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Senator JOHNSON. There was one, a seven-State compact, and another, a six-State compact.

Senator PHIPPS. Now, the seven-State compact, does it still stand . that if Arizona comes in and signs up for the seven-State compact, that Colorado is bound without any condition?

Mr. CARR. No, sir.

Senator JOHNSON. But there were two compacts, and there were different provisions under both; is that not correct?

Mr. CARR. That is correct; the situation under the six-State compact would have been somewhat different. But the resolution that was passed is perfectly plain; it applies to either the sixth or seventh State, so California's ratification becomes effective the instant the storage is provided.

Senator JOHNSON. That change of provision-where was the change, except that one State had not come in?

Mr. CARR. Well, the six-State compact involved a rather nice legal argument. I doubt if the committee wants to take the time on that now.

Senator PHIPPS. I don't care to go into a lengthy discussion of that. The statement that you made, however, as I read it, would go into the record and be read as meaning that from the very first action California had made this reservation, and I wanted it to appear in the record that it was a later consideration by the Legislature of California that made the

Mr. CARR. Tht is quite true.

Senator PITTMAN. Isn't this true, that the first ratification by California was made under a statement of facts by the Reclamation Department, the same as the other States acted on? That was the statement by Mr. F. E. Waymouth, chief engineer of the Reclamation Department, which Mr. La Rue in his latest report quot s as follows:

For flood control only, F. E. Weymouth. formerly chief engineer of the Bureau of Reclamation, suggested a dam 523 feet in height above its foundation, which would raise the water to an elevation of 1,033 feet above sea level and create a storage capacity of 10,000,000 acre-feet. He has estimated the cost of such a dam at about $28,000,000. The Callville. Boulder Canyon, Virgin Canyon, Hualpai Rapids, Grand Wash Canyon, and Pierce's Ferry Dam sites would be submerged, and the backwater would interfere with the development of water at the Devil's Slide site, which is 1,034 feet above sea level. A dam at the upper Black Canyon site for flood control only would prevent dangerous floods, except those from Gila River.

At that time the Government was advocating only 10.000.000 acrefeet storage, at a cost of $28,000,000. All of us in the West here would like to have that dam built just as high as it can be built and have just as much water stored. There are a great many people in the East, however, that do not want any storage out there or any money appropriated out there, because it comes out of the rivers and harbors pot, and there is just so much every year. They will probably, if they grant this thing at all, fight for the minimum that will control the floods, which Mr. Weymouth gives as 10,000,000 acre-feet and which Mr. La Rue seems to approve of for that purpose. Originally the ratification of California, as the ratification of the other five States, with the exception of Arizona, ratified it on the basis of

a dam that would impound 10,000,000 acre-feet of flood waters. The present conditionally ratification of California calls for a dam that will impound 20,000,000 acre-feet. Therefore, unless the Reclamation Department changes its views in regard to the size of the dam there, California will not have ratified the compact.

Mr. CARR. Well, I think Mr. Weymouth's report-and I have read it quite carefully, Senator-recommended a dam 550 feet high, assuming that the Bridge Canyon site, which is above that, on investigation would prove feasible. California's interest has always been in large storage; we have felt that small storage would not meet the interests of this State. We realized that there were elements in our own midst and elsewhere that sought to divert this project by a low flood control plan of structure, and I think that because of that attempt to convert this into that kind of a project the California Legislature felt that it was entirely proper and necessary to the vital interests of the State that its approval of the compact to take effect only when large storage is provided was advisable.

Senator PITTMAN. I think that is all with regard to that; but what this committee has got to face and what we are here for advice on what to do, we believe that we can get a dam on that river; if the dam is 525 feet high according to Mr. Weymouth it can be made to prevent flooding of the Imperial Valley.

Mr. CARR. Yes.

Senator PITTMAN. We take it that that is the most imminent danger, the most demanding thing, and it is practically the only thing that will appeal to the great majority of Congress.

Mr. CARR. Yes; I realize that.

Senator PITTMAN. Now, if on the side, sir, we can get any effective benefit, which we all believe in, and that is reclamation--fine. But the thing that concerns us is whether or not the policy of California of obtaining all at once what it needs or nothing at all, is to be the policy that we will all fight for, with a chance of having seven or eight years delay, or a chance of getting a start and afterwards fighting for the raising of the dam higher.

