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COMMENTS OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

STATE OF MONTANA,
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR,

Helena, March 28, 1957.
Mr. W. A. DEXHEIMER,
Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation,

Washington, D. C. DEAR COMMISSIONER DEXHEIMER: This will acknowledge receipt of the report on Chief Joseph Dam project, Greater Wenatchee division, Washington, dated June 1956, which was sent to me for review and comments in accordance with the provisions of section 1 (c) of the Flood Control Act of December 22, 1954.

I have had the report thoroughly examined by our State engineer and hereby make tbe following comments:

The entire Wenatchee division comprises seven separate units scattered along the Columbia River below Chief Joseph Dam. Each of these projects is to be irrigated by separate pumping units. At the present time the three upper projects, North and South Pateros and Antoine Creek, are not to be considered.

The 4 units for which authorization is requested and the acreages in each are: Howard Flat unit, 866 acres; Brays Landing unit, 1,255 acres; East unit, 4,490 acres; and Moses Coulee unit, 2,050 acres. These 4 units make a total of 8,661 acres, of which 7,221 acres are not now irrigated.

The consumption of water for the proposed 4 units will be only a small fraction of 1 percent of the average annual flow of the Columbia River. The water thus consumed will have no effect upon future demands of the water supply in Montana. Neither will the future consumption of water in Montana have any noticeable effect on the water supply for the four units proposed for construction. The four units seem to be feasible, but the question is whether or not a project of this type should be authorized at the present time in view of economic conditions and the concerted effort being made to cut the Federal budget. It would seem that undertakings of this kind should be reserved for some future period when it becomes necessary to have a shelf of projects ready to bolster up employment. For this reason, I cannot heartily endorse authorization of the Greater Wenatchee project at this time. Very truly yours,

J. Hugo ARONSON, Governor. 104

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COMMENTS OF THE STATE OF NEVADA

STATE OF NEVADA,
OFFICE OF STATE ENGINEER,

Carson City, Nev., February 21, 1957.
Hon. W. A. DEXHEIMER,
Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation,

Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. DEXHEIMER: I wish to acknowledge your letter of January 28, 1957, together with two copies of the proposed report of the Department of the Interior on the Greater Wenatchee division, Chief Joseph Dam project, Washington.

Pursuant to the provisions of the 1944 Flood Control Act, you desire the views and recommendations of the State of Nevada.

I have gone over the report in some detail and in my opinion it has all the elements of a good reclamation project. I further find that in the area concerned, the people want this project.

The State of Nevada therefore approves the report and recommends favorable action by Congress. Sincerely yours, Hugh A. SHAMBERGER, State Engineer.

105

COMMENTS OF THE STATE OF OREGON

STATE OF OREGON,
STATE ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT,

Salem, February 7, 1957.
Mr: W. A. DEXHEIMER,
Commissioner, United States Department of the Interior,

Bureau of Reclamation, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. DEXHEIMER: I have your letter dated January 28, with which you transmitted for my comments two copies of the proposed report of the Department of the Interior on the Greater Wenatchee division, Chief Joseph Dam project, Washington.

The State of Oregon has no specific interest in this project. It can have no effect other than a negligible diminution of the water of the Columbia River. The State does have a general interest in the development of all worthy projects in the Columbia Basin and this certainly appears to be a worthy project with a very high benefit-cost ratio.

I approve of your proposed report and would recommend to the Congress that the project be authorized. Very truly yours,

LEWIS A. STANLEY,

State Engineer.

106

COMMENTS OF THE STATE OF UTAH

THE STATE OF UTAH,
UTAH WATER AND POWER BOARD,

Salt Lake City, Utah, April 26, 1957.
Hon. FRED A. SEATON,
Secretary of the Interior,

Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. SECRETARY: Reference is made to letter of January 28, 1957, by Commissioner of Reclamation Wilbur A. Dexheimer, transmitting the proposed report of the Department of the Interior on the Greater Wenatchee division, Chief Joseph Dam project, Washington.

The report was sent for the purpose of securing reviews and recommendations of the State of Utah in accordance with provisions of the Flood Control Act of 1944.

The proposed Chief Joseph Dam project, as outlined by the Bureau of Reclamation report dated June 1956 appears to be a feasible, multiple-purpose, resource development project. The water proposed to be used on this project would conform with the general provisions relating to consumptive use on the Columbia River system as proposed by the Columbia Interstate Compact Commission. The project also conforms to the criteria established for reclamation projects.

The State of Utah would like to express itself in favor of this project and looks forward to its early construction as a logical step in the development of the resources of the Columbia River Basin. Very truly yours,

JAY R. BINGHAM, Director.

107

COMMENTS OF THE STATE OF WYOMING

STATE OF WYOMING,
STATE ENGINEER'S OFFICE,

Cheyenne, February 1, 1957.
Mr. W. A. DEXHEIMER,
Commissioner, Department of the Interior,

Bureau of Reclamation, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. DEXHEIMER: Agreeable with the request contained in your letter of January 28, I have reviewed your proposed report on Chief Joseph Dam project, Greater Wenatchee division, Washington, and offer comments as follows:

Since the water supply will be from the Columbia River, where some 85 million acre-feet per annum is available and since none will be supplied by Wyoming, we do not question this item.

The report shows a cost-benefit ratio of from 3 to 7 to 1 which, with good soil, moderate climate, and long growing season makes an ideal setup for development of an irrigation project.

Please be advised that the State of Wyoming has no objection to the development proposed in this report. Very truly yours,

L. C. BISHOP, State Engineer. 108

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