PAGENO="0001" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT b7062 ~%t4 HEARINGS BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER AND POWER RESOURCES OF THE COMI~E~ ON INThEi~T~AN~DJNSTJLAR ~~RS TJNIThD )S~ATES SIENAT1~ NINETIETH CO~*EESS FIRST SESSION A BILL TO AUTHORIZE TH4~SERETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO CONS~RT~OT, Wt~3~,1ANP ~*INTA~T THE ~LRST STAGE OF THE OAI~ U~P,~41\~ES DIV~O»=~, .iI~SO~J~ RIVER BASIN PRO,~(~r, S~O~qJ~I~ ~ ~qI~ AND FOR 9~H~R IJ~9S~S~ ~ ~ / /~ _____________________ 1 SEPTEMBER 13, 1967-WASHIN~rO1~, D~ MAY 22, 19~7-REDFIELD, S. DAK. GOVERr~~M!NT DEPOSjT~~~y THE STATE ERSITY COLL:~. 0T SOUTH JERSEY L CAMDEN, N. J. 08102 NOVi 61967 Printed for the use of the Committee on luterior and Insular Affairs ET.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1967 PAGENO="0002" JERI~R T. VzaE~RR, Etaff Director STEWART FRENCH, Chief Counsei B. LEWIS REID, Minority Coun8el Rox WHITACRE, Profensional ,Staff Member COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS HENRY 1\I. JACKSON, Washington, Chairman CLINTON P. ANDERSON, ~ew Mexico THOMAS H. KUCHEL, California ALAN BIBLE, Nevada GORDON ALLOTT, Colorado FRANK CHURCH, Idaho LEN B. JORDAN, Idaho ERNEST GRUENING,. Alaska PAVL J. FANNIN, Arizona FRANK B. MOSS, Utah 4~LIFFORD P. HANSEN, Wyoming QUENTIN N. BURDICK, North Dakota MARK 0. HATFIELD, Oregon CARL HAYDEN, Arizona GEORGE McGOVERN, South Dakota GAYLORD NELSON, Wisconsin LEE METCALF, Montana SuBcoMMIrJ* ON WATER ANU POWER RESOURCES CLINTON P. ANDERSON, New Mexico, Chairman RENR~tM. JACKSON, Washington THOMAS H. KUCHEL, California FRANK CHURCH, Idaho GOMDON ALLOTT, Colorado PRANK B. MOSS, Utah LEN B. JORDAN, Idaho QUENTIN N. BURDICIC, North Dakota CARL HAYDEN, Arizona II PAGENO="0003" CONTENTS S.6 Departmental reports: Bureau of the Budget Interior Department STATEMENTS Acker, Duane, dean of agriculture, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S. Dak Beastrom, Bernard, chairman, Hughes County Crop Improvement Associa- ~ Beckler, Mrs. Eldon, Bath, S. ~ Beckler, Mrs. Myles, Aberdeen, S. Dak~ Bell, C. G., president, Spink Electric Cooperative, Doland, SYDak Beaning, Stuart, Redfield, S. Dak Berry, Hon. B. Y., a ~ Representative in Congress. from the State of South Dakota ~ -~ -_-_-__ ~ Boe, Hon. Nils, Governor, State of South Dakota ~ 22, Briggs, Hilton M. president, South Dakota State University., Brookings Broer, Robert, chairman, Beadle County Water Resources Development Committee _~~_ Bronn, Carl, executive director, National Reclamation Association Butler, Vern W., manager-engineer, East Dakota Conservancy Sub- District Cassady, E. Michael, executive vice president, Mississippi Valley Associa- tion ~ .~ Cady, David G., executive manager, Greater South Dakota Association Chamber of Commerce, Webster, S. Dak Christensen, Jens, president, Beadle County Farmers Union Cooper, Vernon S., president, Upper Missouri Water Users A*ssociation_ Crook, Lyle, Frankfort, S. Dak ~ Currier, Harold, chairman, Missouri Slope Water Development Association, Onida, S. Dak ~ ~ Dennis, Lester, Mellette, S. Dak Duncan,' B. N., manager, Agricultural Planning' and Development, Great Northern Railway Co., St~ Paul, ~ Dunn, Michael, president, Whitetail Bowmen Archery Club, Inc., Aber- deen, S. ~ Dvorak, Joe, Sr., Redfleld, S. ~ Dye, Lloyd B., Reduleld, S. ~ Elsing, John, chairman, and Nelson, Mrs. Milford, secretary, Spink County Extension Board ~ ~ ~ Engelhorn, Homer M., coiiservation specialist, East River Electric Power Cooperative Etbauer, John, president, Ree Electric Cooperative, Inc., Miller, S. Dak_ Evans, Dennis, farmer, Spink County, Ashton, S. Dak Ewart, Robert L., Northville, S. Dak Fierke, E. H., agricultural agent, Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Co. Fisher, Richard, president, South Dakota Wildlife Federation and Na- tional Wildlife Federation Ford, Robert W., manager, South Dakota Rural Electric Association - - - Frei, Elva, chairman, Hughes County Soil and Water Conservation District Frericks, Delbert, Spink County, Frankfort, S. Dak ?ag~ 1 2 2 119 156 161 81 71 137 13 101 59 203 64 188 75 151 210 180 1,98 .137 177 154 80 186 135 136 138 82 203' 148 134 202 153 66 1i58 172 `IT PAGENO="0004" Iv APPENDIX STATEMENTS-Continued Page. Gilbertson, A. B., mayor, Redfield, S. Dak 95 Goodwin, Kenneth, chairman, Spink County Irrigation District board of directors - 133 Grahi, James L., manager, Basin Electric Power Cooperative 72 Griess, Raymond, president% ~3r~ow~xi CounLy. SpoTtsmen's Club 163 Gullikson, Chester, president, Northern ~E1ectric Cooperative, Inc., Aber- deen, S. Dak 68 ~4likson, Chester, farmer, Brown County, S. Dak i2~ Guy, c~rvj~, presIdent, Marshall County National Farmers Organization- 210 . Haskell, Allen, farmer, Fraukfort, S. Dak ~ 181 Haufle, ~A1bert C., president, South Dakota Rural Electric Association- 205 Hawkjn~s,~tis, Mellette, S. Dak ~ 135 Haynes, Dean, president, Redlield Chamber of Commerce 159 Heidepriem, Herbert A., State se~~tqi, M~1ler, S. Dak 143 Henze, James, chairman, Spink County National Farmers Organization~ 139 Hepler, R~s.,~r+i1ie M:, Siut1~Dakrrba Council of Churehes~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 28 ~ ilerseth, Ralph, former Governor, State of South Dakota- ~ :_ ~ ~ 120 Hofer, PauI'P.,'precsid~t~ Sph~xk County Farmers Union,. Doland, 5. Dak 162 Iloland, Roy A~, chairman, Garrison Diversion Conservancy District~ 199 Holscher1 Fred ~ H., chairman, Oahe Conserva~icy Subdistriet board of ~ ~: directors; accompanied by Raymond Galb~gher, subdistrict legal crunsel; ~ ~ ~ and James ~ Faulkton, S. Dak ~ 51, 110 ~1Iolum, Kenneth, ~ Assistant Secretary for Water and Power Development, Departnault of ithe~ntm'ior; ac~ompanied by James T. Casey,~.Artirig : Chief, i?rojeet Development Division; Harold. B. Aldrich, regional direc- ~ ~ ~ tot, Billings, Mont. ; and Prest~ Funkhouser, project development ~ ~ ~ ~ engineei~j Him~r~i, S,.~Dak.~~Burea1xOfRec4t~mati0fl J:~_ 30 Hurlbert,J.fli2t~i, mayor;:eity o1~ Aberdeen, S. DalL ~ ~ ~ ~ 106 ~ ~rk, Kenneth, ~resident, James River Flood Control Association~ ~u ~ . 161 J~ssen, Hans, ~ ~ 87 Johnson4~ ~Robr~rt~ Gro4~ori, Bi~wii County, S. Dak- _ ~ `~ ~. iL ~ L .. 182 ~1Ohnson, ~ Wnlter, ~ secretary~ Spink County Irrigation District board of ~ ~ . ` 76 `Jones, Arthur, president, East River Electric Power Cooperative_ ~ 165 ~ ~ ~ 202 ~`Ke1logg, Paul, mayor, Onidar~S.. ~ ~ 178 `i~Qicker, Fi~ed, ~ ~ 196 ~L~mbert~Mer1~i $`pinkOounty~ Frankfort, S~ ~ - - ~ - - !~ ~ -~- -~-~ ~ 17~3 L~rson,Clifford, Mellette, S. Dak ~ ~ 13~ ~ La Rue, ~ ~ Spank County Ministerial Association~_- ~ 186 4lAllenioe, Kenneth A., Mellette, S. Dak ~-~--- ~ . 200 Lbcken~ Alfred, farmer, Aberdeen, S. Dak ~ ~ ~ i ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 1~26 Maher, I~A; J.P~0$t~Ont4nsS~t~t pubiisher~ Huron DailyP1ains~ ~ ~ ~ c ~ ~ man,-and past~ president, South Dakota ~Re~laination .& Water D~vclop~ ~ mertt A~soei~ioth I ~ I ~ i ~ ~ ~ _ j 84 ~ I 17 ~Martens, Harry H.~ chainnan, South Dakota State Soil and Watet Con- ~ , ~ ~ ~ servation Committee, Wessington, S. Dak.~;i and ~ chaininan, ` Bel~die ~ ~ ~ e ~ ~ County- Soil and Water Conservation District~-L ~ . ~ ~ _ _ ~ ~ ~ 201 - McGovcr1k)~I~th Goc~r-gi;~s' E.S. -S~na4or 1~iom the State of South Dakota~ ~ ~ ~ 7 (~- - - Openingstatement, field hearing ~ 93 McN6imi~' ~Phomas,i prelident, South Dakota Farm Bnreau~ ~. J~ ` . 190 ~-Miles, Norbert, publisher, Times Record, Doland, S. Dak - 125 ~ ~--~--- 136 ~ Montgomery, Mi~s. T. 0., i~lat~r chalrmat~, League of ~ Women Voters of ~ South Dakota ~ ~ 173 Montgomery,P. O.~ pr~sideht, Aberdeen Garden Club-~ - ~ ~ ~ ~. 174 ~-Mundt, Hon. Karl E., a U.S. Senator from the State of South Dakota~ ~ 9 Munger( Stanley P.~ ~r~sids4it7 - South Dakota' Reclamation & Wa4er - `iDevelopment Association - `----~---~- ~Neumayr, ~ -~L~ at'toruê~ ti1otty~1burg, ~ Dak~. - ~ 207 - Nystrom; -N~rman~ super~is~r,- Hmig4~es County Soil & `Water Conservation -- - - District - -157 ~Paul, Norman, chairman, -Fhblk County Water Users Organiz~tion, Fa~ton, S. Dak 179 PAGENO="0005" Page. 2O(~ 72 ~154r 17 i93~ 2(~4 184 128 47 CONTENT~ ST~TEMEN~S-Coi~tinu~cl I Peterson, Hubert, Northville,. S. Oak ~ ~ ~ ~j Radcliffe, Ben H., president, South D~1~ota Farmers Union ~ Rehfeld, Alvin, chairman, West Brown Irrigation L~istrict, Warner~ S. Dak Reifel, Hon.~ Ben, a Representative .i~ Congress from the St~ste of South Dakota ~----- ~ Reinschmiclt,Adam, Huron, S. Dak ~ Ricci, Rithard, director, public relations, SOuth Dakota Farmers. Union_ Roberts, Royce, president, board of trustees, Cr~b~rd, S. . Dak~ ~ ~ Schmidt, Lowell, mayor, Huron, S. Dak ~ ~ Schmitt, Henry J~, editor and publisher, Aberdeen American-News; éhair- man, Soutila Dakota Industtial 1)evelopment Expansion Agency Schock, Al, ~ past president; Sioux Falls Chamber of Commercn; past vice president, Sioux Falls Industrial Development Foundations past presi- dent, South Dakota Reclamation & Water ~ Developmeitt ~ Association; president ~ Terranee Park I)aities, Inc., of ~ South Dakota ; president, Nordica Foods Co ~ ~ 85 Schultz, E. L., Redfield, S. Dak _~ 192 Seaman, Richard, Onida, S. Dak ~ ~ . 176 Seibel, Clayton, president, Marshall County Farmers Union, Kidder, S. Dak ~ - ~ ~ 209 Sewell, S~ E., vice president, Northwe~tern Publia Service Co., HurOn, ~ S. Dak ~ :~ ~ 48 Sharp, Gary, Bath, S. Dak ~ ~ ~ ~ SO, 109. Shock, Al, president, chamber of commerce,. Sioux Fall~, S. ~ DakJ . 139 Smith, Harold, farmer, Aberdeen, S. Dak ~ ~ ~ ~ . . 125 Smith, Loreii L, president, trustees of the town of Northville;S. Dak - _ 211~ Snyder, ~ Lawrence, Hughes County Water ~ Resources Committee, Pierre, ~ S. Dak ~ ~ 140 Sorenson, Dean R.~ representing the Pierre Chamber of Commei~ce * 149 Sperry, Allen, farmer, West Brown Irrigation District ~ ~ _ 146 Sperry, Jim, secretary, West Brown Irrigation Distridt, ~ Brown County, . * S. Dak 78,125 Stoltenberg, Floyd L., Stratford, S. Dak.L~~_~ i . 200 Strickland, Clarence, Sully County, S. Dak J I 178 Stroman, Ivan, manager, Huron Division, North~estern Publi~ Service Co . ~ Sutton, John E., Jr., Agar, S. Dak 17~ Swope, Frank, Orient, S. Dak ~ ~ 187 Swope, Mrs. Frank, Orient, S. Dak ~ ~ 148 Terwilliger,tROy, executive secretary, South Dakota Bankers Assôciation 149 The First Nationel B~nk of Miller, Hand County State Bank of Miller, Farmers Home Administration, the Federal LandBank Omce in Miller 113 Thores, Walter J., mayor, and of1i~ia1s of the city ofFaulktnn.. ~ ~ ~ 209 Vair~Winkle, Robert, Aberdeen, S. T)ak ~ 171 Van Winkle, Wayne, Columbia, S. Dak 150 Witala, Le Roy, president, Brown County Farmers Union, Federiek, S. Dak ,-- t42' Wright, Mrs. Frank, chairman, Spink Countiy Extension Homemakers Couneil 211 Young, E. M., McLaughlin, S. Dak 19V COMMUNICATIONS Anderson, Clif C., Farmers Elevator Association of South Dakota: Letter ~ to James L. Lewis, Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict, Huron, S. Dak., dated May 4, 1967 ~ ~. Baumai~, Glen W., presidc~nt, Beadle County Chapter, Izaak Walton League of America: letter to Oahe Irrigation Project Development, dated May 4, 1967 Bennett, L. Ardway, president, Lake Byron Improvement & Protective Association: Letter to Hon. Clinton P. Anderson, chairman, Water and Power Resources SubcommitUee, dated 1\4ay 8, 1967 - 114. 221 PAGENO="0006" I \Ti ~ CO~NTENPS ~ OOMMUNIOATIONS~-Oont1nued Bittner, ~ Herman, president, Cresbard Sportsmen's Club, Cresb~rd, S~ ~ Dak. : Letter to Senators George McGovern, Quentin N. Burdick, and Page Frank Moss, dated May 22, 1967 21~ Brotsky, Robert L~, president~ South Dakota Section American Society of Civil Engineers, dated May 5, 1967 223 Brugman, Donald G. president, Optimist Club of Huron: Letter to Hon. Clinton P. Anderson, chairman, Water and Power Resources Sub- committee, dated May 9, 1967 132 Cady, Florence, Mellette, S. Dak. : Letter to Water and Power Re- sources Subcommittee _ 221 Carey, George W., president, Huron Lions Club: Letter to Hon. Clinton P. Anderson, chairman, Water and Power Resources Subcommittee, dated May 17, 1967 132 Carr, Harold E., president, Hand County Farmers Union: Letter to Hon. Clinton P. Anderson, chairman, Water and Power Resources Sub- committee 113 Christensen, Ernest, president, Kiwanis Club of Webster, S. Dak. : Letter to Hon. Clinton P. Anderson, chairman, Water and Power Resources Subcommittee, dated May 2, 1967 217 Clapper Louis S., Chief, Division of Conservation Education: Letter to Hon. Clinton P. Anderson, chairman, Water and Power Resources Sub- committee, dated September 13, 1967 91 Coester, Mrs. Fran, president, Zonta Club of Aberdeen : Letter to Hon. Clinton P. Anderson, chairman, Water and Power Resources Subcom- ~ mittee, dated May 3, 1967 108 Dell, Robert L., president, Sertoma Club, Aberdeen, S. Dak. : Letter to Hon. Clinton P. Anderson, ` chairman, Water and Power Resources Subcommittee, dated April 28, 1967 108 Doyle, George J., president, Aberdeen Cosmopolitan Club : Letter to . Hon. Clinton P. Anderson, chairman, Water and Power Resources Sub- committee, dated May 19, 1967 107 Faulstick, Elmer P., chairman, Hyde County Water Development Com- ~ mittee, Redfield, S. Dak. : Letter to Interior and Insular Affairs Com- ~ mittee, dated May 22, 1967 .~ ~. ~ 217 Gilbertson, A. B., mayor, Redfield, S. Dak. : Letter to Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, dated May 8, 1967 96 Glassgow, Ed, manager-treasurer, Black Hills Conservancy Subdistrict, Rapid City, S. Dak. : Letter to Hon. Clinton P. Anderson, chairman, ~ Water and Power Resources Subcommittee, dated May 15, 1967 218 Guthmiller, Fred0 president, Beadle County Farm Bureau: Letter to Hon. George McGovern, U.S. Seliate, dated May 29, 1967 ~ 224 Hahn, Merlin, chairman, Spink County Soil & Water Conservation ~ District, Redfield, S. Dak. : Letter to Hon. Clinton P. Anderson, chair- man, Water and Power Resources Subcommittee, dated April 28, 1967~ 224 Hatid County Board of Commissioners : Letter to Water and Power Re- sources Subcommittee 113 Heisler, Leslie, chairman, Pollock-Herreid Irrigation Board : Letter to Hon. Henry M. Jackson, chairman, Interior and Insular Affairs Com- mittee, dated April 24, 1967 215 Hepler, Rev. Orville M., and Hunter, Rev. Wesley C. : Letter to Hon. George McGovern, U.S. Senate 227 Hipple, John H., president, Pierre Chamber of Commerce : Letter to Hon. Henry M. Jackson, chairman, Interior and Insular Affairs Committee 216 Hoisveen, Milo, State engineer, North Dakota : Letter to Hon. Quentin N. Burdick, U.S. Senate 46 Hunt, James H., executive secretary, South Dakota Land Improvement Contractors Association, Inc., Pierre, S. Dak. : Letter to Hon. Clinton P. Anderson, chaIrman, Water and Power Resources Subcommittee, dated April 25, 1967 106 Jennings, Dana C., Madison, S. flak.: Letter to Hon. George McGovern, U.S. S~nate, dated May 22, 1967 225 Koepsell, Paul L., South Dakota Engineering society: Letter to Hon. George McGovern, a U.S. Senator from the State of South Dakota, dated April 20, 1967 11& PAGENO="0007" APPENDIX VII COMMUNIOATIONS-Continue'd L~rsen~ C. W., president, South Dakota Ready Mix Concrete Association: Letter to Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict, Huron S. Dak., dated May 16, 1967 ~ Likness, Bruce A,, secretary, Langford Booster Club: Letter to John Schwab, Andover, S. Dak., dated May 3, 1967 Long, Denzel F., president, Redfield Kiwanis Club : Letter to Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, dated May 1, 1967 Long, James, president, Sertoma Club of Huron: Letter to Hon. Clinton P. Anderson, chairman, Water and Power Resources Subcommittee, dated May 4, 1967 ~ Lower James Conservancy Subdistrict, Mitchell, S. Dak Martin, Donald G., Onida, S. Dak: Letter to Hon. Clinton P. AndersQn, chairman, Water and Power Resources Subcommittee, dated April 13, 1967 Mateer, Curtis B., executive vice president, Pierre National Bank: Letter to Oahe irrigation project hearing, Redfield, S. Dak., dated May 5, 1967~ Maxwell, Alex, president, Day County, Sportsman Club, Bristol, S. Dak~ McGovern, George, a ILS. Senator from the State of South Dakota: Letter to A. B. Gilbertson, acting mayor, city of Redfield, S. Dak., dated January 23, 1967 McNenny, Thomas, president, South Dakota Farm Bureau Federation, Huron, S. Dak. : Letter to Hon. Clinton P. Anderson, chairman, Water and Power Resources Subcommittee, dated May 8, 1967 Nettinga, Sam, Wolsey, S. Dak. : Letter to Hon. George McGovern, U.S. Senate Parmeter, Walter N., chairman, the Soil Conservation Society of America, South Dakota Chapter: Letter to Water and Power Resources Suboom- mittee, dated May 8, 1967 Paul, Norman, chairman, Faulk County Water Users Organization, Faulkton, S. Dak. : Letter to Hon. Clinton P. Anderson, chairman, Water and Power Resources Subcommittee, dated May 22, 1967 Pence, E. M., clerk, Conde City Council, Conde, S. Dak. : Letter to Mr. Raymond Gallagher, General Counsel of Oahe Conservancy, dated April22,1967 ?enfold, J. W., conservation director, the Izaak Walton League of America: Letter to Hon. Clinton P. Anderson, chairman, Water and Power Re- ~ . sources Subcommittee, dated September 26, ~ Perry, E. J., M.D., city health officer, Redfield, S. Dak. : Letter to Mayor Woodland, dated July 28, 1966 ?eterson, Paul A., farmer, Spink County, Mellette, S. Dak. : Letter to Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, dated May 22, 1967 Peterson, Paul A., Mellette, S. Dak. : Letter to Hon. Clinton P. Anderson, chairman, Water and Power Resources Subcommittee, dated April 20, 1967 Pope, Kenneth, president, Aberdeen Lions Club : Letter to lIon. Clinton P. Anderson, chairman, Water and Power Resources Subcommittee, dated May 4, 1967 Roberts, Godfrey, M., Jr., mayor, Pierre, S. Dak. : Letter to Onhe irriga- tion project hearing, Redfield, S. Dak., dated April 25, 1967 Ross, Ellis, president, and Staves, Homer A., manager, Huron Chamber of Commerce : Letter to Hon. Clinton P. Anderson, chairman, Water and Power Resources Subcommittee, dated May 4, 1967 Schmidt, A. D., president, Northwestern Public Service Co., Huron, S. Dak. : Letter to Water and Power Resources Subcommittees dated April 21, 1967 Swenson, LaVerne, Bath, S. Dak Swift, R. M., president, the Associated General Contractors of South Dakota, Inc. : Letter to Hon. Clinton P. Anderson, chairman, Water and Power Resources Subcommittee, dated May 16, 1967 Unruh, Vernie, deputy State master, South Dakota State Grange: Letter to Interior and Insular Affairs Committee VanTassel, William, president, Huron Rotary Club: Letter to Ijon. Clinton P. Anderson, chairman, Water and Power Resources Subcom- mittee, dated May 4, 1967 Page 114 227 97 131 222 I 214 215 223 99 223 226 114 225 217 92 99 217 104 108 216 130 105 226 112 222 130 PAGENO="0008" CQMMUNICi?LON~-~oiitinued Wilcox, Mrs. John, president,. Redfield Business and Profossional Women's ~ ~lub: Letter to Qah~ irrigation project hearings, `dated A~ril 17, 1967~* Williamson, EL IL, secretary, Kiwanis Club of Aberdeen : Letter to Hon. Clinton. P. Anderaoh, chairman, Water and Power Resources Subcom- mittee,datecl May 12, 1967__L~.~ Wittmeier, Donald,~ chairman, Campbell County Soil and Water ~onserva- tion Board: Letter to Hon. Heitry M. Jackson, chairman, Interior and Insular Aff~tirs O~mmi:ttee, dated April 26,~ 1~967 - Wolker, Mrs~ Vera E., Huron, S. Dak. Letter to Hon. Clinton P. Ander- son, chairman,. Water and Power Resources SubcommitteeL~ YOung,. Milton R., a U.S. Senator from the State of North Dakota: Letters to lion. Henry M. Jackson, ch~drman, Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, dated April 6, 1067 and April 17, 1967 212-2 13 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION a 29, ~ 9 k - ~rce ssocial ~,~ractors ~ ague Association 207 Page. 96 VIII APPENDIX 107 21.~ 227 ces Committee, South Da Hedfield, S. Dak~. Inc PAGENO="0009" APPENDIX ADDITIONAL INFORMATION-Continued Res~oiutiona-Continued South Dakota Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers South Dakota Water and Wastewater Conference, Pierre, S. Dak~ South Dakota Wildlife Federation South Dakota Wool Growers Association, Minneapolis, Minn Spink County Conservation & Wildlife Club, Inc Spink County Electric Association Spink County Farmers' Union Spink Electric Cooperative, Inc Tn-County Electric Association, Inc Tulane town board Turner Hutchinson Electric Cooperative, Inc Veterans of Foreign Wars, Redfield, S. Dak Webster Lions Club, Webster, S. Dak IX Page. 115 114 153 116 227 169 163 170 170 228 169 98 228 PAGENO="0010" I PAGENO="0011" I OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1967 TJ.S. SEN-ATE, Stm~coM~nTTEE ON WATER AND POWER RESOURCES OF THE COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met pursuant to call, at 10 a.m. in room 3110, Senate Office Building, ~enator Henry M. Jackson presiding. Present : Senators Henry M. Jackson (Washhigton) ; Frank Church' (Idaho) ; Frank E. Moss (Utah).; Quentin N. Burdick (North Dakota) ; George McGovern (South Dakota) ; Len `B. Jordan (Ida- ho) ; and CliO~ord P. Hansen (Wyoming). . Also present : Jerry T. Verkler, staff director ; Roy M. Whitacre, professional staff member ; William Van Ness, sp~cial assistant ; and Darryl Hart, assistant minority counsel Senator JACKSON. The subcommittee will come to order. The hearing today is on Senate"bil'l 6, by Senators George McGov- em and Karl Mundt, to authorize construction of the first unit of the Oahe irrigation project in the Missouri River Basin in `South Dakota. A copy of' the bill and the reports of the Interior Department and the Bureau of the Budget will be printed at this point. (The data referred to follows:) (S. 6, 90th Cong., first sess.] A EILL To authorize the Secretary ~f tire' Interior to construct,. operate, and maintain the ~1rst stage oi~ the Oahe unit, James division, Missouri River Easin project, South Dakota, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate aM House of Repre$entçi~tiDes of the United states of America in Congress assembled, That the ~ecretar~ of the Interior is hereby authorized to construct, operate, and maintain in accordance with the Federal reclamation laws (Act o1~ June 11, 1902 (32 Stat. 388), ` and Acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto)' the first stage of the Oah'e unit, James division, Missouri River Basin project, South Dakota, for the principal purposes of furnish- ing a surface irrigation water supply for approximately one hundred and ninety thousand acres of land, furnishing water for municipal and industrial uses, con- trolling floods, enhancing the generation of power, conserving and developing fish and wildlife resources, and enhanchig~ outdoor recreation opportunities, and other purposes. The principal features of the first stage of the Oahe unit shall consist of the Oahe pumping plant to pump water from the Oahe Reservoir, i~ system of main canals, regulating reservoirs, and the James diversion dam and the James pumping plant on the James River. The remaining works will include appurtenant pumping plants, canals, and laterals for distributing water to the land, and a drainage system. ` SEC 2 The Secretary is authorized as a part of the project to construct oper ate and maintain or otherwise provide for public outdoor recreation and fish and wildlife enhancement facilIties, to acgilfre or otherwise thake available `such ad- jacent lfinds or interests therein a~ are necessary for public outdoor recreatiOn I PAGENO="0012" EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF TIlE PEEsIth~T, BUREAU OF THE BtJDGET, Washington, DXL, September 11, 1967. JAMES M, FEEx~ Acti~i A~~sist ant Director for Legisl~tive Reference. n.s: Dth~ARPMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF TIlE SECRETARY, WashingtoH, DXL, September 11, 1967. 2 OA}tE~ t~sTIT, MISSOIJRI RIVER BASIN PROJECT or fish and wildilfe use, and to provide for public use and enjoyment of project lands, facilities, and water areas in a manner coordinated with the other project purposes. SEC. 3. The Oahe unit shall be integrated physically and financially with the other Federal works constructed or authorized to be constructed under the corn- prehensj~Ve ~1~1~pprQVcd X~y~ sectiQn Q pf t~e Act of December 22, i~944~~as awended and shptile1nfe~i4l~d. f ~ . .~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ : ~ SEC. 4. For a period of ten years from the date of enactment of this Act, no water from the project authorized by thisAct shall be delivered to any water user for the production on newly irrigated lands of any basic agricultural corn- inodity, as defined ~nthe i~grIcultu~Jd Act of 1949, o5Rfl~ amendment thereof, if the total supply of such commodity for the marketing year in which the bulk of the crop would normally ~be~ niarketed is in excess of the normal supply as de- fined in section 301(b) (1Q) o1~ the Agricultural. Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended, unless the ~ecretaty of Agrieultpre calls for at! increase in production of such eO~thnodlty in the ii~itereet of nationki security. SEC. ~ Theinterest rate used for purposes of computing interest during con- ~ructioi~i aiid interest . on the ~ unpRid balance of the capital costs allocated to `interest-bearihg f~ittn~ of the pro~jE~ct shall be jetermined by the Secretary of the Preasttry, t~of the begimling of the fiscal year in which construetion is mi- ;tiated, on theI*slaof the computed average interest rate payable by the Treas- ury upon its aut~tandin~ war1~et~ible public obligations, which are neither due nor callable for redemption forfifteeIl years from date of issue. SEC. 6. There `is hereby aut15oFizex~1 to be appropriated for construction of the Oahe unit as authorized inthis Act the surti of $200,684,000 (based upon January 19114 price~) , plus or minus such amounts, tI~ any, as may be justified by reason of ordinary fluctuations in construction cos~.s as indicated by engineering costs indexes applicable to the types of construction involved herein. There are also authorized to be appropriated such additional sums as may be required for opera- tion and mailiténafice of the uflit. Hon. HENRY M.JAQ~Ksol~, ~ Chairman, Con~mtttee on Interior and Iftsnlar Affairs, U.S. Senate, Washiagton, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN : This is in reply to your letter of January 16, 1967, re- questing the views of the Bureau of the Budget on S. 6, a bill "To authorize the Secretary of the Interiorto construct, operate, and maintain the first stage of the Oahe unit, Jam~& dtvtsion, Missouri River Basin project, South Dakota, and for other purposes." The purpose~q~ t1~e bil~ is clearly stated in its title. The De~artm~ni~qf the Inte~iQr., in a report being. submitted to your Corn- mittee, recon~~n4~ ei~c~tniept ofplie Nh with amendments. The Bur~u of t1~e Budget ~yçuhI haye. no obje~tion to the enactment of S. 6, if amended.a~auggested~i the &~cretary of the Interior. Sincerely your~, flon. W~N1~ ~I~'AC~CSON, Chairman, U~i1Mttee on Interior and InssUttr Affairs, U.S. Sçwite, ~~as~hington,D.q. DE~R SEwATca~ JACICSON : This Is in re~poue to your request for the views of this Dep~rtm~~t on S~, 6, a bill "Tfl ~uthorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct, Qperate, and m~i~tairi the first stage of the Oalie unit,. James division, Misso~tri River Basin project, South Dakota, and for other purposes." PAGENO="0013" OAUE ~IJ~I~ .~4~s~9TJ~I IUy~t ~SIN. PROJ~q~ç. 3 We Fecommend that the bill b~ ~nacte4 as am~nd~çj ~ ~ * ~ rtbe O~he unit Was autiiorizëd by the 1~lo~d Cohtrol Acts oi~ ~9~4(58 ~tat. 887) and 1946 (60 Stat. 641) . The general comprehensive plan forihë Missouri River Basin project was presented in Senate Document 191 and House Document 475 (78th Congress) as revised and coordinated by Senate Document 247 (78th Con- gress) . The Secretary's subsequent planning report on the initial stage of the unit was prepa~red pursuant to the provisions of Public Law 442, 88th Congress, which requires reauthorization by the Congress of any units of the Missouri River Basin project on which construction was not underway as of August 14, 1964. Authority to engage in the feasibility investigations of the Oahe unit was provided by the Act of September 7, 1966 (80 Stat. 707) . ~ ~ ~ The lnitial stage of the Oahe unit would be a multipurpose water aiid related land resources development providing an h~Hgation water supply to 190,000 acres of land. and municipal and industrial water supplies to 17 towns and cities in and near the unit. It would also provide for flood control, outdoor recreation opportpnities, and fish and wildlife conservation and development. Benefits would accrue to area redevelpuient from construction of the unit as well a~ ~om the operation and maintenance activities that would follow. Priiicipal supply works of the unit will consist of the Oahe and James pumping plants, a system of main canals, the three regulating reservoirs formed by the proposed Blunt, Cresbard, and Byron Dams, the existing Jamea Diversion Dam, and channel improvements on the James River. These facilities would be supple- mented by distribution canals, laterals, and pumping plants to deliver water to the land, and the necessary drainage facilities. Pumping power would be obtained from the 1~/Jisso~jri River Basin Power System. The 190,000 ~ acres of new land proposed for irrigation development in the initial stage lie in the Lake Plain area adjacent to the James River in Brown and Spink Counties in northeastern South Dakota. Irrigation in the area has been extremely limited because of inadequate surface water supplies during the grow- ing season and the limited groundwater supply. Rainfall is neither timely nor adeçi~uate to realize the agricultural potential that the lands would have with a full water supply. The provision of a dependable water supply for irrigation would remove the present high risk associated with dryland farming, improve the agricultural base, and stimulate and stabilize the overall economy of the area to the benefit of the State and the Nation. The present heavy. reliance upon small grain farming would, with irrigation, be shifted largely to the production of more diverse crops associated with livestock production and to the production of cash crops such as beets. Water supply for the unit would be obtained primarily from the Missouri River by diverting water from the existing Oahe Reservoir through the Oahe pumping plant. The total water requirement for. the initial stage of the Odhe unit will average 563,900 acre-feet annually. Diversion from Oahe Reservoir would supply about 72 percent of this amount, or 408,400 acre-feet ; 104,800 acre- feet would be obtained from returfi flows carried by the Jaities River in ~ the Lake Plain area ; and the remaining 50,700 acre-feet would be obtained from natural flows of the James River. ~ . . . . Subsequent further studies made of the plan presented In the planning report indicate that investments required to enhance commercial power production at the existing Oahe powerplant Would be infeasible. Therefore, the report has been modified to elimifiate the power enhancement function and the benefits attribu- table to this purpose and to reduce the cost estimates of the unit by the amount that would have been needed to Include that function. Subse~uefit con~id'dration of the plan also led to the de~ision not to include the additiowtl capaèity which was proposed in some of the principal supply Works for ultimate developffient of the unit. This also reduced the cost estimate originally presented In tht~ planning report. The total project and assigned cost for the initial stage of the Oahe unit as shown in the original report was reduced from $246,230,000 to $234,038,000 (Jan- uary 1964 prices) for this modified plan. A comparison of theflttllocatlon of such PAGENO="0014" Irrigation: ~ Direct_ Total~ Municipal-industrial water supply Fish and wildlife enhancement Flood control ~ Recreation Area redevelopment Power Iincompensated adverse effects The elimination of the power benefit~s and redu~tion in the estimated costs woi~d have no ap~reoiab1e effect on the compu~d benefit-eo'st ratio for the unit (2.5 to 1.00 for total benefits and 1.6 to 1.00 for direct benefits only). Operation, n~ain'tenance, and replacement costs wonlü totai $1,486,40Q. This cost includes $30,500 associated with specific recreation and fish and wildlife enhancement features that would be a local agency responsibility, and $92,100 that wouid be a Fede~a1 nonreimbur~sahle expenditure for reereaction, fish and wildlife, and flood ~omtro1. The remaining $1,363,800 would be reimiburs~tble. All of the project and a~ssign~d costs allocated to irrigation would be reim~ hursabie. Average annual paymept capacity of irrigable lands in the Initial stage of ~he Oaihe umiit i~as bee~n estiniated at $11.40 per acre. Deduction of a con- tingency and incen4ive ~Uowance `of $1.40 per acre results in a recmnmended ave~rage annual water charge of $10.00 per acre. Further deduction of operation, matatenanee, and repiaceme1~ costs', estimated at $0.80, leave's $3.20 per acre for a'mo~ti~bti~n~ of a iiart ~f the project an~l assigned costs allocated to irriga- tjos:i, The remaining r~9imbursable casts allo~ated to irrigation wonld be repaid from power revenues of the Missouri River Basin project. Water users and the conservancy subdistrict w'oul'd repay $33,440,000 or about 16 percent of the costs allocated to irrigation, in a 50-year period following a 10-year development period. The remaining reimbursable obligation of $1~2,- 350,000 would be returned from revenues from commercial power sales accruing to the Mis~~uri River Basin project. The sufficiency of Missouri River Basin project power revenues to nlieOt the reimbursement and financial assistance ob- ligattons of the overall Missouri River Basin project was dealt with most recently I 4 OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BAStN PEOJECT costs in the September 29, 196~, proposed report with that of the August 1907 i~çiodified plan 1~ol1ows: Allocation of project and assigned cost Purpose September 1965 August 1967 ~ proposed report modification I rrigatiofl - - $205, 790, 000 $205, 790, OOG Municipal and industrial water supply 11,324,000 11,324,000 Fish and wildlife 11,066,000 11,066,000 Flood control 1, 234, 000 1, 234, 000 Recreation 2, 624, 000 2, 624, 000 Power ~ ~ - ----~------ 2,775,000 Highway betterment 2, 000,000 Total allocated - 234,813,000 234,038,000 Deferred cost (future capacity) 11,417, 000 -- Total cost 246,230,000 234, 038, 000 A tabular comparison of the annual benefits from the project follows: Annual benefits Purpose -~ August 1967 September 1965 modification proposed report $11,507,700 ~%1,~07, 700 19,618,300 1~ 618,300 465,600 ~465, 600 435,900 435,900 46,700 46,700 108,400 108,400 218,600 218,600 97,900 -48a, 900 - -483, 900 Net benefits: Direct 12, 880, 800 12, 782, 900 Total 20,507,500 20,409,600 Benefit-cost ratio: Total 2.5 2.5 Direct 1.6 1.6 PAGENO="0015" OAHE UNIT, MISSOUTU RIVER BASIN PROJECT in our "Report on Financial Posi~tion, Mi~our1 River Basin Project, December 1963," which was transmitted to the Co~igress on December 17, 19~33. That report iI1~tra~ed ~at with an Increase o~ 0.25 m&lls per kl1~watt~ho~ir In the saie pHce o1~ fini~ commer~ia1 power marketed in the Eastern division of the project and adoption of proposed interest rate ci~iteria, adeqi~ate revenues are in prospect to retire *all rein~burs'abie investments and to repay the irrigtvtion costs oi~ the Oahe unit wMch ai~e beyond the capacity of the irrigators to repay. The required rate increase has been promu1gat~d by adimlnlstrative action and the proposed in- teres~ i~ate criteria have been authortzed by the Congress through enactment of section 4(b) o~ the Act of Augnst 5, 1965 (79 Stat. 433). The allocation of $11,324,000 to m~unicipa1 and indnstrial water supply plus interest during construction (534,000) wonl'd also be repaid with interest by the beneficiaries of this water service. No additional capacity or s~ecia1 struc- tures would be required to provide rnun~eipal and industrial water service and no specific costs are included in the estimate for the Oahe unit. Joint costs al- located to municipal and industrial water supply would be repaid with interest by an average charge of approximately $26 per acm-foot of raw water. Delivery of water would be made at canalside and at the James River, and all works re- quired to treat or to transport the water to places of use would be the respon- sibility of the user. Storage facilities for the winter period would be required in most ii~stances because project facilities would be operated only during the Irriglation sea~son. Non-Federal interests would also be responsible for administration of the unit land and water are~is for fish and wildlife and recreation purposes and for the repayment of $674,000 of specific costs, ~in~1uding interest during con- st~i~tion ($41,000) , for fish and wildlife enhancement features, and spectfic costs for recreation of $32~,OOO, including interest during construction ($7,000). i~i~ Oahe C~nservancy Subdistrict and the Game, Fish and Parks Commission of the State of South Dakota have indicated by letter of September ~, 1966, their intent to agree to adm~nister and share in the separable costs of the uu~t in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Water Project Recreation Act (79 Stat. 213). The remaining project and assigned costa allocated to fish and wildlife en- bancement and recreation deveiopment ($12,738,000) would be F~deral costs and would be nonreimbursable. Likewise, the costs allocated to the fIo~xI control func~tion ($1,234,000) would be nonre1mbursable~ The allocation to highway betterment in accordance with section 207(c) of the Flood Control Act of 1960 (74 Stat. 500) as amended by section 208 of the Flood Oon'trol Act of 1962 (76 Stat. 1196) , amounting to $2,000,000 would `a5i~o be nonretmbursable. Ei~actment of the bill would authorize expenditures of $1,808,000 for lands for the enhancement of migratory waterfoWl production an~d resting habitat. This amount would be charged agaiimi the e,~penditure lhnthta~tion of $28,000,000 for such expenditures established by subsection 6(c) of the Federal Water PrOject Recreation Act (79 Stat. 213). We recommend the following amendments to the bill: Section 1 Since enhancement of hydroelectric power generation is no longer a purpose of the unit, on page 2, line 4, delete the words "enhancing the generation of power,". Section ~ Section 2 of the bill coneern~ the functions of recreation and fish and wildlife enhancement in connection with the initial stage of the unit. The pas~sage of the Federal Water Project Recreation Act (79 Stat. 213) and subsequent legls~ lative history iuakes it possible to prOvide for incluston cml cost-sharing func- tions by reference to that Act. Accordingly, we recommend the following language in lieu of that found in section 2 of the bill: "The conservation and dev4lopineut of the fish ~nd wildlife resources and `the enhancement of recreation `opportunities in connection with the initial stage of the Oiahe unit shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Water 1~roject Recreation Act (79 Stat. 213)." Section 6 5 I Because enhancement of power generation and additional capacity of some supply works have been eliminated and an estimiated $2,000,000 for highway PAGENO="0016" *Lc~8po~ ~aeq uoi~s~ mo jio ~dt~i~su~q ~ T{~M ~UOIB pcqsi~qnd cq ifiM ~ ~UIJ~q p~jpo~j eqj~ .~ p~TIo~E~nb io p~soddo qoiq~ p~y c~ic~ s~u~atc~s o&j~ ~ocfoid eq~ j:o uorcpni~suoo p~in prn~ pes~iopuc pei~dd~ oq~& sseu~i~~& i~i~ ,s~u~T1I -~Y~s p~imqns ~io p~yt~sa~ ~sseu~r~ ooi u~q~ ~uoj~ ~oip~In~[ JO~p~U~ ~Tfl3 ~SSOJ~ ~irn~i JOV3U~S `U~[~AO~OJ,~ ~[O~3U~S ~q `~i~a S `PI~P~I u~ ~ ~ p~~npuoo ~& ~oe[o~d ~ pu~ ~jtq eq~ uo ~uu~eq p~e~j y ~ ~ v, ~ O~ ~3 ~q jip~& `~pe~TtpTr~ &qpn~ou~ `s:~soo oc~ S~~u~q Ii~ ;j:o oi~p~t. eq~ ~ ~U%~ 1~ O~ 9J scjsoo pci~ox4 TUM ~j~u~q ~J~p ~i3q~ ~U~Lp~iprn `I~AO~d~ n~ua~j c~e~pn~ ~& -fo~T eq~ uo ~q13~IoA~J pe~iod~u s~q .iou~uj oq~ jo ~ ~~kL ~ piru UOTL~~IOOJ ~q epuQoi~ pu~ `u~i~ eq~ ui s~i~uuwwoo ~ipjic1d~ -dus ~ ~ pu~ I~d!o~unw `uot~i~ui O~ uoi~pp~ in `~p(AoacT ~Jp~ ~ `Si)Jo~ 000'06T SUT1~UOO P9AIOAU~ ~TUU OqJ4 NOSMOVf JO~13U4~ 000 `OOL'1'I 00000911 000 `6Z0 `IT 000'1~9'l~ 000 `ZTE `171 OO0~8817'l~ 8t~Z 661 SI 061 ~=~=~4±7~ OS 81 ~1 ZT I~Z z81 81i 9~1 000 `00661 000 L06 `IT 000 `E66~ 9171 000 `OQI? `9 000 19L `S 000 `8E9~ 176 911 8 L 96 18 01 65 liE 01 L S I 01 C 6 17 00000171 ~~saJnppued~a I~8O11IPPe pe4~w!0se `I~4O~L 00017011 000 `96I~ ~ J9L11~ltI'V ~ * - &~ -~-~ Sa3~/lJaS euos~~ ,~ ~ ~ : saini!puadxa J?UO1~!PPe pG4BWJ4~ Eli -.-~-~- - -`- -~ - - ~1uGw~o!dwo U~!IiA!3 10 SJ~G~14HiW ~L1O!1~pp~p9leW!1Se `i~oi - aA~4Ue1sqns ~1e4óf ~- S~L8~11O ~ .T:~ SJ9aUI393 - -- ~ ~P!e pue ~u~pIuq3a4 8u~iêeu~8u~ , ` :(weJ8oJd)~A~48elsqnS 11 S 1 1 I =#=~ -~----~r~ - ~ . ~ ==~= S I 1. 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T)~IT~ .~SSOWtI ~UVJ~R ~ASIN PROJEQT 7 ~U;i~ O~ithe proj~et was fl~t a~thoi~~ed in 1944 ii~he F1~9d C~ntro1 Act whi~~ oove~E~ci the so-called Pic1~-S1oan. plan fo~ Missoi~ri giver deveiopmez~t~ It w~:then cQnceived. ~LS a/~5O~OOO~ to 1 . rni11ioii~acre project. ~i~bseqi~ent detailed . i~westigations ha'sre ind~iç~ted, that about 4~i5~QOQ. acres in th~ a~rea ar~ lest. suited for irrigatiot~. It is contem- plated that future units will extend the prøject to at least this total acreage. ~ ~ ~ Since ~j~iiii~ig the Interior and Insuia~ Affairs Committee in 1963, our colleague, Senator George McGovern, l~as ke~t many of us, aware of the importance of this project .t& the State ai~c1 ~ation, as has the very able senior Senator from South. Pa~kbta, Senator Karl Mundt. Senator Mundt, incidentally, is the ranking member of the Appro- priations ~ Committee for the ~ Department o~ the Interior. As you all know, these projeàts first have tob~. ~uthorized. That is the main prob- 1~em for Senator McGovern. But having authorized it, that is not enough. You have to get the money. Sè~iator Mundt is the ranking minority member on the Int&rioi~ Appropriatioj~s Subcommittee and I am sure he will have something to say, as will Senator McGovern, about the prospects of not only the authorization, but getting the money. We are delighted and pleased that both Senators are~here today. I am going tO ask the two Senators to make theiupening stat~ments, first Senator McGovern and then Senator Mundt~ , STATEMENT OP EON. GEORGE McGOVERN, A U?S,~ SE~TATOE PROM THE STATE OP SOUTH DA1~OTA Senat~ iair~m'tn, first of all IL I yo Interior. ] owed port from . i~istrai ~Ofl.: So I am grateful to you and also to the subcommittee chairman, Senator Anderson, ai~id the rest of my fellow committee rtiembers, for the prompt consideration being given this bill. ~ I would like to also take this occasion to thank Senator Moss of Utah, and Senator Burdick, our colleague from North Dakotas who joined with me in the field hearings in Eedfield on th~ 22d clay of May. We heard about 100 witnesses at that time. I am sure~ that the hearing, and the experience we had in the State, will help pave the way for authorization of the bill. Senator Moss told me after the hearing in Redfield that it was one of the finest, if not the finest, field hearing it hasever been his pleasure to participate in. Senator JACKSON. Senator McGovern, I wanted to say to both you and Senator Mundt that I have another meeting scheduled right at this hour. I will be leaving shortly. I will ask Senator Burdick to preside at the hearilig this morning. I hope you gentlemen will understand the situation. Senator MOGOVERN. We appreciate your being here to open the hear- ings, Senator Jackson. 83-182--67-2 PAGENO="0018" 8 OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT I also want to say a word of appreciation to my senior colleague in the Senate, Senator Mundt. As the chairman has said, he will play a key role in getting appropriations for this project. But, he has been working over the years on the autl~orization, as has Congressman Berry and Congressman Reifel, who will testify later on, along with our Governor, Govemior Bee. One of the most perstiasive aspects of this entire Oahe development project from the very beginning has been the bipartisan spirit in which we approached it. Senator Mundt is the only member of the delegation who was here at the time of the Flood Control Act of 1944 when this project first got ith authorization, but al] of us have been working together through the years for the authorization of this very nnpor- tant project which is so vital to the future of South Dakota. If I could take just one more moment, I would like to express my appreciation to the Assisth~nt Secretary of the Interior, Kenneth flolum. He has been the moving spirit behind getting this project on its way to construction. He is the man who broke it loose and moved it through administrative channels. We will be hearing from him a little later on this morning. The authorization in Senate bill 6 to begin construction of the Oahe irrigation project has been more than a quarter of a century reaching this committee. As has been said the Oahe project was included in the blanket Missouri River development program authorized in the Flood Control Act of 1944. Beoau*se of major changes in many project plans, however, Con- gress passed an act in 1964 requiring the reauthorization of all Mis- souri Basin projects. That is why we are before the committee now, although we probably would have been regardless of the 1964 act since it has been the Bureau of Reclamation's policy to submit these major projects to the Congress without regard to the 1944 authori~a- tion. The Oahe project is the biggest development project on South Dakota's economic horizon today, as it has been for many years. East- em South Dakota, where it is located, lies between the humid center of the Mississippi Valley and the semiarid outer reaches. Rainfall and agricultural crop production are uncertain. We have lost many crops as a result of drought ; farmers have suffered, and the commum- ties which are dependent on agriculture have suffered with them, in both dry and semidry years. These conditions have, over the years, eroded the expectations of those who settled in. South Dakota on the assumption that its fertile soil would bring forth a bountiful harvest year after year, unmindful of the many dry years. They and their heirs have undergone acute economic problems as a consequence. Our population has been nearly static for many years, and there has been a high outmigration of younger people looking for greater opportunity. We have, for at least two generations, envisioned the Oahe irrigation project as one major way to bring stability to central and eastern South Dakota. Men such as my predecessor in the Senate, the late Francis Case, former Gov. M. Q. Sharp, the late Bob Lusk, Pierre editor Bob 1-Tipple, and many, many other people from our State for years have seen the possibilities .of irrigation development. PAGENO="0019" I OAHE UNIT, MISSO1Th~I RIVER BASIN PROJECT 9 It was the promise of large-scale irrigation development that caused us to accept the sacrifices and the loss of rich river bottom land that was necessary to make possible the enormous flood potential, naviga- ton, power generation, and irrigation reservoirs on the Missouri River. It is estimated that the first stage of the project that we are con- sidering here today, a 190,000-acre project, will support an increased population of some 14,000 people, and that it will generate an average increase in our annual economic activity of some $71 million. For South Dakotans, it means an end to the depressing cycle of dry years that has plagued our agriculture for many decades. For the benefit of those who are concerned about bringing new land under irrigation as it relates to surplus crops2 I point out that irrigation in our State will actually work in a beneficial direction by freeing us from dependence on those grain crops that are in surplus. It will enable us to expand livestock production. Meat products are in increas- ing demand in our country as we upgrade the quality of the foods we consume. It is my personal belief that because of the growing demands for food that will be placed on agriculture in this Nation from both our own country and from other parts of the globe in another decade, that we should begin now to increase our productivity and our productive possibilities to meet those demands. Again, let me say I look forward to hearing from the witnesses who ~tre in the committee room today, particularly Mr. Fred Holscher, chairman, Oahe subdistrict, and his fellow directors. I want to give assurances to everyone who testified at the Redfield hearings that those remarks will be incorporated in the official hear- ings to be printed at the conclusion of the testimony we will take today. ~ I will not take any further time from the hearing today since I can express further views in executive sessions. We have a number of expert witnesses with us, from the administration, from our State, members of the congressional delegation, as well as our Governor, whom we want to hear. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Senator BunDIcK (presiding) . Senator Mundt? ~ STAT~E1VL.ENT OP RON. KARL E. 1VIUNDT, A U.S. SENATOR P1~O3Y[ THE STATE OP SOUTH DAKOTA Senator MtTNDT. Mr. Chairman, may I say first of all it is good *to be back before this committee again, where I have been so many times. We have a real affinity for this committee on Our Appropria- tions Committee because we deal, in large part, in one of our sub- committees, with the constructive work which you authorize in this éommittee. I see all of you at times before our committee asking for funds to' carry out projects you authorize. I think the last invasion we had from this committee was by the `acting ~hairman, Senator Burdick, ~vho came down for the funds for the Garrison project, which is a sort of twin project to our Oahe unit. It is a little further north, and ~a little faster moving. It moved especially fast, of course, because of PAGENO="0020" ~p ~AHE ~ ]~ussppBJ; 1~v~ ~ BASIN PROJJ~JCT Ithe eJoq~nt .appea1~ ~4 ~ur actiJ~ig ~TIairiT1~rn, ~ aided a little bit by the fact thal~ ~us senior co11eaguç~ ~erveso,n tI~e Appropriations committee Sei~a~toi~' ~3URpIçE And we ~re very grateful to both o~ you Seuato~ MtJND~, ~`Dhar~k you May J flay, sir, that ~i11 of the eloquent argur~ents that ~ou ~~de for the ~Ir4son pl9Ject are eqi~ially perti nent to the Qahe projepL Eadl~ is ~fri~l~r to the other So I~ am hippy, ~u:id I aso~iat~ myseIff~rsf of a1~I~wit~the i~mark~ of p~iy junior col- league with i~egarci to ôurappreciatioi~ ~o ~l~ê many witnesses whp have come here fr9I~i~ SOUtl~L ~ ~athe assistance we received from Mi Ilolum, the cooperat~o~i that this committee has piovided as we move, now in the direction of aut~ôrizing S. ~ ~, to take care of the Oahe~uriit, which we hope c~n be dbne expeditiously. Of course, ~he wheels oJ~ the Appropriations Committee. cannotturn until the authpr- izat~on bill has passed the Congress. ~ . ~ ~ This brings to ~ perio4 ~9f fruition a long-time development of our Missouri River developgrent program. I well remember the early 1940's wh~ii we were going up and down the river through. `a nine- State area with ~ Members of Congress and the variQus Governors ~ho were ~ serving at that time, with representatives of the Corps of Engineers~and. the Bureau of Replamation, seeking to sit down to- gether and develop a plan which would provide the needed flood con- trol, irrigation, nnd other resourcedevelopment programs to enhance our overall economy and well-beipg on . the Missouri River and pro- tect the people~n tl~e lower . areas from the awesome floods which have been disturbing the populaeefor many years. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~I recall the many. n~eeti~igs with~General Pick and Glenn Sloan, who st~trted . out at arms'; 1~igth at~ i~he :b~g~inni.ng of tbat long tour and w~und up worl~g ~together ~it~ complete. cooperation, and cutting a real path, it seenis to me, in the way in which two companion di- visions of ,Governm~it, i~1~ie Corps of Engineers and the Buveau of Rçclamatión, could wor1~together a~, one. ~ . . Phe plan called . for the construction of . four ~ high dams on the Missouri River in south Dakota ~nd one~n North Dakota, which would provide water for irrigation of what was thought to be around 750,000 acres. It also would provide significant flood control, naviga- tion, and water quality control benefits to . many residents down the stream, along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Of course,. it has been tremendously successful in the generation of cheap hydroelectric power. From the very ~beginning, the people and all public officials of South Dakot~ have strongly backed the full de- velopment of the Pick-Sloan . plan, even though it would flood and remove from ~the ~ tax rolls in South Dakota, as it did in North Da~ kota, over 1 million aeres of productive agricultural land. . The irrigation development is a benefit of construction of the large-scale dams, and as a result of the inundating of our fertile land, irrigation in the Oahe project was to be our compensation for giving up this one-half million acres of land. Thus, when we come before your committee today, and we appear before the Congress, we are asking for less than 1 acre of irrigation development for each 2 acres of our land that is now inundated becau~o of the development of this great natural resource. The portion of this irrigation, an area of 190,000 acres which would be provided for in this initial stage construction of the Oahe irriga- PAGENO="0021" OATI1~ uNIT, MIS~OiJU1 I~TS?EB 13ASII~ I~RCttFC~ tion unit, Is 1ocatc~d in ~ h~tt is ~omn~ion1y re~ri~ed to as the ¶high risk farming area iii ea~t~ centra1~ohth Th~kot~L Irrig~t~oiT WoukT~j~p- vide tIie opportunity to s~abi1ize and increaseagricu1tui~a1 inrn~n~t other bü~inès~ inc&m~ in this great ~rea of our ~tat~. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ In looking ~ at the ba~lance sheet on the prôgre~s of comp1etin~ the Missour~i River development prograth, ~r the. Piëk-$1o~ plan, we find that the inainstem da~rn~ have .beeh eonstriict~d and are func- tioning to provide full benefits irt all the multiple purposes for which they were created. These beiiefits almdst ~ll accrue tb the States which are downstream on the Missouri River from South Dakota. Electric power generation and transmi~sion facilities are in large measure completed, but here also substantial quantities of the electric power generated is transmitted to States adjoining South Dakota. The large reservoirs in South Dakota are providing great recreation and fish and wildlife development, but additional. dev~lopn~nt of these facilities is dependent upon irrigation development as would be imple- mcnted when the Congress approves S. 6. As authorized in 1944 by the FlOod Control Act, the Qahe unit en- visioned a diversion of water from the Missouri Riverfor irrigation in east central South Dakota. A feasibility study, whith was dated May 1965, by the Bureau of Reclamation, shows that the multiple- purpose Oahe unit would provide about 495,000 acres of irrigable land. That is our plan and that is our hope for the future. We talked here this morning of the initial stage of that. . The full program would provide for a municipal and industrial water supply for 23 cities and towns. It would provide for.recreation, and fish and wildlife development in 29 localities, and flood control and pollutant abatement benefits for people getierally in the eastern part of the State. We have been told by the chairman that the project has a cost-benefit ratio of 2.8 to 1. So we ask this morning; Mr. Chairman, in this legis- lation for authorizing the initial stage of development. I repeat, this is the initial stage of a large program which will con- tinue to .evohre and grOw, Tam sUre, by steady inci'ements, as we start getting th~ beiiefits and see the wisdom Of how irrigation works. This initial stage is for 190,000 acres of land. For a moment, I would like to mention some of the significant economic impacts which it is expected that this. project will have oui the economy of South Dakota. , S . No. 1. The primary impact, of cours~, wouid be the stabilization of farm production and income. , No. 2. It would increase the gross income from farms by an esti- mated $30 million to $50 millioti, aiid the net farm income for the area involved by $15 million to $20 million. It would provide a more accessible market for over 50,000 head of feeder cattle. The increased volume of business . generated directly by the irrigation development is estimated to amount to over ~ $75 million. Federal taxes from this new incom~ would greatly benefit our Fed- er~d treasury. Increased local, State and Federal tax revenues resulting directly from the irrigation development would total over $6 million annually. I I PAGENO="0022" I 12 OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT The Federal tax revenues during the 50-year repayment period would be oyer $3.5 million, or over 85 percent of the costs allocated to irrigation. Of course, also, all of the costs allocated to irrigation would be re- paid by the water users, and power revenues during this 50-year period. No. 6. The area development and the population would increase by about 15,000 people as a direct, result of the irrigation project. It would provide an opportunity for us to retain in South Oakota the young people whom we educate but who are now moving away to areas of greater opportunity, or areas where they think greater eco- nomic opportunity might prevail. Development of this Oahe unit as proposed by this legislation would largely alleviate this situation and tend to stop the drift from rural America to . the crowded corridors of urban America where they can only find themscives caught in the riots, in the crime, in the frustra- tions which occur when toO many people are crowded into too small an area without the good standardsof living which they want to have for themselves and withoutthe jObs that they thèught they would find at the foot of the rainbow. ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ , ~ Senator MCGOVERN. Se~at~r ~iiiidt, would you yield at that point? . Senator M~rNDT. Yes. ~ . :~ $enatOr MCGOVERN. Doesn't that, point up where the cities have an interest in development pi~QJects of this kind ~ I think the events of this summer, the c~xplosion of a good many of our great cities, dem onstrates that piling. up more and more ~3ç~op1e on top of each other in a few large metropolitan areas is a threat to those areas and `i threat to the stability &~ our whole society. ~ . Anything we can do in the interior ofthe country, where the popu- lation pressures are not so great, to hold the people there, to build up the opportunities for life in that ~ part of our Nation, not only benefits us but it also takes off someof the pressures that are now build- ing up in the cities. Senator MUNDT. The Senator is exactly correct. The cities have a direct interest in this, not only because of this point we have been discussing, but you have to find jobs, you have to find economic oppor- tunities for people in rural America if they are not going to continue to drift to the cities. When they get to the cities, they crowd into too' small a place and find themselves frustrated because the hoped for economic opportunities do not eventuate. They have cut their umbilical cord with their home areas. They become restless and get caught up in this current turmoil which is tending to plague the entire country. Of course, the cities have another very direct interest, may I say to my colleague, in the fact that as we produce more and become more prosperous, we in turn become a better market for the products of the big cities. The seventh and final point.I would like to make is that there would be an assured industrial and municipal water supply for 1~T or more towns and cities coming immediately from this initial project of 190,000 acres. I am sure that I do rot have to elucidate to Members of Congress or of this committee on `the importance of water to our ever- increasing communities and to the development of many other re- sources in this Nation today. PAGENO="0023" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT From ~irt~a11y every State of the Uiiion i~ow, we get in one way or another alarming signals, little bronzelighta flasiaing, about the prob- lems of maintenance of good, clean, pure water in adequate quantities. So the people of South Dakota have expressed their strong desire to develop this great water resource. As ~ an indication of this desire and support for the development of irrigation and other benefits which will accrue from this Oahe unit, may I cite the followingS The Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict was formed at the 1960 general election with 85.5 percent of the electors voting for its formatioi~. This subdistrict encompasses a 15.5 county area which includes, but is much larger than the Oahe unit area. In this election, the local people voted to levy one-tenth of a mill on taxable property in the area. In the 1966 election these same voters voted to grant contractual authority to the subdistrict, a board of directors, by over a 75 percent majority. ~ I am sure that those of us who live by the vote and die by the vote recogl4ize that majorities of ~ 75 percent and 85 percent are highly gratifying and lard to come by. And certainly it indicates a gr~at deposit of * confidnce and a great reservoir of. support for this project which we now are presenting toyou. I am stire that chairman of the conservancy district will tell us much more about this in detail, and Secretary Holum also, from ~ the standpoint of the Bureau of Reclamation, will add to this discussion, especially from the standpoint of the engineering and * economic feasibility. Mr. Chairman, I don't want to delay the committee any longer. We have two Members in the House from South Dakota, our Governor and some fine, distinguished citizens representing different walks of life and different areas of activity. I conclude simply by saying tl~is is a team play. The State is united. The congressional delegation is united, The people are united. They are asking that this committee, as expeditiously as possible, vote its approval so we can get on with the authorization of the Oahe umt of this.great Missouri River Basin development program. Thank you very much. Senator BURDICK. Thank you, Senator Mundt. Our next witness will be Congressman Berry, from South Dakota. STATEMENT OP RON. E. Y. BERRY, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS PROM ThE STATE OP SOUTH DAKOTA Mr. BERRY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I represent the Second Con- gressional District of South Dakota. I would ask, Mr. Chairman, that I be permitted to file my statement for the record. Senator BURDIOK. Your entire statement will be made part of the record at the end of your remarks. Mr. B~itRr. I would like to briefly express my appreciation to this committee and the members of this cdmmittee for holding these hearbig today, and the hope;tlaat the committee will pass this on to the fjill committee and the Senate poor for passage during this year. This is the beginning of a great climax that has been in process of development in the ~issouri River Basin for 25 or ~O years. I I 13 I I I PAGENO="0024" I 14 ~ i~rVi~rt `~ASIN ~uoa1j~cP jio~M ~Oii~' hule f that has 114 ready been plans ~ As Senator was then devi~ the same ~- land t~ 1FF- - ~nd Solith Dakdtahas been compensated for has given up, this great project will have been sa~ ~1iis: We remember the woi~d~of ~Robèrt W. service. oinise made is a debt unpaid." oèi~tion was member oft ratect. ~ senate, I I r StatE PAGENO="0025" QAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 1~5 Today this committee is completing, bringing about the climax, if you p1e~e, ~f a promise made in 1944, whiciT has developed and is being developed to completion, Again, I' want to thanI~thi~ committee, and I ~ant to assure yOu the House *ill f~l1ow rapid1~ ~u tour steps if yo~ ~vi1l justt~ke the lead during th~s year. Thank you very much. Senator !BURrnCK. I ~m pleased to know that the House will follow. Will that be in ~Tänuary ~ Mr. BERRY. IF~ebruary. (The prepared statement referred to follows:) STATEMENT OF HON. E. Y. BERRY, A U.S. REPRESENTITIVE IN CoNGREss FROM THE STATE OF SoUTH DA1~COTA Mr. Chairman awl Members o$~ the Corn~ittee, my name is E. Y. Brry and I represent the Secoi~d Congressional ~istric~ of Sout1~ .Dakoj~. whtc1~ is the area of the state where a great part o1~ this ree1.~matiou dream will ux~o1d. It is a great pieasnre forine to appear be~ore, the Committee and urge. faverab~e passage Of legislatio'u authorizing this project because it is a~ project I haye:liyed with day after day formere than thirty years. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I often recall when in the. faJi øf W39 a dozen other 5o~i~Ij~D~kótans and .1 met in. n~l1e J~ourche, ~ South Dakota~ to~ga~ize tb~ Sout1~ Da~kota Reclamation Association ~ which has spearheac~ed the M~ssonri River Deve1op~nent program ever since. ~ ~ ~ . . It was my privilege to be appoh~ted to serve with the then Governors 1Jari~in J.~ Bushfield when the Missouri RiveVt&ates Cominit~ee was organjze~, ~the pur- pose o~ which was to organj~e tln~ states of the i~pper Missouri River to work for develøpment Q~ the vast Missouri ~R~ver bas~n~ ~ I served on ~ that committee until the Interagency Committee was organi~e~. This. Wets cQmposed.only of the Oovegnors~ei~the various states, buthy that time the Flood Contr&1 Act of 144 had been passed by the CongFess. ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The ~hrst plan for development was outlined by the Bw~eau of Reclamation under Glen Slean aad provided for taking water from the Missouri, pumping it up o~ the diVide and bringingit down hi a greet canal through North~and South Dakota using it for irrigation all the way dowh until it was returned to the river at about' Yankton in my slate. ~ At the same time the Corps of Engineers had a plan ofdevelopment. They proposed large earthen dams on the maip stem of the river to control flood waters. Floods were doing millions of dollars in damage to such cit~es as Sioux City, Iowa ; Omaha, Nebraska ; and St. Louis, Missouri, to sa~r nothing of the damage done almost annually to farm lands and. towns along the river bottom. The Missouri River States Committee and later the Interagency Committee worked as a liaison organization in helping to develop the Pick-Sloan plan which united these two great ~programs. This plan provides great earthen dams to con- trol floods and pumping facilities for irrigation :of large acreages in the upper states to snpplant the million acres flooded forever to provide flood ~ protection in the lower reaches of the river. The Garrison RecJamation' project in North ~ Dakota has already been authorized. These identical bills in the Senate and identical bills in the House pFovide for irrigation developmentin South Dakota to ~iipplant the half million acres nsed~ for reservoir purposes in our state. The overall plan is devised for fiVe basi~ purposes-flood control, navigation, power production, irrigation and recreation. The llrst step in taming theBig Muddy was in the construction of a series of multi-purpose `darns. These dams had to furnish a wide variety Qf benefits to the greatest number of people. Now that we have tamed the wild Missouri, the question remains as to hdw to put this giant to work. Tho con~truetion of these darns has meant expanding of water reer~ation lndus~ try that has surpassed even the most optimistic hopes of a decade ago. We have also captured the great power of these reservoirs and are providing low cost hydrorgenerated electricity for large Midwest: areas. Flood control potential of the Mirsouri River Basin plan for the main stroan~ has been realized and the PAGENO="0026" 16 OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI T~IVE~ BASIN PROJECT main sti~eam dams in South Dakota regulate ~ the river's flow to insure näviga- ~bi1ity of the Missouri froizi Sioux City to St. Louis. Therefore ~f the original pur~ poses, flood control, power recreation and nayigatioli have all become a reality. Construction of dams in South Da1~ota 1~s resulted in many benefits, but south Da,kota has had to make heavy sactiflces~ ~3y controlling the Missouri in south Dakota, we have insured ~Iood control, and a steady flow of electric power for our neighboring states. This has meant, in ~5act, a great loss to South Dakota. The mighty Missouri bottomland that was once fertile ranch and farm land has beep almost entjrely iuundated. ]~/jore than halt a million acres have been lost to production. This total includes 138,000 acres of fertile hottomland, 230,000 acres of high quality grazing land and 133,000 acres of brushland and timberland. In essence water reservoir development is "bittersweet." It is bitter to see rich farm land lost, but It is sweet ~o see a wide range of benefits extended from irrigation, Industrial and municipal water supplies, recreational development ~nd fish and wild life enhancement. . The last step to be taken so far as South Dakota is concerned is the immediate authorization of the initial step of the Oahe Irrigation Unit. This project is a vital step in the economic developmentOf a vast South. Dakota area. The need fot this project cflunet be sti~ssed teestrongly. The land at present iS a dry land farmiiig area-crop yields vary greatly from year to year depending on moisture. And yet on e of the most Iraportant needs, in' fact the base for 70% of the state's economy, is' the stability of its agricititural production. By pro~riding water for irrigation, production stability can be insured. Irrigation would broaden the far~ñ income base, broaden the overall economic base by Increasing agri-business, and provide, as the Oahe report states, an opportunity for developing about 500 new farms and about 38,000 noa-farin employment ` opportunities. It is `estimated that as new farm incomes are spent and invested, the business volume in South Dakota would be boosted by morO than `$71 million. Water also will permit the Introduction of new crops which are dependent npon steady n~ater supply. Additionally , water will be used for industrial- munh~ipal growth. It will mean unleeking the potential of many smaller towns which currently lack su~cient waiter supplies. All this benefit will supplant a half mllllol~ acres lost forever to the state of South Dakota by construction of these vast reservoirs. These facts and the dream they envision are supported overwhelmingly by local people. Formation of the Oahe Oonservancy Subdistrict, the organization which bandies sale of water to users, makes the collection and repays ~ the federal government according `to schedule, was favored by 86% of the voters in November of 1960. In 1965 similar percentages were reflected in local elections in Spink and Er~Wn Counties. `The O'ahe project in its initial stage centers upon irrigation of 100,000 acres of farmland in Spink and Brown Ocflnties. The principal supply works for' the unit include Oahe `and rames Pumping Plants, three regulating reservoirs, the existing James Diversion Dam, and channel improvements for the James River. These facilities would be supplemented by distribution canals, laterals, and puinpin.g plants to deliver water to the irrigabie lands, and the necessary drain- age facilities. Pumpingpower would be obtained from the Missouri Power System. The one problem which delayed this program for some months was the question of pollution of the James River by return flow. Phl*s problem has been success- fully resolved and I am sure departmeütal witnesses will go into' more detail on -this question. A breakdown of project and assigned costs as modified by the Bureau of the l3udget in its August 29 report is as follows : Irrigation, $205,790.000 ; municipal and industrial water supplies, $11$24,000 ; ` fish and wildlife, $11,066,000 ; recrea- tion, $2,624,000 ; and flood control $1,234,000."These figures represent a reduction of $14,192,000 from original cost estimates because the current plan deletes an infeasible power function and excludes the extra capacities proposed in the piincipal supply works for ultimate development of the unit. The project is economically feasible. Initial cost will be approximately $200 million and all but 10% of this will be repaid to the federal government without Interest over a fifty year period. The 10% that will not be repaid is for non- reimbursable expenses for flood control, recreation, and fish and wild life pro- grams.' Additionally assigned costs will bring the total expenses to roughly ~232 million which Is below the original projected `costs and reflects several cost cuts In construction. Interest charges will add another approximate $12 million. PAGENO="0027" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 17 Of these projected costs, water users and the Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict would pay $33.4 million over fifty years. The balance of $174 million would be repaid from the Missouri River Basin project power revenues. Engineers have evaluated that direct benefits Will exceed costs in a ratio of 1.6 to 1. When calcuable secondary benefits are considered, the benefit-cost ratio is 2.5to 1. The citizens of the state and of this Conservancy `District have indicated their overwhelming interest in this project over the past three decades. There are others here today who will also testify in support of this project including the duly elected officers of the Oahe O~nservancy Subdistrict and many others. As the Congressman from the District which includes a very large portion of this project, I completely and wholeheartedly recommend the committee's ap- proval of S. 6. Barring unforeseen difficulties the House Irrigation Subcommittee will hold field hearings on October 27, 28 and 29 on the identical bill, H.R. 27 which I introduced in the House on the opening day of the session. It is my sincere hope that this subcommittee will report S. 6 to the full corn- mittee without delay and that it may have Senate passage before the adjournment of the Senate this year. Such action could guarantee early passage by the House next year and possibly an appropriation next year to start this great project on its way. South Dakota has given much to the Missouri River development program. We have given a half million acres to protect the cities and farm land below from floods. Thcreasing production in the reclamation area is the only way our state can be compensated for the thousands of productive acres it hnsi given up. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee, for. yoiic attention. Senator BURDICK. Our next witness will be Congressman Ben Reifel. STATEMENT OP HON. BEN REIYEL, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS PROM THE STATE OP SOUTH DAKOTA Mr. REIFEL. Mr. Chairman, distinguished members of the committee. i: appreciate this opportunity to appear before you today to urge sup- port of a project that is most important to South Dakota. I know you have all been students of the Missouri Basin project for quite some time. The senior Senator, Karl Mimdt, and our junior Sena- tor, George McGovern, and my colleague in the House, Congressman Berry, have done an excellent job of reviewing the facts for you and we have a number of people from our State who have traveled some 1,500 miles to give their testimony Therefore, in the interest of saving time, I would like to submit my statement in full for the record, preceded by a brief summary, if I may. . Senator BURDICK. Without objection, the entire statement will be made part of the record at the end of your summary. Mr. REIFEL. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is extremely important to the economy of our State and the future of our United States that construction of the Oahe irrigation project be started as soon as possible. This irrigation project will greatly enhance the economy of our State and will be a major step for our Nation in preparing for obvious result of the continuing population explosion ; that is, for more mouths to feed in all parts of the world. The Oahe unit has the enthusiastic support of the people of South Dakota, as has been indicated here, `and that has been my observation as I travel a~ross the State. The Bureau of Reclamation of the Interior Department and the Bureau of the Budget have stated their PAGENO="0028" OAWI ~J~IT, ~IIS~QI~Rt RJV~R flASIN FROJECT t8 apprQval ~ a~1sc~ Yop. h~ve ~ c~~p~1aye4 foi~esight in ~a1izing the im- portane~ of the ~arrison'di~øersi~rn project to North Dakota and the Nation. South Dakota ~ti~rni~ysnpport&Pthatproject. ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ The 4gdwents that applied to i~he Garrison projeet apply equ to Oahe. We earnestly request tour ~i1pport. ~ `in ~1osi~g ~I. should 1ike~to quoted a .respt~cted former colleague of ours, the HoñorableWalter ~Rogers, of Texas, who said m a South Dakot't `idd~s~ last year I k~io~Y a~1so ~ thitt towns and ~iI1~g~ have beenduprooted and that. thousands of Indiaii~ ~ hare bad to be ~,e1ocated.ikn~w what these acUons have me~int to your State in terms of reduëed. ineOthe ~ifld reduced ta~ba~e. I would guess that up tdthh tii~the overall ithpactOftbe Missouri River Basin Project on your State hasDr?bably been neg~tivo~; ~ ~ ~ . * ~ &~ . ~ ~ . In that ~onncetaon, as iefer~nce is made to the Indians, ~Ls I sat in. the hea~ingthis rnornir~g~ 1 : felt 1 r~ust bring to the attention o~f thec~mmittee, since every mernberO1~ thi~ distinguished conunittee is concerne~I with Irnjians in theirISt~te? that we are mindful, and I thinJ~ i:t; ~ `c~el~ to tr&uind ourselv~ ~gaW, th'~t th~ best lands of the Indian reservMions, as yon kwiw~ ~ir, Chairman, iii yo~r~g~eat, State, were taken from the thTee affiliat~dtr~ibes.in North Dakota. fhat was frti~ also in Noi~th~ndSo~itifDakt~ta as~ f~r~asthe Standing Rock 1~ndjan Reservation is concerned. That was true of the Cheyenn~' River R~~t~tith~ ~ yô~kridw~ ~e~tatôr McGo,ern and Senator ~ Muntit, ~tnd true also in the Yankton and Crow Creek Reservations in South D~~t~V~T!: ~ I: ~ ~ `~ ~ ~ While ~ in. its e~oi~Omic~ settlement for those lands taken, in my oonsidered judgment it did not ba~ai~ce thè~ ~oci~t1 ~ that ~ r~sfflted. These ~oiks who were dis- plabed~froth lan~ds tlt'tt~th~ ~ ôwnëd noiv ~ovèred ~ by water; merely moved back on less prôdi~tiveland. O~li~ welfare roles and the con~ern of the ti'ibai 1eaders-~ai~d yt~u ~ are m~mbers of this great corn- inittee, as well ks thOse Iti Congressman Berry's committee, tiu~ House coutiterpart of your c~mn~ittee, atid in~ Senator Mundt~ Appropria- tiolis Committee and M~ Ap~rop~riations Committee, ~ wheiG we are fa~d every~ year with h~lping the Indian people b~caiise of the dis- tressed situation in which they find themselves-havc been `added to byt:he taking of theselands. , ` ` ~ ` I think one point that needs'to be made over and over ~t~ain in this connection 15 that, as we increased the economic opportunities in South and North Dakota as the result of the de~e1oprnent of these irriga- t~on projects, these will pi~Widë oppdr~üni'tics, a real potential as agri- culture is stabilized a~'id opportitnities ~forindustry are increased. :w~; can help some of these' VOrn~ Indian' men ~nd women find jobs within theit~ own State,~ rather than b~tving to go out to' California, New York, Chicago, or other places in the Nation. I lust wanted to add that I didn't include it in my prepared `~tate ment. Refëren~ h~t~ not been ~made t~i it ~o far, though it may be referred to `later on. The cbthpletion Of the ~u~bject is llecess~ry for the benefit of these people. I' believe most South D'ak~itans *~mld hai~e to agree with Con- gre~smttn ~ogers' observatibn ~át~ I just ~uoted, We a~preciate the development' that has ta~ken place, `but the `Federal Government's PAGENO="0029" r OAH1~ TJtNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 1S~ solemn promise of years past still IS d~pendent for fulMimefit on construetion of the Oaheunit. ~ j ~ ~ ~ ~ I thank the distinguished chairman and members of,thi~ committee for this additional step ~ ~hè fttlfflln~üt Of this promise. (The statement referred ~ follows ~). ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ , ~ ~ ~ STATEMENT OF HON. BEN REIFEL, ~ US ~J~EPRESENT~TP/1~ IN CO~o~i~ss FE0M ~rIT~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~T~E .OF S~iYTH ~ DAKOTA ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Mr. Qhairmán ai~d disting~1shed ilieiubers otf~ t1~e Committee, I ~preeiate th4~ opportunity to appear befOi~ ~VÔ~ toda3~ ~ the pñi~tos~ & ur~ih~ yo~1 to autho~P- i~e construction of the initial state of,thé Oahe flnit ofthè Mi~n~ri River Ba~iti Project in S~9uth Dakota. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ A~ we. all know, the OaIi~ Projk~t, a drëa~n of a qu~tr~r ~fa cetitur~V, was en- v~siO'neU in th~ Mis~souri River Ea~sii~ Plan a~roVed b3t Ouiigresi~n the F~1ood Cont~o1 Act ~of 144. The re~ulting plan t~it Is 1~fore the Co?thrn~ttee now ~S the product of the t~urea~ of R~1amaliio4 t1i~e~ ~Ik~~Fp~ if Engifle~r~ the Bureau of the Budget, the study ~ ~ornih~ttee~ ai~d of hIan~~ peo'~le in the~te~e~al States that ai~eç~iffecteid. by the p~an. W4 4iu~t ~~ogii1~ the Mt~s'o'uri Ei~~i~ pa~in Proj'ectaS a ~ompre1iehsiv~ Integrated, ~ b~ts~h-~*ic1e th~i~t~kifl~ wblèh 1~ ~ on1~ partia1I~ eo~p1ete~, a~d. study the O~thè ~nit~a~S Qile o~ the adclith~a1 steps in the w~ra11 bacsAin deve~Idpiiient. ~ ~ ` ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ , ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Tn doing so We eannc~t i~'iThi~~ t~1te ~ ~ twc~dae~aIe~ Which ba~ ~iready estabUthed the gui~dellnes forth~ fed~r~1 t&V~ hhI res~o'ns~- lulLties ~n tl~.e MtiIssiouri BaSIn ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The F1oo~ COntrol Act ~of *iO~4~ htt~ ~*~rt I~e~1~r~d t~r ~ than a blueprint However sowe basic comirntthe1it~ Wei~ ~mf~tIt~ at th~tt tnñ~ by the states invoffved mt~kthg~ the eff~t b!f the P~lood O&ittbl A~t a ~eompact iatified by Congtess a~surhlg 1~ ~i~er ba~h~i ~tate~ that theI~ ~ácrifi~ of pro cluotive ~an~Is toproy~~ benef11~ ~f~r ~& h~*er bas~t~oUthi'b~ ~empè~hteicI ft~r by ~ other potentiaHtieShi~the~PPer h&sin~t~te~ ~ ~ . ~ . A~iy iut~teriaI. di~tnge hi ~ th~~ cc~i~e of the~ de~èldp~i*ent ~~thb~J~hi pr~je~t would ~e unfair to our Stti~te. Ee~ffiétith of~Sot~th Dà1te~a"hft~e coiThtecl .Oht'he promised ,irri~ation since the first~~Iannihg *~ started f~r th~ M4ssourllRiter Bas~n Prp~c~èt bi ~de~ `tO ~1i~t1fy the ~ár~ ~crlfice `hi agr1culbura1~laIb!1 *hleii the res~ryo~ reç~ui~redt ~ou~h `Thd~ctá ~ ha~s hi~t ~ôm~8S7~OOO a~F~ o4~ ith~dtotht~ four matn ~steih r~sèr~iir~ cbn~r~cth~ ¼~4i~Mii th'~ ~iMte~Phe~e i~c1rFi~e~ 83~OO acres of `tert~t~ bottom l~ds `~i~ ~8OOO~ ~ Of T~t~h ~ ~ a. s~eecb given in South Dakota last ~year the H~i{or~ble~WaltOr~ Hog~ei~ sta~t~'~1: ~ ~ ~ ~ .~? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ `` ~ ~ "Pbs ~t~t~é~t 4s~ Oh1l~T ~a(rtthj1~ &~1%~t~letE~cl; PI~temöfst ~rn~tfrtantpartof th&~ro~j~- ect frofti th~ standtoint~of Sok~ifli T~ák~1t~ has not beeb bttilt~ Irrigtat~on devel4tp~ meilt in thi~ Sitate a~d other. upstream states has lagged behind deitelotpment for the othet pnrj5~~L ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "T'Q a gi~a,t exileiit, the b~iiefit~ flow1ng~ from tihe prbjet~ utthe~p~resent time acènie to dowi~sti~eam iritert~t~ at!t1~ exp~nse ~of i1p1~1veris&Ltes~ I knew that several hithdred thOns~ahd d~e~ ~i~rii~r~è ag~i~1~tiIti1ral `and~%~4h~1ktfe iands~in the south Dakota flood p~a1ns ~tI~ MIs~s~uri River aren~W Iniutidated and rrtmoved from nse't~the ixiain-~te~n ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ` ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "I know a~cso that to~s~n~ `a~I~ y1llakt~hav&!been nj~r~iett~ed im~1 that tbous~flhds of Indiai~s hth~e hiikl to be ~`ë~k~*tedc F~1tftO¼y~ WI1nt~ the~&Ewti~na have ineant~ U your state in termis of redu. h~o~ñ~kild ~e'~n~d ta~ ba~e, ~n~d I would gueSts that up to this time the overall Impact of t~e~ ~i~i~p~i R~y~flaisjir~. Projee~ on your State has prolably bee~n n~~tlye It is extremely hnpdrtaiit ~O tl~&é~11~ Of~ur~Mt~ EÜI~t tóthe~ttuireof~our UnIted States that eonsttri~ction of the Oahe~Irrig~tton ~rbdeét hetstSrt~4 ~s ~bon as po~'sTh1d. ~ . ~ ~. ~ ~ ~ ~ t~ ,. ~ .. The OalheUntit is a multipurposfe, water and land resource development p~ject t~cQmpassing i~rig~ttion, mu~nicipal and in4ust~4alWater `s~pp'ly, reetedt~i~l, 1~1sih and wildlife, i~1ood cOntr&l, poUlitio& à~4~teñthnt~ and ~ ~ r~d4*elt4~silent.~Phe tirst st~ge is d~ig~d to develop ~a .tlep~th~laiblei wtator sthppiy~tfro~~the Mis'~kUi~i River f~r 190,000 acres of thatgt~bie ~àn~1 in the Lake ~ ~QFt~S9~5~ ~ou~h Dakota adjacent to t~ie James R;vei~ and to pro~r~je ~minicipi~1 i~n~l ~ndus trial ~ ater supplies for 23 communities tt is anticipated that as the tOtal 6~t PAGENO="0030" I 20 `QAHE UNIT, MISSOt~RI RIVER BASIN PROJECT deve1op~, en~coinp~s4ng sotine 495,000 acres of land, mai~y other commrni~t~es will utilize tihe Missoi~ri River w&~er. South Dakota's future development of industry, agriculture, rural life and municipal growth dE~p~nds on the availability of an abundant, economical, and reliable water supply~ Cities t~nd towns are using more water every year. Not only is the population increasing but each person is using more water. Each year, boating, fishing, and other water-based recreation are becoming more in demand. Next to agriculture~, tourism is South Dakota's biggest industry, bring- ing about $150,000,000 a year to the state's~economy. Our common sense will lead as to the conclusion that, If the population of the world continues to grow at the * present rate, some time in the near future we will have to greatly increase our capacity to produce food in order to feed not only the people of the United States but also the people of the under-developed countries throughout the world that depend on us. In our endeavor to propagate our system of government "by the people" we must not forget that people listen first to their stomachs and, after their basic needs are solved, then they Usten to polititians about government. Programs de- signed to increase the capacity of our agricultural production, such as the irriga- tion projects in the Missouri Basin, should have as high a priority as any other program before Congress. The constructiou of the Oahe project, as well as the benefits from the project, will provide opportunity for employment and an in- centive to remain in tile State for the young people of our society. In order to keep all the people from migrating to the cities, which already have enough problems, opportunity must be provided to the people of the agrarian commu- nitles, and It must be done soon. * ~ The total project and assigned cost for the initial stage of the Oahe Unit as shown in the feasibility report would be reduced from $246,280,000 to $232,- 038,000(Jauuary, 1964,prices). ~ T~?~il~itiQ.nof the cost of. the project to ±~ie benefits that would result are as follows Ii~rigation $205 790 000 , mu~m~ipal am~ industrial water supj~ly `$11,&24,000 ; fish and wildlife, $U,066,000 ; flood control, $1,234,000, and recrea- tion, $2,624,000. With. the elimination of the power benefits and the redudion of the estimate&costs, thç~ benefit-cost ratio pf the Oahe Unit is 2.5 to 1 for total benefits. This ratio is very favorable when compared with other irrigation proj- ect~'that have been authorized in recents years. The Oahe Unit has the enthusiastic support of people in the project area, the Interior Department and the approval of the Thirenu of the Eudget. The federal investment for the construction of the Oahe Thilt, estimated at $192 million, will be repaid to the federal gQvernment in accordance with reclamation policy estab- lished throughout the West. * It is my understanding that with the power rate increase the Missouri River Project is now operating on a sound financial basis with the expectation that allth~ 1toje~ rein~btirsabie costs-both water and power-can be repaid within a 50-year period. ~ . With the population explosion, the need for an increased production in farm products is essential to the well being of our economy and our position in inter- national affairs. The economy of the state of ~outh Dakota will be greatly en- hanced ~ and stabilized by: the Oahe Unit. South Dakotans have been happy to support the over~all:projOet,. just ~as. we ~ supported the Garrison Project, because we ` know that wise water resources devei9pment benefits all Americans. .. We now ask yoursupport in our endeavors. South Dakotans ` have Indicated their enthusiasm ft~r the Qahe Unit by the work they are doing and the progress. they have made in organizing for irrigation development. Senator BURDIOR. Thank you. Are there any questions that comi~ittee members would like to ask of the South Dakota delegation ? Senator JORDAN. May I elaborate on one point which I think is very significant? . ~ We have . now~ heard the testimony of all members of the South Dakota delegation. They stress the fact. that a half million acres of very, productive bottom land were inundated in their State, thus re- moving these productive lands from the tax roll of the State and from. PAGENO="0031" OAHE ~ UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 21 the productive agricultural econon~y of. the State. About what time were those lands inui~dated and taken off the tax rolls ? Senator MUNDT. The project was authorized in 1944. One of the first things that they had to do whe.n the project was funded was to get title to the lands. They began a series of negotiations, trying to get land by voluntary agreements. In some cases they could ; in most cases the corps was I~ot able to offer enough to make the landowner feel he was being adequately compensated. So with the exercise of the right of eminent domain, the citizen has a right to take it into court or before some judicial body, which they did. In virtually every instance where they did take it into court, the courts ruled that the money offered by the corps was inadequate and they increased it. But unhappily, most of the increase did not go to the landowner. It went to the attorneys and the costs involved in taking it into court. So we have had a loss in some instances, I suppose, between 1945 and 1950. Senator JORDAN. Then your State has been deprived of tax revenues which before that date accrued to the State. from this land? Senator MUNDT. For between 15 and 20 years, that is generally correct. Senator JORDAN. So in essence, this project as presented to us today, is a partial restoration of that tax `base that was taken from you by the lands that were inundated. Senator MuNixr. Right. For 15 of the 20 years there has been a loss, though some compensation was given to the landowner. . . In most cases, from the standpoint of the recipient, in virtually all cases it was inadequate. Now we make available through this' project about 1 acre for every 2 that was lost, but in the long pull South Dakotans are glad to do this becau~e of the multipurpose benefits and because the floods which in the mafr~ were not in South Dakota, were costly in life and costly in do1iar~ ~ Our people enthusiastically suppo~t the Pick-Sloan plan, even though they had to forgo part of ~be tax base. Senator JORDAN. But the interim effect oii the State and local tax resources was negative, as has been testified to here today ? . Senator MUNDT. You are exactly correct. ` Senator MCGOVERN. If the Senator will yield, it has been estimated that it is costing us about $20 million a year in farm inconie that we have lost in revenues as a result of the lands under the reservoirs that have been flooded. Of course, that has resulted in enormous savings to the downstream States in the prevention of flood damage, which in some years ran many times that amount. As Senator Mundt has said, I don't think very many people in South Dakota regret that investment we are making for the future, but it would, of course, be a cause of great disappointment if we couldn't now move ahead and complete the project a4id realize a return on that sacrifice in the form of these irrigation benefits. Senator JORDAN. I think that is a significant point. In effect, South Dakota has been the good samaritan throughout the years and now you want a partial restoration of what you sacrificed for the benefit of the whole Nation. PAGENO="0032" I 22 tDAHE TJNIT, M~S~Jt~I RIVI~R EASI~ PROJEC~ Senatoi~ fiA~E~. Mr. Chaii~thaft I ~o~i1dn~t Iie~p thinki~, though I W'~LS precluded from being h~r~ ea~1ier, when referettee i~ made to the tax base and the negatIve ef~eet that has been brougtht ~tbout by the inundation of the~e 1and~, of a' ~imi1ar ~1tuktIon iii W~ôming when lands passed fro~i private i~ito publlè own~rshi~3. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ At that tiin~ I hap~eñed t~ ~ie a Qoi~inty commisSion~ for Wyiming's least populous county. De~~it~ th~ Thet that we had signiftthi~Federa1 ownership prior to the enlargement pf a natiolial park, i~Or~&of our knds ~ ere taken out At th~ pr~i~t time I ththk ~u~pufity is ab~iIt 97 ~ercefit~ fed~ra1Iy owned T was trying to `~s~ the ~{tipad~ that this loss df income from lands priyath ~rh1ch ha~ep~seld ith~o ~ff~bli~ owne~hip ~ü1d have. ,I Was interé~st~d to learn that ~ts thM1~ fa~ffi~ ~nd rai~hes that were in th~ area of F~d~Ml ~ from, pri~at~ to ~kib11c bWnership and wënt ~ff The .thx i~li~ fü1l~ ~ tkx co~r~bution that was being made by those la~do~vne~rs, came about throtigh taxes ~n private prtipert37, On 1rve~toc~k, ~n znkchinery, th~ sort oVthing I think we aii~e prone O~tei~hi~~o bv~1dol~th~t fth~t. I ~E~t th~it to those who *iil be ~ohsi&e~1hg this problem shbuld~ ndt be ~Oblhrious to the fact that South Dakotasuffei~ed not alone from the t~tkin~ Of th~ hznd and its reti~ibi~a1 from ~th~ ~ ~`oI~I~, but ~il1 the dth~r thihgs that wdré th~e ~ii~d t1~ra~ We~ ~m~ftTh fiO~i1~ff~ b~ t~h~ useO~ !that lithcl; ~ ~ ~ I want to say I certainly will do ~my best tc~ ~Uppprt Sd~ff1t 1IMkôt~i in ~èiiig ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~. ~~;` ~ ( . ~ ~ ~ O~{~é~OrOf ~ ~ i' ~ ~ f ~ ~ ` `~ ~ ~ ` ~ ! ~ ~. i ~ ~ ¶ ~ ~i4~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ k ~ . ~ ~ t) ~ ~ f~ /f ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ,~ P ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ s~At~~l#1ro~ :H0N: ~iTrS ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~; ~ ~ ~ j ~ ~ ~1 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ `~ ~:" ~ ~ I ~iiig~l~ say I ~ ~bntiti*ifl~.~jth~ t~ehu~nt ~ft~x~ th~ ~ ~ ~1r~McI~ b~h ~ b~ tI~ members wIth~i&~t ~ discus~biWT *afit1~ th~n~k the members :for the ~ ~i~1~hidh~àr& so *filIIy ~M'i*~t.~1I ~ the c~dui~ ~f thi& hear- ing i~he~ wtFd~ th~ftia~b~~i ~by the wit±~sse~ ~ afr ~xtent thay be~Ome ~Oht~h~) i~èfi~1~1tiM~W. It~1i~fbi~ that re~s~iil!tfl~at ~ will inteñ7 tionally t17 to make my statement brief, ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ A~thèith~Fet ~Of th.~ ~ the ~ S1~t~df South iD~tkdta~, I *du1dIit~ailow~nian~ ~ t~i ha~ the opporthrIity tQ speak from their hearts hpw they feel wi~th re~g~d `tOthi~ ~ithl `pe~t~4vhi~IV `ha~ been ~ cló~è~ t~ thMi~ ~L~d ~f6r*hibh `tl%y have ~w~±:keu~~ ~ ~nie~M~. ~ ~ ~ ~ `I ~pj~#e~, f6r~hite~OfSo~tTh ~Jakôta. b:~ Se~tt~M~thdt th~id~ i~tbf~'M4~itei~; ~ this i~ not ~ partisan tt~e~ ~ ~ prthably the WiO~t bipartisan p1~j~et t'h~t~ h~s~~b~i Ft~k~h b~ tI~e ~bpJe'~Of S,dctth D~tkøt~, ~ l~g fr~t1i~ but b~ pe~pl~throughout t~e p~i't~ithi t~f the State, in th~Outh~a~t, tii~ South est~ tI~&No~th, and the South, the East, and the West. It is for this tèa~Ori timt' I f~eI that such a project should be given the fullest and most earnest con- PAGENO="0033" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 23 sideratk~ii on the part of this subcommittee and then on the part of :tlie committee as a whole. I would, if I might, indulge for a moment with respect to a story that came to my mind a~ I was sitting back listening to the other testi- mony. I have told it before, as others in the room may have heard it, but I do think it is apropos to the subject matter under diseus~ion. I think all of us here are well aware of the conditions that existed in the areas of South Dakota, Wyoming, and the entire Midwest area back in the 1930's, when we suffered the extreme drought, and when we had crop failure after crop failure, when all we could see was the thistle being blown down the roads. It was during this period in the 1930's that there were three gentle- men, so to speak prospective fathers, who were in a waiting room in a maternity hospital in Chicago. One of the fathers was from California, one fromPennsylvania, and one from South Dakota. As natural, I presume, I being a bachelor, as I understand, fathers are probably quite concerned at this critical time in their lives with respect to the birth of their first offspring, and after ` a considerable period of waiting a nurse came into the waiting room and smiled at the father from California and said, "I am very happy, sir, to announce ~ that you are the proud father of a 10-pound baby boy." The man from ~ California got up and proudly walked around the room and said, "Well, this is the type of products we raise in California." After a few more moments, the nurse again came into the room and said to the father from Pennsylvania, "I am very happy to announce that you are the proud father of an 8%-pound baby girl." He, too, arose and proudly strutted about the room. He said, "This is the kind of products we raise in Pennsylvania." After a few. more moments, the nurse again returned and with a rather dour look spoke to the father from South Dakota and said, "You are the father of a 3-pound baby boy," and with that news the father from South Dakota stood up and proudly walked around the room and said, "Well, this is the kind of products we at least can have in South Dakota." The other two gentlemen with a quizzical look said, ~`Pardon me, do you mind telling us how you can be so proud of a 3-pound baby boy? Here we both are fathers of an 8%-pound baby girl and a 10-pound baby boy." WTjth that the father from . South Dakota said, "Well, gentlemen, `with the drought and the conditions that we are having in South Dakota, we out there are glad to get our seed back." I say this because there is more truth than fiction in that particular story because for a while out in South Dakota I feel that maybe the philosophy that was inculcated into the minds of people was that of getting along, "Let's get our seed back and we will call it a good year." But this no longer is the ~ philosophy. It is no longer the view that our people have and wish to have. We in ~ South Dakota hope, pray, and look for a return upon an investm~nt which has been made within our `State, `and which has been referred to during the course of the testimony thus far. In my opinion, the Oah~ irrigation project constitutes the greatest econoti~nc impact that ever could be realized by the `State of South Dakota. ~-iS2----e7-3 PAGENO="0034" OAUE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT No other program could have a greater impetus upon the growth and development, not only to a pa~rticular area, but to our entire State, than this irrigation project now being considered, Senate bill 6. In so doing we are considering the utilization within the State of South Dakota of one of our owR ~ resources-water-which, indeed, is one of our most precious resources. I know that all of you distinguished gentlemen are familiar with the history of the development and construction of the four main- j stem dams upon the Missouri River within the State of South Dakota. Three purposes were in the minds of those men and women, some of whom are no longer with us, as they envisioned the fulfillment of their dream to harness and utilize the waters of the mighty Missouri.. First, flood control, the control of wat~ as it flowed through the State of South Dakota and on into the regions bordering our State to the south; second, the generation of hydroelectric power; and, third, irri I es of our I lareas of the c~ities of our 2o d~te the econoi America. whereby t regions of our c I am sure that I me today in support could be prepared or est impact to the State of ~ implementation of the our~ andour r ~osper~ ~asura ~r butt i~sofai As that each comprise ~4 whic our L~. flows out of south and mt ulf of Mexi In spealf - ie citizens c support ` 6, may I state f ~i so the resources of any other region or area. reservoirs w -~ -~ wate~ 24 I nails to be aecoi ~nment has sper our U flitE le to produ nt of thes~ of all 1:~ ce )ahe could. ~r as~ PAGENO="0035" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 25 to stake our claim to a portion of the resource which God has given to us. There has been mentioned with respect to the necessity of revitaliz~ ing the agricultural areas of the United States. We have heard much~ and I know our Senators, Senator Mundt and Senator McGovern, have on the floor of the Senate urged that action be taken to stem the flow from the farms into the urban areas, You gentlemen are well aware of the conditions that have existed in the metropolitan areas of the United States throughout this past summer. We hope to God that they will not continue to be repeated. A few weeks ago I attended a Midwest Governors' `Conference, and at this conference, at a seminar, it was suggested to all of the Gov- ernors that greater emphasis should be placed upon vocational. educa~ tion. Yes, even in the agricultural States such as North and South Dakota. The reason that was given was that we in North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska, should recognize our obligation in he1p-~ I ing to train these young men and women so that when they went into the cities of the East and the Far West they would have a trade and a skill, and would not be thrust upon the streets in the conditions that they are found to be in today. ~ Of course, we have an obligation in this Midwestern area of ours, in the agricultural States. The statement that was made I feel was true. But only partially. I feel it failed in much logic. It is fine to start to say we are going to have a vocational program to train our young men and women when we send them into the cities, I wonder if it isn't abcit time that we provide the opportunities ir young men and v ) stay upon t - -- on the farr ~ and South I Iyomin and Dta, and d ther . - bi1lion~ Sent~ F~pTl') br C nv2~ncr citi ollars we )f Eden ~ - ~ they coul be a credit 2 L~L~/ persons land suci rural and the 11 I resp~ ~at great atter nc con respect t I app ie enactme: Late your ~mittee )n In I~ allowii e few moments in mentous import to commend the also to thank him PAGENO="0036" I 26 OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION. No. 2 In4rod*ttceCi by Oomm~ttee on State Affairs for testifying not only before the committee here today but also at the Redfield hearings, where he made an excellent statement, consistent with the effort he has placed behind the project from the very be- ginmng. I am very grateful for his statement. Senator BURDICK. Senator Jordan? Senator JORDAN. I have no questions, but I do want to thank the Governor for his statement. Senator BTJRDICK. Senator Mundt? Senator MUNOT. Thank you. I am glad the Governor emphasized the point made earlier, about the part this plays in the overall economy. There is presently an imbalance in this country between urban Amer- ica and rural America. Surely if we are going to stop shifting our population away from home into places where they can get into trouble, it is essential we provide the economic opportunity. I like the concept of giving them the vocational skills to make a living in their home States, rather than giving `them the ` vocational skills so that they can travel abroad. Thank you, Governor. Senator BURDIOK. Senator Hansen? Sena~tor HANSEN. I have no questions. I do want to add my compli- merits to my good friend the Governor of South Dakota for a very excellent statement. Governor B0R. Thank you. Senator BURDICK. And may I makeit unanimous. ` Gove~rnor BoR. Mr. Ohairman, may I have the privilege to offer before this committee an exhibit which is known as house concurr~nt resolution No. 2, which was passed unanimously by the 1967 Legisla- ture of the State of South Dakota, by which they urge the Congress of the United States to take favorable action, as `soon as possible, in authorizing and funding the construction of the Oahe unit, initial stage, 190,000 acres ofMissouri River Basin project. Senator BURDICK. Without objection, the document will be received for the. record at this point. (The document referred to follows:) A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, Memorializing Congress to promptly review and approve authorizing legislation and funding for the construction of the "Oahe Unit-Initial Stage-190,000 Acres, ~Tames Division, `South Dakota, Missouri River Basin Project" Be ~t re~otvei by the Hoi~se of Representatives of the State of south Dakota, the &~uaate ooncwrri~g therein:' Whereas, the Flood Control Aet of 1944 (58 Stat. 887) as supplemented and extended by the Flood Control Act of 1946 (60 Stat. 641) antliorized a general coniprehensive plan for the conservation, control and use of the water resources of the Missouri River Basin ; and Whereas, the Qahe Unit as anintegral part of the Missouri River Basin Project, wMeh foliawed exhaustive studies and jnvestigati'ons by the Bureau of Reclama- tion has been founl. to be engineeringly feasible and economically justified as evidenced by that agency's report entitled "Oahe Unit, James Division-South. Dakota, Missouri River Basin Projects' dated May, 1965, as supplemented by "Supplemental Report on Oahe Unit-Initial Stage-490,000 Acres, James Dlvi- sion, South Dakota, Missouri River Basin Project" dated June, 1965, which was subsequently approved by `the Secretary of the Interior; and PAGENO="0037" Ooncurred in the Senate on January 26, 1967. {SnAi~J OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 27 Whereas, residents of South Dakota have for many years counted on new ir- rigation development possible thrrnigh the conStruction o~ the Oahe Unite to justify the large sacrifice of 509,000 acres of productive lands given up for the storage of water behind the four main-stem reservoirs constructed with the State ; and Whereas, the development of the Oahe Unit will further result in increased and stabilized agricultural production from lands which are presently under production, which in turn will result in many benefits to the State of South Dakota, the region, and the Nation : Now, therefore, be it Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the state of Floath Dakota, the $enate cono~rring therein, That the Forty-second Legislative Assembly of the . State of South Dakota sir~cerely and respectfully petitions and urges the Congress of the United States to promptly consider and take favorable action authorizing and funding the construction of the "Oahe Unit-Initial Stage- 190,000 Acres, James Division, South Dakota, Missouri River Basin Project ; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of State is hereby directed to forward copies of this resolution to the Chairman of the Senate and House Committees on Interior and Insular Affairs, the members of the Missouri River Basin States' Congres- sional delegations, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation. Adopted by the House of Representatives on January 23, 11H37. JAMES D. JELBERT, ~S'peaker of the Hov~e. PAUL INMAN, Chief Clerk of the House. OLEN OVERPEOK, President of the senate. NELS P. JENSEN, $eeretary of the ~Senate. Filed in the office of the South Dakota Secretary of State on January 27, 19437. ALMA LARSON, south Dakota ~eeretary of State. Senator MCGOVERN. I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the record a resolution first adopted on November 22, last year, and reaffirmed by the board of directors of the South Dakota Association of Cooperatives on May 5 of this year, and next a statement by the South Dakota Council of Churches, by Rev. Orville M. Hepler, the executive secretary. I would like to ask that both of those statements be printed as part of the record. Senator BURDICK. They will be made a part of the record. (The documents referred to follow:) SOUTH DAKOTA ASSOCIATION OF COOPERATIVES, HURON, S. DAK. RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING DEVELOPMENT OF THE OAIIR IRRIGATION UNIT Whereas full development of water resources is of paramount importance to the development of the commercial, industrial, agricultural and recreational potential of this region ; and Whereas we support the comprehensive and prompt development of all econoin- ically feasible projects and sites on all River Basins ; and Whereas the development of the Oahe Irrigation Unit will enhance the stability of the farming activities in a large part of South Dakota by eliminating crop failure due to drought and will make it possible for farmers to diversify their operations to meet the demands of an ever increasing, changing-market; and Whereas the stabilizing effect irrigation will have on the agricultural economy of South Dakota will extend far beyond the project area and enable farmers within the unit to produce sufficient livestock feed, not only for their own use, but for adjoining ranching areas; and PAGENO="0038" 28 OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT Whereas the development of the Oahe Unit will stimulate population growth in the project area increa~ing the number of farm families and attracting numerous other families to staff the iucreasin.g industrial developments asso- ciated with this multiple-purpose development thus reversing the trend of declining population that has been experienced in the state for a number of years: Now, therefore, be lit Resolved by the South Dakota Association of Cooperatives assembled in annual sonventian in Hus~on,, Sonth Dakota, this 23rd day of November, ~1966, That this association reaffirm its support for the development of the Oahe Irrigation Unit and ask that early authorization is given this project by the Congress of the United States. Adopted by SDAC's Membership November 22, 1966. Reaffirmed by Board of Directors May 5, 1967. STATEJENT OF Rnv. ORvILLE M. HEPLER, REPRESENTING SoUTH DAKOTA CoUNCIL OF CHURcHES Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee : I am Rev. Orville i\L Hepler speak- ing for the South Dakota Council of Churches, and other church bodies in South Dakota. We do want to commend and thank the committee for holding the Senate Sub-Committee Hearing on the Oahe Irrigation Project at Redfleld, South Dakota on May 22, 1967. At that time several hundred local people and Community leaders demonstrated to your sub-committee the grass roots interest and concern of the people ~f South Dakota for this project. We strongly urge your favorable consideration and support of this project. There are many persons who favor this irrigation project simply from an eco- nomic viewpoint. In this statement of support we wish to go beyond the economic, to present * Some of the broader ethical, moral, and social implications of the Oahe project for the State of South Dakota, for our nation, and for the world. The economic advantages of irrigating the soil through the Oabe project could have direct and far reaching consequences for the social and spiritual life of this entire area. The home, the school, the church and the eiAire °ornmunity will be affected by what is or is not done as a result of this hearing. Through irriga- tion of farms, many families can find a new lease on hope and Ofl life. Farms which now do not produce enough for a farmer to take his sons into partnership `could be enabled to sustain such a relationship, ~uid so keep families together. Many marginal farmers would find that, where at present they must have additional income from off the farm to maintain their families, proper irrigation with a sufficient supply of water `would increase their farm income so that off the farm income would no longer be necessary. Thus they could become full time and better farmers, with renewed hope and enthusiams for the future. Farm income affects all the surrounding community life, including our towns and cities. A good water supply is the life blood of agriculture. As agriculture became more stabilized with greater production, this in turn would help to stabilize the entire economy, be helpful in long range strategy and planning for our churches and schools as well as our other social institutions and com- munities. In our smaller towns with their declining population, these institutions which are at the heart of our American way of life, suffer most. Without an adequate tax basis for our schools we cannot provide the best educational op- portunities for our children. Without sufficient people and financial resources the influence of the church in many of these cOmmunities will be lost, as more and more churches are forced to close. We have mentioned the' trend of declining po er bec the st closely effective city conservation inviting atmos in some small ~ ~-- ulation in Soi bet d to ~o alleviate t~~e overcrow~~ PAGENO="0039" OAHE tNIT, MISSOUEI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 29 With only 10% of the earth's land capable of producing food to sustain life, we have a moral and ethical responsibility to prepare o~irs'e1ves and to use o~ir resources to help meet human ueed. The church is alert to and aware of these civic projects which affect the lives of our people and communities~ Good steward- ship involves the fullest and the wisest use of our God given resourees of land and water. With su~c1ent water and proper irrigation the contribution which South Dakota makes tG the nation's food supply could be greatly increased. Hew- ever, a ~ar greater good would result because of the potential increase in rood Lupplies made possible to alleviate the hunger of those millions o~ people in our world who go to b~d hungry every night. Senator BURm0K. In addition, `there is a resolution of the North Dakota State Water Commission which will be nude a part of the record. ( The document referred to follows:) RESOLUTION 67-3-235 (Adopted by the North Dakota State Water Commission, First Stage, Oahe Unit, James Division, Missouri River Basin Project) Whereas, construction by jhe Federal Government of the four dam's on Missouri River in South Dakota-Gavins Point, Fort Randall, Big Bend, and Oahe-b'as resulted in the los~s to the State of over half a million acres of valuable agricul- tural land required for the projects, which loss can be partially mitigated through the irrigation development authorized by the Congress as a part of the Missouri River Basin Project in the Flood Control Act of 1944 ; and Whereas, proposed legislation pending In Congress-HR. 27 and 116~, and `S. l-~would authorize the Secretary of the Interior "to' construct, operate and maintain . . . the first `stage of the Oahe unit, James division, Missouri River Basin project, South Dakota, for the principal purposes of furnishing a surface irrigation water supply for approximately 190,000 acres of land, ~urnishing water for municipal and industrial uses', controlling floods, enhancing the genera- tion of power, conserving and developing fish and wildlife resources, and en- hancing outdoor recreation opportunities, and other purposes" ; and Whereas, the unit report and legislative measures have been develOped through exhaustive studies and investigations by the Bureau of Reclamation, South D'a- kota's congressional delegation, and affected local interests, and all have deter- mined the unit to be engineeringly sound and economically feasible, and a de- velopment that will bring many benefits to South Dakota, the region, and the Nation through the balanced and stabilized economy in the area and Other benefits which it will provide ; and Whereas, North Dakota as the upstream border state has a common interest with its sister state in the regional economy of the two-state area ; Now, there- fore,beit Resolved by the North Dakota state Water Con~mfssion, n~eeUng in regit~ar se$sion in~ its office in the S'tate Capitol, Bi~onarck, ]~Torth Dakota, March 2,~, 1967, That it strongly favors and supports' the proposed Oahe unit, initial stage, de~ velopinent and does hereby most respectfully urge the Congress to consider and take favorable action upon the aforesaid legislative bills at the earliest practi- cable date ; and be it further Resotved, That the Secretary be and he is hereby directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to the Honorable Nils A. Bee, Governor of South Dakota; U.S. Senators Karl E. Mundt, George McGovern, Milton H. Young, and Quentin N. Burdick, and U.S. Representatives E. Y. Berry, Ben Reifel, Mark Andrews, and Thomas S. }~leppe ; Honorable Stewart L. Udall, Secretary, Honorable Ken- neth Holum, Assistant Secrctary of Water and Power, and Honorable Floyd E. Dominy, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior. For the North Dakota State Water Commission: WILLIAM L. Gtm~, Go'eern~or, C1vafrma~. Attest: MILe W. lioisvnnw, (`lilef E~vgiiaeer-S1ecretary, state J~Jngin,eer. Senator BTJRDICK. Our next witness will be the Honorable Kenneth Holum, Assistant Secretary for Water and Power Development. PAGENO="0040" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT STATEMENT OP HON. KENNETH ROLUM, ASSISThNT SECRETARY POR WAThRANI~ POWER DEVELOPMENT, D~PARTME1'1T OP THE INTERIOR; ACCOMPANIED BY NAMES T, CASEY, ACTING CHIEF, ~RO~EC~ ~EVELO~1VEENT DIVISION; HAROLD E. ALDRICH, REGIONAL DIRECTOR, BILLINGS, MONT~; AND' PRESTON PUNK- HOU~fl, PRO~CT DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER, HURON, S~ DAK.,, BUREAU OP RECLAMATION Mr. HOLUM. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the commit- tee. It `has been a real pleasure for me to be in the hearing room this morning and to hear the excellent statements made to this committee by ail of the members of the South Dakota congressional delegation and by our Governor who preceded me. It is also a pleasure to come to this table, having already heard not only bipartisan support from my home State of South Dakota for this project, but also having heard expres- sions of sympathy and interest from both sides of the table as far as this project is concerned. It is always a pleasant experience for a spokesman of the executive branch to come before a congressional committee in that spirit. That is, of course, the way in which we have approached conservation and wafer resources development activities during `the 6% years that I have been with the Department of the Interior. I would be less than candid if I didn't say that having appeared be- fore this committee on innumerable occasions, supporting reclamation projects and general law, relating to water resource development aJl over the country, but more specfficall~r in the 17 reclamation States, that all of these experiences have been pleasant and profitable. All ofthe actions taken by the Congress during these 6½ years have been, T am sure, in the interest of the West and the total interest of the country, `and we have moved ahead significantly with water re~ource development during this period. I would b~ less than candid if I didn't say to you that it is a particu- lar pleasure to come before you this morning in support of the first stage of the Oahe unit in my home State of South Dakota ; and to have the people directly affedted in the hearing room, prepared to appear before you' later and supply the essential information `that the Con- gress and the committee requires from those who must assume certain obligations in connection with this unit.. I know that these people here in the hearing room are friends and neighbors of mine from my home State of South Dakota, most of whom I have knowia intimately over a long petriodof time. It is a unique pleasure for me to be here this morning speaking for the administration on behalf of the Oahe unit in South Dakota. The committee has already heard substantial ` information with re- spect to the relationship between the Oahe unit atid the Garrison diver- sion unit `authorized by `the Congress in 1965, and earlier by the Flood Control Act ~f 1944. The Flood Control Act was a significant and `his- toHe `actIon by the Co~igress, laying out a truly multipurpose water resource dev~1opment project for the 10 `States of the Missouri Basin. The Missouri Basin is, from a geographical point of view-the land. mass involved-the largest river basin in our country. I 30 PAGENO="0041" OAH1~ UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 31 As a result of th~ Flood Control Act of 1944, as has already been noted and discussed by the members of the committee, a multipurpose resource project was laid out for the Missouri Basin, involving as its keystone a series of great d~xns and reservoirs on the Missouri River in North and South Dakota, supplementing the Fort Peck Dam which had already been constructed in Montana. At that time, the Congress contemplated and authorized the Garri- son diversion unit and the Oahe unit in South Dakota as a part of this multipurpose water resource development program, by incorporating the provisions of Senate Document 191 into the act. Since that time, the project has moved ahead. The great dams have been built. Thanks to their existence the unusually heavy runoffs of last season and this season are now stored in this great series of lakes stretching across North and South Dakota and up into Montana. Flood control has been provided. Water has been av~u1ab1e for naviga- tion in the lower States of the Missouri Basin and also in the Mis- sissippi River down to New Orleans. Hydroelectric power has been available. As has already been noted, it has made rural electrification and other development possible in eight of the 10 States of the Missouri Basin. In 1962 and 1963, as a result of the congressional concern and as a prelude to the authorization of the Garrison diversion unit, we were required-and I know it was our duty-to take a careful look at the entire Missouri Basin project from the point of view of its financial stability. One of the things that we learned-we knew it before but it was driven home very graphically in these studies conducted by the De- partment in * 1961, 1962, and 1963-was the tremendous delay that had occurred in the construction of the reclamation features of the Pick-Sloan plan, particularly in the upper basin States. That, of course, is why we are happy to be here today. It can be convincingly argued, and it already has been, that there is a national obligation to the States of North and South Dakota and the other States of the Upper Missouri Basin, to proceed with the development of these projects that are required in order to permit these States to reap the benefits `that Congress envisioned in 1944 when the Flood Control Act was enacted. I think it is ~my responsibility, however, to base my presentation to you this morning essentially on the basis that the Oahe unit in South Dakota is sound, and in the interest of the State of South Dakota and the people who live there and in the national interest. That will be the essential thrust of my presentation. If I were to make a short form presentation `this morning, Mr. Chairmari~ I could very easily say to the committee, as has already been noted, that the Oahe unit ~n South Dakota is almost identical, except for its physical features, with the Garrison diversion unit in North Dakota. The Garrison diversion unit, in large part because of your interest and support, has been a~~thori~ed by the Congress and is under con- structiOn. The two States, North and South Dakota, have almost identical climates. They have almost an identical economy. They are the two most agriculturttl States of theUnion. PAGENO="0042" QARE, XINIT, MIS~Q~J~I ~IV~ BASI~ PROJECT I In both~tMes-~and .we~wep~t~ int~o :t1~is~ ip~ considerable detail at the time ~f ~w Gamson heai rngs-the p~qj~le in the towns and on the land, b~ca~e~of ~e typ~pf climate 1~ha.t we 1~ave and the undepend- able rainfaT~ in these high plain States, are forced to depend to too great an ext~iit: for tke~r own good a~nd the National interest, upon the production of cereal grains. ~ ~ ~ ~,. ~ ~ ~ The Garrison divprsion unit a~nd the Oalie unit will provide the opportunity i~ f~rmors in eastern North Dakota an4 eastern South Dakota to switch ~ from an economy dependent esseiltially i~pon the production of cereal gi~aAns to the production of livestock aud livestock feeds which are much~ more urgently needed in the economy today. I am convincecj, and the Congress agreed with respect to th~ Garrison diversion utht, ti~at this is not only in the interest of the States affected but in th~ii~tion'al interest. ~ ~ ~ The Garriso~unit and Oahe unit are similar, too, in that North and South Dakota~ ~ar~ ar~as which provide a substantial portion of the migratory water fowl that are produced domestically in the United States. Both the Garrison diversion unit and Oahe unit provide a unique opportw)ity to enhance wildlife, particularly migratory water- fowl, in our country, not only for the benefit of the people up and down the central flyw~ty but all over the Tfi4ted Si~ates. . I think this Congress and this~ committee is too diligent to be satis- fled with *such~ a short statement. You want to know, and it is my obli- gation to proyide to you specific information with respect to the Oahe unit and what it will do, what its physical features are, how it will operate and what the Department of Interior has done to make sure that this project as we bring it before you is in compliance with the law and policies which have been established by the Congress of the United States with respect to water resource development. With that in mind, I will turn to my prepared statement. Before I do, I want to say to you that ordinarily when I come before you to discuss reclamation projects Ihave with me the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation or an Assistant Commissioner to talk about the technical features of the project. In this instance, both Com~nissiouer Dominy and Assistant Corn- missioner Stamm~ are out of the country.. I will take that responsibility myself. I think I do know something about the physical features of `this particular project. I do have with me at the table Jim Casey, the Acting Chief of the Project Development Division of the Bureau of Reclamation here in Washington ; Harold Aldrich, our Regional Di- rector from Billings, Mont., and Preston Funkhouser, from the Project Development Office in Huron, S. DaJ~. Now I will proceed to the prepared statement. The original act provided for irrigation of 750,000 acres west of the James River between Huron and Aberdeen. More detailed studies of the soils, however, indicated that the area should be adjusted to include all of the silt soils in the lakebed of prehistoric glacial Lake Dakota along the east and wes;t sides of the James River, and that lands with glacial till soils to the south and west of the lakebed should be dropped because they were not suitable for irrigation under then existing criteria. In essence, the Oahe unit was shifted east and northward and the irrigable area in the James River Valley was reduced from 750,000 PAGENO="0043" OAW~ UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJEcT 33 acr~~ to 445M00 acres. This shift &n the availability of land in South Dakota is ~yhat requires ~ the reauthoriza tion, th at we are considering this n~9rniug, Senate bill 6. ~ . ~ The lands in the James River area are now called the Lake Plain. An area with bess soils suitable for sustained irrigation located near the route of th~ unit facilities. in the vicinity of Oahe Reservoir, was ~ included. in the plans for the unit. This area totals about 50,000 acres and is referred to as the Missouri slope. The total area iww identified for ultimate development is. 495,000 acres. ~ . The Oahe conservancy subdistrict is the principal, responsible local sponsor of the Oahe unit. The subdistrict includes a 15½ county area in north-central South Dakota and was established under provi- sions of South Dakota State Law at the general election in November 1960. Eighty-five percent of the votes in the 1~6O. general election supported the creation of~the district. The district promotes water resources development and conserva- tion. The subdivision has taxation authority up to. * one-tenth of a mill on the assessed valuation of all taxable property within the sub- district prior to execution of a repayment contract and up to 1 miii after executioi~ of a repayment contract. The electorate granted con- tractual authority to the subdistrict board of directors at the general election in November 1966. During the summer of 1964, local interests initiated steps toward formation of irrigation districts in the Lake Plain Area in Spink County and in Brown County to the west of the James River. In December 1964, the Oah~ Conservancy Subdistrict Board of Directors formally asked the Bureau of Reclamation to complete a report on the l?otential for development of 495,000 irrigable acres and other functions of the multipurpose Oahe imit, and they also asked that we prepare a supplemental report for 19O~OOO irrigable acres as an initial stage of the ultimate plan. The 190,000.acres we are talking about are. identified on the wall map in yellow and lands that will be considered in future stages are shown in brown, making a total of 495,000 acres. Consistent with the request of the local sponsors.~ we present for your consideration the initial stage of the proposed Oahe unit which includes development of 190,000 acres of irrigable land, a municipal- indust~'iai water supply for 17 municipalities, five recreation areas, 18 fish and wildlife areas, flood control through the unit area along the James River, and area redevelopment benefits resulting from con- struction of the unit and from operation and maintenance activities that would follow. Water for the Oahe unit will be diverted from existing Lake Oahe, on the Missouri River, by the proposed Oahe pumping plant into the . Pierre Canal. The average pump lift will be 122 feet. From this point, water will flow by gravity through a system of main canals and two regulating reservoirs to irrigable lands lying west of the James River. Land lying east of the James River will be supplied water during the initial stage by releases from the West Lake Plain canal system into the James River and rediverted, together with irrigation return flows and floodflows into Byron Reservoir, by means of a pumping plant located at the existing James Diversion Dam. PAGENO="0044" 34 OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT The average pump lift at this point will be about 28 feet. The water supply will be relifted an average of 71 feet from Byron Reservoir and conveyed northward through the East Main Canal to serve irrigable lands east of the James River. These major facilities will be supplemented by distribution canals, laterals, and pumping plants to d*liver water to the land, and the nec- essary drainage facilities will be provided. Power for pumping will be obtained from the Missouri River Basin power system. Delivery of water to municipalities and fish and wildlife habitat ~ireas will be at canalside of the system constructed primarily to serve irricrable lands. T~ie total water requirement for the initial stage will average 563,- 900 acre-feet annually. Diversion from Lake Oahe will supply about 72 percent of this amount or 408,400 acre-feet, 10,800 acre-feet will be oh- tamed from recaptured return flows carried by the James River in the Lake Plain area, and the remaining 50,700 acre-feet will be obtained from natural flows of the James River. Fish and wildlife areas will require an average of 19,800 acre-feet annually, municipal and industrial requirements for the 17 communi- ties will total about 26,600 acre-feet annually, and irrigation demands will require 517,500 acre-feet annually. Senator BTJRDIOK. Could I ask a question before you get into that area? ~Tjl1 the unused water continue down the James River ? Mr. HoLm~i. Yes. We will be making use of the natural flows of the James River. Senator BURDICK. Under the Garrison project, any- Mr. I-IIoLuM. There will be some return flows from the Garrison diversion project hut a very minor amount into the James River as it is planned now. Do you have that figure, Mr. Casey? Mr. CAsEY. If the question goes to the Garrison return flows into the James, most of those go into the Red River system. Senator Bui~rncK. The Garrison diversion unit plan calls for re- turn flows to the James? Mr. HdLvi~1. Yes, there will be some. I take it we are not in a position to tell you exactly. Senator BURDICK. Will you be able to supply that information to the committee? Mr. HoLUM. Yes, we will. ( The information requested is as follows:) Seeticrn 3 of the Act of August 5, 1965, to make certain provision in connection with the construction of the Garrison Diver~4on Unit, Missouri River basin proj- ect, provides among other things that the Secretary of the Interior shall give consideration, to returning to the Missouri River to the fullest extent practicable, such of the return flows as are not requtred for beneficial purposes. Sixth return flows from the Garrison Diversion Unit as might otherwise accrue to the Sheyenne and Sourts Rivers and thus flow into the Red River of the North, would if found to be practicable, be returned to the James River, a tributary to the Missouri. As the studies required implicitly by the above-cited Section 3 have not been completed, it cannot be stated at this time what the magnitude of this return flow resource woiñd be. If and when such flows can be feasibly returned they would contribute to the water resources available to the Oahe Unit from the James River. To this extent pumping from the MissQu.ri River could be reduced to the overall economic and financial advantage of the Oabe Unit. PAGENO="0045" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 35 Mr. }TOLUM. Development of this initial stage plan will deplete the flow of the Missouri River below the confluence of the James fliver by about 303,000 acre-feet annually which is about 1.3 percent of the average annual flow of the Missouri River at that point. Senator MCGOVERN. May I interrupt at this point ?. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask Secretary Illolum if the reduc- tion in the amount of water in the river as a result of the proposed ir- rigation project will create a situation in which we have a conflict with the navigation interests, or has agreement been reached on that point? Mr. JIIOLUM. There will be some consumptive use of water in the Oahe unit, just as there will be some consumptive use of water in the Garrison diversion unit. But this was all contemplated at the time the Flood Control Act was enacted in 1944. I think it represents understandings between all of the States af- fected. Of course, except for the consumptive use, all of the return flows from the Oahe unit will reach the James River and be avail- able for navigation flows in the lower Missouri River. We trust there will be no problem in that connection. In fact, Mr. Casey reminds me that the Congress not only contem- plated this at the time of the Flood Control Act, but they wrote it into law by enacting at that time the O'Mahone.y-Milliken amendment, which made very clear the congressional intent in 1944. Of course, that still is the law of the land and will continue to be. Irrigation in the area proposed for development in the Oahe unit has been extremely limited because ofinadequate surface supplies dur- ing the growing season and the limited ground water supply. Rainfall is neither timely nor adequate to realize the agricultural potential the land will have with a full water supply. The cities and towns of the area rely on agriculture for their pros- perity as much as farmers clc themselves. Many towns in the area now lack suitable water for present domestic needs or future growth. Ground water, used extensively in many towns for a municipal supply, is highly mineralized and consequently of poor quality. Industrial development and municipal growth in the James River Basin will depend to a large extent upon . additional water being brought into the basin from an outside source. The provision of a dependable water supply for irrigation will re- move the present high risk associated with dryland farming, improve the agricultural base, stimulate and stabilize the overall economy of the area to the benefit of the State and Nation. The present heavy reliance on small grain farming will, with ir- rigation, substantially shift to more diverse crops associated with the production and fattening of livestock. The principal crops raised under irrigation development will be forage and grain crops for livestock feed. These would include corn for grain and silage, sorghums, alfalfa, rotation pasture, and some small grain for the crop rotation. There would also be some cash crops raised which will include sugar beets, potatoes, soybeans, and other truck crops on a relatively small acreage. The National. Park Service has developed a coordinated plan for outdoor recreation. Recreational development would be assoéiated with the Blunt, Cresbard, and Byron Reservoirs, North Scatterwood Lake, and a reservoir formed by the recently completed James Diver- sion Dam. PAGENO="0046" 36 OA}TE UNIT, MISSOURI RIV~ BASIN PROJ~CT A. rn~dification and improvem&it to the proposal for recreational developme~nt at Blunt ResQrvoir was made by the National Park Service iti September 1966. This change provides for fewer facilities at Blunt Reservoir because of recently developed recreational facili~ ties at Hipple Lake and Lake Oahe, on the Missouri River, which are within 30 miles of Blun1~ Reservoir. Additional water-based recreation is needed in the west-central part of the Oahe unit area ; therefore, recreation facilities were proposed at North Scatterwood Lake, a natural lake, that will be st~bilized, as a result of construction of the project. The total investment, O.M. & IL costs, and annual benefits for both Blunt Reservoir and North Scatterwood Lake recreation develop- ments would be the same as for the. original plan for Blunt Reservoir. The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife has formulated a co- ordinated plan for development of 18 fish and wildlife management areas. Eleven of these areas would serve as mitigation areas and seven areas would befor enhancement of fish and wildlife. Six of the mitigation areas, totaling 10,355 acres, are proposed for Federal management and will compensate for habitat losses-pot- hole and marsh areas-adversely affecting migratory waterfowl. The other five mitigation areas, totaling 3,471 acres, are proposed for State management and will compensate for habitat losses affecting pheasants and other upland game deer and to some extent waterfowl. Three of the enhancement areas, totaling 12,005 acres, are proposed for Federal management of migratory waterfowl. The other four enhancement areas, totaling 14,215 acres, are proposed for State man- agement of fish and to a lesser degree wildlife. The Corps of Engineers prepared the proposed plan for channel improvements of the James River to serve as a principal waterway for conveyance and disposal of irrigation return flows. Benefits accruing to flood protection derive from the ability for the improved channel to carry spring floodflows when it is riot being util- ized to carry irrigation return flows. The James pumping plant will contribute to flood control by diverting floodflows from the James River to Byron Reservoir. Under existing conditions the quality of water in the James River varies considerably each year. The State of South Dakota has sug- gested a total dissolved solids (TDS) standard of 1,000 parts per million for the James River in the reach from the James Diversion Dam to Huron, this being the only part of the stream classified as a domestic water supply. Quality of water records for 9 years, 1958-65, indicate that the State's suggested standards are exc~eded on the average of 100 days a year. We have made studies to determine the effect that the initial stage of the Oahe unit would have on the quality of James River flows in this reach of the stream. It was found that irrigation return flows would probably cause an increase in TDS to undesirable levels during the months July to November and would have a minor diluting effect on the otherwise poor quality flows during the winter months of December to March. Studies indicate that by importing an additional 36~OOO acre-feet of water from the Missouri River through the Oahe unit system for dilution of irrigation return flows, satisfactory quality of water can PAGENO="0047" OAHE T~NIT, MISSOURI ItI\T~R BASIN PROJEdT 37: ; The assigned costs are the investments already made for the main- stream reservoirs and power system of the Missouri River Basin project. The total new money required to complete the project is, as I said, $188,492,000. The costs to June 30, 1965, include $2,897,000 for the existing James Diversion Dam and investigation costs through fiscal year I 965. As indicated in the Secretary's August 29 transmittal of his feasi- bility report-House Document No. 163, 90th Congress-on the unit, certain changes were made in the plan of development that reduced the estimated costs. Some of the principal supply works originally were sized to accom- modate requirements for the ultimate stage of development. This proposal has now been dropped from the plan, and facilities will be built only to accommodate initial stage requirements. This reduces ~ the project cost by $11,417,000. Senator MCGOVERN. May I ask a question at that point ~ ~ . The reduction in the size of these main canals to accommodate only ~ the first stage rather than the ultimate 495,000-acre project which we all expect to be completed, in no way jeopardizes the ultimate corn- pletion of that project, does it ? Mr. HOLUM. I think not, Senator, not at all. I th~nk that this reserves options for the executive branch and the State of South Dakota and was a good decision. It in no way indicates any attitudes in the future with respect to the construction of the additional stages of the unit. Senator MCGOVERN. With or without the $1 I million figure which you quoted as representing the reduction in project costs, the question of moving ahead on completion of the ultimate project is not affected? Mr. HOLUM. I think not. Senator MUNDT. I w~mt to button th~tt down ~ litth if I may. I think my colleague brings out a sentence reads, if you take it out of context, someb wrong impression. You say that the proposal has no am sure you meant the proposal that was ` LI s to insert into be maintained dtirhig those Periods wheti return ~fiOw~ ~ would cause the TDS to exceed the suggested standards. This water can ~ be provided at an incremental ~c~st ~ of ~ ~pumping .~ energy estimated to average $14,000 ~ arinuaJly. This cost would he allocated to all functions of the unit. The Bureau of Reclamation and the Federal Water Pollution Con- trol Administration will continue their cooperative studies duriiig preconstruction investiga~tions to refine these findings and develop operating criteria and safeguards. Total project and assigned costs for the initiAl stage~ of the Oahe unit are as follows : Project costs $191, 389, 000 Assigned costs-storage and power 42, 649, 000 Total cost 234, 038, 000 Less `assigned costs and money spent or appropriated to June 30, 1965 Total cost to ~ -45, 546,000 188, 492, 000 PAGENO="0048" 38 Purpose OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT the original project. the full scale of works required on the ultimate project. It is not the ultimate goal of acres that has been dropped, but we have dropped the concept of building for the future while planning for the present. Mr. HOLUM. That is correct. Actually in 1944 we were thinking about a 750,000-acre project. I think the ~tate still is. I think we still are. We were confronted with the situation where plans for only 495,000 acres of irrigable land, with the right type of soils and in a contiguous area, 1~ave been developed at this time. I think the goal still is to move to the 495,000 acres and then to move to the 750,000 acres. But there is a long construction period involved, with a substantial investment. The $11 million will be an expenditure that by any standard could be oarning interest if not made or costing the Government interest if it was made for canal~capacity that was not being used. I think our rec- ommendation to forgc~ this future capacity represents a sound decisrnn that doesn't prejudice the future but, rather, provides more flexibility in future planning. Another proposal made in the Secretary's report was to operate the Oahe unit in a manner which would permit the Oahe pumping plant to be shut down during the midsummer period of peak power demand and thus permit the use of the seventh power generating unit at Oahe 1)am to help meet these peak power demands. Subsequent studies indicated that operation of the generator during this summer period would not be economically justifiable ; therefore, this proposal will not receiire further consideration which reduces the cost estimate by $2,775,000. The cost estimate contained in the Secretary's report included an amount for relocation in kind of area roads and highways. Since the transmittal of that report to the Congress, it has been determined that an additional cost of $2 million will be incurred in constructing these roads to present day standards in accordance with section 207 (c) of the Flood Control Act of 1960-74 Stat. 400-as amended by section 208 of theFlood Control Act of 1962-76 Stat. 1196. This additional cost will be a Federal nonr~eimbursab1e obligation. Annual direct ~ and total benefits of $12,782,900 and $20,409,600, re- spectively, would accrue to the local area, State, and Nation as a result of construction and operation of this proposed development. The benefit-cost ratio based on total benefits is 2.5 to 1, and using direct benefits only, it is 1.6 to 1. A compilation of benefits derived from each function served by the initial stage is as follows Annual equivalent Irrigation benefits Direct $11, 507, 700 Total 19, 618, 300 Munieipa1-in~lustrial water supply 465, 600 Fish and wildlife enhancement 435, 900 Flood control 46, 700 Recreation 108,400 Area redevelopment 218, 600 Uncompensated adverse effects 483, 900 Net benefits Direct 12, 782, 900 Total 20, 409, 600 PAGENO="0049" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 39 Uncompensated adverse effects relate to agricultural lands taken out of production by construction of project works. The estimated project costs of $191,389,000 plus the proper share of existing Missouri River Basin project costs of $42,649,000 total $234,038,000. These `costs are allocated among `the functions served by the unit as follows: Irrigation `~. $205, 790, 000 Municipal and industrial water 11, 324, 000 Fish and wildlife enhancement 11, 066, 000 Flood control 1, 234, 000 Recreation 2,624,000 Highway betterment 2, 000,000 Total 234,038, 000 All project and assigned costs allocated to irrigation are reimburs- able. Average annual payment capacity of irrigable lands in the initial stage is $11.40 per acre. Deduction of a contingency and incenth~e al- lowance of $1.40 per acre results in a recommended average annual water charge of $10 per acre. Operation, maintenance, and replacement costs are estimated at $6.80 per acre which leave's $3.20 per acre for amortization of project costs. Irrigation water users and the Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict will repay a total of $33,440,000 or about 16 percent of the costs allocated to irrigation in `the `50-year repayment period. Missouri River Basin project power revenues will repay the remain- 1flg $172,350,000, or about 84 percent allocated to irrigation in the 50- year period. The Report on Financial Position, Missouri River Basin project, dated December 1963, demonstrates that revenues would be available to repay these costs within 50 years following the permissible develop- ment period. The accounting concepts and criteria employed in that report were approved by the Congress through enactment of legislation reauthoriz- rng the Garrison diversion unit of the Missouri River Basin project, the act of August `5, 1965 (Public `Law 89-108) The allocation of $11,324,000 to municipal-industrial water supply, and interest during construction amounting to $534,000, would be re- paid with interest by these water users. No additional capacity or special structures are required in the sys- tern to convey municipal-industrial water and no specific costs are in- cluded for this purpose. Delivery of water will be made at canalside and at the James River. All works required to transport, treat, and store the water from point of delivery will be the responsibility of the water users. Joint costs allocated to municipal-industrial water users would be repaid, with interest, at an average charge of about $26 per acre-foot. The mur~icipalities will also pay O.M. & R. charges estimated at $2.70 per acre-foot of water. To comply with cost-sharing provisions of the Federal Water Proj- éct Recreation Act, it would be necessary that a non-Federal public body be responsible for the repayment of $326,000 of' specific costs for recreation facilities and $674,000 of specific costs for fish and wildlife enhancement facilities, including interest during construction. 83-182-67------4 PAGENO="0050" Depaiii Loca ~on and maintenance of the multipurpose Oahe u woul I be provided by the Oahe Conservancy Sub district. ~ The conservancy subdistrict would also act as fiscal agent for rei mbursable costs. There will be a master contradt between the United States and the Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict which will include standard provisions of Bureau repayment contracts. These provisions will include require- merits that irrigable lands in excess of 160 acres in a single beneficial ownership cannot be served with project water unless the owner .exe- cutes a recordable contract agreeing to dispose of the excess holding within 10 years. Other subsidiary or supporting contracts will include: 1. Participating contracts between the Oahe Conservancy Sub- district and Water users, includiiig irrigation districts, munici- palities, and other agencies. 2. Security contracts b~tween th~ United St~tes and the irriga- tion districts. These contracts will be invoked only if the Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict defaults in its ohliga~ion. 3. A three-way contract among the United States, the Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict, and the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks. Preliminary drafts of these contracts have been prepared and are being negotiated with `the board of directors of the Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict. Substantial agreement has been reached on major pro- visions to be included in the contracts. Senator MOGOVERN. I think it would be interesting to note at this point the really remarkable degree of local support in concrete terms that has been registered for this project this last November by a better than 3-to-i margin. ` . . The voters in the area gave the Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict Board contracting authority needed to move ahead with the project, and they also gave them the authority to increase taxation from one-tenth of a mill to i mill. I think that is very remarkable in view of the understandable resistance these days about raising tax authority, to get that kind of a vote as recently as last November. I believe it underscores the very strong local support for the project that the Secretary is referring to. Mr. HoT~uM. Of course, it is very comforting for the executive branch to know that the renayrnent obligations that the TJnited States requires in this type of water resource project will be met and that the local peonle have taken the necessary action. Their elected officials have been ready to negotiate and commit themselves to these obligations that are re~nired before construction starts. Yes, we are in splendid position as far as the willingness of the people of the State of South Dakota to accept the financial obligations that the TTnited States requires. rIlhey will testify, I am sure, in more detail. It is indeed difficult to measure and quantify all of the benefits that would accrue as a result of development of the initial stage of the 40 OAHE TJ~IT, MISSOURI R~VER BASIN PROJECT PAGENO="0051" OAHE I~NIT, MISSOURI' RIVE~ BASIN ?EOJEdT * 41 Oahe unit. The principal benefit of this development, as bidicated earlier in my statement, would be the diver~ificaton~ ir~tensification, and stabilization of the agricultural production and net farm income of the area and its concomitant effect on empIoymeitt and income of the business and industrial economy. In that respect, I think, as far as the Garrison diversion unit in North Dakota is concerned, that) a dependable supply of livestock forage in the central area of the State is not only going to affect the agricultural economy of the acres actually brought under irrigation, but the effect will be much broader across the whole State. This would also be the case in South Dakota with the development of the Oahe unit. The inital stage c;f the Oahe unit is a desirable resource development. It would strengthen the economy of the area, State, and Nation. It is engineeringly feasible and economically justified. The estimated total annual benefits exceed annual costs by a ratio of 2.5 to 1. Development of the initial stage is compatible with future development of the ultimate plan. Its development would fulfill a longstanding obligation to the State of South Dakota which gave up over a half-million acres of its agri- cultural land for the mainstem reservoirs which have been providing flood protection and other benefits to other regions of the Missouri Basin for many years now. Irrigation districts have been formed, and the local people, from the Governor on down through and including the individual water users, have demonstrated their sincere willingness to assume the obligations imposed by this undertaking. We are, therefore, confident that the necessary degree of local desire is present and that no appreciable difficulty will be encountered from this standpoint. The Department recognizes that this is a substantial undertaking. It is daring and imaginative in concept. The time required to attain its full development will exceed our lifetime. The amount of money and effort involved will be considerable. However, we cannot fail to recognize,our responsibility to the future. We should initiate this program at the earliest reasonable date. We believe the plan is soundly conceived, eminently justfied, and repre- sents a logical step in an orderly program of natural resource conser- vation and use. On behalf of the Department of the Interior and the administration, I recommend prompt and favorable approval of this measure. Mr. Chairman, it has been a pleasure to present the views of the administration with respect to this project. I will be pleased to submit any further information you may request. Senator BrmDlcic. Thank you, Mr. 1-liolum. I just have a few questions. . .. One of the questions we heard most frequently during the Garrison period was, Why do you wish to spend taxpayers' money to develop a project like this when we have overproduction in this country of vari- ous crops? As I look at the map on the wall, T find the areas to be irrigated -are aJready iii production. Is that not correct? Mr. HoT~Tr~r. The lands are all in production. PAGENO="0052" 42 OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT Senator BURDICK. In other words, there are no new or reclaimed lands, which had not been cultivated before, being brought into the picture at all? Mr. HOLUM. No ; there are not. Senator BURDICK. Is it true also under this bill, and isn't it true also of the Garrison project, that for a period of 10 years from the time of the enactment of this legislation that crops would not have the benefit of the price support program? Mr. H0LUM. Senators McGovern and Mundt include that language in Senate bill 6. The Department has no objection to it whatsoever. Senator BTJRDICK. In other words, there are no new lands brought in and for those that are irrigated, where water is brought to them, there will be no Government programs available for those crops. I would think that would take care of all those detractors. . Mr. IIOIMM. We understand, Senator Burdick, that there is this concern over certain crops that are temporarily in surplus. I think the net effect of the Garrison diversion unit and the net effect of the Oahe diversion unit is to divert lands that are now involved in the produc- tion of surplus crops to the production of crops that are urgently needed and will be needed with increasing urgency in this country and around the world. We have discussed the growing needs of the co~mtry for meat and meat products. We will be glad to supply them again with regard to this hearing. But these projects will permit, in fact they will not only permit but encourage and make inevitable, a substantial shift from the production of cereal crops to the produêtion of livestock and meat products. The country urgently needs more capacity to produce beef, pork, lamb, and other meat products, as our population grows and our econ- omy grows. We shift more and more to a meat diet when the economy grows. Senator BURDICK. The third point I think we should mention is the fact that we are projecting this beyond the construction period, which will be 10 or 15 years at least. The population to be fed will be greater by that time also. Mr. HOLUM. There are substantial periods involved even before the 190,000 acres in the first stage is in production. Senator BURDIOK. Mr. Secret~ry, I want to acknowledge again the tremendous job that your Department did in the Garrison project, and also in the Oahe. unit. The assistancethat you, your staff and your De- partment have given has been very great. Mr. H0LTJM. We have found a great deal of satisfaction in working with you, Senator Burdick. and your colleagues, on the Garrison diversion unit. We think it is a very wise resource development. We feel the same satisfaction with respect to the Oahe. Senator BURDIOK. Senator McGovern? Senator MCGOvERN. Thank you, Mr. Ohairman. I want to join in commending Secretary }IIoIum for what I regard as a superb review of the whole background and the case for this project. With regard to the questions that the chairman has just raised, when we talk about meeting the food needs of this country as i.t relate's to the Oahe project, isn't it true that. we are talking roughly about a 20- PAGENO="0053" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 43 year davelopmellt project, in terms of the full-scale impaot of this project? We have to look down the road at least 20 years, do we not? Mr. HOLUM. I would prefer not to speculate too precisely as to the length of the construction period we are talking about. It is obviously going to be substantial. There are substantial facilities, main canals and pumps that have to be built. We always think in terms of a 10- year development period after the project is completed, with laterals and drains having all been put in place before the agricultural lands will be producing up to their full, ultimate capacity. That has been a standard part of our thinking with respect to re- clamation development and it is pare of our thinking here, too.. We are thinking in terms of a long period before the full agricultural produc- tivity will be realized. I am sure there will be benefits immediately when water is avail- able, but the benefits will accelerate over a period of time. Senator MCGOVERN. Secretary Freeman testified before our Agri- cultural Oommittee a year or so ago in support of the administration's expanded food-for-peace effort. He said that unless very dramatic~ al- most miraculous gains are made in the production of food in the next 20 years, the world will just plain run out of food and we won't be able to meet expected demands by the year 1985 unless there are very, very dramatic breakthroughs in the production of food. I think that underscores the nature of the problem we are up against. .It is not going `to be a problem of producing too much, but how we can increase production over the next 15 or 20 years to meet the demands. Mr. H0LUM. As I recall, and I should have refreshed my memory, studies that we looked into in 1964 and 1965, when we were talking about the Garrison diversion unit, studies made by the Department of Agriculture and independent studies made by Resources for the Fu- `ture, indicated that the cotintry will have to increase its ability to produce meat and meat products by 60 percent in the next decade, just to meet the growing needs of the economy. I trust my memory is close to being correct on those figures. Senator MCGOVERN. Thank you very much. Senator BURDICK. Senator Jordan. Senator JORDAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Secretary, I would like to explore with you some of the arith- :metic you gave us with respect to this project. In the first place, the part allocable to irrigation is $205,790,000. Is that correct? Mr. HOLUM. That is correct. Senator JORDAN. This is for 190,000 acres, is it not? Mr. HOLUM. Yes. Senator JORDAN. It would be at the rate, then, of about $1,030 per acre. Mr. HOLTJM. $1,083 per acre. Senator JORDAN. The irrigators will pay the sum of $33,440,000. Mr. HOLUM. That is correct. Senator JORDAN. That is about $175 per acre? Mr. HOLUM. Yes. Senator JORDAN. It is 16 percent, approximately, of the total cost. Mr. HoLrn~1. That is correct, Senator. I PAGENO="0054" 44 ~ ~ uNIT, Missowiti RIY~R BASIN ~ PROJECT Senatçr JORDAN I~ this Jiugh o~' lQw `~s compared to the percentage that the irrigators themselves will pay when compared with other projects? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ , ~ . ~ Mr. HoLtrM. It is aboiitayerage, Senator Jordan. There a~e areas of the o9ui~t~y, particularly tl~e Pacific Sout1~west, Arizona ~uid Cali- fornia, having a year-round growing season where the irrigators pay a substai~tial~y higher percentage. ~ There are other areas, irrigation projects in higher country, ~ where they have shorter growing seasoi~s where the irrigators pay less. So I would say it is about av~age. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Senator JORDAN. And the water to be diverted for irrigatiQn pur- poses, 563,900 acre freet, I believe someone testified, would be at the ~ rate of aboat 3 acre-feet per acre ? Is this the application for that area, ~: about 3 acre-feet ~ . Mr. H0LUM. Yes, about that. Senator JORDAN. And the irrigators will pay back $10 per acre per year. Is that what you said ? , ~ Mr. ITOLUM. Yes~ ~ . . Senator JORDAN. Of which $6.80 will be for operation and mainte- pance~ leaving $3.20 to apply on the amortization of the principal sum. , Mr. HoLtmr. That is correct. Senator JORDAN. The water at canalside on this project will cost a little over $3 per acre-fo~t, a very reasonable cost, it seems to me. Mr. Hoirmr. Representing the ability of the water irrigators to pay for water. ~ Senator JORDAN. What is the evaporation loss from a reservoir like Oahe ? What isthe annual evaporation loss ? . Mr. Hoi~ui~ About 3 feet per year. Senator JORDAN. In other words~ pith a reservoir that inundates a half million acres and an evaporation loss of 3 feet in a year, the an . nual loss from evaporation will be a million and a half feet. ~ . Mr. HOL~XM. These are Corps of Engineers' reservoirs. I don't know if we have those figures or not. Mr. Funkhouser? Mr. FtJNKHOUSER. We don't have the figure for Oahe Reservoir but the estimate for the mainstem reservoirs jn North and South Dakota is over 1 million acre-feet per year. Senator JORDAN. And the diversion of additional waters for recla- mation, of which this is the initial 190,000, will not do violence to the navigation program downstream? Mr. HOLUM. No ; w~ think not. This ~ was all very carefully con- sidered by the Congress in 1944 when the Flood Control Act was enacted. The Congress made it clear at that time that it did consider it most important that the upstream States, the States where the water is being produced, where the economy needed the assistance, should have the right to use that water within the States, by writing into the Flood Control Act the O'Mahoney-Milliken amendment. Senator JORDAN. Are anycosts included in this initial 190,000 that will not be necessary to allocate t.o an additional imit that might be brought in? In other words, are we to expect that additional units that come in will cost $1,000 an acre or up? PAGENO="0055" °4W~ VNIT, MISSQWtI RIVER MSIN PROJE~ 45 Mr. HOLIThL I don't know if we. are in a ~o~jtion to speculate about that or not, Senator Jordan. Thisproject, aiid it has obviously given Senator Mundt a~d Senator McG~wern concern, has been stripped down to the capacity needed to serve 190,000 acres. But we do not have the detailed studi~s on possible future development that would~ permit me to give you a definitive answer. ~ ~ , ~ ~ Senator JORDAN. In the Missouri Basin, you have a basin account for applying power r~venues to the assistanc~ of the irrigation price. Mr. HOT~IM. Yes, we do. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ` ~ ~ Senator JORDAN. You calculate th~t $i7~.,35O,OOo of the amount allocable to irrigation will bepaid out ofthis fund for this project? Mr. HoLu~r. Yes, we do. We did a very careful review of the finan- cial position of the Missouri B~sin ~d~oui~t before webrought the Oar- rison diversion i~nit before the Congress, At `that time,~ as part of the Garrison diversion unit, the ~ Congress authorized us to make some changes in the Missouri Basin account to bring it into confoi~iñity with other basiii accounts across the country. We found that it was necessary ~o in~rease power rates in order to have the type of financial security tinder the project that we and the Congress dnmanded. We had to raise the rates a quai~ter of a miii per kilowatt-hour on firm power. . We can come to you today and say that the basin account will pro- vide the dollars that are needed when they are needed to' repay Oahe unit costs. Senator JORDAN. That is what I was leading up to. I remember the talks we had several years ago a's to the `solvency of the fund. It se~~ed to n'ie that the power rates were too low to look to it with any as cur- ance that revenues would be available `for the assistance to irrigation at that time. But you moved to correct that. Mr. HoLimr. I spent 21/2 years with a very impatient Senator Burdick and colleagues from North Dakota, and very impatient Sena- tors from South Dakota, addressing myself to the financial payont of the Missouri Basin project. We did find the answer. The Congress approved it and I think we are now in a position to move ahead on Oahe as we did `on Garrison. Senator JORDAN. With the water supplies as you anticipate them to be, and with the present power rates, you do believe that this is a solvent basin account and we can look to it for this amount of assist- ance for this project ? Mr. HOLTTM. Yes, I do, Senator. Senator JORDAN. Thank you. Senator BnRDTOK. Senator Mundt? Senator MUNDT. I have no questions. Senator Jordan anticipated a lot of questions that I had in mind. ~ I want to join my colleagues in congratulating Secretary Holum in presenting a `complete and comprehensive analysis of this project. I think it is an excellent prospectus to demonstrate that we have here a project which is not only needed but which is solvent. Thank you for your fine statement. Mr. HoLtmi. If I may go back to Senator Jordan for a minute, it would be useful, for the Senator and this committee, I believe, if we were to supply the specific financial forecasts that we made. PAGENO="0056" 46 OAHE tNIT, MISSOtRI RIVER BASIN PROJECP (The forecasts referred to follow:) AVAILABILIThr OF MRBP FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE The 1963 Missouri River Basin Project repayment studies indicated that reimbursable costs could be repaid in accordance with the following schedule: 1. Commercial power repayment completed by-2014 2. All irrigation investment associated with units built or under con- struction on 6/30/64 repaid by-20i8. Following power payout in 2014 and the payout of existing irrigation units in 2018, approximately $40 million, annually, in power revenues will be avail- able to assist irrigation repayment in the basin. Assuming an early authoriza- tion of the initial stage of the Oahe Unit in 1969 the first increment of financial assistance required from the Missouri River Basin Project would be In 2036 at which time about $720,000,000 would be available to assist irrigation. Of this the Garrison Diversion Unit will require about $193,000,000, and the Nebraska Mid-State Division about $32,000,000 leaving about $500,000,000 to assist other units. The total assistance required for the initial stage of the Oahe Unit would be $172,350,000. The last increment of assistance would not be required until 2057. Senator BURDICE. Senator Hansen? Senator HANSEN. I have no questions. Senator MCGOVERN. Could I make a brief announcement, Mr. Chairman? It is my understanding that we are about to take a noon break, coming back into session at 2 o'clock for the rest of the witnesses. Senator Mundt and I have reserved places in the Senate dining room in this building, in room G-211, for the South Dakota witnesses who are here with the Governor and our congressional delegation. We would like to extend an invitation to all of the South Dakota people who are here in the hearing room to join us there about 12:15 for lunch. I will leave it to the chairman as to when we reconvene. Senator BURmOK. In view of that announcement, and it now being 12 :08, we will be in recess until 2 o'clock. I want to announce, in view of the fact that I have a Judiciary meet- lug that has been going on all morning and which will resume this afternoon, and which I must attend, the meeting this afternoon will be chaired by Senator McGovern. Before I have to leave I would also like to make the subcommitee aware of the support my good friend, Milo IEloisveen, State engineer of North Dakota, is giving this project. I would like to have his letter included in the record at this point. (The letter referred to follows:) NOETTI DAKOTA WATER CoMMISsIoN, STATE CAPITOL, Bismctrck, N. Dak. Hon. QUENTIN N. BIJRDICK, Ujg. senator, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR BIJEDIOK : In my position as State Engineer for the State of North Dakota, it has been my privilege to study certain aspects of this project over a period of years: The project appears well designed and should meet the much- needed moisture requirements of that area to enhance the agricultural economy, municipal water supply, and wildlife propagation in South Dakota. In North Dakota we are commencing work on the giant Garrison diversion unit after many years of consideration ; consequently, we ~ are aware of the years of constant effort South Dakota has made in regard to the Oahe project. It is my opinion that these projects can be made to, and will, complement each other. The Oahe project has been considered as a part of the overall Missouri Basin project authorized in the Flood Control Act of 1944 and, as such, it has been de- PAGENO="0057" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 47 layed for at least a score of years as the reclamation program in the Upper Mis- souri Basin has not kept pace with the developments of water projects in the remaining Basin. I am hopeful that you will see it possible to file this letter as an endorsement and as a part of the testimony presented to your Committee at the Oahe hear- ing. I am looking forward to appearing at some future hearing held by Congres- sional committees relative to the Oahe project. With kind personal regards, I am Sincerely yours, MIL0 W. HOISVEEN, Engineer-secretary. Senator BURDICK. We will be in recess until 2 o'clock. (Whereupon, at 12:10 p.m. the subcommittee recessed, to reconvene at 2 p.m. the same day) AFTER RECESS ( The subcommittee reconvened at 2 p.m., Senator George McGovern presiding.) Senator MoGovi~a~N. The subcommittee will be in order. We will resume our hearings. As you folks know, the Senate is in session this afternoon, so we will not have very many members of the committee here. They may be dropping in from time to time. Rather than delay the hearings, I think we will go ahead at this time. Our first witness this afternoon will be Mr. Henry J. Schmitt, editor and publisher, Aberdeen American-News, and chairman, South Dakota Industrial Development Expt~nsion Agency. STATEMENT OP HENRY L SCHMITT, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER, ABERDEEN AMERICAN-1~EWS; CHAIRMAN, SOUTH DAKOTA IN- DUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT EXPANSION AGENCY Mr. SonMIrr. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My name is Henry J. Schmitt. I am the editor and publisher of the Aberdeen American-News, a daily newspaper published in Aber- deen, S. Dak. I am also chairman of the South Dakota Industrial Development Expansion Agency, the official State agency charged with the responsi- bility of stimulating the State's economy through expansion of industry. I am appearing today to urge the authorization of the Oahe irriga- tion project. Annual per capita income in South Dakota varies with the amount of rainfall received. Construction of the irrigation project would help to stabilize this income and provide for industrial expansion. In my opinion, in addition to the obvious benefits from the con- struction phase, the Oahe project would: 1. Stabilize feed and feed grain production, resulting in cx- panded livestock feeding which, in turn, would increase the meat processing industry in the State. 2. Expand the fertilizer industry in the State. 3. Permit greater crop diversification, including production of vegetables which would result in the processing, wholesaling and warehousing of these crops. PAGENO="0058" 48 OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 4. Expand seed growing and processing. South Dakota soil is ideal for seed and vegetaMe production, provided moisture is assured. rihe impact of irrigation would extend nationwide as machinery, fuel, and supplies are required by the farming areas. There would be, of course, a continuing demai'id for tractors and all lines of farm machinery. In addition to the farming and farm-related impact, an assured supply of industrial water would also enhance the competitive posi- tion of South Dakota communities in seeking nonfarm industries. With the advent of irrigation, there will be more job opportunities in industry for South Dakota young men, many of whom are now leaving the ~ State. Out on the Great Plains area we have the space, the talent, and the skills. We need more industry to create more jobs and water flowing onto our land from the Missouri would be a great step in attracting more industry to the State. The total economic impact of the construction of the Oahø irrigation unit makes it the most important single project in the history of this area. I urge immediate authorization of the project. Thank you. ~ . Senator MCGOVERN. Thank you, ~ Mr. Schmitt, for a very fine statement. ~ ~ ~ Mr. SCHMITT. ~ Thank you, Mr.Chairman. Senator MCGOVERN. Our nekt witness will be Mr. S. E. Sewell, vice president of Northwestern Public Service Co., Huron, S. Dak. STATEMENTOF S. E. SEWELL, VICE PRESIDENT, NORTHWESTERN ~ I~UBLIO SERVICE CO., HURON, S. DAX. Mr. SEWELL. Mr. Chairman, my name is S. E. Sewell. I am vice president of Northwestern Public Service Co., an electric and natural gas utility serving 108 communities in eastern South Dakota with electricity * and 27 communities with natural gas in South Dakota and Nebraska. The headquarters of our company is located in Huron, S.Dak. In addition to my capacity here today as a spokesman for industry, I would like to add that my interest in reclamation and water develop- ment is one of many years standing. I am currently a member of the executive committee of our State reclamation association, and was privileged to serve as its State president in 1966. On behalf of my company, Northwestern Public Service Co., it is my pleasure to appear before you today to urge support for the speedy authorization by Congress of the first stage development plan for irrigation in Spink and Brown Counties of South Dakota. I believe it is especially urgent that your committee and Congress give early approval of this most important project. Your support for this project should come at this time for a number of reasons. 1. You will be fulfilling an obligation assumed by Congress in 1944 when the Flood Control Act was enacted by your body. When the large multipurpose dams were constructed on the Missouri River, it was clearly understood by the people of South Dakota that the major benefit for our State would conic from the ultimate irrigation of hundreds of thousands of acres within our State. PAGENO="0059" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT In return for this assurance, South Dakota citizens have permitted the flooding of hundreds of thousands of acres of what was our most productive farmland to provide water storage areas to prevent flood- ing on the Missouri River downstream. This valuable cropland has now been lost forever, and along with it the income that would other- wise have been produced from these lands. In addition to this, substantial tax revenues for local tax districts have also been lost forever because of ~he resulting flooding of the entire Missouri River Valley `within the State of South Dakota. This serious economic loss to the people of our State can at least be partially replaced by the development of irrigable lands that lay generally up and down the James River Valley, which is approximately 100 miles east of the Missouri River. All other phases of the multipurpose river development project within our State have now been `completed. It is time now to move ahead with the irrigation phase of this multipurpose project. 2. The developrn~tit of the first stage of the Oahe irrigation pro- posal, which involves a potential of 190,000 acres of irrigated land, primarily in Brown and Spink Counties, wilireestablish new economic opportunities for the people in this area which will result in great benefits to the citizens of South Dakota as well as to people throughout our Nation and, in fact, the world. I have read on many occasions statements by economists, agricul- tural leaders, and politicians that in a short time adequate food sup- plies will no longer be available in our country to meet the growing needs of our people and others beyond the borders of our great Nation. Tue vast amount of foodstuffs that can be produced on this highly irrigable land that you are being asked to authorize at this time can do much to alleviate this anticipated shortage. 3. Some opponents of this project have eipressed the view that in- creased irrigation at this time will only contribute to present-day food surpluses which, because of price supports, have caused a drain on the general taxpayer of America and have had th~ added effect of depress- ing prices for certain agricultural commodities. I do not think that this will be the case at all. Figures released by the Bureau of Reclamation in June of 1965 mdi- cate that the development of this first stage unit of 190,000 acres will actually have the effect of ieducing those crops which have been in suiplus This will come about by reduction in thousands of acres of cropland that are presently being used to raise grains now in surplus, by the diversion of these acres to the raising of crops not in surplus but which may be needed for both feed and forage purposes. For example, acreage currently used for the raising of surplus crops of barley, oats, and wheat would be reduced by over 75,000 acres, thus tendinìg to reduce the surplus of these grains, while such crops as sugai~ beets, certain sorghums for feed, increased use of pastureland, etcetera, will be increased providing new sources for food not now in surplus. This:will result in savings to the taxpayers by reduced support pay- ments. 4. South Dakota is a sparsely settled State. This, first stage alone will provide an additional 14,000 jobs for our people or others who may wish to come ot our proud State for a better and more healthful way of life. 49 PAGENO="0060" 50 OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT While South Dakota will necessarily be the chief beneficiary of having additional people moving to our State, it seems to me that the whole Nation benefits because this migration into our State will cer- tainly help to alleviate the increasing problems ~f urban congestion that exist in America today. It may certainly be a contributing factor to resolving some of the pressing problems faced by the metropolitan areas at this time. 5. It has been estimated that the increased economic benefits for South Dakota by the institution of the first stage of the Oahe irriga- tion development program will amount to more than $71 million an- nually. In a State as sparsely populated as South Dakota, an addi- tional $71 million of income is extremely significant. 6. Another great advantage that should be o~f importance to you is that the irrigation of 190,000 additional acres of land in South Dakota will create a large new tax base. For example, local and State tax reve- nues will be increased by $2,600,000. Additional income tax payments to the Federal Government will be in excess of $3% million per year. . We are all aware of the extremely pressing need for increased tax sources for our local taxing districts. The additional $2.6 million in local taxes will do much in Brown and Spink Counties to assist those people in providing the necessary services normally provided by local government. Further than that, while you people here in Washington are now prone to talking in terms of billions, we in South Dakota feel that an additional $31/2 million for our Federal Treasury should not be over- looked. While we recognize that the irrigation development will be repaid over a period of many years from both water payments and electric power payments, I would like to point out that during the next 50 years the estimated additional total of $175 million that will be paid in Federal income taxes is actually equivalent to 85 percent of the total cost presently needed for the construction of the entire Oahe irrigation project. It should be refreshing to you that a project of this kind, while re- quiring tax funds at the moment, will soon become a taxpayer and not a tax taker, and will ultimately be making substantial contribu- tiOns to help balance Federal and local government budgets. 7. I indicated to you earlier that my company is also in the natural gas business in Nebraska where we are privileged to serve the fine communities of Grand Island, Kearney, and North Platte. All these cities are located along the Platte River where a great deal of irriga- tion has been developed during the last 20 or 30 years. We have wit- nessed a substantial amount of new agriculturally related industry develop in these cities because of the vastly increased crop production in this area. For example, the city of Grand Island now has more than 190 differ- ent manufacturing and processing plants in and adjacent to that city. Most of these businesses have been established' to accommodate the tre- mendously increased amount of farm and cattle feeding activity in the area. I believe that the same results will occur in the James River Valley when the Oahe project becomes a reality. This kind of industrial de- velopment obviously will have the effect of bringing even greater PAGENO="0061" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 51 employment, greater tax payments, and greater income for the people of our State. These plans have been on the drawing board since 1944. Our prize land has been inundated for many years now in order to protect the citizens downstream. It is now time that the people of South Dakota reap this most significant benefit from the Missouri River develop- ment. I respectfully urge your committee to report favorably on the project and follow it closely so that early approval and construction on the first phase of this project can be started at an early date. Senator MCGOVERN. Thank you, Mr. Sewell, for a very fine state- ment. It will be of great value to the committee in considering this legislation. Mr. SEWELL. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Senator MCGOVERN. Our next witness is Mr. Fred H. Holscher, chairman, Oahe Subdistrict, Faulkton, S. Dak. STATEMENT OP FRED H. HOLSCHER, CRAIRi\~AN, OAHE CON- SERVANCY STJBDISTRICT BOARD OP DIRECTORS; ACOOMPANTED BY RAYMOND GALLAGHER, SUBDISTRICT LEGAL COUNSEL; AND JAMES LEWIS, SUBDISTflJCT KANAGER, PAULKTON, S. DAK. Mr. }IOLSCHER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Members of the subcommittee, and I hope some more will be here but I understand about the sessions this afternoon, my name is Fred Holscher and I reside in Faulkton, S. Dak. I am chairman of the Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict board of di- rectors, a position I have been privileged to hold since the subdistrict was organized in 1960. I also own and operate a farm unit near Faulkton. With me are Mr. Lloyd Miller, O~!ir vice chairman, from Huron; Nelson Hundsted, secretary, from Bath, S. Dak. ; Hans Jassen, di- rector, Tulare, S. Dak. ; John Schwab, our director from Andover; and Melvin Raus~h, director from Roscoe, S. Dak. I also have with me today Mr. Raymond Gallagher, subdistrict legal counsel, and Mr. James Lewis, subdistrict manager, and with the committee's permis- sion I would like to have them join me. We appreciate the opportunity to appear before this distinguished committee today on behalf of the Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict to express strong local suport for S. 6, a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct, operate and maintain the first stage of the Oahe unit. I am sure there will be some repetition in my statement this after- noon, Mr. Chairman, but I feel it is quite importatit as we have worked quite some time on this Oahe unit and I feel these facts should be brought out. We would like to express our gratitude to this committee for con- ducting a hearing on the Oahe unit in South Dakota on May 2~ of this year thus allowing many huiidreds of our citizens to' participate there- in and affording many more witnesses the opportunity to be' heard then would othe~wise have been the case had they been required to come to Washington. PAGENO="0062" 52 OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT We would also like to express our appreciation to the committee for scheduling this hearing and for the tremendous support you have given to the Nation's reclamation program in the Missouri River Basin as well as throughout the West. Authorization of the Garrison diversion unit in North Dakota by the 89th Congress was an historic step in the continued development of the basin's vast promise. We applaud the actions of this committee in moving the reclamation program forward as well as your leader- ~ ship in the tremendously important area of conservation in general and comprehensive resource development. ~ In viewotth~ fact, Mr. Chairman, ;that witnesses from the F~der~ agencies have already supplied a great amount of detailed informa- tion concerning the project, in the interest of time I will devote my statement to several other important points. ~ South Dakota lies in. the heart of the Missouri River Basin and our people have long supported the coi~prchensive plan for the conserva- tion, control, and use of its waters. For a number of citizens this has meant great personal sacrifice. In order to protect the lives, property, and well-being of othersliv- ing in downstream States from devastating floods, South Dakotans have given up 509,000 acres of land, This,land was inundated by reser- voirs created by the four Missouri River mainstem dams constructed within the State as a part of the basin program. We recognize that this was necessary in order to provide flood pro- tection for these States, to make possible navigation, to provide power generation from which so many of us have benefited, and for irriga- tion, pollution abatement, and municipal water supplies. To a large degree the water uses envisioned by the planners have been imple- mented. There is one notable and very important exception, however. The irrigation potential remains largely undeveloped. It is the realization of a part of this potential for which we seek authorization today. We look to this as a means of replacing the eco- nornic loss resulting from lands which now lie beneath the great `lakes of South Dal~ota. It has been estimated by th~ Bureau of Reclamation that the annual income lost as a result of these lands being taken from production equal's $9,200,000 a year. This does not include an annual real estate, personal property, and States sales tax loss of $600,000. We also look upon the Oahe unit as an invaluable resource develop- ment program, a program which will give us the opportunity to put our precious water resources to greater use for the benefit of both South Dakota and the Nation as a whole. Like other States in the drought-prone Great Plains region, South Dakota has long recognized the importance of water to our future. In 1959, the 36th legislative assembly enacted the South Dakota Conservancy District Act to speed the development of this precious resource. This act provided a method for the effective development ` . and utilization of the land and water resources of the State. It further jrovided the machinery whereby loc'id people could organize conser * vancy subdistricts to assist them in the planning and development of de~irecl water resources in a given area. At the first opportunity after this enabling legislation became effec- tive, the Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict caine into being when, at the PAGENO="0063" OAHE UNiT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 53 1960 general election, ~roters within its boundaries approved its forma- tion by the ove.rwh~1ming1y favorable vote of 85.3 percent. The subdistrict consists of 15i~ counties in north-central South Dakota which contains 21.8 percent of the State's land area and 21.5 percent of its population. Through their action the local people created a taxing power entity which meets the requirements of Federal agen- cies and the Congress for the sponsorship of multiple-purpose water resource development projects such as the Oahe unit. It provides a way to relate, reasonably and equitably, the financing of water resource projects to the degree of benefits received from such projects. This is~ccomplished in part through the subdistrict's ability to levy a tax not to exceed 1 mill on all taxable property within the subdistrict. The subdistrict board has the authority to contract for certain obli- gations and responsibilities associated with the Oahe unit and to secure these obligations by its taxing power. An 11-member board of directors governs the affairs of the sub- district. They are elected by th~ local people from director areas estab- lished within its boundaries. Nine of the 11 directors represent rural areas and two act as directors at large representing municipalities. Each director has a responsibility to the electorate of his district and we are confident that the board of directors will be able to provide able management for the Oahe unit once it is constructed. The Oahe unit lies in its entirety within the Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict and we believe the subdistrict, by its authorities, provides an organization through which project beneficiaries can be equitably represented in such matters as contract negotiations with the Govern- ment and in the operation of the project. Through its ability to levy a general tax a method is provided whereby indirect beneficiaries, be they urban or rural, will help share in the project costs. It is anticipated that during the early development period of the Oahe unit the subdistrict's obligations will require an annual levy of about thirty-four one-hundredths of a mill. In 1966 the total assessed property valuation of the subdistrict totaled $549,223,386. This is 23 percent of the total State's valuation. A considerable portion of the revenue derived from this levy will be contributed by indirect beneficiaries. The levy will be used to give assistance to the irrigators and other project beneficiaries during the transitional period and to aid project repayment after irrigation becomes established. The economy of our State is primarily based upon agriculture. As a result, whenever even a partial crop failure is experienced it has a depressive impact on virtually every segment of our State's economy. . From the early days when the prairie sod was first turned f~r crop use, through the terrible "dirty thirties" until today, sky watching and hoping for rain has been a ~va~y of life for our farmers. Senator MCGOVERN. That is true in the State right now, isn't it? Mr. HOLSCIIRI~. That is correct. So often the difference between a successful harvest and crop failure is that one rain that comes too late or not at all. Many times in the past 10 years counties within the subdistrict have been declared dis- aster areas in accordance with the existing farm program. PAGENO="0064" 54 OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVRR BASIN PROJECT In 1966, every county except one was so designated~ With the con- struetion of the Oahe unit farmers in the project area will no longer be si~bject to the wh~m~ of nature. The advent of large-scale irrigation will bring to the State an increased, stabilized, and diversified agricul- tural economy. The Bureau of Reclamation has estimated that as a result of the development of the initial stage of the Oahe unit gross farm income will increase over $30 million annually Much of this increase will be the direct result of the elimination of the "boom or bust" type of economy which has traditionally been associated with agriculture in the State. These economic benefits would not only find their way into the pockets of our farmers, but would extend to the merchants up and down the main streets of our cities and towns and in general to citizens of the State and surrounding trade area. This increased farm income would generate additional annual wholesale, retail and service trade in an amount exceeding $71 million. The impact of this increase would be felt far beyond the State's boundaries in areas where farm supplies are manufactured and farm products arEs processed. Each year that passes finds a decrease in the number of farms and an increase in the size of the farm unit. The construction of the first stage of the Oahe unit would add approximately 500 farms to the project area providing new opportunity. Farms in the State have decreased in number from 83,157 in 1930 to 49,703 in 1964 while the average size of the farm unit has been increasing from 439 to 917 acres. In counties which are included either partially or wholly within the subdistrict farm numbers have. declined from 20,538 to 11,933 during the same period and the average size farm unit has increased from 523 to 1,030 acres. It is recognized that a small percent of this change is the result of a modification of the definition of a farm by the Bureau of the Census. However, the effect this has had on South Dakota's farm statistics is relatively minor. An increase in farm upits will cause a corresponding increase in population in the project area of about 14,000. This is a marked difference from the more or less static condition now prevail- ing in the State. Speaking in round figures the State's population now stands at 4380,500-1960 Census of Popui.ation-thi~ has been an increase of only 37,500 over a period between 1940 and 1960. South Dakota's popula- tion has increased about 6 percent while the Nation's increased roughly 36 percent during this same 20-year period. The increased prosperity which would come to the State as a result of this project would result in increased annual State and Federal tax re'v~4ues in an amount of $6,133,000 yearly. According to the Bureau of Reclamation the annual Federal tax revenue, in excess of that esti- mated from dryland production without irrigation d~vi~lopment, would total $3,506,000 in 1 year and $1Th million in 50 years. This $175 million equals 85 percent of the total co~ts allocated to irrigation. This is slightly greater than the irrigation assistance esti- mated to be repaid from the powe~ revenues of the Missouri River Basin project. Perhaps one of the most important benefits that would accrue to th& State as a result of the construction of the Oahe unit would be the new job opportunities it would make available to those within the State. PAGENO="0065" OAHE ~ tNIT, MISSOURI ItIVER BASIN PROJECT 55'. Each year we fiui~1 a great number of South ` Dakota'~s young people leaving the State to seek employment elsewhere. This is a tremendous resource loss to South Dakota. South Dakota State T5niversity at Brookings indicates that each year only 35 to 45 perceiit of their graduates find employment in the State. Dr. B. D. Perkins, professor of management and director of business placement in the School of' Busin~ss, State University of South Dakota ~tt Vermillion reports that only 19 percent of the 1966-67 business .gr~duates will start their careers in South Dakota. Many of these young people desire to remain in the State close to home and family. However, in order to fin4 jobs commensurate with their educatioir they must look beyond the boundaries of their State. South Dakota needs new capital, new wealth, new economic opportunities which can `only come, in my opinion, through the development of our land and water resources. While `the project would be constructed primarily `to provide water `service for irrigation we recognize there are many other benefits which would accrue to the State. In 1962, the South Dakota Department of health released a report prepared for the subdistrict regarding the present and future needs of 67 public water supplies within the sub- district. This report indicated that on the basis of the then published Public Health Service drinking water `standards, 59 public water supplies had unsatisfactory quality water for general domestic use. In many instances the amount of water available would not be sufficient to provide for projected population increases to the year 2000. `Construction of the initial stage of the Oahe unit would make water available to 17 municipalities in or near the unit. In South Dakota, recreation ranks second only to agriculture in the `State's economy. Water would be made available . `through the Oahe unit facilities for fish and wildlife developit~ents at 18 locations These new and improved areas would stimulate the sale of `outdoor water- `based sporting equipment, `thus adding incalculable dollars * to the State and Nation's economic picture. There also wmld be the addition of four new recreation areas to help satisfy the increased demand for recreational facilities evidenced on ~ national level. Contained in the Oahe unit report is a plan to channelize and straighten the James River from approximately `Columbia to Redfield. This would result in a reduction of river miles from 120 to 54. This improved channel would be designed primarily to care for the project's irrigation return flows. It would, however, be available to handle a portion of the natural spring floodflows thus relieving, in part, flooding from the river which occurs nearly every year. In 196~3, the James River Flood Control Association, an organization of farmers living along the river, conducted a survey from among their membership in an attempt to ascertain the damages which resulted `from these floods. According to the survey total loss to crops and pastureland in 1966 ~amounted to $1,365,000. This figure includes the cost of repairing or replacing dikes `and fences but does not include losses to roads, bridges, ~public parks, and wildlife areas. The flood control features planned in 83-182-67---5 PAGENO="0066" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT are ~ ~intenance ~ I number ( a but are not pres ~iqt aixi; a construction component to be en be~ e a portion inmit a por- ~e water )aok and PAGENO="0067" OAHE uNIT, MISSØURI RIVEfl~ BASIN PROJECT The degree of support can be best measured by a number of decisions made by the local people during th~ past 7 years. Many of these deci- sions resulted from referendums which adlowed those directly con- cerned to freely express their opinions. The first of these was in 1960 and resulted in the formation of the subdistrict. As stated earlier, the subdistrict was organized `by a favorable vote in excess of 85 percent. Every elector within the subdistrict qualified to vote at the general election was entitled to vote o~i the question. It was interesting to note that the percentage of favorable vote by coun-' ties ranged from a low of 76.1 percent to a high of 93 percent. The prime stimulus for the formation of the subdistrict was the ` desire of the local people to create an entity to represent them in the negotiation of contracts with the Federal Government and for the operation of the Oah'e unit. In January of 1965, farmers directly concerned indicated they were anxious to proceed with the Oahe uiiit when they formed two irriga- tion districts. These two districts located in Brown and Spink Coun- ties encompass a majority of the irrigable land to be served through the first stage development. The organization of these two districts was approved by an affirma- tive vote exceeding 80 percent. Only those who owned 10 or more acres of land within the district were eligible to vote. The lands included in the districts were done so on a voluntary basis. Those who desired to - - "~ were perm~' ~ed to do so. ~`ywho~- SouthD~ it adopted concurrent unit. in receiving project water t ormed irrigation districts I received v asked i~hat their lands ~ct boards of directors 57 e are now f ithclrawn ~L] - city, well own of the and b~ utside of. t Thee PAGENO="0068" e ha~py to ier. I f* tinued leader- t in the State rt a result of ur co eagues on the yen to the advancement ~, is with ~id so ably 58 QAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT Perhaps one of the most outstanding dAsplays of public support was demonstrated at a bearing regarding the Oah~ unit held by memb of this comxiiittee at RedfieId~ S. Dak~, on May 22, 1967. At that time appro~im~tely'6OO people (508 registered) , a grea centage of them farmers who wouldbe directly affected by the prc attended. These farmers took time from their field work to be pr~ and indicate their interest to the committee. In many instances this necessitated a day's absence from field which was already considerably behind schedule due to a late s'~ I believe the results of these actions expresses better th the tremendous support the people of the subdistrict ~ . Oahe unit. I would also like to call to the committee's attention ~ ~ ` `~ the initial stage of the Oalie unit has received a strong~ from the National Rivers and Harbor~ Conference as s June 8, 196~, report of the Project Committee to t~ Convention of the National Rivers and Harbors ( South Dakotans are anxiously looking forward to the reaL~ the Oahe irrigation unit. The people of the subdistrict have t many steps to place them in a position to assume the financial obl tions that will b~ required of them. We now await the action of Congress. I sincerely appreciate th~ c ~andeai 1 I ~ttorney represents ~--~ ~oup~ ~ I do want you to know we appreciate not only this very well drawn statement that you have given today, but also the part that you played in our Redfield hearings, and your previous interest in connection with this project. There is just one question I would ask you concerning the point where you were outlining the agricultural benefits of the program. I think we all recognize that that is the. chief benefit that would come from bringing irrigation to eastern and central South Dakota . While this 190,000-acre project lies largely within tw( ~ ~ -~ is it not true in a livestock economy, the kind we have in kota, that by assuring the feed base in that area, we are, in stabilizing our entire livestock industry across the State, from toborder~ . Mr. HOLSOHER. It is very true. Even though we may not have a~ irrigation district in my home county, they will have the assurance o PAGENO="0069" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT a feed supply within the State. This has been so devastating to South ~ Dakota, that when we do not have. the rainfall there is no: feed supply. I This is to insure a feed supply' for livestock, yes. Senator MCGOVERN.. I think your statement'is very complete. I don't know how it could be improved upon. Many of th~ questions that we might ask you about it have been brought out thiSmorning and there is no point repeating that line of questioning. We do want to `thank you for your most helpful statement. It is going, to be an important part of the hearing record. ~`, ~ Mr. HoLscHErt. Thank you. Senator MCGOVERN. I neglectedto point out when we resumed our hearings this afternoon that it is against the rules of the Senate for I a committee to be in session when the Senate is in session, but we got unanimous consent of the Senate to meet `today during the time `the Senate is in sessioil on the grounds that many of `the witnesses here, in fact all the witnesses, have come a great distance. The Members of the Senate wanted to accommodate you. Our next witness is the president of South Dakota State University, Dr. Hilton Briggs. ` Dr. Briggs, who is an extremely busy' man, took the time to fly down here and give us his' testimony. We oertainly welcome you be- for this committee, Dr. Briggs. STAT~ENT OP HILTON M. BR1GGS, PRESIDLENT, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE ~N1VERSTTY, BROOKINGS Mr. BEIGOS. Thank you, Mr. Chafrn~ian. It is a real privilege to have the'opportunity to come before you and this cOmmittee `to testify. It is a special privilege to follow Mr. Fred , Holscher, with whom our staff `has.had the privilege of working very closely during the last few years Ott this very important project. South Dakota State University, the' Si~ate's land-grant university , with its Agricultural Experiment Statioh' and Cooperative Extension Service, supports the Oahe irrigation unit. Its impact on the economy of South Dakota and the welfare of its people will be tremendous. The efFect nationally will be considerable also. Agriculture is the State's primary industry. The economic develop- ment of South Dakota and the income of South Dakotans will continue to depend on agriculture's growth. But water is a limiting factor, South Dakota needs `the stability the Oahe irrigation unit would make possible. The agricultural revolution ha's caused the farmer to enlarge his farm unit either by increasing acres, intensifying production, or both. r! This has incre'ased the risk and also the migration of farmers to the cities. In South Dakota this migration has resulted in outmigration to other States, since it has few cities and industries which can absorb many of these farmers Between 1959 and 1964, nearly ~3,OOO farm opei ators and their f imi lies left the farm in South Dakota. Sjnce 1954, one of every' five farth o~erators has changed `o&thpatioh~ or rét~ired without being replaced. This outmigration is causing a series of r~percussions which is affect~ rng the social and economic b~sè ~f the com~iunity, county, and State PAGENO="0070" kota'~ are e: reL~.~ head wi The ~ fall receiv tion and C at area. ci busine~ ~iat about - ~ sources mities that r' dryland eas as food* conomy of the as in the immediate ercent of South Da- b of the 1 calves I 60 OAUE UNIT, MISSOURI The school district, the 1 ~ community businesses and to operate. ~s deteriorating; making t, including provision Die we have educated- hey would benefit the Production index 1 o_ 1955 ~ . 1956 1957 ~ 1958 19~9 1960 1961 1962 + 1963 -- 1964 - -~ - - - 1965 1966 82 76 122 120 58 117 93 111 114 91 110 105 `I 16 17 23 15 17 18 17 25 19 18 22 19 PAGENO="0071" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 61 120 percent more alfalfa will be produced under irrigation than is now being produced. ~ ~ It is reasö~riable that South Dakota should first develop its agri- culture and agriculturally related reso~irces. Later it should be pos- sible to gradu~dly incorporate other industries that fit the State's - . ~ ~, market conditions, transportation, and other factors. ~ is a: - ` ~- ~ -~ ~ )nsideration that merits attention-the probable mce of the Oahe project to areas far removed £~ A student Gf economic growth has termed ~ -~ of excellence." itiflent of all available resources to these ~slands ice, ctJthflLing that such islands would spawn. satellite is- ~ would spawn still more islands. This process of excellence feeding upon excellence would result in broadly based ecoi~iomic growth. ~ . ~` . South Dakota needs an agrid~ltural islan~l of excellence. South Dakota State University will commit all possible resources to this Oahe island. Extensive plans are~being prepared to do t~iis. . Many already underway will provide a bas~ for souiid use and man- agement. ~ ~ In 1964, the Water Resources Institute ~vas established at S~tith Dakota State University. To give you an idea of the type of work being done, here are examples of rese~ch projects being coudm~ted cooperatively by the agricultural experiment statioii and the in~titut~. 1. Investigations tising new methods, to determine if tile spacings in the Oahe irrigation unit can be safely increased beyohd present unit design. ~ 2. Correlating soil moisture conditions and microclirnate wi~h eva~p- oration losses and water requirements of plants in the Oahe ar~. 3. Correlating different irrigation water management pr~ctidê~ and soil moisture movement. The Cooperative Extension Service has conducted extensive educa- tional programs the past 7 years which led to the formation of th~e ~ Oahe conservancy subdistrict (as well as four other subdistricts) and three irrigation districts within the Oahe subdistrict. In 1966 the Extension Service assumed the leadership of an eauca- tional program helping the people pf the OahO subdistrict understand the "Contracting Authority" and the need for' giving the Oahe sub- district board that power. The people responded b~ granting th~ board this power. The Cooperative Extension Service has prepared, publishe~l and distributed 27 different publications~relating to various phases of ~d- ucational work undertaken. Thousands of t~ws stories haVe been pub- lished as well as hundreds of meetings conducted to provide peoph~ with information, ~ ~ To further exped~e the educational work among the potButial irri- . gators and people of the Oahe irrigation unit, the Cooperative Exten- sion Service recently employed tth area irrigation management agent. The Oahe irrigation unit as it pertains to the national interest should come in for very serious consideration. The unit's repayment capacity and the very substantial returns it will make to the Federal Trensuryin the form of taxes are documented in the unit report. PAGENO="0072" 62 OAHE UNI1~, MIS~QURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT The relation of the O,ahe irrigation unit, and others of its kind, t~ the world food situation and to domestic population imbalance are not discussed in the unit report. They are worthy of your consideration. Consider first the world food situation. Present national policy is to help developing nations help themselves, to provide technical assistance but provide food only as needed while self.~help is getting underway or on a disaster basis. The repc~rt of the President's Scientific Advisory Committee on the World Food Problem states that family planning must be accepted as an important part of the efort to bring population and food into balauQe in developing countries. The same report also states, however, that birth control ~ must be conshier~d as a long-range element of planning since its effects will n~t be felt materially until the next generation. ~ How long it will take developing nations to acquire the ability to feed themselve~ is indeed ~a big question. Massive education, attitude changes, tr~ispGrtatiQ~i, a~ad consumer buying power are tasks and j~roblems that makethe ~iate~tmcertain~ Even American agricultural scientists face the problem of experl- mentation with tropical crops before they are in a position to lend extensive aid iii many developing countries. Most of the agricultural sc~e~ntific kn .. owledge.rç~lates to cropsofthe temperate zones~ . The United States; ha~ ur~sed land resources that can be tapped to help fill this time gap l3ut a USDA report, "Food for Freedom," dated February 19, i966,shows that evenif allavailable land resQurces were ailoca~ted to i~ood productio~i . and allowing for advanced technology, the wOrld food demand would exceed the ability of the United States tGsuppiyby 1984. ~ ~ ~ ~ Diversion of substantial. amounts of U.S.-produced food to de- velopi~ig nations for the for~eeal~Je future then appears inevitable in spite of their self-help efforts. In university laboratories.across. the Nation, scientists are striving I for new and better methods of producing more and better food and fiber. But I wish to remind you that science, of and by itself, cannot . develop arable land. Only ~he institutions of Federal, State, and local govermnent are equipped for this task The United States is about to dispute the Malthusian theory. The Nation needs to muster all available forces. Irrigation of arable land is one of these forces. ~ ~ In my discussion of the local interests as pertained to the Oahe irrigation unit, ~I expressed concern over the out-migration of South Dakota people. In~ a recent USDA publication, "Agriculture/2000," we are re- /minded that, and I quote : By the turn of the century, if present trends continue unchecked, New York (city) will have become part of a super megalopolis stretching from present-day Boston south to Wasifln~ton, D.C.~, ~nd ccrntaining 56 million people. This strip ~ city, and four other strips like it, will house 174 million Americans on urbanized lan4 ranging in density from 6~ to 2,600 people per sqi~are mile. History is full: of inoident~ where nations have fought wars to ob- tain room in which to live. The problems of cong~tion are already all too apparent in om~ owfl land. Transportation problems, smog, hous- ing,. recreation needs, and general unrest are of national concern. PAGENO="0073" OAHE UNIT, MISSOTJTU itiV1~R BASIN PI~OJECT 63 If the megalopolis envisioned In the year Q000 becomes a r~1ity, teach person's "living room" will be only a few square feet. Millions of chi~Edren will grow.up without an appreciation of ~pace and nature. Th~ social cost defies the imagination. S * * * Gentlemen, I must remind you that if South Dakota residents di- vided their State equally, each man, woman, and ghild would have about 70 acres of living room. S Something can be done about this imbalance. We must not accept as inevitable the staggering social and economic costs of a contmua- tion of this trend. In a Dallastown, Pa., speech, President Johnson asked: Must we export our youth to the cities faster than we export our crops and four livestock to market ? Surely American resourcefulness and Ingenuity can stem this tide. The problems will be many and the methods challenging. The Oahe irrigation unit will not solve this national dilemma-but it will be a significant step toward correcting the imbalance. congress niight well consider ways this correction of imbalance can be accele- rated. The objective would be to develop a concentration of agricul- turally oriented industries in areas of concentrated and dependable agricultural production. Gentlemen, in my discussion of the Oahe irrigation unit as it affects the national interest, I have stepped far beyond usual considerations. I have done this because I believe that every possible tool should be used to combat the pressing problems that face our Nation and the world. Projects such as Oahe area, I believe, one of the small but iw- portant tools. S South Dakota needs the Oa:he irrigation project now-so does the United States. It is needed to stabilize the States's economy and its social institutions. It is needed as a means to help decentralize indus~ry. It is needed to give the Nation a better balance of population. It is needed for the diversity of foods it could produce to help feed the world's increasing population. Senator MCGOVERN. That was a superb statement. I think that final paragraph is as effective and as moving a summary of the reasons why we need this project as I have seen anywhere. I really wraps up ~dl of the major ideas. I am glad to see you stress the important role that a project of this kind can play in doing something about the imbalance in our popula- tion. I can't conceive of this country permitting the kind of a situa~. tion to develop that you have indicated will develop if we don't, as a matter of conscious policy, prevent this accelerated movement from the rural States into the great cities, people in one continuous strip of the country from Boston to Washington with a density of 2,600 persons per square mile. . S It seems to me to be beyond comprehension. I think you are quite correct, that Oahe is a project that we not onlyneed in South Dakota, but it is a project which will benefit the whOle Nation, W~. have to do more to make rurai areas attractive to our young people, instead of exporting them into the cities. S 5 Mr. Bmoos. Man is the o~ily beast in the, past who has ever helped design his own future and man at the present is making bus future history. PAGENO="0074" 64 I OAHE UNIT,~ MISSOURI RIVE~ BASIN PROJECT Senator M000VBRN. Thank you very much for an excellent statement. Mi~. Biuo~s. Thank you. Senator MCGOV1~RN. Is Mr. Carl Bronn, executive director, Nati Reclamation Association prese~nt? Mr. BRONN. Yes, Mr., Chairman. Senator MOGOV~RN. We will be happy to hear frQm you. ial STAT~1VI~NT OP CARL BEON1~, ]~XI1C1TTIV~ DIBE'CTOR~, NATIONAL RECLAMATION ASSOCii~TIO~ Mr. BRONN. I am Carl Bronn, executive director of the National Rëclainatión Association, and I app~tr iii favorof `S. 6 to re~authorize the first stage of the Oahe unit. , The National Rechniation Association endorses' this bill ~nd en- dorses it strqñgly. ` , ` ` `It happ~ns, Mr. Chairman, that ni~ny' of the points I had wished to emphasize tod'a~ have been stated, emphasized and reemphasi~ed by very competent'WitneSs~s preceding'me. W~th yoiir'p&mission, I will oi~nit the first page of my testimony, hut I wô~ld~l~e to `discuss the second page. The reasons for this ar~ that I , see Oahe's biggest hurdle of the fiitnre~ beixig the o'btaiaiñg `of i~oney at `an economical' rate. We- are going to `1~e: ~ probi~ni `convi.~cing people ~ho advance the funds hctt dOr~'t ge~'any water that they have an interest in Oahe. . To ~i~o* them this, ` I will go through ~ study of an old irrigation project, one ~hich is `c~oniparab1e in many ways to Oahe, to show how the benefits do spread out f~tr beyond the immediate ares. Tbe~old project I refer to i~in Canada, in the Provin~e of Alberta. `In Canad~loca1 and `National Governments made a study to deter- mine whether the `Province `and the National Oovernment shOuld con- tribute `to ~ costs `for reh~biitatig the `irrigation works. ~ ~ A committee' of' ~pert~ e~xathined `the influence of that prbject on local business, on the rest of the Province, and also outside of the Provii~ice. `1~he `e~perts found th'is `:`That the national benefits were 47 percent of the total ; Provincial benefits,. 31 percent ; tOtal local benefits, ~xcludiiig that of the irrigator, 16 percent. The benefits to' theirrigator, this is his net accrual out of the total, were but 6 percent. Were We ~ to spread the benefits as they were found * in Canada to Oahe, ~ cou~Id make a summary like this : In return for 6 percent of the total benefits, direct and indirect, the irrigators will pledge partial repayment of the capital investment and they will also mortgage them- selves for $55 million of on-farm improvements. In return for 47 percent of the benefits, the region will pledge its ~ resource of water, including part of its capability to produce power, to repay all of the remaining direct costs, those not paJid for by the irrigators. ~ ` ` ` For the remaining 4? percent of the total `benefith, the nation ad- vances the money, `which is secured `by the `works `constructed. In the total' budget today, defense `and nondefense, there is very little money secured by any tangible works. Fur~ther, when `repayment ~s compl~ted, the Nation still retains title to the works PAGENO="0075" I I OAEE tTNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJEOT 65 Each yE~ar over th~ l'ife of this project, for from 50 to 100 y~rs, you will get between this advance in oapital, the local risk taking and their hard labor, 30-percent return on the annual, cos1~. That 30 percent is based on a 50-year life. ~ if you extend `it to 100, the figure jumps to a 60-percent return on annual project costs. ~ Beyond this, the taxes on t'hi~ new enterprise will, over the project life, repay a second time the total project costs. These are the reasons why the National Reclamation Association urges that th~ committee autho~iz~~thI~ p~j&~t and wh~ we stand ready to help h~ any way w~canin the funding when that cornest~p before the `committee. Thank you very much. (The prepared statement follows:) STATI~MENT OF CARL BRONN, ExEcuTIvE DIREcToR OF TIlE NATIONAL RECLAMATION ASSOCIATION F Mr. Ch~Urman and other Members of the C~mrn~ttee.: I am Carl Bron.n, Executive Director of the National Reclamation Association. I appoar in favor of S. 6 `to reauth~rize the. tirs~t stRge of the Oahe jJnit, James Div1'sio~n, Missouri River Basin Projoct. The National Reclamation Association authorized in S. 6. Since the project and i I emphasize here a few of the factors w] Oaiie i~ before you at `a time when Ap~ depressed area and when. the cities `are e Opportunities in South Dakota are neeth per capita income in th~ state ~ s but During the period I - - - only O.4%-~Whereas the United S A ited agri~ iversiflèa- possible. values- ;ions as to the dis- Percent 47 - 31 - 16 - 6 Eased on 50 year life. For 100 year life, the rai PAGENO="0076" G6 OAflE i~NIT, MISSOURI RIVER~ BASIN PROJECT we would find: ~ges its resotlrce 0: ~al `Reclamation Associ- rest. We urge this Sup- tee to recommei Senator MCGovERN. `That was a brief statement but a brilliant anal- ysis of the benefits-cost aspect of this project. I know your full state~ ment; together with ` the aspect of it that you pointed up here today, will be very helpful to us. `~, ` We appreciate very mu ~h your taking the time to come here to testify in supportof the project. Mr. BRONN. Thaitk'you, sir, ` Senator McGovitn~. The two bells that rang about 5 minutes ago indicate that a rolk~all `is corning. We ~ili have to recess for about 30 minutes I hate to do this, but they altern'~tive is to be interrupted in the middle of some statement. It is now 5 ~ninutes to 3.We'wil'l recess until 3:30. (A brief recess was takei~.) , Senator MCGOVERN. The subcommittee w~l1 come to order. The next witness.is;Rob~rt~W. Ford., manager, South Dakota Rural Electric Association.' We will `be happy to have your statement now. STh~TEMENT 1W aoBE1~,T~*?~; `rGltD, MANAGER, SOUTH DAKOTA RURAL ELEOTRIC ASSOCIATION Mr. Foun. Thank iou, Mr. ~hairman. I might say I am appearing in behaifof our president, Mr. Hauffé, who was 4ëtained and could not attend. My name is Robert W. Ford. 1 am manager of the South Dakota Rural Electric Association, a service `organization serving our State's 83 rural electric distribution cooperative and three power supply cooperatives. I appear here today in behalf of Mr. A. C. Hauffe, our president, ~ho had an unavoidable conflict. First of all, let me express to you our sincere appreciation for re ceiving us today to testify in support of~ Senate bill 6. Senate bill 6 authorizes `the initial stage o f a 490,000-acre irrigation project known as the Oahe unit. The initial stage calls for 190,000 acres. The full development of the entire Oahe project cannot, in our opinion, be overemphasized. The development of all our natural and human resources is a highly desirable goal for all `Americans. 230% for 50 years life, up to 6O~ for 100 year economia life. PAGENO="0077" OAUE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 67 You have already heard today from the technical experts who have shown the economic feasibility of this project, so I will not burden this committee with a restatement of their coticlusions I would like to speak for just a moment about the benefits to accrue to South Dakota, to our region,. and to our Nation as a whole, should Senate bill 6 be enacted. For far too long South Dakota has been exporting at an alarming rate her greatest resource-j-people. A look at farm census figures for the last 30 years will dramatically underscore this fact. When the entire Oahe unit is completed, it will mean an increase of 1,500 more farms, 500 of which should result from authorization of this initial stage. The entire project would mean a population increase for South Dakota of 37,000, 14,000 of which will result from the initial stage alone. When the entire Oahe project is completed $185 million annually should be put into the national economy ; $71 million a year alone will be generated by the completion of the first stage of the Oahe project. I These $185 million annually will add to the economy of the entire Na- tion. Goods, services, supplies, and products, purchased from the in- dustrial and trade centers of our Nation will find a new market in our region because of the completion of this unit. The Nation today is deeply disturbed by the migration of the rural population to the urban centers of this country, thereby creating tre- mendous new problems. When the entire Oahe project is completed, I new jobs will have been created for thousands of people helping to I~: reverse the trend of moving to the cities. ~ New taxes in the amount of $15 milhoii will be generated annually ~ for local, State, and Federal Government, to meet governmental serv- ice responsibilities. South Dakota's economy is agricultural, or an agriculturally related business enterprise. Figures show that in excess of 90 percent of our economy is agriculturally oriented. Being located in the food.produc.. ing Midwest we have aresponsibility to the rest of the Nation to help produce the food and fiber necessary to fe~d, not only this country, but to help fulfill our responsibilitiesto a hungry world. Our region of the country is known as being semiarid Precipita tion ranges from about 17 to 19 inches annually. Because of the short growing season, averaging approximately 140' days a year, and be- cause we cannot count on it to rain when needed, there is a tremendous interest in irrigation in our region. The Flood Control Act of 1944 was a multipurpose project, designed to develop the Missouri River Basin for thepurpos~s of flood control, hydroelectric generation, irrigation~ and navigation. At this time ap- proximately 90 percent of the facilities in all areas, except irriga tion, have been comph~ted. ~ As Senator McGovern statedto the Senate last March 2, South Da- kotans were willing to make the sacrifice of their land for the develop~. ment of the Missouri Basin projeèts, because they believed that the de- velopment of the Missouri Basin was in the public interest, and be- cause they also knew that the loss of their land would ultimately be repaid with the economic thrust of a half-million-acre irrigation proj- e~. - The people of South Dakota expressed their overwhelming support of this project by the formation and support of conservancy districts PAGENO="0078" I 68 OAEE UNIT, MISSOUEI RIVER BASIN PROJECT i1ec~ssary for the ~ implementation ~f this proje~ct~ Support was also shown by the attendance of ov~r 700 people last May 22 at a field hear- :tng, in Redfield, S. Dak. The people of Sottth Dakota stand ready to do their part in utilizing the irrigation potential made available by this ~unit. The Rural Electric Cooperatives of South Dakota, along with all other segments of our economy, stand ready to do their part to bring proj~er utilization of the Oahe prøjeet~into reality. Every rural dee- trio cooperative located in the area covered by the O~he unit, as well as others, recently completed an intensive irrigation study in order to determine their power requirements so that they may fulfill their role iifthe de~velopme~it and util~tionof the Oahe unit. ~ This administration has stated on ~niimerous occasions that ways must be foundto provide new opportunities in the rural areas. The con- i~truction of this project will help realize this :g6al and thereby benefit the Nation. The entire country today is concerned~ about the migration of our citizens fi~oth the rural areas to the urban centers. The construe- tion of this project w~1l reverse this trend in our area, thus benefiting the Nation. ~ ~ ~ The success of American agriculture, andthe failure of many parts of the world to feed itself, has~plat~eFa responsibility on us `to provide not only enough food for our own needs, but to help feed a hungry world. The construction of this uni't,~r~sulting in an increased stability of agl4cuitftre, will help iis1~'ifih1 our commitment, not only to the Nation but to the world. ~ ` Mr. Chairman, the 36, rural electric cooperatives of South Dakota have unanimously resoluted stipport for this entire project. The even- tual development' of this 490,000-acre ~ project on `the plains of South T)akota, though seemingly far removed from our teeming urban cen- ters and their myriad' probterns, will in our opinion be of significant `importance tc~ all ~ections `~f our gre~it Nation for the reasons we have given in tl~is presentation. ~ : ~ ~ ` `Thank ~Ou, Mr. Chairman, `foi~ t~his opportunity and our tha~ik~ to the committee ;~or its kind atteiiition Senator ~ your statement, Mr. Ford. `Our next'witfieSs will b~ Mr. `Ohester Gullikso'n, president, Northern Electric Associatith~... ` The REA's obviousl~ have an interest in this project. We areglad to have a number of `their representatives here today. STATEMENT O:F Ci~EST~i~ GULL1KSON, PRESIDENT, NOETILERN ~LEOTRIC 000PLEATIVE, 1)10 , ABERDE~EN, S I~AK Mr GutLIKsoN.Th~rnk~u, Mr Chairman My name is Chester Gullikson, from Brown County, S. Dak. I rep- resent, `as pre~ideht, Nerthern~ Electric,' Inc., Aberdeen, S. Dak., and Oullik~onFarms, Bath,'S. flak. Northern tEiectri~ is' arural' el~ctric distributioft cooperative serving a major portion of the O~h& irrigation unit in Brown and northern Spink `Co~iinties, amd will he'gtreatiy affected with the coming of irri- ~gation.' PAGENO="0079" OAHE UNIT, MISSOTJ1t~E RIVER BASIN PROJECT 69 ~o the ~1 Our present rural membership of 2,500, ~nd the rna~y ~xpec~te~d new members, will be vitally affected by irrigation. A new, moderrt head- quarters buildii~g, with an excellent stafF, is ready to expand its serv- ices to facilitate and speed the development of irrigation, and related businesses in the Oahe `project area. Northern Electric has the capabilities of contributing great progress and development of this historic project once it is a' by the Congress. it can furnish the extra power, and t&thn: needed in this field. Irri~tion will `help Northern Electric, a em Electric will help irrigation. . ` My everyday business 15: the operation of a livestock f~~:m wifere registered, Polled Hereford, cattle for seed stock are produced, the feeding of cattle for market, and the production of feed for my cattle operation. After being on four irrigati~5n tours `in Nebraska, the great adv~n- tages of bringing water to theJand became readily apparent to me. ` There seemed no limitation to the potential production o~ the land ~_wlreFe irrigation was being practiced. While I was a student at South Dakota State University, the soils professor stated that the `James River Valley had one &f `three finest soils in `the world. So we have the No. 1 `basic ingredient for su~~ss- ful irrigation. With adequate water, it will contribute greatly to the area economy and Northern Electric territory. The James River runs through my' ftirm. Although it is a rather uncertain supply of water, I decided to try to irrigate from it. In 19~35 I leveled 50 acres of land. In 1966 this 50 acres was' `irrigated along with 15 acres that did not need levelitig. This year another 40 acres `wa~s `leveled and plan't~d to ` torn, making a total of ` 105 `acres under irrigation. I will add another 40 a~re~ to this unit at a `later date. ` Th~ res~1ts of thy 1966 corn production under irrigation was highly productive and eneouragilig, `and proved beyond a doubt that ithga- tion, even in a wet season, `will increase yields up `to 40 percent. How~ ever, since late Juiie of 196~T, after having produced a r~bord small grain crop, much Of the Midwest has been under most severe drought conditions, and'here is where water really tells a tale. ` ~ ` ` ` Whi1~ most of the corn in the Oahe project area is in only fair to very poor cOndition, my irrigated corn has a yield potential `of well over 100 bu~hel~ per acre. It will yield 20 or more tons of `the highest quality silagei per acre. On the other hand, dryland ` corn will ~ie1d 3 to 4 tons' of' fair quality silage and will yield from 10 to 25 bushels per acre of shelled corn. ~ ` Tame grass and Sudan pastures could be irrigated to provide sure and dependable pasturesfor cattle and sheep. `Alfalfa could `be ir- rigated toinsure a hay cropS The terrible dread o~ lingering and dev- astating drought could be nearly a thing of the past. It' is extremely important to me to~ know that I can produce enough feed each year without too `much worry~. It will not be nec~ssary with irrigation to wait until the end of the summer to know how many breeding cattle I can carry through the winter or how many cattle can be fattened for market each year. PAGENO="0080" ~7O OIUIE `UNIT, ~ MI~S~J RI ~VER BASIN PJ~OJECT . When considering my ~wn project, I wanted to prove something that is economically important to ~ all landowners and farmers. The fields could be large if designed properly, for more eMcieney of opera- tion. in the Oahe project. I wa~ited toprove one could use large, mod- em farm machinery. I have used all the same equipment as for dryland ~ri~àTher~ n~ay have to be some modifications in time. I have proved ~ for a minimum amount of labor and attention. I pump watw~tl~electi±~ij~ supplied by Northern Eleotric Co-op I use sated pipes a~id flood irrig~te ~ ~ My irrigation project is being used for research by South Uaota~~ ~~St ate University Research is being carried on regarding soil deficiency th~t sh&~u p due to land leveling in the James River Valley, and ntiich of this phase c~f a whole new era in agriculture will have been studied before irrigation comes. Many people are watching with keen inte1~est and following closely the progress and results of this irriga- tion project. While it is a private project, it is ei~eating a great deal of interestby thepublic. The word that best describes why I am in favor of irrigation is "stability," the doing a*ay with extreme yield fluctuations due to lack ofimoi~ture. Stability on the farms will mean stability in our entire area~ economy. An iinp~rtant byproduet:of ~the Oahe project will be through the improving of the James River Channel ; that is, the deepening, widen- ing, straightening, and slioi~t~ning of the river from 119 to 54 miles. This will largely end the floodingalmost annually of 20,000 acres of rich' bottwn lands~ resulting in an estimated loss of $1,500,000 per year to fa~rxriers and businesses in Brown andSpink Counties. Th~ great and `worthy food ` for peace program in 1967 is a mere infant compared with the giant it will be in the year 2000, only 33 short years away. The Oahe project will be only half completed by `thattime,rand the cry for food then will be deafening unless Congress approves the~ great Oahe project and many others like it in the very near years to~ come. , . ; ~ I urge the authorization of this important project so it may con~ tribute to the welfare of,present and future generations. Senator MCGOVERN. `Thank you very much, Mr. Gullikson. I think the dramaticstory you tell about your own experiences with irriga- tion represents a compelling argument for moving ahead in other parts of the'area. We appreciate your statement very much. Mr. Gtrr~Ln~sdN. I would like'to add that Dr. Fine is the head of the a~gronomy department at the State university. He was visiting this field about 10 days ago. He said that it is the best cornfield that he has seen anywhere in South' Dakota this year, which I thought was quite a compliment to the irrigation `system we are using. Senator MCGovERN. It is a good compliment to the operator too. Mr. `GULLIKSoN. Thank you. Senator MCGOVERN. Our next witness will be Mr. C. G. Bell, presi~ dent, Spink Electric Cooperative, Doland, S. Dak. PAGENO="0081" OAHE UNIT, `MISSOuRI RIVER BASLN ~PROJECT 71 STAT1~MLNT OP 0. G. BELL, P1~ESIDENT, SPINK ELECTRIC COOYC1tATIVE~ DOLAND, S. DAK. ~ ~ ~ ~ Mr. BELL. Mr. Chairman, my name is C. G. Bell, from Sphik County, S. Dak. I live in Poland, S. Dak., and presently serve as president of Spink Electric Cooperative, headquarter&I in RBdfield, S. Dak. I have been engaged in dryland farming and ranching for over 4& pars. I derived my livelihood from agriculture during the infamous "dirty thirties." I have seen the ups and downs in agri~u1ture that were measured by good and bad crops directly related to adequate and inadequate rainfall. I am here because I am concerned about the future of the youn farmer and the big job he assumes in feeding his fellow Americans an a hungry world. Because of my retárement from a lifetime in agriculture, the comple-~ tion of the initial stage of the Oahe unit will not benefit me personaJ1y~ I am testifyin~ here today because of my concern for the future gen- erations in agriculture. Declining opportunities in rural America present a bleak outlook for thousands of rural-raised Americans who would like to remain on the land but find it economically unfeasible. Consequently they migate to our cities, many of them ill prepared to cope with life in an in4ustrial complex. Authorization of the Oah~ project and ultimate completion of this project would, in our area, offer a "new lease on life," a new lease on rural life, if you please, for many of our young people. The possibility of complementing a dryland operation with an irrigated unit would brighten the prospects of these young, people and would go far in encouraging them to remain on the land. Many farmer friends of mine have sadly se~n their sons leave agriculture and turn to other pursuits simply because the prospeots of ~aming ~ decent living in agrjculture were dim, indeed. I am concerned, too, at the resultant age level of the average Sotith Dakota farmer. It continues ti~ rise as these young people leave our State, convinced that agric~ulture holçlsno futtire for them. What is to become of many of our farming operations when the farmer becomes too old to farm and his sons have long ~inee left and are making their living elsewhere, having lost all contact with farming and all desire to be farmers? Completion of the entire Oahe project, all 490,000 acres of it, will surely reverse this flow of young people from our area to~ the urban. areas. Completion of the Oahe project will breathe new life and new hope into the future of agriculture in our area and into the ambitions of our young people to stay "where their hearts are," on the land. We hear over and over again references to a "declining rural America." Here, in my opinions is a golden opportunity to halt this decline in at least one area of this Nation and bring new hope to our 83-182-67-6 PAGENO="0082" 72 OAHJ~ ~tJNIT, MISSOuRI RIVER BASIN PROJECT young people at th~ same ~time. That oppoi~tunity is embodied in the Oahe project, andthe authorization of that project by this body and by the Congress of the United States. I would like to thank the committee for this ipporturnty to in support of Senate bill 6. SenatorMoGovj~RN. We appreciate having your statement, Mr~ Bell. I have a statement here from James L. Grahi, manager of the Basin Eleètric Power Cooperative for inclusion in the record at this point.. ~ ~ , ~ (The statement referred to follows:) STA~EMENT or JAMES L. GRAIIL, MANAGER, BASIN ELECTRIC POWEI~ ~ ~ ;~ ~ . ~ CO0rERATIvS My naixre ~is `James ~ L. Gralil. ~ I am the~ ~ G~nera1 Manager of Basin Electric Power Oooperative, a wholesale power supplier for 106 member rural electric cooperatives located in N~rtb Dakota, Soutb~~akota, Montana, Wyoming, Cole- ra~lo, iViinnesota, Nebraska, and Towa. It gives n~e great pleasure to express to this cemmittee, Basin Eleetriè~ support of S. 6, the O'ahe Irrigation Project. The Oahe irrigation unit, which will provide water for 19O~OOO acres of land already in production in Brown and Spink counties in South Dakota and supply at least a ~ozen cities alici tow~is with n~unicipal water. systems, will l~ave a tremendotis e1~fect on tj~ economy of South I~'akota, ~ Through `the years, S~th t~akota has s~f~réd1 ~riodicall~from severe drought. Of course, we are all too familiar with the Oconomic losses that results from these eondi~fons. ~L'be~ ret~uc.tion in `agricultural income, w)iich is basic to' South Dakota's economy, adversely affects all citizens o~ the State; Similarily, drought in a feed `area often results in disposition of livestock in quantities which have depressing effectson ma~kets. As a result the threstock industry in the Nation as a whole suffers. The. development of the' Oahe Irrigatiou unit will have a great impact and stabilizing ef1~ç~t on the economy of S~ut~i Dakota and other agricul- tural states. . ` ` . ` ` Mr. Chairman, Other benefits will be realized ir~ South flakota with the passage of S. Ot ~` ` , ` ` Industrial development has often been re~tth~ted because of limited' water sup- plies in some of the towns ~ and clt1e~~ We all `realize th~tt a basic criteria for sound industrial development i~ the ready av~ailability of an adequate supply of water. With the passage of ~6, new OppOrtunities will be made available to many businessmen who wish to start * new pia~nts ~r mncreáse the size of e~lsting facilities,. ~ ` ~ ~ ~ ` . I Finally, priyat~ development of rec~e~tiqt~facilities and the increase of wild- life in the O'a'he, irrlgatiort area , wii~'be a~i1ab~ to all citizens of Our Nation. People `are seeking outdoor rëere~tiO~1 tflid I feel that South Dakota will be able to provide additional opportun1ti~s' to `s~Orthmen, vaeatlonets, and hunters. We appreciate the committe&s having scheduled `this hearing; We urge favor- able Committee action on 5, E~, the Oabe Irrigation 1~oject. . ` Senator MCGOVERN. Is Art Jones here ? I have his name on the list, but I `haven't seen him thday. We kitow of his interest in this project. The next witness will be' M'r. B~n ~Rade1i'ffe, president Of the South Dakota F~rniers Union, and ` a~ former member of the South Dakota State Legisk~ture. I ` ` ~ ~ ` ` ~` STATEME1~TT OP BEN H. BADCLIPPE, PRESIDENT, `SOUTH DAKOTA ` . FARMERS UNION Mr. RADCLIFFE. Mr. Chairman, I am Ben H. Radcliffe, president of the South Dakota Farmers Ijnion, an organization of over 14,000 South Dakota farm families, and the largest farm group in our State. At the outset, I would like to emphasize that the South Dakota Farmers Union is in full `support of efforts `to bring the Oahe irriga- PAGENO="0083" I OAHE ~ ~JNIP, ~ MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 73 tion pro~jeet to comp1c~tion. This is a rnatte~ of record in our 1966-67 program of policy and action, adopted by delegates to our 51st con- vention last October. The wording in the adopted program is as follows : ~ ~ ~ Because the Oahe Irrigatio~i rroject has been found feasible and would bring great benefit to the economy of south D~kpta, we urge immediate action b~ the Administration and Congress forthe authorization and appropriationof funds to initiate this project. We were especially heartened by announcement earlier this month that the Bureau of the Budget has approved the Department of the interior's favorable report on the Oahe unit, thus bringing this project one bi~ step nearer to reality. . While we welcomed the Budget. Bureau's approval of the first stage of the Oahe project, we were disappoii~ted that they refused to go along with preconstruction costs ~ in the main canal. As originally planned, the pumps and the main canal would have been consftucted so as to eventually supply the entire. 