A Water Review Quarterly

November 1969 A WATER REVIEW QUARTERLY ------- - --- --- Water News The story of a dam in the West is the story of a people-towns spring up and productive living is brought to an arid area of the Nation. A dam which provides critical water supplies to an industrious people in a semi-arid area of Utah has recently been named: Arthur V. Watkins Dam, which until last October was called Willard Dam. Renamed in honor of Utah's former U.S. Senator Arthur V. Watkins, this 14.5-mile structure makes a fresh water lake out of the Willard Bay arm of the Great Salt Lake. Senator Watkins' distinguished public career for many years included water program leadership both in his home State and in Washington, D.C. He is now living in retirement in Utah. The newly named dam also was recipient of an ~ other distinction this year. On the 20th year since Con gress authorized it for construction, the dam-as part of the Weber Basin water project-passed from Federal to private operation. The project had been both built and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, and now the re sponsibility of its operation and maintenance is handled by the Weber Basin Conservancy District. Among the water features transferred-costing' $38 million to build-are additional dams, water transport alld drain works for flood control, enhancing fish popula tion and 'growing crops. Related facilities constructed by the district will provide 50,000 acre-feet of water annually for people's homes and industries. Picnic areas, culinary water systems, docks and other facilities for recreational use have been constructed in the area by Job Corps youth of Reclamation's Weber Basin Civilian Conservation Center.-RE Grand Destiny for Coulee Dam EXUDING BEAUTY, PLAN IS SPURRED BY EXPERTS by OTTIS PETERSON Assistant to the Commissioner FAR-reaching landmark plan to upgrade the rivers, the Columbia, the awesome 4,173-foot-Iong A man-made environment at Grand Coulee Grand Coulee Dam has been a popular public Dam and Powerplant in Washington State has attraction since it was first undertaken in 1933. been presented to Federal, State, county, and com Construction is now underway on a third power munity leaders by the Bureau of Reclamation. plant, which will ultimately extend over 1,000 feet Not yet a finished blueprint, the plan was under downstream from the right abutment of the dam. taken 2 years ago by the firm of Kenneth W. Excavation for the new powerplant and forebay Brooks, AlA, of Spokane, Wash., under contract dam is a bigger job than excavation for the origi with the Bureau of Reclamation. nal structure. It represents a major effort by the Bureau of Reclamation to point up the needed and potential U.S. Canada Co-op improvements for the total environment of the The third powerplant was made possible by dam and surrounding area-to meld the natural practical upstream storage on the river and its beauty of the area and its unique geologic his tributaries in the United States and Canada. Pres tory-to make a showplace of man's ingenuity and ently authorized are an additional 3,600,000 kilo skill and the wonders of nature. watts of capacity, which will be supplied by six The proposed plan goes far beyond anything great turbogenerators, each possessing 600,000 which could be undertaken exclusively by the kilowatts of capacity- the largest in the ,,,orld. A Bureau of Reclamation, and will require participa second bank of six similar turbines and genera tion by many agencies and communities if it is to tors will be possible at a later date, when au succeed. Such groups have membership in a Grand thorized by Congress, giving a total project and Coulee Dam Advisory Council, which hopefully, installed ultimate capacity of 9.4 million kilowatts. will function in a leadership manner in reviewing This will make the project once again one of and coordinating such aspects of the· program as the largest hydropower installations in the world. are agreed upon and may be undertaken. It is expected to be an even greatei' magnet for Harnessing the flow of one of the world's great tourists and sightseers from all parts of the world, 1 I I j One of the interesting valley views. and the environmenta.l plan is designed to place New York City. A minitrain is envisioned to carry the manmade wonder in a suitable setting. passengers around exterior areas. The Brooks environmental study could, when A distinctive aerial cable car is proposed to implemented, make a visit to the Grand Coulee carry visitors on a breathtaking ride from an area one to be long remembered. Contemplated as arrival center downstream from the dam on the the major Bureau of Reclamation contribution to left bank to an exhibit center and museum on the the effort is a doubletour circuit of the gigantic scenic hillside high above the river. The hilltop dam and powerplant, one of riding and one of provides an expansive view upstream of Franklin walking, including visits to the inner recesses of D. Roosevelt Lake, downstream toward Chief the new powerplant. Joseph Dam, and westwardly to Banks Lake and This would be provided by an extraordinary the spectacular Coulee, carved out when an ice dam outside inclined elevator from the crest of the turned the river south many thousands of years forebay dam down to the third powerhouse, which ago. The bluff also offers an unexcelled view of was conceived by the world-renowned architec Grand Coulee Dam, including the third power tural firm of Marcel Breuer and Associates of house. 