Construction: Garrison Reservoir, multiple purpose- Lower Heart River, vicinity of Mandan, flood protection.... Red River of the North, Minn. and N. Dak., flood protection____ Investigations and surveys: James River, N. Dak. and S. Dak., flood control. Missouri River, N. Dak., S. Dak., and Neb., navigation (slack 15, 200 10,000 Souris River, at and near Minot, N. Dak., flood control. In addition, we would appreciate having about $15,000 appropriated for initiating a survey of the Green River in western North Dakota, for flood control, water supply, and other purposes. This is the amount we are advised will be required for next year for this work. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to make this presentation and thank each of you, gentlemen, for hearing me. RESOLUTION-ADOPTED MARCH 25, 1960, BY THE NORTH DAKOTA STATE WATER CONSERVATION COMMISSION IN SUPPORT OF THE BUDGET ESTIMATE FOR THE GARRISON DIVERSION UNIT FOR FISCAL 1961 Whereas the North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission, shortly after its creation in 1937, caused studies to be made pertaining to the feasibility of an historic proposal to divert waters of the Missouri River to eastern parts of North Dakota for multiple uses, and since that time has invested over $2 million for studies and investigations on the proposed Garrison diversion project; and Whereas, such diversion of Missouri River waters was authorized by Congress as a part of the Missouri River Basin project in the Flood Control Act of 1944; and Whereas the Bureau of Reclamation has thoroughly investigated the Garrison diversion unit and found it to be economically sound with satisfactory benefit to cost ratio; and Whereas such studies have encouraged citizens of North Dakota to contribute to the overall Missouri River Basin project in excess of any other State in the basin; and Whereas irrigation districts have been established in central and eastern sections of North Dakota comprising 316,000 acres of irrigable lands, in reliance of approval of the Garrison diversion project, thereby displaying the deep interest in and support of the North Dakota farmers for the proposed diversion of waters of the Missouri River: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the State Water Conservation Commission in a regular meeting on March 25, 1960, in the city of Bismarck, N.Dak., That it support a budget estimate of $450,000 for the Bureau of Reclamation and urges Congress to appropriate this amount for conducting necessary additional surveys and investigations on said project for the fiscal year 1961; and be it further Resolved, That copies of this resolution be forwarded by Governor John E. Davis, chairman, State water conservation commission, to Hon. Clarence Cannon, chairman, House Committee on Appropriations; Hon. Carl Hayden, chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations; Senators Milton R. Young and Norman Brunsdale Representatives Quentin N. Burdick and Don L. Short; and the Honorable Floyd Dominy, Commissioner of Bureau of Reclamation, Department of Interior. RESOLUTION OF MISSOURI RIVER STATES COMMITTEE REAFFIRMING ITS SUPPORT OF THE MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT Resolved by the Missouri River States Committee at a meeting in Des Moines, Iowa, on January 23, 1958, That it reaffirms its belief in and support of the Missouri River Basin project as approved and authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1944, and as planned and programed by the affected States and interested Federal agencies, and the committee does declare that the best interests of the entire basin are dependent upon and can best be served by the early and development of the basin's water resources for domestic, municipal, and ́ trial needs, abatement of stream pollution, storage and use of water for tion and other agricultural purposes, navigation, generation of hydro power, propagation of fish and wildlife, and the enhancement of recre opportunities: That the committee encourages the unity and cooperative of all groups and interests in the basin for the achievement of the total pr GARRISON DIVERSION UNIT STATEMENT OF MR. BILL LONG Mr. BURDICK. I would now like to introduce Mr. Bill Long Upham, N. Dak., a farmer and president of the North Dakota Ï tion District Directors' Association. Mr. LONG. Mr. chairman and members of the committee, I an Long. I own and operate a farm near Upham, N. Dak., which tains 236 acres of irrigable land that will be served under the Gar diversion unit. My irrigable land is part of the 86,000 acre Mi Souris Irrigation District. I serve as a director of the board of tors of that district and also am the president of the North D Irrigation District Directors' Association. I appear before your mittee today in behalf of the seven irrigation districts that have organized in the Garrison diversion unit to support the appropri estimate of $450,000 to the Bureau of Reclamation to continue detailed investigation and planning program of the irrigable lan the Garrison diversion unit area during fiscal year 1961. The Garrison diversion unit has always had the strong suppo North Dakota farmers as well as citizens of our cities and to Because the economy of our State is based almost entirely on agi ture, all of our citizens realize that the stabilization of our ag tural economy through resources development will benefit not the farmer but our urban population as well. They see the opp nity for a more stable agricultural economy through the develop of irrigation under the Garrison diversion project. Many of the older citizens of our State have vivid memories o disastrous effects of drought on our economy. This memory wa freshed last year when severe drought conditions existed throug about two-thirds of our State, including a large section of the G son diversion project area. Our rainfall in this large section of State, which even at normal must be timely to provide sufficient ture