495,000-acre total project. How- ever, the Budget Bureau report calls for holding capacity in the canal and foundations at pumping stations to take care of only the first stage project to irrigate 190,000 acres. We do feel that this project has been delayed too long already and are happy that it is finally reaching its present stage. With the aid of this committee, I am confident we can continue it to its conclusion. `It goes withoutsaying that not all of our members will share directly in the benefitsof the Oahe project, but.indirect benefits will also accrue to farmers outside the irrigable area. In a limited rainfall area such as ours, along with our total dependence on adequate feed supplies to carry our livestock operations, like certainty of water in the area in- sures plentiful amounts of forage and feed being available to sur- rounding area farmers and ranchers. Eventual completion of this project, `together with the installation of irrigation systems on many acres of our South Dakota farmland, carries a tremendous ~ potential for improvement in the farm sect~or of the economy. Farmers Union is very hopeful that the Oahe unit, When completed will providfi an answer to our State's diminishing farm population and provide an upward stimulus to ~ a declining farm prosperity. . Our organization for many years has been fighting dilig~rntly in an effort to halt the exodus of farmers from the land. This also `b~o~nes the immediate problem of our towns and small bUsine~sffi~n because, according to the latest farm census, South Dakota lost 6,000 farms during the 1959-64 period, for an average of 1,200 per year. In a like period, 1958~-63, as documented by the 1963 Census of Busix~ess by the U.S. Department of Commerce, our State suffered a net `lo~s of 1,101 retail business ,estab1ishmei~t~. This repr~sents a ratio of One business place closing its doors for every six farms that disappeared. I . am sure this committee also reiognizes thei hnpaet this exodus of farmers from the land has on our Nation's metropolitan areas. I feel that indirectly part of the b~1am~ for~ this s~iinmer's unrest in our cities can be placed on the mass migration t~ the cities over the years of thousands. of family farmers displaced because of inadeqttate farm income. PAGENO="0084" I :74 OAHE~ ~JNI'P, * ~ISSOTJ~tI ~iVER' BASIN PI~OJECT The Oahe project eouid~ well be a step in the right direction toward rectifying both problems. ~ ~ ~. According to the Bureau of Reclamation supplemental report on this first stage of the Oahe unit, completion of this phase would add. 500 more farms and 1,700 more farm people. In addition, another 12,300 people would find new opportunity in farm service businesses, , new bathe agricultural industries, and other services and activities. It seems only logical to develop our rural areas to open the gates to new industries, higher income, and more employment opportunities to stem the present trend of migrating into our metropolitan centers. According to the Bureau report, the Oahe unit will result in a total estimated population boost for South Dakota of 14,000 persons. The Bureau report also estiniates that development of this first. stage alone will bring in nearly $31.5 million in new wages, profits, and. investment earnings~. it estimutes gross farm income will increase by $30 million. And certainly, to whatever extent irrigation strengthens the farm economy o~ South Dakota, the nonfarm economy will benefit from iiioreased farm spending. This investigative. report by the Bureau mdi- cates that business activity could increase by more than $71 million,. and this increased. income is going to mean a bigger tax take for State and Federal Governments-~-a ixost in tax revenue of some $7 million.. When the construction of this needed project gets underway ther& also will be some increase in job opportunities for construction work ers, plus the workers `that ~iil no doubt be hired to aid in leveling laud, helping prepare feeder canals and drainage ditches on individual farms. All of this activity will produce new `jobs for nonfarm people in South Dakota. . . It is our hope, givei~ proper economic plani~ing by our own South Dakota leaders, that these job opporWnities can continue to grow after construction is completed. If farmers in the potential irrigation area shouldshift to vegetable crops, sugar beets, or products of that nature, the more perishable crops will require some processing in the corn- munities where they. are grown ; thus, the shift in ~ the agricultural economy brought about by irrigation could produce a.variety of new jobs in the field of. processing, storing, and transportation of new commodities. Farmers Union, ~ as weB as other citizens, . is also interested in the potential this ~oj~t offers for developing our hunting and fishing in bouth Dakota, thusinjectmg new lifeblood into our tourist industry which brings about an increased . local demand for farm produce as well as increasing the number of service jobs connected with tourism~ In summing up, just let me say that the potential gain for the South Dakota farmer would be on two fronts. First, the direct dollar boost to the agricultural producer and the secondary advantage to farmers which would accrue from increased industry and job prospects in our State, all of Which will tend to upgrade our economy and en~ hance farm income. `In view of South Dakota Farmers Union members, the potential for economic aRd social bensfits inherent in the Oahe unit far out- weigh the' estimated costs. We therefore sincerely urge your favorable consideration of Senate bill 6 and that the Senators on this committee PAGENO="0085" OAHE tNIT, MISSOURI RIVER. BASIN PROJECT 75 I take whatever Steps necessary and pra~ti~t1 toward expediting the authorizatisiiand e~v&~tua1 ebmp1~tiou of this project. . : Thank you for giving me thjs opportunity to e~press these views. Senator MCGOVERN. Thank you very much. ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ I notice your concern about the change that was made in the re- port with reference to building additional capacity ~o take care of the second stage of the project. I think you heax~d the Assistant Secre- iary of the Interior, Mr. Jiolum, say this i~aorning that in his judg- ment he does not see that as any real threat to the completion of the project. I think that is the judgment of p&ple all through the admin- istration who have been working on thi~. I share yOur concern. * Thank you so much for your statement. Mr. RADCLIFFE. Thank you. Senator McGovERN. Next will be Mr. Mike Cassady; executi.v~ vice iresident of the Mississippi Valley Assooi~tion, ~ ~ . . STATEMENT OP E. MICHAEL CASSADY~ EXEOIYTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, NISSISSIPPI VALLEY ASSOCIATION Mr. CA~SADY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My name is E. Michael Cassady, and I am executive vice president of the Mississippi Valley Association, with headquarters in St. Louis.' I have a prepared statement that I will not take your time to read. i: will file it for the record. ` ~ I would like to make one comment. I heard one of Senator Jordan's questions here this morning. I might tell you also for the record that the Mississippi Valley As- sociation is the country's largest water resource development orga- nization. We have membership virtually throughout the United States, but our primary interest is Mississippi and its tributaries from Montana and New York and Canada to the gulf. As such, we have many of our members whose major interest is in `navigation. People in Louisiana, for example, who have an interest in navigation, also have an interest in flood control. They are ex- `tremely appreciative of what South Dakota has given up with the main stream reservoirs that keep the water off their back. Forty-three percent of the rainfall in the United States or the runoff, passes through the State of Louisiana. I wanted to assure you and the committee that the navigation peo- pie that we represent are fully aware of' this project. They have sup- ported it for many years and are on record as doing so now; as I , mention in my statement. Thank you very much. Senator McGovi~atN. Thank you ` for your helpful statement. (The prepared statement referred to follows:) STATEMENT OF E. MICHAEL CASSADY, ExEouPIvz\VICE PRESIDENT, MISSISSIr?I VALLI~X AssQcIATIoN~ , Mr. Ohairman and Gentlemen of the Committee ~ name in Fl Michael Cassady and I am Executive Vice President of the Mississippi Valley Association with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, `At our last Annual Meeting held in Chicago i~ February 1967, over 2,000 mem- b~rs in behalf of all 1~flss1ssippi ~Valley Assóciätlon ~nembers throughout a `23- state area, unanimously supported immediate authorization and Initial construe- PAGENO="0086" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT SonatQr ~ son, secretary, S. Dak. ii the list t request t and U~are yes of the in n~y are peop. before 1 came ~ry. It se azing ~itheda' the year r years. ~ y WSrS in I would also like to point out that our fai for irrigation, and right now the.re are about developed some 10,000 to t2,000 acres for irrigation in where they could get suitable water. In conclusion, I would like to say that it is the opinion of the board of directors that when the time comes that these contracts will have to be voted upon., they ag~in will vote favorably. We don't anticipate any JOHNSON. L considerable ~ idea of the Oa PAGENO="0087" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 7'T Hoi )rable Y rnbers of the ~r in k Corn important proj interest, and ticularly to: L Forms of 196 ~ee, my name is Walter Johnson, - - :1~ort, and Se ~tary of the ~ th~ fQllow- ~d in support of the ted in the derelopment of this secessary steps to indicate this y by large majorities. I refer par- our stateL~ent. IINSON. ~ you. (The prepared statement referred to follows:) on area, you 2port for the I STATERIENT OF WALTER JOHNSON, SECRETARY, SPINn COUNTY IRRIGATION BOARD OF ~IRECTORS a~iesr Sub Disti~tct ~t th( te-this re~e~ents ~tbou ~acts between the Irrigation Dis- PAGENO="0088" I 78 OAHE UNIT) MISSOURI RWE~ D~SIN PROJECT. Senator McGov~nN. The next witness will be Mr. James Sperry, ;secretary,West Brown Irrigation Distrh~t. STATEMENT OP. ~ SPERRY, SECR~ETARY, WEST BROWN IRRIGA- TION DISTRICT; BROWN COUNTY, S. DAL Mr. SPERRY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. ~ I am Jim Sperry, se~retary of the West Brown Irrigation District in Brown County, S. Dak. Here with me today are Harold Smith, Virgil Locken, and LaVerne Swenson. All are members of the West Brown board of directors and all of u~ are also full-time grain and livestock farmers in this irrigation district. We represent 383 landowners who . farm 81,000 acres in the West Brown district. We organized our irrigation district with the inten- tion Of: doing all we could to facilitate the rapid development of the `Oahe unit. As South Dakotans, we contributed 509,000 acres of land to the four reservoirs on the Missouri River, resulting in an economic produ~ti.on loss of $9,213,000 annually, a&~ording to the Qahe. unit report. We all consider irrigation as an important part of the com.pen- sation for these acres lost ~ when the Missouri River reservoirs were created. We hav8 just completed the most bountiful small grain harvest our area of South Dakota has ever seen. it was a result of plentiful rain- ~fa1l along with moderate temperatures during the growing season. Our cOrn crop is notso fortunate, ho~ver. It is nearly 2 months now since we have received any general rainfall. ~A~s a result, corn yields will be something less than average and in many cases will have values only as silage. So you see, even in a good year, snppleniental moisture can be ex- treinE~ly valuable, and in a normal year our expected yields would be raised considerably by irrigation. .. Because of these facts, I am very optimistic about our future pros- pects as* an irrigated area. I feel that the increased productivity, as ~well as the increased assurance of harvesting a crop will lead to im- proved income. levels for those of us on the farm, as well as our city cousins. I realize that bringing water here and developing our land to re- ceive it will require much work and planning in addition to large financial investment. As the father of two boys and one girl now attending school, I am willing to help undertake the development of this project which will quite possibly be delivering water here by the time my children are ready to establish homes and begin careers of their own. I hGpe that the stimulating effect of irrigation on the South Dakota ! economy will make it possible for my children, as well as my neigh bor's children, to lind opportunity here in South Dakota, rather than migrating to more densely populated areas of our country. ~ ~ In closing; the dh~ctors of the West Brown Irrigation District wotild like to urge ~apprOva~ of the O~he irrigation project so that the Missouri River development program, started over 20 years ago, may proceed. Senator MCGOVERN. Thank you very much, Mr. Sperry, for your statement. PAGENO="0089" OAHE UNIT, 1\~tISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 79~ I understand that Ralph Herseth is n~t with us, although he is~ listed as a witries~. Stanley P. Munger will be our next witness. lie is the president of the South Dakota Reclamation and Rural Development Asso-~ ciation. STATEIVIENT OP STANLEY P. HUNGER, PRESIDENT, SOUTh DAKOTL RECLAMATION ANI) WATEIt DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION Mr. MUNGER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have written testimony I would like to submit for the record, if I may. Senator MCGOVERN. It will be placed in the record at the conclu~ sion of your remarks. Mr. MUNGER. May I just comment on one part of this ~ I. would like to point out that the credentials of our association. were presented to the committee at Redfield, this year, but I would like to add and specifically emphasize that we represent a cross sec- tion of the State of South Dakota, both as to vocation and avoca- tion, and that our interests lie primarily with the principle of multi- ple-purpose development conservation and storage of water. Because of our diversity in membership, we propose ourselves as a good indication of the very broad interests of the public in South. Dakota in this project. Senator MCGOVERN. I don't think there is any question about that.. Mr. MUNGER. With that. ~n mind, Senator, we would hope for a. favorable action on Senate bill 6. Senator MOG-OVERN. Thank you very much. Your prepared state~ ment will be included in full. Mr. MUNGER. Thank you, sir. (The prepared statement referred to follows:) STATEMENT OF STANLEY P. MUNGEB, PREsxnENT~ SOUTH DAKOTA RECLAM~TION AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AsSocIATIoN Mr. Chairman, my ua~ne is Stanley Munger. I live at Vermillion, South Dakota, and am engaged in the livestock farming business there. I am serying a~ President of the South Dakota Eaclamatlon and Water Development Asso- ciation and am privileged to represent that Organization here, .to~-Jay. The credentials of the SDRWDA were presented for your records at the Field Hearings held this year in Redfield, South Dakota, so I will only recall for you, now, that our membership~, represents widely differing vocations and avocations from every Section of the State. We are joined together in advocating a Principle . . . . multi-purpose conservation, storage, and use of water . . . . and we are not joined together simply by the economics and geography of an flume- diate project site. FOr this reason, we suggest to you that our voice accurately reflects tile pub- lie's recognition that approval o1~ the Og~e Unit is needed In the Public Interest and will serve that Public Interest, well. It has been twenty-three years since the Flood Control Act of 1944 was ap- proved and the irrigation portion of that Act has not been Initiated, eren In part, in South Dakota. MeanwhiZe, South Dakotans have provided . over one-half million acres of their best Missouri River bottom lands for generous downstream benefits te navigation, flood control, and power. . Meanwhile, Sottth Daketans have constituted their State as a Conservaticy District. . Mean~wMle, South flal~otans o~ j~54~ counties. have overwhelming vo ~ ed th favor of taxing themselves to establish the Oahe Sub-Oonservancy District for the purpose of supporting the Oahe project. PAGENO="0090" I OAH~ IINIT, MISSOURI t~IVER BASIN ?ROJECT Meanwhi'e, these same people again voted to keep faith with the future by increasing their taxes for the purpose of guaranteeing their obligations to operate andn~aiiilain the OaheUnit. . Twenty-three years is a long time and now, we hope, the "meanwhiles" are over ; self-h~lp, sefr-sacrifice, self-determination have been demonstrated. Engi- neering feasibility has been demonstrated. Economic feasibility has been clem- onstrated, therefore, Mr. Ohairman, we respectfully ask favorable consideration and approval of the leg~sIat'on proposed ~y Senate Bill 6 S~;t~ M~eQV]~t~ T1b~1I:that just rai~g was that long-awaited rolloall. I would suggest if you can bear with me that you just remain here. 1 ~illgo and vote and be back within 15 minutes. If there is any- one who cannot wait, we will be glad to have your statethent incor- porated in the record if you will just ~tand and give your name. Well, if not, I will return as quickly as I can. Before recessing, how- ever, at this point in the record I will insert a statement filed with the committee by E. N. Duncan, manager~ AgricuituralPlanriing & Devel- opmerit, GreatN~rthe.rn Eailwi~y Co.; St. Paul, Minn~ Now we will re~ess and I will return a~ quickly a~ I possibly can. (A short recess was taken.) (Mr. Dunean's statement follows:) STATuMSNT OF B. N. DuNCAN, MA~AG~rt, AejucuLTusAL PLANNING & DSVELOPMENT, GEEAT NOnTHEEN E~AILWAY Co., Sr. ?AUL, 1VIINN. a desir~ le project t~ak~ta. e are adv Plain a verage has always been a strong supporter of feasible STAT~1~NT O~' GARY ~ ~A~P1t, S. DAK. Mr. Siwi~. Thigil~ ~ou, Senator. ~ I graduated from Aberdeen Central High School and am now en- tering thy s~ond~ye~r at college at B~ookings, S. IMk., as an agrioul- tural major. My parents live on a*fai~i loc~ed 5tnil~~ east of Aberdeen, in the. heart of the newly f9rmed West Brown IrHgation District, so naturafly I have been exposed to the many benefits of irrigation. Two years ago I did some research. on water development and the potential of iri~igation for our area for a speech class in my high schOol. Upon the completion of my speech, my fellowclassmates and my in- struetors brought fGrth a number of questions concerning opportuni- ties derived through this vast project. I attempted to point out a few of thW maity jdb ôpportuniti~s as well as recreational opportunities obtained primarily through water. 80 and ( rease r i_r. Gary ~.d provL~ ~iaeral ~ene- in the room. order, please. ~rom Bath, S. Dak. I PAGENO="0091" OAHE tNIT, MISSOiJRI RIVER BASIN PROJECT I 81 Also, as a 10-year 4-H member, I have worked closely with conserva- tion and have done various research projects concerning irtigation. Through my studies and presentati&~s~ the same caliber of questions have risen as did in my high school speech class : What opportunities will be available to my generation ~ There is nothing~i would rather do than go back to the family farm upon my Somph~ion of coi1ege~ The Lord put us on this earth to `help others ~tnd there isi~t a &ier way to help others than through farming. Farming i~ tne Of thetwosources of new wealth known to mankind. ~ This is the `same f~lin~'that is present in the minds of many of my friends' ~nd neighbcsrs. . But this is not possible unless our fathers catt afford tO take on a partner. `Realistically, we know there isn't enough income on the average farm today to support more than one family. If irrigation `comes to our area, a greater income will arise tothe small farmers and then my generation will have the opportunity to do the thing that th~y love the' most. We will `be able to go back to the farms and ranches where we were raised and raise our own families so they, too, may enjoy the many benefits of being raised `on a farm. As I have tried to point out, the interest and thought is definitely present in the mi'iids of the people `of my age. I truly believe that the majority' of the people would stay inour area if there Would `be more and new opportunities available to them. I also believe that water will bring these ifs to a reality. Our area is oneof the finest areas in the world. Why not keep it that way and also better it~ by keeping our youth here where they are educated? I, too, urge youi~ strong support for the authorization of the Oahe project. Our future depends on it. Thank you. Senator MCGOVE~iN. I * think Gary. Sharp. is the only student testi-. fying today, and we are happy to have I~iis statement in the hearing record. Mr. SHARP. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Senator MCGOVERN. The next witness will be' Mrs. Myles Beckler, Route 1, Aberdeen. . We will be pleased to have your testimony. STATEMENT OP MRS. M.YLES BECXLER, AB~DEE1~, S. DAK. Mrs. BECKLER. Mr. Ch~drman, I am Mrs~ Myles Beckler of Route 1, Aberdeen. As a farm wife, . mother, and grandmother, I am vitally interested in the agricultural stability that irrigation would provide for our area. %~Te farm. 960 acres about 6 thiles"northeast of Aberdeen which is in the heart of the West Brown Irrigation District. Our family includes one son who is married and -in the service, another son just starting college, a daughter in high school, and a daughter in grade school. The ` son in the service `has his sights set on coming back to the farm some day in ~ father~son partnership arrangement. Under present dryland farming conditions, these plans are merely pipedream~ so to speak, as the present farm unit is not large enough to provide two families with an adequate standard of living and additional land is just simply nOt available in our area. PAGENO="0092" OAWE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT Our second son, although ~ not. interested in staying on the farrn~ would like to remain in home territory, provided the work for which he plans to qualify himself is ~vaiIable Irrigation would mean that our daughters might also remain in our community to raise their families. In order to provide our family with the kind of living we feel we are entitled to, it has been necessary for me to seek full-time em- ployment outside the home. There are many other farm wives in our area who find themselves in the same position. I'm sure that they would join me in saying that there is nothing we would like more thanto devote fun time to our most important job. as homemaker. We have good soil. The lone factor that limits the production on our farm is adequate water. Therefore, I urge approval of the Oahe irrigation project `so that my hopes and those of hundreds of other mothersin the Oahe projeet area may be realized. Senator MCGOVERN. Thank' you ever so much, Mrs.. Beckler. Your statement will fill a i~eeded place in the hearing record. We are glad to have youwith us today. Mrs. BRCEIER. Tha~kyou~ , Senator MCGOVERN1 Our next witness will be' Homer Engelhorn~ Mr. Engelhorn is speaking for the East River Electric Power Co~ operative. *ST4.TEIVLENT 0]? BOMER N. ENGELBOBN, ,C&QNS~RVATI0N SPECIALIST, EAST RIVER ELECTRIC ?OWER COOPERATIVE Mr. ENGELUORN. Mr. Chairman~, my name is homer Engeihorn. I LUll conservation specialist for East River Electric Power Cooperative of Madison, S. Dak. Our cooperative transmits e1eetri4~ poWer to 23 member systems for re.~aie to nearly 50,000 rural families in the eastern two-fifths `of South Dakota and three counties in southwestern Minnesota. To our knowl- edge, ours is the only rural electrie system in the Nation with a full- time conservation speeiaJi~t. In this capacity during the last 4 years, it has been my experience to work closely with dozens of dedicated groups and hundreds of dedi- cated individuals who work ceaselessly for the principle of conserva- tion-the use of all of our. natural resources to the extent `that man and society get the most benefit from them. And it is out of this belief that I appear before you today `to plead most `strongly for the approv~aI of Senate bill 6, the legislation which authorizes the Oahe water diversion segment of the Missouri River Bathn project. The overall project had its legislative origin in the F]ood Control Act of 1944. The th'any benefitsof the Qahe project-~-irrigation, stock water, `municipal water, and the rest-i--were o~t1ined at that `time hut it was not until recently that final technical plans were worked out. In the meantime, nearly every other phase of the Missouri River Basin project ha's moved `steadily ahead to 1~he point at which we are seeing' large-scale ` power ` generation, flood control, recreation, and na~rigation. For the first timé'since the ~cOn'sthi~tion of the dams on the Missouri~s main stem, water has been loosedthis~ yeai~ over the spiliways-water 82 I PAGENO="0093" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER EASIN PROJECT 83 1*o~t forever to the residents of the Missouri Basin who have need for that water. This water, had we had the pumping and distribution facilities en- visioned in S. 6, could have been put to beneficial use instead of being flushed downstream. What are some of these needs ? Municipal water supply is a problem in nearly every community in the Nation. Seventeen towns in the proj- oct area would receive an assured, long-term source of water supply if Oahe were real. The two counties in which irrigation water will be available, Brown. and Spink, lost 205 and 198 farm units, respectively, between 1959 and 1964,, according to the U.S. Census of Agriculture. The report which the Department of the Interior has submitted to this committee, which tells the feasibility of this project, states that irrigation in the proposed area can result in 500 additional farms, with 1,700 new people. Such an economic boost can partially reverse the present trend of loss of numbers of farms, with the resulting lss of jobs, business firms, income, and opportunity. This Nation has been rocked to its very foundations during the past ~ summer by the worst civil disorders in mQre than a century. There are many who cry that the problem is too-lenient law enforcement, or "outside agitators," but these explanations, even if based on a few shreds of evidence, do not approach the magnitude of the real causes of cities' problems in 1967. The problem, reducedto its most basic terms, is one of overcrowding and facilities grotesquely overtaxed. The ability of city administrators to cope with layer upon layer of humanity, much of it of sharply differ- ing race and background, has been unable to keep pace. Approval of the Oahe project will do precious little to end the prob-. lem of people streaming from rural areas to the cities. The few dollars involved here, when taken in relation to the total cost of the meaningful reordering of population that is called for, are precious little. But this I project and these dollars represent a significant step in the right direction. . . \ Hundreds of Oahe projects and projects of other type~ will be needed throughout rural America, with associated expenditures measured by the billions instead of millions, to correct the gross inequities which have led to the mass flight of humathty from farm to city. But the Federal Government can make this investment in the Oahe project a significant token of its determination to reorient the economy ~ to prevent further erosion of rural America and the consequent strain ~ on the facilities of metropolitan America. Fifteen million Americans have fled for the cities since 1950. It is ~ time to reverse directions. Ever since 1961, the members of East River Electric have stated unequivocally their support for legislation which would authorize and fund the Oahe unit. They have restated this support at each annual meeting since, and they are, I can say without a quiver of doubt, doing exactly that on this very day at our 1th annual meeting out in South Dakota. We stated our support to the subcommittee which was chaired by our Senator McGovern at Eedfield, S. Dak., on May 22 of this year, at PAGENO="0094" O~WE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT which dozens of witnesses told dozens of reasons why Oahe should be authorized at this time. We are happy today to restate our support, and attach herewith for the record a copy of the resolution which is being submitted today for approval of our members at their annual meeting. Thank you. (The resolution referred to follows:) RESOLUTION No. 9 (OAnE IRRIGATION UNIT) After more than 15 years of: study. and inyestigation showing feasibility and desirability of the Oahe Irrigation Unit~ tb~ report o~1~ the Bureau of Rec1am~t- tioTi shows that it is a sound investment for the federal . government and neces- sary for the economic growth and the development of water resources In South Dakota. The fir~'t stage 190,000 acre. unit will bring stability' to the farmers, municipal water for communities in the area, employment opportunities, stimulate busi- ness growth and expand recre~tional fqcili~ies all of which will make for an orderly growth of our state. Recognizing the immediate need for the production of an adequate foOd supply for the nation and the world, we~urgentIy request the Immediate authorization and .fupding of the Oahe project by the ~John~on Administrath~n in order to proceed with construction at the earliest possible date. . We appreciate the efforts given by the members of the South Dakota ~ Con- gressiónal ddlegation in support of ~ the project afld espe~ially ~ appreciate the leadership gi*ven by Senator George McGovern in obtaining and holding senate field hearings for the Oahe Unit in South Dakota. We commend Mr. Fred Holscher, Chairman of the Oahe Conservancy Sub- district, the board of directors and manager James Lewis for their untiring efforts and insight towards creation of this unit and its development, all of which will build a stronger agricultural economy for South Dakota farmers and provide for a more abundant life for its citizens, The membership directs East 1~Uver to continue to work and cooperate with the Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict and to exert every. other possIble effort to bring about the authorization oi the project aiid make it a reality. Senator M0G0vERN. Thank you very much, Mr. Engelhoi~n. The resolution you submitted has been placed in the record. We appreciate your appearance today. Mr. ENGELIIORN. Thank you. Senator M0GOvERN. The next witness will be Mr. L. .1. Maher, editor, Huron Daily Plainsman. STATEMLNP 0]? L J. 1~AKER, VICE PRESIDENT, liURON PUBLISH- ING CO., ASSISTANT PUBLISHER, DAIL~ PLAINSMAN 84 Mr. MAETER. Mr. Chairman and committee members, my name is L. J. Maher and I live in Huron, S. Dak.. I am vice president of the Huron Publishing Co. and assistant publisher of the Daily Plains- man, a newspaper that serves all or part of nine of the 15% counties that make up the Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict. The city of Huron is just one of 17 cities and towns that will depend upon water from the first phase of the Oahe unit for municipal and industrial use. But our city is . unique, because our present municipal water supply is furnished from storage in the James River created by the James Diversion Dam which will be a part of the first phase of the Oahe unit when that project is built. . This dam was built after a study authorized by the Congress in 1961 showed that it would provide a stable water supply for the city of Huron until the year 1970. PAGENO="0095" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 85 next witness is Mr. Al Schock, Sioux Falls, ~smen. In ~I962 the city of Huron signed a 20-year repayment contract with I the Federal Government to repay with interest the construction costs I allocated to municipal water use. Congress authorized this dam in 1963 and it was completed in 1964. It was ass~Imed at the time that the Oahe unit would be constructed by, or shortly after, 1970 and that greater quantities of water would then be available from this project. In 1962 the Division of Sanitary Engineering, South Dakota State Department of Health, conducted a study of the public ~~ter supplies within the Oahe conservancy subdistrict. On the basis of `~1962 Public Health Service Drinking Water Standards" this study showed that 59 of 65 public water sources in the subdistrict have unsatisfactory quality water for general domestic use. The Oahe unit project would provide an improved water supply for a number of these communities. As you know, an adequate water supply is essential to the survival and growth of any community. I sincerely urge your favorable action on Senate bill 6, so that con- struction can be started as soon as possible. ~ ~ . Senator MCGOvERN. Thank you for your statement, Mr~ Maher. I might say, because you are here, that I think one of the unstated reasons why the Oahe project I s won the approval that it has at this is because of i 1 b job of reporting ~nd information, ~alizing, ~"~`l by your paper and by the A ~thr was here earlier today, with intaining the best standards of re- Ition out to our people. s why this project is now before the com- way that it is. It is certainly due to your ~ years. I STAT~ME~TT OP AL SCliOCK, PAST PBESI]XENT, SIOUX FALLS CItAMBER OP COMMZ1~CE; PAST VICE PUSXDE~T, SIOUX FALLS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMLNT FOUNDATION; PAST PRESIDENT, SOUTH DAKOTA RECLAMATION & WATER DEVELOPMENT ASSO- CIATION; PRESIDENT, TERRACE PARK DAIRIES, INC., OP SOUTH DAKOTA; PRESIDENT, NOR~ZCA FOODS CO. Mr. ScijocK. Senator McGovern, I represent the business community of South Dakota, the South Falls Chamber of Commerce, and the ~ Sioux Falls Industrial Development Foundation. , I have a two-page statement which I should like to place in the ~ record. I do wish to read the last two paragraphs, which I wotild like to i~ comment on. You have been mast interested in the Food for Peace and Food f~r Freedom programs. I would also like to support the statement entered into the hearing room by Mr. Gullickson. The United States, operating under the unexëelh~d free enterprise syç~tem, has been one of the most blessed nations insofar as food pror PAGENO="0096" :86 OA~IE tYNIT, MISSOURI RWE~ BASI~ PROJECT duction is concerned. Last year, however, we saw a period when gra- manes and cupboards were a~1most bare. ~ . This spring, we saw the threat of ~ severe drought deve1opin~ in the "breadbasket area" of mid-America. It was just in the nick of tune that the weatherman smiled on us and good fortune again brought us ~bountifu1 crops. Internationally, we are, however, facing a very severe food shortage problem. Each year, this problem steadily worsens. As past director of Lions International, in my work with Oare, Inc., in the distribution of food, I añi personally cognizant of the fact that many thousands of peop~te die daffly, as reported by the World Health Organization, be- cause of either the con~.plete lack of fOod or insufficient quantities of it. Time is of the essence in the authorization of this pro)ect. Our Nation's No. 1 weapon and asset in fighting the evil forces of the world has been our abundant supply of food. I might add tJ~at as I was lis- tening to the testimony today,. I calculated that the cost of this project woixid only be the equivalent o~ 3 days' fighting in Vietnam. We ~hould not think so much in terms of national surplus food production as we should think in terms of not producing adequately for th~ world's needs. ~ ~ Since there is `a period involved, a lag phase sO to speak, from the time a projedt is auiihc~rized to the time it can be broug~ht to full pro- *duction,'a period b~ing anywhere from 10 to 20 years, it is the recom- mendaijion `of the business comnuinity of South Dakota that ` this project receive immediate authorization because it is not only in the best ii~terests Of South Dakota and our Nation but of the entire world. Mr. SCH0CK.' That completes my remarks. . Seuator MOGO~ERN. Thaaii~ you so much for your excellent state- -ment, Mr. Sthock. I am glad that you and other witnesses have alluded to this food challenge that faces us around the world. It is one that is going to become more of a challenge and more serious ii~ the years ahead, (The prepared statement referred to follows:) ~STA~PEMENP BY ` AL ~ SCXIO~iK, .PASP Piui~szbE1~T, ` Sioux FALLS OHAMnF~u oI~' COM- M1~R0E ;~PAST VICE PRESI1~ENT, Sioux FALLS `Iinus~i~m~ DEVFIOPMENT FOUNDA- TION PAST Pi~E~sfl~NP SOIJPH DAKOTA RECLAMATION AND WAT~E DEVzLOPMENT AsSoCIATIoN ; ~E1!aTDENT, TF~RRACE PABIt DAIEIzS, Lw., oi~' SOUTH DAKOTA; PEzSmENT, NoiwicA FOODS COMPANY . Mr. Oha~rman, I s~eak in behalf of the bu5inesI~ community of South Dakota, 1 -the Sioux Falls Chamber of Comm~roe, and the Sioux Falls Induistrial Develop-, ment Foundation a~ past president of the South Dakota Reclamation and `Water Development Aseeciation and as a farmer farming `land in McPherson County in ~nerthern South Dakota. Our company eu~ploys app~oxirnately 400 persons, most of them ex-farm boys, *in the `state o~f South Dakota. We .p~~~~hase milk from approximately 400 Grade A milk pro~Ineers. We are in very ~lose teudh with the `economk~ problems o~f the state of South Da1~ota aud its ~conomy. The South Dakota busineSs; community whol~h~artediy end~raes the Oahe Irrigation Proje~t. The other organizations named above have on many oceasionis passed resolu tion~s suppYrting the project in its entirety. When the big dams were created on the mainstem of the Missouri River, South Dakota gave up much of its most pro!ducttve laud. To `date, the big dams have primarily `benefited the' `large metro- politan communities iocat~d In the state's south of South Dakota along the Mis- Souri and Mississippi Rivers. Prior to the construction of the dams, these communities, on a rather frequent basis, lost mrnioi~s of dolla~s worth of property in aitmosi anm~al flood. `damage, anid on occasion th~re was the loss of a human life. PAGENO="0097" OAHE uNIT,, .~4~fS~QW~! RIS1~R. B4SIN I~I~OS~CT ~ 87~ When the dams were built, and as cern~~satio~i for th~ predn~tis~e ~an~1 that &nitli Dakota was c~ti~tbutth~; ~ it *a~ pi~emi~ed b3r the FedeMi Government that at least equivalent arneluits ~f South Dakót~a land would bt~ brought under irrigation at as early a date as possible. The ~Tnited States, operating under the unexee~led ftee enterprise system, has been one of the most blessed nations inso~a~ as food p~lucUou is concerned. I Last year, however, we saw a period when granaries and c1i~boards were almost bare. This spring, we sa~r the threat of a severe drought developing in the "Breadbasket .Arø~" ot ~nld-Amextèa. It was just in the nick `o~ time that the ~weatherman smiled on us and good fortune again brought us boutthful crops. . internationally, we are, however, facing a very severe food shortage problem. Each year, this problem steadily worsens. As past Director of Lions Inter- national, In my work with Care, Inc. Iti the distribution of food, ~ I am person- . .ally cognizant of ~he fact that many thousands of people die daily, as reported .. by the World ~Iualth Organizatlo~, because of either the complete lack o~ food or in~ttfficient q~iantities of it. Time is of the eSsence in the authorization of this project. Our nation's ~nun~ber one weap~n a~1d asset in fighting the evil forces of the world has been our abundant supply of food.: We should not think soinuch in terms of national Lurplus food production as we should think in terms of not producing adequately for the world'gneeds. Since there Is a period involved, a lag phase so to speak, from the time a pi~djeet is authorized to the time it can be brought to full production,. a period: being anywhere from 1O~-2O years, it is the recommendation ~ of the business community of South Dt~kota that this project receive immediate authorization because it is not only in the best interests of South Dakota and our tiatlon but of the entire world. Senator MCGOVERN. Mr. ~ J~ W. Grirnms, executive offik~er, South Dakota ~esources Commission, has been i~i the hearing room ~}1. day today, lie. told me earlier he would not submit a prepared statement at this time. He might have~testimony to offer at .a later date. I might say that we will keep the he~triug record open for any addi- tional statements for a week or so. Th~e of you who want to file statements withy the committee will have the opportunity to do so. ~ I think our final witness is Mr. Hans Jessen, of Tulare, S. D~k. ~ . ~ STATEMENT OP HANS ~SSEN, TULAREI, S. DAK. ~ Mr. .Ji~ssi~. Honorable Senator, and I will also address you as Mr. `Chairman. ~ I am kind of disappointed in Al Sehock Al Schock is sort of a ~humorist and I am sure everybody acquainted with him knows t1~ia~t. I thought he probably would inject a little humor into this after~ all ~this serious testitriony. * ~ i: don't know whether I am capable of it or not Being that Al didn't, I am going to try to The only thing I am sorry of is that our ~honorablt~ S~natyrs from North Dakota, our neighboring State, are inot here. I was hoping that Senator Burdick would be here. Honestly, ~ ~.i am disappointei that he is not, because I have gotten acquainted ~ ~with him. I Wailt to compare the two States. This is off the cuff, by the way. TMs `is n~t part `of my `statement. I want it,o compare, the' two States. North Dakota and South Dakota with the exception of the people living in the two States, are referred to as the Dakotas. But when you refer to it as the DakOtas and you are from South Dakota, you say, "No,. I aip from North Dakota," if you `are from Nort~i l~akot~ you say, "North Dakota." HOwever, geographically, the two States are split. almost in the middle. As far as the highways are concerned, you almost have to ~go Oast and west to get through one or the other. On nprt'h and south S3-1&2-~57-7 PAGENO="0098" 88 OAIIE TJNIT; MtSSQUEtI It~TF~E BASIN PI~OJECP Wec the dark of Sittin Senator *that T I Dakota can't come Now they are not sure dog's bones~. ri ~1ecte' My~ Ii C ren. ~ parents immigrated at theage iren. e don't ha~ akota, the: hand anct [emore t~ of livin the popuia~ nomic devel ven-ter fl(h h all L~ ~ iiece~s~ rowth. Bec~ nt~ are impc PAGENO="0099" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI R~VE~ BASIN PROJECT 89 Ii; is an `absolute must to have sOm~ ~op1e dedicated to the future development of our resources for posterity. The problems we under- take will lead to the quality of life we will pass on to our children. With the exception of 4 years in the U.S. Navy, Spink County has beenmy home for 60 years. So you mtist know I like living there, and it has given me a good life. But with the Oahe project a reality it can be a better place to live for more people. I have been actively engaged in the p~motion of the Oahe project since M. Q. Sharpe ` was Governor of South Dakota some 20 years ago. Matter of fact, Governor Sharpe is the one who explained the economic impact the Oahe project would have on South Dakota and the Nation, and he explained it so well that I hope I will 1~e able to live to see it become a reality. I want to close with this thought : When I see an irrigation project, big or small, I think of it as "God's beauty parlor." . Senator MCGOVERN. We appreciate your statement. I notice you say you are the father of six boys and one girl. Are they living in Spink County or in Suth Dakota ? Mr. JESSEN. No. I believe I mentioned that I had them living in Minnesota, Iowa, and Colorado. Did I skip that portion? I might have. Nevertheless, they do. Senator MCGOVERN. I think I was concentrating on the rest of your statement. Why did they leave the State? Maybe that will shed some light on why we are losin ~ youn le from South Dakota. Mr. JESSEN. fl L ~ I would rather have been able to i in my farming operations. ~rmworker being able to till became necessary for them in other areas. Does that question 1 ~nis'Eer o~ ~ndia and w~ had some I n~ered in irrigat of you-I )ractices. As a matter c PAGENO="0100" I 90 OA~IE ~ UNIT, MiS~OTThU RIVER MSIN P1j~OJ~Q~L' mation dug a well on my farw 17 years ago, so I am ~ot a beginner at irrigating. . S S S WI:L~I~ I ~~rst ata~rt~d in irrigathig, I did it on 1~nd they said was ~iorn~ri~b1e,~ beoausø oi~ the w~c1~1yiiig gravel. My soil is underlain with `gravel so shallow tl~t wI~ I dug th~e b~sement for my house, I poured the coi:tcr~te horn the diggings. So yoi~i 1~now it is fairly gravelly and highly permeable. Since that time i: lTav~ learned the tecthnique of applying water to the land, arid with the sunshine that South Dakota~ has, and the two best grow~ug months of the year, July and Migust, these being `the 2 months that. we have ~ the least amount of rain during the growing Seasons, flQW I have become so familiar with applying water to the land in our area that I can almost predict, with the exception of hail- ~storm damage, befQre I pMut the crop what the yield will be. I match ~the fertility level to the application of the water. If somebody wa~ to farm my irrigated `farm other than my family, and the yield wa~n't 125 bushels of corn average, they would be mis- managing the project. If they didn't raise 6 to 6'~ tons of alfalfa, and we did it this year with an abnormal spring-~-we lost 2 weeks because of the late spring 5and freezing weather ruining the first crop-they would also be mismanaging. Naturally, the application of water on the various types of soil i~ technical and I will not go into that technique because that would be a long, long story in itself. But I did mention to you, Senator Mundt, during the noon luncheo~i that we are accused of being so windy out in that State. I will tell you this : The average wind velocity in South Dakota is two-tenths of a mile less than it is in Iowa or Minnesotea. You can put that on the record in the' State house of both States. All you have to do is go to the Weather Bureau and they will confirm it. Of course, we have the wide open spaces and our wind keeps on going where in Minnesota and Iowa it gets stopped by trees or hills. This mightinterest you two Smith Dakota Senators, and I want you to seriously think it over. Try to pick other States in the Nation that have a smaller percefltage of wasteland than North or South Dakota. You will find there isn't any. Senator MVN'DT. Thank you~ Hans. I thinl~ that is very important, to get the proof of the pudding in the record. This is the job all of us have to do together, to convince the farm~s ar~d ranchers, the poten- tial irrigators, of its economic advantages. I think the board might well send hans as a missionary around the State to talk about his espexi~nees ; if yoi~i J~eep him from talking I politics and keep him talking about irngatiou, I will help subsidize the trip. S Mr. lESSEN. When I was a youngster and in the Navy, my desire was, believe it or note that I wanted to be a minister. But I couldn't ufford it because of the big family that I came from. We were posi- tively poverty-striken. Later on, when I did have the opportunity, I was surrounded and associated, with the type of people that I thought at that time, as a young man, would make fun of that type of association. By the same token, I didn't become a clergyman. Now there isn't anything that I would rather do today than to promote a well-engi- neer~d irrigation project or individual systems. Poorly developed or PAGENO="0101" OAH1~ ~ ~ tINIT,~ MISSOUET RIV1~It BASflS P~tOJEc1~ 91 poorly engineered irrigation systems will do mere todis&iurâge irriga- tion than it will to promote it. ~ ~ Senator MCGOVERN. ~ Tha,nk you very much, Mr. Jessen. I think you have been a fine concluding witness. ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ ` ~ :, ~ : ~ * ~ Wc 1~ave bad a long day today, hut I think, an ~trecii~eIy va~.uable oiae~We have made a good hearing record. We have had a, broad cross SectiQn of witnesses. It is my hope~ and I know it is ~haredby my senior colleague, Senator Mundt, that we can ~ move ahead now th take this project authorization to the full Interior Committee; aM then take it to the Senate floor to get favorable action on it before we adjourn this fall. . ~ ~ ~ Then if we can move early next year on; the House authorization we should be in an excellent position to ask for furicliiig in 1969. ~ I know it will be a happy, long-awaited day for the people of South Dakota. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I do want~ to thank you for your `p~tienc~ in~ bearing with us with th~e interi~ptions this afternoon. It h~s~ been a long time since 10 o'clock this morning. But I am sure the effort will be well worthwhile~ Senator MUNDT. That summarizes the position as we see it. You have all do~ a wonderful job. We probably will be calling you back in 196~when it comes time to ask for the money. . . ~ ~ Senator MCGOVERN. Thank you very much. I have a letter here from Louis S. Clapper, of the National Wild- life Federation, for inclusion in the record at this point. (The letter referred to follows :) ~ NA~rIoNAL WILDLIrE FEDERATION, Wa8lvington, D.C., S~epternber 13, 1987. Senator CLINTON P. ANDERSON, Chairman, $Ebcommittee on Power and Water DeveZopment, Senate Committee on Interior a~uZ In~euIar AffaSr8, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN : The National Wildlife Federation appreciates the invi- tation to comment upon S. 6, authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to con- struct, operate, and maintain the first stage of the Oahe unit, James division~ Missouri River Basin project in South Dakota. It is our understanding that the first stage of the Oahe unit would irrigate 190,000 acres of land and provide water supplies for imlustrial and municipal purposes. Additional benefits would accrue in flood control, fish and wildlife conservation, and recreation development. Facilities of the unit would include the James and Oahe pumping plants, regulating reservoirs formed by dams, and a system of main canals, laterals, etc. The National Wildlife Federation joins its affiliate, the South Dakota Wildlife ~. Federation, in believing the project is In the best public interest. We are par- ticularly pleased that the plan will bring added water to a State which is an important waterfowl production area in addition to being widely-recognized as a leader in pheasants and other species of farm game. We also are informed that non-Federal interests are committed to administering the land and water areas for fish and wildlife and recreation, and to bearing appropriate shares . of the costs of enhancement. In summary, Mr. Chairman, we hope the Subcommittee sees fit to recommend approval of S. 6. Thank you for the opportunity of making these remarks. Sincerely, Louis S. CLAPPER, Chief, Division of Conservation Education. Senator MCGOVERN. I also have a letter from .1. W. Penfold of The Izaak Walton League of America which will be included in the hear- ing record at this point. PAGENO="0102" 92 OAH1~ UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BAS~N ~ROJECT ~The letter referred to follows:) THE IZAAK WALTON LEAGUE OF AMERICA, INC., GZenview, In., September 26, 1967. Hon. CLIFTON P. ANDERSON, Chairman, Water and Power Resources Subcommittee, Senate Committee on Interior and Insnlar Affairs, New Senate Office Bnilding, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR ANDERSON: The izaak Walton League of America appreciates the privilege of submitting a statement for the record on S. 6, authorizing con- struction of the first stage of the Oahe Unit, James River division, of the Missouri River Basin Project. We support the fish and wildlife pr life Service, U.S. Department of the: Department. We 1 es have ~ Respectfully, J. W. PaNrOLD, Conservat~on DtreetorlWLA Senator MCGOVERN. The committee is adjourned. (Whereupon, at 4 ;50 p.m~ the subcommittee conc1uded~) I PAGENO="0103" OAIIE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT MONDAY, MAY 22, 1967 i:r.s. SENATE, SUBCOMMIVJ~EE ON WATER AND POWER RESOURCES OF THE SENATE INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, Redfield, S. Dale. The subcommittee met, purstiant to notice, at 9 a.rn. in the Veterans ~ of Foreign Wars Building in * Redfield, S. Dak., Senator George McGovern presiding. Present : Senators McGovern, Burdicl~, and Moss. Also present : Roy Whitacre, professional stafF member, and Ben- ton J. Stong, special assistant. Senator MCGOVERN. Ladies and gentlemen, Governor Boe, Senator Moss, Senator Burdick. Our hearing will now ple~se come to order. We are here today for the purpose of starting the legislative process- ing of a measure that unquestionably is the biggest pending economic development in South Dakota's future, the* Oahe irrigation project. When I first went to the ~nate some 4i ~ years ~ go, it was lege to 1~ d to the ( ~l Insr ~e on across the all very tee on which I SE guests in Soui 6, a bill authored by your two cit and - ~ètary of the Interior to stage of the Oahe unit, Dduced identical legisla- from the Oahe ystern of canals, and laterals to lies primarily in es include municipal ~il~ imposs ~irrived from and indusi 93 PAGENO="0104" I GARB UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT This field hearing is being held at my request primarily to permit persons who cannot find it possible to come to Washington to place their views in the hearing record. Most of our State officials have been asked to appear in Washington at a later hearing rather than to make their p~ri~ipal statem~rtts here ~o4~y. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ We i~r~j~ `* rivileg~d to ~ha~*é dur GM~ernor with u~ this morning and. we will hear from him very ~I~ç~iy. . The views of those who will be directly affected by the irrigation project are most impo~t~nt~to~this committee and although we are going to be~ pressed, as you can see, for time here today to hear some 78 or `79 people whO have~been asked to be heard, I think we can sur- mount that ~ diffi~uity by i~ing' ~ ~rOe~dure `where by a mimber will be asked o~i ~~o1itnte~r bEtsisto subrtiit thà pi'epared' st~àtements for the hearing r~ôi4is. We can't possibly hear all of the statements of everyone represented in ~this auditorium today. ~ ~ ~ ~ I would appreciate, if nt~ all possible, if witnesses wbuld' limit' oral statements to about 3 minutes. Perhaps you can sumrnafiz~ your pre- pared statement in that ~ length ` of ~`tim'e ` or lass and `then we'll see that the entire prepared statement is made a part of the hearingrecord. This is the way most committee business is transacted in these field hearimgs. There are seldom more. than two or three or' four members. .of the full committee present and it is established pr~edure to take prepared statements, which `are then printed. All `of the Me~nbers Of. the Senate will have access to that :hearin~ record. I wish that everyone in the room some time during the course of the day, if you have ` not already done this, would sign one of the cards that. `are available from the ~girls at the registration ~ ~ so that `~VE~ hai~e yOur name and adth~ess~ That will be an invitai you to be sent a dopy ofthe committee hearings when they ar Let~ me just give you full ithsurai~ee that ycur statement given just as careful consideration by the committee if you submit it in writing as if youw.ere giving it orally.Mr. Roy Whitacre, the staff' member do~wn' here `at the end of the tabie~ will collect your written. statements and we would like to have you report to him if you are will- `ing to have your statement' submitted in ` writing. When the Oahe project is completed, it will cover some 495,00& `acres of irrigabie land. We are talking today about the first stage of that project as envisioned in Senate bill ~, , which is the first 190,000 acres, or roughly 40 percent of the' project' area. The Secretary of the Interior has already approv d the first stage' project. That approval came in October of 196ö~ am 1966 the Secre- tary recommended that cointruction be i~ adminii tion's program. The Bud~ ~ureau is now roject j to a recommendation a President that it will be c'~'~ - ** can proceed The first wi been given a I going to call on I welcome us'to I / and, then, I think; we will 94 ~ie so We who has' ,L,,,_ T - of the ~ on Governor - - - ~s statement his statement~ PAGENO="0105" OAL~E UNIT, 1\~[ISSOUflI RIVER BASIN PROJECT STATEMKNT OP A. B. G1LBERTSON, MAYOE OP RLDPI~LD~ S. DAK. Mayor GILBERTSON, \TI1a~k you, Mr. Chairman. Friends of Oahe irrigation, I am sure, that the people of Redfield are very happy to have this meeting here today. You are always wel- come to Redfield. I hope that the next time you do come to Redfield that you will be staying longer with us. ~ As mayor, I am representing the city ~ of Redfieicl. I am presenting for your consideration the resolutions ofthe Redfield Business & Pro- fessional Womens Club, the Redfield City Council, the Redfield Ki- wanis Club, the Redfield Lions Club, the Redfleld Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the VFW Auxiliary. All of these organizations strongly endorse the use of Oahe water for irrigation in this area. ~ ~. The city of Redfield, a city of 3,000 people, is interest in Oahe basin water as a source of municipal water supply as well as water for irri~ gation to its surrounding farm area. First, I would like to discuss our present ~ippiy of water for munici- pal pui~poses. The mineral content of our water supply is perhaps higher than any town or city in South Dakota. This has been a concern of our city council for some time. . Attached is a letter from Dr. E. J. Perry, city health officer, dated July 28, 1966, where he states that the excessive amount of dissolved salts presents problems for patients ~ su~ering from heart trouble or disturbances of electrolyte balance. Dr. Perry also states that 1,000 gallons of water would contain approximately 14 pounds of saline- type * salts and that ~day's supply would cotitain about 3 tons of the same salts. . ~ ~, ~ ` Last August, C. M. Woodland, then ~edile1d mayor, presented a proposal to the council for a water system costing approximately $600,000 for the purpo~e of proeessin~ brackish water. The council turned down the pto~posal because of tlaE~ e*cessive cost for a city of our ~ze. ~ On January 18, just 18 days after I had become acting mayor, I wrote to Senator George McGovern for help in establishing a saline water plant as a demoiistration plant here. Senator McGovern in- ~ formed me that there was no funds available for this purpose at the present time. A oopy ~f Senator McGovern's letter is attached. I would also like to comment on the stability of `agriculture in our surrounding area. I ` am in a bushmss of manufacturing feed and a chick hatchery. We employ 20-son~e peç~ple aM all but one of these were born and raised on' a farm. I am sure that this story is also true . for our entire farm area, only that many have not settled' in Redfield, but have gone to the cities for a better irving We have marnifactu~ed feed for 10 years and for 3 of those 10 ~ years we have `had to purchase our corn s~ippiy from approximately V 100 miles away. We must purchase Our dehydrated alfalfa `from out of State. Water f~r irrigation would give us a sure supply of alfalfa and likely a dehy4ration plant nearby.. We must stabilize our agriculture and maintain our population through irrigation `df Our farmlands. I 95 PAGENO="0106" Whereas, The U.S. Senate is on the proposed Qahe Irri~ Whereas, T~ - ment of the ( and State of dinously by the 06 OAHE UNIT~ ~tISSOUBI RIVJ3~R ~S~N PROJECT I Woü1d~~llkG to b~iei well as many other the farm to South there~ I *a~ in an e~ - ~ ~ - ~ ~ struck so intense that all classroom and campus 1 ~ ~ We could not see campus lights 100 feet away ~ iot the ~ dust storm that I canrecall. ~ ~ Since then, I spent 15 years with the Soil Consorvation Service, 12 of those as~onsèrvationist ofthe loeal soil conservation distriet. During those 15 y~rs every practicethat I encouraged c~ntered around con- serving ~vater. ~ ~ I ju~t stated that ii~ the list 10 years 3 haire been near crop failures and certainly the other 7 could have been much niore profitable with more water. ~ `~ . - ` ~ S S S The story of my life, then, has almost been a coutiiiued battle for more watE~r.~We all. :know too well that this battle will increase as time goes oil. ~ ~ ~ S ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Everyone knows that the prosperity of the Redfield businessman -depends upon the crops ii~t~h~ surrounding farm area. - George Washington once said: "The strength of a -nation lies very near its soil-." - We have the soil-give us the water. - - (The resolutions and letters `ref~rred t~ follows:) THE RED~IELD Busir~rn~s AND, PRoFESSIoNAL WOMRN's CLUB, - - - - Rc2fleid,-~. Do~k~, April11, 1967. OAHE IRRIOA~ION - Pno~nivp , IIRARINOS, RedflcW, ~. Dak..~ ~ - - ~ - S The eNecutive, co~nmit1~ee o~ the Redfield Business i~nd Pro~essiona1 Women's Club, having discussed the matter of the Oahe Irrigation Project, hereby resolve to support the said project and hope for its completion at a nearly date. As citizen-s of th~e 0-ahe Irrigation District, it is our belief that this project would tend ,t9- Btabilize the economic conditions of this area, provide fuller em- ployment and through greater economc opportunity, keep the younger citizens from leaving our communities for area~ with more potential for advancement. - - Mns. Jorn~ WILCOX, President. our -sincere intent in the proposed Li itse ithis~ Yours very truly, RESOLUTION OF THE OF REDFIELD, PAGENO="0107" OAHE ~ 1~NIT, ~tISSOiJRI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 97 Whereas, The City of ReflIèld, believes that the Oahe Irrigation. Proj~ct wilt be o~ great benefit to the economy of the pity of Redfield ; and ~ ~ Whereas, The City of Redfleld is in need of a more dependable and higher quality supply of water aud, . ~ . Whereas, The City of Red~Id recognized that iri~igation In the James River Valley will greatly stabilize employment and tlie agricultural economy of the immediate Spi~ik Coi~nty ~&rea as well as developthe recreation potential of the area for the citizens of South Dakota. Now therefore be it resolved as follows :. ~ ~ That the City Qouncil of Redfield hereby request thatthe United States Senate go on record supporting the Ot~he Irrigation Project. Dated at Redfield, South Dakota, this 1st day of May, 1967. A. B. GIL]3JiWFSON, ~ ~ ~ . Mayor. Attest : ~ ~ ~ , ~ ~ ~ C. B. OuNi~INuHAM, ~ . ~ ~ .~ ~ ~ .~ Ulerk~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ Tun Kiw~iis CLUB, ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 1?c~Zfle1q2, S. Dc~k,~ May 1, 1697W To: U.s. Senate ~ub~Uommittee on Irrigation. ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~E~TLEMEN : We, the members of the Recifield Kiwanis .Cluj~, ~vant to go on record as being definitely in favor of irrigation for our area through the Oahe project. ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ . Being a group of business , and professional ~ men,. who are as most business and professional men in our area dependent on the farmer for our livelihood, we feel that. this project can't help but have a tremendous impact upon our economy through the stabilization of the farmer's income. When we are no longer solely dependent upon rain for our crops, our farmers can niake~ long-range plans and projects come through. If the farmer has a better income, the business and professional man will also profit by this extra income. Also, we realize that the coming of irrigation will increase the population of our ~ farms, will cause new business to come into our area, and this new business will bring new enipl~yees, who will increasQ our markets for goads and services. Anything that we can do to expedite the early realization of the Oahe project, we are ready to do. We apprecfate you gentlemen taking the time from your busy schedule to come to our city atid hear our views. Yours very truly, ~ . DEN~T F. LONG, Pre$ident, R~dfleld Kiwanis Club. RESOLUTION OF PIlE Run~'xELn Lx~its CLUB Whereas, the Redlield Lions Olub is composed of 63 members representing farmers, business then and professional groups in the Bedfield Community ; and Whereas, the members of the Redfield Lions Olñb, active in many community affairs, realize that the future success of their many activities depends upon the advancement of the Oahe Irrigation Project ~ and Whereas, the Redfield Lions Club recognize that the development of the pro- posed Oahe Project will result in greater opportunities and greater prosperity to the city of Redfield and the surrounding areas ; and Whereas, we recognize the possible benefits of this project that will affect farmers, business men and professional groups in our areas ; and Whereas, we are concerned ahout the * future of agriculture in our country and the state of South Dakota ; and Whereas, we are concerned about the future of agriculture in our community population and how this can affect our entire economy; and Let it therefore be resolved that the Redfield LiOns Club of Redfield, South Dakota, actively support the U.S. Senate Hearing on the Proposed Oabe Project and that this resolution be forwarded to the members of the Irrigation Subcotn- nilttee on the day of the field hearing, May 8, 1967. t~ate~1 2na day of May 19~7. Cxnir. DANGEL, Pre$ident, 1i~edfMd IAons Club. PAGENO="0108" 98 Attest: OAUE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJBCT R5sQLuTIois~ OF THE VETERANS o~ FOREIGN WARS, REDFIsLD, N. DAK. Whereas, Paul A. Schlther Post 2755, Veterans of Foreign Wars at Redfield, South Dakota, is composed of 506 me~bers from the city of Redfield, Ashton, Atho~, Northville, Mellette, Frankfort, Breutford, Conde and Thlare within Spink County and the rural area therein, and in addition to areas and communities in Hand, ~auik, Beadle audBrown Counties, and Whereas, the said VS.W~ Postrepresents both urban and rural members who will be effected by development of the Oahe Irrigation Project, and, Whereas, the V.F.W. Post has been `active in supporting its entire membership area and recognize the benefits to be derived to the veterans on the farm and the enhancement to farm prc~ams they can and will receive, and further recog- nize that such developmeut will stabilize rural econc'mies and bring business in- terestinto this State, and, Whereas, many of our youth have very limited opportunities without such development and thus move from the State of South Dakota and losing to this State its greatest asset, its youth, and, Whereas, we recognize the need for food development for future needs for both domestic an4 foreign :~1~ and to `ease world hunger, It is theréifore ~esoived~ tbat V.F.W. Post 2755 of Redfieid, South Dakota, strongly endorse Its `support `` to the Qahe Irrigation Project ai~d request the early development of the Project by the Congress of the United States, and that ` copies of this ~soint1on be f~rwarded to the Senate Feld Hearings to be held in Redfield, South Dakota, oñMay'8, i9~T. The foregoing resolution was adopted at a regular meeting of V.F.W. Post 2q55 held at Its Post Hotne Wednesday April12, 19(IT. Ro~ M. ROBERTSON, clonunander. ROBERT D. GATES, Adjutant. Rzso1~u~rwN or T~B REBSTELD JAYCRES Wber~s, the U~itt~4 ~1~a~es ~ is ~4di~g tlel4 ~Iearings in 1~dtIeld, South Dakota, ou 1\~y ~2, I~7, ~mt~ie prQpQ)s~d Oahè ir~igatjon PrQje~t; Whereas, the itedfleld Jaycees r~ogni~ the e~onos~ic impact that the Oahe Irrigation Project will have on the Spink County area as well as the economy of the State of Soiit~ Dakota, and Whereas, the ~i~1~eId Jayc~s recognize that the City of Redfield may soon be in need of a greater more dependable and higher quality supply of water for its immediate needs a~ w~1l ~s ~e°uowic expap~ion of ~he .~rea, and Whereas, the Redfl~ld Jaycees have a vital interest in the affairs of the City of Redfieldansl the 1~nture of the state of Sou~tIi Dakota, Now therefore J~e It reso~Iwed, t~aat the Reddeld Ja~eees hereby endorse ` the Oahe Irrtgatlon Project aed recmninend and urge the ~en~te Field Hearings to do likewtse. ` Dated at RedIleld, South Dakota, this 22nd day of May, 19~7. GALEN G. GILLETTE, President, Redfleld Jaycees. RESOLUTION OF TIlE CLAY KISEE Posr No. 92, AMERICAN LEGION, Riusinw, S. DAK. `I Whereas, Olay Kiser Post 92, 4~merican Legion, ReUtleld, South Dakota, com- prised of 241 members ~ from bQtb the urban an~j yural areas of Redfield and Spink County, Soutl~ Dakota, ~tnd, . ` Whereas, said American I~egjon Post has actively supported all projects or programs fi~om which b~pefits way be derived by both the past and future Serv- iceman and his family in its membership area, and, ` ~ Whereas, said Post represents `both urban and rural members who will be effected by the ~[eve1opment of the Oahe Irrigation Project, and recognizes the benefits to be deriveçl by. Its members from said project, and further recognizes the benefits to be derived by all Servicemen and their families by such a devel- opment which will help to stabilize the economy of both the Community and the entire State of South Dakota, and PAGENO="0109" R. E. PEARSON, Commander, American Legion Post 92. W.O. LOTHEOP. Adjutant, Am5rican Legion Post 92, RESOLUTION OF THE LADIES AUXILIARY TO PAttI. A. ~o nr~Ititi~ Pô~ ~ VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS, REDFIELD, S. flAK. AUDREY WILSON, President, Ladies AucoiUary to V.P.W. Post 2755. ~JLAINE GATES, _______ ~S~eeretary. ILS. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY, January 23, 1697. B. GILBERTSO*, Mayor, City of RedflekZ, Redfleld, ~. Dak. ~ir ~ GILBERTSON Thank YOU very much for your letter of January Sincerely yours, Gaoisan MCGOVERN, JULY 28, 1906. Mayor WOODLAND, ~ City CounCil Members. ~ GENTLEMEN : In accordance with your request, the following recommendations for treating the Redfiéldw~ter supply ELI~E~ presented. You are all aware that the amotint of dissôFred. minerals in 1,000 gallons of Redfield water approximates 14 pounds of the saline type salts. A days average wnter supply f~r our city. contains about 3 tonE oVth~ ~a~esal.ts, OAEDI UNIP, MISSOURI RIVB~ BASIN PROJECT I 99 Whereas, said de'velo~jme~t will great1~ e~fai1d opportunities 1~or the yoilth of our State to enter into Rttd h~lp furthei the Edvancenient o~ the State of South Dakota and themsehre~, . aiid ~Whereas we recogmae the ne~d for South t~ttkoti to enter into the piogiam. for development Of ~Ood to ease World I~utiger. It is therefore resolved, that Clay Kls~r Post 92, Amer1ea~ L~gion, Endfield,~ South Dakota, strongly e~iderse Its support to the Oahe Irrigation Project and requests the early devé1o~thent of the Project by the Congress of the United~ States ; and that copies of this flesolution be forwarded to the Senate Field hearings to be held IR Redfield, Sottth flakota, on May 8, 196~. The foregoing resolution was ado~yted at a regular meeting of American Legion Post 92 held at its Fost Home on Wednesday, May 3, 1967. Attest: Whereas, the Ladies Auxiliary to Paul A. Schieher Post 2755, Veterans of - - ~ Wars, Redfield, South Dakota, is con~posed of members representing the ~ communities and rural areas; ~e Auxiliary has been active in supporting the entire m~n1be~si~ip ~-~-;es the benefits to be derived from the Oahe Irrigation Projct - onomic opportunities, and preventing Our youths from leaving OUT comi or areas offering greater advancement. It is r~ ~ the Auxiliary to Paul A. Schieher Post 2755, Veterans of Foreign `~ . _~, ~ South Dakota, strongly endorses the Oaiie Irrigation Project and requests the early development of the project by the Congress of the United States. Attest: PAGENO="0110" I OA~113~ TJNIT~ MTSSOUEL RIV]~ BASIN ~ From a medical a~ud J~e~Uth standpoint alone, the excessive amount of diss~1Yed salts presents prob~ems :for patients suffering from heart trouble or disturbances of electrolyte balimce. The most comxno~l effect ~eeti en ~thople ~iot acclimated is extreme diarrhea. To be able to. have a water supply with fairly ~ normal mineral content would be a ~`istinct health' aSset to all in, the co~uluniW. A second consideration is the ecoüomic cost involved in, ñiaintaining mains, appliances and househ9ld fixtures. It is certainly a deei'rable asset for any future. industry to have an ádqquate, pure water supply available., There are many lengthy ramifications that can be,discu~Sed and brought fOrth in this regard, but I would èertainly recomu~en~l, going ahead with the project, to acquire a wat?r purification plant as soon as possible., Itespectfully submitted. E. ~. PEnnY, M.D., City Health Officer. 1 This analysis will vary slightly, depending on rate of pumping, but in no significant amount. Note-Uniform tempe.r~ture at source: 68° City of Redfield, S. Dat. Senator MCGOVE~. Thank you very much, Mayor Gilbertson, for your we1con~'tu~id'be1pful testimony. Last night wç~ had a very fine dinner meeting in Aberdeen, which was hosted by the West Brown County Irrigation District in eoopeia~ tion ~ ~h the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce. Some 250 were there wided a se this ero~d that we have' assembled in -. `d. , ssof -.` ,---.- . ~rest Iaave. ,` I can see from the list of witnesses before me that `time is going to run out `before we hear everyone or have their testimony and state- ments filed and, therefore, I will not impose on that time which should be devoted to making the record here. WTith the record that we make here together with the future hearings ` that we have `in Washington, we should'be able to put together the back- ground material that we nee~1 to present a bill on the floor of the Senate. I congratulate Senator McGovern for his leadership in this matter and for pressing ahead with this important matter. 100 CITY OF REDFIELD, S. OAK. ANALYSIS' COMPOSITE REFLECTION OF SA'MPLES"FROM BOTH ARTESIAN WELLS ` ` ~ ~ A'NA~Y,SI~S, BY MARLIL t,ABORATORIES, SAN DIEGO, CALIF. ` Hydrogen-ion concentration Cations: ` , ~ ` . " , ` ~," ` ~ , ` ` Sodium_.-,-~ ~ ~ `~``~ ` Na , Potassium , K Anions: , , Bicarbonate_ ~ _ ,~L ~- -- -.. ~ Sulfate - ChIor~de___.'~' Nitrate ~ `~` Fluoride ~ ~ ~ ~ Boron ~ ~ Iron Nitrate - .`, - Total alkalinity- , ~ ~ , ~ ~ ~. Total hardness I Dissolved solids .- ..... . -...~ , ,-. `. ..:.-.....- ~ .- ~ PAGENO="0111" OA~E M~S~OT3~T ET~E~ BASIN ~PRO3E~1) i01 thro .-~--g in :1 interest s partiehia This i- that - life, ~io to Ic with a~ itt is a p~Poje~t ems, and ~Wild~ a pr Lnded us last r ~e asto ~ difference on the SOUTH: .~` THE STATE OP Senator Bur~iick is doihg thea same thing mi his State O~f~ NortI~ Dakota. ~ ~ ~ : ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ As I `mentioned last night, I cothe from a very arid State .where We have had to irr~gate from the first' day we settled there. You people are meeting it in a little different manner, but it is just as importaiit to you * to establish your agi~iculture with irrigation as it is ~ fOr us to irrigate the whole season along. I am gladt6be here and I am going to listen~ ~rith great interest. Senator MCGOV~N. Thank you, Senator Moss. ~` ~ ` . ` Our other out~of-State guest ` today is *our neighbor from North Dakota, the ~priiicipal author of the Garrison div~rsi~onauthorization bill, Senator Quentin Burdick. ` . ` Senator BURO~TCK. George, I airi very pleased to be here. I feel kind of a kinship toward this project. As a matter of fact; I feel like a partner in it'~ ` ` ~ ` A ~ -~ 1~ rna~ )ects `are ~~hnilar~;tó ours in~ North' Pa- same J~-~ Riv - - `project. - But Jwhat we can use of Mi~sour~ ai~d other enterprise tidice, `in `pa~t( mitteë advised'( down hei of South the ulness and PAGENO="0112" OA~EiE tJNIT~ MISSOURi RIVER BASIN PROJECT your understtu~ding ia~ rnaddng it possible fo~ our people to have this opportunity to testify with what has been referred to as th~ grass~ roots~ level with respect to probably one of the. rno~t imp&rtant proj- ects that we can visualize to~ bofall the State of South Dakota. I by no means would wish to usurp the time of. tbo many persons who are here and who are awaiting the opportunity to testify in person, if at all possible. ~s I lo~k~ roulac probably 1 - ai~rive at t to the. Oahe pi grandparents, ~b would 1 ea~ui~. as ~`e ~. he conducted there w & ~, however, ii1~e to urg mdii, who a~e'here .~ ~ you as a subcorn~ni b say that the t. 13 ,S.( Dakota expr~ } Ldlrr a yacc Government, tL other agencies of I areas of the State of made use of thea --1inthecr~~'~4 cOiliTUsslOnQ s~tme to yoi4r;committee, whi Qf~ ~he Oahe irrigation ~ j that thee~fort~ which you are pu~. three I )wed through ~ lood control; we Ii ~ ~ent1emen, we been. ion and o the rural and cities been re- P ~ther Lest' ~ow - era- ~ ~j~velopment' that, we cer~- 1 of the in our ources' Eon, sent entation 1 i hope I 102 ie in this room, I see not ~ r entire and c' the first I and I see - - )ked ever re of the facts I am rel -overn; but I can - - wear ~e are considering sources; that is, ~ PAGENO="0113" OAH~ tNIT, MXSSOUET i~TVE~ BASIN ?)~OJECT 103 to hear the testimony, to hear the words of our people, will cause you to be able ~to go back to yOur committee a~ a whole and relate the great importance thatthis project I~as to our ex~tire&ate. I would say that the Federal Government has spent millions and, yes, billions, in helping to develop the economies in the respective areas of our State of South Dakota. I s~aould say the United States of America. To me, I feel that, because ~f this, history and the help that has been given by the Federal Government, every efFort and consider- ation should be made at this particular time to ~ implement the pro- gram which, as I said before, will be of the greatest economic impact that could ever be given to our State. Gentlemen, the land that was taken for the storage of the waters in these reservoirs was paid for, insofar as the individual owners were concerned, but the fact still remains that these storage areas now com- prise approximately one-half million acres of land which had been taken out of production. We h~ve a total storage potentiality of water in South Dakota alone of 34 million acre-feet, `and annually there is roughly from 17 to 30 million feet of water, of precious water, our greatest resource, that is flowing out of the State of South Dakota into other States and into the Gulf of Mexico. ~ We are asking that we be able to stake a claim to a portion of this resource, which God, with the assistance of man, has given to us, and we would, therefore, certainly urge that this sub~ommitteê oive to us the fullest consideration in making a f~o~able ~`eport ba& to your full committee with respect to the enactment of Senate bill ~. I will look forward to the opportunity of testifying at further length before your full Senate hearing at such time as they may be called in Washington. ~ ~ ~ Thank you so much, gentlemen. ~ Senator MCGOVERN. Thanks ever so much, Governor, for that ex- cellent statement. ~ I know your presence here, along with the presence of some of. our other fellow citizens, is going to carry great weight with the members of the committee. ~ ~ ~ ~ I might say that we have enjO~e.d the cidsest khid of cooperation among the m~mbers of our cong~ssional deIegt~tiou a~ud Our Gov- ernor's office and his stai~! from the very beginning in connE~tion with this legislation~ I am sure that i~ going to continue in th~ futur~ I have a telegram that arrived a few minutes agO prom S~hator Mundt, which I would like to read. in to the,~ommittee record. Deeply regret duties In Washington in connection with Senate Appropriations Committee make impossible my attendance at Oahe 1waHx~gs in Redfield. I join with Senator McGovern in welcoming to South t~tt kota those committee members in attenclanceand hope the hearings will provide another forward step in oUr united campaign to authorize and fund the Oahe irrigation project. Adequate water for farming where we need it and when we need it will con- tribute greatly tq~a~nt1y farm income and to the stabiiiz~~tion of South Dakota's economy ii~. generni. `Please be assured of nw continued suppqrt of this important irrigation project ~ * . ~ ~. ~ .. , ~ W~ also have a brief cOntrritinication `froth the a~ljutañt ~ of. the iqpai Veterans of Foreign Wars, Robert I~. Gates,~ti~a.t I woul.d like to' have made a part of the record. ` In behalf of Commander Roy M Robert~on ~pd the 5i~ ~pembers ot Paul A~ Schieher Post 2755, `V~eteran~ of rore4gn Wars of i~ed~1ekf, I wish to take this 83-182---67------8 PAGENO="0114" 1fl4 OABE ~TJNI~, 4~TSSQitJi~ ~Y~t~':~ASTN i'ROJECT oppcrtunity ~t~O I4~on2~ the ~e~u~to~j$ ~e1e~at~i~ ti~e Oalie board of directors, and th~ many othef So$li Dakotans. w~ %yill be, ~a1dng p~rt or ~ttendi~ig the ~ field hear1n~s otth~ O~he j~thject. ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ We hope that the hea~ring~ will bébèiiêfi~1to alljatrticipants and9tat ~oine~ day in the future you rnay~des~e t~orree ag&ih use otir fa~hiities. ~ Again we thanI~ the 1o~t1VF1'~ forthe use of these very fine facili- ties where ~ve a~e mèetiñ~g to~d~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Also, w~ hav~ a ~on~mnnicat~iOn from 0. 0. Christopherson,, the c,hairmaai of th~ Mis~duri J~iver ~ioüimit%ée~ from Yankton, in which he p1edge~ the suppoI~t c~f the ~M~soi~u~i Riv~t Comniittee for action, and withdut objection his entire letter `w~11 be made a part of the record The Missçnij!