(a) Improvement of conditions affecting the social and economic well-being of water users; (b) problems connected with water supply, storage, carriage, and delivery of water; (c) improvement of irrigation methods so as to secure a more ethcient and economical use of water; (d) examination of seepage conditions; crops; f) land classifications, and restorations of lands benefited by drainage; g excess holdings; (h) advice and direction to water users. One of the principal reasons for this readjustment in general administration is to protect and insure the repayment of the Government's investment in these Irrigation projects. The improvement of project social and economic conditions w bring results. The readjustment in organization is now functioning. An appropriation of $75,000 is requested for 1938. COLORADO RIVER FRONT WORK AND LEVEE SYSTEM Mr. SCRUGHAM. The next item is Colorado River front work and levee system, which is as follows: To defray the cost of operating and maintaining the Colorado River front work and levee system adjacent to the Yuma Federal irrigation project in Arizona ad California, subject only to section 4 of the Act entitled "An Act authorizing the construction, repair, and preservation of certain public works on rivers and tartors, and for other purposes", approved January 21, 1927 (44 Stat., p. 1010), $25,000, together with the unexpended balance of the appropriation for the fiscal year 1937. Mr. PAGE. The justification in support of this item is as follows: The appropriation requested is to provide for the maintenance of 43 miles of levees constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation to protect the lands and irriEst-on works of the Yuma irrigation project from the flood waters of the Colorado a1 Gila Rivers. Approximately $10,000,000 has been expended from the reclamation fund for the construction of irrigation, drainage, and flood protection works for that project, of which $2,730,000 has been for the levee system. Section 4 of the act of January 21, 1927, authorizes an appropriation of not to exceed $700 000 annually from the general fund of the Treasury for the maintenance of vee system. The completion of Boulder Dam has decreased materially the est of maintaining these levees. During the fiscal year 1936, $33,028 was ended. For the fiscal year 1937, the unexpended balances from prior year's arpropriations, amounting to $43,447, is available. For the fiscal year 1938 an appropriation of $25,000, plus any unexpended Faatre from 1937, is requested. Although Boulder Damn controls the floods from the upper Colorado River, floods still occur on the watersheds of the Gila ai Big Williams Rivers which flow into the Colorado between Boulder Dam and 1- Yuma project lands. The Bureau must be prepared to meet flood conditions en they exist. CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM Mr SCRUGHAM. We now come to the construction program. The text item in the bill is as follows: 1 Constriction: For continuation of construction of the following projects in not tree; the following amounts, respectively, to be expended in the same manner :for the same objects of expenditure as specified for projects included in the Department Appropriation Act for the fiscal year 1938 under the caption sau of Reclamation" and to be reimbursable under the reclamation law: 6 at reject, Arizona. Ever project, Arizona $1,250,000 500, 000 500, 000 1, 000, 000 300, 000 200,000 125,000 500, 000 130, 000 250,000 For administrative expenses on account of the above projects, including personal services and other expenses in the District of Columbia and in the field, $750,000, in addition to and for the same objects of expenditure as enumerated in paragraphs 2 and 3 under the caption "Bureau of Reclamation"; in all, $9,665,000, to be immediately available: Provided, That of this amount not to exceed $75,000 may be expended for personal services in the District of Columbia: Provided further, That the unexpended balances of the amounts appropriated from the reclamation fund, special fund, under the caption "Bureau of Reclamation -Construction" in the Interior Department Appropriation Act, fiscal year 1937, shall remain available for the same purposes for the fiscal year 1938. GILA PROJECT, ARIZONA Mr. SCRUGHAM. The first item is for the Gila project. Appropriation requested for fiscal year 1938: Reclamation fund $1,250,000 Emergency relief allocation (1935 act)............... Reclamation fund, fiscal year 1937 Amount necessary to complete after fiscal year 1938.. Estimated cost, first unit.. 1, 800, 000 1,250 000 16, 200, 000 20, 300, 000 Location. Lands of the Gila project are located in Yuma County, Ariz., exterdig easterly from the Colorado River near Yuma for about 80 miles and south of Yuma to the Mexican border. Approximately 585,000 acres of irrigable lands are included in the project, of which 150,000 acres of land will be irrigated under the first unit. This first unit contains 139,000 acres of land in the Yuma Desert and 11,000 acres of bottom lands near the mouth of the Gila