Senator JOHNSON. Senator, may I correct you there? I don't think that Mr. Weymouth recommended this lower dam, he recommended the higher one. He was requested to make estimates, however, in four or five different directions, and accordingly he did. But his recommendation is for the high dam.

Senator PITTMAN. Well, I have just read what Mr. Larue said. He may not give Mr. Weymouth's present opinion

Mr. CARR. Mr. Weymouth is here available to the committee. He is the best person to explain that.

Senator PITTMAN. Mr. Weymouth is not here right at this table. The CHAIRMAN. We will call him when the time arrives.

Senator PITTMAN. I want to know if you understand that impounding 10,000,000-acre feet would protect the flooding of the Imperial Valley?

Mr. CARR. We understand that, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Senator Kendrick of Wyoming desires to ask the witness a question.

Senator KENDRICK. Mr. Carr, the original authority by Congress for the compact between the states, included seven States, did it not? Mr. CARR. Yes.

Senator KENDRICK. And was there later authority given by Congress for any agreement for a lesser number of States?

Mr. CARR. No, sir.

Senator KENDRICK. Is it your opinion that the failure of one of the States to ratify the compact would in any way invalidate the effect upon those States that had ratified it?

Mr. CARR. Not if they all agreed to that form of ratification and Congress approved it. I understand that Congress will approve a compact between the States after the States have approved it.

Senator KENDRICK. Was that part of the original authority, that Congress should approve the compact after the different States had approved it through their legislatures?

Mr. CARR. Yes; the situation requires that, Senator, so that nothing the States do is effective until after Congress gives its consent to the compact.

Senator KENDRICK. You would see no occasion for anxiety in reference to the dates upon which the compact would be effective and the fact that those dates did not coincide? The States in the upper basin, in other words, as I understand it, ratified immediately; that is, their ratification became effective immediately. Now, California ratified with a reservation as to the date the ratification became effective, the understanding being that it would become effective when the Government authorized the building of the Boulder Dam. You would see no danger in such a difference in the terms of ratification? Mr. CARR. Not the slightest. No more than two years ago Colorado ratified at one time, Nevada at another, Wyoming at another; they did not ratify the same day.

Senator KENDRICK. Each one in their turn ratified in a way that the compact became effective immediately after the action by the legislature?

Mr. CARR. When all of them had ratified.

Senator KENDRICK. Oh, when all had ratified.

Mr. CARR. Yes; but they did not any of them ratify on the same day, so I don't think there is any danger in that.

Senator KENDRICK. I am sure they did not, but the spirit of the ratification was somewhat different. There is a reservation here. Mr. CARR. NO; it simply defers the effective date.

Senator KENDRICK. The question in my mind is whether it would be effective unless approved by the other States.

Mr. CARR. I haven't any doubt but what it is effective if Congress passes the legislation that will be submitted, that California's ratification will become effective immediately and binding on the State. Senator KENDRICK. You think that should be a part of the bill providing for the construction of the dam?

Mr. CARR. Yes, sir; I think so.

The CHAIRMAN. The committee is thankful to you, Mr. Carr. The next witness will be Mr. Earl C. Pound, president of the Imperial Irrigation District, who will discuss flood control and its effect on the Imperial Valley.

STATEMENT OF EARL C. POUND, PRESIDENT IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT

Mr. POUND. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I will discuss the flood situation only as it affects the Imperial Valley and not as it affects other valleys and communities, nor will I discuss the bearing of silt content in flood water or the interference and lack of cooperation by either the Mexican Government or the American owners of Mexican lands.

The Colorado River is essentially a United States stream from its source to the southeast corner of California, where for 18 miles it becomes the international boundary between Arizona on the east and Lower California, Mexico, on the west. The balance of its course to the Gulf of California is entirely through Mexican territory.

Imperial Valley and the whole Colorado Delta is built up by the deposit of silt for thousands of years, and the soil itself is therefore very easily eroded by flood water.

Pilot Knob is the most southerly peak of the Chocolate Mountains and is located at the very southeastern corner of California on the west bank of the Colorado, and from this point south there is no formation on either side of the river to prevent it from rapidly changing its course.