~i. Wy1er~ c9n~];I3itt~ iff 1~1~è~ XaiU~oriObai~b~r of Cour~nçrce wants this Senate ~cthi~mft~tèê aild ti~ ~ie~p1e ~`f~this â~eal~o know that we join in asking that fav~aT~ë ~tiM' ~thth*~!V1ate aet~ithi ~h~takêh b~~dngress to d'eveldp the first s*tage~-and ~nbseqnent 4stagea~to ~ ~makefthis ~iai~t Onhe irrigation district a reality. Asn~st Ofy~1~4e ~ ~heYn~j~tozi ~iamber of Commerce and the people ~ Yankton liaye 1ox~g ~ppo~t~d the various phases of development of the `1\~1~s~nrI Rn~er 11~rom the e~periene~ in flooding in our area we supported the fk~ofl c~aIti~1 jirogram Likewise th~ L1e~e1opment of hydroelectric power has benefited miteld thonsai~icis. ~f peoplet `JJ~t~ recreation areas de~eThped throti~h the Mi~souim Rwer deye~opm~nt ha~ve~ provided much enjoyment Today cf course, we come here as the others 4o. to. urge. p~~st ~vorab1e con~iderwtion on tI~ irrigation development And while *e 1a~e remote itt n%i~es frhm this proposed district we like the many, people~utt~fldIng th~s hearing ~Oda~t~ikIiow that the dei~elOpment of thi~ project will 1~ gqod 1~or ~Jl of ~out1i ~D*ikota-~-ui fart for the entiie Midwest We recognize th~Lt ~vbat i~ ~od ~ipr th~s ave;~ hei~e ~to be included in tl~e Oa1~e District-is good 1~or sout1~eastern South Jiakota as well Agriculture continues to be-and ~wIl1 alway~ b~-the ~dil{ tndikstry' in th~r state We feel that this irrigation development Is ilideed it thost ~ntportant llivdstment into the i~uture of South Dakota We p'edge ou~ support to this committt~e-and will actively work with you to seek authorization of the project. Further 4eiays mea~is delaying. the progress of an entire State. I There ar~ also ç~r~ain othç~r ~on'p~nini~tiqi~s. ~ A. letter tiñaros~d to Senator Clinton Anderson, opposing the project, and I am sure we will hear~botlci sides ~ ~ The conin~itt~e. ~ to hear I~rQrntlT~ erities a~n4 opponents of the project or those who have suggestions for chang'es or modifications in the proposal, ~is~as we want to l~r from those who have made up their n~i~ds. to Suppoi~t it. ~ This 1ett~r isfrom ~ Paul A. Peterson ~ of Mellette. I~ askthat be made a part of the rep~rd. ~ ~ ~ ~ Also aletter~jusupport from A. D.~ Schmidt, president of the North~ western Public ~rvice Co. jn Huron, a letter and resolution in support from James :F~:~ flui~t~ ex~~tiv~ ~e~retai~y for the South Dakota Land Improvement Contractors Association, ~aix1~ s~era1 oth~s~ that I ask to be printed ir~ ¶Ml. ~ .~ ~ ~ , ~ ~ ~ ~ ` ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ` ~ ~ . (The data referred~to follow;) ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ MELLETTE, S. DAK.~ April 20, 1967W Hon. CLI~TON.ANDEBgON, Washington, D.C. DEAE Siii ~ states that you will be taking testinwny as to whether or not the people fa~ror irrIgation and that both city residents and farmers will testify. Of course people from Aberdeen, Huron, and Redfleld will not be irrigating but will, favor having it to gjve them bnsh~ess and let the farmers pay the bill. ~ ~ ~ I say let them take care of their btisiness and let the farmers take care of theirs. They have been advertising this irrigation so much that outside chain stores have come here~ and are running local merchants out of business and irrigation would help them even though the farthers lose their land. PAGENO="0115" OAHE TJ~IT, MIS~OUR~t RIVER ~ASIN PROJECT Au irri~tio~i prØeet ~is . doo~e~ ~ t~ ~i~i~ir~ if ~ier~ ~ts ~i~o m~rket for ~ the products produced. Sugar beets ~ g~~n ~ Q~ flTigatiDIl p~ojeCt.s~ yet how can we compete with sugar selling $1.45 per hundred .(worb~t market price)? Belle Fouche failed even with Government supporting the price, and those people were expéi~ienceà irrigators. If any local farmers want irrigated land let them buy it at Belle Fouche where they advertisedit for sale cheap. We have trouble with the James River flooding our best land and ~ the Gov- ernmei~t will do. nothing to clear the channel as they say it is~ not economically feasible.. This irrigation by ~tseff is not economically sound so you add two minuses and come up with a plus which is screwy arithmetic as I see it. The thil~ ~c4~T they can get~yis to~takèmoney fromthe geiieration of electricity. ~ ` ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . Let them take the water to Texas then you would get the ~ Wat~r ~g~n~~ting ~ three a~d fqur tii~es the amount of electricity and ample water for na~vigatthn plus the irrigation 1~or Texas farm lap~s ~bich. h~ts a~ longer `growing~s~asofr `and in the end we would probably get our river bottom land drained. B~ the~ way t~e Goy~rnment is responsjb~e for 54 lot o~ this lioo4ing bynbuilding ~thbse dams into the.,J~,mes River to store, water for Hnron which uhould hare heen~ stored beside~the river bed. ,` ,, , -~ `~ -~ , I will 1~e unable to attend the meeting, so am sei ~ipg-this-ins~ea~L-. ;-- Sincerely, -, PAUL A. PETERSON. P~S. If the city r~sidents want to vote for irrigation let them sign the contracts and pay for the cost of all this. Why should we lose our land? Cattle have also `been suggested as a source of inco~ne and they are today losing $4~.OO ~n every steer sold dn accountof low prices.' 1VERMBER~ or TItE iia' ~ ~S1ubcorn~ Aff a NORTItWESTRRN PUj3I~IQ ~RVICR Co Hurpn~ ~ flak Apr~I 21 L9(~7 eá of the `~na1e th~M~Io~j ~ i~4~jar I I 105 I PAGENO="0116" A. fl. &~HMIDT, President: JAMES H. HUNT, Ea'ecutive ~eere*tary~ 166 OA~t~ UNIT, ~MTSSOUTtT RIVER BASIN PROJECT I re~peetfu11y urge that there ben~ further tielay and that Congress give speedy~ approval to the authorization of this inlportant project. Respectfully s.t~nitted. I * SOuTH DAKOTA LAND IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION INC., Pierre, S. J)alc,, AprP 25, 1967. * Se~ator~Cu~oNp. ANDERSON, *~ ~ C1ui~ir~ncsn Senate I~trinor ~ Inuktr Affairs Cornnvtttee, New Senate Office BuIkZ ~g,Wa~k~ngto~, D.C. *Dna~SENATba ANDERSON : We ar&~nolosing herewith three copies of a Resolw- tion~%rbteh was unanimously apprered at the I96~ annual membership meeting ot this ~&ssoeiat1on. ~ ~ * It is respectfully re~estedthat this Resolut1o~ be entered in the record of the public heariiig on the proposedr Oahe Oonservancy Subdistrict wbtcl~ is to be heldP in Redfleid, South Dakota, on May 8, 1937, by the Power and Water ~esources Subcommittee of your Committee. * Sincerely yours, REsoLtyrxoi'~ OF THE SOUT~ DAKOTA LAND IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, INC. Whereas, the. future * economic d~eTOpment of thhe State depends in part upon the wise development of South Dakota's water resources, and Whereas,. the Oah~ Unit is a plan to utilize the waters of the Misouri River for fr~igatiotr, mnttk~ipal nñd industrial water supplies, recreation and the~ conservation of fish anti wildlife, and Whereas, the de*elo~nieüt ofthis tTnit will provide a stabflir~ing effect on the agricultural economy and will stimulate job and business opportunities, now- Pherel!ore be it reeolved; by tli~outh Dkkota Land Improvement ContrTc~ors Association that thin association its~embled ~n annual convention at Huron South- Dakota;tbls 1~Jth d~y of1~brnary, 1~3; urge the Congress of the United States to- promptly approve legislation authorizing the Cake Unit. The- M~OVei1nau!mouslyado~tedby ~he inenthership of the South Dakota Land Improvement:Citractors Asso~ta-tIbi~,~ luc., on Febrn~ry 10, 1967. - * - - * JAMES. ~., hUNT, F~a~ecutive secretary. Seuator MCGOVKItN. Now, because of the pressure on h~s o*ii sched-. i1le~ I am gorn~ to ~sk the mayor of Aberdeen, Mayor Euilbert, 1o giVe Ms testimoiiy ~t this tiihe T know you have to get away, Mayor, and we will excuse you whei~ever you have to go~ STAPELIfENt OP 3 CLIPTO~ BITRLBERT, MA~YO1~, CID~' OP -:, ?~. -- **. ~ S~-~AK. * . Mr~ HURLnER.T. Senat~r~M~overn, Sennt.or Moss. and Senator Bur- dick, the. city of Ahe-rcleen, S. flak.. wholeheartedly supports the continued development and early completjon of irrigation in the Oahe conservancy subdistrict. I'Ve believe this should be done at the earliest possil)]e time because-. Our way oflife-in South Dakota is ~erioi~siy threatened by the con- tinned economic squeeze that has b~en placed on our rural area people. The -m~ny an4 increasing ~iuniiler of vacant farm buildings in our area will t~tify to -the failure of `the family farmer and the - urgeiit need to bolster our economy inmiediately. -~ - *~t PAGENO="0117" KIWAN~ES CLUB o~ AB~ED~E~, Aberdeen, ,~. Da1&, May 1~, 1967. E. R. WILLIAMSON, ~Ieoretary. COSMOPOLITAN CLUE, INC., Aberdeen, & flak., May 19, 1967. GTQRGE J~E~OYLE, Pre$ident, Aberdeen Cos$ o1itras~ ~ 9I~H]~ UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER `BASIN PROJECT 107 TT~te cogdng of irrigation will again give many people the opportu- nity to make a living off the land. The increase in rural popiilatiou and rural income will bring new lifeblood to the faultering economy of our urban areas. ~ A guaranteed water supply for the city of Aberdeen will allow for industrial and economic expansion. Expansion `to process'the agricul- ture products produced in our own area. An increase in our economic position will lead to more recreation, better schools, better churches, improved water and sewer facilities, community ~ridc, and overall a better way of life. Irrigation in the Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict could lead our proud I State into a position of being able "to give more to our national econ- . omy than we receive from the Federal,Government through the many I governmental programs, thus reflecting to the betterment of our Nation. The following service clubs have asked that their voices be added to those who believe that irrigationshould come to our area : Kiwanis, Cosmopolitan, Sertoma, Lions, and Zonta. Their letters are attached. We commend you, the members of the Senate Water and Power Resources Subcommittee, for the progress, you have made, and ur- gently request that you continue your efforts to: bring an ample water supply to our district to assure us of irrigation in the Oahe con- servancy subdistrict. ` (The resolutions referred to `follow ~) I To Members of the U.S. senate, Water and Power Resource Subcommittee: The members of the AbeTd~en t~1wanis Club wish to take this opportwilty to urge authorization of the Oahe Irrigati~n Pteject at the earliest possible date. We realize that agriculture , is the main industry in the area and that the overall economy depe~ids heavily on the agricultural' situation. The Irrigation development will improve and stabilize the economy o~ our ares. This and many ether factors will mean further dereloprnent of Aberdeen, and we gfve the project our wholehearted suppth~t. ` ` The above statements were approved by action of the l3oar4 ot~TMrectors of the Aberdeen Kiwanis Club on May 3, 1967 ` MEMBERS OF THE U.S. SENATE, Water and Power Resonree S'ubcommittee, Washington, D.C. ~LEME] The Ab PAGENO="0118" OAH1~t~NI'~, MISSOUR~ R~VER BAS~[N~ PROJECT Apiut 28, 1967.. ROBERT L. DELL, Psi~en~t, A~erdee~ South Dakota $erton~a Qiub. or `~`°~ ~ w8~urô~s2Lnrnsttee Aberdeen MER~CAN NEWS GENTL - Of President, ~ ZONTA INTERNATIONAL, Aberdeen, 2. Dak., May 3, 1967. tie inc well as agr iture s te FRAN COESTER, President. PAGENO="0119" OAHE UNT1', MISSOtIRI RIVEf~ BASIN PROJECT Senator MCGOVERN~ Thank you ei~er ~o much, Mayor Huribert. I a1~o understand Mr. Gary Sharp of Brown County has a time problem. We would be glad to hear from Mr. Sharp at this time. I think~Mr. Sharp is enrolled in ~South Dakota State University, is that correct? STATEMENT :~ GAR~Y R. SHAItP, 1~ATR, S. flAX. Mr. SHARP. `yes. *~ . Honorable Seiiators, Governor Boe, distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen, I amGary Sharp kof Bath, S. Dak. I graduated from Aberdeen~ ~Central High ~Seh~oi a year ago and I am now completing my firstf year of college at South Dakota State University as an I agriculture major. My parents live on a~ farm whiejils located 5 miles east of Aberdeen in the hea~rt of thenewly formed West Brown Irrigation District. So, ~ naturally I have been expôselto the aspects of the many benefits of irrigation. * ~ ~ . . Two years ago, I did some rèseaFch on water development and the potential of irrigation for our area for a speech class in. my' high school. Upon .the completion of my speech, my fellow classmates and my instructors `brought forth a number of questions concerning "op- portunities" derived through `this vast project. I attempted to point out a few of the many job opportunities as well as recreational oppor~ tun ties obtained ~ through water. - A 10-ye ~ r, I have worked closely with conser- earch ~~jects concerning irrigation. caliber of questions what opportunities ~ry much..' ~od point last r' )r wa' 109 ~t out, the i: ~ people my is definite ilajori' the authorization oF the Oahe PAGENO="0120" OAUE UNIT, ~!ISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT member of a group that is of tremendous importance to the progress of our pr~ject, the Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict, and I am ploased to call Mr. Fred Holsther now to the witness stand. He will be testifying much more fully later on in Washington, but he does have a brief statement that he has agreed to give to us today. STATEMENT OP PR~P~. H. ROLSOREE, PAULXTON~ S. ~AL, CHAIR- MAN, OAHE CONSERVANCY SUBDISTRICT BOARD 0F DIIt~CTOi~S Mr. H0LsORER. . Mr. Chairmi~li ~and members of the committee, my name is Fred H. Hôi~cher. I liVe in :Faulkton, S. Dak., and am chair- man of the board of directors of the Oahc Conservancy Subdistrict. I am a lifelong resident of South Dakota and since myboyhood have been engaged in farming in Faulk County. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the committee to our Stateand thankth~m for arranging to hold this hearing in South Dakota thereby enabling rnuriy of oui' eitizens to participat~ and af- fording many more witnesses the opportunity to be heard thun would otherwise haveb~n the case had'they been required to go to Washing- ton. In order to allow the committee ample time to hear these local ~witnesses .the subdist~rict's .testimony~ here today will be brief. ~ In the interest of ~ conserving time and with the committee's permisSion we would like to reserve o~r major presentation for the Washington hearing. The testimony today will be concerning Senate bill 6 jointly intro- duced by both of South Dakota's able Senators, which would authorize j~or construction the first stage of the Oahe irrigation unit. On `behalf of the ~ahe Coi~ervancy Subdistrict, I appear before `this committee to respectfully ask your favorable consideration of this legislation The Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict was established at the I9~O gen- ~ral election when th~ voters within its boundaries approved its crea- tion by an overwb~4ming favorable `voteof 85.3 percent.' * The snbUi~trict consists ~ of 15½ counties in north-central South ~ Dakota and provides .a ~esponsihle government entity which repre- sents all people within `i1~s bo~idaries in the planning ~ind dev~lop~ ment of the ar~a's w~ter resources. This en~tity. was given the authority. to Jevy an ad v~dorem tax o~i all property within its boundaries and to contract for certain obligations and responsibilities in connection with the~ constr~tion and operation of the Qahe irrigation unit and other water resource `developments. The subdistrict contains approxi- mately 22 percent of the State's land area and population. In South Dakota an und~øpendablecrnoisture supply is a natural haz- ard every farmer must face. Every year this hazard confronts him with an uncertainty ~s t ~ ~ ~ production of forage crops, grain, and livestock pastu~es. Havi rrned in South Dakota for o~er 40 years no one appreciates the of inadequate moisture. better than I. The development of le-pu: ose. Oahe unit would provide this much-needed moist ~. for irri by the proj.eet. This `~ ~d. and agricultural prod farms surround I be realized throug. industrial. developi other purposes ~ I 1,10 ~proj& nhance the lives of many ~ for - ~otans. PAGENO="0121" OA~I]~ UNIT, `MISSOtffiI RIVER' ~ASIN~ ?RO3~C1~ Not~ to *~ overlooked is the important water supply thi~'j~oj~ct will pr~idec for. m~micipal and industrial use, ~ fish ai~d wildlzf~ ahd rç~c- r~ati~n uses. ~ . ~ ~ . . c ~ ~ ~ Sotttl:i Dakota is fortuiiate to h~e ~tor~I within its boundaths, by four Missouri main-stem dams, thot~sands of ak~r&feet of `water. The storage of this water has, however, inundated more Wan 500,000 a~cres of land. South Dakotans' h~we long couhtE4iipon the construction of the Oahe unit to replace the production fr~rn these lands l~st as a result of~ `the `cmstruction of the~e reserv~irs. These dam~ ar~ now ~al~st complete and we are lookingforwarcl tO therèalization,of the vast irrigation potelttial ~ they make po~sibie. . The importance of tho Oahe project tO~the State i~ tremendOd~ and I am pleased to report to you that this p'roje~t has the strong support of ~ almost all of the people in the ~ubdisti~dt a~rea. This support has been evidenced in~ a number of ways. ThifAai support ~ was dethon- strated in 1960 when the subdistrict was forn~ed, thus creathig an organization with taxing power capable of copfracting to a~ume a portion of the costs associated with . the development of ~ the Oahe unit. As stated earlier the subdistrigt ~vas created as the result of a favorable vote in excess of 85 percent. In 1965 farmers directly concerned indicated their desire to pro- ceed with the development of the project when they formed two irri- gation districts. These two districts, located in Brown and Spink Counties, included the irrigable land proposed for the first-stage de- velopment. The organization of these two districts was approved by a ?favorable vote in excess of 80 percent of the people owning land within their `boundaries. . At the 1'9~36 general election local peolle again demonstrated their support when they granted the subdistrict the authority. to enter into contractsivith the United States and others to actually a~sist with the continued development of, the Oahe nnit and other wà~r resource projects within its boundaries. The questior~ of. whether or not this authority should be granted was decided by every voter qualified to vote at the general election within the entire 151/s counties which corn- prise the subdistrict. Vóte~s approved the granting of such authority by~ an overall ma- jority of 75.1 percent. The granting of this authority authorized the subdistrict board of directors to make a further' genera~ tax levy, not to exceed 1 mill, on all taxable property within the stlbdistrict in sup- port of water resource projects. In my opinion the results of this and the other two referendums previously mentioned expresses better than words the loc~al support and interest in the development of the Oahe~ unit and in water resource development in the subdistrict. The Oahe conservancy subdistrict sincerely appreciates the oppor- tunity to appear before this committee in support of the early develop- ment of the Oahe irrigation unit and urges your `approval of Senate bill 6 so that construction of the Oahe unit can begin at an early date. Mr. Chairman, I would once again like to express our appreciation for your coining to South Dakota and holding this hearing. It is our' hope that this hearing will speed early authorization of the O'ahe unit. Thank you. And also, Mr. Chairman, I have with me several statements amT resolutions supporting the development of Oahe irrigation unit, from I `*11'1 PAGENO="0122" OAW~ ;T~TNIT, ;MISSOtJ~I RIVER BASIN PROJECT different organizatio-- subc state Inc.; serval rs Author. LOU. - - to follow:) DIATED GENERAL CONTRACTO1~S or SOUTH DAKOTA, INC., BUILDING CHAPTER, May 16, 1967. ci Water ResourceB Committee, iapter of the Associated Gener i)ecember 2, 1966 meeting, held the Oahe diversion unit for R. M. SwIFT, President. HAND COUNTY SOIL AND WAT~R ConSERVATION Disraic~, April 27, 1967. At their regular meeting on April 27, 1967 the Hand County Soil and Water Conservation District~ Supervisors, who represent 720 cooperators and operating units in Hand County, adopted a. resolution in favor of early authorization of the Oahe Irrigation Project. Wivi. 0. KosT, Chairman. PAGENO="0123" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT To Sen,a4e Inte~ior an~4 In8ukZr Affa4r8 ~boommAtteo: We favor expedient development of the Oahe Irrigation Froject. Phis is a needed project to insure stable feed supplies and adequate water reserves for the area. hAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, JIM B~TTY. GOTIrRIED, REIMAN. TLTAR~ 0. TITUS. GEORGE MIFLKER, Jr. FREDDIE SCHMIDT. The largest single limF~ of water. When moisture is 1 resulting in deficits concernin of future credit. Our a `ricultura sion for more total iction necessary. We 1: here ~ To senate liii We believe will do this qt have on the c are I watei give hard agricRitural economy is lack tion sales force - netime~ to t] ere la * le "ion ii as it is ~tock ~sure a income to the HAROLD E. CARR. Pre9de~it. HAND COUNTY FAn?~FT~s ~`NTON. 113 I ~This stater institutions: ural services, including technology, has been cur- it production and money flow caused by unstable mois- ~e water supply is available, the agricultural field would and opportunities for our increasing population right in ~~~ithes In short, a President, the First Z\Tational Bank of Miller. S. HART, Presi' ` Hand County ~State Bank of Miller. PAGENO="0124" C. W. LARSEN, President. FARMERS ELEVATOR AS~OC3~APIO~ OF Soti~i~ D~1~OTA, Abe~rd~eR ~ Dak May 4, 1961 I 114 öA~~Nrr, MIS Tfl~t r~i~ Msn~ PROJECT So~n D~OTAI~EA1W Mi~CONci~RTE Ab~iATxo~, ~ ~ (~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ` ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Hurrn, L Daik~; May 16, 1961. OAXIE CO~TSRRVARC~ S~UBDTSTRICT, . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ H~ro~, ~. Dak. GEN~~ :The Sofith Dhkota Read~Mi~ Concrete Association, representing the producers of ready mix concreteli~tths~l!ate; wish to go on record as whole heartedly supporting the Oaht~ Ir]~g~tti~ Pw~ject. We. feel that completion ot~th~ 4r6je~ti *iiI result in a more diversified t~'~ of farming, a more stable farm hic~ome for the district, and the creation more job opportunities for óth~ ~eo~ile, thus benefitting the whole economy of our state. Yours truly, * Mr. JAMES L. Lir~wis, ocaur CO17~sorvanc~ gw~Distrist, .. HuroE~ ~ Dak Diu~&i~ ~~lit LEwIS It will nM 1~e pos$ible for 1~is to be represented at the Com- i~i1ttee 1~[è4rIbg at 1~tedfie1fi on 1~fa~V 8~h Would it be postible for you to file the flesolution ficlopted by this Associa- tish as part of the written testimony'~ A eop~ is attached toT this purpose .. . ~iticerely yours, * . . . F~xMERs ELRVAPQR ARsooIA~tION OF SOTYPII t~AICOPA. .9tir AiinEns~. *. : . . ~ * IRRIGATION This Assoç~ation favQrs tii~stabflizátlon and improvement of the agricultural econonty In South DaiçQta and the dev~lôpment of more jobs and better opportu- nitiea for, this State's youngçpeople. . . : As a means to this end, ~ urge Congressional action to authorize the develop- ment of the Oahe Irrigation tnit at the earliest possible date. * * * * * * * * AMERICAN WAmE WoRKs AssocIA~TioN, Sotrru DAIWFA SECTION ; SOUTH DAKOTA WA~rmi & SEWAGE . WORKS CONFERENcE ; WATER POLLUTION CONTROL FEDERATION, SOUTH DAWOTA ASSOCIATION, p Pierre, ~. Dak. The South Dakota Water and Wastewater Conference being vitally interested in the development of our water resOUrCOS and realizing that water quality is of vital importance to the communities both within the Oahe Unit and the State, resolve that the Oahe Unit Iñ~i~atiOn?roject *ith its considerations for multi- purpose water uses be authori~d a~d de~eloped at the earliest possible date. `The South Dakota Water htid Waste~eater Conferem~ at Its Thirty-first An- nual Meeting Septeniber 15-16~-17, 1965, In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, discussed and approved the above resolutIon Rt the á~inual Conference business meeting on Septentber 17, 1965. CuARr~ss E. CARL, ,S'ecrCtary-Ti~cd~U'er, 6~o'ath Dtkôta Wo~ter ~md Wagte~water Conference. THE Sou' CONSERVATION SGCIETT `OF AMERICA, May 8, 1961. SENATE SunooMMITh!n~ FOR RECLARtATION AND IRRIGATION, Redflek~, ~. Dale. HoNoRABLE SENATORS : We South Dakotans are proud that your distinguished CommIttee has taken time to hold ahearing regarding a subject important to all of us. The Soil Conservation Society of America, `South Dakota Chapter, wIshes to take this opportunity to express our continued support for the Oahe Irrigation PAGENO="0125" I T.s, SE Li~ OAIIE VNIT, MISSOLT~T RIVER ~AS~W ~PROJ~QT. Project. Our group ~rst irn~icated its .w~tQ1ei~e~rted * Support for this p~o~ject through a resolution to the Di~ectors ~ the Qa]ae Conservancy Sub~Distrjct. This reso)~ution was adopted at our annual ineetiug in November, 1965. Our SOSA South Dakota Chapter has a membership apjroachi~ig 300. Oiu~ ntembership is coix~poseU of technical pers~uueI and eonservatlon minded iudi~ viduals. They represent uu.rnerous Fe~iera:1 ~UU1 State Ageucies, plus interested ~ducator~, businessmen, and farmers, AU support water and soil resource ~e- velopment. Because of our members' backgrounds, our Chapter is bope~ul that the `Oahe Irrigation Ero~ect will become a reality in the immediate future. Very truly yours, WA~LTI~R N. P~RMETER, Ujuiirrna~n, S'U~A, South Dakota Chapter. REsoLUTIoN Uaonco CowoasssIoNAL APPROVAL OF THE OAHE UNIT AS Sn~ FOETg IN THE BUREAU OF REci~MATIo~ REPORTS OF MAY 1~l65 AND JUNE 1965 Whereas, the Oahe Irrigation Project ~iii provide for the irrigation of 495,000 ~acres in North Central South Dakota, and Whereas, the Oahe Unit will provide a plentiful supply of good quality water for municipal and industrial use in many areas within the Oabe Conservancy Sub-District that are now faced with serious water p~oblems including quality and q~iantity, and Whereas, the Oahe Unit represents a feasible plan to help stabilize the agri- ~ cultural and business economy of the State, 110w Therefore be it resolved, That the South Dakota Agricultural Coordln~ting .. Committee urges Congress to approve the Oahe Unit as set forth in the ~ureau of Reclamation reports of May 1965 and June 1965. The above resolution was approved at the regular quarterly meeting of the ~South Dakota Agricultural Coordinating Committee meeting at Iluron, South Dakota, on April 17, 1967. ~ EDWIN J~ET~T5o~, $ecretary-Treasurer, S~outh Dakota Agrica~tural Coordinating Commitiee. .~ SOTJTU DAJrOTA SoCmTY OF FARM MANAGERS A~D RURAL APPRAISERS, Ja'rwary 7, 1~966. Be is resolved by the South Dakota Society of Farm Managers and Rural Ap- praisers assembled in Annual meeting that : 1. We fuUy support the Con~ervancy Districts and State of South Dakota in their request to the U.S. Congress for funds to construct the Oahe Irrigation I Project as soon as feasible. 2. Completion of the Oahe Project is urgently needed to more fully develop the economy of the area and State particularly to stabilize and increase Incomes atnd production as they are a~eeted by extreme year-to-year variation in rainfall. 3 Irrigation will slow down the rapid migration of our young people from ~ farms and small towns as farms decrease in number and small town businesses ~ `decline. 4. Irrigation deveio~tteut wlllpartiklly off~t the adverse effects on ourfarms and ranches of withdrawal of substantial acreage of rich bottomiand Inundated ;by Missouri River main stem reservoits. TRACY S. WALSETIX, Pre$ident. SOUTH DAKOTA ENGINEERING Socnrvr, April 20, 1967. OMMII~EE O'N IREIG.&TION AND.REOI4MATXON, ThGOVERN Er. JIM LEWIS, 0ake Conservancy S~ubdistrict, I Iffuron, ~. Dak. ~WTLEMEN : On November 20, 1965 the South Dakota EngineerIng Society at tunal convention passed the followIng resolution : hereas, the development of the Oahe Irrigation Unit will provide economic nefits to the State, region and nation; and PAGENO="0126" dA~Et1~ ~ MISSO~t1~ 1~EV1!3R BASIN PROJECT "Wiherea~, the S~uth~DakYta EngIn~erhig Society recognizes ~ the import&~ce of thes&ecor~omic benefits to the welfare of the State, ~ "Therefore, be it reso1v~d,~ by th~ Sonth Dakota Engineering Society to sup~ port th~ early d~ve1opment Of the Oahe Unit and urges `the Congress of the United States to pass legis1ati~i authorizing early construction." As Presid~t-Elect of the S~1ith Dakota Engineering Society, it is my purpose through' this letter to inform the ~ubcommittee of Our continued interest ir~ this project and urge that the committee give Its wholehearted support to this project. The South Dakota Engh~eerthg Society will be happy to supply further~ information and support if the committee feels this support is required. DevelOpment of ~the Upper Midwest will provide local opportunities for rural people presently migrating to the already heavily-populated urban areas. It represents a real opportunity to provide useful development of an area which can easily absorb this type of progress Sincerely yours, PAtL L. ~onPsELL, P.E., President-liflect, 2.D.E.S. SoUTH DAICOTA WOOL GnöwE1~s AssocTAnoN, Minneapolis, Minn.. ~,by the] Wool ion, that this orga the of the Qahe Irrigal Misst~~ ~ roject. LLOYD ELKUM, Secretary. (The resolution of the South Dakota Land Improvement Contractors Authority is printed on page 106.) * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Senator.. ~[CGOVERN. Tha~'ik you very much, Mr. Holseher, and would you wait 1 minute? Senktor Bmwic~. in your sta1~ement, you* ht~ lost mo~e than 500000 acre on. these main-stem dams, w~h - - - the ~iandowners ~were paid for .Fore~ are~.~ of this those ~1gn.res or not. I do ~ ~. a wish, I would like to have Mr. Lewis an~ Senato~Bpip'cj~. .J;would h~pe that either the amour~ mate amoui~ts be placed rn the record, either here or at and No. 2, do you have~ane ` ~ loss in. ad:ditionto thos Now, I understand that it i~. k ~ evaluii t if you some estimate what that loss w~ T reciat Mr. HoLsonEn. Real good. I w -- Senator MoGovlmN. I know fellow v~c~y: subçlistriot.' with the success and referen4ti 116 PAGENO="0127" OAHE UNIT, M1S~OU~t~ ~XV~ E~sr~ `PRo~Ec~r ~byoi~ .~b and South Dakota, ienatural flows. ~ Senator MOGOVERN. I think that is a good point. ii~e have con- ~ tributed a great deal to security and well-being of the downstream States and now we are going to call on them for some cooperation and support. I think before we proceed with our next witness, we might take a few minutes to ask if there are peopie in the room who would simply like to file their statement, either because, of your own personal sched- ules that make it impossible for you to stay longer, or in order I serve time. If there are, and y- - ild stand ~ ~` ~ your ments, we can then pick tements hey are r a part of the record. ;he cc r record for~ J MAHER, VICE .~ to get ~s state Lnitted as soon as ibmit it to me or 3madeap~ ) `back to t ourl~ the development and be: akota~. The association counts more than 1,. ~, which us~ of wat~i od co, get some considerat~,n up here for tion `~aible, and if, i who have asked that stat either now `or sometime morning or ~ the n you, ~ve wc - I .tli* T .t PAGENO="0128" O~HE. ITh~IT-; ~MISSOUi~ RIVER .B~SIN PROJECT: commerce ; 41 banks and.fimancial.iustitutions, and the five largest daily newspapers in the State. In. a~ddit~o~, the membership inoludes in- dividual bu inessmen and farmers, equipment distr1butor~, livestock pro lants, auction sales rings, wholesalers and retailers, active in I interested individuals. ciation has ~uamtained an active interest in the development e irrigation unit since it was originally authorized in 1944. have waited 23 years for this project. to be initiated, inue tobe ~nthusiastic about the economic stability it `ate. rted the excha uri ~ed their 85.5 percent _ing ~- ive vote. actively supp~rted. the organization of irrigation districts in been the major tence. i and ~pproval of the ~16. .ank you ever so much. iia~a question. :..Getting b~ck to the 500,000 acres of land that is vurposes, your statement is that it's for Oahe -- ~i I L....g.L~ - I 118 neartecJy Sn] of our best i one.~half prc~~ necessi by an 0 isted in prese~ trict b" L~. velopnie tha~t in ti tion of t guamr i and I responded i sed so'i Senator Bur three? ~1r. MAH: ID for the other three I J *T:]:ow many acres has been taken for those othi ~w, sir. PAGENO="0129" OAIIE UNIT, L~?IISS9URI. RIVER BASIN I~ROJECT 119 Is Qqane Aeker here this mori~ing? Duane Aeker ~s the deafl of agriculture at the South Dakota State University at Brookrngs, and we are happy to have his statement now. STAT.~M1~N~ OP 1MJM~Z AWKER, Z~]~AN OP A Cl~T4T~U~Z, SOUT1~ DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY BROOKThWS, S. DAX. Mr. AcjiEn. Senator McGovern, Senator Burdick,, and Senator Moss, I speak this morning on behalf of Hilton l3riggs, president of the South Dakota State University, Dean Johnson, and our total research faculty of the university. ~ . I would like to outline brieflythe past and planned activities of the, agricultural experiment station and the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service of South Dakota State Uniyersity that pertains to the Oahe irrigation unit. Completed research undertakings consist of (.1) a comparison of in- comes under dryland and irrigated conditions as they pertain to the in- I clividual farmer and (2). . an assesSment of the impact of irrigated agri-. culture on the area and State. . ~ These research project results were ma'~Ee available to the Bureau of Reclamation and were used as part of the basis for the Oahe unit report as published by the l3ureau of Reclamation. Numerous research reports were putlished, as these projects pro- gressed. These reports are available ~ ~f tt~e committee wishes c~p'ies. Thefinal outcome of the. total research effort has been. summarized, howeve~,by theextension. service in a recent leaJtet~ ~ This leaflet is about a~ brief a summary as can 1e conipiled and is attached hereto as a part of my testin-~ony. ~ . ; . ~ ~ ` ~ Research projects underway but not yet completed that will have direct impiu~tions in the Qahe unit area are (~) ~rnve~tigations to ~;le termrne if tile spacrng in tj~e Oahe unit ~an be safely increased, (~) correlating soil moisture conditions and microclimate with evapora- ~ ~ plants *ii the c~ 1 and I 83-182----67----9 PAGENO="0130" dA~iE ~ iü~i~t ~AsIN PI~OJEth~ PAGENO="0131" OAH~3 UNIT, MISSOURI' R~JV~E B~SI~ P~OJEë~' 121 to meditate tod~y is ~f ~r~at importhnce. i~ha~g ained ~ ~dme impres- sions over the years and in my lifetime, I think we have witnessed per- haps at least three situations and developments that might be referred . to as revelations. First, I think perhaps we would all agree thaE thetravel by air has transpired in our lifetime to the extent that we are now neighbors to any people in any part of the globe so far as di~tance and time is cOncerned. ~ Certainly, at the present time we are develôpii~g atomic energy to the extent that it is affecting everybody's life and it is probably an understatement to say thi~ is a revelation toallof us. So far as farm life itself is ooncerned, in my opinion, I think the ~ REA 4~ct of 1935 was probably the greatest revelation so far as the ~ man on the farm isconcerned. Probably thegreatest single step of progressthat we have witnessed, and now I look ai~xiously and not with worry, because I have confi- denc~ in the Members O~ the U.S. Congress. and especially the corn- rn~ittee that is assembled heretoday-by the way, it is not what I have been, as I would like tosay, a host, to Senator Mo~s ashe appeared here sdffie few years back when 1 was Governor ofthe State with his d~- tinguished gue~~om, Oi~lahoma, Robert~err, and our late Sena~or Case from South Dakota. I have great confidence ~or these people to work with us `and bring us to a successful status as far as the matter before us at the present time is concerned The multipurposes that are sOrv by the four main stem:dknis, and *b sure ~if `any infdrmatibn IWco~rect, t san1 " ~` .. - itof th~ wat Burdick, ~e beaause Ithink we are PAGENO="0132" GAHE ~I3NIT, S~OUR1 RIVER BASIN PROJECT 122 who lives withjn the prQpQsed irrigation area.. Your full statern~nt will be inc1ude~d. (The statepient foljtws:) STATEMEr~T OF RLPn IIERSETH, JJOUGHTON, S. DAK.,~ Fo~MEE GOVERNOR OF SOUTH DAROTA I express sincere ap~i,ec~at~on to the honorable United States Seiuttors here, present for their indulgence in the proceedings of this assembly of ei1izE~s gathered here today Our purpose is to determine the pulse of our people in this area as it pertálils tO th~ Intended useof the vast water resources created by the series of danis on the Missouri River. I support unequivocally the intent and pur- pose of the 1944 Flood Control Act of our Federal Government. I similarly sup- port firmly the 1959 Conservancy District Law of South Dakota, passed by an 81% majority of the legislature then in session.. I respectfully refer your atten- tion to the èffiphátic vote of approval by the people to approve contract authority. My vigorous support of these principles is not tilerely recent or temporary. May I submit excerpts Mrom my message on this subject to the 1959 assembly of the South Dakota legislature. Quote : "One of our oldest Fesources will soon become our newest frontier. As such it offers our State virtually limitless possi- hilities for power, Irrigatioti, industry kind recreation. I refer to what will be when completed one of the largest bodies of fresh Water In NO~th America. This chain of~ lakes in central ~ South Dakota will be formed by the Missouri River darns, stretching hi ~ one continuOus line from our nprthern most tip to our southe~n boundary. * ~ ~ "It is notewOrthy that when these reservoirs are filled, South Dakota will rank fourth in the Nation In the amount of uFable water in storage. The price we have paid f~r this is the loss~~f Qine-Iialf million acres of agriehitural land. Whether or not this snc~iftee ha~ been w~rUiwhil~n will in considerable measure depend on the action taken at this lëgislátivé séssloh and upon `action taken by this Adminis- tration. For simple logic will tell us that there will be a great demand' from ~ll the states to our South~orthe right to use and appropriate this vaet water sUpply. Upless ~e iUove jmmedlat~1y and vigorously to lay. ei~im to our rightful share of the riy~ ~water we will r~Wake.~cnue day to IlmI that w1~lle we, slept ourWa~ter rights floated downstream I thèr~fo~e earnestly reeoui$neild that this Legislature enact permissive water congervajicy dI~trlct legi~luti6n to pfo~e uhmistakahly to Congress the RurnâU of Reclamation and the Department of Interior that we intend ~ to. claim and' utilize wELter rights~for all of i;1;ie waterwe will need ii~ our ~tate~ ~helegisiation enacted should be enabling legislation. It should provide a given area or group of people a choice between irrigation or dry~land farming. It should give cities and townsthe right to reject or a!eëept municipal water supply from the reservoirs. At the same time it should protect the rights of all the pebble of' our State. to use the water fqrany deslrab&~pUrpO8e. ` ` . ` : Geutiemeriof the IJLS. ~ Senate, I c~iit.end that `the enabiin~ aUt~ of 1959 was good ieg~latibn~ also, that the ` vote to appi~ov é ~cóntra~t `uithority sign'~lecl the voice of free neo~le u~ the true deipqoratit~ process of gQVefl1X1~11t I soheit your best efforts in the h'dis cvf ~ur NnthiondCapitol1 to~ aggressively trnd~ `progressively seek the Tote ~ ~for funds and `laws that:~will refine and further otir progress toward a new ~ra in SQuth D*kota Such an era will invite industry, employ people and enrich the ` land `rth~bugh the full utilization of tin' indispensable and often scarce econ~ntic~item-'~water. ` I commend Seiiater McGovern for' his wisdorn~and succe~s iii'spon~ soring this forum% I, express gratitude to ~ this. committee' for ` notable endeavor ai4 success it~ reclamation and conserv~tion `and tIre empha- sis they have piaaed~ on' the importance of water. I antici~pM~ a': fifld return tO Sc~uth ~o~J~Qt~L from the .. ,~ditation.with you onthisriiayt I regard you, gentlemen, as a liaison between our Stateañd th~Nati~ka1 C'ongress~ Agricultn~al n~nd industrial exdellence is the ultimate destiny of Snitis"P&o~ and it$ igio~ing~8tMES. We a~eind~v~id~1ly'an4 PAGENO="0133" collectively committed as a free and vigorous and informed people to take a hand in shaping that destiny~ I firmly believe the people are ready and the time is now. We are asking only that which is necessary to proceed from here. I trust we have presented a clear case to you gentlemen. We will require your assistance if we will keep our date with destiny. Senator McGov1~RN. Mr. Chester Gullikson is the next one on my list from Brown County. Mr. Gullikson, may we hear from you? STATEiVEENT OP CHESTER GULLIKSON, PARMER PROM BROWN COUNTY, S. DAK. Mr. GTJLLIKSON. Honorable Senator George McGovern, Senator l3urdick, and Senator Moss. My name is Chester Gullikson from Brown County. My business `S the production of polled Hereford cattle for seed stock ; the feeding of cattle for market and the production of feed for my cattle operation. Today is a landmark day. May this be the beginning of the "era of rain and moisture insurance" for this area of northern South Dakota. After being on at least four irrigation tours in Nebraska, the great advantag~s of bringing water to the land became readily apparent to me. There seemed no limitation to the potential production of the land Where irrigation was being practiced. . The James River runs through my farm. Although it is a rather uncertain supply of water, I decided to try to irrigate from it. in 1965, I leveled 50 acres of land. In 1966, this 50 acres was . irrigated with gated pipe along with 15 acres that needed no leveling. Need- less to say, my irrigation pro~ject is being followed with great intêi4st by both friend and foe of irrigation, and. I might add-possibly I am under observation by some, also. ~ While I was a student at South Dakota State University, the soils professor stated thait the James River Valley had one of the three finest~ soils in the world. With adequate water, it will contribute greatly to the food stocks of the Nation. The results of the 1966 corn production under irrigation was highly productive and encouraging-and pro~red beyond a doubt that irri- gation, even in a wet year; will increase yields markedly. Even after a hail loss of 30- to60-percent damage, the irrigated corn yielded 105 to 128 bushels per acre of 13 percent moisture, shelled corn. If this corn would have been harvested for silage, it would have yielded from 18 to 22 tons per acre, whereas, an 8- to 10-ton yield on dry land is con- sidered an excellent yield. In a dry year from zero to 3 or 4 tons an acre can be expected, 40 to 50 bushels of corn per acre on dry land is considered good while the county average is 34 bushels per acre. Dryland yields of 1.5 to 3 tons of alfaltfa could be increased to 5 to 7 tons per acre depending on th~ growing season. ~ Tame grass and sudan pastures could be irrigated to provide sure and dependable pastures for cattle and sheep. The terrible dread of lingering and devasting drought could be nearly a thing of the pastY. It is extremely important to me to know that I can produce enough feed each year without too much worry. It will not be necessary with irrigation, to wait until th~ end of the summer to know how many OAHE UNIT, `MISSOURI `RIVER BASIN ?EOJEt)~ .123 PAGENO="0134" 124 OAHE `UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT breeding cattle I can carry through the winter, or how many cattle can be faitened for market each year. ~ The word that best describes why I am in favor of irrigation is "stability"-the doing away with extreme yield fluctuations due to a lack of moisture. Stability on the farms will mean stability in our entire area economy. . An important bypro~ - ~t of the t ~ahe project will be through the improving of the James : ~ ~ ~ That is, the deepening, widen- rng, straightening, and sho ~f the river from 119 miles to 54 miles. This will largely ei ling almost annually of 20,000 acres of rich bottom lands resultin L estimated loss of $1,500,000 per year to farmers and businesses : ~u and Spink Counties. The great and worthy food for ~ ~ ~ infant compared with the giant it will L.. short years away. The Oahe project will pro pleted by that time, and the cry for food then win ~e c less Congress appioves the great Oahe project and many c it in the very near years to come. ~ In the name of humanity, I urge the authorization of this impor- tant project so it may contribute to the welfare of future generatiOns. Senator Moss. That was a very elegant and excellent statement. How often do you irrigate on this experimental farm during the year ~ How much do you have to irrigate ? Mr. GULLIK50N. Last year wa~ my first experience with irrigation ~and we had ibove northalrainfaii for' the growing season. I irrig~ted : ` two times on part of the field and three times on another part of the field. , ` ~ " ` Senator Moss. * Wlii `; ,~ ich points up the fact that it is ~ really just at critical times that you' need this irrigation water, but those times ar~ criticalto' the endresult of the yield on.the l~nd~ ` Mr. GULLIKSON. That is absolutely right. , ` ` ~ ` Senator MCGOVERN. I think Mr. Gullikson made a good point here in reference to our future `food demands~ One of , the arguments we 1l~se)d to run into against reclamation pi~ojects' was that it was moon- sistent to be putting funds in the development of irrigation projects `if at the same time ~ we' were piling up' agricultural surpluses. That never really' was ` a very good argument. There was an answer to it `10 years ago, `but it's not a good argument' today at a time when the surpluses are gone and all the demands are going to be made on this country for food frOm places all over the world' where they' are grow- ing food deficits. I think we are going to have to make the best pos- sible use of our land and water to meet'the challenge ahead. Thank you very much for yourstatement. ` ` : Mr. GuLrimsoN. Thank you, gentlemen. Senator MCGOV~RN. I have been told that there were three farmers here from Brown County who must leave' before lunch. Mr. Harold Smith, Mr. Alfred Locken and Mr. James Sperry. If they would like `to come `forward, now, we would be glad to hear from them at `this time so they can get away. ` ` ` I know some people are out ~planting today, out doing some work in the fields, and we would be happy to have those statements and l~t you get away as soon as possible. This is `Mr. James Sperry who is testifying now. , PAGENO="0135" OAW~ VNIT, ~ofhar~ ~ B of us on the ing water hem ~en ar iope t' will ~fl, tQ f_ to more of the O~he unit irri- ,~nator MOGOVERN. Thank you ever so m~h,;Mr. Spe~rry. Is Mr. Smith or Mr. Locken here at this tii~'ie ?, STATEMENT OP HAROLD SMITH, FARMER, ABERDEEN, S. D~tK. Mr SMITH Members of the IT S Senate W~iter and P9wer ~e ~ s9urces ~ubeommjttee, I, ~m 1T~Lro1cl Smith ` of 1~ut~ , ` ST ~ Dak. Many. of my relatives farrn in a~ pump irri~ted ~rea i~n ~the Platte Valley of Nebraska. Iii observing their operatiq~s, t~ro~gb. ti~ie years, I can. see how irrigation has ~ffect,ive1'y ` st~h~~E ti~ieir farm income and the over~tll economy of the areas It has ~i~ov~c1ed them with more consistent an~ higher crop yi~1c~s which in twn has re~ilted in the establishment of nu~ierous crop processing , p1~a~ts ~ ~rid other related agricultural industries. ~ ~ ,~ ~ ~ , In the not too distant ~ future we a~ going to nç~ç~ gic~eased pro- .duction such as this in man~y new areas in oraer ~h~t we, may a~l~- quately ` feed the people in our ~ country. \~ h~ve th~ç ~oiT so ~f we have the water we can do our sl~a~e, ` . ~ , , ~ , ~ ; ~ ~ ~ , ~ I urge authorization, oI~ the Oahe pr~4eçtr' at the, earli~st possible date. ,, Thank you for this opportunity to appear before ~ou ont~i5 im- portant project in relation to our area. , , Senator MCGOVERN. Thank you very~ much for your statement. STATEMENT BY , NORBERT , M~XLE$; PU~LXSHE1t O~ TZtt TThflCS RECORD~DOL~ND,ScDtAL , ,~[r. Muss. Mr. McGovern, I would like~to, bring ~3lP~ one' point that could have been overlooked in ~ Guilikson's test~mo~y. ~he ques- tion was asked by the hoi~rn~able Senator a~ ho~v~ ofteu this corn crop last year was irrigated., Tiaviug s~nt 1Q ars,~'~I~e `seed cor~ com- pany and seeing many operations, I would like to add that he was ~y the ?rs of Cl - iy n ~a rather t our, country. urge the authorization PAGENO="0136" 126 oAi~ UNIT, M1SSOVEI I~IVER BASIN ~ PROJECT 1istE~ning to a year~which S~uth Dakota saw and I won't say "over," but I will say "above" average supply of moisture and it also should be pointed out to the committee that this is generally unusual for the State of South Dakota rather than the farmers of this area wit- nessing the fact of an over~tge supply of moisture. We see the under- average supply of moisture more often than we do that he testi- fled to. ~ Senator McGovi~RN. Thank you. Is Mr. Locken here ? STA~IUI~T BY ALThED LOCI~fl~, PAR1VIER, ABE1~iYEEN, S. DAK. Mr. LOCI~EN. My nam~ is Alfred Locken. I am a farmer, and I live 12 miie~ southeast of Aberdeen. I was told sometime if I had anythiiig to say on behalf of irrigation, I would not have to go to Wa~hington to say it, I could con~ down to Redfleid. I thought of two reasons why I w~u~d rather go to Washington. One is, probably the testimony down here today woiid be a little bit like something Of the ~etthons ~ we hear in ~ohurch . on Sunday. A lot of times some of the people aren't there th~t should be hearing it. Another reason is, if ~ F sho~i1d #get off the track here today and get kicked out, I doubt if any of my neighbors would let me back in here ; but it seems, or sort of s~ernS, ¶Iike if I get kicked out of Washington, I might get right back in again. Anyhow, I am down her~ just to pass a few of the things~ that my neighbo~ talked about at different times that per- tains toii~i4~1fioii. ~ ~ ~ ~Senator MCGOVERN.. I mi~hj say, that is not the only advantage that Th~dfk~14 ha~ over Washm~ton Mr LocitE~ We find tMt we have some problems to solve which can be sOlved to a large degree by bringing irrigation into our area There are som~ trei±ds ~xistmg which should be reversed, and we think this ~oiiid b~ brought ~ ~iIont by making the proposed Oahe ~ irrigation p*~ect ~ reality. ~ ~ . My, farm `is quite! typical of othei~ in the area so I will explain one of the treii~ts that exist and how it affects my farm. I would like to tell it this way. ~ ~ T built a ~l1o on thy fartu in 1951. When I made the deal for the SilO, the silo company r~preseritativè asked me if I wanted my name put on the sild, iu~d if so'it thould be put on at the factory. I decided I would get a certain amount of satisfaction out of seeing my name on ` the silo, so I said "Yes" I w~aiited my name on the silo. He then asked me just what I wanted put on, the silo. I had one son and while he was but alittle tyke at the time I thought he would soon be helpin.g me on my farm, and he, ~oo, might get a certain amount of satisfadtion in seeing his name an the silo. I decided to have the words, ~ "Alfred Lock~n aud Son" put on tlfe silo. Future events, blessed and otherwise, soon caused me to realize that I should have the letter "S" put oi~ the end of the word "Son," be- cause eventually I had three eons. I ser~ously considered getting the letter "S" put on, but before I got it done ~ few things started to happen in the community. Some of my neighbors sold~out aitd I soon r~a,lized that my farm was not large enough for mo!re than One son and myself anyhow PAGENO="0137" OA~IE. UNIT, ~SSO~U]~ E]~V~R pASIN ~OJECT 127 I add~cI to the size of my faprn at different times, bit even then I could not see where it was large enough to be a father-son opQration. So today, even though the land ~hich I farm was at one time farmed by four separate farmers, my chief concern is not if it is the size for my sons and myself, but if the present trend continues, how long will it be before somebody comes along and wipes me out so that my name will not be on that silo, either, .1 think irrigation in this area will reverse this trend. Another thing my neighbors and I discuss is education and its related problems. Until this past winter, I have been part of a con~mon school district. In 1966 there were 119 children on the school census. These children were of age~ 1 through 20. If we were to bring that figure up to represent the number of children being. reared in our district in 25 years or a generation, we would have to ad4 about 25 percent which would bring it up to 150. Assuming that it will take the same number of people to maintain the community in the next generation as it does this one, we will be educating 70 people to maintain the community, ~nd the other 80 would have to go some place else for ~ living. Now they cannot go into the neighboring district because that district has Uie same problem as we do. They cannot go into the next county because they also have the same problem. We are paying for the education of these 80 children, `but they are going to some other State or county to m~ke use ol? * it. I feel we are causing these young people to have ~to leave our State because we are not makiiig full use of one of our naturai resources, namely, water from the Missouri River. We ~dso discuss what is happw~ng t~ our ckupct~es. As the farms get fewer and farthi~r ~between, it is b'ecotriing. ii~cro~s~gly difficult 1~or rural and small town churches to operate, because o~ tliie ~lec1i~iing menthership. . ` ` ` . These people whose `churches are being closed can, ~ of ~q~rse,. go to. church in so~ne~ larger city foz~ th~tanoe, but according to our district church. presid~t what is I~ppeuingjp a good Rumber of casps is. thoy neglect to go to church . any plaoe wheti the lpc&l chur~h i~'as to f$d, up. I am of ~ the opinion t~iat if our comp~inity and our country is to have continued, sound leade~ship~ it~has to co~n~ from those'w~th deep religious convictions. I will not s~y that we i~annot get that kind of leadership from a metropolitan based church, but according to the results of a survey conducted sometime ago, 40 percei~ of ~ the full- time workers in our church came from rural ~r small town churches, whose roots were ir~ the soiJ~ y~t a very, small p~rcentage~~f the total church popu'lati~n. belonged to these~ churches~ ~ ~ ` ` ` ` ` So, I am saying it would be very fine if our leadership could oome from this 40 percent or slightly below it. Irrigation, if it would cçme soon enough, should surely, h~ip sas7e ~ of o~tr ~hurches~ * These are some of the things I discuss `with' my neighbors. Now I find that some of my neighbors who agree with me on these things, are some that ~ad theii~ land petitione4 out `of the irrigation district when it was formed. It seem~ some did ~ot want to become part of. an irrigation dj~triçi~ at that time l2ecause they did not want to change their method of farming. Others felt they were being rushed into it PAGENO="0138" 128 OAEE tNIT, MISSOIIEI ~ttVEk BASIN PROJECT t'oo fast, and, of epurse, there are ~ome who are against any form of orgathzation. ~ ~ The point I would 1ii~e to bring Ôtit here is that I think when irriga- tión cc~mes to this area; there will~~be a lot more than the present 190,000 acresto irrigate. ~ This ~c1udes my testimony; t&~nk y&~i. ~ `Senator * MCGO~iRN~ We appreciated that excellent statement. I think there are a good many qualities that a person has to have to be a successful farmer, but one of them is a sense of humor, and we are glad to see that demonstrated here by this last witness, Mr. Locken. ~ ~ ~ We have with us Mayor Lowell Schmidt. We are happy to have him present for this `hearing and I think w~ will call him to the witness stand at thistime. I might tell you, while Mayor Schmidt is making his way to the front of the i~ooi~n that w~ also have `the basement of this building filled with people *ho. are interested in our hearing. I understand the proceedings are being piped do~thstairs by means of the amplifying system. That i~ further indication of the interest in the subject that we are discussing. `Mayor Schmidt, we ai~e happy to `have you before the committee. STAThMEIft EYLOW~LL'SCHMIDT, MAYOR, CITY OP fl~U1WN, S., I~AL I , Mr. `SCHMIDT. Tli~ik Øi4S~ator McGovern `and members of the committee. ` "My iiameis Lowell S~hmi&t. I ` ~tmthe imiyor of Hurôh, S. Dak., and have served in `that eap~tyt sint~e May 3, 1965. This statement is made oi~1 hehal " ~ of th~ more `than' `i5;000 residents of the cit~r of Huron, ` at the request of and with the knowledge and acquiescence of the city ~ commission of Huron as evidenced by a resolution of that body Huron is lockted on the west bank of the James River about 15 miles sotith of the Ji~m~s div~er~ion dam Located, as we are, in an area ôf~r~atic'raiMall,me~tger'precipit'atioi~i, and consequent erratic stream- flow, we are acutely aware of the absolute need of water. We recognize its neE~d `for irrigation ~d industry and in `particularly dry seasons, the need `for' p~tab1e~ Water' `for `even basic living. As a consequence, residents ` of Huron' have been among the very first to encourage all forms of water search in `this area. We strongly and ardently endorse the Oah'e plan `~s the ` apparent `feasible, large volume producer of sufficient water for this area. ` My' remarks on behalf of our `city, due to limitation of time, will be confined to that portion of `the Oahe plant-the James diversion dam and reservoir. HurOn, throughout'it~ history, has been plagued with an inadequate municipal water supply,. `Studies indicated that proper use of natural Jan~s River `flow offered `the best `possibility for relieving the water shortage. ` The' ,Jame~ diversion dam~wa~ `constructed appropriate for a~ stage of Oahe; to provide the city of Huron with a' supplemental municipal and industrial eater supply The reservoir was desigiied as sufficient to PAGENO="0139" OAHE tTh~ri~i~, ` MISSOIIRT ETVi~R I3ASIN PEO~CT 129 relieve ~Water shortage for the city of Huron through 1970, assuming normal future growth of Huron. Our city now makes yearly payment toward construction and maintenance. Our experience since completion of this dam has verified the fine benefits to our city and this entire area in municipal water supply, recreation, and fish and wildlife assistance. We in Huron look hopefully to the Congress for construction of the Oaiae project. Not only will the flow of water in the James River thea become . ample throughout our foreseeable future, but the flood con- trol and irrigation benefits will be the very lifeblood of our growth ~ toward Our full potential. I have also been asked by the board and officers of the South Dakota ~ Municipal League to file their brief statement and resolution in this regard. I will also file on behalf of the Huron Chamber of Commerce, the Northwestern Public Service Co., and the service clubs of. Huron, Rotary, Sertoma, Lious, and Optimist Club, varying statements iii this regard. ~ ~ Thank you for your time, yes~ and happy to have you here iii South Dakota for this event. Senator ANDERSON. The Northwest Public Service Co. letter is al- ready in the record. The rest will be printed at this point. SOUTH DAKOTA MUNICIPAL LEAGUE. ~ RECOMMENJ~ATION OF THE OAuE IRRIGATION PRO3ECT. 4~t~ U~é ~32nd Annwd Con~erenee of the South Dakota Municipal League, Octo- b~2, 1965,. Watertown, South DaJ~ota. . . ~ ~rt was r~ioved by, W, M. Sanford, City Commissioner. of Huron and seconded by E1wjx~ Hull, ç;iity ~ommis~doner of PIerre t~iat the South Dakota Municipal League urge the development of the Oabe Irrigation Project at an early date. MQtio~i carried. , . . . . The l~ecomnu~nc~ation is as follows .: ~ REcOM~rmuATIoN or TBE OAHE IBJiIGATION PROJECT .. Whereas, the future e~onomje d~iélopment of South Dakota depends to a great ~ttent on the availability of a ~uitab1e supply of water for municipal. growth and industrial use ; and . ~ Whereas, many municipalities within the State have, long standing deficiencies i]~i the quality and quantity of their water supplies ; and Whereas, the plan of development for the Oahe Irrigation Unit would make an adequate supplyofgQQd qt~ality water from the Oahe Reservoir on the Mis- souri River availab'e to 28 communities and their associated commercial rndus trial establishments, now and for future municipal users ; Therefore be it resolved, by the South Dakota Municipal League at its con- vention duly assembled in Watertown, South Dakota this first day of October, 1965, that this organization recognizes the value of the many benefits that will, be derived from the Oahe Unit and urges the development of the Unit at an . early date. /5/ W. M. SANFORD, . Pre8ident, south Dakota Municipal League. , /5/ R. D. FALK, secretary, ~ovth Dakota Municipal League. . Dated October 2, 196~. At the Conyention of the Municipal League in Lead. South Dakota on October 1~, 1~f36, the Water Resources Committee once again urged municipalities to co- operate to the fullest extent in the development of the Oahe Irrigation Project. MILroN J~. FISCHER, Ukairman, Water Re8Q~~trce8 Committee, S~outh Dakota Municipal League. PAGENO="0140" OAUW UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 130 CHAMBER O~? CoMMzi~oi, Huron, 2. Dak., May 4, 1697. Members of the TT.~S. $enàte, Subconi~nvtttee on Power and Water Resouree8, of the senate Interior and In,s~ar Affai~s Co'nirnittee, Wa$hi~4to~, DXI. GENTLEMEN : The Huron Charnb~r of Commerce has a deep ar~d abiding interest In the Oahe Irrigation Unit: Since its authorization in 1944, this Chamber has led the entire state in support of this project. Members `of this Chamber have provided leadership for the State Reclamation and Water Develepment Association during much of its 30 year existei~ce. They served as directors of the Mississippi Valley Association which has championed this cause through the years. They have served as members of the legislatures which provided the essential state legislation and as directors of the Qahe Con- servancy Sub-District which was organized for the purpose of developing the project at the local level. The Chamber wa~ one of the most active supporters of the information of the Sub-District itself. The Huron Chamber of Comnierce has worked hard for this cause all of those years because it recognized this great project as `the one most important mile- stone in the development `of exciting new economic environment in this section of South Dakota. The people of Huron and Centtal South Dakota have waited 23 years for `the initiation of the Oahe Irrigation Unit, but their enthusiasm still runs `high. In' 1960 Huron residents voted by a 92.5 per cent majority `to tax themselves to estab- lish the Oahe Irrigation Conservancy Sub-Distftct. Last Fall they again turned out with an overwhelming aflirmative vote to increase this tax to enable the Conservancy Board to fulfill their oblig~ttions to the Federal Government for the construction of this project. The Huron Ohamber of Commerce stands ready to do anything ~vithin its power to help make this project a reality. Although this city is just beyond the area to be directly effected by irriga- tion, this Chamber is fully cognizant of' the importhnt economic aspects of this development upon this community. Our city depends on the Oahe Unit for a continued sufficient water' supply in future years, and is ready' to pay for this supply. Return flows from the Oabe Unit a~d `the Garrl'soh Unit in North D~kota will stabilize the flow of the James~RIver,' not on~ through Huron, `btft through the entire James River Valley, 1~ro~iding 1~or municipal water su~lies ~üid pos- sibly more supplemental irrigation for the entire valley. ` Processing plants already established are `basing future operations on the great potential of the Oahe Unit. Others, not yet' `here, are `anxiously awaiting the start of construction. We have watched the ` deve1of~ment of `pdwer ge~ieràtioh, navigation in the states to the south, and recreation on the Great Lakes ,of Scs~tth Dakota. We have watched and waited patiently for `the ioiig-awai~ed benefits o~ irrigation `to this, immediate area. We respectfully urge your favorable consideration of final authorization of the Oahe Irrigation Unit in this first session of `the 90th Congress. Respectfully, ` / _____ ELLIs Ross, 1~re8ident. HoMjs~ A. STA~7E5, Manager. RoTARY CLuE, Huron, ~1. Dak., May 4, 1967. MEMBERS OF THE U.S. SnuAuE, $ubcoinmittee' on Power and Water Resources of the Benate Interior and Insular Affairs (Jo~nmittee, Washingt(m,'D.U. GENTLEMEN : The Hui~on Rotary Club includes among its membership some 75 business and professional men from the Huron community. For years we have looked forward to the u'timate development of the Oahe Irrigation Unit as the single most important project in the future of our city, area and state. There can be no question of the , economic significance of this great , project to the future of this entire ~irea. In fact, many of our existing businesses , now count upon the eventual ~tevelopmet~t of this tjnit in their plans for the years in the Immediate futurc~. * ` Certain processing pla~its which are now operating here have remained be- cause of the bright prOniI~e of' the fu~ture~ Others have selected this location for the same reason. ii PAGENO="0141" Ti~ SI~zToMA dtini OF ITrn~r~, May 4, 1967. OA1fl~ TJNIT, MI~OUEI RIVER BAStN ~RO3ECT 1.31 . Huron is Well aware oJ~ tile value of irrigatrotk~ ~we already have nearly 15,000 acres of this type of farmIng, supplied by uuderground aequifers and in some instances by surface water from the James River which will carr~V the return flows of the Oahe Unit. This good sample may be increased, but it is not enough to support new agri- cultural crops which will stabilize the economy of the future. Our people have. had one experience Wi1:~ a new crop-and not enough total acreage to support a processor. Irrigation farmers in Beadle and Spink Oountles made substantial invest- merits in equipment to enable them to grow sugar beets a few years ago. But the total acreage available was not sufticient to support a sugar beet refinery and the U & I Stigar ~ompany, which had been buying their production for process. ing in the Western part of the state was forced to close its South Dakota plant. This is one company, and only one, which will be looking to this area for a processing plant when sufficient acreage has water available to support a pli~nt. The city of Huron so depends upon the James Diversion Dam, originally planned as part of the Oahe Project, for its water supply, This dam was con- structed by the Department of Interior, now is being paid for by the city of Huron by way of water purchases. But the water supply created by this dam was only calculated to `be sufficient for the city until 1970. By that time it was assumed the Oabe Project, of which this small dam will be an integral part, would be under construction and that Huron in future years would be able to purchn~e water ~n, incr~singly larger qUarktities a~ ~t was ~eeded~ . The Huron Rotary Club respectfully requests your favorable consideration of Senate Bill Six, which contains essential legislation to authorize construction of this project. Respectfully submitted. WILLIAM VAN TASSEL, Presid~mt. MEMBERS OF THE U.S. SENATE, .~b.Cfr)fl~jttee onPower anZ Water 1i~esources, of thø &~nate Interiora~uI In~uZar 4ffa4r8 Camn$~tee, Wash6ngtQn,, D.C. GENTLEMEN : The Huron Chapter of Sertoma Iuter~ationa1 boasts a membership of just undei~ 100 business and professional men all dedicated to service to' the community. In this area, our thembers have actively supported the planning and. develop- ment of the Oahe Irrigation unit since ith original authorization in 1944. One of our members, as a Legislator, helped to write the legislation which made the Qahe Oonservaucy District possible. Others of our group have been active in the educationial programs which resultedin a 92.5 per cent affirmative vOte for the Sub-District and the project in the city of Huron in 1960. We aro well aware of the problems which face agriculture and the cities' that serve agriculture, now and in the years ahead. The one greatest single effort that this conimunity and this state has counted upon to help solve these probjems is the development of the Oahe Irr1~ation unit. The great economic `benefits from this unit will not only stabiIi~e our agricul- ture, but will supply the impetus for new industry in processing fields and in others not directly alli~d with agriculture production. The Sertoma Club has' worked hard over the years to make this community a better place to work arid live. But the finest living conditions are of no particular value unless employment and job opportunities can be provided as well. Much has been written In recent years of the problems created by migration from rural areas to the already overcrowded cities. Here, a relatively minor in- vestment could reverse this trend and contribute to a more efficient overall farm production plant `for the eventual benefit of the const~mer as well. ~We know that `you are ~ fully aware of the high benefits-to~co~t ratio of this *peoject. Benefits which will accrue to the people cf `this commu~lty,. this state, this nation, and to the extent that itwill increase food peoduetion t~ the peoples of the entire worl4~t. ~ . . ` . ` Sertoma Inter~iational is ~n oFgaxilzation. 4edicated to the service of all man- kind4 We can think of no project which Would wore nearly accomplish this purpose. PAGENO="0142" 132 OAHE IJN~T, MISSOURI RIV~ BASIN PROJECT We re~peetfu11y ~ eons~cIeratio~ of immediate n~tho~4~t4on o1~ the Oahe Irrigationiir~~, Respeetfu~11y submitte~k. ~LES LQNG, P7~C$~deflt. 1 I IItRO~N LIONS INTERNATIONAL CLU~3, Huron, S. flak., May 17, 1967. Members of the U.t~L ~ena~te, ~tbeommittee on Power and Water Re$ov~rCe8, of the senate Interior and Insuktr Affc&ir8 Committee. ~ ~ S ~ S th~NTLEMtN : The Thiron Liohs Club : repr~sents appro~dmatei3T 100 ~basine~s- men froth fluroi~ South ~ Thikota. The pur~o~e of this organization ~ to ~ provide 1eader~hiT~ through sE~rv1ee to build a bette~ community and world. ~ * Although the Oahe Irrigation Unit is located north of Huron, It will have a 4li~edt `and Mgntfieant effect on nearly all segmetits of the Huron con1mnnit~. Irrigation devçl9pment of the Oahe Unit will increase aM stabilise agri~ul~ :`thral production,fanñ ~incoih~, aild farm e~enditures for the iri~igatioi1 t~inñer~, and for dryland farth~s of the area who will have a nearby stable feed base and n~rket for their livestock. Th& increased and stabilize farm production, incOme and ex1~enditures will have á~ co~icomitant Iticrease and stabilization effect on b~isinesA and industry `of the area, Irrigation development will also increase and stabilize rural population fti Huron's trade area. There is a dlst1hct~leed for 1nc~eased and stabilized a~ricu~Lti1ral prod~ICtion in thi5~area to meet the lncreashtg national and world demtñid for food and fiber ~rrod11Cts.~ S The vast majority of Huron's business and Industrial interests are directly related to agricultt~re. Some examples are : Livestock sales rings ; paekir~g ~ittt~ts; livestock fèedifig lots ; grain èlérators ; seed companies ; farm machinery, auto- mobile, and truck sales companies ; and many others. Likewise, nearly all other retail, wholesale and service trade busine~es in Huron are directly or indirectly dependent ou f~'rm ipeome of tije ~r~a for the major portion of their business. Irr1gation~evelöpmeñt of the Oahe Unit will increase the size and volume of b~inés~ for `business establishments in Huron and bring new business estal~- ,lishments and in~Ju~tries to HprQn. S ~ S ~ ~ ~ ~ S ` S S ~ ` Iiicreased `bnslnEth~' fOt'H~irOn~lettds'to ihèi~ased po~ilatlon, and a 1ai~gei~ tax base which in turn leads to improved educatioti, reeteatlOn, ~ r~ligiO1x~ trans- portatton and conhiiica'tioa~oV~pertun'it1es for th~ area. ` ` ~ ` ~ S ~ ~ ~ ~ ` This projectwill make Celitrat So~thDakota blossom into. a ii~ich moueifei~tile agricultural area than is now possible and will also remove forevWthe ~fears -of returning to the days~ ~hen this entire area became a huge Dtrst Bowl ~ due to the lack ~ of water~ In;tlie 1930's: when the Dust Bowl eondition~ hit South S Dakota, the main people ~ hurt . the local residents : ~ b~it in our modern economy, if the huge ~ amount of food that `is produced in. this area o~ the present time ~ ~ras tak*~n ` out of 1h~ market 4ue to drought conditioms, it wouM affect the price and supply of food in the entire United States. ~ . . ~ S Another important rea~iit ~f this project Will he to make ~ feasible for the small farmer to remain in business. At `the present time, the small farmeD Is moving from' ~ the farm to urban areas at ~ an ~ alarmin'g rate. ()n~e in the urban area, they are all too often unable to lind work~ and are added to the `growing list of unemplo~ed. ~ For these reason,s, the ,HuronrjLions Club urges you to authorize construction of the Oahe Irrigation Projeet'duririg this session of Coi~gress. Sincerely yours, 11 GEoRGu W. CA1~EY~ President. OPTIMIST CLUB oi~' Hunon, ~, DAv~ ~ ~ S S ~ Mat, ~, 1t~67,. Members of the U.AS~ ~enat'e, $vbeonvrmittee5 on Power a'ad Wet~r Hesonrces, of the S ~S~enate Interior andInsul~ar Affairs Committee, Washinyton~~ D.C. S th~wt~LnMnu : The' O~thMst' Clnb' cifHiirOrt; South Dakota is'Org~ni~ed for the ~ptlme purpose 6f deveio~ñg the~out1t of ouT~ community. ` ` S ~ For this reason, we are extremely interested in the uitimate develo~thefit~of the Oahe -Irri~itioñ Uhl~fn~Brd~li `~nd Sf~flk Oountles in South D~tkO~ ` ` ~ ~ ~ * `While this ~r6j~~t ~nay' `~ll' `h~t\~é Its' `gteatesV impaCt"tipOñ `the' two' ~ouIities north of Huron, it will, in fact, stabilize the agriculture of the area imm'edlatel7 around Huron. PAGENO="0143" [ OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI I~IV]~R. BASIN PROJECT 133 When fully devei~ped~ this great project will sup;ply Water fort products uQt hOW produce here a~ui1 will improve production of crops wbicl~ ~trè' now grOwh. Both will provide opportunity for n~w industrial operat1on~ and ~ for expanded businesses in industries Which supply the farmer. One of South Dakota's greatest problems Is the outward migration ofour young people. Insufficient job opportunities force mafly of wir best young people to l~a~re this area and the state. Construction of the Oahe Unft and the attendant economic benefits will do much to alleviate this problem for much of northern and central South Dakota and to some extetit the efltire state. The recreational benefits that will accrue from the Qabe Unit are not to be ignored. Not only will the added recreation areas provide a healthier environ- ment in which our young people maygrow and mature, but they will provide new opportunities for small businesses which cater to the needs of sportsmen to prosper. The entire membership of the Huron Optimist Club has an active interest in the development of the Oabe Irrigation Upit. We urge you, in the interest of the young people of Huron, the surrounding area, and the entire state and nation, to give favorable consideration to the immediate authorisation of this project. Sincerely, DONALD 0. Baua~x, Pre$ident. Senator McGov1i~nN. Thanks to you, Mayor Schmidt, and we see all of those statements are in the record. I think we will now call the president of the Spink County Irrigation District, Mr. Kenneth Goodwin, if he is here, to make his statement at this time. SPAT~MENT OP KENNI~TE GOODWIN, CitAIRMAN~ SPINE COUNTY IEBIGAflON DTSTRIp~t BOA1tD~ ()F I}IRECTORS Mr. GooDwIN. HonQrable members ofthe Senate subcommittee, my I name is Kenneth Godwhi, a farmer in Spir~k County and chairman of the Spink Cou~ity Ir~iga~tic~ District board of directors. I wish to .. i~ke the following statements onbeh~df o~f the irrigation district board and in support of the Othe irrigati~d~telopment. Irrigation development in this ar~ahas tra,eled a long and oomph- cated route since th~t~rigiiial drettm set forth inthe Piok'~Sloan ~plan for development of the Miss~uri Rit~er Basin. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Many people and agencies of both Federal, State~ and local govern- ments have been invôlired. We are fio~ iappro~chmg. a ~tatt on the realization of one part of that original dream-~irrigation. ~ Of significant important h~s beei~i the support of a weil-iilformed people, to take each sep and, when ne~essary~ vote favorably by. large majoritie~s. I refer to : ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . 1. Formation of th~ Oahe conservancy Subdistrict at the gen- er~l* ~Iection in 1960 by an 87 p~rcent favorable vote~ this repre- sents about 22 percent of both the land and people of this Stat~. ~ 2. Formation of the Spmnk County irrigation District by ~peci~l elec~iOn in Jai~uary 1965, by a favôrabI~vote of about 82 percex~t. 3. Gr~ithig of contract authority to the board of directors of the Oahe çon~erya~cy S~ibdistrict at th~ general electio~i in No~ : vember 1966 by a ~t9.6percei~it favorable ~Ote. We are now ~waitin~ :app~O~al by Congress and authoi'izatibn tO start construction of the first stage of the Oahe irrigation project. These hearings are a part of yout~ ~r~ponsibility to determine if this project is desired by the people directly involved and if it~s in t1~e best inre~tsfth~people~of this area~State,~and~ Nation. W~ beli~ye it is. I PAGENO="0144" 134 ~t~N1'J~, ~IS~A~tl~I ~tV]~R BASIN PROThOT The facii~1 ~ bfthis irrigation deve1oprne~t ar~ in the ~rnany reports and are ~asica1ly covered in the supplemental report on Oahe unit initial stage 19O~OOO acres prepared by the Bureau of Y~eciarn~ticIi. ~ , ~ ~ .fl~e mO~ ~Hti~cal step Ih ~rrigaUon ~i~relopment are now at hand I and req~ire : ~ , ~ ~ ~ , . * ~ ~ ~ . , ~ ~ 1. Congressional approval ai~d authorization for construction. `2. Conip1etitY~ of master ~ c~,ntracts and participating contracts. between the i~g~tib~ district an4the United States. 3. nd, ~last but nQt le~t, another vote on this contract by the people within the irrigation districts directly involved. `~ ~We, ~nthe~ Sp&nk Cö~rnty Ji~rigation Board, believe the people will again give t~h~Lr support for irrigation, and vote favorably on these repayment contra~S if they are fair and reasonable. Irrigation development will be good for the agriculture of this area. It will tiot ~ solve the ~ hasi~ problem facing agriculture everywhere, which isrising gosts of production a~d ste~dy~or declining iiicomes re- ceived for food and fiber produced. ~ Agricttlture's effiei~ii~y ~ ~f prod~u~ctio~iis . surpass4 by no industry iand th~ ~mrt~s~have sw~ce~d~d i~i freeir~g the majority of this Na- tion from the task of food production, thereby resulting in a standard pf living equ~led nowhere in the world. Ironically, the rewards have goim ia~rgé~~ ~t~i other ~s~g~4~nts of the Nation. If this situation con- tinues, we~r~r~ ~rc~lWom ~oi~u~se in~~whicb~fa~rwing, as we now know it, will no longer exist, and food will beëôme sca~ce, with extremely bi~h~!~ts~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ `~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . . ~ People living on theia~il have tWQalterna~veS. One is to produce foodand fibeI~s' ecoi~iomica~lly as p~s~bl~, and t1i~i .1~ope that it will ~s~li ~o~~noiigli~ ~to ~ ~ Irrigation is on~ of the great achievements which,~ f~r ,~ri~lt~r~ will stabilize and increase pro- t~ti~m~!in this area~ The ~th~,r . <ernative is f~r the people to leave ~ in ~ prosp~pus areas of endeavor. We sincerely hope that ~ :agricu~Iture may share more favorably in ~tihcfutureof this Nation. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ On'behaif ~f, the S?ink ~CQunty Irrigation 1Distric~t 1 respectfully urge your fwvorabie ~consideration ~ o~ this project and its .ear)~y ap- ~rwaI by the Cong~ressoftheTh'ited St~es. ( ~ `I have staten~ents ofsupp~rtfromti~e following rganizations which I wish to present for your information and record. Thank you for this opportunity to express our support. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ These otherstat~einentsare from ~ number, of. farmers in this area: ~R~:~b!rt* Ewar1;1'~J~* Dvorak,Sr.,. Otis H~l~ins,. Clifford Larsor~, Lloyd ;I~?~ ~whc~is~ sup~rii~tendeiit~of the irrigatiofl developmç~t farm men- ~n~d b~y Dunà~ Aeker~ ~Wen~1eil Mi~lier, who, is a farmer ; Stewart J~nning~ fari~t; Lyle~Dtook,~ i~arm~r; th~ Spink County Exten- s~on Board ; Spink C~uflty Far~riers Organization ; a44 from the group of churthes represeut~d i~Re~ifie1d, 5. Dak. ~ ~ . Senator MCGOVERNL :Thaiik you tew~r. so muqh. for your statement, Mr. ~ Goo~lwth, and we will see that aU of tho~e a~~qmpanying state- theuts i~rernacie apart xfthe re~Qrd~ ~ ~ ~ (:T~he state~m~ntsreferred t~ follQW :) .