River. In the Yuma Desert, 123,000 acres are Gover: ment lands, 10,000 acres belong to the State of Arizona, and 6,000 acres are privately owned. Most of the bottom lands are privately owned. Water for irrigation will be obtained from the Colorado River. Purpose. The project comprises the only large body of land in the State of Arizona, other than the Colorado River Indian project of 90,000 acres, that is susceptible to reclamation by the waters of the Colorado River at a reasot-able cost. Of additional importance is the fact that this development will establish rights within the United States to the waters of an international stream which might otherwise be lost to this country. The project has a climate with an all year round growing season, the lands being frost free throughout the year and well adapted to the growing of winter fruits and vegetables and semitropical crops. Transportation facilities are good, as the project lands are traversed by the main line of the Southern Pacific Railway and by United States Highway 80 Description - The plan of reclamation is to divert water from the Colora lo River at the cast end of the Imperial diversion dam and convey it to the southeast around the Lagura Monta ts and across the Gila River to a point near Blaisdell, from where it will be pumped to different contours or units. Principal features of the project are briefly described in the following paragraphs. Desilting works and Gravity. Main Canal to station 30 are built as a part of Imperial Dam now being constructed in connection with the All-American Canal rect Imperial Dam will divert water from the Colorado River for both the -American Canal in California and the main canal of the Gila project in Arizona. The gravity main canal will have an initial capacity of approximately 1,900 e.he feet per second and may be enlarged in the future to 6,000 cubic feet per d. At wash crossings and in rock open cuts, the canal section has been Eade sufficiently large for its ultimate capacity. The length of the canal is "early 18 miles. Included in its principal structures are two tunnels through the westerly extension of the Laguna Mountains and a siphon beneath the Gila Ever. A pumping plant will take water from the end of the gravity Main Canal and tit by electrically driven pumps to the Mesa lands. Three lifts are proposed - the first unit of approximately 84, 134, and 184 feet. It is planned that the wer lift will be constructed first, and construction of the higher lifts deferred .::1 the lands under the lower lift are developed. The distribution system will consist of distributing canals, miscellaneous struct., and a network of laterals. The power house base at Parker Dam (now being built by the Bureau of Reclastor for the metropolitan water district of southern California) is proposed to contructed as a part of the Gila project. Under the provisions of an agreerent executed between the United States and the metropolitan water district, the Government is entitled to a proportionate share of the power which can be deseped at Parker Dam. The Government's share of this power will be used in teve opag the Gila project. In order to avoid the future heavy expense of ain cofferdamming and unwatering the site for the foundation at the power se, the foundations will be built at the time the dam itself is constructed and the river is diverted for that purpose. This plan will result in a material saving A transmission line will be erected from Parker Dam to the pumping *a*, a distance of approximately 118 miles. Estimated cost and funds available.-The cost of the first unit of the project is ettuated to be $20,500,000. A“, ritual allotment of $2,000,000 from Emergency Relief Appropriation funds - made available on September 26, 1935, for starting construction of the project. is amount was later reduced to $1,800,000. An appropriation of $1,250,000 the Reclamation fund was provided in the Interior appropriation bill for flemeryment.---Construction costs are estimated to be $134 per acre for the sa lands and $74 per acre for the lower Gila lands. These costs are to be repaid to the Government in 40 years without interest, requiring average per annum stments of $3.35 per acre for the mesa lands and $1.85 per acre for the lower a lands. The annual operation and maintenance costs of the first unit are „sted to be $4.71 per acre. It is believed that the payments may be made tinde burden, as the crops to be raised on the lands are similar to those Salt River project, where the average annual crop value is now approxi$57 per acre and in many years has exceeded $100 per acre. action in progress.-Construction is in progress on the Imperial Dam g works, Gravity Main Canal, and the two tunnels. On January 1, 1937, being built as a part of the All-American Canal) was approximately 50 completed, the desilting works 10 percent, the Gravity Main Canal 20 tand the tunnels 10 percent. Money now available is being used for the ark in progress, and in addition will pay for the power-house base at Parker . for approximately 90 percent of the cost of the transmission line from arver Dam to the pumping plant, and for commencing the surveys of the irrigare Car, 1s which will form the basis for the distribution system plans. sxtraction proposed for the fiscal year 1938.