case a total depletion. There will still be water available for domestic and other uses. We are talking about decreased yields that might require the abandonment of some wells. Mr. McCLURE. What is the average lift in these wells now? Mr. DREESZEN. The average lift would be 150 to 175 feet. Now, this is in the Mira Valley portion. Along the valley portion downstream the lift is much less. Mr. MCCLURE. How deep does the aquifer extend? Mr. DREESZEN. The deepest well is about 540 feet in the Mira Valley portion and the shallowest between 200. Average well would be between 300 and 400 feet. Down valley it is 250 to less than 100. The shales in the lower part of the project limits the potential to almost no wells. Mr. McCLURE. Those lifts are modest compared to some of the lifts we have in dry areas in my State of Idaho where the water is overdrafted and the wells are going deeper and lifts of 500 feet are not uncommon. Mr. DREESZEN. With the limitation here, there is no chance to go at greater depths. The wells are already at the maximum depths of usable water supply. Mr. McCLURE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I have no further questions. Mr. JOHNSON. Off the record. (Discussion off the record.) Mr. JOHNSON. We want to thank you, Mr. Dreeszen, for your appearance here. (Mr. Dreeszen's statement follows:) THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, CONSERVATION AND SURVEY DIVISION, Lincoln, Nebr., March 8, 1972. Hon. WAYNE N. ASPINALL, Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, House of Representatives, Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN ASPINALL: I plan to attend the hearing on the North Loup Division before your committee on March 21, 1972. If there are questions related to any comments in this letter I will attempt to answer them. Our office and the University as a whole have enthusiatsically supported the development of irrigation and those projects which have physical, economic, and environmental feasibility. We also strongly support the concept of long-term management of the total water resource for both rural and urban development and for quality of life. We believe that the North Loup Division Project as reported in the Reevaluation Statement of February, 1971, is a worthy and essential project for optimum resource management. In cooperation with the U. S. Geological Survey we have investigated the potential for irrigation from the groundwater reservoir in the project area. As a part of our program we have established and maintained a continuous record of water-level changes in a state-wide network of wells for many years. Unlike many parts of Nebraska, a large portion of the project lands are underlain by a limited groundwater reservoir-limited in terms of total storage and potential yield of wells. In spite of these limitations and because of suitable soils and the necessity of supplement precipitation to compete in the business of farming, a relatively large number of irrigation wells have been constructed in the area. As more wells are drilled, as they most surely will be, the competition for limited groundwater storage will lower water levels. In fact, records of wells measured in the Valley County portion of the proposed project by the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation since 1958 indicate that a downward trend of water levels has been established in the last three to seven years. Comparison of water levels measured in the fall shows declines in a number of wells of from five to seven feet. The storage of surface water and the facilities provided by the North Loup Division project will help achieve the objective of water-resource management for irrigation and downstream use. Stabilization of water availability both in groundwater and surface-water reservoirs and in the streams for long-term use should develop with this project. Experience elsewhere in the state demonstrates the stabilization that occurs in rural areas with the management that comes with storage facilities and total water resource utilization. Experience also shows us the problems resulting where water-resource management cannot be achieved. The North Loup Project is a major component of a management scheme; I urge that your committee take favorable action toward its authorization. Sincerely, VINCENT H. DREESZEN, Director and State Geologist. Mr. JOHNSON. We have a letter from Mr. D. B. Varner, president of the University of Nebraska, addressed to Chairman Aspinall. Without objection, it will be placed in the record at this point. (The letter follows:) Hon. WAYNE N. ASPINALL, THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, DEAR CONGRESSMAN ASPINALL: Recently Mr. Henry Lange, President of the Twin Loups Reclamation District from Ord, Nebraska, called my attention to the Subcommittee Hearings on the