2 Hilltop Museum Recommendations for industry and community To make the most of .the hilltop, it is possible development including areas reserved for "21st that a museum will be established there incorporat Century" industry; development of an electric ing three phases: the geology of the area; the early pow~r resear~h center, which is already under dis cussIon; pOSSIbly. an academic cellter; reserve the hi:>t0ry of Man, telling the story of the early town of Coulee Dam West as the first model town ' mIgrations across Bering Strait from which improve Coulee Dam East with emphasis upon many anthropologists believed the Indians came; ~ and the history of modern Man. gree~be1t and p~rk atmosphere; restore living and serVIce commum.ty. The Brooks report envisions sweeping lawns and The report suggests the Federal and State landscaping which would be utilized as a natural stage for sports events, pagentry, summer sym governments pool resources to build a modern phonies and other cultural events. sho~eline village of permanent housing, easily con An extensive lighting operation is proposed to vertIble to vacation use at Banks Lake. All of Banks Lake would be u.tilized as a "unique experi- dramatize the flow of energy from the great . generators. ence " 111 recreatIOn, camping, and relaxation. The One of the challenges is to improve and develop lake has 100 miles of remote canyon shoreline and t~e communit:r environs beyond the jurisdic white sand beaches. The west bank would be avail tlOn or authOrIty of the Bureau of Reclamation. able only by boat with campsites planned in such Scenery lovers would enjoy studying the area from this hill. 3 Buffalo & MtGinnis lakes L . • Iocked lor Indian guida fishing n COLVILLE INDIAN PRIORITIES RESERVATION A Early Completion B Near Future C Future -A New 18 hole golf course .-'I---A, •• & lake~._~ keeper's f irrjgatedtract~ ~>r Hunting· upland game .. birds, ducks and geese, unharvested grain field VICINITY INCHES !! ",.----;!-_+_---"' .. MAP IIoIIW IWIl[ SCALE a way as to be hidden and inaccessile by road. A unique community high school is proposed. It would also be available for use as a convention center in summer. Existing high schools would be converted to elementary use. The Bureau of Reclamation expects to cooper ate and participate with the planning and develop ment within the limits of the Federal jurisdiction, confined primarily to the physical structure of the dam and contiguous areas. The community challenge is to join in improving the approaches, the business areas, and the visitor accommodations in keeping with the naJtural beauty of the area. # # # Right. Nature's creations are plain, but artistic. 4 I u Applfed know-how would meet huge water demands Coming Needs: 700% More City Water PHENOMENAL 700-percent increase in technology, and meaningful efforts of the Nation A water supplies will be needed in the next would result in meeting the demand. The Bureau 50 years for the municipal and industrial growth of Reclamation could more than quintuple the of the West, and there are programs underway and municipal and industrial water supplies included being formulated to fill such a demand. in its projects from 543.2 billion gallons in 1967 This water outlook was noted before the Wth serving 13.7 million people~to 2.8 trillion gallons Annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute supplying the needs of 43.2 million people by the at Vail, Colo., last July in a Bureau of Reclama year 2020. tion paper entitled: "Acquisition of Water from This means supplying municipal and industrial Federal Reclamation Projects for Industrial and water for the needs of 26 percent of the populatioll Commun~ty Development." of the West. That capability would depend upon This projected information-which is based on the Bureau getting funding to complete all of its figures from the Bureau of Census, the National projects now under construction and authorized, Water Resources Council, and the Bureau of and all projects on which studies are now Reclamation-indicates that the· West will grow underway.

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