 15,000 acres of new lands will be irrigated. Settlement and development are expected to progress so that 15,300 acres of old lands and 25,000 acres of new lands, or a total of 40,300 acres, will be irrigated during the fiscal year 1938. A public notice announcing the availability of additional public lands for homestead entry in the Dead Ox Flat division will be issued early in 1937.

A supplemental contract approved during August 1936 was entered into with nine irrigation districts of the project to effect unification of the operation of the pumping and gravity irrigation systems for the use and benefit of all lands. Under this contract a board of control made up of representatives of the respective districts will assume the operation and maintenance of the project after notice has been issued by the Secretary of the Interior that construction has been completed and that the irrigation system must be taken over by the board, with operation and maintenance charges to be uniform for new and old lands. The contract requires the United States to operate and maintain the project through the calendar year 1939.

The appropriation for the fiscal year 1936 was $75,000, of which $5,000 was transferred to the Riverton project; expenditures amounted to $23,765. For 1937, $75,000 is available. An appropriation of $75,000 is requested for the fiscal year 1938.

KLAMATH PROJECT, OREGON-CALIFORNIA

Mr. SCRUGHAM. The next item is the "Klamath project, OregonCalifornia," which is as follows:

Klamath project, Oregon-California: For operation and maintenance, $54,000: Provided, That revenues received from the lease of marginal lands, Tule Lake division, shall be available for refunds to the lessees in such cases where it becomes necessary to make refunds because of flooding or other reasons within the terms of such leases.

Mr. PAGE. The justification in support of this item is as follows: Description of project.-The Klamath project, located in southern Oregon and northern California, embraces an irrigable area of about 61,000 acres in its main and Tule Lake divisions of which 50,536 acres were irrigated during the calendar year 1935. Water was also furnished by the United States under special contracts for the irrigation of 36,925 acres in several other irrigation districts situated adjacent to the project system of works, including Tule Lake marginal lands leased for agricultural purposes. Other irrigable lands, particularly in the Tule Lake division, are available for expansion of the project, if and when necessary improvements are determined upon and authorized. Dams have been constructed to provide storage in upper Klamath Lake (capacity, 524,800 acre-feet) Clear Lake (capacity, 462,000 acre-feet) and Gerber Reservoir (capacity, 94,300 acre-feet) and five diversion dams are in use for regulating and diverting water into the canals. Other principal features of the project system of works include 428 miles of canals and laterals, about 400 miles of land drains, one canal tunnel 3,300 feet in length, about 5,000 water-control and other structures, including 375 flumes with a total length of 7.5 miles, in canals, laterals, and drains, 185 miles of telephone line, 12 miles of electrical transmission lines and about 18 miles of levees, together with eight pumping stations to protect lower lands from flooding. There are no power plants installed in connection with any of the works constructed by the United States.

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The following is a brief outline of facts pertaining to the two main divisions of the project:

Main division.-During the calendar year 1935, 215 miles of canals and laterals and 170 miles of drains were operated to irrigate 46,400 acres in the Klamath,

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