The intake of the Imperial canal system is at Pilot Knob, about 100 miles from the Gulf of California, at elevation 124 feet above sea level, while the Salton Sea, situated in the northern part of Imperial Valley, about the same distance from Pilot Knob, lies 250 feet below sea level. On account of the relative elevations of the river at Pilot Knob, the Gulf of California, and Salton Sea the force of gravity is continually trying to pull the river toward the Salton Sea.

Most of the irrigated area in Imperial Valley is below sea level, and any flood water coming into the valley must remain there until it is removed by the slow process of evaporation and can not, as in other localities, be drained off after the flood is over.

In the forming of the delta region an alluvial cone was built up, extending from an elevation of 124 feet at Pilot Knob on the northeast to an elevation of only 26 feet at Black Butte, an extinct volcano near the Cocopah Mountains, in Mexico on the southwest. This ridge is the only barrier which separates the Gulf from the Salton Sea.

The delta contains many channels: The Alamo, New River, Paradones, Bee, Pescadero, Hardy, and the Colorado itself. Each at times have carried much flood water. During the flood of 1905 to 1907 the Alamo and New River carried the entire flow of the Colorado to the Salton Sea. The Bee River carried most of the flood water into Volcano Lake Basin from 1909 to 1921, from whence it flowed into the Gulf through the Hardy and other smaller channels. From the beginning of settlement in the Imperial Valley it has been and still is necessary to build and maintain protective works against floods. In 1903 a dam was built on this delta ridge near Black Butte across New River, which at that time was a very small channel, to prevent flood water from going north into the Imperial Valley Basin.

In 1907, 12 miles of river-front levee, known as the C. D., was built by the Southern Pacific Co., commencing near the international

boundary and running southward. This levee was extended 25 miles by Government appropriation under direction of Col. J. A. Ockerson and is called the Ockerson Levee. Only 8 miles of this levee have been of use in our general protective system.

The Volcano Lake Levee was commenced in 1908 and was strengthened, raised, and extended annually until 1921. In 1916 a standard-gauge railroad track was installed on the levee and extended to a connection with the main line of the Inter-California Railway, to facilitate rock hauling from Pilot Knob quarry, as well as from Black Butte for revetting Volcano Lake Levee. During these 13 years the levee was built up about 15 feet, and Volcano Lake basis to the south of the levee silted up to such an extent that it was deemed impossible to longer maintain the levee.

When it became evident that the Volcano Lake Levee could not be held through another flood season, the Pescadero cut was made to divert the flood water into the Pescadero Basin. A dam was constructed across the Bee River to force the water through the artificial channel, and since that time very little flood water has reached Volcano Lake. Afterwards the Pescadero Levee, 6 miles in length, was built paralleling the Pescadero cut.

The Bee River Levee, 6 miles in length, connects the Ockerson with the Pescadero, making, together with the C. D. Levee, a continuous river-front levee of 32 miles, all equipped with standard-gauge railroad track and heavily revetted, in some places 35 cubic yards of rock per lineal foot.

Since 1921 the fight against the floods has all been made at the river front on this 32 miles of levee. It is believed that we will be able to maintain this levee against all ordinary floods until the Pescadero Basin is filled with silt, which is estimated at 10 to 15 years, but to do so requires continual watching at all times, and the dumping of thousands of cars of rock during each flood season.

The Saiz Levee, 25 miles in length, was built to connect the C. D. Levee along the river front with the Volcano Lake Levee.

The protective system now consists of the C. D., Ockerson, Bee, and Pescadero Levees, a total of 32 miles of river-front levees, which is the first line of defense: 25 miles of Saiz Levee, the second line of defense; and 16 miles of Volcano Lake Levee, which is our third and last line of defense. Fifty miles or more of these levees are heavily rock revetted and 55 miles of standard-gauge railroad track is maintained.

We have located three quarries for revetment work on the levees. The first quarry was located in the mountains at Black Butte to revet the Volcano Lake Levee. The Cocopah quarry was located in the mountains a few miles west of Black Butte to secure larger and better material. The third and main quarry is located at Pilot Knob. The Pilot Knob quarry is close to our headquarter's camp. A train load of rock is always ready to be sent down the levee on a moment's notice.

Two locomotives, two steam shovels, a locomotive crane, a hoist, ballast spreader, a fleet of gasoline speeders, and 40 automatic dump cars are maintained at Andrade, always ready for immediate This entire equipment is maintained exclusively for flood protection. In addition, a large, well equipped machine shop, com

use.

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