Letter Concerning Request for Report from the Bureau of the Budget

Letter: To Henry M. Jackson, from Elmer B. Staats, May 10, 1965 (photocopy), page 33 facilities which would be authorized as the Central Arizona Project. In addition, they would provide a source of funds for the Lower Colorado River Basin account to assist in irrigation repayment and possible additional works to be authorized in the future. The Bureau of the Budget does not believe it necessary to authorize both Bridge Canyon and Marble Canyon dams at this time. Instead, we believe that the Bridge Canyon Dam should be deferred for later consideration. The President has emphasized on many occasions the importance of preserving and enhancing natural beauty of this Nation, notably in "A Message on Natural Beauty of Our Country" transmitted to the Congress on February 8, 1965. Bridge Canyon Dam, as proposed in both bills, would be authorized at the normal high water surface elevation of 1,866 feet--designed and located to produce a maximum amount of power. At this elevation the reservoir would extend through the canyon section of the Grand Canyon National Monument and for a 13-mile stretch of the Grand Canyon National Park. It is recognized that the lake formed by the dam would provide access by water to an area which has been heretofore relatively inaccessible. Moreover, the Congress, in authorizing the Grand Canyon National Park in 1919, anticipated the possible need of balancing water development values and park preservation values at some future date. At the same time, there is no disagreement that the dam would alter the wilderness character of this part of the river. Deferral of a decision on Bridge Canyon Dam would enable the Federal Government to re-evaluate the scenic considerations involved--preferably by a group of outstanding citizens--and would make it possible to consider the dam from the standpoint of the need for additional power as well as revenues desired for the Lower Colorado River Basin account. 4. Priority of Water Use Section 304(a) of S. 1019 would grant California a priority for the use of 4.4 million acre-feet annually until such time as the President proclaims "that works had been completed and are in operation, capable in his judgment of delivering annually not less than two million five hundred thousand acre-feet of water into the mainstream of the Colorado River below Lee Ferry, from sources outside the natural drainage area of the Colorado River system."Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 2,250,185 byte