Statement of U.S. Senator Thomas H. Kuchel

Document: Statement of Senator Thomas Kuchel on H.R. 3300, March 13, 1967, page 3-3- used to slake its people's thirst, if the area of origin were first carefully protected? The Northwest California streams, and the mighty Columbia river system, the possibilities of desalting sea water, all should be inventoried with the utmost care, for each one of them will help sustain Americans in future times. There is an impending water shortage in the Colorado River Basin. It is not imaginary. It is very real. And no amount of investigation or delay will make it go away. (2) We insist on adequate protection for the states and areas of origin of water exported to the Colorado, including full protection of the priorities of those areas, in perpetuity. California may well be such an area of origin. The Columbia Basin, if that is the area of origin, requires the same protection. (3) We ask recognition of the Mexican Treaty burden as a national obligation, and that an appropriate share of the cost of importing water be allocated to the performance of that Treaty. The Budget Bureau agreed to this principle in the 89th Congress. We agree with the Upper Basin States that whenever importations into the river system are accomplished to the extent of 2.5 million acre-feet annually, both basins should be relieved of the danger of curtailment of their own uses to perform the Nation's treaty obligations to Mexico. The 2.5 million acre-feet includes 1.5 million acre-feet of water which must be delivered to Mexico at the border, and 1 million acre-feet of losses between Lee Ferry and the border. (4) We agree on the necessity of balancing the operation of Lake Mead and Lake Powell, so that the benefits of wet years and the burdens of drought shall be equitably distributed betweenEpson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 1,032,195 byte