Show E. E C. C La Rue Eminent Engineer Talks on Colorado River Storage I I E E. CLa C. C La Rue hydraulic engineer for the United United States States geological survey survey sur sur- vey and one of he engineering engineering- authorities authorities authorities au au- on the Colorado river which he has studied for many years rears was the principal speaker at ata a meeting of engineers In Salt SaIt L Lass Lake Il The meeting was under the auspices of the Utah section of the American Society of Civil Engineers and Mr La Rues Rue's talk was Illustrated by lantern slides Talks were also given gIven en by by W. W M. M Green engineer for Cor the United States reclamation service in Idaho There are a number of Important Irrigation storage and water power projects in ill the upper Colorado river iver basin in Wyoming Utah and Colorado Colorado Colorado Colo Colo- rado said Mr La Rue In that part of the basin above the Utah-Arizona Utah boundary which contributes about 92 per cent of the water that passes Yuma Ariz ap- ap acres lOa may be irrigated ultimately while below belo this point about acres may maybe maybe maybe be Irrigated l Flood lood Control Need Conceded During the last ye year r considerable publicity has been given to a plan which calls for the prevention o of floods on the lower river the regulation regulation regulation reg reg- of the flow to conform to the demand for Irrigation and the development development development de de- of a large amount of power This plan of ot development calls caUs for the utilization of a storage r reservoir ser lr site situated sl below the below the Grand Canyon to cost and the construction of oC additional Irrigation works In Imperial valley Cal at a cost of all factions factions factions fac fac- I believe that practically in both the upper and lower basins of the Colorado agree that the Irrigation interests on the lower river rIver river riv rIv- er should receive relief from the flood menace at the earliest possible date There is also general agreement agreement agreement agree agree- ment to the that Irrigation development development development de de- on the lower river should not be increased appreciably until the low water flow has been increased ed b by storage I Cost Should be Distributed The Tho cost of storage works which will provide protection from floods on the lower Colorado has been various variously variously vari vari- ous y estimated at to The irrigation interests interests interests inter inter- ests on the lower river cannot nor should they be expected to pay the full lull cost of the flood control works It seems reasonable to believe that the cost of the storage works may maybe maybe maybe be borne b by those who utilize the power which can be developed in connection with the storage damIn dam In tact it has been recommended that the entire cost of the storage dam be charged to the power consumers con con- sumers There are ninny many factions Interested Interest interest- ed in the he development of the water resources o of the Colorado river basin ba ba- ba- ba sin Unfortunately no plan for the development of the lower river has hasas hasas hasas as yet been presented which meets with the approval of all interested parties Utah Arizona Border Divides OH on zona The Utah-Arizona Utah boundary ma may maybe maybe be taken as the th dividing line between the upper and lower basins of the Colorado In planning the development development development develop develop- ment on the lower river which calls for Cor the expenditure of ot millions of dollars all projects below the Utah- Utah Arizona boundary should be consid consid- ered Section 7 of the federal water water water wat wat- er power act of oC June 10 LO 1920 contains contains con con- talus the following statements The commission may ma- give Sive preference preference prefer prefer- ence to the applicant the 1 paus ian taus cf jf which it finds and determines are re best adapted to develop conserve and utilize in the public int interest the navigation and water resources of oC the region Considering tho Colorado river proper below the Utah Arizona boundary should be considered Sec- Sec th thu n 7 j 0 of the tho federal I power ct of oC Juno June 10 1920 contains the thE- following following fol fol- fol- fol lowing statement The may mar give preference to tie f applicant the planS plan plans plans-df which It finds Onda and determines determines determines de de- are best adapted to to den develop op cot conserve sene and aIH utilize In the public Interest Interest- the navigation Uon and anti water realer resources of or the region Considering g the Colot Colorado dO river rl proper below the na boundary the water resources of the tho region ma may bo ho expressed In terms of the benefits to be le e derived through this thIs' section of or the river The plan of development which is Js best adapted Adap CI to develop 9 ns rye e 1 y i Jn n the h public interest rest est the th e- e w t r resources resources so os of the is I that plan which will Jiro- Jiro reg region on tI j- j vide flood protection for fol Irrigation Interests on the lower river whose properties are valued at more than the irrigation of more than acres of ot land and the development of or about horsepower It is m my opinion that every legitimate legitimate mate effort should be made by br all in interested interested interested in- in parties to bring about the development of suitable flood control works on the lower river at the earliest possible date I feel that the use of unfair methods and the suppression of facts can only work to delay development No doubt a majority of the people favor Cavor government government government govern govern- ment construction and government operation of oC the storage works I HI want to see the construction work York started at an earl early date date and it seems to me thatto bring this about it will be necessary for the federal government working in operation co-operation with all interested parties to prepare report based on detailed engineering data showing definitely the most economical plan of development d that will wUl best cons conserve in the public interest in interest interest in- in terest the water resources of tho Colorado river below the Utah- Utah Arizona boundary Certain interests are backing the plan which calls for the con- con of the first storage dam below the Grand Gland There Canyon Canon are others who feel that the first storage storage storage stor stor- age dam should be built immediately immediate immediate- ly 1 above the Grand Canyon where greater storage capacity can be provided provided provided pro pro- vided for a given height ight of dam furnishing flood protection to the lower river the regulation of the flow Bow to conform to the demand for Irrigation and In addition provide pro pro- rtH vide for the maximum development of at power at a minimum cost um cost at a site in the Grand Canyon Other factions factions factions fac fac- fac- fac claim that more than 1000 acres of ot land ma may b be irrigated in Arizona from the waters of the Colorado It is said that large areas of or this land are suitable for the growing of oranges and grapefruit making it possible for Cor these areas to stand a high charge for the construction construction construction con con- of an Irrigation system The feasibility of these suggested irrigation developments as well as the feasibility of oC storage Immediately Immediate immediate- ly above the Grand Canyon with power development below should be determined by field investigation It may be said that thatto to wait for the results results results re re- of such field studies will delay development t. t It is is' is IDY my opinion pInion however however how how- ever that it will exp expedite dite construction construction construe construe- tion of or th these se iI investigations are made available to th the p public lic 0 o |