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MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT Subject: Colorado River Basin Project Background: The economy of the vast Colorado River Basin area involving all or parts of seven western States is dependent largely on the water supply of the Colorado River. The water demands of this rapidly growing economy will shortly exceed the water supply available in many sections. Last year the Administration supported legislation to provide a solution to the critical water resources problems involved. A bill was reported out of the House Interior and Insular Affairs Committee too late for floor consideration. Within the proposed solution a major question is proper use of the 253-mile stretch of the Colorado River from the headwaters of Hoover Dam's Lake Mead upstream to Glen Canyon Dam. The problem relates specifically to preservation of the entire 253-mile stretch of existing canyon and river in its virtually inaccessible virgin state versus use of a downstream 93-mile section by a dam and reservoir. The concerned agencies of this Department have reviewed the full range of natural resources involved. Based on this review, I have concluded that the highest public interest in this 253-mile stretch of the Colorado River would be served (1) by permanent dedication of the upper 160-mile reach to preservation of the river in its natural state and (2) by use of the lower 93-mile reach of the river for the last of the dams and reservoirs which have been planned for development purposes. This would be accomplished by Federal construction of the proposed Hualapai Dam and Reservoir on the Colorado River, together with related silt detention structures on the Paria and Little Colorado River tributary streams, and expansion of the Grand Canyon National Park upstream some 47 miles to include the scenic Marble Canyon section of the river. The downstream boundary of the National Park would be enlarged and adjusted to include the scenic Thunder Falls and Deer Creek areas, to encompass the existing Grand Canyon National Monument, and to extend the adjacent Lake Mead National Recreation Area to include that portion of the Hualapai Reservoir area not presently included in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area boundaries (40.3 river miles). All lands involved in the proposed enlargement of the Grand Canyon National Park-except 160 acres are publicly owned and thus would involve no acquisition costs. Basic to my conclusion is that under present circumstances the inner gorge of the Colorado River is available for use only to the very few. Except for the historic natural access at Lees Ferry and very limited access at two other points, the entire 253-mile stretch of the river is open solely to the relatively hardy and venturesome few who can afford to run the river with licensed boatmen at relatively high costs. In support of my conclusions are the following:Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 14,118,912 byte