North Loup Division to be held in Washington on March 21, 1972. Since I will be unable to appear at the hearing in person, I am writing this letter in support of the North Loup Division. The North Loup Division is a multipurpose project which would provide for irrigation, recreation, and fish and wildlife enhancement. This project is located in central Nebraska along the North Loup and Loup Rivers, and it would provide for diversion facilities in Loup and Garfield Counties with irrigable lands from the project located in Valley, Greeley, Howard, Merrick and Nance Counties. As proposed, this Division would supply irrigation water to 52,570 acres of irrigable land. Two storage reservoirs are provided for in the projectthe Calamus Dam and Reservoir on the Calamus River near Burwell, and the off-channel Davis Creek Dam and Reservoir along with the Kent Diversion Works on the North Loup River near Burwell. Irrigation is becoming a more vital factor than ever before in the Nebraska economy because of the many benefits derived by the people in the affected area and the State as a whole. Among the important beneficial aspects which result from the expansion of irrigation are a reduction in out-migration, the increase in total economic activity in the communities and the State, greater stabilization of income, and the improved recreational opportunities which result from the reservoirs and canals that are part of the project. The University of Nebraska's Bureau of Business Research has documented the economic impact of irrigation on the economy of Nebraska in a report issued in September 1968 titled "The Economic Impact of Irrigated Agriculture on the Economy of Nebraska." This study, which was based on 1963 data, is in the process of being updated. On March 2-3 the University of Nebraska sponsored a "Nebraska Water Resources and Irrigation Development Seminar for the 1970s" at the Nebraska Center for Continuing Education which drew 250 of the key individuals from the public and private sectors interested in this vital topic. At this meeting it was pointed out by several speakers and panelists that the expansion of irrigation in an area has reduced markedly the rate of outmigration, increased bank deposits substantially, and helped greatly to increase the level of economic activity in the affected communities. The counties to be served by the North Loup Division are predominantly rural counties which would benefit substantially from the increase in irrigated acres which would result from this project. On numerous occasions during the past two years I have pointed out the urgent need to make better use of the surface and ground water resources 77-012-72 which are available in Nebraska. If the people of Nebraska are to continue to progress economically, it is vital that all state and federal agencies involved work together with private industry and farmers and ranchers in achieving greater utilization of available water resources. We are making excellent progress along these lines. I have committed the University of Nebraska to participate in efforts to achieve this objective, and we are devoting additional resources and personnel to assist in reaching this goal. Any assistance you can provide in obtaining the necessary approval and funding for the North Loup Division to bring it into fruition will be greatly appreciated by the people of Nebraska. If there is any way that the University of Nebraska can assist this project by providing additional information to you or your committee, please let me know. Yours truly, D. B. VARNER, President. Mr. JOHNSON. Our next witness will be Mr. C. P. Shaughnessy, attorney, St. Paul, Nebr., representing the Twin Loups Reclamation District and Twin Loups Irrigation District. He is accompanied by Mr. Henry Lange, president, Twin Loups Reclamation District and Mr. William Schudel, the president of the Twin Loups Irrigation District. You gentlemen may come forward. STATEMENT OF C. P. SHAUGHNESSY, ATTORNEY, ST. PAUL, NEBR., REPRESENTING TWIN LOUPS RECLAMATION DISTRICT AND TWIN LOUPS IRRIGATION DISTRICT: ACCOMPANIED BY HENRY LANGE, PRESIDENT, TWIN LOUPS RECLAMATION DISTRICT; WILLIAM SCHUDEL, PRESIDENT, TWIN LOUPS IRRIGATION DISTRICT; DONALD WAGNER, ORD, NEBR.; JOHN POTRZEBA, ELYRIA, NEBR.; RICHARD SPILINEK, ELBA, NEBR.; LOUIE CORDING, ST. PAUL, NEBR.; AND A. L. RUSSELL, FULLERTON, NEBR. Mr. SHAUGHNESSY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. My name is Cyril P. Shaughnessy and I am from St. Paul, Nebr. I represent the Twin Loups Reclamation District and the Twin Loups Irrigation District. These are the two districts that are sponsoring the North Loup project. With me at the table is my good friend, Mr. Henry Lange, who would like to introduce, if he may, our directors who have come down with us here to be present this morning. Mr. JOHNSON. Fine, if