WHEREAS, the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 (42 USC $$ 5121, et seq.) allows for federal assistance to Indian Tribes in emergency circumstances upon request to the President by a State Governor;

NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby declared that an emergency now exists on the Colorado River Indian Reservation;

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Colorado River Indian Tribes request that Governor Babbitt of the State of Arizona and Governor Deukmejian of the State of California, seek from the President of the United States, a determination of the existence of an emergency on the Colorado River Indian Reservation.

Resolution No.. R-89-83

RESOLUTION

COLORADO RIVER TRIBAL COUNCIL

A Resolution to Support the enactment of the proposed Colorado River Disaster
Assistance Act of 1983

Be it resolved by the Tribal Council of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, in Special

assembled on WHEREAS,

WHEREAS,

WHEREAS,

WHEREAS,

September 6, 1983

meeting

the Colorado River Indian Tribes are a federally recognized tribe organized pursuant to Section 16 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (25 USC Section 476); and

the Colorado River flows through the Colorado River Indian Reservation exposing approximately 108,000 acres of Reservation lands to high water damage; and

the economy of the Colorado River Indian Tribes is based upon recreation tourism on the Colorado River and agricultural uses of lands bordering the Colorado River; and

the United States Bureau of Reclamation in June 1983 commenced a program of controlled releases along the Colorado River, which program resulted in the discharge of a water flow in excess of 40,000 cfs; and

WHEREAS, such unprecedented water flow resulted in extensive flood damage on the Colorado River Indian Reservation and the declaration of a state of emergency on the Reservation (Colorado River Indian Tribes Resolution No. R-61-83, approved on June 20, 1983); and

The foregoing resolution was on

7

for and

September 6, 1983

0

duly approved by a vote of

against, by the Tribal Council of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, pursuant to authority vested in it by Section 1.a. VI Article of the Constitution and By laws of the Tribes, ratified by the Tribes on March 1, 1975 and approved by the Secretary of the Interior on May 29, 1975, pursuant to Section 16 of the Act of June 18, 1934, (48 Stat. 984). This resolution is effective as of the date of its adoption.

WHEREAS,

said water flow and associated flood damage further resulted in the closing
of the Colorado River throughout the Colorado River Indian Reservation
by the U.S. Coast Guard and the closing of all access points to the
Colorado River by the Colorado River Indian Tribes; and

WHEREAS, the Colorado River Indian Tribes have suffered severe property damage and other significant economic loss directly associated with the flooding of the Colorado River; and

WHEREAS, the proposed Colorado River Disaster Assistance Act of 1983 would offer some relief from damages already suffered and would mitigate further economic losses on the Colorado River Indian Reservation;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Colorado River Indian Tribes support the enactment of the proposed Colorado River Disaster Assistance Act of 1983;

BE IT FURTHER AND FINALLY RESOLVED that the Arizona and California Congressional delegations are requested to actively support enactment of the proposed Act.

Mr. Chairman and members of the committee:

My name is Philip Younis, and I live in Parker, where I've been self-employed since 1972. I operate three resorts on the California side of the river and a state park concession in Arizona. I have heard public officials state that we, the business owners and residents along the river, only have ourselves to blame for being flooded. They claim we were warned that if we built below certain levels we stood the chance of flooding.

I not only deny ever being warned by the Bureau of Reclamation, but state that they didn't even inform other agencies of the possibility of flooding on such a grand scale. For example, why did the counties and states issue permits to build if they

knew of such a damage age? Why did the Bureau of Land Management even encourage building in the so-called flood plain? Why

were federal concessionaires never made aware of even the

slightest possibility of such danger?

I'll tell you why! Lack of communication!

The Bureau

of Reclamation failed miserably to warn us of the hazards we faced. The left hand of the giant didn't know what the right hand was doing; and all the while, Americans who built and lived on the banks of the Colorado River, supposedly protected by one of the greatest flood control systems in history, got wiped out.

We played by the rules that were given to us. We watched in awe as the United States launched the space shuttle. We believed the system sturdy and sophisticated enough to protect us. Then in disbelief it happened! The water rose and des

troyed property, took lives, and brought commerce along the

river to a standstill.

Surely a nation that is first in space

can protect its citizens back on earth a little better.

Mistakes were made alright, but not by the people who live along the river. It does no good to keep looking back on what has happened; we must look ahead and start to rebuild on higher ground. Most of my friends and neighbors want that chance. Te need a helping hand to accomplish the enormous task ahead of us. We also need some assurance that this will not occur again.

I believe in spite of all that has transpired, that help is forthcoming. I believe this so strongly that I've already started to clean up the mess to begin the rebuilding process. Thank you Mr. Chairman and members of the committee for allowing me to speak to you today.