Letter Taking Opportunity to Comment on Statement Made to Secretary Udall Relative to the Pacific Southwest Water Plan

Letter: From O.N. Arrington, to Paul Fannin, March 20, 1964 (photocopy

Letter Taking Opportunity to Comment on Statement Made to Secretary Udall Relative to the Pacific Southwest Water Plan

Letter: From O.N. Arrington, to Paul Fannin, March 20, 1964 (photocopy), page 4-4- Honorable Paul Fannin March 20, 1964 conjunction with required project facilities will result in millions of dollars of project costs being allocated as non-reimbursable, thus reducing materially the amount that must be repaid by other state water user interests. We concur fully in the contents of your November 27, 1963, letter to Secretary Udall. It was very well prepared. We understand that it seemed inadvisable at the time to mention fish, wildlife and recreation beneficial use of C. A. P. water. We believe conditions have changed now, however, and that it will be detrimental to Arizona's position not to come forward in the near future in support of the 60,000 acre-feet for recreation use. The Interstate Stream Commission resolution of August 21, 1963, supports the exchange principle. The northern counties have insisted and are insisting on benefits that can come only through this procedure. At least one congressional representative seems to be listening. The economic benefits of the Game and Fish Department lake construction program is recognized and endorsed statewide, especially in the northern and eastern counties. We believe the endorsement of the proposed 60,000 acre-feet by central Arizona interests, especially irrigation interests, will aid materially in bringing unity in C. A. P. support throughout the state. I am sure you are aware of the contentions outside Maricopa and Pima counties that some commitment should come now and not after C. A. P. is involved in congressional hearings. Please be assured we in the Game and Fish Department are not attempting to gain some advantage for our particular interests. We are sincere in our desire to help toward greater state unity and greater economic benefits for Arizona. The University of New Mexico study on water uses and the recent University of Arizona book, "Politics of Water in Arizona," fully substantiate that water for wildlife and recreation is a sound investment. Resumes of each publication appear in the back of the enclosed "Summary." Thank you again for the opportunity to comment. I am sure you know anyone in the department will be anxious to be of service at any time. Director Swank has carefully considered this letter and concurs fully in its contents. Sincerely, ONA:o Encl. By: O. N. Arrington, Chief Special Services DivisionEpson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 24 bit, 1,718,322 byte

Letter Taking Opportunity to Comment on Statement Made to Secretary Udall Relative to the Pacific Southwest Water Plan

Letter: From O.N. Arrington, to Paul Fannin, March 20, 1964 (photocopy), page 2-2- Honorable Paul Fannin March 20, 1964 well for many years readily accepted our invitation to go on the plane flights and encouraged others to do so. The result was repeated trips in a plane chartered by our department and one brought in by the Bureau of Reclamation from Denver, continuing from Sunday through Wednesday. We had prepared the enclosed "Summary of Fish and Wildlife Features of the Pacific Southwest Water Plan Including the Central Arizona Project" especially for these two conferences and distributed several hundred copies. The frontispiece map, the several pages in addition to the excerpts from the Department of Interior reports and the emphasis on the proposed 60,000 acre-feet of project water for some 50 recreation lakes were directed toward those attending the conferences and especially to those taking the plane trips. The last page showing that the lake behind a high Bridge dam would be deep within the inner gorge where it would be bordered by the Monument and the Park was of special interest on the flights. We know we did not eliminate plans that have been in the making for over two years to oppose the high Bridge dam but we did soften some of the opposition. That remaining is based on the long-standing policy of these organizations to vigorously oppose any invasion of the national park system. Any expectation they had to contend any obvious detrimental effects will occur has been eliminated, we believe. The above policy of these national organizations, their successful campaign against the Echo Park Dam, the increasing attention given by Congress to fish, wildlife and recreation features in any Federal water development, the great emphasis placed on these benefits in the P. S. W. Plan reports and the obvious economic benefits resulting therefrom convince our department that Arizona officials should immediately support the fish, wildlife and recreation features proposed under the Central Arizona Project, especially the 60,000 acre-feet of water for the 50 or more fishing and recreation lakes to be constructed throughout the state over a period of many years. As Representative Aspinall pointed out so forcefully in his luncheon speech at the Westward Ho recently, the votes of eastern congressmen are essential to pass any legislation encompassing the Central Arizona Project. Recreation benefits may be the only appealing feature to many of them. Few will be attracted by benefits resulting from agricultural endeavors. We respectfully submit that Arizona cannot afford to play down the recreational benefits. To get support in Congress, particularly in the House where we need it, we believe recreational benefits must be recognized and supported by all Arizona spokesmen for the Central Arizona Project.Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 24 bit, 1,733,425 byte