with the rising water table. As a part of its drainage program, the YCWUA operates and maintains approximately 64 miles of open drainage channels and a series of relatively large capacity deep drainage wells along the eastern edge of the Valley. In addition, the United States, through the USBR, operates approximately six valley and twelve mesa wells for the dual purpose of "groundwater removal and river regulation". As clearly shown within reports submitted to the USBR by the Association on November 16, 1981 and September 2, 1982 (ref. Exhibits A & B), there are numerous engineering studies, reports, legislative history and so forth, detailing the cause-effect relationship between the river stage and groundwater elevations and which point out the need to properly maintain the river channel to prevent damage to the low lying lands adjacent to the river. Also, as shown within our previous reports, the additional water input into the Yuma Valley from the moderately high Colorado River flows of 1980 and the resulting restrictions to groundwater drainage brought about by an elevated river surface, continued to raise the groundwater elevation under the Valley and to set back groundwater stabilization efforts of both the United States and the Association by some fifteen years or more. As you should visualize, the flood which we are presently experiencing has set back our drainage operations considerably more years than the mild flows of 1980.

Although prior to 1980 the river elevation at Yuma was generally about 112.5' above mean-sea-level; now due to recent upstream flood releases, the river water surface at Yuma has exceeded elevation 130. As you can see, thanks to the foresight of our Projects founders, the Reclamation Service and the United States Congress, the Valley has been protected from the damaging effects of flooding due to construction and continued maintenance of a protective levee system.

Now however, of even more concern to the Association than being openly flooded, is the presence of an ever rising groundwater table and its' ill effects upon

the community as a whole. The mosquito problem, deteriorating streets, collapse of buried municipal utilities, probable groundwater contamination, septic tank failure, the loss of developed and reparian lands, reduced crop production, the collapse of drainage channel facilities and the increase in pumped groundwater volumes, are all combining and building up to generate expenses which are beyond the ability of the local community to sustain. Even worse for the Yuma area, the "July, 1982 Final Report on the Hoover Dam Review of Flood Control Regulations Document" projects that flood flows in the range of those experienced in 1979 and 1980 and as presently flowing around Yuma, will occur on a more regular basis since the Colorado River Flood Control reservoirs will continue to be maintained at near capacity.

It is obvious to almost everyone living along the lower Colorado River that most low lands at Yuma are protected against direct flooding but these lands cannot sustain repeated and extended flood flows without incurring a substantial amount of difficult-to-document losses due to high groundwater. Therefore, to protect the rights and investments of those living within the "protected areas" adjacent to the river, the Association requests this committee authorize a thorough and immediate review of the numerous Congressional Acts relating to the operation and maintenance of the Colorado River and its appurtenances and to study the many International Agreements and Engineers reports leading up to the consummation of Minutes 189 and 197. Furthermore, in conjunction with this review, we request the committee re-analyze the contents of the "July 1982 Final Report on the Hoover Dam Review of Flood Control Regulations" document and through groundwater modeling and so forth, study the adverse effects currently being experienced along the "protected" portions of the river to establish a better basis on which to determine flood control releases. Upon reevaluation of the data, laws, Minutes, Executive Orders and so forth, the

Association believes the committee will find a need to implement revised "Standard Operating" and "Flood Control" guidelines for Hoover Dam that incorporate somewhat higher initial flood related releases for shorter durations. In concurrence with the findings of the SWAFCA Organization, we believe that channel degradation and aggradation along the Lower Colorado River to the Gulf of California should be corrected now through the implementation of a realistic channelization program and that additional groundwater removal measures need to be implemented at an even earlier date. Furthermore we believe you will determine the United States, in order to protect its investment in the Yuma Project, has more than a moral obligation towards its Yuma area citizens and therefore should immediately provide non-reimbursable Federal disaster funds to both private and public agencies for the construction and installation of groundwater removal and disposal systems, and for river channel modification in the Yuma and surrounding areas.

Respectively submitted,

Barrett Kell manager for

James W. Cuming, President