~ , : ~ ~ ~ ` ~ ~ ~dhQr,~ile~M'e4n/~13er8 of~Vh~~MYtfe ~ . f* ; ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ i~ ~Rdbe~t th~a~rt. ~ In the ~o~o~e4 rrIa~ien~ di~t~lct~ I do feed a let of cattle and hogs and I can't raise enough feed for roughage and grain both. So, at the present time, I buy all the grain I feed and raise all that PAGENO="0145" OA~E VNIP, MISSOTJ1~I TUVER flASIi~. PROJECT roughage. I feel it would be inwt1i~tb1e to me to have the stable corn supply that irrigation would provide. Now we are at the mercy of the weather and in. droughit years wehave to Worry about p~t~hig th~ high price' of grain that is shipped in from Iowa and Minnesot~t. Naturally~ the acreage Of alfalfa and other roughage that would be raised iftider irrigation would have a real stabilizing effect on the livestock industry of South Dakota. These are thO main reasons that wotild affect my farm operation, but all the other numerous benefits and advailtages of having a stable and abundant water supply in the area are too numerous to mention. I can't help but feel the advan- tages of irrigation in this area will greatly outnumber the disadvantages, and will be a big boom to the towns and cities as well a~ rural segments of the area. Honorable Members of the $ena~te Interior and Insular Affairs ~uboommittee: My n~me is Joe Dvorak, Sr. I live five mi~e~ nortl~east of Redfield. I urge the passage of Senate bllI No. 6 to permit the irrigation of the Spink, and Brown County Irrigation ~istricts. I have five of my sons on farmsaround Redfiélcl. I helped them buy their farms with a down payment. Four of them b~ive off-the-farm jobs to help make pay- ments or they would be losing ground. I believe that if they had irrigatiQn they would be sure of their crops ~nd would make it alright. There are many other benefits that the country would have such as, help for towns, schools, and economy. Honorable Mernber8 of `the geaate ~ubco~mn~ittee: , My name is Otis Hawkins and i ~ a' fatthl operfltet and bwner in Mellette township,' Spink `County, South' `DakOta. I believe in the Oahe Water Develop- ment Project as a means of increasing the productl*n Of Our small Th~rnth and to stabilize our income from year to ~ar. `A ~hort~t~ of Water can be just as `bad to the farmer who farm's on `the upland, as toO ffi~*~hwa'ter can be costly to' those who have land where it is subjected to being fidOded. I b~1ie've this project will prove to be a real help to both. ` ` , ` ~ , ` ` ` ` Lack of water to the upland `farmer ~li{ be a `se$Oi~s Ilmitiüg factor to the ~f~il potential of our land. We strive to kOep up `with th~ de~elbj~thents made In moisture conserving machinery, they do `h~rj~'but dinOnly do suftiuch. We cnn use credit for fértilizér, and ~nreha~ing ñ~W ~lease~ of improved' §eed to `plant our `land, tve can specialize or we `can divct'~if~, ~e ` can use all the `kiiowledge we have acquired from years of experience plus many daysnnd hoiirs( of work, and the'wholè o~eraUOn carIbe a total loss; o~ severeI~ `eu~taited froih' the lack of rain or water at the right time. ` , , ` Problems, 1 suppose, Will s~rlng up bttt I bOlieve the overall, long range benefits will morE~ than offsetthem.' WO will be fitting thiS area for a place in the future when other generations of farm operators will be looked tO for the nflrch needed food -and "fiber to supply our ever increasing population. We have only so `much good productive l~n'd," this is a chance to `bring it it~to full and necessary producitoli. Much more could and will be said for this project and I thank the Senate Committee for allowing me this opportunity to say a few words. Honorable Members of the Senate Sabcommittee~ ` ~ ` ` " ` My name is Clifford Larson and ~I ,llv,e five ntiles south `and one-half mile west of Mellette. I own one-hundred sixty acres where I live. Having lived on a farm nearly all my life I have seen what water at the `right `timO can do for crops, eve~t under a~lverse haat cqnd~tions. I helped, farm in "the dirty `30's" and also farmed in the lnte `30's and `even `~ou~ inches of water ~tt that time Wollid have wade the difl~e~ence of ~sayiiig your life~s work and earnings4 In Our present day far~'ing, volume/is `the only -vc~ay we can buy and ,pny for the ,mac~lnery It require's, to farm, nnd that ~ta1,~es a lot of ac~es to produce the commodities to maint~hi our standa~t'ott flyipg. , , , ~ ~ - ` ` , ,~If we ç~ui 4opbie `our producUo~ `through the use of j~rlg~tjou , I believe it wifl ~rô'y~e i~~re rocux~ 1!or. your~g men to s~rt thatb~ave ~1~e ~desire to farm At the pi~ent timethe 0111y way a~iy of my, sops can farm-is to rent mor~ land and farm with ~ne on, a gram basis. If we' had surety of water we çoi~ld have 83-182-67----1O 135 PAGENO="0146" 136 OAHE UNW~ MI~SOiJRI ~IVER ~ B4~IN PROJECT a dive~sified operation that would enable them t~ ~et started and be independent withont inci~easing om~ a~e~ge~ ~ ~ ~ , , ~ . , . ~ L believe irrigation weuld it~ere~e our farm population by providing .a good living on smaller acreage it should bring in new indi~stries winch would pro vide jobs for many mo r e pe~p1e needed to ~ ~naintain our schools at a good education level. ~ ~ ~ Irrigation &iould bring in mare tax money but be ,a smaller burden on the individual by innreased popula~n and new businesa enterprises. ~ ~ ~ ~ To ~ne, personally, it could mean that at least one of my sons would have a ehanee~stay on the farm. At present the piajority of our youug people who graduate from high school or colleges. are going to other states a~nd larger ~ cities to earn a living as we do not have any opportunities to offer them in this particular region of South Dakota. . Looking at irrigation fron~ a busine~ as well as a personal attitude, I believe it is a good guarantee of protection. of our time, ef1~ort and money that we have invested in land and machinery ; as we can either utilize the possibilities of new ideas and practices, or if ~ve do not choose to eontiiiu~ farming, this way we have the opportunity to sell and realize our investment back in full. Hoaoi~abl~ Members of the f~nate ~boo~nin4ttce: I am Lloyd Dye a native of south Dahota~ a farmer a hv~stock feeder and irrigator. ~ ~ ` ) ~ ~ ~ ~ I am a member of the staff of S IXS,TJ I am Superintendent at the Irrigation Research and Development Farm which is a part of S.D.S.IJ.'s. Experiment Sta- tion. This station is located six miles east of Redfield, South Dakota. ~ I have held ~ this position since ~ Noi~e~nber 1, 196J, prior to which time I was the managing partner operating a couibinatlon irrigated-dryland farm in Beadle County, South D~~ta. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ My first experience with irnjg$io~ on South Dakota land came in j054, ~ince then water f~r irrigatjo~ las1~b~en. ~used ~ every year on some of the land for which Ihave beçnbeld responsjbl~. ~ .; ~ ~ I have worked with persons in the Bureau of Reclamation, the Geological Su~vey, the South . ,Dal~9ta, Water Resourqes Ooznn~ission, the Ileadle County Steering Coui~ijttee for W~tter Resource Development, and for the past five years with .S~SV ~n.d the E~tensi~n~erviee. ~ ~ ~ ~ Ibavetakea `advantage ~f oppoi~tümities to attend auçl be a part of `educational promotional and production rneetingsth'roughout this fl4~teen and one-half-county Qahe Sub-District area. , ~ ~ ` ` " I was given the oppertunity to ~bow and tell ~ome of tbestory aibont electrical power and irrigation development for South Dakota to State Fair go'ers at the Bureau of Recla~atjon Booth duØng the ~96O South Dakota State pair. ~, The ]~ield Day at the Research Fa~ has been very well atten~ed by~p~ople interested in irrigation;ancl livestocj~ feeding. , ~ ` ~ ,I call your attention to these e~pericnces to assure you that I have visited with hundreds, yes, thousapdsof~outh Dakota farmers and ranchei~s. ~ It is my sincere belief that an overwhelming majority `of these people are in ~avor of moving `ahead as rapldly a~ i~s feasible with this great irrigation development. ` ` ` ` ~ ` ` ` We have the land, we have the water, we have the farmers and ranchers, good, honest farmers and ranchers. " We need and ask for your help.. ~ `, ~ , ~ Thank you. ~ , ~ ~ ~ ~ ______ Ho~aorabla Meniboi~ of the ~onatc ~`ubooenn4ttee: ` My name is Wendell Miller and ipy son ~oh~ G and I own and operate a grain and livestock fa~rm in east 1~aulk County about thn~ty six miles horthwe~t of Redfield I was born there hi 1905 hnçl Irted There until 1963 The quai~ter where our buildlngs'~re k~atéd ~*~ta hoiM~ate~d by my `Grthidfather Th~'IgS3. I was márrledin k9119 a?id we hail bought some additional latid the future looked very bright but little did ~ ~know ~h~at ~aras ahead Iii September 1~8O I lost my father and als~ut a mOnth later the banks all closed `We au know about the rest of the `thirties Iii 1q32 1~ raised a good crop but had to ~tl~most give it away~ We sold rye for eldveil cé~nt~ whe4t for thlrr~ eth~ts and &rn and other grain had nö'valne~'Pher~töf `the' ~`thiftië~" *~ ~ila~ñted a d Op~r~r~ year, home- PAGENO="0147" OAHE UNIT, i\~ISSOUEI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 137 times got our seed back, ~on~etLmes didriot, lost some of the land *e had bougtht, but kept the taxes p~Lidon theorha~fa~rm and sthyed off relief. On~ good thing happened during this period ; . . we i~ai~d a family of three fine children, two girls and a boy, and learned how to livewith what wei had. It was during this time I decided we had to have more 1ivesto~k and not depend on a grain' crop if we were to stay in business. Early in 1940, I was able to buy two quarters of rough, hilly land bisected bya creek and by the addition o~ ~a dam on a small side draw. ~ We were assured of plenty of stock water. We then In- creased our cow herd and changed our farming to more corn and feed graiti. This way, we raised most of our feeder cattle and kept them on fe~d ~ until eighteen or twenty months old, when they would sell on the beef market as a choice to high choice grade. Soon after, the Missouri River Project started. The T~ureáu of Reclaniation wentover all the land taking soil samples and when ~ their report came ~ out, the land in our area was said to be unfit for irrigation, due to the heavy clay sub- soil so our dream of Irrigation ended there. A: year or two later survey crews showed up and they proceeded to stake out a dam across the ~reek right in the middle of ~ our suihmer pasture, which would form what is called the Cre~bardReservoir. This will flood about two-thirds of the good bottom land and on top of that, the canal leading in and the one leading out along with access roads, etc., *ill leave us with a few gravelly hills split up In small pieces, some of which we won't ever beable to get to. Regardless of what they might pay us for this land, be it $50.00 an acre or $500.00, once it is gone it is. gone forever, along with the rich bottoms along the Missouri and we will have to get along without it. Regardless of these disadvantages te us, I have been a booster for the Prc since it started. I have traveled throt~ - 1 of our western states and ~ what can a a problem. I have also isn't 2opped Jongress ca IS Project at an early date and start eon- struc,ion as soon as ~. .. ilize that a project of thin Size will take many years for colnpleton. If. they ~. ~LZl production is really needed it wIll be too late. . . H~wrab~e~Tcniber8,of the,~enqte $~beommii~tee; ~ . . . ~ My name is Stuart Benning, and I have irrigated out of Turtle Creekfor th~ past six years. Two years ago. I ran out Of Wlter, reducing a vield potential of eighty to one hundred bushels of Coi~n to a loss ~ . . so I knOW the necOsslt~r o1~ a sufficient supply of water. . . . . I feel our biggest limiting factor in this area is the lack of water. The ve~ults of the limited amount of irrigation that has been carried out in the area has provedthe yield i~oteIftial of feedci~o~s, ~tab1ll~lng the ëcbnomy of those with water available. . ~ We have available, in this area, good irrigable land, top ext~~r~sion personnel and successful irrigators for advisors. Above all, a sincere de~1re by the farmers of this area to have available water-our biggest limiting factor. We ask you to make water available tci ~ .JIono~rable Members of' the $enate Hu~'oommitt~~e: ~ My name IS L~le Crook. I ~ liVeofi a farm outoMe Of the ~rr1gation district in Belle Plaine township. . . ` ~ ~ I bave~ been asso~fated~Wvith irrig~at1on all of my life ~t~T fath~r frrigated from a creek during the "30's". It was flood ir'rigation;rft~tl~ pOtatOes and onions4 which was the main source of income during the dry years. In the early 40's the purchased a sprinkler system which at that time was a large unit. It is driven by electricity, one of lhe first in the state, if no~'tbe ftr~t. I still use this unit toda.~r. .1 have tried a lot ~yf ~iifçerent crops including sugar beets, which was ene of the best, ~ntthé re1!~ery hod to close leaving me wit~out a market. 1 now irrigate alfalfa and sorghum. PAGENO="0148" Joi~ ELSING, Chairmp~ef Spink Uonnty Ea~ten$ion Bonr& Mrs. MILFORD NnLsoN~ ~eeretary of BØnk Uonnty E~-ptens~on*Bo~Ar~.. 138 OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT I I believe irrigation is to be a irnist in the future of our world, if we are going~ to be able to grow enough ~ood~ .1 belieite that this project will be of great benefit to South Dakota. I am sure that withtbis pvoject there will come industry~ such as canneries, sugar refineries,andfoodproeessiug plants. I look at irrigation as insurance~. when the rains don't come I still have a crop from m3rdrrigated land. I beli~ve what thi~ world needs is insurance against hunger, and I see this as a small policy. Therefore, I hope the Congress sees fit to go ahead with the Oahe Irrigation Project. Thatik you. Honorable Member8 of't~he Son ate:~u bcommittee: . Ph~ Spink Gounty Extension Beard presents the following information for con~ sideration by the Senate SI~b Coilim ~ "ittee. ~ ~ The Spink County Water Resource Board and the Spink County Irrigation Board have reqtinsted thn a~isthai~ce ~ of the Spink County Extension Office on educational informationpertathingto theOahe Irrigation Project. The following information is submitted to show the thinking of the people from Spink County : ~ A series of five educational meetings were held to explain the proposed ~ Oahe Development. The meetings ~ were attended by both ~ women and men from rural and city areas. ~ . * ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ A written survey ~ includin~ the. three following questions, was taken at theseS meetings : ~ ~ ~ . . ~ . ~ ~ . .` 1.Shouid Spink'Countybave*irrigation? Yes, 8% ; no, 17%. `3 2. Do 3~ou own landin the irrigated area? Yes, 69% ; .no, 31%. . *3. Do you own land in SpinkOonuty? Yes,80%; no 20%. ~ The vote for irrigation,. after this sutvey wa : s taken, passed 82.7% yes ; show~ ing that the resultn of the nurve~ Were ~ representation of the people voting. A survey on the loss of young pcop1e~ in the ROdfield tirade area was conducted~ through the Redfield ScimolSystem. The years, 1O45-i9~6, which Includes ei~ten high school graduation classes, with 594 graduates~ ` ~ The year 19i~6 was used. as a cut-off . date to allow stt~4ents to attend~ college and/or serve in the armed services, and have time to return to this area and establish their homes. Results show 68.52% of the 5~ graduates .ha~e not re- turnecl.to this area. . ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ . . . Th~~ less of ~ people to;tbls area ernpliasize~ the. lack of job~ in th~ area. Development of the Oahe Unit will help to provide job opportunities. During the past fifteen years there ha~ been a loss of ~l14 farms in Spink: County. The loss of these farm units has increased the tax burden on the peopleS remaining in the community. It has also reduced the need for goods ~nd ~ervi~ to `supply those farm units~ . . S . Regarding the vote on the OaheUnlt Ooutract Authority: The total vote for rural and city showsthefollowlng results: Rural : 1278, yes ; 464, no ; or 73.343% in favor. City : 1719, yes ; 35Z no ; or 83%. in favor. Combined total.: 79.6%, yes. This vote reflects the thinking of the voters in Sprnk County concerning the proposed Oahe Irrigation Unit. Regarding the lapd owners who have asked . to have their land included in~ the Irrigation District, or to have their land reinstated in the Irrigation District,. after they petitioned tt out during the hearings : The Irrigation Boards of Brewnai4Spink Counties made up a form on which a land owner may signify his intentions to have his land included in the Irri- gation District. To date, twelve farms ~with a total of 3000 acres of land have- requested to have their land included in the Irrigation District. These twelve requests are the results of two press releases by the Irrigation Boarcl~ Plans are to hold a series of meet1ng~ o.n. bringing land into the Irrigation District in 1967 and 1968, with a vote to be held in 19~3S. The Spink. County Entension Beard thanks the subcommittee for the, oppor- tunity to present th~,s testlmQny. MA.N5FmLD, `S. .D~Mç., DOLAND, S. ~ PAGENO="0149" F OAHE UNIT; MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT The Spink Co. ~ationa1 Farmers Organization composed o~f ~nenthers. ~and ~owners of farm land in the proposed Irrigation District and the N. F. 0. repre~ ~sents farmers who will ~e directly affected by the Oahe Irrigation Project aud the members have actively suiported the Oabe Project nnd recognise the beue- fits to be derived by the entire p~pulaee of this area through the ~tabilit~t o~ the rural economy and , help provide a better incentive for business Uiterests located :t~ the area and aLso provide better opportunities for our younger generation to stay in the area and make t1~eir homes here. And we also recognize the need for more food and the Oahe Project would help provide for future needs. Therefore, be it resolved that the iSpink County National Farmers Organiza- tion strongly endorses its support of the Oahe Irrigation Project and requests the early development of the project by the Congress of the U.S. JAMES HENZE, Chairman. FIRsT CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, Redfleld, ~. Dak. We, the memlers of the Spink County Ministei4al Association, being interested Tin the physical, moral and spiritual welfare of our constituency, wholeheartedly support the Oabe irrigation project. Our reasons for this support are: 1. One of the world's greatest needs is for food for the starving millions. We, in this community, would welcome the opportunity to provide a greater share of food and fiber f~r the world, so that these people might know a better way of life. 2. The Oahe irrigation project would provide a stronger economic founda- tion and would enable people in this area to develop their cultttral Inter- ests and abilities leading to a fu1l~r community life. 3. Feeling there i~ a relationship between working with the soil and the bui~ding of character, we are interested in seeing as many people haying the opportunity of rernalnin~ on the farm as posstble; We, therefore, strongly endorse the Oahe irrigathn project, and request the ~early development oftbe proj~et by; the congress of the United States. ~ Rev~ ARNOLD LARUE, Prèsident. ~ ~ I ~ Rey. PAUL ~. OtsA~L, ~Secretary. Senator MCGOVERN. I see in the hearing room, Mr. Al Shock, Sioux Falls Oh~mber~ ~f Conmierce pr~sicTent. 1 think just to mov~ to an- other par1~ of the State now, for a few mirtutes~ we will tall Mr.' Shock and take any statement thM h'e ~Wouid care to make, STATLMENT OF AL SI~O~K, PBESIDENT, CHAMBER OP COMM~BCE, SIOUX FALLS, S. DA1~.' 139 Mr. SHoCK. I thank you, Senator McGovern~. Seiia~or .Burdick, ~and `Senator Moss. I speak in behalf of the Sioux Falls Chamber of Corn- merc~e arid Industrial Development `Committee, atid also ara meitiber and past president of tI~e South Dakota Reclamation & Development Water Conservancy, and also speak, Senator Burdick, `as a farmer of North Dakota. My ~ dad farmed up in North Dakota one year to n~ake enough money `to move to South Dakota, and I am also speaking `on behalf of the businessmen ~f' Sioux Fails and as president of th~ T~rrace Park Dai~'y Co. ` . ` ~ , We employ many fa~rrn youth in the State of ~South Dakot~ an~db~iy milk from `approximately 400 farmers, so we have a very close touth with economic problems of the `Stttte of SouthDakota `and itseconomy. We certainly, as business fOlks, endorse this project,' and I' `might add, the Sioux Falls Chamber of CommercO iii~ many~ many past resolutions ejidorses this pr6je~t in its entirety. ` ` ` ` I would like to make this statement rather brief, because today we `81'O listening to the folks who are going `to be the irrigators, but I think this one point should be brought out. Chester Gullikson mentioned it PAGENO="0150" 140 OAH13~ UNIT, . MISSOTJRI RIVER BASIN PROJECT quite effectively. We are going tç face a food problBm in the world before very long, and in your book `~Freedom From Hunger," Senator McGovern, you pomted out the need for food the world over As a farmer and directorof Lions International, in our work, work- ing with C ~ ARE and distribution of food; we have 10,000 people dying and starving because of malnutrition and time is of the essence I believe tins should be authorized with full steam ahead because it is in the intGrest of South Dakota and on the national and international level. I believe I could speak at length in support of this project, but I think you have the feeling that w~ in South Dakota, and maybe here represents the populace area of the State, the southeast part, are totally in support of this pro]eet ~nd we want to enoour'ige you to go b'ick to Washington and talk to a full committee and get this project au- thorized so we may move ahead. ~ Thank.you very much. * . Senator MCGOVERN We appreciate that statement very much It is impossible for me to tell from looking at this witness list wh~ the critics are and who the supporters are, but so far, we have had. unanimous support here. ~ . ~ I would like sometime before we break for lunch, to give an oppor- tunity to anyone who is a critic of ~ this ,propo~al to be heard. So, if there is anyone who would like to come forward at this time, we would be glad to put ~theni on. I have develQped a new appreciation for the dissenters and critics in th~ last few~ months. We would be glad to hear anyone who wishesto be h~ard ~iith~ dissentingside of the issued No one reádyix~peak right atthis time? L~t us take someone from Pierre. We haven't heard any witness from Pierre; ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ , ~ ~ ~ : Mr. Lawrence Snyder from th6 Hughes County Water Resources Committee. Is he in the room? . . ~ While he is making his way to~the witness stafld, I might say that Mr. Bob Hipple is over here at the press table, and I think everyone f~hiliar with *at~ re~urce dei~elopthent itt~tkir State, and particu- larly with the Missouri River, knows he is otie of the most articulate and consistent champions of sound water development. We are happy to have hirniiei~s an editor: : ~ ~ , ~ STATEM `* ENT OP LAW'R~NG~E S1~Y'DER, ~ IIUGliES COUNTY WATER i~ESOURC~S: CÔMMITTEE, ~ttRi~, S. DA~ Mr. SNYDER. Senator McGovern, Sen~tor Moss, and Senator Bur* dick, my name is Lawrence Snyder, my address is Part A, Pierre, S. flak. I am a landowner of hughes County and I live approximately 10 miles northeast of Pierre, S. Dak. I am making this presentation in behalf of the Hughes County Water ~esourc~Committee of which I am a member; S Having been born and raised in Hughes County and old enough to remember wiping the dust from the duststorms off my dinner plate prior to eating, many days each year of those trying times, gave me a great respect for water requirements ofthi.s country. At that time most PAGENO="0151" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 141 shallow wells dried up and there was little or no surface water to depend on. Now the Pierre Canal o~f the proposed Oahe irrigation unit will cross our county and give us access to Missouri Basin water for . which there is a need and request for today, that will become a require- mont and human necessity of the 1970's. Our committee has observed the need frQm landowner petitions desiring to irrigate land along the canal for which soil surveys indicate there is better than 7,000 a~res within 2 miles on each side of the pro- I posed Piei~re Canal, suitnble for: intensive irrigation. I live approxi- mately 5 miles from the proposed canal in an 8,000-acre area * where landowners are proceeding toward the goal of obtaining Missouri Basin water for irrigation and livestock usage. This total of 15,000 acres would represent a need for only 27,000 acre-feet of water but our committee believes there is a need for at least 6 inches of water per year on another 300,000 acres of grass, tame pasture, and forage production land that would utilize anothei~ 150,000 I acre-feet of water. Our committee notes the approximate 3,000 acres of water area such as stock and recreational dams, marsh, and lowland areas that could I utilize an average of 5 feet of water per year or 15,000 acre-feet, plus an equal amount for recharging underground water sources. When the committee allows 20,000 acre-feet per year for municipal and probably industrial uses, we arrive at an estimated total require ment of 2~7,000 acre-feet per year. With this in mind, the Hughes County Water Resources Committee requests the Pierre Canal and Blunt Reservoir ~ be so designed, con- structe4, and operated to allow full season irrigation from the canal ~LIiçl a~1low ~á minimum fluctuation in the Blunt Reservoir. We feel this c~Ii be accomplished by ~ pumping ~ water lilto the canal every month fmmA~px~ii through October, or using a gated canal design when water ~ is ~ot being pumped. We believe through this type. of canal operation ~ that Hughes Count~r will be tthle to reco~r from the Missouri Basin some of the tax base and economic lasses that were lost through crea- tion of Lake Sharp and Oahè Reservoirs. We *hoieheartedly support t;he ~ Oahe irrFgation i~thit for South~ DakQta tLIid hope that appearance today can help speed the proj~t toward realization. I also have a resoHtion to pi~esent to~the committee from the Hughes County Commissioners in favor of the ~iroject, and also a resolution from the city of Blttnt, signedby the mayor of Blunt in favor of the project. ~ ~ (The resolutions referred to follow :) RESOLUTION Whereas, the future econonile development of the State depends in part upoi~ the wise develepment of South `Dakota's water resoarces, and Whereas, the Qahe Unit i~ a plan to utilize the waters o~ the Minsonri River for irrigation, municipal and industrial water supplies, recreation and the con- servation of fish and wildlife, and Whereas, the development of thiS Unit will pro~tide a stalilizing effect on the agricultural economy and will stimulate joh and business opportunitie~, now Therefore `be it resolved, by the Hnghes County Commitsisioners assembled at their monthly meeting at Pierre, South Dakota, this 3i~d day of May, 1~7, urge the c~qngres's of the United States to promptly approve legislation authorizing the Oahe Unit. PAGENO="0152" 142 OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI IUVER BASIN PROJECT R~soLuPIoN Whereas, the future econ~tmiC t~eve1opment of the `State `d~pen~1's in part i~pon* the witse develovment of SGul~h Da'kota'~s ~cvater r~sourees, and' W~ereths, the Oahe Uiiit i~ a plan to utilize the w~tters of the Missouri River fer irrigation, m~nii~ipa1 and in4tTstrial water supplies, ire~reatiou an'd , the con- servation ote fi~Jh and wildlife, and Whereas, the deve1o~pment otf this Unit will provide a stabilizing effect on the agricultural economy and will *` ~t1rnulate joh and husiness opportunities', now Therefore be it resolved, by t'1~e Blunt City Council assemhled at theit nionthly meeting at Blunt, `S. Dak., this list day of May, 19f~7, urge the `Oongreso of the United States to prorn~tly approve 1eg1~1ation authorizing the Oa'he Unit. ` Mayor CLIFFORD OGAN. Senator MCGOVERN. Thank you for your statement, and also for those accompanying resolutions. I would now like to.call Mr. LeRoy Wiitala, president of the Brown County Farmers Union, if he is'here., STATEME1~T OP LeROY WIITALA, PRESIDENT, BROWN COUNTY FARMERS UNION, PREDERICK, S. DAK. Mr. WITTALA. Senator McGovern, Senator Burdick, and Senator Moss, I am LeRoy Wiitala, a Brown County farmer and prosideiit of the Brown County Farmers Union. I am here today representing the 800 members of our county Farmers Union organization. We believe `that water is the key to a golden futm'e for all of Brown County. The realization of this dream, with the completion of the Oahe irrigation unit, will greatly stabilize farm income probability for farmers in Brown County and throughout the Oahe irrigation area. Not all of our members wjll share directly in the benefits of Oahe, but indirect benefits will accrue to all farmers outside the irrigable area. In a limited rainfaill area su~,h as ours along with our total dependence on adequate `feed supplies to carry our livestock operations, the cer- tainty of water in the area insures 1)ientifUl ai'nounts of forage and feed being available to all of Brown County. Still fresh in the mi~ids of older farmers are the memories of the "Dirty Thirties," with fts devast~ting drought, bringing untold suffer- ing to man and beast, And history ~nay. `repeat itself, as evidenced by the patterns of ~Teather over the central and southern Great Plains area the past few years. ` Furthermore, the continuilig shortage of water, via lowered water tables, in the Southwestern United States will bring a gradual reduction of irrigable acres in the next few yea is. If this project fails to materialize and in the end we lose prior rights to this great and plentiful resource that. flows through our State- then we will have failed future generations of South Dakota farmers. . The Brown County Farmers iTnion membership and its board of directors have on many occasions discussed this issue. We ask that authorization for the initial stages of the, Oahe irrigation unit he approved by the Congress this year. And I would like to add one more remark `to this. We~ of Farmers Union have always championed the food-for-peace program 51)01i501&1 by Senator McGovern, and we firmly believe in the adage~ "We are our brother's keeper,"~ and with this irrigation project fulfilled, we will have food production for the ~eoi~1e worldwide, for people to keepS them alive. PAGENO="0153" OAITE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 143 Thank you, Senator McGovern. Senator MCGOVERN. Thank you for your statement. Is Senator Heidepriem in the room now? Senator, we will be happy to hear from you now. Senator Heidepriem is the senator from Hand, Spink, and Hyde Counties. STATEMENT OP STATE SENATOR HERBERT A. HEIDEPRIEM, MILLER, S. I)AK. Mr. HEIDEPRIEM. Senator McGovern, Senator Burdick, and Senator Moss, my name is Herbert A. Heideprieni and I am a State senathr from the 19th Senatorial District for South Dakota, comprised of Hand, Hyde, and Spink Counties, and appear here today because the people of this district are vitally interested in the development of irri- gation in central South Dakota. As an indication of this interest, I can tell you that these counties generally followed the State average of 80 percent favorable vote in approving the recent referendum on contracting authority for the Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict, and that's a landslide in any politician's book. Spink County, of course, is vitally interested because a substantini portion of the proposed irrigation area is located in this county. Some irrigation is expected iii~the other two counties also, and many secon- dary benefits are anticipated. These counties are ciassffied as serniarid. The favorite diversion dur- ing most of the year is gazing at the èlotids and speculating on when it will rainand whether the crops can last till it does. It often does, and `in good years~ this is a leading ar~a in the production of cattle, wheat, ~ and hay. Nevertheless, the economic plight of the farmer and the towns~ people who depend on him in this area is tragic. As a country lawyer, r have oc~casion to prepare income tax returns for farmers, I see year after y~t~ abo~~, hard-working men with substantial investment in land, machinery, and livestock going further behind. Also, in my ca- pacity as count~y lawyer, I frequently have the dubious pleasure of presiding over the demise ~ of a farmstead-drawing the contracts whereby one neighbor buys out another, leaving one less farm family on the land, a remaining farm family deeply in debt, and another empty set of farm buildings. Irrigation can change' all this. The certainty of moisture can avoid for the farmer the disaster which a~vaits when the rains don't come. Irrigation can mean smaller units and more farmers remaining on the soil. I am sure there will be those appearing today who are much better qualified than I to discuss the rari-ufications of the Oahe project as far as this immediate area is concerned. The thing I would like to empha- size in my reitiarks to you, is not the benefit of the development of this project to central South Dakota, or to the State of South Dakota, but rather to this country as a whole. The stability which can come to rural America through development of this and similar projects can be the means of saving rural Am*~rica. And rural America is fast slipping away. Statistics available to me show that 81/2 million people have left the farm since 1950, and half of these left since 1960; 750,000 PAGENO="0154" . .~ 144 ~OAHEi UNIT, ~ISSOflEI RIVER BASE( PROJECT in the past year alone. Some will say that this is an inevitable adjust- ment. The Pr~sidenthimself is authority for the statement that two- thirds of the farmers are not needed Perhaps this is true Maybe 4 million fa~mers can prod~ace the ~ food ~ azid fiber now being produced by 12 million. Perhaps we must lose another 8 million farmers. Per- haps our small towns must perish. Perhaps rural areas cannot be saved. I, for oñ~believe that the ~i1turéThatis rifral Am~rica is important to this Nation. Despite thelowereconomiostatus of the people of farm areas, it is a good place to raise families and to live the good life. Why else is rural America worth s~tving ?. If~for no other reason than to avoid compounding the critical problems of the great metro politan areas. . . ~ ~ ~ No doubt most of the 8½ milhionpeople who have left the farm ended up in large cities~ How do you gentlemen feel about an addi- tional 8 million people in the cities ~ The latest figures available to me show that major crimes per 100,000 people in South Dakota were about one-half of the national average, and one-third of one-fourth of the nuthber reported for some of the most populous States. I read with interest the report of the President's Committee on Law Enforce- ment and Administration ~f Justice~ Reproduced here is a table from the report which graphically demonstrates how the incidence of major crimes grows in proporli~ntothe densi1~y of~the population : TABLE 8-'OFFENSES KNOWN BY CITY SIZE 1965 . ~ ~ jI~tps pe.r 1QpQOO~popuIaUOn1 ~ ~ ~ ~ : ~ . ~ ; ~ Willful Forcible ~ ~ Aggra- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Larceny, Motor ~ . Group . ~ ~ ~ homi- ~ ~ rape ~ ~ Rb'bbery : ~atéd ~ ~ Bur~Iary ~ ~ ~$5O and vehicle cide assault over ~ ~ theft Cities over 1 000 000 ko 26 221 246 ~ 930 734 586 500 000 to I 000 000 10 20 165 182 1 009 555 640 2~Q 000 to 500,000 ~ 7 ~15 122 142 ~ ~ 55Q 468 100b00to250000 ~ 6 11 13 iSi 811 ~56 353 50,000 to 100,000 ~ 4 ~ 8 ~ ~ ~ ~ . 8~ ~ ~75 492 297 . 25 000 to 50 000 3 6 33 7i 562 443 212 lG000to25000 12 6 ~ 19 67 462 309 141 Underl0000 2. 5 12 62 ~69 236 ~ 99 R~aI ~ ~ 58 ~ 308 176 51 Suburban area_ ~ 3 ~ ~ 28 66 545 359~ 160 All places___ ~ 12 ~ ~ ~ 61 107 605 ~ ~ 420 251 Source: "Uniform Crime Reports," 1965, table 1/p.~1 and table 6, p. 94 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . I sympathize with M~yoir Lindsay of ~ew York rn Ins problems of transportation, and see tht~t .i~ is ~tsking Co~igress for millions of dollars to revamp his transit ~yst~m. Rui~l America has no such problem. I note the billions which ha~ze been sp&it by the Congress for urban renewal aiac~ slum clearance. I have personally observed the projects in Chicago, Minneapolis, Pitt~bitrgh, and Boston I notme the requests for billions of4ollars to finatice denionstration, cities ~nd model cities. Rural Am~rioa'has no need of approp~riations for these purposes. Oo~istantly ~n the. `news mea~ a~e stories about the problems of pollution, ~dr and water, ~nd of thebillions of dollars estimated as needed to ~ontrol it, Rural America has no air problems, and water ~ poJli~tion is local and comparatively. u~hior. ~ ~ ~ . ~ Drug addici~qn, prostitution, alc~1~olism, and many other social problems are much less a problem in the wide-open spaces. PAGENO="0155" OAHE UNIT, MISSOi~EI RIVEE BASIN PROJECT 145 What effect has the migraiSion ~of 8½ million ~ farm p~opie to the cities had on these staggering urban problems ? What effect will eight million more pepple have ~ We are told that the multipurpose dams on the Missouri River will eventually pay for themselves from flood control, power, and irrigation. It seems to me that the problems of large metropolitan areas increase directly in proportion to their population and that the first approach ought to be to avoid further ~acceleration of their growth. Gentlemen, the conclusion appears in- ~escapable that money spent to "keep `em down on the farm" will be the best possible investment for those ~vho stay, for those who are already gone, and for the well-being of the country as ~t whole. Thank you gentlemen for 1istening~ It has been a gratifying ~xperi- ence to me to have the opportunity to air my views before your sulbeommittee. ~ ~. Senator MOGOVI~RN. Thank you for ~ your testimony, Senator Eleidepriem. In about 15 minutes we are going to break for lunch. I think we *will have time for x~iaybe two more witnesses before we take our lunch break. . I would like to call Mr. Arthur Svendby to make any statement that he would care to make at this time. He is a longtime champion of water development proposals in our State and as director of the National Reclamatj~n Assoeh~tioii. Mr. ~vendby ~ comes from Lem- mon, S. Dak. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Mr. SVENDBY. Honorable Chairman and members of the commit- tee, my name is Arthur Sven~lby. I am a resident of Lemmon, ~ Dak., :and South D~kota director of the ~ational Reclamation Association. I have been authorized and delegated ~y Mr. Milo HQiSvee~i, chief ~engmeer-secretary. North Dakota State Watei~ Commission, tQpresent their statement at this hearjn~ ~h~e1a reads as fol1ow~ : ~ ~ ~ ~ Th~SOLUTION or T~TF~ ~Tbi~Pn tiAkOTA ~ ~TA~E WATER COMMISSIoN RESOLUTION 67-3-235 - Whereas, construd~ionby the *~~~a1 Go~thrnment of the four dan~s on~1~tissouri River in South Dakota-q~u~~ 1~b~nt~ ~`AiI~t Randall Big Bend and Oahe-has resulted in the loss to the State of over half a million acres of valuable agri- cultural land required . for ~l~e projects~ wifich ~loss can be par~i~illy mitigated through the iri~gation develQpment ~ authorized ~ the Congress as part of the Missouri 1threi~ E~tñ Pi~ject in the ~1ood Control Act of t~44 ; and Whereas, proposed legislation pending in Congress-H.R. 27 and i163~ and S. 6-would authorize the ~Sectretai~ of. the Interior "to construct, operate, and niaintain . . . the fir~~ ~ ~stage of the Oabe unit, James division, ~Eiasouri River Basin project, South Dakota, for the principal purposes of furnishing a surface irrigation water supply for approximately 190,000 acres Of land, fur- ~ni~hirig water for thtmicipal thid industrial tises, ëOntrollthg flOods, enhancing ~the generation of power, conserving and' developing fish and wildlife resources, and enhancing out~1oor recreati~u~ opportunities, and other purposes" ; and Whereas, the unit report and legislative measures have been developed through exhaustive studids and investigations by the Bureau o~ Reclamation, South Dakota's congressional delegation, * and affected local interests, and all have determined the unit to he engijp~eringly sound and economically feasible, and a Uevelopi~nent that will ~rii~g many hencf~s to, South Dakota, the regior~, and the Nation through the balanced and stabiliz~d economy in t1~ie ai'e~a and other ben~fit~ Whichit will provide;' and ` WhêMas, North Dakota as the upstream bordei~ ~etate has a Cothmon intere~t with its sister state in the regional economy of the two-state area; PAGENO="0156" 146 OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RI~TER BASIN PROJECT Now, therefore, be it resolved by the North Dakota State Water Commission7 meeting in regular session in its office in the State Capitol, Bismarck, North. Dakota, March 23, 1967, that it strongly favors and supports the proposed Oahe unit, initial stage, development and does hereby most respectfully urge the Congress to consider and take favorable action upon the aforesaid legislative bills at the earliest practicable date ; and Be it further resolved that the Secretary be and he is hereby directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to the Honorable Nils A. , Boe, Governor of South Dakota; U.S. Senators Karl `B. Mundt, George McGovern, Milton R. Young, and Quentin N. Burdick, and U.S. Repersentatives B. 1. Berry, Ben Reifel, Mark Andrews, and Thomas S. Kieppe; Honorable Stewart L. Udall, Secretary, Honorable Kenneth Holum, Assistant Secretary for Water and Power, and Honorable Floyd B. Dominy, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Depart- ment of the Interior. For the NorthDakota State Water Commission: Governor WILLIAM L. Gui, Chairman. Senator MCGOVERN. Thank you so much, Mr. Svendby, for your stathment. 1~Ve appreciatethat. Senator BUEDICK. I consider that right neighborly, don't you What is the position of the National Reclamation Association? Mr. SVENDBY. The National Reclamation Association will present ~i statement in favor of the Oahe Irrigation District, in Washington, at your hearings at that time. Senator Btrf~nIoK. Do you know the views of any of the lower Mis- souri associations ~ Mr. SVENDBY. I don't know, but I might say, `Mr. Perry Moore, who lives in Kansas, attended our meeting of our board of directors in March, and at that time he seemed to be very much in favor of that program. ~ Senator BuunTcIc. Aiid wb wifl have a resolution coming forward from the National Associatio~i ~ Mr. Sv~icrni~. Yes~ sir. Senator BuIwroK. That will be fbAtorable. Senator MCGOVERN. Our last wit~ness before lunch will be Allen Sperry of Brown County. S~ATENENT OP ALLEN.. SP~RRY, ~MER IN TEE WEST BROWN IRRiGA~ION ~]Y[SPRICT Mr. SPI~RRY. Senator MdGove~n' and Ser~tor Thirdick, my name is Allei~ Sperry I farm with my son, Jim, in ~he West BiQWn Irrigatiort District. It was very nearly 10 years ago that 1 appeared before your com- mittee in Washington to ask your support for continuing the investiga- tion as to feasibility of irrigation for the Lake Plain area in South Dakota. At the hearing I made the statement that I did not know, then, if I wanted irrigation but that I knew that I wanted more facts that we could only receive through a c~in~lçte~ study and tests. Eventually Congress appropriated the money and the Bureau of Reclamation `made its report. This report along with a later edition put out in 19~5 indicates that `we have ~good irrigable land and a very' favorable benefit-cost ratio of .2.5 to ` 1 f~r the first stage develop- ment of 190,000 acres and 2.8 to 1. for the ultimate stage of 49~,O00 acres~ The reports also indicate that since the economy of South Dakota PAGENO="0157" OA~1~ tNIT, MISSOURI~ RIVER BASIN PROJEOT 147 is built upon agriculture, to stabilize agriculture will expand and StaJ~)i1iZe the entire economy. It is estimated that ilicreasedi annnal gross farm income will be $30,157,000 for the first stage and $78,534,- ~ooo for the ultimate stage andi increased trade resulting from irriga- tion will be around $78,534,000 for the first stage and $185,064,000 for the ultimate stage. rrlley even rneiition increasedi net farm income which interests me greatly. The study indicated that increased production of livestock and di- versified crops WOuld ~)robabiy require niaiiy iiew agricultural proc- essing I)lalItS as well ~t5 increased prod1i1Cti01~ ill existmg l)la1~t5. The new plants alone would probably employ about 3,000 more hill- time an(1 seasoi~al eniplovees iuicler the first stage and up to 8,000 in the ultimate stage. Large quantities of industrial water avai]able to ~citie.s audi towns ~ w ill certamly stimulate industriai growth. I)evelopnieiit of recreation areas, fish and wildlife, better schools, roads, mail service, and community facilities all appeal to me. (i*entleine.n, jo years ago before your committee, I didn't know if I wanted irrigation or not, but I know iiow. The sooner it comes, the better. Since the report~ Oil the Oahe unit came from the Bureau of Recla- ination in June 1960, we have voted into. existence the Oahe Con- servancy Stibdistrict by a large majority, we have organized irriga- t hill districts, ~~1~ere those o~)posed to irrigation were I)erlfittedl to withdraw their land, and at the last general election contract authority was o'ranted to the board of the Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict. ~I'1ie legisf~ture has also approved this action. Qentlel1ien, a vast majority of our people want irrigation and we ~rsk your support in getting it. ~ Senator MCGOVERN. Thank you for your statement, Mr. Sperry. I have a brief note I would liketo read from Vera Walker. She says, ~`My 1~iusband, George Walker, and I, live on the shores ofLake Byron, which ~Q~~jI1 be a reservoir. \Ve will gladly give lii) our Precious home instead of going through the `Dirty ~ again." Let me say again, if there is anyone here who would like to make a statement and file it with the conunittee, if you give it to Mr. Whitacre during the i~ioón break, we will inside it `a ~ai~ of the record. Let me just say before we break, we have beeii moving along so well that we are about two-thirds of the way through our witness list. I thiiik in .f.~ or 2½ hours after luncfh, if we go at our present rate, we ought to 1)0. all through. Senator Burdick and Senator Moss both have to return to' Washing- ton this afternoon. I am staying oii in the State for several days, so we will go on with our hearing this afte.riioon as bug as we can, but I would imagine that we will try to l)ring these hearings to a conclu- :51011 somewhere around 3 :30 or 4 o'clock. Anyone we haven't reached by then, and I imagine we can get through by then, bi,it if there is anyone we are unable to' hear, we will keep the committee høaring record open and you submit your state- ment to us and we will make them a part of the record. We will not take our lunch break and reconvene here at 1 o'clock. (Hearing i~cessed at 11 :30 a.m. until 1~ :45 p.m. for lunch.) PAGENO="0158" 148 OAHm~ U~NIT~, J1SOU~RIk RiVER ~BASIN ,PRO3EOT s ii~vans of Ashton STATEMENT QP DENNIS EVANS, S~INK COU~'1TY PARMER,. ASKTON, S. DAK. Mr. EvA~s,*onorab1e m~mbers of the S~uate sub~9mmittee, my rn~t11~ is Penmis. Evans. I Iia~ebeen ~rming in the Asliton, S. Dak.,, area since 1~A1. In all those ~6 year~, ~bere have oply. been a few years that the i~eed ~for water w~s~not critical dx~ring the cxopping season. With the use of the ~ew. h~gh yield seed varieties and. new ~ertilizer te~hx4ques, I beiiev~4that t~ lack of water is the only factQr that keeps this laiict from being one~of th~ higi~r produo~iig a~s ~ our country. I own 800 acres, but I am presently farming 2,400 acres-all the~ laaid ~s ~ I i~aJiz~ that a man will flot: ~ this many aqr~ up4ei~ ~ 1~~lieye tl~at laud ch~ssW~ci as irri- gable, shM1~~ t1~4istr~t, ~ : , ~ ~ ~; I beli~we ~ha~irriga~i9u ~v~ll gr~tly ~p~nd the l~v~stQck iiidi~jstry,, a~s; we1~ ~ gi~~ Ja~gc~~ ~ c~ c~rp~is thM can b~ ~i$Ofl~i~aj~fliS.; ~;t~ a1~Qthui~ ~t~ji~t ~ ~ ~wii~ be built, il4 `t;owi~ to process the increased production from the ,~ar~n& Other jiidu~trj~s w9uld be~ bUiltWit1b~:aY~ilabie wa41~~ ~ ~ :` ~ ~ ~, ~ ~ I think that irrigation would increase and ~ab~h?e th~ economy of this a~~I wqulç~ like to s~~rig~tiqu. cqrnet~ South ~Da~kota d~pr my ~ ~ ~ ` ~ ~ ~ , ~ Se]~tor MQOovEI~~T. ~hap~ y~ur~ ever ~o~çh, fpr your ~a~ement,. Mr. Evans. ~ ~ ,, i1h~ ~ ¶1~:i ,/~ ~ Is Mrs. FraPk Swope iu thQq~~?:I~Ir~ $wope,, we will ~e gla4 l~o~ l~aoi~1younp~, ~ ,, ~ ,, ` , , ~ ~ ~ ~ , ~ I ~t ~ ~ ~ S~4J~~T 9*~S.~K4ÜS~WO1'4 O1UERT,S.D4K. Mrs SWoi~E Senator M~Gbve~i ~tnd Sew~tor Burcl~ck,~[ an~ Mrs I~raxik Si?c~ope of O~'ieht? ~ D~k Ha~h~ tome from an area ~ii the sô~h *here they ~s~lii1l~ haW~pleñty of thoi~tt~r~, ft di~n't~t~1~ the long ~o understand that the lifeblo~qd of a~ricu1ture in this area is water. ~ ~ ~ ~ , ~ ~ ~ / i: am coch~urrrian ~M Exi~n~on fi~6themakers ~ounci1 of Faull~ áoitht~ Onç of the& ~iki~tie~ b!i~ ~f~trth~rs iii the ~j~ri{~time is whether o~ ~nôt it ~S going th ~be a seasdti of ~iimcient moisture for t~e produc tion of crops, hay, and pastures ~& con~nt~u state~rMiit made by farmers ii~the spriri~ is tThtj~h~y *birM plat~I~f~ o~eratibns on ~ hig~ei~ ~co ndmic level ~f t~e~ ~ëre s~ire'of a year~o~ ~iffidi~it ~ioisture to war rant it So i~ig~1oi~i Ti~ñ~ ~o~lll a~~llfe ~f ~ st~ai~i1it~ that woul~I def inftely accrue to a frnièh hi~I~i~ ~$nffliSid po~t~ofi óf~o~fr f~ners ~id stoekm~n, ancj bonst~4iientl~ ~ ~ a~d ~t~rmei~ o~ ottr ~to~w~is It wacsqii~Y ~rMletkftiet~~ te~i~e~rii~ `F~it~ilk doii~ity wbi~en~ at an Oahe informational meeting and then to take the information~ back to the women of the various clubs over the county. In all of the club meetings which I attended over the county to talk about anci~ PAGENO="0159" OATh~ ~T~NIT; ` MIS~OURi EIVER BASIN PROJEOT 149 thscus~ the O~h~ proj~ct. I found~the interest vei~y keen and favorabk toth~ cleveloprnei* of the project. . ~ ~ I most respe~tfu1Iy submit this report tothis hearing. * * Senator MCGOVERN. Thank you, very much,Mrs. Swope. *Nôw*~ we will he~tr frômMr. Dea~n S~renson o1~ the Pierre Chath1~er of Commerce. Mr. Sorenson is amember of th~ State House of Repre- sentatives for th~ State of South Dakota. * I think after Mr. Sorenson itestifies we will hear from Roy Ter~ williger, if he will be ready to go next. STATEMENT OP DEAN P~ SORENSON, REPR~SENTIRG THE PIERRE C~AlV~REfl OP COMME~.CE Mr. SORENSON. Honorable Senators, I am here representing the Pierre Chamber of Commerce and others. .1 am a representative of Hu~hes, Stanley, and Sully Counties. ae members b'f the Pierre Chamber of Commerce fnil3r support the ~hase construction of. the C `ie irrigation project.. We, feel. that ~ our hopeanith~ hpe.ofth~ PAGENO="0160" 150 OAHE UNIT, MI$SOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT Ro~ ~nwrn~x~th~, eou~i~ ~ecretWy, Sout1z~ D~kota~ ~Bwnkers A,~sooiat~&n. At our. 75th aninud convention .~just ~ concitided Saturday afternoon May 20, our members again, by resolution, ~pressed their support o~ the Oahe irrigation unit anti urged the authorization by Congress. A copy of the re~1~ation is~attached. The ban1~ing indus1~ry of South Dakota stands completely~ behind the Oahe project and as the pthncipal supplier of agricultural oredit~ in our State, we are fully aware of the great heed for `this project to improve the stability of our agricultural economy. . At the time of the completion of the hearings in Washington, D.C., we will submit a more expansive and complete statement to the corn- mittee indicating th~ st~idy that wehave given to this particular matter., Thank you for this opportunity to appear be~fore you and on behalf of the banking industry in South Dakota. Might I take this opportu- nity to urge a favorable report on Senate bill No. 6. (The resolution referred to follows:) Ri!~soLimoN OF ~~EE Souru D~orA BANKERS AssoolArlox Whereas, it' is tile desire ` o~f the e}tizens of South ` Dakota to develop their state `water resources j~or South Dakota's future development of Industry, agxicnlture, rural ani urbau, growth and the awareness that browth depends upon an abundant, suitable and economical w~ttersupply ; and Whereas, the Oahe IrrigatiOn tTnit as ~ pi~öposed Is of great ip~ipOrtanoe to th~? ec ~ onoih~ ` structure of `th~ ~tate by the ~irrlgatioa1 ~f 4e5,000 acres in the James River Biisin and the Missouri ~`iope, tliei~Oby prodt~ei~ig additional munie- ipal and th4w*rial w*t~ , ~uWlies, eonserv~Ion, reci~eation~ flood' eoutrQl and' pollution a~atement thus re~lizang maximum utilization of land water and human resourjMs for growth hi So~tth ~akQta Now,"tber~fërè, l~e It resdived ~ 11~hat th~ South Dakota Baiikérs Asaooi'ation recogniziug,tbe benefits to the entire stf~te of Seuth l3akota through the pro- posed' QiU~e~~r&ga~t&ou,Unitit I~reby suppqrts all gre ,, i~,ps,, a~ooi~tions, a~ei~cies and IndLvidual citizens in urgi~ig that the Oi~he Irrigation Unit be authorized 133~ the Ooiigr~sS ottbe United StateS' and Belt furtter re~ei~ed: th5t ö~pios of this Besolution be forwarded to members of the Congress of the United States ~n the'appropriate cornn~ittees interested in water resource ~evelopwe~it an(treOlftn~LatioxL. Approved by Oonvóntion Aasem~1y. Dated : ,~y ~ 1967 , , ~ ~ .~ ` ` . ~` SenMor MCGOVERN. Thank~you,and we will see tl~t tj~e `resélution is made apart of therecord. ` . ` ` ` ` ` Is Mr. Wayne Van Winkle here ~ Mr. Van Winkle is `a Brown County farme~. `We are happy to have your statement now, Mr.Van Winkle. STATFiME'NT OP WAYNE VAN WiNKLE;~OOLUlVIBIA, S. DA~. Mr. V4N WIwicx~. 1 an~. Wayw~ Van Winkle cf Columbia, S. flak. I My father, my son, and I, representing three generations, operate an 1,800 acre farrin on which w~ have resided for the past 6~ years We raise small grain, iori~, IU~cI ~rlft~l~a with whieh we produce hogs, sheep, and cattle. We specialize in brown Swiss dairy cattle from which we sell grade Amilk totheótyof Aberdeen. ~ ` ~ Senatox MCGovERN Howfmany cows do you milk, Mr Van Winkle ~ Mr.VAN. WINEIE. JustwM.t"rny~*ife can handle. , ~ ~ ` Our biggest, probi~m;~ha~ bsé~ ~to raise s~fficient feed' for our stock each year In the thirtu~s i~ 1u4 to cut Rtiseiaa~i thisties to feed our PAGENO="0161" OAE1~ UNiT, 1\~tIS~OtTh~I ~IV~R ;BASIN PROJECT 151. ~dairy cattie~ and we 1ea~~ned ~1~o proce~ them for about 10 years. That was our main feed, and d'uring that time we iost~32Q acres of our sand in the drought Ato insurance companies, and many of our neigh- hors lost their land due ~o dtonght, and~ at the ~nd of 1~4O quite a big majority of theland in our ~ounty was owned by insurance corn- panies and it was several years lat~r before the farmers were able to purchase that land back. ~ . * ~ ` . ~ And we think that with irxdgati~n made possible~ that this will elimi- nate this problem ii~i the futui~e and ~we will have a morei stable agri~ culture program. With irrigaiton made possible, we think it would ~ take the gamble out of farming!and gi~eassuranee of plenty of feed ~every year. With irrigation, farm ~oiditi~mwouid become more favor- able and South Dakota would be a more or better place to live, or bet- ter place for ouryoting folks thrgro~v up im ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I * thank y~u very much ~for th~ ~ opportunity in presenting this. Senatc~r McQGvi~. TIiai±y~u very mnch~We are glad to find out who the policymaker is in th~ faiinl~ an4 who do~the work. ~ SenatorBUrnTGK, Iwant to now if yoii~otisidet~the following state- :ment to ~ he correct. My father was vei~~~ ~flx~tive in that period in the I `1930's antI got ttsed tolds~f~Rt,~ssjaiit~h4stles ~tnd he used to make ~peeohes.1]Ie:sthd, it ~vas so;dt~y ith~t~riodthatthe fish w~ld kic~k ~ ~up dust ~ ~ , : * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Mr. V~ ~ That i~ v~y!pos~ible: On~ ~xperien~ we had, we sowed quite ~ lot ef corn and in~ ~nd b~ Wi tho~e thistle~ got pr~tty dry and; sharp andw~ut ottr 1~gs~ut Ofdur ~wetall~, ~hatt was left of them, and put them on the~h~r~esle~s so w~ c~üid gt ~throughtho~e thistles~insewhig ry~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ : ~ Senator MOQ~Vi~R~L Senato~rMosshad t~1e~v~t~ gob~k to Wash- :ington, but he~a~te4Ilm~g uslast ilightin dee~t, ~bi~ those of you who didn~t heari~is rn~rks~th~:th~ ~tt~sO d~ h~uth~ State of Utah,~ thatthèré are ~ good~in~tny yoit~g~t~rs ~ha~t ~acfrfull~gè bef~~ they ~see it ~ rain. Au 8-~y~arold girl ~ walked ~otttside and ~vas ~ sI~!ocked ~ `when a raindrop hit her, that it took ~ p~ils~ ~f dust to revive her. Well, ~rtow we will hear Mr David ~ fr~m the South Dakota I Retaii1ersjA~sso~jafioñ~. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I ~hi~nk ~ a1~i~ Mr~ad~'~ t~stihi~yri~1! ~rtRit~h~d Pi~h~rwill be ~ ~ready togo; ~vi~lhear*oi~ hith. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ` ~ ~ ~ ` ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~. ~ ~ ~ ~; ~ ~ ~ .~ ~ ~! I ~ ~ ~ . ~ . . .~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~STAThMENT BY DAVID `G. CADY, EXEciTTT1VE 1YLANAGE1~ OP T~1rE G1U~ATE1t SOtt~R ~AZOtA ~sSO~IA~CiOi~ ~ Mr. ~ My'name i~ Dai~idGt ~adji~,e~ecutive m~tu~ex~ c~f the Greater South ~ l~ca~th4 at 22~Ea~t ~Oapit~l, ~ Pierre, S. D~k. GSD~A~~ i~ ~ ~a~¼~ide ~rgattiz~tith~ ~ ~rviiig as a State chamber of commerce ~ ~ ~só~h~tion. This a~soèh~tio~ df `over F,000 1~I~I~M~ ~ ~if b~i~ine~, in- ~ ~dustryi, and agri~dturo. * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ i~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ . ~ I am submitting for your~th~fdi~vtith~ ii~ bellEtif of óiirtheMber- ship, a statement auth~ri~tl ~b~t the boa~1 of directors o± our asso- [ ~ciation~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ t~: ~ ~ ~ ~ : ~ ~ ~ `~ * ~ ~ ~ A subject which ~ c~sM~r~ng is o~ r~rOi~lt h4t- portance, not only to the Oahe district, but to all of South Dakota. Our Nation is indeed fortunate to have such resources as our agri- ~culturalists, tilling the fertile and rich soil of our great State. South 88-182---67-ii PAGENO="0162" OAHE UNIT, `MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 152 ing,ut aim of t continued cc economic WE ~been a lead ~as achieved ~r farms and lieve that ~ ~ velop- require- business houses, acrease in popu- turalist, project. situa s of t oping resources amounts of food and reat deal of optimism. No ~ it has developed into a PAGENO="0163" have re appreciate an thor ization of the 0 reso] OAUE UNiT~, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 153 ~ on the whims of nature~ to supply us with adequate rainfall at the pre- cise moment of need, but, rather though a program such as this, have ~ the assurance of adequate moisture. GSDA is proud of our State's heritage and most optimistic about our future. We respectfully request that the Congress and the Presi- dent to act with great dispatch in approving and funding for this project development. . . Senator MCGOVERN. Thank you foryour statement, Mr. Cady. Mr. Richard Fisher, the next witness, is the president of the South I Dakota Wildlife Federation. I STATEMENT OP RICHARD PISHER, PRESIDE~NT, SOUTH DAKOTA ~ . WILDLIFE YEDEItATION AND NATIONAL WILDLIFE P.~DERATION Mr. FISHER. As members of the South Dakota Wildlife Federation and the National Wildlife Federation, we are concerned with proper uses of our natural resources. We feel that esthetic and recreational values should have every consideration along with other beneficial uses of water. Many of us have been active in the creation of the Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict and have helped in the planning of the Oahe irrigation unit. . The authorization of the Oahe irrigation unit is vital to the econ- omy of the State of South Dakota and necessary to provide occupa- tions for our well-educated young peopli~ so that we may keep them here to help form the future of South Dakota. We need their youth, creativeness, and ability in our commuuities and in our State gov- t. This project will assure us of retaining at least some of Lent young people. Oahe unit has been well j 1 ~ i: order to ~ o testify in b unit and I I tors t' au~ it and STATEMENT AND RESOLUTION OF TH1~ SOUTH DAKOTA WILDLIFE F1~DEEATION The South Dakota Wildlife rederatidn, as an alIlliate of the National Wild- life Federation, is dedieated to the preservation and wise use of all remaining natural resources ; of which lish, wildlife and recreation are a part. We believe that health of mind and body thru recreation is vitally essential to the welfare of our future generations. The South Dakota Wildlife Pederation supports and eoQperate.s with all water resource develop~nents which are multi-purpose in their planning, and take Into consideration all the future needs of our people. After a careful appraisal o~f the organization and planning of the Oahe Irrigation Unit, the officers and di- PAGENO="0164" 154 OAT~ V~NIT, M~IS~OT~t~T RIV1~3R flASIN PROJI~CT rectors of the Sotith Dakota Wi1d1if~ Federation unaniniously endorsed tfi! i~oI- lowing resolution : "Whereas, The Board of Directors of tile South Dakota, Wildlife Federation at a meetii~g in IJuron February 19, 19~7, received additional information wiUch indicated that in th~ formation, planning and request for federal authoriz~1tlofl of the Oahe Irrigation Unit th~tt cOn~idér~ttton l's beinggiven to all beneficial uses o~ water ; and ~ * :~ ~ ~ "Whereas, we fully realize the future economic impact on the general pUl1ic `welfare by authorizatic~n o~ the Oahe Irr~gatioR Unit and "Whereas,. w~ undei~s1~a~nd and accent our responsibility i~1 the plaunitig, for- ~nation and ~upport of ~ the enhäm~ient ~ a~pects of beneficial uses * of water; "Now, therefore be it resolved by the Board of Directors of th~ South Dakota `Wfldlife Federation that we support the authorization of the Oahe Irrigation tirdt" ~ ~ ~ Senatoi' ~ç~oi~R~sMr. LesterP~ri~nis from Spink County, he~e, and also Mr. Otis Hawkins ? We will hear him after Mr. Dennis corn- pletes his staterneAt. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ : , ~ LESTER DENNIS, 1V~E~T'TE, ~ DAL Mr T~E~I~ IXonQrable r~er~ib~~rs of the Senate ~ubcomm~tee, I am Lestc~r Dew"~ o:1~ Mellette, S Da1~ I ~arn~ in the northerii part of Spink Ooiinty, in the proposed irrigation district. I am iii ~vc~r o~ irrigat~ç~i 1~ec~u~e it, wc~ild ~l~jnat~on~ of the pro1~1er~. in farm- ing-the 9~t~g~ ~ ~oj~t;~We~ ~ tp~ me, i~, ~maiii~ ~iSQfl f9~ crop failure in t1i1i1~ tJ~ mqisture do~i'~ ~oni~e a4 t1~ ~i~ht ti~ q~ in ~rpp~ ~ ~ ~ : I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . c~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ , ~ ~ ~ !~c ~ w~ have ~ ,SP~t~ c~olleg~ in South t~alcota t~iat dpe~ m'uch to pro ~notc adva~tq~n~uts ~ farn~ig I~se~ch is ea~rie~d on to new and better plants, better methods o~ fert4~~ion ~pp1ic~t~ons, ~i4 l~yestodç.t~cp~ l~LYe~ J~een irnpi~oved, ~ ~ ~ : . ~ . ~ ~ , ~ ~ , ~ ~ ~ We h~vç~ ~ ~ ~ water çons~rvation s~ry~ice th~ h~1p~ the ~rrner to prepare his land wisely. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ We have ne~w.in~ticicl~s tQ kiU~e~sai~ i~o w~acoiit~oi p~oduets. ~ ~We hav~,ioç~ 1~flks, .I¼t~, and F~AtQ help us frnan99 OUI~ needs. They o~ ~ provlde jna~y ~ypqs o:~ insi~Lr~nce, hail 1~surance ~s one example W~ ~ good ~oil but we don't h~v~ the mçst important ~ ~psurance c~1~ ~ll-~-p~c4sture. ~ .,. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ , ~ ~ ~ $en~tpr ~LcGovERN Thank you :1~q~ ~y~ur st81t~ment, M~ Deirnis ~ :~-ow, ~r{l1~; ~ ~çEso Q~ ~p~ik. ~~iiy, CQrnO ~rwa~. ~ ~ Mr. ~Xa~~d~1S i~ç~t ~ ~ ~ j~as, ~, sta~~e~ ~ vill 1~e g1ad~ to see th~i5 it is4Ued i~er çr~. Mr. Alvili Th~hfeld i~ ~1~e cTv~rx~tn pf~ t~1i~ West E~'owp~ ço~r~ty Irrigation District. We wi~i 1~e;i~ppy ~o hear, froi~ 1~vtr. Eebfeld at this time. S~ATE1YI~T ~ 4LV~T R~RP~Th ~ W:~$T ~BOWN IRBIGATIOl~ BISTRICT, WARN~ER, S DAK ~ ~ ,~ Mr. Th~nntT~ii. SenatOr ~M~Gcirern, ~ Senator Burdick, I am ~ ~ur~ ~g1Ø to hay~ thi~ opportunity to. ~eet.~v~4i you g~tl~n~en. . ~ ~ ~ I noticed in ~he morning remarks that our former GQvernor, Ralph Herseth, and Fred H~l~ch~, ~tated a time ~r tw~ about the favor~ able votes we had on om~ different `prbjects here, a~d I sure want to urge, and have you fellows notice, how favorable they have been. PAGENO="0165" F QAfl]~. UNIT, M~SSOTJ~U RIVER B~SIN PRQJ~cT It. certainI~y ~hows ~a lot of emthus~asm among us ~ upt in Brown County. ~ `~,t 2 ~ A8~ yOU gen~1emen ~ motQi~ç1 ~ciown here t1~ morning ~f;rom A.J~r- d~en t~ R~dfie1d, you trav~1i~d through the old Lake D~k~t~ b~d and I ath sure you ndticed all thegood, rich; leitel, fertile land w~ have ~rn eaç~h side of the road ~nd.w~are proud ~ this locality. ~ ~ ~ `~ ` T'd 1ik~ to state that f~r many ` years I have toi1~L ~td tilled the ~ soil and planted my seed and then about all ~ we ~ ha~te todo is get down on our knees and pray we'll get ~me more ra üifali tO~ make it produce and I think now with the abundance of wa~e~ We have in our baèkyard, that oii~ of these drea~ms is. con~irig ~ I would say that p&rhaps ~ in ~ my last 30 years; of farming, there has not been one year that some time or another during the gro~ifi~ season I wouldn't have been gla4 to open uj a y~1~ ~id tarn W~Ler loose on my, `farn~. I .hjye be~ii a 1ive~cl~ buy~ ~fqr `shipping asso- ciations, and `an International Harvester businessman, and sold fanm machinery and managed and ~perated a farm~ ` ~iid `so I ~have been acquainted with a11'asp~cts of life or~ffi~lI to~Wn 1*i~shm~s nì~iii `streets. and farming ~i~d livestock ~~terprises. W~. are coi~g n~ich rn'ore,:~n South flakota~ livestock . minded..We have to' grow the fee~d for ` this' livestock and we know very well tI~iat in order to grow. these feeds,~ we iñi~st have the goxl old water I think we have, soil equal to ~y spi~ th The ~3t~Qn. , L don't know where it would be any bett~r~ At the~.present time 11 wouMsay our land up in Brown County is selling for $150 to $160 an acreai~d there i~ only one thing lacking, and that's water. I think the~.~.é `could have our $400 and $600 land just~like they have i~i Iow~ an~ ~~linpis., And, of course, something like this is what's going to lead:up ` to~enthusiasm for our young boys and girls to stay on our ~farms in Sçth~h' Dakota. At the present time they can't see a future wit1~i ~hç~w~r' things are going. But, with water being talked up, I am sure , we ` ai's, going to have a change of mind of our younger generation. And `certainly we know whatit is going to `plo frrSouth Dakota. Arid b~sine~ on streets . in our commrniity,' óiir small banks and stores , and recreá- . tional parlors, and everything will be mñch better off if we get this F moisture. ~ ~ You have heard many farmers, and I like your staterri~nt~ Senator Burdiek, in regard to all of us working together. Some of us benefit from flood . coi'~tr~l, and . some groin i~ecreation, S~om~ of ii~ ar~ inter ested in the pollution, ai~d Others in irrigation. I have a little interest in each one of them. I like to be able to go out and catch a `big lunker out at the `Missouri Basin `and `shoot a wild goose or~ce in awhile. And, I'm certainly for irrigation, to be `able to produce feed for our' country. I am sure that you gentlemen `in your ~Atuation understand what it will do for prosperity of South Dakota. It has been great to say these few wordsto you. I have testimony that I will file,' to be on record,~ and thanks a lOt for taking your time to come out here and hear us. Senator MCGOVERN. Thank you, Mr. Rehfeld~ Your' prepared state- ment `will be included in the record. (The statement referred to follows~) PAGENO="0166" 156 OA~IE UNIT, M1SSOU~I RIVER BASIN PROJECT PREP~uu~ STAPEMETIT cii' ALVIN A. Ri~HrELt', CHAIRMAN, WEST BRowN IRRIGATIoN DIsTRIcT Water and Power Resource S~ibcornmittee, as' chairman of the West Brbwn Irrigation District may I take this opportunity t~ draw to your at1~ention the favorable votes we have had to date ~or Watei~ ~c1amal~oll projee~s here in South Daketa. ~ 1. Contract authority was given by ahnost 75% ~avorab1e vote, wbez~ only a simpie majority was required. ~ ~ . ~ 2. The. irtigation distrtct was formed by an ~ 82.2% majority, ~ while a minirniun of 60% was required. 3. Sub District was J~ormed in 1960 with `over 80% favorable votes. The above figures, designate a great deal of enthttsiasm and a forward look into the future pro~réss of the rith lands tn South t~akota. We are lo*~ated in the old Lake Dakota bed, where there i~ an abundance of good, rich lend. Power will be available for industry, Our livestock operation's depend on feedand water. ~ .~ ~ . ~ ror many years I l~ave plowe~l,toiled, and p1a~tted the seed, and t1~en knelt on Ely kflOOS to pray ft~r rainfall. Water definitely controls the future of south Dakota ! . In my 30 years of farming not one year has passed without so~me time during the growing, season I would have opened the water valve and dTenched m~ water thirsty soil. ~ ` ~ ~ We have soil equal to any state in the nation, and the water i~ ~ figurattVe'ly tin ours haëk yav~L It will be a great day for South~ Dakota when it is made available. . The drain of our young people leaving the. state will dtscQntin~1e bec~iise of their enthu~ia~n for the future in their home com'nvün1tiês~ Our small thain streets will bubble over with the inflow of new nash and business. Senators, you have h~ard fr~m many grass root farmers in Rr~dfie1d tod~~dtb their thOc~igbts and views on : ~ , ` ~ 1. J~lood controL 2. Wild life development. 3. Water shed developtheut. 4. Water fot city and Industrial use. 5. BenefitS to education. 6. .Irrig~tion. 7. HIstory of dry land farming. 8. Th~oader taxation. I am sure you visualize the effects of ~ prospereus farming ec~uomy. This is the greatest opportunity to p~~oduce for the futt men in years to come. We are counting on yo~r full-fledged Senator MCGOVRItN. Is Mr. Bernard Beastrom with the Hughes County Crop Improvement Asso~ - hear him next. STATEMENT OP BERNARD BEASTROM, CHAIRMAN, HUGHES COUNTY CROP IMPROVEMENT' ASSOCIATION Mr. BEASTROM. Senator MoGovern, Senator Burdick, my name Bernard Beastrom. I live ~t Pierre~, S. Dak., and am chairman of the Hughes County Crop Improvement Association. I am very much interested in the Oahe irrigation project because I will have 3 miles of canal through my farm. There are 7,600 acres of irrigable land within 2 miles on each side of the proposed Pierre Canal. The landowners along this canal want to be able to buy water so they can irrigate full-season crops, stabilize their dryland operation, and improve the tax base of Hughes County. Hughes County has already lost 33,933 acres to the Oahe and Big Bend Dams and will lose 1,035 more acres to the canal. PAGENO="0167" OAHE iJNIT, MISSOTIRI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 157 Under the original proposed plan of operation forthe Oahe irriga~ tion project, th~r w~u1d pump water ~every month during the irriga- tion season ; this would giVe the irrigators in Hughes County the opportunity to irrigate full-season crops. The Blunt Reservoir would be op~rathd at a fairly c~ri~tant le'vel whichwould make it useful for recreation facilities. The Hughes County CropImprovement Associa- tion is in support of the original Oahe irrigation projeet. However, . we strongly urge that the origimal plan of operation be followed, so there will be water in the Pierre Ct~n~d for irrigation through the month of August, rather than generating electricity with the No. 7 generating unit at the Oahe Dam~ ~ ~ ~ ~ : ~ We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to appear before your committee in support of the O~he irrigation project. Thank you. Senator MCGOVERN. Mr. Beastrom, as I' understand it, the problem that you are referring to here istheproposal by the Bureauof Recia- ~ mation that they utilize. the seventh unit at the O'ah~ Dam roughly ~ during the month of August to gene~ate power rather than divert water into the canal. : ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ` ~ Mr. BEASTROM. That is right. ~e understandthatNo~7 generating unit would be-the electricity would be generated and sold through ~ the month of Aug~ist rather than 1c~e used for puixq~ing water . Senator MCGovERN. I think one O:1~ the tbi~gs .w~ have to keep in mind isthat about 85 percentof the cost of theentireproject is going to be paid out of power revenue. So, I am sur~ you Wo~ild be the first one to recognize there is another side to that issue that we have to keep in balanc.e. But, I think your pointis well taken ~s one we ought to look at thoughtfully. , It is a perfect ~xampl~ of the competing claims on the water. I am sure we are going to have more problems of that kind as we move along and we will try to resolve the various interests the best we can. `. ~ * Thank you for ~our~statemeut The next witness is Mr. Norman Nystrom of Blunt, S. Dak. Is. he in the room? He is with the Hughes County Soil & Water Conservation District. STATEMENT OP NORMAN NYSTROM, STYPEEVISOR, HUGHES COUNTY SOIL & WATRR CONSERVATION DISTRICT Mr. NYSTROM. I am Norman Nystrom from Pierre, S. Dak. I have ~ been for 2 years irrigating from Oahe, ~n land I own along the lake. ~ I believe I know from this experience what irrigation can mean to cen- ! tral South Dakota. I also own irrigable land along the proposed canal from Oahe to the Blunt Reservoir and would like to be able to buy full-season irrigation water from the canal for this land. Some question has come up to the fact that there may not be water in this canal during the month of August. From my own experience I know this is the peak period for irrigated crops in central South Dakota, arid that is why I say we need full-season irrigation from this canal. As a director of the South Dakota Irrigation & Hughes. County SCS Association, I represent a majority of this organization, and we want I PAGENO="0168" 158 OAHE UNIT, M1S~OUftI RIVER BASIN PROJECT to go on recyrd ofb~inginifa~vot of the Oahe irrigation unitplan,. ex~ cept that ~we would .1ike~to 4o our best to ma~kesure that tho~e. people wh~ provicl~ thelarid fiá tMS ~añal, and w'Iio li*eaiongi~t in~his area,: could receive f~il-sea~h4thgati~on as the~y ~o desire~ as wel]~ as~provicie waterfor livestock, re~reat~ià, ~u~i~ipalities~ a~nd industrial uses as~ our coumtyrep erqents4n~rease. Th~ni~k~yon.: * Senator Mc(~ovEr~N~ Thankyo~Mr.Nystrom. I havea*statemeñtfro~n ~lva 1~rei, also of: the Hughes~COunty So~I & Water (~5onservathm~Disttrièt~ fo~ i~nclu~ion im the hearhig i~ecord at this point. (The statement referred to follows :) I STATEMENT Q1~' ~LV~ F~, ~ ~t~n~s CqU~T~ SOIL ~ND WATEIi *.; * Co~s~vATIo~ D~STI~ICT * tuo~ the Di~trict~t etpress approval of the Oabe season ~ti~n ~fl the ~ori ~ ~ubd~s~ict, Frecli Senator MoGovi~r~w~ a S:~lrVic~ - Co. hère~9 P ~ Mr. Wilkens is ass ~ ~ he pres ~ ~ Servic& Cô~ ~ ~ `* ~ : - ~ * * ~ ~ * * ~ * ~ ~ * - ~ * ~ * ~ -:~~ * * ~ ~ i * :~ * ~ * * * * ~. ~ *, **ii *~*-*-)~~ ( .*-.*~ ~: * ~ * * **~ * STATEMENT OP WAR STROMAN, 1~~ANAGER, HURON DIVISION,. NORTHWESTERN PUBIJO:SERV1OE *eo. ~ * Mr. STRO~IAN. Sellatø~ M~K~overn and$eiiator Burdiek,~my name is~ riot Mr. Wilkens, he was unable to be here today. My name is Ivan Stroman. I am the manager of the Huron Divisioft of Northwestern ~ Cø; * ~ - On behalf- ~~~4~P'V' would~.l4ke~to filethi-s 1etter~of. support of the proposed authorization of the fif~t ~tage deveiopi&nt plan for-. irrigation in S~ink aii~l Brown Cou~it~s, S. JI~ak. * ~ * . I believe it is espthily urgeiit tl~t your committee and Congress give early approval ~fthisprojeet Ii~e ii~-Soi~th Dal~ota~ : ~ rfhe irrigation that will develop upon ~ompletion. of the first stage~ of irrigwtioit proje~t ~ welfai~e of the people- of South Dak~ta and ~ill ]~iei~ to solv~ ~werai - probl~s- that exist in our State and our country. ~ Economiest~ithies -~ei~onst~a~te even: the first stage of .develo~pmexit in- this irrigationprojeot will in~a~e the tota~ iucome~for ~ux' farmers in Spink and-B~wn. Coimtiesb~t mc~r~ than~ $X1 million1 p~i~ year. It will also ha* ~the ~dditiowiJLhn~optant efl?eit of newç sOuh~s of ta~. revenues for our local and State- government. . Local age~ei~ oF ~ re~si~g'ii~eds of new sources of t~ revenues adn~ it ~ c~s:tim~e~l ~hi~ ~ pro~? vide additional taxes in these two counties of $2i/~ million annually. PAGENO="0169" ~A~I~' ~ tN'IT,' 1I~S~Yt~~1kI ~ ~ PR4!~Th~CT F59 ~ The ~F~de~a1 th~r~ ~ri1I4Msd. be~fit ~ ithas been estimated ~t1iat ~ i~pit~~a ~ r~i~i ~hkcti~à~t~ `111 the irrigation district will zamQ1n1t~tO ffiOth~j~$31/~ ~4j~flj~ft* ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ L ~ ~ ` ~ W1ith~ie lltrg:~ thu1tiputpd~è~ d~rns~cv~re c~nstru~t~d on the Mis- ~ Scuri tti~rIt Was cT~ar1y' ünde~tdod by the pe~p1e of South Dakota that the major benefit to South Dakota would come from ultimate irrigation d~ve1opment in ~ir Sta~te. ~ ~ ~ ~ * Before we turned to this asSUrance, the people of South Dakota gave ~ilp hundreds of thousands of acres of our mOst productive land, which ~ subsequently has been inundated by the lakes located behind the dams. ~ This land is lost forever, ~nd with it the potential income from these ~1arids. This terrific loss to our State can be replaced by steady and thorough irrigation development in the James Valley. This has been studied and restudied by the Bureau of Reclamation and they find it to be completely economically feasible.. This project is important to the people of South Dakota and in the very near future will be an importaa~t food supply source to the people I ~of the world. J respectfully urge there be no further delay and Congress give I speedy approval to the authorization of this project. Thank you. I ~ Senator MCGOVERN. Thank you, Mr. Stroina~n. Mr. Dean Haynes, of the Redfield ~ha~mber of Commerce, is our : next witness. We are glad to hear from ybu, Mr. Haynes, and I want 1;o repeat to you our appreciation of Redfield's fine hospitality today. ~ ~STATENENT OP DEAN KAYNES, PRI'SSWZNT, REDPIELD CHAMBER op COMMERCE Mr. ETAYNES. Senator~Burdick and S~nator McGovern, I have ified a resolution from the Chamber of Commerce of Redfield, and I would ::also like to testify in their behali~. My name is Dean Haynes. I am president of the Redfield Chamber ~of Commerce. This organization consists tf ap~roximately 195 mem- bers who represent businesses of all types which ser~re the Redfield area~ ~ ~ ~ ~)/j~ , We are pleased to have the honor of hosting the Senate field hear- ings in R~dfie1d and to ha~ th&çll~tinguished members of the Power ~and Water Resources Siibcouixnittee of the U.S. Committee on Inte- nor and Insular Affairs in our city to coiiductthese hearings. We were very happy as a town to give our firm support and coopera- 1;ion in implementing ~ the first phase of the irrigation program b~y obtaining 79-percent-plus ~ote ii~ favor Of c~ontract of ~ authority in ~the November 8 election. ~ , ~ `We realize that a reclama~i~~oject ~~annot be a reality unless it has the solid support of the local'people thd we feel that w~ have sup- ported t1~is tremendously i~po~ta~nt project by this vote. Redfield depends upon itsiñsiness from the surrounding rural area `and we know that thereis a dire~t. relMionship between water resources ~deve1o~pment and community prosperity. With irrigation, Redfield would thrive with progressive b l~ess~, better medical services, fine ~ohuirches and schools, and other cuiLtural and commercial enterprises. We would be afforded a stability in our economy in this area which we have never been able to ascertain heretofore. PAGENO="0170" OA~EIE VNIT,~ MI~SOURI RWE~ BASIN PROJECT 160 Because - we been ui ~ is no prof would b en our tax We~ regard -~ on behalf ( to express 1 today. (The resolution ref RESOI Whereas, the F owners and epap] within the Whereas, professional Proj Senator Mc~ not only to `f you and: for helping :t~t~. )reign food PAGENO="0171" O4I~E. UNLT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 1~1 able ~mount of effort made by you and other local people here in the community to host our hearings. We are grateful to you. I know Senator Burdick feels the same way and wishes you would extend our thanks to your colleagues. Mr. }IAYNE5. I certainly will do so and we appreciate having you here. Senator MCGOVERN. Mr. Kenneth Jark, Brown County. STATEMENT OP KENNETH JARK, PRESIDENT, JAMES RIVER PLOOD CONTROL ASSOCIATION Mr. JARK. Senator McGovern and Senator Burdick, I am Kenneth ~ Jark, of Stratford, 5. Dak. I am appearing today as president of the James River Flood Con- trol Association. Our membership includes 69 landowners with land in the James River Valley in Brown and Spink Counties. Our members are not all for irrigation, but we are all in favor of deve1 ~ -~-" - a feasible plan that will control the flooding of valuable ,. b occurs almost every year along. the James River. ~ of a survey conducted by the Brown County Extension C showed that in 1966 in Brown County alone that 20,013 acres. Of this total, almost one-half was good, fertile cropland, .~i the balance being pasture and hayland. In addition, another 3,545 acres were lost due to seepage, of this amount 2,473 acres being in cropland. ~]Dproximately 10,692 rods of dike were damaged and 20,580 rods were destroyed or damaged. ~lood Control .~ .. iot i~clud~ lopments, p the above losses amount 1' 1 alloss, _ty. B are hoping that a workable and acceptable flood control plan can be developed at an early date. Senator MCGOVERN. Thank you for your statement. I know that flooding problem has been a serious one for a good many years. I am trying to work out an arrangement with Senator Burdick to keep that water in North Dakota until we get ready for it. Is Mrs. Eldon Beckler here? We would be glad to hear from you now, Mrs. Beckler. Mrs. Beckler is another resident from Brown County. STATEMENT OP MRS. ELDON BECKLE~, BATH, S. DAK. . Mrs. BECKLER. Senator McGovern and Seiiator Burdick, I am ap- pearing here today as a housewife and working mother. We farm 450 acres in the Bath area and our land is included within the boundaries of the West Brown Irrigation District. . Because our farm unit is not of adequate size to provide a satisfac~ tory standard of living for my family, I am working full time as a bank teller iii Aberdeen. Needless to say, I would much rather devote full time to my duties as a housewife and mother. PAGENO="0172" STATEMENT OP PAUL P. HOPER, PRESIDENT, SPINK COUNTY FARMERS UNION, DOLAND Mr. Hoi~n. Senator McGovern and Senator Burdick, arid honorable members of this Power and Water Resources Subcommittee of the TJ.S. Senate, I am Paul P. Hofer, representing the Spink County Farmers Union, an organization of 505 Spink County farm families, 48 percent of our county's farm population. At our organization's regular meeting on January 29, 1966, a resolu- tion was adopted supporting the early development of the Oahe irri- gation unit A copy of this resolution is enclosed with the testimony (J am presenting. Oursupport for the Oahe project was reaffirmed when the Spink County Farmers Union on April 27 of this year unani- mously passed a resolution tO that effect. We have long reoognized ~the need for making use of our water re- sources and of the necessity for irrigation. We feel that eventual completion of this Oahe project ~an inject new lifeblood into our State's entire economy, affecting both agriculture and the businesses that are so dependent upon the success of our farming industry~ I have lived in Spink Oounty for 48 years and have witnessed the many vagaries of our South Dakota weather-the intermittent periods of drought, th~ fluctuations of cold weather and hot, and th~ hot south- west winds. ~ ~ * ~ Becau~e of the instability offarming, ~ certainly partly due to the risk of drought, farmers have left the land in our country and through- out the State in droves in recent years. We are hopeful that this project can help halt thisexodus from the land. As is pointed out in the resolution which accompanies this state- ment, the Oahe irrigatiOn unit will not only stabilize our farming op- erations but it will also enhance the ~stab1ishment of agriculture proc- e~sing industries and proved new jOb opportunities for our youth, many of whom are now leaving the State to find adequ~tte employmeitt. The farmers oE~ Spink County believe in irrigation and want to make use of our water resources. This is evident just from the numerous farmers in my ~tea alone that have dug irrigatioui wells in the past 3or4years. 