for a good crop, was from 3 to 7 inches below normal. As sult, crop production in this area was severely reduced and our farm income was reduced by approximately 20 percent. The effects of our 1959 drought are now being felt by many of farmers in that the scanty hay supplies that they were able to p last summer have now been depleted and they must buy hay from of-state sources at very high prices. There are many farmers are presently paying over $30 per ton for poor quality hay in ord have a feed supply to maintain their livestock herds. Irrigatio is possible under the Garrison diversion project would have e nated this problem in a large area of the State. North Dakota's farmers face many other problems that grow serious each year. Most urgent is the ever-recurring need to se more farmland for each farm if the farmer's operation is to be dent and successful. The only answer to this problem is to reduce the sumber of farms, thereby reducing the opportunities in our State for ar sons and daughters to make their living at home. Our dry land arming economy is based primarily on the production of wheat and all grain crops. The surpluses of these crops, particularly wheat pointed out the need to change the pattern of our farming operato the production of nonsurplus crops. Irrigation can greatly asst North Dakota's farmers in making this change because it will permit us to readily adapt our farming operations to a livestock conomy. The extensive and scattered areas of land that will be irrigated under the Garrison diversion unit will be integrated with adjacent dry land, thereby stabilizing the farm economy of a large area of the State. Our farmers who will be irrigating under the Garrison diversion project are anxious to proceed with its development without delay and sincerely request your continued support for this project. In behalf of all of the irrigation districts in the Garrison diversion Tit area and the farmers who own irrigable land contained in those districts, as well as the other farmers who own irrigable land that is Et presently included in irrigation districts, we urge this committee's pproval of the budget estimate of $450,000 for continuing the invesgations and planning of the Garrison diversion unit. I should like have included as a part of my statement, resolutions adopted by the boards of directors of the Dickey-Sargent, Warwick-MeVille, Karlsruhe, Middle-Souris and James River Irrigation Districts supporting an appropriation of this amount for the Garrison diversion. unit investigations. Thank you. RESOLUTION Adopted by the boards of directors of the Karlsruhe and Middle-Souris Irriat Districts supporting the Investigation Appropriation to the Bureau of Reclamation for the Garrison Diversion Unit Teras the Karlsruhe and Middle-Souris Irrigation Districts together contain it 113,000 acres of irrigable land that will be served under the Garrison diversion unit which are presently being investigated in detail by the Bureau of Reclamation to provide a firm basis for contract negotiations and construction of project facilities; and Whereas the farmers owning irrigable land in the Karlsruhe and Middleris Irrigation Districts strongly support the development of irrigation and anxiously looking forward to the start of construction of the Garrison diverproject; and Whereas the Bureau of Reclamation's detailed investigation program for year 1961 of the lands in the Garrison diversion unit at the rate of $550000 a year is proposed in the President's budget for the Garrison diversion now, therefore, be it Resolved by the boards of directors of the Karlsruhe and Middle-Souris Irrifon Districts, duly convened in joint meeting this 22nd day of March, 1960, at Granville, North Dakota, That these boards urge Congress to approve the appropriation requested for the Garrison diversion unit as set forth in the President's get so that the investigation of the project can continue at an orderly rate that detail information can be available for contract negotiations and any elay in the project development can be avoided; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to Hon. Clarence Cannon, chairman, House Committee on Appropriations; Hon. Carl Hayden, hairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations; Senators Milton R. Young and Norman Brunsdale; and Representatives Don L. Short and Quentin N. Burdick. RESOLUTION Adopted by the board of directors of the Warwick-McVille Irrigation District supporting the appropriation of funds to the Bureau of Reclamation for the Garrison diversion unit investigations Whereas the 48,000 acres of irrigable land that are included in the WarwickMcVille Irrigation District are presently being investigated by the Bureau of Reclamation to provide detailed information on which repayment contracts can be negotiated and definite plans for construction of irrigation works completed; and Whereas the Bureau of Reclamation's investigation program has been geared to a rate that will provide the needed information from these detailed surveys to permit the start of construction of the project facilities in 1963; and Whereas, the President's budget included an item of $450,000 to finance the investigation program of the Bureau of Reclamation on the Garrison diversion unit during fiscal year 1961; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the board of directors of the Warwick-McVille Irrigation District in meeting duly assembled this 11th day of February, 1960, that the Congress of the United States is requested to approve the budget estimate of the President for $450,000 for the investigations of the Garrison diversion unit so that this essential work can continue to completion without delay; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to Hon. Clarence Cannon, chairman, House Committee on Appropriations; Hon. Carl Hayden, chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations; Senators Milton R. Young and Norman Brunsdale; and