you want to call them off we will have them stand up here. Mr. LANGE. Yes. Mr. Donald Wagner from Ord; Dr. Potrzeba, Elyria; Richard Spilinek, Elba; Louie Cording, St. Paul; A. L. Russell, Fullerton; and Mr. Schudel, of course, over here. Mr. JOHNSON. We are very glad to have these gentlemen in Washington listening to you people testify for the agencies that they represent. You may proceed, Mr. Shaughnessy. Mr. SHAUGHNESSY. Mr. Chairman, I will not take more than my allotted 5 minutes, so I will pretty much summarize because many of the things I have in my prepared statement have already been testified to. Mr. JOHNSON. Your statement on the Twin Loups Reclamation District will be placed in the record at this point and you may summarize. (Mr. Shaughnessy's statement follows:) STATEMENT OF CYRIL P. SHAUGHNESSY, ST. PAUL, NEBR., ATTORNEY Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and members of your Committee. My name is Cyril P. Shaughnessy. I am from St. Paul, Nebraska. I represent the Districts sponsoring the North Loup Division, namely, the Twin Loups Reclamation District and the Twin Loups Irrigation District. With me here at the table today are Mr. Henry G. Lange, President of the Twin Loups Reclamation District, and Mr. William Schudel, President of the Twin Loups Irrigation District. In addition to these gentlemen we have other members of the Board of Directors, as well as representatives from the Lower Loup-Platte Association. Mr. Max Kiburz, General Manager of the Loup Power District, and Mr. George Svoboda, Attorney for the City of Fremont, Nebraska, wish to make short statements. Mr. Chairman, may I ask these gentlemen to stand up and permit Mr. Henry G. Lange to introduce them to the members of your Committee? Your Committee had a Field Hearing on our development at Ord, Nebraska, July 17, 1970. We believe that hearing was a good one. We wish to take the opportunity at this hearing, only to add additional evidence of the need and support for the development and construction of the North Loup Project. One of the major needs of our area is to better utilize the three natural resources we have available to us-water, land, and people. The Department of Interior's report to you and testimony before this Committee substantiates the availability of water to accomplish development of almost 53,000 acres of our land. As those of you who are at the Field Hearing saw, the quality of our land in the North Loup and Loup Valleys is excellent and takes well to the application of water. In fact, the application of water still continues from ground water sources. When members of this Committee saw our area in 1970, we had 47,600 acres of irrigated land producing crops in Valley County, Nebraska. Since that time, records of the State of Nebraska show that an additional 40 wells have been drilled. Thus, the farmers in the area are well aware of the increased production and income they can expect from irrigation agriculture. The need for feed grain in our area is further substantiated by the fact that in 1960 in the five county area of Greeley, Howard, Merrick, Nance and Valley Counties, Nebraska which are within the boundaries of the Twin Loups Reclamation District, there were approximately 56,600 head of cattle. Production of feed grain caused an increase in 1970 to 143,200 head of cattle. From a recent visit with the manager of one of our local elevators in St. Paul, Nebraska, I learned that in 1971 and to this date, no corn has been shipped from that Elevator by rail nor has any corn been delivered from that Elevator by truck. In short, the entire volume of corn delivered to that Elevator was sold to the local feeders. This in itself emphasizes the need of increased production of feed grain to supply the ever growing demand of those people engaged in feeding cattle to be sold on the market. We who have seen the irrigation development come into the Loup Valley realize the impact that this has had on the economy in our area. Howard County, Nebraska was one of only three Counties in the entire Loup Basin to gain population in the decade of the sixties. It is my belief that this is directly correlated with development of the Farwell Unit which irrigates over forty thousand acres of land in Howard County. In most of Howard County, it is impossible to get an irrigation well, and so, much of the irrigation development in our County can be attributed to the Farwell Project. We, in the rural area of America, definitely know from experience that the findings of the 1968 impact study made by the Bureau of Business Research, University of Nebraska are valid. The increase in production by irrigation obviously increases the income to the farmers as well as to the local business man. It is interesting to note that the valuation of the Loup Basin Reclamation District in