Letter Discussing "Arizona v. California"

Cover letter: From Stewart Udall, to Congressman Wayne N. Aspinall, Chairman on Interior and Insular Affairs, from Stewart Udall, January 18, 1963, page 2All of the potential projects and undertakings involved in the foregoing investigations must be regarded as integral components of a comprehensive Pacific Southwest water supply program, if an effective long-range coordinated plan for solution of the Pacific Southwest's water and related power needs is to be achieved. Such a solution, as you point out, is most urgently needed. It cannot be too forcefully emphasized that, whatever the outcome of Arizona v. California, the water of the Colorado River available to the lower Colorado River Basin is inadequate to the area's needs and that the only effective solution to its water problem lies in developing additional supplies while at the same time increasing efficiency in the utilization of existing in-basin water sources. What is outlined in Attachment A is a coordinated comprehensive plan involving long-range program which would be consummated in an orderly, step-by-step fashion geared to meet the Pacific Southwest's water needscas those needs accrue. Obviously, not all facets of this plan will be instituted immediately, but it is essential that as each project is developed and undertaken it be related to execution of the over-all plan. There should be an early start on the Bridge Canyon and Marble Canyon Units and on the undertakings that will utilize to the fullest practical extent the available in-basin water resources. At the same time, planning and investigation should be initiated on the longer range aspects of the program. A serious threat to the realization of a comprehensive resolution of the lower Colorado River Basin's water resource problems is posed by current proposals to undertake isolated construction of important hydroelectric possibilities on the lower Colorado. It has been consistent national policy, evidenced by legislation dealing with the Colorado River, that the hydroelectric power resources of the Colorado be developed as regional resources, to be authorized and undertaken as component parts of a comprehensive program. If this policy is to be adhered to and we consider it not only sound but the only practicable policy that can get the job done, the hydroelectric power potentials of the lower Colorado River basin, such as Bridge Canyon and Marble Canyon, must not be taken out of the program. 2Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 1,154,181 byte