Show UPPER COLORADO SURVEY IS S TERMED MOST VITAL reclamation chief brings out benefits to lo utah lands in in reply to senator kings questions on hearing for separate appropriation to complete work washington the proposed colorado river great basin project prefect was here as one of the most important which has appeared in connection with the gener general al survey of the colorado river basin this was the statement of commissioner john C the U S bureau ot of reclamation as he replied to questions ot of senator william H king of utah in a senate committee hearing on a bill to authorize tor for continuing investigation work the project itself itsek contemplates taking water from the upper colorado river basin and transporting it across the wasatch mountains to irrigable areas in valleys As an integral part of 0 the project suggested by the colorado river great basin water users association power also would be developed for utah industries mr pages testimony was given late in april of 0 interest to atall citizens are these highlights mr page As to the first point there has been a tentative allotment 0 of from rom the funds for or the general investigation of 0 reclamation projects allotted to this undertaking that of 0 course is expendable over the next two henrs and we have in mind at least meeting all the state funds which are available during the two year from the appropriations made available for general investigations under the reclamation law that is the reason why the department I 1 think reported adversely on this particular hill in that there Is sufficient focient legislative authority tor for appropriations to carry on this type of investigation senator king the department Is in favor of the investigation Is it not mr page this Is 13 one of the most important projects which have appeared in connection with the general survey of the colorado river basin authorized by the act and as such it certainly should be studied to the point where here we know the facts concerning it surveys in progress you perhaps remember that the net directed the bureau to prepare a summary or an inventory of the irrigation and power possibilities la in the colorado river basin that work has been going on tor for several years and as this Is a feature it should be studied in connection with the general summary actually the surveys are in progress and soil surveys in the vicinity of richfield and delta and other places in utah have been progressing quite rapidly in the territory which would be served by this proposed trans mountain diversion likewise there have been a number of studies made on the diversions from eight prospective sites on the green and yampa rivers at the origin of this aqueduct those include geographical geographic iI studies of various sites tor for tunnel construction so that actually the surveys are well initiated and in tact fact are making good progress the state through appropriation made available for or this project tor for the two year period rind we welcome the opportunity to meet state money because we obtain two dollars worth of 0 work with one dollars worth 0 of federal expense and we have the definite policy that wherever states make money available in that way they have a preferential status in the study of the projects in such state and for or that reason we contemplate carrying on as fast as it can be efficiently done with the funds which are available the project itself involves quite a comprehensive program the map illustrates what is proposed there is a pretty high pumping lift alft at the colorado river tor for storage and the generation of power from darns dams on the river and a trans mountain mou diversion at an altitude of 0 some feet permitting the water to go through power plants on the way down to the high class irrigable lands some of them are already irrigated in the th salt lake basin it involves recapturing recapturing recap a large part perhaps 50 per cent of 0 the power which Is not needed for or the original pumping and distributing it where settlement has hag been for a long period in progress and where very dizh agricultural production Is possible if ft an nd adequate equate water supply Is available As a matter ot of fact act utah la Is in a position where unless some such thing as this Is done it has pretty well reached the limits of its agricultural possibilities they have pretty well developed develon ed in utah all the irrigation possibilities and as a consequence those areas are in many cases over populated that is the holdings are too small for successful farming operations opera ions and only by augmenting their water supply and promoting the prodoc lion of 0 more intensive crops can they maintain their pres population and maintain their present economic prosperity careful investigation so that a project such as this whose benefits would be so widespread should be studied carefully because of the general benefit to the state of utah in stabilizing and augmenting their agricultural possibilities ties senator king in making these studies I 1 assume it will involve a study of the waters of the colorado river in any of bf the upper basin states including colorado mr page the general survey of the colorado river basin contemplates a careful investigation of nil all possibilities in the he colorado river basin and this is one of the major features which have appeared in the state of utah most of the others are of relatively small importance there are a few small projects in eastern utah but generally speaking the soil quality iu allty Is not such as to justify any large expenditure pend iture on them senator king your yogi demonstrated have they not that there are large areas of 0 ver very fine a agricultural land which would Is be served it if this chis project profet t were to go th mr page oh yes yea there is much more land in central and western utah than we can hope to get water tor for out of the colorado river senator king so that it if water were obtained for the lands to w which ich you have just referred homes could be made tor for a t large number of people mr page yes thousands of people As I 1 say the agricultural develop development ident of utah is about at its climax there ther e are not many places where water can be made available to improve the conditions senator king this appropriation which is being sought by this bill is necessary and would be tor for the advantage of at the upper basin states and would aid in determine ing just jub where power and irrigation projects are feasible rind and might be constructed mr I 1 page yes I 1 think that much in more ore than the amount specified in this bill is needed tor for that purpose in the upper basin states this is one parrot the general program which we holia hop to have adequately financed by appropriation under the tha general nut authority bority |