Representatives Don L. Short and Quentin N. Burdick. RESOLUTION Adopted by the board of directors of the James River Irrigation District supporting the appropriation of funds to the Bureau of Reclamation for the Garrison diversion unit investigations Whereas the James River Irrigation District, which contains approximately 13,000 acres of irrigable land along the James River that will be served by the Garrison diversion unit, is presently included in the Bureau of Reclamation's detailed investigation program to determine the exact location of the irrigable lands that will be irrigated; and Whereas the budget presented to Congress by the President proposes the to proceed with the development of irrigation of their lands and recognize that before such irrigation development can take place they will have to negotiate repayment contracts for such irrigation facilities; and Whereas it is essential that the information from the detailed surveys be available in order to provide a firm basis for negotiating said repayment contracts; and Whereas, the budget presented to Congress by the President proposes the appropriation of $450,000 to the Bureau of Reclamation to continue the detailed invstigations on the Garrison diversion unit: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the board of directors of the James River Irrigation District in meeting duly assembled in LaMoure, N. Dak, this 11th day of March, 1960, That this board urges Congress to approve the appropriation of $450,000 to the Bureau of Reclamation to continue the investigational work on the Garrison diversion unit for fiscal year 1961; and be it further Resolved, That copies hereof be forwarded to the Honorable Clarence Cannon, chairman, House Committee on Appropriations; Hon. Carl Hayden, chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations; Senators Milton R. Young and Norman Brunsdale; and Representatives Don L. Short and Quentin N. Burdick. RESOLUTION Adopted by the board of directors of the Dickey-Sargent Irrigation District supporting the investigation appropriation to the Bureau of Reclamation for the Garrison diversion unit Whereas the Dickey-Sargent Irrigation District, comprising 47,000 acres of irrigable land in Dickey and Sargent Counties in North Dakota that will be one of the first irrigation districts served in the Garrison diversion unit, and is rectly concerned with and affected by the investigation program of the Bureau Reclamation; and Whereas the farmers in the Dickey-Sargent Irrigation District who own irrile land and will be directly concerned with the development of this project, well as many other people of the area and the State who will benefit there are eagerly looking forward to the early development of the project; and Thereas the Congress of the United States has under consideration the report recommendations on the Garrison diversion unit of the Department of rior and comments of the Bureau of the Budget proposing that the initial et development should provide for the irrigation of 250,000 acres of land; Whereas the President's budget proposes the appropriation of $450,000 to the Bureau of Reclamation for continuing the investigations of the Garrison diverit so as to provide the detailed information needed before repayment tracts are negotiated and project construction undertaken: Now, therefore, Red by the board of directors of the Dickey-Sargent Irrigation District in esting duly assembled at Cogswell, N. Dak., this 11th day of March, 1960, That this board urges the congress of the United States to appropriate $450,000 for continuing the detail investigations of the Garrison diversion unit in North Daka by the Bureau of Reclamation so that sufficient detailed planning for this important project can be completed and available in time to permit the start of traction by the scheduled date of 1963; and be it further Bed, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Honorable e Cannon, chairman, House Committee on Appropriations; Hon. Carl Hyde, chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations; Senators Milton R. ong and Norman Brunsdale; and Representatives Don L. Short and Quentin X. Burdick Mr. BURDICK. Mr. Chairman, I would like next to present Mrs. Daphna Nygaard, Jamestown, member of the Governor's Coordiating Committee on the Garrison Diversion Unit. STATEMENT OF MRS. DAPHNA NYGAARD Mrs. NYGAARD. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, my me is Daphna Nygaard and my home is in Jamestown, N. Dak., the very heart of the proposed Garrison diversion unit. I am a member of the Governor's Coordinating Committee on the Garrison Diversion Unit, and have been interested in the development of the State's water resources for the past 25 years. Until the construction of the few water projects we have in North Dakota during the past 10 years, our people had to travel long disces to visit recreational areas. Only a few had the time and money make such trips. Now the opportunity to enjoy the limited recreafacilities provided at these projects is available to most of our people. But, before long, there will not be nearly enough of these areas to the demands and requirements, and they will soon be overtaxed. hmore leisure for greatly increasing numbers seeking outdoor asures, the need for developing more recreational areas will soon here. It must be met by early planning and development of jusable water projects where recreational benefits will also accrue. rth Dakota has a number of such potential areas. Recreation, however, is but incidental to the much greater benefits ich the Garrison diversion unit will provide. Congressmen Burk and Short, Governor Davis, and other witnesses have emphasized se more important aspects. I join in their support of the budget imate for carrying on planning activities on this unit for the next seal year. One of the most popular recreation areas in the State of North akota is located at the Jamestown Reservoir. This project is an |