Howard County, Nebraska has increased from $8,805,820.00 in 1965 to $14,628,000.00 in 1971, a gain of nearly $6,000,000.00 in valuation. The valuation for the City of St. Paul, Nebraska in 1965 was $2,680,845.00. In 1971, it was $3,787,405.00. It can be noted that there has been an increase in valuation in excess of $1,000,000.00 in six years, and that St. Paul has a population of only two thousand people. Many new homes have been built in the St. Paul area in this period. In the past five years many other improvements have been made, such as paved streets, storm sewers, and electric system improvements. I am convinced that these improvements would not have been made had it not been for the tremendous irrigation development undertaken by the Loup Basin Reclamation District and The Farwell Irrigation District. Our most precious resource in rural Nebraska is our people. Irrigation development has proven time and again, that it provides the opportunity to increase the family income for those who are underemployed. Yes, we have some unemployed people too, whom we can help. So, we are particularly interested in fuller employment for the people of our area. With full employment our people will stay and work in this wonderful part of rural America and not leave to compete for work in the crowded metropolitan areas. The increased production from irrigation development will assure an opportunity for these people to be gainfully employed. In the Farwell Unit, which is almost adjacent to the North Loup Project, those farmers with an assured water supply had the best crop year in the memory of the local farmers. Here cattle were in the feed lots, and silos were being filled. New buildings have been and are being erected, land is being leveled, and new equipment is replacing the old machinery. Here is where the real values of irrigation to the Nation is exemplified. The needs of the irrigator are purchased from all over the Nation. Silos and grain bins are manufactured in Illinois and Missouri; tractors and trucks come from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan; farm equipment is supplied from a half dozen other states; seed from Iowa; fertilizer from Kansas, Louisiana and Georgia. All of these items are shipped by rail or truck. It is evident that these purchases provide employment and income to thousands of workers far removed from the Farwell Unit. I have every reason to believe the same good results will come about when the North Loup Project becomes a reality. Another need of our area is the increased opportunity for enjoyment of recreation and the fish and wildlife resources. Calamus and Davis Creek Reservoirs would provide the facilities for enhancement of these activities. Providing and servicing these activities will result in additional employment opportunities. The Calamus River is sometimes called the "steadiest-flowing" stream in the world. Right now, all of the river and land adjoining it above Burwell, Nebraska is in private ownership. So, unless the private citizen has permission to use a rancher's land, this water-based recreation is not available to him. With the construction and development of Calamus Reservoir, public access will be provided to all. The Twin Loups Reclamation District has provided the Bureau of Reclamation with a letter of intent to cost-share and operate the recreation and fish and wildlife activities of Calamus and Davis Creek Reservoirs in accordance with the Federal Water Project Recreation Act. We consider the opportunity to operate and maintain recreation and fish and wildlife activities of the North Loup development, a great step forward in local participation. We believe that our farmer-city relationship can only improve with such facilities. Several community-service clubs and municipal and county Government officials have asked us if they can participate in the operation and maintenance of these fish and wildlife and recreational activities. The interest for the development in the area is extremely high. At the July 1970 Field Hearings, Mr. Lange reported to you that we had signatures of about 65 percent of the water users of our Twin Loups Irrigation District who were then, and still are, interested in receiving project water supply. In addition to that, the Directors have circulated petitions in the last month that indicate the interest of the signers in the development. This covers the area from Fullerton, Nebraska up to and beyond Burwell, Nebraska. We would like to present these petitions to you for the record. You will observe from the number of persons signing the petitions the high interest in the early development and construction of the North Loup Project. As early as 1954, we formed our Reclamation District, the third in Nebraska. Before such a district can finance its operations, it must have the permission of |