Outline of Secretary's Letter Transmitting Report on Pacific Southwest Water Plan to the President

Document: Outline of Secretary's Letter Transmitting Report on Pacific Southwest Water Plan to the President, December 16, 1963 (photocopy), page 2In succeeding years the amount of water available for division will steadily decrease as the Upper Basin develops. Ultimately the shortage may be as much as 2.0 m.a.f. or more. By the year 2000 we estimate that, absent new developments to improve Pacific Southwest water supply, the overall deficiency to the region will be about 5.0 m.a.f. The alternative to meeting this deficiency is a stagnated growth and economy. III. Development of Pacific Southwest Water Plan In the decade following 1952, when Arizona instituted its suit against California, investigations to develop comprehensive water resource plans for the Pacific Southwest were not undertaken. No basic starting point for planning without Supreme Court decision--necessary assumptions for planning could have been interpreted as prejudging decision. As the Arizona v. California litigation drew to a close, the urgent need for a comprehensive water resources plan under which development of the water resources of the Pacific Southwest could proceed became evident. This was recognized in Aspinall letter of November 27, 1962. Any regional plan must be much more than a physical plan to develop water supply. It must recognize: The "Law of the River" The rights and aspirations of the States involved The rights and aspirations of areas within states The structure of water right law within states Existing and future economic patterns The needs of many functions including irrigation, M&I water supply, power, recreation, fish and wildlife, water quality, flood control and etc Congressional policies Financial requirements Local, State and regional interest and acceptance The Department of the Interior, through intensive effort developed the broad outlines of such a plan, recognizing the physical and institutional limitation governing, and transmitted it to States for review in August 1963. 2Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 1,468,402 byte