-An appropriation of $1,250,000 ***, Jested for the fiscal year 1938 to be used to complete the desilting works and ity Main Canal to station 30, continue work on the Gravity Main Canal fem station 30 to the pumping plant, continue the driving and lining of the two Deis, commence construction of the Gila River crossing, complete the transon line from Parker Dam to the pumping plant, and complete the surveys be the distribution system. Gila project, Arizona-Estimated costs, available funds, and estimate for 1938 EFFECT OF REDUCTION IN ESTIMATE REQUESTED OF BUDGET FOR GILA PROJECTS Mr. LEAVY. You have the Gila project and the Salt River project. You are asking for the fiscal year 1938 $1,250,000 for the Gila River project, and for the Salt River project $500,000. What did you submit to the Budget on those projects? Mr. PAGE. $2,500,000 for the Gila project, and $500,000 for the Salt River project. On the Salt River project it is also planned to receive $500,000 through the Indian Office because of their participation in the benefits from that project. Mr. LEAVY. What effect will the reduction from $2,500,000 to $1,250,000 have on your operations on the Gila project? Mr. PAGE. Well, it reduces the rate of progress materially. The Gila project will cost $20,500,000. Naturally, at the rate of $1,250,000 a year, it will take about 15 to 16 years to complete it, whereas, with a greater expenditure it will be completed in correspondingly less time. It is of no value until it is completed. LOSS INCIDENT TO DELAYING COMPLETION Mr. LEAVY. Will it result in any loss by reason of the termination of a part of the work, that is, the discontinuance of a part of the work? That is, will it result in the loss of equipment and the use of the new temporary homes that are built for the purpose of constructing the project? Mr. PAGE. It will be difficult for us to say definitely as to that. On the other hand, the contractors are there on the ground now, and when they complete their contracts, unless there is other work for them to do, they and their organizations must be disbanded. Mr. LEAVY. This is largely canal work? Mr. PAGE. Yes. Mr. LEAVY. This has to do with the All-American Canal? Mr. PAGE. No; it is across the river from the All-American Canal. Imperial Dam will divert water for both the All-American Canal, and the Gila project, but the Gila project is wholly in Arizona, while the All-American Canal is in California. Mr. LEAVY. Does this Gila project involve hydroelectric develop ment? Mr. PAGE. No; it does not. Some part of the Gila money must be used in the construction of a power plant at Parker Dam, 150 miles north of Imperial Dam, in order to obtain power for pumping water for some of the lands of the Gila project. To that extent, only, does it involve power development. Mr. LEAVY. And the power that would be used in the pumping would be for the development of a reclamation project? Mr. PAGE. That is right. Mr. RICH. I was interested on the train yesterday in going over these projects. For instance, the Gila project in Arizona, the first unit. That is to cost $20,500,000? Mr. PAGE. Yes, sir. Mr. RICH. You have received from the reclamation fund $1,250,000 and from Public Works $68,000, and from the Emergency Relief allotment $1,800,000? Mr. PAGE. Yes, sir. Mr. RICH. You are going to develop 150,000 acres. At the present time you have only 11,000. In other words, you are going to increase the acreage there by 139,000 in new land? Mr. PAGE. That is right. Mr. RICH. You are supplying a population now of 7,300 people. Do you figure that that will be the population that will be served by the project? Mr. PAGE. Oh, no. That is the local population at present. There is absolutely nobody living on the 139,000 acres. It is entirely desert, and almost entirely public lands. Mr. RICH. Then the population that will be served will depend on whom you will bring in in the future? Mr. PAGE. And upon the size of the farms and the methods or cultivation which you use. Mr. RICH. I thought that there must be something wrong with that, because in figuring the 20 millions and a half and dividing it by the number of people, it costs over $3,000 a head for this development, and I could not understand why anybody would want to do a thing of that kind. Mr. PAGE. Oh, no. No one would advocate that. SALT RIVER PROJECT, ARIZONA Mr. SCRUGHAM. The next construction item is the Salt River project, for which $500,000 is included. Mr. PAGE. I submit the following justification: Appropriation requested for fiscal year 1938: Office of Indian Affairs.. Funds available: Public Works allotment.. Emergency Relief allocation (1935 act). Reclamation fund, fiscal year 1937... Amount necessary to complete: After fiscal year 1938. Estimated cost__ $500,000 500, 000 200, 000 3, 500, 000 1, 500, 000 694, 000 6, 894, 000 139751-37- pt. 1- -15 |