1~2 oA~f'~rNI~; `~AIs~Otr~ ~It1V~R flASI~ rR0JECT I am d~;t~l;Ltk1~t itioh~w~t~1d ~uiable o~ttr family, arid n~any other families like tis, to substantudl~ increase the income from otit~ farm so that this wOuld bt~ pos~ible, i~avi1rg the jObs in town for other people who might need them. ~ ~ ` ~ Also, we ha~u a~Onwho IS a high schOol senior this year. We would like to expand our farm business so that he can come back to the farm when he compièths his college tr~duiing, or if he doesn't wish to farm, to an agriculturally related jobin this area. We have good~1and ; we have the manpower ; all we need is the water in order that we might dO our share in feeding the people in our county, State, and Nation. Thank you. Senator McGovi~nN. Thank you, Mrs. Beckler. I think you have reminded us again of the close relationship between a sound agri- culture and sound family life. Mr. Paul E[Ofer, is he here? Mr. Hofer is the president of the Spink County Farmers Union. PAGENO="0173" QAH1~ UNI~~LiS$~OU1~I ~VJ~ ~ASIN~ ~OJECT I W~ urge you to g~ve~ f~~~rab1e recoWme~idatiQ~ ~Qr this project ~udma1çee~very effort to e~p itt~comp1etk~u. Thank you for a11owi~ig ~ p~ppea~' ~retp4y~~. (The resolutions referred to ~Ôllow:) 16~ R~soLuTxoN O~? TRB~ ~1~INK COUNTY rA~M~ES' UNION , Whereas, the Oahè Irrigation Unit wi1~ provide fGr the irrigation of land ~fl uort1a~centra1 Soi~t1i Dakota the~eb~y. divei~ying ~LnU ~tabiij~I4gtl~e pro4ucti~zi of this ian~i and eiin~inating the effects of pe$odic droughts that now, adversely affect the thyland farmers in the ar~a~ and ~ * ~ Whereas it will enhance the est~tblishthentof agricttltureproeessing llidttstrles that will increase the ecoflomy of the area~ by pfoviding new n~arkets for South Dalwta's farm products, and Whereas, it will provide new job opportui4tie~ for, the State's young people who are now leaving the State to find adequate employi~en't, flbw Th~r~for~ be' it resolved, that ~the S~ink County Fatme~' Unit supports the early develo~me~tóftlie Qahe Ir~gation Unit. PAUI~ P. IlOrER, .Count~j chairnu~n Mrs. .1. W. KLuttcsAssna, Jr., ~p~nk Uo~niy Pa~mers' ~JniOn ecreta'ry~ RnsoLuTIoN 01? TITE POLAND ~O~M~UNITY FARMERS UNION LoCAL No. 1032, I~A~D, 5. DAK. ~ Whereas, the Oahë Irrigation Uuit will provide for the irr1gati'o~ of `land li~ north-central South `lDkkota thereby dive~sifying' and "stabl1izi~ig the production of this land and eliminating the effects of periodic droughts that now. adversely affect the dryland farmers in the area, and ~ t S' ` , ~ ~ Whereas .it will ,enhancc the establishment of agriculture processing indtistries that will increase the economy of the area by providing ~iew thark~ts for South Dakota's farm ~oducts, stud , : ` Wherek~, i1~ will provide new ~ob oppdrtunities for the State's young people who ~tre ~ leaving the Statu'to ~1nd adequate employment, now ,. Therefore be it resolved, that the Poland Community l~'armers Union Loe~tl #i032 ~uppöt'tstho early deYelopment of the f~ahO frrlgätion liMit. ~ ,. LtOTh ~ATTEST, . `Prf~ide~. Mrs. LLOYD BATTSST4 Seer etary-Trea$urer. Senat6r McGov~mt't. Thank you for your statetheri1~, Mr. Hof~r~ 1~tr. flayincnd Gri~ss, is he in the rooth? Mr..Griess is the pr~s~dent of the ~rownCoutity Sportsnleti's Club.' ` SPA~MEI~T OP B~A~MO~D' `G~iESS,' PBESIDtE~1Z:B1WW1'1 ` SPORTSMEN'S CLU~ ~` Mr. GRTESS. Senator McGovern, Senator Bnrdi~, I am I~aythoth~i Griess, president of th~ Brown County ` `Spo~ththeu's Chib afld; in private life, I am a teacher of , the South Dakota School for the Blind. I might add also,. I am a dispiaoed North Dakothn an~l `m~ hometb~rn of Oakes is in' the center of otie of the districts for the Garrison unit. " In South Dakota, one has ` many reminders of the importa~hce of, water to the land ;. and from the land to that `which thrives upon the land and O~l Up `to man himself. Man's very e~dstence depends on the süppl3~ of wttter which" i~ `readily available. Early' tra~elers hi this PAGENO="0174" 164 OATiE UNIT, MIS~b~YRT RtV~DRB A ~SIN PEOJECT area tho~ved primi~ri1y a1ong~ water * courses, both as an easy mode of travel and to escape the hostility ofthe open plains, caused to a large extent by an unpredictable water ~uj~ply *ithin them As the civilization of man ad~ncE~d in this area, it depended to a large degree on man's ability to control a ready supply of water. }-Iis first concern was wat~r for himself and then that upon which hi~ livelihood~depended: animals first and then, oniy' if available, plant- life This priority was used mainl~r because the amount of water he could control would meet only the needs of himself and animals If the supplyof water gave out, due perhaps ~to drQi~ght or othei~uucQn- t~oliabie forèe, man reactedhy moving on and finding a new area to supply his ~needs. ~Ian now has wit~iin his means Of coi~trol a volume of water unsurpassed in the hi~tory oi~ this region Man has also expanded .on~ this eartk ~s. far ashe cango ; there~is no place else left to go. He must now stop ~thd work with what he now has at his command. Evidem~e of this is the recent renewal of interest in conservation and the broad fields that it includes : pollution, air and water ; recreation in ~the outdoors ; man's return to nature for solace and the relighting of the spark of life, free from the humdrum of the everyday world ; a renewed interest in wildlife and the joys it can bring, signified by the call of the Canadian goose overhead in the night, returning to its age-old nesting grounds to renew the thread of life. Man must now live within an environment of his own making and largely und&r his control. I believe it is to man's best interest to fit into the ecological system of nature as much as possible, rather than attempt to redo nature's handiwork. Certainly man must feed his ever-increasing masses, but must he do this at the sacrifice of all that adds the little pleasures in life ? Must the rasping quack of the mallard in the marsh be stilled ? Must the splash of a jumping fish at twilight be lost ? With the passing of these, I believe, also goes a part of the good life ; a mark is erased on the plus side of the ledger of life itself. We, as sportsmen, realize that man has not always attempted to fit into the ecological system of nature, he has attempted to modify nature to meet his own needs. Largely this was a result of the philosophy that wildlife could fend for itself ; move to a new home, just as man had done; adapt or perish. But now, just as there is no place elese for, man to go, there is also no place else for the wildlife populations to go. Man should, man must, provide a place in his environment for everything he holds of value in life. And who among us does not hold dear some short moment in life when nature held his undivided attention, per- haps it was the cackle of a cock pheasant as he burst forth on powerful wings from under our very feet ; perhaps it was the thrill of our first fish, pulled still flipping and wet from the stream. These events are treasures we hold within ourselves, as dear as life itself. These exper- iences we must not, we camiot take from future generatioiis. What we do here and now, we will be judged time and time ag~tin by uncounted generations ~f the future. Let us then see that we pass on to those generations of judgment the best of all that we have today; not just that which will enliven our( dollar economy today, but also that which will enlarge and broaden life to the fullest, the better life which we all wish our children to live. PAGENO="0175" OA1I1~ UNIT, MISSOt~U RIVER ~ASIN ~ROJ~EOT 165 Rich in theopportunity to V~Sit ~d corrrmunicat~ with nature as count- less generatiotis of man has done in'~g~ past. We, the sportsmen, l~ave been assured by agencies concerned- namely, the U.S. Bureaxt of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, the U.S. Bureau of Recl~mation and the Sô~th Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks-that ample, provIsiori'will be made for wildlife and wildlifehabitat in the d~veIopm~htofthe Oaheunit. This will be done through constrnctioii of new wildlife areas to replace those lost, and improvement of other areas whefr such~is compatible with the overall objective of the unit. With these assurances in mind, we the Sportsmen's Club of Brown County, Inc., AbeHee~, S~ flak., endo~e and urge your support for the authorization of the Oahe iñfit for cónStr~I~tion of the irrigation unit in the State of South Th~kota. Senator BURDICK. You are aware that sectiofi 2 of the bill takes care of recreation, fish, ai~d~wjidlif~ Mr. Gmess. Thatis right. Senator BUEDIOK. You are satisfied with that secti~n of the bill? Mr. GRIESS. We are. Senator BURDICK And are you in close contact ~with the Interior Department and Fish and Wildlife Department? Mr. GRIEss. Yes, we are. Senator MCG0vERS Mr Ai~thur Jones, is he here ~ He is also a mem- ber of the South Dakota Stat~ Senate: I STATEMENT OP, ARTHUR 3~ONES, PRESIDENT, EAST RIVER ELECTRIC POWER COOPERATIVE Mr. JoNE~ development pro ~ boom or bust i a here to voice ~tionv1 1 L. and ~ must be used for our interest reall~ Our iLt~J~ - than p~ will m PAGENO="0176" r66f ~ROJ~C~J s1~etch brie&yi people on the t w electric power ~ ect. We who pu t' w~thev that irrig~tion can pro ) ne~v young there is but one ~ ~__1_~ ~ ~ inves nt an has to~ I ~ spe)J on the main estimate of me~Xt~ k ~ dev~ ~1~"1. ~nt of the `j~ ~ like nsumer-ow~ ¶ are~ operatives~ e for the~ ..arm value of PAGENO="0177" OAHE ~YNIT; MISSOUB]T RJW~R~ BASIN ~ROIECT 16~7 trnit to South Dakota. You and your staffs have examined the coo- nomies of the Bureau of Rec1ai~ttion I)1OP0Sal ~ great (letall. Senator McGoveiii has i~itroduczecT ~ 1~egis1atiôn which wouki authorize this project andit is this legislation which brings you here today. When you return to Washington, I want you. to have the clear and distinct im- pression that the people of South Dakota need this investment in our future. It has been delayed too bug arready. We urge its immediate authorization and construction. Thank you. Senator BtTRDIcI~. I might add, at this moment, that we see about as much of this in North Dakota as you do. We would like for you to come up and make use of this ligiiite coal of ours. . Mr. JONES. Thank you, Senator. I like that invitation and I will do so. Senator MCGOVDRN. Thank you so much, Senator Jones. I kuow Members of the Senate have heard Senator Jones testify over the years and we especially appreciate his appearance here today. Senator BUnDICK. I presume that, when you add ~ number of thou- sands of farmers to this new area, the load on the REA is going to increase and . you have more business. Mr. JoNEs. We have the idea that the more farms we have the more load there is on the REA, certainly. Senator BumIoK. And you ~re reasonably prepared to make this service when the time comes? Mr. JoNEs. They tell iii~ the lignite coal in North Dakota is Un- limited, and we are going to use some of it. Senator BuiwIoK. I got him to say it. Mr. JONES. I must say that most of our power presently comes off the Missouri River, but we are happy to be supplementing it now with a very fine resource, which comes, we find, frQm th~ adjoining State of North Dakota. The economics of it `are just right and consequently we use it. (The `statements and resolutions referred to follow:) STA~EMI~NT B~ THS LAKE REGION ~1i~crsic ASSOcIATION, INC., MAY 8, 19~7 I,~ake Region ELectric Associa,tion,Jne,, is a rural cooperativeprocri'ding electric newer to 2,g27 rural consumers in ]~äy,. Ma'raliall and part of ~ Robertis counties in northeastern South Dakota. Four several years, our. `wemiYers. ~iave `given their support, ln'tilie form of reso- ~iutions at their annual meetings, to approval o1~ the OabeEroject. They have ~iireeted their ~oard of directoris to actively `p'roniote and ~eek authorization of the project. ~ . ... `I'he first stage of Oatbe will not provide irrjgatlon water for our `service area Future development can `cover a large area of Marshall County and Day `County. however, our area will `receiye~oine waterfrom the Garrison `project which will extend from North Dak~ta intp ~ the uppermost, extremities ~f Marshall County. At the `risk of repeating what otl~ers testify today, we are `convinced that this project can reverse the trend toward fewer farm's. Throughout our project there are at least 500 farms that once `received electric `service from Lake Region which today `stand unoccupied. This mean's the cost of ~ui1di.ng the~Jine ~bi'ch once served them must be paj'd tfor i,y the members who `reniain on the farm. From their !standpot~at,~ w~ see a need for ~topping this exodus by~ ~uil'ding the Oahe project. . - `corn tfarmers in our area look at 40-hushel `corn `crops a's a pretty good year. 83-182-67-12 PAGENO="0178" OAflE TJ~WIT, MIS~OUBI RWER BASIN PROJECT 168 Tlils ha~pêns wtben the weather co~p~?r~tté~, One h~rigaj~o'r on ~tu~ ~ster~ now pumps from~ well tuid i~egi~1ar1ygets SO-bushelylelds. ~ ~ . The western ~ta1~f o~ our s~nste~!n contains a lacrge num~r otf livestock fee~11ng operati~~-~s~Jxie oc~ them pretty gooçl ~Azed. !L~I*~ 7ear a~tid in nearly1 evè~jr ~tt~t ~year, ~so~ne ofth~ feed fGr theii~e~to~kI~ad toIb~ia1~led in. In dry ~~ars~ some feed l~as~to1ie iiflported from a~gre~distauee~ Be~au'se. ~9O,OQO acres could l~rig~1~ed~ Q~y the first stage of Oah~, the local source of a41~alfa corn$or feed ançl otii~r feed ~raIms could b~ assured for the ~tcsck g~o*ors Oc~ Marshall and D~t~ ~ouhtie~. Attached herewith a!re copies of our menthers' resolution urging immediate authorization and construction of this most important project. RE8QLUTONB1~ ms L~zs i~5~ON E: ~, be it resolv Association, Ii ~~proi~e ~he legislation authorizi and that construction funds be ai the growing population of increased agricultural pro- Missouri and substantial or the Oahe &SSOCIATION,;IN0., JI~?i,Ui~37' ~; We urge the., snent. of the .irri BY THE BON Oahe Irrigatio 11(1 .y urge our beitf ResolvE at a copy of this r~solutlon be submitted to the proper authorities and to t& ie Oonservancy Sub District, Huron, South DakOta. RESOLUTION BY' THE Sioux V~LLEY Eth~'ias ELIScTEIC AssocIAmIol~, INc., Arnax4 29, `1967 eafter. Secretary. PAGENO="0179" I VNfl'j MtS~OVEi RIVER BASIN P~OJEOT I 169 R~sdw~rio~ ~ `ri~i CtA~U~ro1~ EL~1cflt~ Conroi~xor~ MAEdit 17, 1943~ Whereas it appears that~ea~ ~pro~ress is~~dng u~ade omthe development of the Oahe Irrigation Su~ 1~istriet,a~nU. Whereas it iStOifl~ belief :th~t~tWs proj~et~wiUlie of great value to South Dak~ta Now be it resolved that Clay-Union Electric Corporation 1~oard o~ Directors * and rnaiiag~mezit cot~g~atuiate aUof~tb~e j~eople resportsi~blefarithis project and will continue to le~dou~supj~x~t to 1~1~e ft*llilhflent of this project to the best of our ability. J. E. RASMUSSEN, $ecretary. RE8OLUTIQ~N~ BY ~ ~VHE TUR~EE~ i~V~OHINSO~ ELEqTEIp CooPEEATIvi~, Iwc,, MARIoN, .$*~ ;D4E., 1\~LAEc~I 24, 1966 Whereas, ~ water and ~rri~1~çai i~ ~ rna4or key to. ~1ie much neMed . econ~ornic ~ieveloprne~it w~tiiln our Sta~;. axid ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ :~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Whereas, the proposed coñstrqçtioi~ of ;t~ ~ Oahe Irrigation tJnit~ will have immediate and ~ar-reaçbjng~!ect on th~e ~c~ip~~itc hea4tb o~ our ç~nti~re S~tate; and ~ * * ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~, * Whereas, our cooperative is direeUyan~ ~ta1iy interested in economic growth * within ~ur region auçl ent~j~ State; * Now tjiere~ore be it re~jve4 that we1~avor a~tcj strongly urge the Coi~gress of the flnited States to aul~orizè con~triictIon of the 190,000 acre ~rst-stage Oahe Irrigation Ei~oject in ~ ,Qa~he çp~sei~vauey sub-district in S'outl~ Dakota. * HERMAN HOLT, &3creta~y-Treasurer. RESOLUTIQN BY rim LINCOLN-UNION. ELEcTRIc Co., M~sncix 16, 1966 Whereas, Lincoln-Union Electric Company has always been interested in all ~~ams, and ip certain of their prop- ~t would benefit the iElec ~IATION, INC., LAKE ANDES, and moved its adoption which RESoLUTIoN BY PIlE SPINK COUNTY Er~EcTRIo ASSOCIATION Whereas, the development of the Oahe Irrigation Unit will provide water ~fo.r irrigation, municipal and industrial uses, fish and wildlife development, new ~recreation facilities and pollution abatement. PAGENO="0180" i)7~O J~cIT; ~M~S~OTj~ R~V~B ~4S~ AP~OJECT I I Wi~a~1 i~ri~ga4~ion ~ ~e~se ~arix~ ~p~Uucl~o~i ` ani~j stabiUz~ the declining p~pu1ation o~ the rural community, and ~ ;Wher~as~ it ~ will ~ ~Qv1dé~.thO~ ó~ertixnIty * ~ th~ ~ntablishment ~f ~ new industry that will, In turn, stabilize and expand ~the eeonoin~ of the area, and W1~reas,~tb1s o~~all~ anded~èéöno~y wUl result i~thewlder ~ise ~ electric power In the area~ now Phere~ore ~ th *$~inkOounty1]1eotrtc Assoelatlon endorses the ~ ~Lrrtgatlon T3nlt~ 0. El. BELL, Pre8tdent. HOMER IcRENTZ, f~eoretary. RESOLUTION ]3~ ~n1n ~i'n~x~ ~EOThIO COOPF~RATIVE, INC., REDnELD, S. DAK., JANtIARY 17, 1966 Whereas, the development of the Oahe Irrigation Unit will provide water for irrigation, municipal and Industrial uses, fish and wildlife development, new recreation facilities and pollution abatement, and Whereas, irrigktion will h~l~ increase farm production and stabilize the de- dining population of the rural community, and Whereas, it will proVIde the opportunity for the establishment of new industry that will, in turn, stabilize and expand the economy of the area, and Whereas; this overaU~xpat~dt~d écdiiopi~ will rbsultln the wider use of electric rower in the are~, ~ . ~ Now theref4re be It resolved, that the ~pInk Electric Oooperatlve, Incorporated, endorses the ~earliest ~ possible d~velt~pment of the Oahe Irrigation Unit. J. El. NEWMAN, Manager. RESOLUTION OF THa TRI-CoTJNT~ EtEcTRIC ASSOCIATION, INC., PLANKINTON. S. DAK., APRIL 18, 1967 Whereas, the development of the Oahe Irrigation unit will provide water for irrigation, municipal and industrial uses, fish and wildlife development, new recreation facilities and pollution abatement, and ~ Whereas, irrigation will help ~increase farm production and stabilize the de- dining population of the rural coinm~in1ty, and Whereas, It will provide tb~ o~Ot~~unity for the establishment of new in- dustry that wm:in turn, stabili~e ~uid expand the economy of the area, and Whereas, the overall expanc~de~Onomy will result in the wider use of electric power in the arei~, Now therefore be it resolved, that the Tn-County Electric Assn., Incorpo- rated, endorses the earliest possible development of the Oahe Irrigation Unit. LEROY K. GREENWOLD, Acting Manager. RESOLUTION BY TILE KINGSBURY ELECTRIC Cowaiu~TIviz, INC., BOARD OF DIRECTORS, APRIL 18, 1967 Whereas, the Oahe irrigation i~nit will help in the development of providing water for irrigation, industrial, and niunicipal uses, fish and wild life develop- ment, new recreation facilities and pollution abatement and Whereas, irrigation will help increase farm production and help stabilize the declining population of the rural community and Whereas, irrigation and the benefits from irrigation will help to establish new industry and expand the economy of the area and Whereas, this expansion would result in the increased usage of electric power In the East River area, now therefore Be it resolved, that the Kingsbury Electric Cooperative endorse the earliest possible development of the Oahe irrigation unit. CARL WEERTS, President. WARREN HANNATE, Secretary. PAGENO="0181" OAI~ ` t~rr, Mis~ot~t~i RtVER ~AszN Ro.~n~P 171 IE~c~ErT' OI~ ~ O~ IbGULAB MI~EP1~G ox~ ;DA~thTAs ~t~m~xc ~oo~v~ INC., BOARD OF DI~E~pi~S, 1VIAY 15, 1D6~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Resolved, That Directors Merkel ai~d1~[a~mauérà~eiid the m~etthg to be held `on May 2O, 1967, at Red~1eld, Sooth Dakota~ find ~bhat the f~llowln~ resbltitic~i be adopted: Whereas, Rea~h~gs are scheduled to be held ~ re~presautatives of the Tiuited States Co~gres~ at T~dfield, South Dako~, cohcer~iitig the appropriation of funds to proceed with the devekpment of the Oarhé Tri~fgation DIstrict ; and Whereas, The Oooperatlve and its member~ deem It highly beneilcial to the economy of the areas served by members of this C~operative that such constriic- tion proceed a4 the earliest practical date ; a~d ~ Whereas, Dakotas Electric Cooperative, Ttic~ and its members are desirous that members of Congress, as well as 1~'ederal agencies affected, be advised that such cooperatives are willing and anxious to cooperate in the early construction -and development of the Oahe Irrigation District. Now, therefore, be it resolved, That Dakotas Electric Cooperative, Inc~, act- ing by and through its Board of Directors assembled in regular meeting at Bis- marck, North Dakota, thIs 15th day of May, 1967, does urge the prompt appro- ~priation of funds to proceed with the construction and operation of the Oahe Irrigation District in South Dakota at the earliest practicable date, anti Further resolved, That directors of thia Board authorized to attend hearings to be held at 1~edfield, South Dakota, on May 20, 1967, be furnished copies of ~this resolution for use a~ said hearings. Senator MCGovERN. Senator Burdick just suggested that if there ~tre witnesses here who have a d~ad1ine and are anxious to be heard, we would be glad to give you some priority here. I think we will make it all through the list here, but if there is some- one up against a deadline, give us notice and we will give yOu that priority. If not, I am going to call on Robert Van Winkle, who is also a Brown County farmer, We heard from his father a little while ago. We will hear from the son now. STATEMZN~ o:v~' EOffEBT VAN WINKLE, ~BEBDZ~N, S. DAK. F Mr. VAN WINKLE. Honorable Senators, my name is Robert Van Winkle. My grandfather, my father, and I operate a 1,800 acre dairy farm near Columbia, S. Dak. I am at the present time renting 160 acres. I have had college training in the field of dairy science and have returned to the farm where I plan to operate. . College trained boys who ~ return to the far~i are often called the ~`rare breed" for so few are willing t~ take the risk that farming provided and instead choose a more ~ secure pOsition in the business world. Far too many of our Nation~s' youths~ who ~have a farm back- ground and an opportunity to ~ farm on their ~ own ~ bave made the decision to leave the farm ~ and enter other fields. I w~s coxdrOnte4 with the same problem and considered all the angles before making this important decision. The ~nain factor in my decision to return to the farm was the subject we are now exploring, irrigation. I feel through irrigation, the fanner would become much more stable. Most important `he would be reasónably sure of feed for his livestock. His position would be much.like that Of a manufactur~r of goods in that he would ha~e a r~asoiiable idea `of how much `he ~ould produce and what resources that must be allocated to have that production `for his specific needs. I feel irrigation is the answer to this problem and the PAGENO="0182" 172 OAHE UNIT, MI~SOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT sooner it becomes a reality the sooner todays farmer can perform on an even basis with the r~st o~oureconom~r. I wish to urge th~ lawmakers ~i~d all others concerned to fully back this pr&ject so the farmer of today may Jiecorne more stable and. secure. Senator MoGov~nN. Thailk you, Robert~ That was ~ very fine state- ment and coi~tains much worth' thinking about. Mr. Deibert Frericks of Sping County. Mr. Frericks. STATEMENT OP DELBERT ThERIcKS, SPINK cOUNTY, PRA~XPORT, S. DAK. Mr. FRERIOKS. Honorable members ` of the Senate subcommittee, I,~ Delbert Frericks, a young farmer from area No. 5 of the Spink County Irrigation District~ appear before you today to urge your full support in speedmg the approval and development of the Oahe irriga tion project. . Last year, after having completedmy college education in animal science and having served my 43 months tour of ~ct~ve duty under the National Guard program, I chose to return to the farm. I have now been operating with my father f9r nearly a year. Ours is primarily a livestockoperation-making tise `of all our home-grown ~ feed grams plus a large amount of grains purchased from other farmers in' dur community. Any period of drotight certaintly would. I cut deeply into ouroperati'orLs. ` ` ` Drought `would ~ mean that ` ~ve must, either decrease our livestock numbers or haul feed into the farm from some distance Both altern't tives are something we don't want to haVe to f~e ~cvhen we have ade- ~` quate s~ippiiesof very fertile~farm gro~uud and ~ur country and world.. are crying louder' and loud~ `foi~ oth~ i~iutritiou~ products. This' is es- pecially true `when `we know that only 100 miles away we have' stored vast supplies of wat~r which could turn drought ai~d despair 1 to harvests and hope.. ~ ~ ~ It is true that I have not e~perienc~d extreme drought in my life time But my father has-and he lives in rear of its consequences Like any father, be wants has soi~s to lead lives which don't have the rough spots hehas experienced. ., I am certain that is why he often feels `that I should accept one of the many agri-industry ~ job offer~ that come my way. Perhaps I should, but ~ I feel that ~ the Oahe ~roject `holds just ~ as great a promise for those of us who hope to b ,, enefit frpm it. It's also much the old adage of being able to take. the boy from the farm, but not being able to take the farm from the boy., ~ : It is my. ~trongest feeling ~ t~t we can't continue to take the boys from the farms in our area of the district any longer We need a greater incentive f9r stayingwith thc1aii~i-~-anc~ farm prices currently aren't providm~ that mcentive For myself and t~ie other young men of the area, irrigation can and should provide that incentive Thus, I stroiigly urge your ` support and passage of Senate bill No.6. ` ` Thank you. PAGENO="0183" am verymuciin favor water from the Missouri River brought into our area for irri~ ion and industrial uses. It will, without a doubt, greatly influence and stabilize agricultural income over our present uncertain rainfall. It will help raise our population through new industries promoting jobs for our young people growing up here. At present we are export- ing a large percentage of our youth when they start looking for work. I have three sons of my own that I hope will benefit from this aspect. At present we have prospects of getting an alfalfa dehydration plant to build in this area on the strength `of land presently being irrigated by subsurface water. Surely, with more widespread irriga- tion, many more industries will be. considering this area to build in, causing our population to grow. Senator McGov~nN. Thank you for your statement, Mr. Lambert. Is Mrs. Harry Gunderson here from the League of Women Voters? You are Mi's. Montgomery, but you are speaking for the league. k STATEMENT OF MRS. T. 0. MONTGOMERY, WATER CHAIRMAN, LEAGUE OP WOME~T VOTERS OP SOUTH DAKOTA OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 173 Mrs. MONTGOMERY. ~ ~r McGovern and Senator Burdick, I am M-~TC~1V . for of reservoir tcik~. onio~ s a1pprove PAGENO="0184" 474 OAEE VNEII, MIS~OURI Pt~[VER~B~SIN PRO~XECT I . Over ~hre~-fourt~hs~ôf th~ ;v~t~r~ iv~ t~Fe i~/2 coamti~es of the Oahe conservancysu~distrk~t gav~ ~ ~u~h~ril~r ~iz~ i~ntk~ contracts~and to levy 1 mill for project support~ at the polls last November. Our ~1~66 and ~ Sta~ti ~ `joint i~ol1~tions re- questing Congress to authorize tJi~ O~U~ project at an early date Governor Boe has endorsed the complete development of 495,000 acres. South Dakota sent a letter of `intent, `September 1966, to comply with the Federal Water Projects Rec~ation Act. Our 1967 legislature passed the enabling act to authorize the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks to partithpate in certain phases of the Oahe project. The first stage of 190,000 acres has received departmental sanction and executive review. Our State congressional deIegatio~i has spon- sored identical bills in each House of Congress to authorize the project. In a geographical area of marginal rainfall, the benefits to our State would be many: Fish and wildlife development is planned for 18 sites; the expanded recreational facilities in five locations will attract tourists and hold them for a few days to increase otir tourist income. A stable supply of clean, fresh water at the head of our streams would reduce the pollution in slow moving waters of the flatland as well as provide enhanced quality and quanitity for industrial and ~ municipal uses for 17 communities. Control of the spring floods in the James River Valley would be aided by the improvedchannel con- structed for irrigation return flow. We realize that all this will take money-$~O3.5 million-this in- cludes $11 million for future capacity. This is a cost benefit ratio of 2.5 to 1. We hope the funds. will be available at an early date. But, first of all comes authorization. The League of Women Voters of South Dakota pleads for im- mediate action. We promise that South Dakotans will be ready when ~funds are available, to get on with this long awaited Oahe project, which means so much to our State. Thank you. Senator MCGOVERN. Thank you, Mrs. Montgomery, for your state- ment. The League of Women Voters is doing a fine job of studying ~nd making recommendations on water problems nationally. Your spokesmen appear at our Washington hearings on all water issues. I am glad to see the South Dakota league participating in this work on water resources. Mr. Montgomery is next. STATLMENT OP T. 0. MONTGOMERY, PR~SIDENT, ABERDEEN GARDEN CLUB Mr. MoN~ioMFRY. I always have to follow behind my wife. Senator MCGOVERN. We always intend to give the women the last word. ~ Mr. MONTGOMI~RY. She will have it, don't worry. ~. I represent94 members o1~ the Aberdeeit GaM~n Club. I have a short statement to make and it's made by Mt. ~Paul T5ndèrwood, a former Spink County agricultural man, and Maurice Anderson, who happens to be a Federal game, fish, and wildlife man in Aberdeen, and I PAGENO="0185" OAHE * UNIT, ~ MISSOtJR1 RW]D~ BAStN PROJECT 175 Mr. W~P. Wells, ¼~lio is the chemist and the operator of the pumping station at Ordway that supplies Aberdeen ~ with their water. To : U.S. ~ ~Th&o~n1fthè: ; ~ ~ The undersigned committee of the Aberdeen ~ Gard~n O1~b urges action on the Oahe Irrigation Project at the earliest possible date. The co1~1jio~ ot tb~S prQ~e~i ~~1U ~ tills agridWt*ral area and aid in lesseiaing the economic problems as they affect the farm income situation. In ~naki~ig more water a~a41abie, indu~try wilL be ene~uraged to locate in this area ~an~l provide good w~er for cities and towns near the reservoirs and cI~anne1~ ~ ~ ~ ~ As representatives of the Aberdeen Garden Club, we are ttit~i~ted In main- taiixiug Sand increasing the ni~tifraa beauty ofour town~s, cities andparks. Water must b~ available, at-critical ~1mes when not provided. by rains to maintain our crops, the ~hea1th of the peop1~, supportingindustry and ~najntaining the bea~ity of the area~ ~ ~ , ~ , ~ Th~ik you very mu~li. for yi~ui~ th~tement, Mr. Montgomery. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ : ~ Is John Sutton, Jr. here ? Mr. Sutton is from Sully County. ~ STATE1VE~NT O~ ~!O1~ t StTTTON, ~R., AGAR, ~. flAK. ~ Mr. StfrroN. Sehator Mc~ov~rn~ arid S~tor Burdi~k'. My uame is John E Sutton, Jr of Agai , S Dak I \~vi~h to testify in favor of theprdposèd irHgatior~ project. ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ . ~ First, and p~rh~i~ps tfinpo~ta~ñt, 1, `as art irHgatôr ~ from Sull C~u~ty? feel th~t irrigatiOn will work ~thd ±~turh dividtmds in Sout Dakcta. i~'m a noyice ih%gator with 1 ye~r'~ e~xperien~ but in `spite of my thist~kès, thy' óoF~i last year ~rodth~di,85Q)x~thid~ of beef per acre. After subtracting my total prodncticsn cost of~ $1 an acre, this ~ left atiet return of $24'8.5~ ~r aoi~e, at today's d~re~sed prides. Apply~ ~ing the same figures to my dryThnd corn M~t *y~i~ 1: h~d a net return ! of $~ ~LIi acre. L~L~t year's crop was the best we'd ever raised and an 1' ~Lventge year `w~iild have shown. a net `f~tiirn of Only $44.50 per acre.. r Of course, ~ th~e fJgur~ do not take into account any of the oosts of feeding. You ~nu~t ~thl~e into account labor, death loss, ~terinary, ~ interest and ~ depreciation on equipment, interest ~n cattle, taxes, and I custom~vr~r ch~dpth ~pri~e frOm lighter ~to h~avier cattle.. If these are subtracted, the profit picture bccom~ smaller. You can see though, that the farm~, would have muth thor~ left over from the $246.50 than he would froni the $44.50. iUsb, the production costs will pro'b- ably be les~ inthè p'roposedth~rigation di~tr~c1~. Secondly, I feel that we must strive to maintain t~ rural populatiom in States such as South Dakota. We must stop the exodus from the farm to the city, and from rural States to the already overcrowded and probl~m-plagued~ metropolitan centers. To do this, we m~ist de- ~ ~relop aud exp~tnd our existing industries rather than try to move I industry ~ and people from the urban centers to rural areas. I've heard serious pr9pos'als ranging all the way from establi~hing large Govern- H ment-siippOrted defense plants in such places to actually creating ~ ~ brandne\~ ~ cities. This would be fine, we have pl~ñty df robm, but I feel it. wonidtjnaice it~iore sense to develop irrigation so we may expand wbat~e ar~ ~dready blessed with ; namely, rich soil, abundant surface wat~r, and, bt~illiant sunshiite. This,' together with related industries will provide ~itipToynient, for tj~ie youth graduating froth ottr high schools ~tnd colleges It will also ~tabili~e and increase the r~t~~ns that PAGENO="0186" 176 the farmer i c~~"~rura OAHE TJNIT, M SSOTYRI RIVER BASIN PROJECT so I~ PAGENO="0187" in ~ terested i~ tunities ~ve been in- ~ the oppor- also L OAHE `UNIT, M~SSoV~i RIVER EASI»=~ PROJEerI~ I 177 r If irrigatioi~ could become a reality in central South Dakota, tIier~ would be a greater possibility of a place for our young people, because the farms would only have to be one-fourth the size they are now to do the same job of providing income and thereby leaving room for more farms and operators. As it is 1)0w, our young people have to leave the State to find employ- meiit thus taking with `them our future. I believe that if we could develop a sizable acreage. under irrigation that we would have the prodn~e to be processed, as well as a need for manufactured material, thus giving a need for factories, canneries, processing plants, packing plants, plastic industries, and other industries which all employ large numbers of people. It is almost impossil)le to get a new start in farming here. All avail- able land is l)eing gobbl~d up by operators wanting to increase their volume and inii~iove their efficiency thus making land l)rices and rent prices high as well as the price of equipment and labor. By the time I you get interest and taxes paid you just don't have ailything, left on ~ which to'iive and pay tIi~ Iirincilal. W7hat is true in l)ractically all "public works ~~ojects" is true also I in this proposed irrigation project. Somebody's gain comes at someone I else's loss. It's too bad but that's the way it is and progress is necessary ( to cope with the needs of the world. True, there will be some who will ~ i)e hurt b~~t the lrioe for progress has always been this way and I see no other way around it. ~ ~ ~ ~ In the face of w~rld famine it doesn't seem right to inc for us to sit back and o - to step forward or not in this propc ~` proje ~asily make the differem ~ of four - ---~ ~~ii L~ 1 ~"i our a rely hope that you men that I the facts of this - ~, will forus~ - - PAGENO="0188" I 1t~ SPA O~PAtft ~LLOed, M'APbRÔF ON~U~, S. DAI~. I Pau' I~e1~g~, Mayor o~ Ornd4 ~out~i Eiakota favor the First Stage develop-~ ~nØntof the ~)ahe ~Yfi~I~ ~tth4 th~ uj4ib~a1~ deve1o~1iént of the MisTsouri 1~Uver l3asin Projeet. The City Oni~ ~fr~pr~e ,L&a~b ~e ~te's p1~~O~ water in quantity but of suib'~tañdard or ~*aekisli quality. An assured supply of good quality water is an attraetion and an asset to any community for future development and attraction of industry. I~78 OAW~.U~IZ M. SSQU~T RIVER BA.SIN `FRO3EC2~ fl~ i~a'ter s as t we will be in a Ted as ~ariy chance tc g ~i1l have nt. PAGENO="0189" STATEMENT OP ~ NORMAN' PAUL, C:BAIR1VLAN, PAULX ~ COUNTY WATER ~ T~s1~ns Q1~GA1cIZA~rO~T; ~U~t~rb~ ~, iiMç.,. Mr. PAtiL. Senator ~ ~~Goir~iyn ajid ~ná~r Bi~i~k, m~ name is Norman Paul. I am a fa~n~r and ehairmanofth~Fau1kiCounty Wa- terTJsersOrganizthoIL My f~m i~lthdn~r~id ~artia1ly Wjthin the ~ l4ie ~ will hc~ almost comjleteiy, ;s~rr~undec~tly the ~ watei~ in ~lie. reservQir. My broth~r~ and I stand to lose a i~t ofgood land b~flooding. ~ : I am interested and faypr th~ ~rqposed water deve1opment~thèl plan on th,kutg ad~a~t~ge ~t1~e~at~ 1~or~ ivrigation The directors of our organization have devoted many hours toward hastening the day when thisproposedpi~ojectbecorhes~aieaiity.~ ~ ~ ` ~ ~ ~!F ~ From the interest sho~~t th~ m~tings ofoiir or~ffig~ttioii~ many people of this c~mmunity appear .t~be anxi~us cfàr ~ ~tablewa~er supply. .~nur~ ~ L ~ ~ Qhai~man,. ~t this tim~ I ~ t~onld~dso 1ciJ~e to ~ ha~~om~ mbre L~ .m~eriai a~4 ~solii~tions Iftom ~tI~e~ F~ulk CGu~ity~Board~ ~if ~Oominis~ ~ sioners and I'd like to file them at this time, and from the Faulk , Coixnt~ C~ ~ ~s~1a~t~i ~~t~*~hd ~i~O~! 1ih'~ ~ull~ County Users Organizati~j ~ ~ i, ~ ~i ~` Senator MCGOVERN. Thank you, very much, for those statements. ~ (The. r~sohttionsfo}lo~w~:) ~ ~ ~ L'~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ) ~ . Whereas, the Oahè Uzli~ trHgà~tioñ ri~o*c.t j~ ~k j~Thii `t~ ijt~~i ~rigate 495,000 acres In north centr~tI ~ Smith D~ko~ta rWi%hM1~sbiii~i ~ftrer ~w~atè~~ ; anti Whereas, t1~ prpje~t yt~3b~1sp ~ ~ )~r trnun~iipat aM industrial i~ise, fish ançl ~ ~ ; ~an&~, ~ Wiierea~, the p~ojectwill help ~ to, sta~fliz~ çjie ~ o~ i~Iit~ ~r~a1~i~4, t1~ State; and ~ ~ ~ . ~ *, I Wh~i~ea~ it' `wtiJ~ ai~O~li~l~ stoiJ th~d~1n~Llthg~fkrht pi~ti~t~ ai~d ~iit~1ÔW o~ young~eQ~lef1~om the &~te~ J~ . proivi*ling hiew ~nwrketh ~1k~r fa~ih ptt%d~ts ai~d new job ~ ~ , ~ ~ ~, ~ , ~, !3~~ ~ Therefore,, be ~t resol~e4 ~that ~he ~ Fatqk ~ ~ i~w~n~ at 13~anlkton, ~oi~tl~ DalthUt thI~ 5th da~r of Apri" 19Bt3 ~irges Cbngrés~o kuthorize, as soon as pOssible, thd OaI~è thiit Irrlgàtl~n ~to~V~ ont~ffie~f inttti~& i3ütèau ~f Recl~mati~n Reports otMay~ ~t9~and ~tune 1~6~ ` ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ . FAULK ~Jrnm~rr B~YAflD co~ OoMMissIo*i1~s, ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ /. ~ . . . ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~: ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ j~ I ~ Wb~eas~ ~1ie 13~nul1~ ,c~9~ij:L1w i~P ~ 9v~1a~j~t 4ssopja~iqn~ ~is)~a Wiuntary oi~ganization coiisi'sting of farmers and, ~e ~s~r~r~i e~ Tpçu~t~i~~i q~Pau~k ~Oonnty~ and "` ``"" I `Wher~as, thia or i~tft5~n1t& ~ct1th!1!I1f 1ntete~ i~fi'd ~x~it~6~ ~Jutb ~ ~ in~ia 1ar~th~ Oah~ ~ tJ~1ft)ia~dL1 I OAHE ` tINIT, MISSOt~RI ItIv~R ~SI~ ` P~O3~ECT 179 if the first stage of the Oal~teI Unit is authorized, it is an~ in1tetitkn to r~tiest `the Oa'he Oon'servane3~ S~ib~Din~rict to consider ~p1~n~ ar~d a request' for delivery ~of Water to Onida for mnnici~al use. ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~, Your consideration and efforts in `sup~porting the Fir~st Stage lDeveloprnent of the Oa'he IUfljt, `will very `dekPnitely make it ~x~sib1~ ~ot~ ~a ~i~e4lcial economic impact upon the rural and urban people of this cOn~unit~: , ~ I , , Senator MCGOVERN. Mr~ Sorman Paul is our next ~itneds ~&r.Paul is from Faulk County. . ~ . . ` , ` I , ~ I After we have heard from ~him~ we have two Clark County gentle- men, Mr. Jerry Kioster, itnd Mr. Morgan Thllefson, and if they will be getting ready, we'll hear them immediately after Mr. Paul. PAGENO="0190" I OAT I~!N~T~MSSOURI RIVT~R BASIN PROJECT I at the annual meeting, February 3~ 1966. FAuu~ Ca~JNr~. Oi~OP IMP1WvEME~T As RdMAN N~ ~EE~TARP, Director, ~~GP~rENs C age of the t~ one, w~s PAGENO="0191" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT true and to prove to them that such a project is direly needed and wanted. It is ~ now much more than just a dream, for many years of work of surveying and testing the soil. plus organizing the State into water conservancy subdistricts and irrigation districts, has been accomplished. ~ Beadle County Farmers Union has been working for this dream since the idea was first conceived. We have cooperated with the various committees and supported them all the way. When the Oahe Con- servancy Subdistrict was former, our Beadle County people voted 86 percent in favor of the prc~posal and in the last election we gave over- whelming approval to a measure giving the Oahe directors contracting authority. . We ~ believe this project `will benefit everyone in otir Sth~te-either directly or indirectly-by providing a more stable economy, since agriculture is our primary industry and no doubt will continue to be so for manyyears hence. ~ ~ We want this water and we want to use it. We are ready to accept the responsibilities and the obligations that go with such a project. We urge this committee to give favorable consideration to Senate bill 6 and tt take whatever steps necessary toward expediting the eventual ` compietioti of the Oahe iri~igatAon project. Thank you. Senator MCGOVERN. Thank you for your statement, Mr. Christen- sen. Mr. Allen Haskell is our next witness. While he is coming up to the t~ le, I -~ - this morn I asked that there is ~j] wed STA~_~_ .- - Mr. HAsKBr~I~. area al mos~ 181 wh~ wants to pre PAGENO="0192" 182 OAHE UNIT, MIS~SOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT crops along th& river. LiV~stook feedi~ ~ and more intensilEled crop farming would assure more of these young m~n a future in this area. If the present~ trend contiIn~u~s, very ~ f~w peopI~ will be left on the land. Large corporatioRs wi1i~take over and tihe s~na11 towns and cities, as well as the small farms, will be hard pressed to survive. I believe that irrigation may be th~ ohly hope we have in keeping the small farms and small businestes from disappearing in ever in- creasingnumbers. I ask you to assist us in moving this work forward. Senator McGov~uw. Thank you for:your statement, Mr. }IaskelL Is Mr. Robert E~vart here~L We will puthis statement in if be is not here. Mr. Rob~rtrJohuson. Mr. Johnson is speaking Ozi behalf of the Northern Eleetri~ Cooperative. I~ is to I its ag make it £~. We are ~oi-hing ~: ~ future with sabdistriot~ with thi~s~ semiar.~ -~ ~ to - ~r man- t'rigati6n rate to dttee for - - 1rE~t sin L~:ntY and a ~LporL ~le~tric bred to PAGENO="0193" OAHE VNIT, ~XISSD~I R1VER~ B~SIN ~FROJECT~ Eie pot ~ tnd area ~ - ~ ~*lz~ problems c~rt4$ at ~oLv ~ ~re hej~toi~o~ bce~i k~iown or I; has not yet i emon~ ~l that c~iviliz~thm oan thrive - American plains witliQut si~b~idy Especially is this true of I a civ zation that is shaped preponderantly by, humid~rea inst)itU~ ; tions and values. Our climate is more unique tht~i most people realize. I Oi~r area is not semiarid in that th~ ch~x~at~ is ~hadfway between humid and arid. ~ We ~i~e uot halJkiry a~mL liarl~-wet ; rath~ some years we are ~]ry ~id ev~i~ ~rid ; ~other years w~re very wet, and still, in other years, we are wet or dry at the wrong times from the standpoint if agricultural production and yields. However, with the development 0± ~ Irriga~tnm D~striqt ive ~arx have a new type of stability ~a can take euthe f ota ti~e~'irriga~tion agriculture econ- ` rather than that of an irrigated oasi~1ike d~ve1opment. Irriga- agriculture, rather than serving as an "operational base" `for an' ~ oulture~ can be the fQund~tio~1 for a sem atid By proper integration between ~- 1 ~d, and irri L'mers, 1; thor- 53-182-67-13 PAGENO="0194" PEOJECT~ a iradtei~'th I have i ~rvi~ PAGENO="0195" ire of fi6d a better w~ I, UN: ~ASIN BROJEOT 185 noral statement. We would me. OOUN~Y shoui~. name is Reverend LaRue and I am pastôr~ of the Wesleyan Church here in Redfield, and president of the Spink County 1 A ssociation. ready filed my statement, but I c tt tGh~ve~the privil~ expressing my conce'~n person~1 ~ws. the members of th * Association, I ~J weff irrigati for the \~ ide a stronger eco- :his a the PAGENO="0196" i86 OAHF1ItINIT,/MISSOThRI BIVER B~ASIN `PEO~Th1CT i~ah, lost flVCi rnov~ ~church. rn aii~ ~oing ~ jLlSt1 ~iave two {ch~L~ iere. ~. Thank you very much, Reverer ñn is onE ne~t~ witness. ~NT OP Mi id Sem Re have " that pro ~ ~ ins be it in kind~ * The habitat is stir is affording us recre~ ing is not limited to ~ being enjoyed. This hun~ ~ pheasants, ducks, ~iiidpredators. In the past year 19$6-~6~ tb~eli~b ha~l 31. orga~i4~d ~. deer hunts amounting to 310 man days In addition to this, many of oin club members hunted individually. In the past, the James Bhr~r Valley has oflered the club an invalu- able su~ce~ of recreation. .Phis recr~ttion has not by any means been limited to bowhunters, The club aisb realizes that in the future the river bottom will become ntereasmgly more valuable It is for these reasoi~s the club is concerned with the preservation of the oxbows and other wildlife habitat for the use of future sports men. With the inclusion of a provision for the protection~of wildlife habitat ~the Whitetail Bowmen Archery Club, Inc., would be in con- currence with the Oahe irrigation project. Thank you. Senator ~ Reverend ~La1~u&s ~sta~temeut;~ 1 ~ and: - r reason. ~ce in of our oonee~ L.rge ir~ 1 the mci ~s ;arB lar ~.the ~ preservation ana/or tn PAGENO="0197" T ~ ~ Senator Bunini~x~ ~eti~on~ 2o~Se~iate bill 6,~ re~~d~ ~s follows: The Secretary is authorized, as a part of the project to construct, operate and ñ~ainta4n or oth~rwise ~rovide fo~ publidOuW&~r rëcreatiou and ~sb and wild- life e *n~emenM facilities, tQ acqutr~e or ~thw~wise p~4k~ av4i1~aJ~le~ si1c1~ adi~t~ cent lands çn~ ~lerests th~rei2~ ~t~s are nçce~sary for pu~lj~ .oi~r recr~aUon Qr IkSh and wildlife u~e, and to provide fdr pui~1ic u~e~afid en~oyrnë~ of T~rGje~t lands, f~cillties, arid ~v~ter ~r~as in a manner co-oMinäted With the other project proposals. )d protectioli; doesn't it?~ ii~ipression that w~s gôil~g t~ go ;s. enhaiic~ ~. IJ~t's bé~ônd fish. ct wifh this if .i~t would LI as deer. ~ Were afraid asducks,b~twe were in- take -- ánd~of thient that he *óuld ii~ any other witnesses now Wl~ want to be heard? we will hear from Mr. Swo~e a~id then w~ will ~ecogniz~ people. L. Sen~ Now, we will take this nd any organization you a man. .. ~Ja ~ou iated with? your name O~ t~NIP, MISSOIJEI RIVER ~*SIN PRO 1? 187 to waterfowl and c Senator BUIUICK Mr.D We~ wemefit A~o ILfl t;ion which lprovemeii re~o. any years~ ead, is as help Iin~ nt stabilize and PAGENO="0198" ~P1tO~ECT r McGoi our way of ru~ PAGENO="0199" I OAHE I5NIT, MIS&fl~i RiVE~ BASIN ~PROJ~ECT South Dakota is ji~st beginnino' to r~ap.th~ ~bén~fith of ~ Missouri River Basin waiter deve1ôpth~it T~ie bulk of the benefits have been. to the areas downstream thi~oi~gk reduced ~fIQOdiflg, l~ank stabilization, better water supplies, and navigati~n~ Even power produced ~withiu the State is exported to many areas outside South Dakota. South Dakotans have tolerated, and encouraged, th~ Missouri River Basin development knowing full well that the day would come when our vast irrigation potential could be undertaken. Now, 20 years after this great river basin program was initiated, we are just beginning to see the glimmer of irrigation benefits over the horizon. That horizon is still several y~ r s away. Yet we have to ask our people to "m~ark the X" and "sign on the dotted line" for projects they know will bene- fit their children and gr~ndchildren much more than themselves We are asking our farmer friends to nmke basic decisions-terrifically important decisions-decisiofls that wIll change their whole way of life-now, in support of irrigation wI~en, we know full well the bene- fits will not be forthcoming for 7, 10, or even 15 years. This is most difficult for the farmer who must gamble 1 year t~ the next on the weather, prices, and his ability to meet cOmpetition. Yet. our farmers have "marked the X,~' have "signed the dotted line," and have sup- ported efforts to develop our water resources. Witness the vote ~ on conservancy district organization, the irrigation distriét signup or the contracting authority authorization vote. These folks are ready and willing to take the risk in supporting the FederaF'Governthent in good sound resource development investments. are proposing investments for con rete,. eapital .producin~ ~ments-sc nethrn~ you can ~ - on-r urns to the - 189 East Dakota E?~L~:t:~T. to ~iowing reso ~onsèrvancy PAGENO="0200" t1~Jo OABIE PçiMISSOVrLt~[ ~tIVF~WiBASIN P~ftOJECP ~gesie~f~the~ ~ate.JrrIgatI~Qn~ Uii1~~ ~et forith by1~thè ~u~a~u of ~ *R~fl~ 1q~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 4414 ~t1i~i~ urges th~ fu1~ çE~1op~ n~ent qi~ the t~niJ~ at au e~r1y 4te ~ ~ ~ . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~An~ ~b~it ~ ~hfs~eso!u~ibe ~brn1tted to memb~rs ~f ~b~tI~h' ~ D~1egat~o~it~: tO The `Senate Interior ai~! rn~u1ar ~Sifnirs Co~rnrtUt1iee ~t~rc~to the Bou~eo~r R~pr~n~atiive~ Interior and Tnsu~iar M~i1~s Com~tht~~ ~ J~i4te4 ~ ~ç~tg~s. t~ ~. SW~N~O~, ~ Un~O~trd of1~ii~ors. A*tk~est: I J~J~VV1~I~ 1~. I ~ `Ufl / I &~ereta~rjj. Senator GovEr~J Thank ~OU fir your statei~ient; Mr. Eut1er~ We appreciate~ that Now, we will h~r froi ~nt1ei~ over h~re. L~. MoNE~N~1 TomMcNenny~ pr lent .~ ~ ~ ~ live, out In the west e~id~ State wJ~re~we I problem. ~ ~ * ~ ~ /~ ,/ ~ I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ` ~ ~ ` . ~ ~ ! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The first. iri~ation th~ was döa~iedii this whole area was done in the. Belle ~ area wher~ they built 4the/ first damunder the Bu~ reaulof Reelthmttioii. We haye ~ another darn near. Angostura ~here quite a little irrigation is being done~ * S * I have irrigated prom my pumpangc from the Belie Foi~rche River ~for a good manyk ~ ; Last year I u~sed electric power from West 1~iver REA for. ~ur pttmping. ~ ~ ~ S * ~ S S I also se~red as~ a menther on the1board of supervisors on the soil conser~atáon 4i~it~t~ for itb&ut iiQ years. At our last annual meeting,. I guess the last 1~wo or~ three meetings, oifr * members have approved the Oahe District. However, there has ~ been some questiOii ~ among our members as to the cost of irrigatiom Doyou have anything on the cost of the water to the farmer foi~ irrigation ? ~ Senator McGo~i~R~. We are not prepared to give you that now. We will have estimates OR that, b~i&t we de not haire them available today. ~ S ~ ~ ~ . * S ~ S Mr. MONENNY. Ndt availa~b1e today. ~ That's one of the questions our members~ ask and it couldn't be answered and I think if you all realize if the water costs are too high, we cannot' ~e it in irrigation.. Senator MOGOV~RN. Staff couusel just reminded rue that when the Bureau of the Budget releases the full report, that information will he available, both to the Congress and to the general public. We ex- pect thatquitesoon. I would say in the next few weeks. Mr. MoNi~N~. Now, there is another question. S Do the acres limitations still apply to this area ? That is, 160 acres.. Senator MOGOVERN. It is still iii effect. That's a general law. Of course, in the ease of man and wife, that would be 320 acres. Senatpr BURDICK. From the 1~O2 Reclamation Act. Mr. MONENNr. I might sa~ in this Angost~r~~ area where they have done a lot o~irriga~tion and places were cut up into 120 and 15~ ickJItth~. PAGENO="0201" I OAH~' T5NIT~ M1SSOU~ RN!~R BASfl~ ~PROJECT 191 acre pli~ces, most ~f t1~ose~ fellows went broke. You can't bu ~ ~tI~e ma- chinery and farm n'tw d~ys~ ~n 150aeres or 160, whatever the 1imita~ tion is. Even the 320 is pretty siiialL ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ , ~ ~ You have got to. use modern ;~ machinery and if you. do, you've ~ got to have a big enough operatio~i to~pay for it, so there is some ques~ `tion. Senator MCGOVERN. What size unit would you suggest would be economical, Mr. MeNenny ~ Mr. MONENNY. Well, that depends on what type of crops you are raising. For corn and a1fa1~fa~i would say 400 acres at least, 400 to ~500 aca~es wotild.berequiredtolteep~afamily on the farm. Senator MOGOVERN. Even under irrigation? Mr.. MCNENNY. Yes~ We. have our ~wn place and we have a couple i~iun~li~ed acres of irrigated a1fa~fa and ~we don't farm~and raise live~ stoek~ but where you nrc strãotiy in the farming business, I think it would take at least 400 oi~ 500 acres. ~ ~ ~ * I think we should m~tk~ a thorough study in these places like Ahgo- ~tura, wiTI~u~e it.was divhled intoshlaller areas., Senator BtrRDrox. HistorL~h~a gown, Mit. McNenny, that very little ~gvaan is raised in irrigata~ plots It ~s ~tri~tiy feed crops and sugar beets auQl*things ofthat nature. . ~ ~ ~ c ~ ~ Mr. MCNENNY. Well, some grain. Sene'tqr Bi~zo~ç; Geueii~al ri~i~though, not~vcvy rnu~h~ ~ Mr. MCN~N~I~. A quar~s~.~ection o~f sugar beets is ~ lot of farmin~ but a quarter section of irng~t~4 corn or alfalfa, there is not much `there. ` ~ ~ .. ~ ~ Senator BuiwlcK. The theory behind the ~O acresjsthM you spread `more benefits to more people. Mr IM~DNENNY! TI~at w~s all right 50 years ago, but I think it ~ ~hou1d be repealed at this time or modified so people can make a living on these places and * if they are go1ng~bo limit them, and, as I uuder- stawd the law, that if you d~n~t do anything by limi'ting~ your laud to 16ö acres within 10 y~ears, the Federal Government does it for ~you Senator BURrnCK. No. ~ ~ Mr. MONENNY. That wa~ iriyuthde~tanding ofitt~ ~ SenàMo~r Brnmicx. The lO~car provision of this bill is that you shall m~t dedicate this land `to crops that~ are receiving Government `siippth~ts for 10 years from the rime of the ~ ena~tment, but if a tie- mand for what continues, i~iaybe that ma~ be meaningless Mr.M,N~Nt~r.'We fiiedonestaten~ent and I think maybe we shall file ~ little more ~ ~ And 1 think I would c~rtainly urge you make a study of the~areas. : such a~ )Angost~ra arid try to `try ~ something ~ here that w&uld~ limit the cost of the wat~r and a~lso make the unit big enough so that people ~an live on them under whatever type of farming they are trying to do~ Senator MOUOVuRN. I think these are iegitithatequesti~s you have raised here anti things we ought to look into darefully when we get into the hearings 1ater~on this year. ~ ~ ~ ~ I would sa~ this in passing ~ I can't recaibin the years~ I have been in Washin~ton4 and maybe Senator~ Bürdiek can correct me on this, ~of any group coming into our committee teapp~ad fer the ~ndof an irrigation pro)eet In every instance I know of where there have been PAGENO="0202" O~H~ U~IP~ we w~J,ofc~u~ ~e had ~in~Soi~tIi1. sure that information e~isus~ is that on balance ~ve wanted adjust- ~, S. DAL I believe the last ~ when we were of review a OPE. ~L. loGoveri PAGENO="0203" 1he~ ~~per, id cut his neci you s coming down and I did thiitk `I would preciate the privileg~ of taking the time to tell the little experiences ~ to this irrigation project, and it's beenka~greatprivi- uere. . : Schultz: e~s~s now? . OP ADAM .RExNs~BNmT, HURON~$. - ~son~m~r. Só~tor ~ was' a e. mixup, it~ seei~is. - also left ft note and neither one of I am ~4dam Reins~brnidt from em part of. the cotinty under one ac we had about 60 soi nt some twice toir place ci id I am go' v'remar1~s QAflE VNIT, MISSOUItI RWER BASIN `EROJE.C~ 193 `~overn and Senator Burdick There `~ted that I wantecJ~ to testify and for p with ~flE ~try and Cooperative he file a prepared si PAGENO="0204" 194 OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT supply bofli in the surface and om the grouud for domestic and live stock areas and smaller recreationaLareas in this area. We lose an a~.rerage of tw~ ou1~ of three corn crops, and I am speaking of the area in easternBeadle County, due to the dry periods in eastern South Dakota~ We feel there is no better money spent than bringing water to the land, especially now that a shortage of food is predicted in the next decade. * It provides loans and grants in the drought stricken areas and cre- ates more employment in the area of the population and increases and reverses the flow of implication from rural to urban areas to seek em- ~loyment. Also, it will attract related industry to this area which the State so badly needs. Much of the cost ofitrigation development will be required by the Government through water-use payments. New taxes from individuals and new industries and community farmers but~, most of all, I reiterate that it ~riilpróvid~ means by which more food and fiber ~an be grown on less land than before, as we are losing much productive land through new housing and highways and industrial expansion. The light and powei~that we receive from the development that has taken place so far h~s created, and all been absorbed, and additional powerplants are beh~g constructed and are planning or being con- structed,' which pays for much of this development in this area insofar as the cost a~ a s~dnd'ar~ factor to the needs and wants of the partic- ular area. It cuts down ~op l~ses ; ` the population will be more stable ; our young people will enjoy recreation in this area. There is always a help toward `g~tting them to stay on the farm. We have much trouble in keeping young people in relation to older people, on the farm, and I am justflhibg a st~tt~rnent here and that is all I have to say and thank ~ou fo~ the oppOrtunity to express my views. I am a farmer from Yale, S. Dak., here today as a member of the board of directors of Beadle Electric Cooperative, Inc. Our cooperative has the task of proyidixig. electric power for virtually every corner of the rural area ~f Beadle County. This amounts to something like 1,900 families, or ji~rhaps a fuIl'O,OOOpeopie. Very fewmeinbers of Beadle Electric Cooperative will receive direct benefits from this project. But their life can improve as that of the en- tire region is improved by Oahe. Perhaps in a later stage, 600 or so acres may be irrigated in our county. There will be somecanal mileage and two puniping plants in our county, and the Byron Reservoir will be enlarged. Our cooperative has been a consistent supporter of the Onhe project. We want to ~ee the fish arid ~ wildlife and recreation benefits it will bring. We want to ~ the water supply iii central South Dakota made more dependable~ A1~1 we want iiTigation to help stabilize the eco- nomic stabili~ation~p~r~tps is gr~e~itest of all the benefits of irrigation, instead of depeiidiitg oii the accident of iiature-rain t.hftt may come or may not come-a great part of the year. Livestock feeders in our county would have an a~sured supply of feed. Yields of most crops could likewise increase. In Beadle County we have wat;ched t~hestead3r increase in the use of irrigation by individual farmers who have independent sources of water supply. The county average yield for al~lf~ is about 1.5 tons per acre. Irrigators now PAGENO="0205" OAliE iTNIP, MISSOURI NEVER flASI~ ;PROJF&~L~ 195 EDWA1~D ITZ~IUt, &~ereta4'y. coi~sist~nt1'y average 4.4 tois p~r acre and we expect 5 to 6 tons to be common ~omC day, for irrigators. ~ ~ ~ ~ Corn will average 33 bushels~. t~ the aci~e' on dryland acreage ; 83 bushels to the acre on irrio~ated land. Sorgiauin can produc~ a8 to 40 bushels'to the acre on dry !and~afewinitial crops of begrnnrng wri-~ gators are producing 89 to, 90 bushe1~ of so . irghum p~r acre~ ** ~ Beadle Electric Cooperative ~lso ~ is very much excited ~ about thG increased employment which sttch a projeot can briiig about. It is a fact of life that all of our sons and daughters~ do not have the same opportunity to ~et into farming tha~t we once had. We need to. give them opportunities that do not now exist. Oabe would create not only more farming opportunity but' a `wealth of new jobs in. agric~itural processing and farni-related service industries. ` We are attaching a copy of a resolution by which BMdle Electric udds its official support to the project. We ask that you take back to your full committee and to the whole Congress' our plea that this neces-~ sary project be authorized and funded with gre~t~speed. Thank you. (The resolution referred to follows:) RESOLITTIOF OF THE BEADLE ROTEZO COOPERATIVE t~e it resolved tb~at the Board of t)1i~eétors of Beadle El~etrIc (Joopeiative urge early development of the Oahe Irrlgution Unit of the Missouri River Basin Pi~&je~t and request Immediate eensiderat1o~n xf `this nnit~by the Congress. CERTIFICATE OF SECRETABv I, Edward ~`ritzsche,'~eeret~r~ of th~ ~eadle ~lect~l~ dooferatM,~ñc., hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and complete copy of a resolution which was duly' passed at the Regular Meetiiigófthe~3oard `of Directors held August 17, 19~ Senator McGovm~.T'hank you so niuch. We ar~ sorr~ ~e lost your name and request'her&earlier, but ~tare gled y6u. we~e able to testl~y. Who is next? STATE1~ENT OP ~. M. ` YQUNG, McLAUGHLIN, `S. DA!EC~ Mr YOUNG I am E M Young~from McLaughlin, S Dak I have f~Lrm interests in western Sully County. ` I want to addt~ss this `to Senator McGovern and Senator Burdiek. ` ` ` ` ` ` ` I didn't ask for a place here, but being there is a little extra time. I would like~to'represent myself asan ~x~ess~htnd `~wner~. ~ ` ~ ` 4There has been so very ` little ~aid here ~Oday ` about : e±~ess-la~d owners. , ~ ~ ` ` `~" ` ` ` ~ ~ ` ` ` ``n'' ` I am afraid maybe wewould be forgotten'ãnllcit seeths that what has been, hnown, r~think, is the S~nall `Bureau' Actof 1965, whi~h has the p.rospectof giving'the e~teess4andowñer~somereli'ef relati*e to getting irrigation. ~ . ` ` ` ` ~ ~ ` ~ : ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . ` . I have been making some quite detailed study, but I hàcvenk got it completed and it ~ seønth to me that the 1~i~ i'acreage `that should conI~ under irri~tion in Sotth Dakota is ñeare* th~ ~reservóir~ ` ~ Now, T have nothing againat what has been said here today relative to this valley,, the JIm~Eiver Vaileyárrig4atioii,~but ~e havebroad acres PAGENO="0206" Th~fl~t~NIT; ~MISSO~F11t1I RWER ~SI~ ~tOJ~T ~sç ~wenihtbea i believe ~hat is all I have to~say.~ I just ~ excess-land owner of South Dakota left clear c little said her ~d~a b~t.~-eryiitti~. , S~na~tçr ~~qQv~ ~We ~p~preçjaje 1your test~qn~iy, ~ow1we~av~; ti ~fo~om~ nior~ ~person, 1 have a gentleman here. 0 ~ E~rEDKLIOI~R,. WOL&EY., L.DAK. ~ ~ ~ : ~ ~ ~K~io~Ei~ Hc~orthbl~ Sel~atO!r McQovern&id Senator Burdiek, I do not bav~ writtentestimony, but in observing what I have heard today, I wó~il~ ~ik&1~ h~vép~rmission to speak. Senator ~MIE~UQvE1W~ T~ieas~gjve,us your name~ a~d address. ~ ~ Mr. ~i~JCJ~ER. Fred Kli4~l~, froni~~plsey a~nd B .. ea4leQounty. ~ I am a member of the ~ational Farmers Organiza~~n, Farmers Union. Now, I wou4d ~1ike `t~hav eit. .very . plain that I am w~oleheartedly behind any irrigation project, but what astonishes me is through the testimony that'was given today nothing has bee.n~said tr spoken about price conditiOns and situations, sand no one can tell me. that this will `solve our problem. We mus1~ hair ` ~ prices `first of a4L Let us put first things first. ~ ` ` . . ` ` ` ` ` Senator McGi~v~~. I don"tthi'nk' you `have any quarrel with Sena- `tor' Burdiek ~and ~ me.. We are ~ta~ong advocates of `improving farm price income and both of us sponsor in that direction. Mr. KLIOIQER. .Firstid~1xall,'let m~clea~ myself. `I have hen a strong ~advocate ~Lnd eio~e fbliower of ~ a very great man through the ?pas~ing years. To the one of the greatest that I can think of, that is, Charles H.. Wilcon, that as you well know was very iiistrumenta~lim passirig the 9O~-pereentparity through the more years. Now, this man, in my Gp~nion, in `his `speaking~ in his pronounce- ment's-also, `he was `Director of'Econothy in Washington~'D.C. "This rnaa~ today' i~ unheard of; nobody listens `to this man and, in my thinkii1g~ he still hisists that we need parity. How can we `be ex- hat'~s r sayer the' water. `It's ny-- rand PAGENO="0207" OAH~E')3NIT~, M~SSQURI RW1~R~1BASIN 1~RO3ECP i)ectecl to operate for less tIiai~ : pa~it~~, w~en oth~ur ~ s~grnents iir the ~(onO1fly receive parity. Why shouldn't we, also? Agricultiireis a ver~r ba~ic part of any economy of aiiy natioii aiid this is being denied agriculture today. We speak today of 72-percent parity ajid \Vashington is rumbling 77 1)ercellt under the same token, but in my 01)1111011 actiffli' parity 1~oday' is probably 95 to 27 p~i~cent. AIITL I correct, Mr. Senat9r? * Senator MCGOVERN. I couldn't answer that. I doubt if it is that low, l)Ut it is not high enough. Mr. IcLICKER. This'is what I would call actual parity, paying from 42 to 44. , Senator MOCTOVERN, My knowledge is that average farm income is about two-thirds of the national ` average and that's not enough. I would not IMit it 15 iow~ as your figure, but it is certainly not high enough. Mi~ KI~IcIi~R. I am basing it on what we received under the 90 per- Qent parity. In 1963 when wheat was $2~97 a bush~l and corn wa~ $1.79 l)y the Federal Government-what S is the support on co.rn and wheat today? S 5~ ~ * ~ S This is. what I base parity on, and if the conimodities and Products that farmers buy today are from 5 to 7 times higher than they were then, then how can we consider parity as such we `have today ? ~ Thi~ is the quarrel I have. Now, under this Irrigation Act, this will not solve our problem. Our expenses will be enough greater that we are still producing for less than cost.This is what I am getting at. This (Toes not solve our prob~Iem. It will solve our problem to a certam ex- tent. Basically, it will help industry tocome in to it, a ]arger popula- tion of I)eople to live in these communities, yes, but what we have, we 1it~ve four masses still with us. Thi~ is correct ; or js thiswroi~g? Senator McGovERN. I don't think anybody agrees that irrigation is a cure-all for all of our problems. ~ I think it is an importahtstep, but we aie not making any attempt to (leal with the whole agriculturaiproblem. Mr. KLICKER. I agree with you 100 percent, but in Washington, D.C., we have one thing that is very wrong. We have free world foods trade. Our farmers must produce at ~ world conipetitive price, and our industries have the highest .prot~ction this world h~s ever known. It is very imperative this caimot continue. Because this is an unbalanced sick economy, the only way we can become strong and firm is through a balanced econQmy, ~ cannQt continue to carry on. This is all I have to say, and I thank you very much. Senator McGovi~RN. Thank you for your statement. WTe appreciate that. Let. me just make it clear here again, I am sure that neither Senator Burdick noi~ Senator Moss, if he were here, would want to leave the ilnl)reSsioll that we conducted these hearings in a notion that it was going to endall our problems in South Thtkota. We have a lot of things we have to deal with and today we are relating our efforts to one aspect of the problem and that's more efficient and proper use of omi' water resources. At this time I have a resolution from the Common Council of the city of Millei~, which I shall make a part of this record, if there is no objection. PAGENO="0208" 198 OAHE ~i~NITç ~ISSOUI~I RIV~R IBASIN ~ PROJECT ~ (The resoIutionreferred~to fo1Io~wa :)~ . {~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~SOLV~O~ 9F ¶I~i~E ~ QoU~L OI~ w M'u~E4~ S D~i~ ; ~ Whel~ea~? the QoknrnolliO~nfl~* o~f~the Oi~by t~fJMiU~r, ~H'ai~A o,unt~, south ~aIøta, has ~be* adtts$ g~ a~ U~~il~1 states ~epa~e ~b~Oonn~i1ttee me~t1~ig t~ be ~Jd in the ~ o~ ~dJ1~1, ~ $o~12k. ~akota, , o~t~ ~nd 4ay ~f 1~jay, 1~67~ M~id that the said ~c~ñuith~ee theeting~ii f~i~ the j~i~i~se oi~ ot~ta1iiing testimony relative to the ear1y~ath~ption oi~ tire Oahe ~ ?~eject, and ~ ~ r~ Wher~ts, the OO~I1tIO~ Oo~it~I1 1$e#1i~v~s that th~ a&pt~o1ii of `the saM ~ ~r~ga~ t~on Project is vital to the economic development o~ ?tbe City. of 1~~Iiller, Han~1 Oou~ity,, ~*nd surr~Lud~ng cou~tie~s ~ arn~ ç~tj~s~tq i~w, o~tent that ft wilt tenU to *~tabl1i~e the ecelioiñ~ od~ ~thts iminethate area in particular and the Sl~ate of South Dakota in general, and ; ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ W~hereas, ~Lt ics `beU~ed( that rk~v1ral Smith D~&ot~ ha~ gradually sü~t&ined am ~fl~]$c~ ~eve~aLtG~!i~ ~ iWUI~U~ate ~I4e~stL]~es~ fl11I~t be takeli to iaii- pi~eve the. sl$fliz~g, ~ofth~ ~4ç~~aozIw ~ t1~tt ti~ ea~1i~t possible ~do~f4~i~ 44~ the OaTie Ir±1g~ttion 1~r4eet isai~sbiutely essential in accomplishing this ~r~ose~ ai~l; . . ~ * , Wh~*t~as, 1t~l~ MsobeTh~ed~ 1thii~t 1~1~t~ Cit~~o~ ~lllet rnt~y; at ~ füt4tre~tinie, a~iLi~e ~ ~ there. fQre be it RJ~SOLV~ ~ ~-wit : ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~, ~ ~ ~ ., ~ `:Phat th~e Common Council in and for the City of Miller, for the reasoi~s hei~e- inabove stated does endorse the saM Qahe Irrigation Project an~ does `further encourage and rex~xthteiid the eai~lie~t :~t~Ss'tble ~Ak4~thin `of the said Oahe Irrig~ tion J?rejeet. ` ~ ` ` ` ~ ~ ~ " Dated this i~th ~ayo~M~y, 1O~7. ~ ~ : ~ ~ ~ ` SeiiaFI~or Mc~oi'~±~. [si13T~op1e ,ha~te1~uri~ekfin letters and st~te~ ments e~ic~rning ,thi~ pro~et.~ Those4~~1ong ~with ` the ietters~ `written to the c~mniittee, ~iU all 1~eih~htdedin the hearing reeord ~t this poiflt, , ~ ~ ~ ~ v) ~ ` , ` ~ ` ` ` ~` ~ . ` ~ ` ~ ~ `~ ` ~ ~ ` (Thedatareferredto~k1i~w:~ ~ ~ " ` ` ` ~` STAT~ME~NT çr 1/J~RNqN S ~ OO~~P!~ VR~S~J)~T TJ~'PF~I~ 1~Ussoixni WATnE Usnn~ A~oc~M~O1~ ~u1~fl~Po!, Nowi~u ~DAKOTA Mr. Chairman, ~n~y name is Vernon S. OO~p~,,~rTtUgtQ~1, ~NOrth flakota~ I am president of th~ J~p~e~ 1V~issoi~j ~ ~Jse~~ ~s~e~Up~i, ~u orgaulzat~ei~cç~m- lx~s~?d `of' lrri~a~t~Mtx wst,ri4~ts, ditch co~p~h!E~, other `water ,u'ser~ O~aixizatiGns, representatives of varieii~ a~enei~, ~ iere~t~d'lri~tate~ ~~sc~w~ea ~j~elt~pwent oiI~é/ to~ir state~ ~ S~uth1 Da1bt~ M4ntani~, and ~y~~ining. Our ~sç~iatjon ~asl~een4~n e~ste~ce fo~ t'*ent~~yefti~s~ ~ndl~s, ~j1d~ this time been eoi~cer~d wit1~ water re~ot~ree~ 4ev4oprne~t in,. ~ ~Mis- ~thfri River 1~t~in; a~ ~ th~:~rohle~ ~ w!rh 1~he useóf water for iITt~ation a~tM ~ ~ !1~fte T1~iet~ ~1s~otiH Wátt~r risers se~i~tj4~n, is iI1t~I~OSt~dii1~ ~iji~4 ~ with,~the deve'1c~hiOiit t~fi~setn~d W~t~r sou~re~ ~qjevj;s ~fl?W' f9~41~t5~t~ regio4~ t~d, ~ace1~ y~arrievl,eWIs water ~resom~es' proj~ct pro~o~d for ourregioñ ançi giyes it~ .en49rs~weflt to tl~ç~'se pro~e~s vsd~cli~ it considers to be gxkVaiad ~otttid ~#~tE~ re~ô~ç~ê~ ~roJo~t~.'It ñas, by flesolution adopted at its i'9th Ai1nth~l ~ h~Mlh i3illin~; M&~it~a, Dèèemb~r 14th an~i 1~t~h~ 496~~ jg~v~~ue~ an en?dprse~e~tto1tt~lie t~ahe Unlt~ SoMJh `D~kot~t, of the Missotiri River Baain pvoject and s~pports the early authorization of this project.~ , ~ ~ ` `~ ` .~ .`~ ~ ~ }I, ` ~ ` ~ ` `~ ` ~ 1Phè pj~e~ ~MMS&~I~f flh~r `r~gi~n ` h~s ~i~t ~Otè~t~ia1, a' ~óteritlai t1~á't~ i~ cj~- ~peude~it, to a~ ~ ~ unit ~se of ~ ~I~y ~ ~yiU1~i~i~* 4H~]~tibI1 of these ~ z~g~Q~ u~w eput~ofl,'f~d , i~rj ~ ~}1c~ ~ a~ ~r~a~çt~f tJ~e ~1s~G~ri 4~ver ~a'si~ Pr~jée~ fo~r frri~atien and ol~e~ pui~oses our iegion can an~1 will m~e a ~t~lMt4ntiäii~r ~Mt~4~ cóntri1t~ittoi1 ~to'~tt~ natidW~' ~i~jgt~~' a~nd ~rôi~peri~y than `Ia *ow posst1~le.Lq1ho Ostie Ihilt l~~Scs~h D~tk~a Willp~è~hTë alt Mths't~ndin~ opportunity tO the Upper Missouri Basin region to make this contri'bfltiofl~ `Jhe Upp~ Ii~s~u~i W~t~r1T~ei~ 4ssQç~4 respectfp~iy ~eq~e~ts. ai~1 urges ~o1ir f~vorabie cpi~5ideratior~ ~f ~ 6 to author!~ cons~ructwn o~ the~abe Unit the Mi~sdu~'t ffi+~i~a~M P~6je~'I~ `~oit~ Dakdta. ` ` Thank you. PAGENO="0209" H ~At~~I'1~, ~4~IS~Ot~tt 1~tV~t~ ~AS~ ~Ofl~CP 199 *pE~P ~D'~ 1~W ~ ~YFi~D; ~ ~ ~ DiV~xON~ C4~S~RVA!~CY ~ ~ ~ J ~ ~ D~spfli~o~, LAM~gR1!~, N. DAtt * *`~ : ii ~ ~ *~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ Mr. Chairman, my n~rne4s Thy iL ~ North Dakota. ~ am the C~iairi~n o1~ t1~e ~arri~on. Dt~~er~krn conservancy DisfrIct,~ a twenty4~Ive . ~ounty J~ga1 entjt~y e~ab1i~he~I i~ the State of~o~itb ]i~tkota which ~s cenceimed with the develQpwet~t awl operation of the Gart~o~i Div~ersion Unit of the Missouri River Basin project. ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ `~Phe s~ipport ~ the ~a~rlsoti D1versl~~~Co~iservancy District for. the early au- thorization of the Oah~ Unitof the Missouri River Basin Project in South Dakota is set forth in a resolution which was adopted by our Board of Directors on April 5th, 1967, a copy of which is attachedto this statement. Although ~ our principal concern and interest is with the Garrison Diversion Unit in Noi&llh Dakota~ øi4t~organl~atlon is keeiil~ ~ntere~ed in and strongly sup- ports t~ie development and utilization of the resource~ in our region to provide for its~growtb and e~ii~QuU&~ ~a~ii1Ity. Phe~ çI~Y41Opmeht of 1~O,O1~O acre~ of Irri- gation ln~ Sbuth D~tkota á~4 i~ ~la~thed~ under the Oahe tTnit, along with the ôth~r purposes which the project will serve, will have a decided salutary effect on the ecóilOmy ~ of ~o~ith flakt~ta. A~n~ * wIth the deveIo~nient of . the ~ 25O,~OO acre Gai~r1s~n Div~rstôti nuitin ~orth Thikota, w~htch bas alre~I~ b~eu 4uthori~ed by Oong~ess thd th under cOnStrii~tion, it ~i~i stimub~t~ the eco~m!c g~o~vth and development of the Northern Great Plains regiun Of our ~ation. ]?Thré, where now the economy Is based almost entirely on a dry-land agriculture, subject to the vagaries of an unpredictable rainfall each year, we can expect Irrigation develop- ment, and th~ othe~ purposes these projects will serve, to provide growth and stability and betterenable the flegion to make its full contribution to the strength wad prosperity, of our Na~on. ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~` `~ ~ ..~ ~ ~ ~ .~ ~ The ~arr1son Diversion Conse~rvkncy DLstrictrespe~tfkfly u~g~es~ arid.. reque~ts your favorable consideration of legislation that would authorize th~ Oahe Uiait of the Missouri River Basia Project In South Dakota. ~ * 1'hank ~eu. . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ *. RnSOLUTION . or ~ BOARD OF DIRErTOR~,. GAR~usoN DIvEft~oN ~ CGN$ERVANCY ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ DTsTa~cr ~ ~ ~97be~eas the Oa~ T~tt ~f ~e Missouri T~iver ~Basiii Pr~4eet has beer~ investi- ~E~ie~ by theflip~eau p~ lani~tt~n, ~tnd ha~ b~d~t~rmin4'to be ~u~1~glneer- ~n~y ~oun~ tuid ecoupmic~y ~easibie m~ult~j4e ~urpo~e w&te~ reseurces project ~v~i~c~will bring many, b~ie~t~ ~o the' projeet.a~r~a, ~ t~e Sta~ ~ S~ut1~ ~akota, a~d Upper ~i~*~t ~nd tl~N~iQn, amt ~ ~ ~ ~ ~. ~ : ~ * Wher~ts the clevelop~ien~ q~ irrigaI~~qn ~1p~o~b the Oahe t1~nt w~1~ p~rtia1ly O~SE~ the loss.~à~ith Dakota~ha~ experiei~ce~( bec~use ~f t~ie int~nd~tjon or about o~-~utlf a ~ million aç~es of iai~d ~ Mi~uri i4ver ~ia-s~ei~ ~sqryQirs; and iVhei'éas `bills, namely S. 6 ~nd ~ 2'~ and flt~ 1163, ~iave been fnti~oducetlh t~ç ~ç~TL ~ Congress. ~hiah, if ;approvE~d, would ~utiiorize. the cocnstriiction c~f ~l~e first ~d~age of th~ Oàj~e ~tJnit to p~oyi4~ wa~rfora, zi~u$~er c~f punc~es inciudi~g the 4e~e1~p~nei~ ~ 4Q0 OO~ aer~ o~ ~rjg~tiqn :NQw~ ~ 1$e it . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . RQ~lvqd ~y t)~e i~oa,rd ~ ~keetor8 qf tke ~ ~Jwit ~ ~~i:i ~jiqjü~ç~v~bZed ~Ø. ,~arvei?, North, ~ ~s ~ Pt 4pr,~& 19d7., Th~ this Bóär!1 sb~ongly supports the Skate o~ South t~akota and the Oahe Cons~rvaney Sub-dia~,rtct ~n the~r. eft9rts tO jrj~ abo~ .tl~ 4~ve~j~nent~ ~f ~~rQ~ie tTnit and respéctfülIy urges ~óngress to approve the authorization of the Initial stage of the Qahe Unit, Missouri River ~flasin Project, as set forth in the bills listed herein ; and be it further Resolved,. That a copy~ ~f this resoliztion~be for~rded to Senato~s Milton R. Young, Quentin N. Burdick, Karl C. Muudt, George McGovern ; Representatives MI~rk~ Añdre~,~ %o~h~"Kleppe~ ~. TB~r~, ~hd Bei~ Beifel ; S~r~t~tr~ef the ~ SteW'~rt Udall ;is~1~t~fit ~&~tary t~f th4~ Ibterfor, Kenneth Tflolifln; A~d~it~ner ~f~R~ehth1tttIbl* F1~id~~. DO~ti1n~ *~itl Fred IThlscller, ~hairthan, t3ah~ n~r~ta.ht~~ Siib~d!lstith~t. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ `~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ : ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ t~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ , ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~d ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ *` ~ ,j~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ST~ta5anN1~0r .T~Iu .Ru~ Hzmitns T~w~ ~r~i C~iJ~RTiCLVB ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I~i ~ip~port ~ ~egisJa1~oi~ to ~i3~it~ior~ze Q~~J~e ~vQject w~ t~ ~eii~rs Qf the ~ ~ zitry C1t~b ~ro~y ~~the pa~e o1~ ~eua~e Bill 6. Wc~ t~ye~th~t ~ Is es~n~p~ jihat .,~t, ~l~pi~d b~~ap~rciv~d as fast us possible. 83-182-67-14 PAGENO="0210" QW~I~4~b~ MIIS~OTmJ i~Ii~ live ~ fther .:t:~.. ~ ~ STATE~N~ ovHtTnEkP ~ P~T~R~O~ NófltUl?VILtE, S. flAx. J1~yp~rable members o1~ tile ~eu~tte suI~Vor~Lmittee my name is Hubert Peterson j wou~1d jike tc~ *see irrigation conie to t1~4s~area for the many ~portun~t~es and challenges that irrigatien weui~I~ing~ J~av~ng~ been bo~n~ raised and' lived on the same northern Spink County farm for fifty y~ar~, I, eanwel~ Temembe~ the dirty thirties. Phe hardships and unce~ta4nties that dry weather can bring. I have seen farms disappear, the farmer leave the state, small town's fade away, merchants dosing their stores and ~mnrlng elsewhere, many ~ontslde the state. ,~ehooJs eonsofldate for need ~f children and finances; Churches struggle and die in ~ieed of preachers pari~lnon~ir~ aM mo~iey a son graduates from high school and college ~M th,en leaved SMi~h JiJaltota because ot~portunity was greater elsewhére~ Alt tli~ htp~ens1~efoi~e ~ *h1id'e~el1 da~ iii newspapers and PAGENO="0211" OE~ `~r(~ M~s~Ytf~x ~ JJ~V~AsIN ~i~o~cD magazines I ~ ~ih ~r~4tf~ With er~vded ~choo1s, churches *w~ith two~pz ~hre~ Sun4~ moruju~ .~ ~ersrices, ~ ~ ,~ ~ A ~iee~& ~c~r ~pac~ tor~p~ti~d; fd~ ~pTe l~1iv~é a~ ~o~n~e ~ th~ Qahe Pro3ect to a degree at 1e~st is th~ )~gr~1al s~vè~ to these ~ro~1ems There i~ certaiul~ t~ppo~tiirntit~s for 1nd~istr~r *1t~h ~owei~ and wát~r and ~lEthty of spaee. To' me, a ~arn1er~' ~t' neat not the cha~l~ngè of ~laatin~ and then 1ookln~'to 1~he skies for moistUre that I might get ipy speed back and E~~oU~h tO survive b~it n challenge ~o ti~ the b~st of God's "gi~e~n ~Osc~Ureet, water and good land,' to work for bigger ~~ields to feed an ever inc~reasthg hungry world OHATR1~AN OF N~ GOMMIEPEE TflE not parts 0roduc~ omy of ~enservation o pass Senate ~`roJeet. 201 PAGENO="0212" 202 OAX~E ~INIT~ ~SSO~RI R~WER BASIN PROJECT STA~J~MENT OF D~vi~ ~E~LEi~ ASIITON, S~ I)4~ Honorable members ~ the Senate silbeommittee : my name is David Keller and I own and operate ~ fly~stock an4grain farm in Spink Cour~ty. I am one-hwidred percent b~li~bd the James Valley irrigation lroject. Prior to its forma1~ion I had tried to ibeate underground water but with no sueces~. Ihave been ot the opinion that if we ~j1]~st had the water the James Valley would notha~ to take a back seat to any project or area in the country. While visiting In the, ~plumbl~ River Basin Project this winter, I was told that our summer teuiperature. and seaso~a between frost dates compared very favor- ably with theirs and al~o that many of the seed and processing companies are watching the development of the local project and are ready to move in as seon as the time is right. In my own opinion our land topography, soil class and adaptability, climate and humidity would make this project one worthy of the investment of water. S~1L9~TEMi~NT OF B B 1rznnnn~ MBIC1JLTURAL Aonvv Ciuo~oo MILWAUKEF Bw~ PAI~L~ &~ c~ivpi RAIr,no~.u Co. I ~ am rej~i~esen±lñ~ Tho C)mieago,, Mi1~aii1~er St. Paul an4 ~ Pkclflc Raiiroad Cou~pany It is hoped that the expressed views of the company will be gi~ en caré~ul eom~sicterátion by members o~ this subcommittee. ~ ~ ~ ~ The r~d1road has a ~ tremendous $t~ke in the agriculture of t1~is state. Over the years, the railroad 1~as ~iipported l3ureau of Reclamation projects in which. studies have, deu~onsti~ated. p~aeticab&lity ~u~i~1 ,ecoi~omic fe~tsUii'lity. `The Oahe projact Is no exce~*Ion A potexitial çTeveiop~ient of this mag~iltude will have a fa~ rea~ehlug e*ect ~n the total ecox~qpiy Qf SGuth Dakota aiid subsequently on tbe economy of the railroad. . , The O~he Irrigation Project Is ba~sed on nu~ltl-pUrpose devèloj~nent o~ which irrigation ~s of paramount import*~ice ifletorically South Dakota s agricultut e economy has è~erlênced soib~thihg less than accompllsb'mé~it due , to the re- occurring dj~oughts. The most ~riops ~ these dropght periods in the it~8O's~. brought about widespread farm 1~orec1o~res an4 depleted the resources of the State's general ec4rnOmy~ A reduction iti the normal traffië from ~fa~,m products. during that perjQd'~ade m~eess*~ry; ~cn~on4e~ of drastic eharaq1~e~, to preserve the solvency of railrQad prop~ty ni South I*J~ota ~a~mers also si~ered due to loss of income and property during that period In faét, during "most years, the states of the Northern Plains suffered from in- adequate moisture supplies. For more. than three decades the rural population of South Dakota has decreased and the population growth of the state has been muchIess than t1me~natiinal ~average, Thg1tnst~~ility of the eeo~tomy rn~d the lack of opportunity~niaJres it very difIjc,ult ~orthis state to retain its greatest asset-. its young people. Mialern economic soai~y Is ba~ed .. ` fl~in~tho exdhange of `gO~4s and se~vi~es. A community which'itself ~rodaees~l1tt1eckli"h~avb little to trade, ~ evce~t t~thpè-. rarily from borrowing money or establishing relief funds which may be ~ Used fti lieu of produee. Bht~a stabIll~~-tt~i~iiu1t-ttre wi;thhu tht~ cOhH~iuhlty ta~ttI~e~4 a plentiful supply of goods t&be nuirkat~d aud an activt~dns~tzrner `demai~d for commodities' ~ prod*eedelsewhere. ~ ~ , ~ , , ~ ~ .. k ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . , ~ , , , . Tn-reglomas where~ agt1eure~productk~n ~is iiitiitied `by lbw itnd `un~tain rain- fall, the problem of maintaining economic stability can be ~iv~ `` d `by il~rlgatioii. Irrigation makes inte~1stve Fgricuitureposstbie~ a~sUres c~m~ist~n*»=yof goid yields which have a steadying' efl~eet on'prh~es än4i enabl'es~ the ~farrnai, to make long- range plans for' qr~o~pLngamI UF~tbck. ~ `Irrig&tlon, ` as p~o~o~ed ~ in ` the ~ Oahe Irrigation Project, will not lend itself to the production ~f `su~rplüs brotis, bñt rather permit~thëTpi~odt~etion bf'eei~lin~d'~rops that ttre la~~l&ifl~nd. Jrm~1gation will enable pro~octfarmeE~to P1!bdfl~4 Sufficient `liveatoek fe~dnOt onl'~v fOm~th~ii~ own use, but for adjacent ranching areas during times of distress. trflgktion de~elapment will- ~timulat-e~ths~ poputa'tithi `g*~vih' In the pnjeit area. `Pt ~vi1l Increrise the'miuin'tiepaflarnl ~fami'1tes~iiti' the s~h1~'and attra.dt thousands'.of other families due to the opportunities in industry which will develop as ti r~Ult: ot Irrigatlomit is~pro.Y~cfe~:thiit~-as'l8eh"addht1mildfani1ty is~brou~ht fnto~the'~rd~E~ct thst'one~a~lt1itional~ j~%b~is k~eatetl. Tha'4nerea~e~ in ~opklatio~both to ithe rural and urban'are'ksnwtll ~rov~rs~ the~tt4end ~f ittIeeltningbr~~tatic ~o " ~ulation that has been expe~'ieiiced in the state for a number of years. PAGENO="0213" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RiVER ~ASIN ~ROJ1!