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April 5, 1963 MEMORANDUM FOR Honorable Stewart L. Udall Honorable Edwin M. Martin Honorable Jerome B. Wiesner SUBJECT: Colorado River Salinity Problem Following up on our meeting of April 2 on the Colorado River salinity problem, I would like to confirm the next steps that need to be taken in order to arrive at a solution. 1. The Bureau of the Budget will proceed to process a supplemental appropriation estimate for the construction of works in Phase I of the Bureau of Reclamation report. The concensus of our meeting was that these works would be needed to reduce salinity in the winter of 1963-4, regardless of the alternative that might be adopted for subsequent action beyond Phase I. There was no agreement on subsequent action, with the State Department taking the position that, while it agreed sub-stantially on the construction works for Phase I, it disagreed on the method of operation proposed by Reclamation which would increase salinity in the summer of 1964. Accordingly, in processing a supplemental estimate, the Bureau of the Budget will coordinate the views of Interior and State to assure that the estimate and justification relate only to that which has been agreed to and do not imply that other aspects of the Reclamation report have been accepted. In this connection, the two Departments will provide the Budget Bureau with a joint memorandum setting forth the agreed position on the supplemental estimate. 2. Dr. Wiesner will establish and head a technical study group to explore (a) additional steps that might be taken to reduce salinity in the winter of 1963-4, including the possibility of reduced pumping from Welton-Mohawk, (b) ways by whichEpson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 24 bit, 1,999,872 byte