Memorandum Concerning Colorado River Basin States Meeting

Memorandum: To Stewart Udall, from Edward Weinberg, "Colorado River Basin States meeting, Los Angeles--Colorado River legislation," December 12, 1966, page 23. California (Ely). Three points underly California's position. (a) Protection for existing uses in the three States, with California receiving a priority as to 4.4 maf. (b) Realistic provisions for investigations of augmentation that would bring a minimum of 2.5 maf into the mainstream below Lee Ferry. (c) Maximum possible degree of funding for future imports or augmentation, i.e., authorization of "cash registers". California's Colorado River Board will meet on January 4, 1967, and if Colorado takes the position indicated by Sparks, the Colorado River Board will go along with it. 4. New Mexico (Reynolds). New Mexico believes it is premature to make a decision now on particulars of the legislation. New Mexico sees Title II (i.e., the investigations) as the principal problem. It urges that the position taken in this issue should reflect Senator Jackson's views as given in his speech at Antioch, California in the summer of 1965. That position must eliminate from the legislation all provisions premised on imports. This would involve, among other things, a complete reworking of Title II and some modification of the condition that lifts the California priority. As the bill now stands, the priority is lifted when the President proclaims that there are completed and in operation facilities capable of delivering annually 2.5 maf into the mainstream below the Ferry from outside sources. Reynolds believes that if properly defined in the light of Senator Jackson's Antioch speech, a feasibility study might prove acceptable to the Pacific Northwest. The issue is more one of definition of the study than of terminology, i.e., reconnaisance vs. feasibility. 5. Nevada (Head). Its position largely parallels New Mexicos. It is too soon to make concessions eliminating Marble and reducing Bridge without some indication that the conservation groups (Dave Brower excepted) would in turn cease their opposition to the legislation and some idea of what the 2Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 2,409,377 byte