~CT The Milwaiikèè Rath~&ad Eavo~s ~nthor1~tt1bii of `the Otthe Irrig~tion Pr~1&~t `which w~M14d wOve the~project ~n:t~the lilitialpianning and constri~ction stage. The railroad supported the program for ba~kWh~g the Oab~ Dan~ notvvithetand- -Ing the eliminatiofr ~of thott*sa~ds o1~ ~cr~s of ~Eodn~tiv~ `va11e~r lands tributary *to the railroad hundated by the watèi~s of th~ reservnir. ~iversio~r of the water from the reservoir of the Miseortri River fOr irrigation has been a basic and integral part of the en~tire Missouri Basin project from the time it was first proposed. In 1966 landowners within the project bormdarles overwhelmingly ap~ proved the entering into contractual obligations for the repayment of the project assigned to them. We believe this demonitrates their desire for the project in many ways. We trust this committee will ~ohsider favorably legislation which will result in the multi-purpose developments of the Ofihe Irrigation Project for the people of north centrai South Dakota. Thank you~ ~rATuMIrrtT OF JOHN Evn~tu~, Pnusinnwr,Em~ 1~h~ucmio Codi'fiaAnvn, INC. M]r]L1n~, S. D~. My name is John Etbauer~ I am a cattle raiser nOar Ree Heights, South Dakota, and I am here today as President oe Ree Electric Oooperative, Inc. Oua~ coopera- tive urges the authoriaatton ol~ thisprojeet because we believe in the 1,435 rural families who are our inembera hi Hyde and Hand Oonnties. The great bulk of these people ara Livestock growers like niyselt As such, they ar~ vitally inter- ested in thesour~e of supply otf~ed gráins~d bay for feedtirg liveatock. The addition of 190,006 irrigable *acFes, which i~foreseen in the first state legislation, would have a tremendous impact on stabilization of the feed supply for ea~te~n South Dakota. Aa a livestock grower, I need feeders to buy the 110 to 120 head `of yearling steers which I a~ll in an average year. Now, they go to Iowa whnre feed corn is more plentifuL These feedera need an adequate, stable and dependable source of feed supply~ O~4nt~ionally we buy corn to feed the ealvea ~n our place and to feed out a few. heireFs. Sbfttr~ we have been able to get this *corii in the state. The day could come, howevór, when drought could make it im- possible to get enough corn locally and we would have to import maSsive amounts. Roe Electric Cooperative supports the Oahe iE~roject also because we believe it is good to~ the economy of the state. The added incotae, rural and urban, which Oahe would provide has been e~prossed ably by others here today. We believe Oahe would~ be good for the nation because it would increase the production of food that will be so badly needed by a mushroomingpopulation. Ree Electric believes that the Oahe Project i~ essential and `that it should be approved as faSt as possible. The two counties we serve will benefit also from the construction ~f this proj- ect-the primary feeder canal crosses the northern parts ~ our counties. Water stipply will help till some of the smaller potholes which sometimes dry in the sum mer And possibly in the second stage when tb% Missouri Slope irrigation area is org~nnlzed and approved our pro~eet area will receive dirOct irrigation benefits' Members ocf the Subcommittee, we urge you most strongly to press for the authorization and construction of this most critically needed project Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to represent Ree Electric `Cooperative today. ~ ~STATEMEWP 013' Ronnar BuouR, CHAIRMAN, BRADLE Covis'ry WATER Rzsousczs DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE I am Robert l~roer, Chairman of the ~eadle C~~int~ WaterResoirrees Develop- inent Com~ni1~tee, organized in March ~96O The purpose of this organization is to `determine the beneficial use and con servation Of all water available alid to fully utilize tins resource for the better ment of our econonty and well being Much has been ac~ompli~hed by thiS group representing all sections of Beadle County in informing the people on the issues involved Organization of the Sub District and the contract anthorit~v vote are significant for the successful oiltconie of theso Issues Pull suppoft of the Oabe Irrigation Pro)ect ~ias been demofistrated through the support given by the voters of this area We realize that the initial stage of this pro)ect will not include the Beadle Canal and that mOst of the bOmiefits to our area will be secoildary and indirect. 203 `I PAGENO="0214" 204 OA~EE T~NTP,IMISSQVBI RIVER ~ASI~ ~PRQJ~ECT RicHARD. RIccI, I Mr. Cha ~mbers mers Un letion. acloptE a~iOpt( ~ foUnt nreau ~f Reie1arnatio~ of irn~~ ~igation and. sti merit for. fèder~' ~rmers C were afld somet ta ow the production a~ effects of drought ~ti~ S PAGENO="0215" OAHE UNtT~, MISSOURI RIVER BASIW PROJE~13 ing.~ This ~ it~~es~1g~a1fre ~e~ror~ by :th~ ~ Bn~an dnd~c~ttes that business aetivit~ could ii~crease b~r more than $71 rnllIio~n dollars, and this increased income is ~iflg.to me~n~ a bIgger4~tx take~f~r s4~atea~d f~d~ra1 go~rernments~-a beost in tax Teveni1~ o~! ~oite ~ thi~11ion. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ wchon the cons~ruct1on of~ thLs iae~ed ~rojeet~gets ~ nnd~rway there a1~o ~ ~vii1 be some increase in job opportunfti~ for constru~»=4~ioii workers, p1t~s the work~r~s that will no doubt be hired to aid. ifl leveling 1à~ikI, h~1pin~pre~arefeeder canals at~d cIra~nage ditches on individt~al 1~trms. All o~f this activity will produce new jobs fc~r non-farm p~o~Ie'in S~nth Dakota. ~ ~ It~ is our hope, given proper economic plannIng by our own South Dakota Iea~l~rs~th~t th~ ~ob op~rt~n~Ltt~s ~an contitiue to grow after construction i~ con~pleted. If farmers in the patent.ial irrigation area ~bou1d shift to weg~tab1e crops, sugarbeets o~rq~roduet~ ~ of th~it natth~ ~ th~ mori~ p~ri~able ~ cro~ will re- `quireso'me proe~ssin~ ±n ~thec~thmnhities where they are growñ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~Thus the sislift in the agricultriral écohom~V brougI~ about by irri~at~onieunld produce a variety of new jobs in the field of processilig, ~toniilg and trai~sporta- t~Ion~ of ~ new conimo~lit1e~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Farmers Unioh, ~s w~e~lI~ as other ~ is also 4ntei~cstedin the pOtetitlal this project offer~ for deve}oping our luinting ittid U~hiñg in South Dakota. thus injecting new lifeblood into our~tuuristindhstry wbk~h brings about a~i incr~ased local dem.an~I for farm pre~hice as * well as increa~ing the number of ~rvice jobs connected wtth tourism. ~ ` ~ ~ ~ , ~ r ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ `~ ~ ~ In summing up, just let me say that the ~bt~ntiai gain foi' the South Thikota fai~taer woul~I be on tw~ fronts: Ffr~t, thedit~1~ dullar boost to the agr1~ti1tural producer and the secondary adv~ritage to ~ ~ar~mcrs which Would a~crue from increased imdustry ~ ~tate/all M~ whièh will tend to up- grade our economy and enhance fai~1n Thc~kie. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ in the v4~w of South Dakoba ~ Farrner~ Union members, the potential for ceo- nomic and social benefith inherent `in `the Oahe unit far outwe4gh the estimated costs. We therefore sincerely urge your favorable consideration of Senate Bill #6 and that the Senators on"this' committee tak~ whatever steps necessary and practical toward e~pediting the authorizatIon and eventual completion of this project. Thank you for givthg me the opportunity to e*press th~e views. STATEME~v OF ALBERT C~ IJ~trFE, PR ID~NP, ~OtTJ~t DAJ~OTA RURAL ELECTRIC ASSoPIATI0N. Mr Chairman my name is ~AJbert C flauJZq I am a faimer from Leola S D I am here as pre~i4ent of 4i~e ~outh 1Dak~óta, Rifral, E~ectric Associat4ou, a service organization serving o't~r ~ stat&s 38 rural electric' distribution . cQQperatives ai~d three power supply cooperativ~., ~ . ~ ` The matter whIch concerns us here today, Senate Bill 6, a measure wbicl~ would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct, operate and mahitain the first stage `of the Oahe UnIt, is another in a series of steps taken by South Dakotans,in seeking to.realjze tjie full developmentot our,state's water resources.~ The importance of s~c1i a deve1opm~nt can not, in my .ppinion, be over empha- sized. The full ,dev~l'opnient of all our natural and 1~iuman resources is ,a highly desirable goal for all Sduth Dakotans. ` For far too long .So~th Dal~otn h.a~,~been exporting at an alarmi~g rate her greatest resour~c. . . . people. A loö~k ~tt i~m census figures fQr the years 1954~ 1959 and 1964 dr~matica1'ly under'ines ~1ti~ ,1~act. In my home county, McPherson Co~n'ty, the bumber of farms" dropped fj~i~'1,1Q4 i~n 1~4 to 779. in 1964 and. the rate of `attritien eont~ties to accelerate. In ,~pink County, wbe~e we are nçieet- i'ng today, farm n~n~bers fell from 1,~57 in' i9~4 to 1,127 in 1964.. In adjacent Brown County there were 1,846 farms iii 1954. In 1964 there were 1,447. The pic- ture is equally do~rk in virtually all areas of our state. We are deeply ~tisturhed ~y the~~ ,~tatistks. New opportunities in rural areas are the key to meeting this conce,r~II. And in the process they can prevent the tnultiplic'ation of problems that beset our `teeming urban centers which are occu- pying so much of the Nation's attention today. `. . AuthQrizatio'n of the first stage of the Oahe Unit could, in large measure, stem this exodus from South Dakota's farms to the urban centers, result In, a more stat~ilized agricutlur'e and the establishment of mafly agri-businesses, all of which. 205 PAGENO="0216" 206 oArn~ UWIT~ ~ MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT would j~esu1t in a f~aiier and rn~re abundant 1ii~e for both. rural and urban resi- dents. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ , ~ ~ ~ In seeking auth~risatiou of the OtaI~eThMt, South Dakotans t~reon1y In quest o~ those benefits set forth in the Flood Control Acts o~ i~44 and i946~ These Aats, as you well kuow, t~to1d ~a huge~bash~Lde~pro~ject wktch was to inelude tlood control, power gener~tion, .irr~gatlou, na~igathrn and M1it~c~. benefits. In the interests of such a nV~ti purpese project Soiuth Dakotans sacrificed in excess ot one4~a1f rni'L1i~u acres of ~ttr mast fert11~ ia~I b, innrnadatloai under the four mairistem reservefrs located wltiiinthe sta4s~s bouiidai~ies. As Sen. MeG~vern po~ited ~ eat ~tb his introduetten of Senate Bill 6 in the United States Senate, the ~ioss ~these lands ~present~ ahoi~ $20 rnil&n a ~eai~ to the people of South Dakota. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ How has the overall project ~ 1~nred to dare? Fi~od co~itro1 along the . once unharnessed Missouri Is, an `accump44sbed ~ Pae1ittt~ ~or the g~nera'tien of power ~ are ~roUu~ing at capacity. Navigation of t~e bpwer Missorni from `Sioux City, Ia~, 1~ St. Louts,. 1\~Lo., is assured. ~ . , . . ~ On the debit side of t~e ledger, the irrigation potent}aI~ Is bti1~i largely rn~tapped~ Suck developiuent await~. uoti~n by the Congress of t~e United States~ Pèrzzian~it, stable, se1t~suppoi~ti~g ~ corn munities on ~ an irrigated hinterland of1~er a steady, ever~e~panding market for American industrial goods. The availabiflty of wat~r~Jk~r irrigat~on turnsfarub~ away from one~crop `dry- land * farming to a more stable, intensive cultivation of' special crops, such as vegetable~ seeds, alfalfa and sugar beets. Strong support for authorizatlon~ of the Oalie Unit by South Thikotan~ has been evideziced on at least four previous occasions : . ~ 1. The format~n of `the Oabe C~aser~aiicy Subclis$riet~ under pno~dsions o~f South Dakota law In the general electienof i~6O. ` ~ ` ~ 2. In January, 1965, when 82.T percent' of the `Spink C~unt~ landowners and 82.2 percent ~f `the Brown County landowners apprmred forma~.on of irrigation districts. ` ` ` ` 3. In the general election of i1i~6 wheu~the electorate od! the subd1~trict granted contractual authority to the board. of directors by over' a ~ 7'5 percent majority, and 4. Approval of a com~rrent resolution by the Southiflakota House of Repre- sentatives last January urging Congressional authorization. The organization which I represent~,+he South Dakota Rural Electric Associa- tion, repeatedly has expressed support of the project authorization. At our 25th annual teenting in ,J~annar~t it' waS umanirnOuely resolved tMt the Association go on record as favoring early authorization of the Oahe Unit `by the Cungress of the Ui~ited States. (Copy of resolution attached) Similar expressiohs of support have emanated frojn the indtv~du~l cooperatives throtigh approval of like resolutions by their boards c1~ ~1irectors and at agx~ual membership i~eetings. ` ` ` ` ~ ` ` ` . South Dakota's No. 1 industry Is agriculture. ` `Wi~enever we' have a partial crop failure there is always some degree of disaster. The degree depends upon the severity of the failure which becomes more acute ~vhen combined with a price decline. There are a number of'Agriculthral E~perlmetit Stâtl'oñ sttidies conducted by South Dakota State Untversity, in addition to' the farm~,s' own experiences, that prove the stabiizfiug effect of having irrigated laM togo with the dryla~d in the 1~arm or ranch unit. : ~ The job ` of `supplyffig South Dak~ta's rural ~reas with electric power was a sizable one and one that the rural ëlOctric cooperatives undertook when only S 5 percent of the state s rural population was enjoying the benefits o1~ central station electric, service The degree to winch the coopei~atives accomplished this tremendous job can be seen at ~ery hand with the coope~ative S uow supplying electric energy to over 9& percent of. the state's' farms and ra~èbes,' But the `exodus from the lahd so evident in rè~ent yeax~s and to ~hieh I referred earlier has resulted in over 5 000 idle services services that were once used but are no longer in service In other words loans which had been ma~1e to serve over 5 000 families must be absorbed in the ~aymen'ts of the existing 70 000 members' of rural electric cooper~tWés, an' obvib~s adde~i b.ur~en to the alt~eady hard-pressed agricultural, segment of. oi~r' éçOnbmy. , ` AuthorizaVion and the~ventual completion of the Qahe Unit could well result in a reve~si1 of this `t~nd . the hooking up of ilew `consiuners, a11ev1~t~ig PAGENO="0217" QAW~ UNIT, MIS~QUEI RIVER BASIN ~ PROJi~ 207 ~;1ie sQue~e on. t1~e wEwIber-owner~ o~ th~ rura~1 ~1eetric. ~ystet~is aiid i~o~tr4but-~ thg tc~ a rnoi~e pr~p~i~s :~*L stab~e ~oi~n~ ,~ t~e entij~e state. SDR1~4 lirm4y ~Ueyos~ ~ zi~a1 ~ a balanetng ±orce i];L the~ sç~4a1~ ~n~I po~~Uea1 structur~1~Iiat i~ vital tt~the ~tabUiity~, preserva- tio1~L an~t impro~ment ~ of represent~tJve ~em~cvatie g~vernmen~ ; o1~~n. etflcient and economic pr~duetiye syatem ; ~ a . ~at~s~ying wor~d so~4e~y arid jliat th~ inç~ivi~ua1Iy owned a~icj gp~rnt~1 farm js ess~tiaL to the preservation and enrtehment of tlieprivate eAt~prise syste~L. ~ ~ ~ ~ : * ~ ~ ~ ~ .. o1:k beJ~aff of the rural ~1ectric eooper~tives~ o~.~ont1i Dakota .1 would lthe t~ thank the members ~ of this suhcomgiittee ~or ~ ~QUF . va1ue~b1e time a~d for yeur diligent efforts to learn first hand the sentiment of the people of South Dnk~ta concerning Senate Bill 6, * ~ ~ ~ ~ , : , ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ We consider this project second to none as it re~a~es t~ the growth audi develop- ment of our state and as it may serye to preserve for South~ Dakota our most valuable resource . . ~. our peiple . . . ~ . ` . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Your recommendation fo~ antbor1zationo~ the Oah~ Unit to the fnR eeinmtttee and' subsequent favorable a~ti~on by that body `will assm~e the' peOple of South Dakota ` that the `elected repre~entathr~s of the people of these United States are indeed cognizant of the needs of a~ dirninlsbtng rural population. ` ~ ~ " OAHE JERIGATION UNIT, SDREA ANNUAL MEETING 19G7~ RuSOLVTI~N Whereas the future economic ai~d social w$~i-beiI3~ of. South Dak~ta d~penda upon the developmeut of. the. State's. natural resourçe~,. chief amOng which is water, az~d . , : , . ~ ` . . .` Whereas the. con~truction of the Qaha' ~i~ig~tion trnit wiU make Missouri River water avaUabje for the irrigation of~495,OOO. acres of land, which in turn will result in increased and stabilized agricultural production ~u lands presently under cultiv~ition, and . , , ` ` ~ Whereas the increased and stabilized' agj~icultur~l `pro'ducti~n from irrigated lands integrated witj~ nearby dryland will. result in increased population, em.- ployment opportunities and business actbrity which will be reflected in the economy of the state, region andnatiq~i ;. . ` Now therefore he it resolved that the Sonth. Dakota Rural Ele~trie A~socia- tion, consisting of 3E~ member cooperatives, duly assembled at its aniiual con- vention in Huron, South Dakota, thisr ~4 ~day of January, 191~7, favors the early authorization of the Oahe Unit by the Congress of the United States. SP~TEMuNT c~r JOE [1. NEUMAYR, ATTORNEY, GETTYST3UI~G, `5. DAi~. I repr~ae~it a group otlaiid' owners'from Wester~i sully C~unt~y, South Dakota~ It Is a voluntary group of land ownej~s ~rh~ hav~ ~ssoc1at~d themse1ye~ together to resist'the fOrituttion of the, M1s~our1Si~iØ Irrigation `District in that area. The first ~tttemji~~to organize such an lrr1~átión district w~s eOmm~O~ced with tb~ filing, tinder date ot Ap~il 7, 1964, in the ofl1ce~ of the Ooin~ty Midltors of Sullyrand Potter çbuntles, o1~ t~n (10) `Petition for Organization of the M~ssottri Slope Irrigation District". ~These `petitions recp~estèd the formation of an irrig~a- tion'distriet containing appro~imately 188,98~ aei~e~ o~ land In ~ul1y and Potter ` Counties, but only aboitt 1O,Ot~O acres ~f the t4tai 183,~8~ acres ~vere located in POttt~r County. Itwâs claimed such proposed Irrigation district encompassed ait of th~ feasible 1ri~gahle l~uici in the area, and a~ such proposed district contained , latid In both ~u1ly and Potter Counties the joint hearing npon su~h petitlons~ arid as ~o *hether or not ~tn electiOn ahould be held for the fOrmation of such district, was set for Ma~r 6, 194~4 at the courtroom, in the courthouse, in the City of Onida, Sul1~r Co~mty, South Dakota. On that date the Boards of County Commissioners of Sully and Potter Counties, in a joint meeting. voted to reject . the petitions. No appeal was taken from such joint action of the Boards of Oo'ttflty Comini~sioners of Sully and Potter Counties. `and no election was held on tho queaiion of the formation `of such district. It Is `believed that this hearing' and the records ifi regard to the same as on tile In `the Auditor's ` Office at Onida, South Dakota, eoticluaively show that the majority of the land owners In the ~iistrict as proposed wer~ not iii favor ~f formitig such an Irrigation district. On July 6, 1965, petitIons wer~ again submitted for Orgaiilzation of the Missouri Slope Irrigation Dl~trk~t, a bond, and two `letters of incorporation, to PAGENO="0218" ~08 th~ Bàard of Cc OAHE UNIT, ~flSSOTJ~I RIVER RASIN~ ~flOJEC'~ a prod I a flood type ted for use in South Dakota with seas and ~ of both water and the land it will take profitable 1) if, irjdtvidua dwitl they, no as~ 4. The western par `The most the area r ~s is kderground from the reservoir w r1nkler systems were to be1u less and such system woul against ir resouree~ ~and contim `have a reasona ~rance of m~ -farms. PAGENO="0219" OAH1~ UNIT, MISSOTJRI RIVER BASIN `~OJECT :STAPEMENP OF WALThIt J. T~JORES, M~YOE, A2~D TR13~ O11?ICIALS ~F TEE Orrr or FAuLE~ro~, S. flAK. The City of Faulkton, Faulk County, South. Dakota is a municipal corpora- tion located iii the area which will be affected I~y the early development of the Oahe Uflit, and the said City.has passed a resolution on its books requesting the earliest possible completion date for the Oahe Irrigation Unit, The City of Faulkton issued this resolution because the officials feel that ~ the City of Faulkton will be in need of the water, for domest~tc use, kwhich will result from ~the completion of this project. . It is also the feeling of the Mayor and the City Council of the City of Faulkton that since the area surrounding this municipality is based u~on the ~primary Industry of agriculture and because of the incon~1stencV In the amount of rainfall in this area, the economy of the City of Fanlktoñ and th~ surrounding community varies greatly with the weather conditions, and it is believed that the irrigation district in the immediate vicinty of the muncipailty of Faulkton will greatly enhance the stability and the economy of this area. It will relieve the deviation and irregularity as to income the farms 1i~i this ar~a will produce, zand that a constai~t source of. water provided by the Oabe Unit will provide a constant income and a growing ~ economy for Fauikto1~ ` and Its imtnedii~te vicinity. It is also pointed out that within the next few years, that the growing popu- lation of the United States and of the world will make it necessary that the agricultural prodticing areas, produce ~s much food as possible . in order to . . . relie~re the food shortage whi& now exists and will be an ~ ever ~ in~reas1ng Tpi~Oblem, It &s therefore felt. that it is for thn welfare of the residents of the City of Faulkton, the County of Faulk and the State of South Dakota and they will be greatly benefited by the completion at the earliest possible ~date of the Qahe Irrigation Unit; Therefore it is the request of the City of Faulkton, through its Mayor and duiy elected officials that the United States Congress enact legislation that will hasten at the earliest pc~siWe date the construction of the. Oahe Irrigation Unit.. I STATEMENT or CLAYTON SEIBEL, PEESmE1NT OF THE MARSHALL COUNTY FARMERS UNION, KIDDER, S. flAK. My name ~s Clayton Seibel. I farm near Kidder, South Dakota. I want to stay on the farm. And I want my children~nnd my neighbor's chJ1dr~n to have an opportunity to stay on the farm if they want to. TI ath here todayto present ~a stateme~it ~on. behalf of the Marshall County Farmers Union in suf~port of the Oahe Project. . Our county is not included in the first stage authorization under consideration by your committee, If, as they say, it will be 10 years after authorization before the.; first water , can be placed on the land in the first unit, it may be many more years befpre Marshall Coupt~ gets much direct benefit.. Many of the people in n~y organization will not live to see that day. But that does ~ot diminish their enthusiastic support of thisi critically needed project. The surpluses which were an explosive campaign Issue and 1960 and 1964 ~ are gone. Some economists fear that our reserves of feed : grains are insufficient *to weather a sustained drought. Certainly our food stocks a*~e nowhere adequate' to the task of feeding a. hungry world's people who increase faste~ than. our capability to produce food. Rather than seeking to take land out of production, even this year the Agriculture Department ~ wants to have at least part of it returned to production, Our own Senator Moç~overn is perhaps the nation's foremost authority on feedi~ig a hungry world. Certajnly he has been the con- science of our society in thjs area. ~ If we look at the increased food productivity whic1~ Oahe will make possible from a global basis, we ~ee it taking au increasing importance. . Since the time of creation, our human race 1u~s managed to achieve three billion population. Before the end of the century less than 33 years from now, the popnlat~on will double to more than:sj~ billion. In ~ a world in wMcli three million children die each yet~r from diseases induced oj~ con~plicated by malnutrition, it is ~cjear responsibility on us as tl~E~ richest nation in. the world to ljnd ways of increasing world fQOd pro4uçtion. Fro~a a wend-wide viewpoint thG approy~l and con- struction of the Oal4e Froject is something we `can delay no further. 2O~ I I PAGENO="0220" QAETi MISSOURI ~UVER ~ASIN PROJ~3X2~T S~A~I~N~ OP I~I~ ~T, ~ M~4~HALL COt~NTY NATIoNAL FARMERS O~NIZAT~N ~y. ~ai~ ~S C~v~n ~y. ~L operate ~L ~ net~E Vebien, ~ontIz 1~Lkota,a41cI I ~E~S~d~flt O~ tbeNFQ Ill Ma)~afl Oounty. ~ ~ ,` ~ur~QEgau~LUo11 :i~ ~~~i~p1y wo~i~ie~i ~bmit the ~fc1~ state~ of fami1y~typeagri- c~1t1Ire) to~ay,W~e ~ ug~1iuing ~tt1*1napkel~1ace~Cflflhe1T~ solve o~r pi~eblei~p~. ~We ~lsQt heIi~v~*thafl ~th~ i~~i~tioi1atid flo~1contro1fea~uresI of tI~Oahe~o~Jieet v~i1I 1~e1p~c4vethi~ pr*~b1em. * ~ ~ . ~ . . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The prices we receive for our production have dropped ~ 8 per cent jt~st since 1a~t Augu~1~.t ~J~e ~pri~e* we n~ust ~~ay for prodtiction items is ~up 2 and Z~ per cent ilL' U~4fl~J$~PiOd. ~e q~ ~I~v1~V :~augbt in a eost-price squeeze. Beoaus~ farm family ~jncom~ b~n~t~kept pacewith the Increased income of oth~r segments ckf ~our~ eeoi~o'~y~ .tl~ j~arE:te~s ~ai~e ~ieserting South DaI~ota at the rate of 1,500 a y~ar. As the ~ bjg ~nuf~c~ure~N ~ and ithe research ~ ~genciesI come up with more ~lci~i~t ways ç~f 1~ari~ingthlgger~ tbistrënd cenld well increase. ~ ~ T~e M~wsh~i1l Coumt~r NFOsupporls theOaheP~oject as aypartlal answer tc~ stopping this ~ first staJgeiw~Il m~x1~ep~aaiible 500 new farms~ Th~seed~tage~n~gbtL j~anceven 1nOr~r~reWfarmS. ~ ~ ~ T1~e OnA~e .J?i~oJec~t also *~I1I mean a greater tax base for the entire region. As property ~:axes on our farms and homes go up and up, it will be welcome relief to~ have nMy ~alt1~ M ~heregion~sha~riug the 1~ax lbad~ ~ ~ We . stand~today on th~ threshold of a ~iew a~ricuitumd boom as the popula- tion of the wOrid~eOntiu~es to grow ~by 4ea~s ~nd bounds. Certainly the mere pvesenee~Of a g~rowing~ market does~not. assurethe farmer Will share In the in- creased incouae of~the food iand fiber market. We in the NFO believe quite str0flgJ~t1Zá~t1~1ie fa~rm i~1come prob1~eiawi1InOt be solved until we g~ain a strong b~rga~imiug~ position imthemark~t p1~aee. We do h~4e tbatthis can c~ane .liand-in-~ hand with the development of our economy through the~ authorization of the Oahe Project. We must th1I~ seriously about Ii ~astrrgthehieoine ~f the ftu~xier~ and about in~reas1ii~ our 1~roduCtlo1i f food afld~ber both tofeeda hungr~r world and to provide for our young people farm Opportunities which do not exist today. We urge your committee to take favo~mble action on this legislation. Thank you. ______ STAPEMENT BY Waasrin~ (S. DAi~.) , C~i~i~EB or qoMMEncE The main street of Webster and the economic life of Its peoplO are de~ëndent fully andy ~ntlrely on the ~urrobndIng agricultural area. This is true of every small town in South Dakota and probably every small town in the (~reat Plains. This fact makes the Webster Ohamber of Commerce acutely aware of the con- t1nt~in~ l~*~ef farms lu our are~t. S It h~ts bE~eni documented, -hi every Irrigation project now operating that wide- spread irrigatlo~ not ~ ouly reverses this tMnd of loss of far~n~ but turns it around tO begth~ a~twtlly 3i~creasing~ faf~ins. Th~ ha~ be~n o~peciálly true in the Columt~ l~itercBttsin Project itithe Pactfli~ NOrt1iWe~t. Webster is the trade cetitel? of Day. County, `Sobth Dakota.. We can document the numbe~of f~rnis which hare ceased to ~perate. But equally frightening, and going hand Inhand With the loss of fârths, islthe loss of retail businesses. Day Ootinty, from 1958 through 1968, the `period covered by the last U.S. Census of Business, lOst 21 retail trade establishments. The drop was from l~3 to 142, a loss of m4Wly otte~elghth. ~ S , S The first atage of the Oahé Unit will not encompass Day County land. The second stage Will cover only a háu~ful of `acres In our county. But we know full well the need for regional thinking and regtenal planning in thl~ age of modern highways and fast transportation. A community no longer is measured b~r a day's ride `b~ hor~Oba~k, b~t *~u'st' be measured lu niuch larger tei~ms. Therefore we conclude thatthegreat ecdnouijebene~t1ts ef'the Oahe ITnit, although they may be a few `niflt~ from our front dOor, ~rIll haire agr~at beneficial effect ou'our busi- nesses and our f*tmil{t~s. S What we are Saylug i~ t~hat if Oahe can bebuilt and authorized, will mean new dOllat~ in' the ~cOnoi~iy of our bn~hiess communities-helping to raise the stand- ard of living for many and pro~iiding i~ewjobs for many others. In addition to the e~onomic benef1t~ inherent in. better yields ~tnd more farms, the Oahe Unit can provide additiO~nal fish, wildlife and recreation benefits that PAGENO="0221" OA~IE ~ T~NIT,~MISSOtJi~T ~V1~1~ ~AS'~ROJE~T 2~t the people of Web~t~r will ~iew Wthh i~~est. ~~réawar~ ~thne~e~1ng ~ bui~ines~ of itake~ and ~ecre~t1~1on bet~u~~ o~ ~ur prO~din~t3~ to th~ iioth~~t lake region. Qalie will provide fou~r reereatk~t~ reservoirs and18 *l3dllfe Mbltat lm~ provem.ezr~i&reas., The hunters in Webster and all other like communities will beneilt ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ In short, the business and professional people of Webster are on the side of the farmer. They know the goediftlte Oah~ Project a~d arepiease~l to add their voice to those urging rapid ant1iori~zatWn and construethn. ~ Sr~TF~M1~NT OF LOREN L. SMiTXI;, PRESIDENT,. ~I~WSTEE~ O~. THE TOWN Q1' . NÔRTRVILLE, S. DAK. ~ ~ I, Loren L. Smith, }~resideht of 1~h~ Ttu~tées of the town of Nortliville, S. Dak., am happy to present a resolution adopted by the board ef tr~steessupporting ~the Oah~ Irrigatioli Diatrict ~tnd en~Ouráging ith early development and a copy of the resolution i~ submitted herewith : ~ ~ ~ ~ "RJ1~SOLUTION "Be it resolved by the board of trustees of the town of Northville, S. flak., to ~upport the Oahe Irrigation District and ~neourages its early development." STATEMENT OF MRS. FRANK WRIOHT, CHAInMAN, SPINE ~o~JNfl ExTm~sIor~ ~ ~Q~E~AKuRS Cow~iL Honorable Members ot the Senate Subcommitee, X am Mrs. ~ 1~rank Wright. At the present tim& I am serving as chairmaa of the Spink Connt~ E±thnslon Home- makers Cotinell. * ~ ~ ~ During the past t~o or three yeara t~ur Ootmty Ageut Ralph Seret~en ~as 1~ro vided us with information concerning the proposed Oahe I~at1ou Dl~triet : how It was to be formed, whatareas Would be ~f1~eeted, *hat ~ It co~ild have on the eeono~Ly ofthls area. One tiaië lie a~ki~d i1~ to help ~et ~i~ple to~YOte in it- either~yes~or ao~-~but votó. * ~ ~ on the basis of the material that had been presented to us we asked the iiidI- vidual clubs to send In an indication of whether they were lnfav~r pf, Or o~posed *to, the development of the Irrigation Di~triet. It is these statemëxft~ that I am presenting f~r ynurconsideratlon. [Enclosures] The Friendly Hour Evtensjon HQmema-kers Club voted i~paijimQusly ~ favor of th~ developçLnrnt 0± the Irr1g~hox~ District Our u~eeU~~ was heb~L ~ 1~ew days after one of the dirt stor~as we bad t1~is ~pr1z~g ~ost o~ us rezaemlwr the ` dirty 8Q ~ ` too ~reIl ~ we d~c~ded tba~ anytlpng that wc~d~b~1p preve~iat a c~rrer~ce of that situation would be ~ood ~or the state an4 we are for It AUvantug~ tta~t they e~peet to cOthe Q12t of it ai~ Moie chances for young people t~ find work, so we woa't be lo$ing them to other parts of the cOutktry. Netèveryoue will get "dried Qut", If we do have a dry year. ~ Make Spiuk Coui~y a nicerpiace to live. * ~ Mote industries Wilt boost the economy ~ ~ ` ~ ~trs.. FRANK WIUGIIT, . ~ . ~ecretary~FriithçZ~y Hour J3J4at~n$iQfl Eomerne/cer~ CiuJ~. Be i~ resolvei the m~mber~ ot the ~]4e~çv ~ l~xten~iw~ ~ atro~1y ai~port the Oahe Xri~igat1on Develo~nz~ent proj~ ami respect~ul~V sugge~t a n~,os~ ~~ur able ieport on the held ht~anpgs heW ~ii fl~t~1iteld Souti~ ]~al~oVa 1~tay 8 19Ø~t )y the power irnd water resources sub~coiam4tee o~ the ~nate Int~nor az~4 Zusular Affairs co1~i4uttee We belle~ve the devebpment of t1~ls projeet tQ be w thc best interests o~ this uirea, state and Nation. ~ Chairman Chicory Chic Jan~ei~eioiv homemakers Club PAGENO="0222" Q4~1~ ~ 4ISSQ~JBL RiVER ~ASIN, PRO~JECT . :~ ~ 4~1u~ i~e~L~g~: ~e:vot~ on the coi1iing4ri~iga1~ion. *Ot~e~t~mewbe~ ~ Sottth flak~~hoi~id ~ot pass up ~ 4ij~we~?e \~~vy fliucJ;~ in favor. . ~ ~ ~,` ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ : : ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ARLENi!~ S~tTI~, ~ ~ Secretary, NorthviUe E~~,tensjon UZ~.. ~ We~rnb~rs~o1~t1ie ~ e~te~S}on c1ub~ Aliene Lethmer, Marg~et Roberson, PauUne Gisi, Lela RQbin~ou, ~ Dagi~r `~i~sp~h~, Elaine Roth, Mar1~s E~ser, ICaren ]~oyd, Janice Rainford, Monna Esser, hereby give our support to the Oahe Couservarn~y Sub District. ~ Fr~tukft~rt~ Happy Hour Olubvotea trn~mhnous1y (t5 thémbei~s) in f~vor of irrigation. ~Frieud1y NeighI~ors Club voted ui~animous (7 Inember~ approval of the Oahe Ii*igation Pr4ect. ~ Over half of tile mëan~ers (23 mewbera ~n all) of the Garfield Club v~oted in favor of~ lrrigatkai. Loyal Workers Club voted unanimously (27 members) in favOr of the Oahe Ir~ rigation Project. Kiatter Klt~b voted two-thirds (15 members) in favor of the Qahe Project. 1J.S~ SENATE, COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, 4pril C, 1967. MWL'ON B. Yo~rno. [Enclo~ure] RESOLUrION 67-3-235--NOEPH ~DAKOTA SPATE WATER COMMISSION Wher~a~ ~i~rristrtlètioii by the Feder~1 Governn~ent o~ the four dams on Missour~ RFvbr ifl &nitj~ Da1~otk-Gavin~ Potht Pert flandall ~ ~Bef~d ~i~d Oah~-ha~s resulted ilk the logs to the ~taF~ oi~ over ~ialf a zni~liou âeres of ~~l~a1~Id ~tgriealtural ~ahd~ re~p~ir~d fce~ the p~c~jects wlaç1~1 Josh qai~ be partu~l~y mitigatedt through th~ irrigation development huthorizèd bv t~i~ Congress a~ a part of the MiSSOUri River Basin Pro3ect in the lHOod ~o~ti~o1 Act of 1944 and ~ Wh~eà~ p±~ósê~i~gi~lation jJe~idth~ là Cô~gre~L~. 2'~, ar~t 1103, `ar~d S. 6-would authorize the Secretary Qf t~ie Interior "tOCbiistrijCt, opte, and maintain the first stage of the Oahe ttmt ~Fames divl~ion Mis~Quri fliver Basin projeet South Dakota for the prineij~kl ~i1rpost~ Of furnis~4g a s~rf~ice irrigation water aappiy fov~approx1mate1y~f!~O,OOO ~er~bf land, 1~rnthi~lling~ ~vater~ for. mun1e~ipal ancF:~hdüstr1al. uses, coi~roffl~g floods, enhaneing the generation of ~ ~eñserviiig ~rnd developing ~h and wfkTllfe resources, and enhancing outdoor !e~rea~;ioI;~ qpj~ortuniti~s, a~içIother~ purposes" ; ~tnd ~ ~ Wh~e~ts~'the nn~ii~ ~e~i~t and ~ ]~ia~rè b~een deve~oped t~i~ough e4~t~stl~ ~t~di~eu ~ inveatigath*i~ 15~~r the I3ureau of Reclamation South ~ d&legatien; ~1id ~ thècted loe~tl ihte~ests an~1 àfl have. aet~rthb~&the Lahit th~i~ ~ ~th~id and ecoriomic~tlly f~asible, and a ievelopment that will bring many benefits to South Dakota, ~the regiQu, and the N~t1~ th~bukl~thW balai~eed d~abll~zed econOmy in the areh and other benefits whic~ ~t wil~ipi~ovide; and . Wher~a~; Nt~rth~aItc~ta as Ihe upstream border state has a common interes~ with l~s~ ~fst& ~t~t& ifi the reglonM ëcoñbiny~ of the two-state area; `ineular ~tffdir~s Oo~mmittee, PAGENO="0223" Yór~. OA~]~ ~ ~ I~IVjE~ ~RASIN PRO~E~JT 2J!3; N9w, to~e,~i1~ ~ the ~ç~th ~1ç~ta Stas~ Water ~ m~ti~ ~ ~gi4a~ ~ d~a~~s of~e ~i i2~e ~S~ate Cap~t~; ~B~si~rqk, North Dakota, March 23, 1907, that it strongjy tavc~I:s( ~ ~upport~ U~e prQpQ~1 Oabe w4~ ~init~1 ~ ~t~ge, deye~Qpi~4, and ~oe~ hQ~eby mo~ r~pe~tfu1J~r~ urge ~ the Congress to consider and ta1~e favorable ael4ç~ ~ upozi ,tbe ~~ore~ijd ~egts1~tive bills at ;th~ ee~t~i~aej~icab1e date ; and ~e ~t ~ ri~~ ~eso1ved that the Secretary be and 1~e is hereby directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to~ th~ Honorable Mis A. Bee, Govern~r oi~ South Dakota; ~i5~S~ S~ator~ X~arl E. Mundt, George McGovei~n, Milton K. Young, and Quentin N. Burdick, and US. Representatives E. Y. Berry, Een Reifel, Mark Andrews, and Thomas S. Kieppe; HonOrable Stewart L. Udall, Secretar~r, Honor- able Kenneth Holum, Assistant Secretary for Water and Power, ~and Honorable Floyd E. Do~iny, Oommis~ioner, Bureau of Reciamat~pn, Department of lhe Interior. ,` For the North Dakota State Water (Jomrni~siou: Gov. WILLIAM L, Gut, Cha~rma~. ~4ttest: `M~LQ. W., Hoisvi~r~w,. Chief 4J~ineer-~9ecretary, ~ttte E~~gineer. Hon. I~ENRY M. JAOI~S'ÔN, ` Cka4rman,, 2er~te Interior a Inrular Affair8Co~mnittee, u.s; senate, Was'Mngto~, D~C. ` DFAR `I `U.S. SENArn, OoMMrj~TrgoN APPROPRIATX0N$, April Ft,1P6~7. PAGENO="0224" ~e are Interested whole State and Area an excel _rriga- ~matIon Meeting fl Educational on will give our oniy and Valuation. 214: I I OA~~I?1'~T ~is~bk~1~ R~V~1~ BASI~ iM~o~tE~1~ Se~ret~t~1 ~f t11e~I~itM4~l~, ~ ~ ~nt~tter, ~ fl~c~áin~ti~n 1~lo~rd E~ Domin~ `~Y~d ~ted fl~eh~ eh~r,O~th~ifth, Oi~h~ O~I~r ~ A~t~d~' 1~he~ Bd~o~ Th ~r~t~f .il~ ri~s~it Dt~er~4~ Oe~vafie~ Di~t~!~Y ~ prfl,ll$7. * ~ ~ S~. D#~C..; ~c ~tpriI13, 1~67. ~enatoir ~ni~ro~ P. ~n~asox of N~w Me~xico, ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~ * ~; ~ ~ I ~* * ~ ~* ~ ~ * ~ * * Th~u~*~z~ T 1~v~9 ~i~ttr ~ ~ith the~ Qahe irrIgation District, so thought I should give you a litUe of the oth~ ~ rait2ier than the side ~ the ~r~thote1~ ai~e~U1ator~,&nd ~ When 1~l~y ~ propaganda meetings a few years ago on the pr~~i~td ~rbject, they told us it * was entirely up to the land owners~-tf 1~he majority was Ifl*: favor, t~y would tI~y to get It, if the majority was o?p~~1t would ~ takeloeai aj~proval. Phe ~á~1~*n~ ~t~Iad~t~ th~don't want irrigation as it is trying to be pushed In by the bureau. WheuJb~~y~ee, the second time wasn't going to work, they sent i~u~ a l~wyer to try to buUdo~e it In, so at this time the Misouri Slope of the Oabepr~jeetis iMl~e ~&iu~ts. `J~ze o$g~n~3project was, I believe, all in 4 or ~ townships, now' in order to maintain their claimed acres, the Missouri Slope is scattei~a over i6towua)~ps.. * ~s :i ui~derstand it ~ ~ ~PQW~ a~n~ Spln1~ Oounties that is in Congress at `this time, that their first try, it only e~;rr%e~l by~ ~ so th~yd~ine I~l*nc1 ~f li)~e ~ eljmjm~ed ~e ppposjtion by le~vii~g out the ones 1~W~5 o~çsed ~Aiu1 q13 t~ secpnd try tbe~y e~aunei~ I b~lieve~ something like 80% ~o it ~vouI4 rather 1~thcate t~t on the or~iUU pro~rne1 prQject they only had 10 ~r ~t~% a,pproyal ~qt they st~1i cj~im 4ie ~au~e ncre~ they started opt with oJ! whk~1a is ~ ratl~er st~nge a4~eompli~unent for either the bureau or Co~g~e~ * * ~ ~ ~ ~ * * , ~ * :- ~ ~ * ~ ~i*~4~*~* * * ~ ~ * * I ~ *** ~ ~ ~ * * We ye heard aiid read aboM e~3nserving water I 1i~r~ J~1~or~ i~ c~rig~~~Ll plaps for the Oahe projec*t It calls for 2,336 mIles of eai~Is, ~ oJ~ ope~i dr~4p~e ditches, also 14,000.. mIles of closed drains, 3 dame, 3 reservoii~s ~wd ~ pump $at~~. M~i4 ~i~q.1 I have the propos~d fish and wildlife aere~. in the Oa~h~ pi~ØJE~ët~-~-their t~urès are 57,740 acres of which a lo~ of that is to ~ marsh lands. I wonldn't have any idea bow,; much water would be lost thin evaporation in that sort of a project, but I do have an article that says the Butte O~ S. ~st~k ~to~ds1oo~e enongli water to snp~ly~ Slnu~ Fails, S. Dak., with wateo~.2*nirabaity~ears ! ` * ~ * : * * If you ar~~ aware of the court action that took place in Mont. ih 19~l * ~ç~o~r are probably aware th~t the Bureau dtd~i't have ~uchiuck naldng~he&~ fig~ires they wied, st~and npi~ cp~t * * Yonrstrnl7, * jJ~ * flÔ~LLD G. 1~LU1TI~, PAGENO="0225" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVLR BASIN PROJECT 215 The new jobs and more opportunities that will be created through irrigation will give the young people many opportunities that do not exist at the present time. Campbell County people are working *ith the Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict and the Brown and Spink County Irrig~ttion Districts for the development of our area and the State of South Dakota. We are most happy to endorse the Oahe Project and hope that the Senate Interior and Insular Affairs Committee will take favorable action on this most important project. Sincerely yours, PoI~LocT~HERREID JRnIGATION I~OARD. LE~LIE Ii~sLnR, Chairman. Hrnnnib, S. DAK., ` ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ , ~ A pri~ ~6, 1976. TQ : Senute I~nterio~ndI~sular Affairs CommItthe. y ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Frum : ~ aiid~Water ~okis~vation B~ard-~--Thniald Wittrneler, ~ ~ Cbttirxi~an ; ~ AIbeft~Berreth, ~ice~Chairnianil~La~ronèb Sénftti~r; ~ T~é~a?~ure~; Eugene Ran, Member ; Ervin Grenz, Member ; James Wientse~ Mei~ber; Wallace Kusler~MEflnbBr;Virgil Thel, Md~nTher~ ~ ~ ~ ~ b~ ~ ~ h~ `~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Campbell County Soil Coiiservation District Board of Supervisrn~ brë chOperat- ing with ~ the POi.lôk~WT1!erretd Irrigation District, Spring Creek Watershed an~1 Geologièal Survey. The District Supervisor~ believe that all Water Re~ource Developments that are built in the OkhëT~5h.servancy Subdistrict will make our area and the Stare of South D~jkotaa 1~~tter place to live. Our p~jy~è ~t~d184~in fav~orbf the Oahe Conservancy Subdistrict's referen- dum `ast NO'~èh1ber 8th election. In voting for this ref~ron4p~i t~ey fe~,fJiat they have endorsed the Oahe Pro~ject and other small projeèts~tli~ are to be thiilt, in this area. ~ ` ~/ `, `F ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The completion of tlie-O~h~Pt~èctsaii~j o~er4r~f~h~ibn i~th~ii~ttès~ hi ~ Will int1~e it poesih~e. to waintain~ our schnels, di~rdi~s, a4*l other ei~Irf~inIty ftcllities that the peol5lCofthis area bav~bu4lt. Sincerely yours, - ~SO~ta~~ ~kvA~riotq~Bo, To ite. Oahe irrig hearhv' 7?~~d bed in I as suppo ting the 83-182--67--------15 PAGENO="0226" 216 OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT state employees coming from rural areas, agriculture may make up 90% of the revenue. The introduction of water to the lands of South Dakota will in turn, increase the reveime from the land by 3 to 5 times. This, in turn, thcreases the income of individual farmers and raiichers and this money will be spent in the State of South Dakota. As long as the proposed area is near, Pierre cau expect a more stabilized year by. year eepnorny. The City of Pierre is in faypr of the present legislatioii to finally irrigate 5OO~QOO acres in South Dakota. PIerre, being in a livestock area, we feel the irrigation project will stabilize the feed supply due to drought, and the livestock man will not have to dispose of his herds in drøught areas and bt4l~. up the herd in years of plenty. This develops a more even flow of productior~s~ and he is not a victim of low prices in times of drought and. high prices at the time of recovery from severe conditions. The cash grain farmer can also be mere sure of his returns from labor and will be able to ni~ke plans for the future by this stabilized economy. The ~vater supply here in the City of Pierre is excellent and we doubt that the need will arise that the City of Pierre will b~ demanding more water from this i.nstal~ation as other cities of South Dakota will be doing4 But, the city is con~ cerned abQut the stability ~of agriculture in our area and Its treasured farmers ami ranehers,~ Your favorable consideration of this project Is respectfully requested. Sincerely, GODrREY ROBERTS, Jr., Mayor. PIERRE CHAiaBEE OF CO~MEROE, Pierre, S. ))ak. Subject : Oahe Irrigation. Senator HENRY M. JACKSON, U1~airman, Senate Interior and Insu~a'r Affair8 Uonim'tttee: The members of the Pierre Chamber of Commerce fully support the first phase construction of the Oahe Irrigation Project. We feel that there is a great need for this project. It is our hope and the hope of the land owners in the counties living along the proposed Pierre canal that these facilities be designed an(1 operated so as to provide water throughout the entire irrigation season. Approxi- mately 80 farmers in this area have signed up indicating their interest in getting water for irrigation. Hughes and Sully County land is marginal. Average rainfall is 16 inches per year, 12 of which occurs during the growing season. Neither county has ever produced afull crop. Soils in the area are fertile and could produce feed stuff on a stable annual basis with the advent of irrigation. This will Increase the tonnage of livestock produced in the area. The net effect would be to stabilize the livestock industry in this area and to stabilize the tax base. The availability of water, and the potential that it would create, and the sale of it would tIo much for the mdny small communities in this particular area which are almo~t totally dependent upor~ agriculture. Further a younger generation of farmers is appearing, anxious to adopt new production t~cbniques, to stay on the land, . and to maintain the family farm. The effect here would be t9 stabilize the population of this area. A great part Of the land hi use in this area is devoted to the raising of wheat which Is a partiCulafl~r hazard~ns crop, ±requently destroyed by drought. The ayaiiability of Irrigation would permit the conversion to many of the more "sophisticated" cropS of higher value, providingyet another boost to the general economy. Por * these reasons we urge the initiation of phase one of the Oahe Irrigation Project as soon as it Is poss~bie to undertake. Respectfully submitted, Pnnum CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, JOHN H. HTPPLn, Piesidon,t. E~UGHES AND SuLxx COUNTY LANDOWNERS, ~ ~ DEAN . P. SoRnNs~N, ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ , ,, ~ ~ , ~ ~ . `Itate Eepresdnta~vve Hug7hea SkO~Zey awl Sully Count ~ea , ~ .-~` ~ ~ ~ , , ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~ -~ ~ ~ : ~ ~ ~ ~ PAGENO="0227" I 217 MELLETTE, S. flAK., May 22, 1967. PAUL A. PETERSON,. Farmer, Spink County. CITY OF CONDE, Conde, S. Dak., April 22,1967. ERNEST CHRISTENSEN, Kiwan48 Presl4ent. GLENN W. PHILLrps, `Kiwani$ Secretary. NORMAN KUECKER, A(jric~tvre and Uonscrvation Chairman. OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT GENTLEMEN : Those who vote on this project should first state the location o~ their farm and be one of those who sign the contract for the water when it comes, in other words be directly concerned With paying for this water, etc. There were reports on Radio and T.V. by an engineer that there was oil seepage from the Cheyenne River which when put on the land year after year would form a petrolithic pavement of our farm land. This oil was found in all six dams which would be unsuitable for vegetation and poisonous for. plant and animal life. ~hy is, irrigation necessary where we are now forced to ~ hold land out Qf production because there is no market for the product? You k~Qw that irrigation is doomed to failure when there is no market for that. product. If the products are to be given away who will pay for the cost of all this ? With livestock, wheat and milk all selling far below parity even 110W there is no chance of getting even a fair price for any further increase. Water is not a cureall because all these small towns will go down the drain. As it is now the water is forced on our land upstream for the use of Huron and the Figh and wildlife and they are not even capable to handle the pheasants. Why pretend to fight for Democracy in Vietnam when we don't have It here at home??? Mr. RAYMOND GALLAGHER, Attorney, General Council of Oahe Conservancy: I, Robert L. Taylor, Mayor of Conde, South Dakota, am happy to announce that I and the Council are very much ia favor of and supporting the "Oahe Irrigation District" anti encouragingits early develo~pment. CONDE Ci~v COUNCIL, B. M. PENCE, Clerk. KIWANIS CLUB OT WEBSTER, S. flAK., May 2, 1967. SUECOMMITTISE ON OAHE IRRIGATION UNIT, Redfleld, S. Dak. DEAR SIRS : Agriculture and Conservation Committee of the Webster Kiwanis Club and the Kiwanis Club of Webster as a whole, are whole-heartedly in favor of seeing the Oahe Irrigation Project started and completed at the earliest pos- sible time. As Kiwanians we have "We Build" as our motto. We feel the Qahe Irrigation Project will do much for the building of the future of South Dakota. Sinegrely yours, HtDE COUNTt WATER DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEIt, OArtE IRRIGATION HEARING, ~ . ~ ~ ~ RE1~FIELD, S. DAK~ To Whom It May Concern: . The Hyde County Water Develotanent Committee here by wishes to be placed on record as being In favor of the development of the Oahe Irrigation Project at an earlydate. PAGENO="0228" OAITE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT VOTING RECORD The land owners of hyde County at the November General Election in 1960 voted 89% in favor of the formation of the O'ahe Conservancy Sub-District. November 8, 1966 the land owners oi~ hyde County voted 81% in favor of contract Authority for the Oahe Conservancy Sub-District. NEED5 SIYRVEY Land owners in Hyde County owning land located near proposed Oahe Project, Highmore Canal System, In a survey conducted in June 1964 indicated they would use ~trrlg~Ct1~ti watev ~if available to~ irrigate, 8,190 acres, aiM also could um 4~G a~t~ feet~ of ~a~e~'~for ~to~k da~n `recharg~ FEEIY ~ StJPrLI1~ I With the * exceptioi1~ of~irrigation of land~ located near the ~ Highmore Canal, benefits tô~the county ~fHy~de~wili bn in~ tih~ iiuliTectbenefit category4 ~ ~ ~ The pr~dne~oiVof 1iee~, nMinlycow'~ealfoperatiO*S, are hamperedby dr~ight threeyëaisou~ of ten ~n Hyde' Oountyi Withtthe f4r~iation andt operation of~:the Oahe Irrigation Unit, feed supplies, mainly corn and alfalfa, will be in good supply for drou~jht years.Ih Hyde County. The .eonstru~}1~i~n of the Oalie Irrigation Unit will stabilize the agri economy of the unit, and the State of~mtb Dakota. Em~1o~ñ~flt itt the area will be stabilized. A greater number of yo wishingtè enter farthiiig; Will be accommodated by the ~ Irrigation Unit. South Dakota the most agrieW~tth~äl stt~t~ in the I bnnef4t;ns ~ti1l ihe~rest of th~t~athm,~with th~ ~eveIopI t~onUnit.~ `. . ~. We hear considen - ~ aworid food ~hoi - in the r ~ar futu" ` ate for construction of rn~ tioi avoided. rj -Committee strongly recommends the coil ictio Wm. Schu ~ .11~ IT we as ~mericans hai 218 Oahe I P. Fin ~e completion of the total project with PAGENO="0229" OAT~E UNIT, JRI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 219 n benel [on. and EDGLASSGOW,. Maaager-Treasurer. * CRESBARD SPORTSMEN'S Cwn, Cre~ard, 2, Daic., 41 ay ~2, 196~. tv~ part the ~*in the f Oahe Jrri r uses~*. ?S of w~ utions adopted by Cresbard Sportsman Club ly presently known ade- PAGENO="0230" OAHE tNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJE~P Therefore be it resolved by the Cresbard Sportsman's Club affiliated with the Soflth Dakota Wildlife Federation tht~t we request th~ Board of Directors of the Oahe Conservancy Sub District In cooperation with all Involved goverutneutal ~agencies make every ~ft~oft to ~ supply the Scatterwood Lake area with such needed water and all other hecessary recreational construction in a manner which will assur~ residemts, rural and urban alike, the greatest available benefits the area can provide, and ~ Be it further resolved by the Cresbard Sportsman's Club that copies of the resolution be presented to the following interested or associated groups: Board of Directors, Oahe Sub District. Department of State Game, Fish, and rarks of the State of South Dakota. Department of Sports, Fisb~ries and Wildlife, Missouri Easin Study, Bls~ mark, North Dakota. Bureau of Reclamation, State Of South Daketa, Headquarters : Huron, S. Dak. ~ ` ~ ~ Brown ~ COmity Spórtisnbut's Ohib, Aberdeen, South Dakota (% Chuck Branson, BransOn Otilbert Company). IpswichSpoetsma~i s Club Ipswi~b South Dakota ~ . The Oresburd Zportsman's ClUb Of Cresbatd, South Dakota, asks the above mentioned groups to support this resolution and send it to the Board of Directors of the Oahe Conservancy Sub District, % Fred Holscher, Faulkton, South Dakota, thus urging ~t1~tt ~ groups present a united front to make this project a reality. Subject : Sub-impoundments on the proposed Cresbard Reservoir. The Cresbard Sportsman's Club, Cresbarci, South Dakota, respectfully sub- mits the ~ following `resolutiOns on the sub-impoundments on the proposed Cres~ bard Reservoir : ~ ~ Whereas, the counties of Faulk `and Edmunds will lose' appro~dm'ately 3000 `acres of wildlife habitat by the copstr~ctl~n of the proposed Cresbard Reser- voir, `the afore~mentioned acreage' being some of the finest and most productive wildlife habitat th~ the twO1~cOuntie~ ; and ` Whereas, this loss Of `~vildlife' habitat has a direct effect on local economy be~ cause of the commercial value of local wildlife which has increased steadily' under local spori~orship of out-of-state hunters ; and Whereas no~stable water level is indicated' to be possible on such regulatory reservoir ; and' ` * ` ~ ` . Whereas a sub-impoundment to `the'W'est of the dam-site area herein referred to as the Paul Creeks, which' are und~,~tudy al~ the present time by the Depart- ment of Sport Fishries and Wildlife In charge of Missouri Easiti Studies ( such sub impoundments ~present the otily possibility now known for a stable Fish Recreation,, and Parks installation)' ; and ` Whereas ` sOch stth-llnpoundinent would not ` create ` additional take-areas or crèiste any additional problern~ for the surrounding land ,o~vners. 1'herefore `be It resolved by the Qresbard Sportsman's Club, Cresbard, South DakOta that we reqi~est the Board of Direètors of the Oalie Conservancy Sub District in coopeE~atlon with all involv~d governmental a~encjes that such sub- impoundments b~ added to the initial ,Oahe Construction Project, thereby serving the needS of the area' with a more stable, year-round and pernianent recreational facilities. * , ~, Be it further resolved th'at.co~ie~ of this Res~lntion be mailed to the followipg groups : ` ` ~ Board of Directors, Oáhe Sub District (do Fred Ilolscber, Faulkton, S. Dak~). `Bureau of Reclamation, State of South Dakota (Headquarters, Huron, S. Dak.). State Game, Fish, and Parks Department, Pierre, South Dakota. Ipswich Sportsman Club, (c/o Everett Williams, Ipswich, South Dakota). Departmen~'of~port, Fisheries, and Wildlife, Missori Basin Studies, Bls~ mark, North Dakota. ` ` ` `` The Cresbard Spot-taman's Club, Cresbard, South* Dakota, asks the above mentione~d groups to suj~port this resolution and send it to the Board of Directors of the Oshe Oonser~raney" Spb District, `do Fred Holseher, Faulk'ton, South Da- kota, thus urging that all groups present `a united front' to iflake this project a reality, 220 PAGENO="0231" OAIIE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT Subject : Stable Water Level in Proposed Cre~bard Reservoir. The Cresbard Sportsman's Club, Ore~bard, Sç~uth Dakota, respectfully submits the following resolution on tile. Stable Water Level in Proposed Cresbard Reser- voir: Whereas, residents of Faulk County will lose thousands of acres of taxable land to the construction of the proposed Faulkton Canal, Cresbard Reservoir, Cresbard Dam, and Cresbard Canal; Whereas, the county is entitled to construction or remuneration for these losses; and Whereas, residents along or near the proposed Cresbard Reservoir have ex~ pressed the desire and need to move water from the proposed Cresbard Resevoir for irrigation and other water uses ; and Whereas, the need for removing such water and the increasing need for recrea- tion cannot be served by a long period of low water level In the proposed Cres- bard.Reservoir; Therefore be it resolved by the Cresbard Sportsman's Club that we request the J3oard of Directors of the Oahe Conservancy Sub District in cooperation with all involved governmental agencies that the proposed Cresbard Reservoir be stahl- lized at all times at a desirable level with all due consideration being given to the fact that during heavy water usage in the Irrigation districts we can anticipate some reduction in the water level, but that after such perio4s, the reservoir be refilled to a desirable level s~ as to offer the greatest amount of benefits to the largest possible groups of water users. Be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be ~nailed to the following groups: Board of Directors, Oabe Sub District (c/o Fred Holscher, Faulkton, South Dakota) . Bureau of Reclamation, Stfite of South Dakota (Tieadquarters, ~iuron, South Dakota). The Faulk County Steering Committee (do Royce Robers, Cresbard, South Dakota) . The Faulk County Water Users Association (c/o Royce Robers, Cresbard, South Dakota). The Cresbard Sportsman's Club, Ores'hard, South Dakota, asks the above men- tioned groups to support this resolution and send it to the Board of Directors of the Oabe Conservancy Sub District, do fred Uolscher, Faulkton, South Da- kota thus urging that all groups present a united front to make this pro)ect a reality, _______ MuLLETPE, S. DAK. WATER AN1~ Powun Rusouncus SUBCOMMITTEE : Ip the Minneapolis Star of Au- gust 12th the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company made this announcement from the research department : One of the greates~ artesian ground-water systems l~ beneath central South Z~akota. The system comprises four giant "rivers" flowing eastward up to a mile below the surfaSe.' To those who desire Irrigation by sprinkling this should be available without the present study and expense, South Dakota has only three months of growiug seasóU, not twelve, and limited crops The farmers have complied when ~1ven `wheat acreage allot merits They also have been paid to go into t~ie soil bank to reduce the sttrplus aud the Reclamation Bureau urges us to grow more by an overwhelming burden of de1~t which the farmers of the Anti Otabe Irrigation district cannot and do no wish to assume through their project of Irrigation along the James River Valley. Wou~1d you call it a consistaiit or helpful program, Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer? You should approve a group wl~o have protested by petition and verbally against farming `by irrigation as prqposed by the Bureau of Reclamation. It is not a matter of what they do for us, but what It will do to us and every American Tax Payer today that counts, A SPECIAL ADDiTION TO TEE REOtAMAPION EtYR~EAU The farmer who owns and has paid his taxes on the farm deserves to know the truth abOut the real cost of irrigation. A single man or woman owning a farm can have 160 acres, if they want irrigation. The rest of the trrigable acres can be held for 10 years and then be 221. PAGENO="0232" PROJECT r iJ~ he bids higher will be this huge project. FLORENCE CADY, Farnww~er. ~OTECTTVE ASSOCIATrON, ~ S. Dak., May 8, 1967. ,~ ~Dt~1T DA~O'I~A STA~T1I GRAN~. GENTLEMItN ~T TtlE UNX~J~ED STAtES SRNAT~C~thI~t1'* ~ . ~ The SQut1~ Dakota Stale Grange believes that the developpaeut of the Oahe District irrigation system should be given favorable coustderation by your committee for several reasous. First, to further the economic growth of the State itself and retah~ i~ts farm population. A report prepared by the `State resource's and planning council at the TJni- versity of South Dakota tella us that the `State i~ not a rich one be~mn~e `It has to depend so ~nuch on Agriculture, along Wlth ~ho1e's'aie and~etail trades' ~nd servic'es. The report states~that ~uuth Dakotas low~er ~ap~tá income, $1~8Th In 1O~34, one of the lowest in the Nation, arises from the heavy dependence on farming, services and trade, yet accounts for 71% of all employment in the State. 222 ~AI1E UNIT, LAnE'B~aor~ IM~OVEMENP L. ARDWAY ;rict consis i~Di~'trict re PAGENO="0233" OAHE UNIT, WSSOIJRI RIVER BASIW PROJECT 223 The Columbia Basin lrri~atio~ p~p'ject in Waship~on State, had 608 farms in 1949. Now. there are weU over 2500 farms, as ~L~ai~Jy a half million acres have been developed for irrigation. We believe the Oabe Di~tr1ct, in eoth~arison, can equal this f1gi~e. Adding millions of lo1lar~ in income yearly for the State of South Dakota and hid in keeping the yc~n~ fO1k~ ~n the 1a~nd in our state. There are at present only about 400,000 acres under irrjgat~on in South Dakota, a state that relies J~qaxi1~r on Agric~ultune and is, on the average,~hort of rainfall. Therefore, we urgently reooinmend your~ favorable consideration ~f this project. VlsRwm UNRtrXt, Dep~ty state !jester. AMERICAN SocIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS, SOUTH DAKOTA SEcTION, May 5, 1967. On behalf of the South Dakota S~etlon of the American Society of Civil Engineers, I hereby offer ~ur whole-hearted support to the Department of the Interior to construct, operate and maintain ~ the ftr~t stage of. the Oahe unit, James division, Missouri River ~3asin project, South Dakota. The benefits to be derived as a result of this ambitIous project are boundless. The enhancement to the economy of the area is of prime importance in the development and diversification of its agricultural, . industrial, municipal and recreational purposes. Pl~e above-named factors justify proceeding with this project in. the most expeditious manner. Sincerely, SOUTH DAKOTA Mr. Chairman, mittee on Water a ciates the opportu~ Bureau since the ~. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Control Act of 1944 h~ endorsed, by delegate & the past to assure South Dakota its fair share of multiple uses within the state~ The legislation and various steps taken to bring us ~ip to this state of develop- ment have always received our support and, as the records will indh~ate, a tre- mendous support from the voters~ T~onnwr L. BROTSKY, P.E., Fr~sident. DAY COUNTY SPORTSMAN CLUB, INC., Bristol, ~. lJak., May 5, 1967. A ~ the regular meeting, Of the Day County Sportsman Club, held on May 2nd, dor~, Ernigation project. the carrying I 4LEX M~x~ LLOYD PAGENO="0234" BEADLE CouNnr OHAPTEE, * Iz~AK WALTON LEAGUE OF AMERICA, Huron, ~. D4k., May 4, 1967. 224 OAHE UNIT, MISSOVRI RIVER BASIN PROJECT With the predicted increase In * world pOpnlation and the fact that we no longer have the large stirplus we had in the past, offers a tremendous challenge to American Agriculture tofeeda hungry world. - * We feel~ that irrigatiOn will help stabilize the * ~gricnltnre in the proposed ~ink a~d BrOwn irrigation districts'afld willme~th a great dealto the economy o;t ~ontb Dakota Nö* that the au~liorizatlon measures have bee~i introduced in both houses of the Con~ress, and the p1~n has been approved b~v the Department of Interior, we re~pectfuIly request thatthe Thirean of the ~tülget approve the repoi~t, and we recommend p~tssage of the authorization by the Congress. We appreciate the opportunity to be able to file this report with the subcom- mittee, and hope that the authorization will receive favorable consideration. THOMAS MCNENNT, President. OAITE IRRIGATION PnoJEcP D~v~X~oPMENP. GENTLEMEN : The Beadle County Ohaptex of the Izaak Walton League of America fully reaffirms its position of full support to the Oahe Irrigation PrOject Development. * * ~ On previous occasions this chapter, representing nearly 300 members from ~I uron and the surrounding area, has enctorse&the conser~ration and wateruse aspects associated with this project in line with Its principles to preserve and protect our land, water, air and wildlife heritage. The efforts of this chapter in this respect are well knqwn and are reflected in its many accomplishments. The deyelopment of the Oáliie Propect will provide major benefits to this area by providing for additional wildll~e mitigation and enhancement areas and aid in improving those already in existence. It will provide for recreational areas for hunting, fishing, campipg and boatiug. Pollution, a major problem, can be alleviated thr~ water sppply and management. Increased land use will bring n~ore industry resulting In a. larger population requlrir~g increased facilities. The Beadle County Chapter is dedicated to the presetvation and development of all projects of this nature that will provide i~or this and coming generations all possible benefits making for a useful and g~~rous abundance. We believe the development of this project will provide these benefits. We fully endorse and support an early start of construction. Conservationally submitted. Gu~w W. BATYMAN, Prtsident. SPINK COUNTY SOIL AND WATM~ COItSERVATTON DISTRICT, RedfleZd, 2. Dala, Ajril 28, 1961k To : Senate Subcommittee on Irr1~atlon~Insular Affairs. Resolution passed by Board of Supervisors of Spink County Soil and Water Conservation District, supporting the Oahe Irrigation Unit, as it will pertain to conservation use of soil and water and related natural resources, in the Spink county Soil and Water Conservation District. And further the applica- tion Of needed and beneficial conservation practices to the soils, and the con- serving use of water and related natural resources. MERLIN HAHN, Chairmen. * ]3RADth COUNTY FARM BUREAU, Huron, ~. Dah., May fl9, 1967. Senator GEORGE Mô~ovERN, ~enate Office Buihling, Wa$lsington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR MCGOVERN : Beadle County Farm .Thp,eau, with a membership of over 200, has voted to support the promotion and Implementation of the Oahe Irrigation Project. * Although only a small portion of Beadle Countyls actually in the initial Irriga- tion Program being sought, the James River flows through the county where PAGENO="0235" Fw~ GUTHMILLER, PresiiZont. RALPH BRAUN, Viee-Pre8'kzent. CLYDJ~ DILLMAN, f3ecretary. MADIsoN, S. DAK., May 22, 1967. Senator GEORGE MCGOVEI~N, Old th~nate Office B~44lding, Wa$Mngton, D.C.: May I offer the following comments favoring the speediest `possible develop- ment of the Oãhe irrigation project? ~ ~ ~ No testimony with which I can disagree was offered in favor of the project. While I, living in Madison, expect no personal benefit, I adopt as my own the words of one witness : "I want to see my neighbors prosper." To all who pointed out the economic, social and cultural benefits the project will bring to our state and liation I can say only "amen." ~ The argui~ients extolling the growth in jobs, enhanced stabi1iti~ economic ~xpansion * and the fact that our food "surpluses" s~tddenly disappeared and that we will see unprecedented demands for food both at home and abroad before water can flow were . all well4ounded. One benefit was mentioned only briefly and needs more stress : the project's salubrious effect on wildlife and. tourism. Let me also pOint out that disaster dispersal of cattle herds due te drouth works a hardship on all livestock producers the nation over by wrecking prices and by creating a glut that must be consumed before pricea can recorver. Such dispersal destroys part of our productive plant. ~ DANA C. JENNINGS. ~ FAULKTON, S. PAR,, ~ May 22,1967. Mr. Chairman, Honorable Senators, my name is Norman Paul. I am a farmer ~nd Chairman of the Faulk County W~iter Users Organization. My farm is located near and partially within the proposed bounds of the Cre~- bard Reservoir. , ~ .~ ~ My headquarters will be almost completely surrounded by the water in the reservOir. My brothers and I stand to lose a lot of good laud by flooding. I am interested and favor the proposed water development and plan on taking advantage of the water for irrigation, The Directors of our organization have devoted many hours toward hastening the day when this proposed project becomes a reality. From the interest shown at the meetings of our organization many people of this community appear to be anxious for a stable water suppif, NORMAN PAtL, cliwArman of the Fa~uZk County Water Tlsers Organization. BATH, S. DAK. ~ Water resources development is an important means to improve and stabilize the economy of South Dakota. Further work on irrigation, in connection with small watersheds, could result in a large increase in the annual average income ~fmany South Dakotans. * Reading from the `Cong~,essional Record Tuesday April 4, 1967, senator George McGovern saia, "These ~ma1l watershed projects reduce flood `hazards and, in some cases, provide for water supply, water ~based ree~eation, and wildlife de- OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 225 the James Diversion Dam and Lake Byron are also located. We feel that along with the direct effects of irrigation, stabilized water supply, and recreational benefits ; Beadle 4i~ounty will also receive many indirect benefits from this program. ` ` * * ~ Stabilized fee~1 supplies, markets, water flow from upstream programs, addi- tiopal labor demands for irrigation projects and other related programs and many other side benefits will serve to improve opportunities and developments made use of by our members both active and associate. Therefore we support this, Oahe Irrigation Project, and appreciate the efforts being made by this Senate Committee to consider our reaction and response to this program. Yours truly, PAGENO="0236" I. Senator ~~ew~n 1~PGOVEI~, 2eiwt~ Office Bui Wing, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENA farmer w of mau.~ Pric S~t~t NETTINGA. en met wi impossible to go this project. son rec 226 OAIfl~ uwi~; MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT velopment. Land ithrrovement in the watershed to roçluce ~erosion and sedimenta- tion is also a part of the program~ ~ . The Oahe project when fully developed will be a multiple ~Urpose project and while, being mainly for irrigation will also include watersI~ed development. The wa~ir could ~ greatly iffi~rove~ agHcu1trn~al produOtivlty~. of our re~lon It also wattld increase ~oIume of bus!ness in towns Within or near the Oahe a~a and Improve ~ industrial and ihunicipal water ~up1iies-kll contributing ~ to im- proved community facilities. ~ ` ~ ~ ~ In~igatlon u~ual1y mea#is more stability; nj~ and downs o1~ income and~ pro- duction are 1e~s frequent ~LI~d~ drastic than when communitins are dependentupon the variability of dryland farming. If we are not at war in Viet Nam, we are at war to conibalt the ravages of hunger. Food can be al more powerful weapon than guns in determining the future course of mankind. Quotiilg from George McGovern's May Newsletter "It is costing us $3O~,OOO to kill each enemy soldier." This would feed a lot of people. LA VERNE SWENSON, WoLsE~, S. DAI~. PAGENO="0237" OAHE UNIT, M RIVER BASIN PROJECT 227 ~`LER, $ecretary, ~ of Churches. Rev. WESLEY C. HUNTER, Director, Department of Church and Community Relations, South Dakota Council of Churches. o J and autbO zation 01 munity realize we are n - to be a part of another irrigat~ - Sincerely, a record in support for the creation y of the people in the trade corn- s unit but they are hopeful that eventually BRUCE A. LIKNE55, Secretary. IIURQN~ S~ ~ the shores of L~ai?~e By- our beautiful home in ~ to goingthrc i period such as the "~ )irty 30's" Mrs. VERA E. WOLKER. A RESOLUT: S~?INK O~UN~Y CON~E1WATIO-N ~t~u WI~nLxrE Cw~ PAGENO="0238" 228 OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RiVER BASIN PROJECT ably be destroyed as a result of the ~onstruoti~U of this project, it is with deep gratitude that sincere consideration has geen given in relacing or dupli- cating the areas of natural habitat lost, along with the coiistruotiou of this project. "That wildlife and outdoor recreation plays an t~portant part in th~ life of the people of this area, it is further resolved that full public access be granted to all areas of.: this'~construction, including hold reservoirs and canals, so that this outdoor recreation may be utilized by all." LAR1~Y Btr~uuotz, President. RESOLVTIO~ The Tulai~ town bQard~ve~lves to support the Oahe Irrigation District and encourages its early *~ develO~mentj~ We feel it will help the economy of our community since the ~ project will practically guarantee a crop and becauseof this it will retain our ~resent popula- tion and perhaps increase It; thus adding to our tax income, growth of our coxnxi~pn1ty town and school ~be~e are factors we need to keep our community, town and school fro~n receding by holding our population. ALVIN V. FOGLESON, Chairman. DONALD ITOL~MAN, Trnstee. Mrs. ELSIE M. Ross, Trustee. FEDERAL LAND BANK ASSoCIATIoN, ~ Webster, S. Dak., April 28, 1967. Td Whom itMay Concern: At a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Federal Land Bank Association of Webster, South Dakota, the ~oRowing resolution was adopt~: "Be it resolved: that the Federal Land Bank Association of Webster; South Dakota, go on record to ;p~'ess for the start of work and completion of the Oahe Irrigation Fro)ect at the earliest possible time C. P. DUERRE, Mana~ier. WEBSTER LIONS CLUB, Webster, 2. Dak., May 19, 1967. SUBCOMMITTEE ON OAHE IRnxGATIoIq~ P1~OJECT, 1~edfleId, 2. Dak. To Whom It May Concern; The Webster Lions Club of Webster, ~outh Dá1~ota has passed a resolution favoring the Immediate devel~pme~t and completion of the Oahe Irrigation Project. CHARLES E. NORBY, Lions Club $ecretary. To whom it may concern: Whereas, The Brtstol domiiierelal Club is a non-profit organization, consisting ofbttsiness men and farmers located in Bristol, Day County, South Dakota, Whereas, One of our purposes is to Promote and Assist both present and New industries; that would be bsnefidai to ourr area and S~tith Dakota, Whereas, Bristol is located in Day County South Dakota which county became a part of the Oabe Conservapc~y SubDistrict by a. large ~najo~Ity vote, Whereas South Dakota has given up several hundred thousand acres of land for present dams on the Missouri Itiver, ~ Whereas The area taken in by th~ Oahe Conservancy Sub District Is knowp to have a large productive acreage of Classes 1 2 3 Land and that past history has proven that lack of w5ter 1~a~ been the areas main reason for crop failures Resolved That we favor the starting of the Initial state of the Oahe Unit and that Congress appropHAte the necessary funds which in turn would provide the area a dependable water s~*ply ~or Irrigation an~t would remove the preseht high risk associated. with tir* Land Farming and would also provide other I PAGENO="0239" OAHE tNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 22& b~nef1ts such as Recreational Pacilities, Fish & Wildlife Habitat, and a reliable source o~f Mnnicipa~[ Water $i~p~ly4 In addition it ~vould stimulate the production of new crops thus creating new Industries and more jobs. . , ~ 13EIs~roL CoMMi~ncxAL Otun; ~ ~ . ~ KERMIT E. HoLLY, 2 ~ ~ ~ President. ~ FT. R~uAIIL Ooi~snnvANcY Svn~Dismicr RasoLunoN ~ Whereas, the Oahe Conservancy Sith-Distri~t board of directors is seeking authorization for the proposed Oahe Irrigation Unit covering 190,000 acres repre- senting the first stage of its development, and Whereas, the proposed irrigation project, upon completion, would provide direct benefits to the immediate area while the indirect benefits would be extended to the far corners of the State and beyond its borders to other states, and Whereas, the economy of the project area i~ mostly agricultural, subject to the hazards which accompany inadequate rainfall, and ~ ~ S Whereas, the growth and well-being of a rural area.. is dependent on the full development of its local principal natural resoui~ces-land, water, and people, Now, therefore, be it resOlved by the Ft. Randall COnservancy Sub-District board of directors that the Congress of the United States be urged to authQrize the Oahe Irrigation Unit in order that plans may be readied for its development when Congress prtvldes fundi'i1~ ~orthe construction of this project. The above resolution was adopted. at a special meeting of the Ft. Randall Con- servancy ~ub-Distrièt held at Wagner, S.D., on the 16th day of May, 1967. BEN J. IRnLAND, * S Clia4rmthi. S ~ TED II. KnELL, ~ Vice-U 1~ainuan. S ~ HAROLD WILLIAMs, secretary. NORMAN LIEN, Member. S ~ MARVIN E. LARSON, Member. S Lmn GARDEMAN, S Member. CAM WAL ELECTRIC 000PItRATIVE, INC., ~ Selby, ~. Dak. Statement from Cam Wel Electric Cooperatives~ Inc., Selby, South Dakot'a;~ a rural electric cooperative now providing electric service primarily to fki'ms in the cOunties of Campbell, Waiwortli and Potter in ~outhDakota. S At a regular meeting of the Board of Directorq of Cam Wel Electric Coopera tive Inc.., held in Selby, Soi~th Dakota the 21st day of April, 1967, the foliowitig resoltitloh was introduced and uflanimously approved. RESOLUTION SurioRvtNG SENATE BILL 6-OAHE IRRIGATION AUTu0RIZATI0N Whereas, the full development of the Oahe Irrigation unit and other irriga- tion is essential to improve the economy of South Dakota and in particular, the lagging farm income of the state ai~d, S Whereas, rural elertrie cooperatives are continually losing farms arid rural members each year which is creating a hardship because of lost revenue needed to repay the investment in facilities, and in Oam Wal Electric Cooperative's service area. We now have 14% vacant farms, and Whereas, the productivity of farms on the fertile soils of South Dakota could be increased several times by the controlled application of water and thereby aid in the production of food sevital to the expandingworld population, i~nd Now therefore, we, the director of Cam Wal Electric Cooperative, Inc., repre- senting 1,600 members do n~ost heartily support Senate Bill 6 authorIzing the Oahe Irrigation unit ~ind request that construction begin at the earliest possible date, and S 5 Be it further resolved that, we urge the Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs to investigate the progress of the Pollock-Herreid irrigation unit PAGENO="0240" 230 OAHE UNtT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT of .t~e Oahe ~ CQns~*ancy Subdllstrk~t arni speed tt~ e~r1y authorization ~s this unit also will be beneficial to~outh Dak~ota an~I pa~ir1~jcu1ar1~r j~c~ t~s ~ea tMt. is losing farms, small towns ~an4* the general eëonotny~is sufferiug~ and Be it f~rther ~es~lved. lbat the construction of the Oahe irrigation unit be such that ~xpa~ns~on a~uJ desr~lopment of additional area in the future is not exc~I~i4e~I a~md the maximum benefits be thereby derived. 1, Sam A. Merkel, Secretary of the Board of Directors of Cam Wal Electric Cooperative, Inc., Selby, South Dakota certify that the above resolution was approved at the regular Board of ~Dlreetors meeting held ApriL21, 19G7. S~u~ A. MEiu~uL, Secretary. ~AUL1~O1~ Co1~rMi~rNIPY CLun, ` ` , ~ ~ ~ ~ fl ~ Fav~lkton, S. Dak~ Wl~ere~s, the Oahé Unit Is a ~r4a~t propos~Lby t~ie Bureau of ~eclam~tio~ to irrigate 495,000acres in north ~eutral Soutli;DalçQfa with ~[issoi~ri River wat~er; aud ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Wbereas, the plan ~Uso. provides w~te~ ~E~r municipal and ft~dustrial use, fish and w~i1dlLte deve1op~uaits ~at 28 locatIons, recreation an4 pollution abatement; and ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Whereas~ tt~e State's econo~ny will be lmproy~41 by ~ew ~iarkets and inc1u~ti~ies that will spring up in the area to meet the demands of the iuc~eased and diversi- tied agrict~ltural productiQu ; and * ~ Whereas, t1i~e new industries will provide ~ob opportu~jties to the y~uug people of the State who present'y have to go elsewhere to seek employment; now Therefore, be it resolved that the F'aulkton Community Club urges early au- thorization by Congress pf the Oahe Unit Irrigation Project as set forth in the Bureau oE Reclamation reports of May and June 1965. EMEnY P. J~NnoRD, MILLIE ROBEnTr AS I think these h conr~ - Li im )ve- [this ter- have orga- ie who has testified and to the orga- PAGENO="0241" OAHE UNIT, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT 231 After those hearings have been held, we will compile the full record Of what has been said here, of the statements that have been filed, and of the complete statements that are made ` in Washington by everyone testifying pro and con on this Oahe first stage project. As soon as those hearings are printed, everyone who has filled out a registration form here in the course of the day will be sent a copy of those hearings. ~ ~ . Now, if for some reason or another your name is overlooked, if you will write my office in Washington, ~ we will see that you get a copy of the full hearings. We do want to express our appreciation to you. I think it ought to be made clear to everyone here that we still have a long legislative effort ahead of us. After both the subcommittees and the full committees in Washington and the House and Senate have completed their work, the measure must then go to the floor for action in both the House and Senate. There will then we a conference be- tween the two legislative bodies to work out any differences that might develop in the legislation as we move along and then it goes to the President for his signature. That is the authorization process. After that is completed, we go through the appropriations process to get the initial appropriations needed to get the project under construction. That's a process that could involve several years, but I think we are talking about a pro- posal of such great value to our State and of such importance, too, that it is well worth the time and effort that we will be investing as a peo- ple and Members of the U.S. Congress in moving along. As we have seen here in the testimony today, it holds forth the pro- grams in new progress in agriculture, holds forth the progress of many new business and job opportunities in our State, and a more de- pendable economy, both for the farmers and business people, aside from the many 1 gains on which we to the call of the PAGENO="0242" I PAGENO="0243" PAGENO="0244" PAGENO="0245" PAGENO="0246" PAGENO="0247" PAGENO="0248"