[APPENDIX 39] LETTER OF THE SECRETARY SUGGESTING COOPERATION OF THE STATE IN EFFECTING A WATER ALLOCATION NOVEMBER 5, 1930 551 THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, THE IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT, El Centro, California. DEAR SIRS: It has been pointed out to me by the attorneys drafting the proposed All-American Canal reimbursement contract that it will be impossible to insert a definite figure to cover the quantity of water to be delivered under that contract until the State of California has recommended to us an apportionment of the California share of the waters of the Colorado River. While an agreement between the Metropolitan Water District and the agricultural group, so-called, has been submitted to the department, we have no information as to the division between the Palo Verde Irrigation District, the Yuma project in California, and the proposed contractors for All-American Canal water. In addition, we have been advised by the city and county of San Diego that it claims certain rights, and it may be necessary for you to take up with the Office of Indian Affairs the question of providing water to certain Indian reservations in California. In any event, the division of California's share of Colorado River water among various California interests is a matter which the State, and not the Department of the Interior, should work out and recommend to the Department. Accordingly, there is inclosed a draft of recommendations which the California Division of Water Rights might submit to the Department of the Interior, after it has determined what figures and provisions should be inserted in the blanks. This allocation, when finally determined, presumably through agreement of all interests and approval by the proper State authority, might well be included as a uniform clause in every California water contract. Prior to submission of final recommendation by the State, it will be desirable to have a draft available here in order to determine whether there has been a satisfactory disposition of the questions of water apportionment which must be solved in the water contracts. Copies of this letter are being sent to the State Division of Water Rights, the Metropolitan Water District, the Palo Verde Irrigation District, the Yuma project, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the City and County of San Diego, and the Coachella Valley County Water District. Very truly yours, 150912-33-36 (Signed) RAY LYMAN WILBUR. 553 DRAFT OF RECOMMENDATION TO BE MADE BY THE CALIFORNIA DIVISION OF WATER RIGHTS TO THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR It is recommended that the waters which may be available to California under the Colorado River compact, as limited by the Boulder Canyon project act, be apportioned as follows: I. Of the water which may be available to California by paragraph (a) of Article III of the Colorado River compact: In case of shortage the water available shall be delivered as follows: II. Of the water which may be available to California by paragraph (b) of Article III of the Colorado River compact: To the Metropolitan Water District acre-feet. To To To To acre-feet. acre-feet. acre-feet. acre-feet. acre-feet. In case of shortage the water available shall be delivered as follows: III. Of the water which may be available to California over and above the foregoing: In case of shortage the water available shall be delivered as follows: IV. The Metropolitan Water District may accumulate unused diversion rights as follows, provided that the rights of the United States shall not thereby be affected: |