Published by the Upper Colorado River Grass Roots, lnc.-A citizens' group supporting the Colorado NEW EVIDENCE PROVES ECHO PARK LEGALLY RESERVED FOR DAM SITE Sena tor Watkins produced documents showing that eleven power and reclama­ ECHO PAR K NOT A PARK; tion withdrawals specifically including the Echo Park and Split Mountain dam sites, MERELY DEEP CANYON were made from 1904 to 1925. These filings are in full force and effect today. Many Americans not familiar with Echo Park and Split Mountain dam sites 8,FQ~ TFQ!il@ily ,a&~\I.RIQ that • Eeh are now-an a w·ays nave een-legally Park is just that-a park. But it isn't. reserved for power and reclamation pur­ It's merely a deep-walled bare canyon. poses, new documentary evidence pre­ The area got its name from an old sented to Congress shows. custom in the West of designating small The new evidence was presented by basin areas on streams, in canyons and Sen. Arthur V. Watkins during recent in the national forests as "parks." hearings on the Colorado River S'torage Project of which Echo Park is the key unit. Grazing Still Allowed "Construction of Echo Park thus could not possibly serve as a precedent for In Echo Park; More invading national monuments," Sen. Wat­ kins said. "In fact, these documents actu­ Proof Damsite Exempted ally prove the reverse-that this reserved Release of new documentary evidence reclamation area has been invaded illeg­ supporting legal withdrawal of the Echo ally by a national monument. Park area for reclamation purposes is cor­ "I declare without fear of successful roborated by continued grazing of the challenge that the opponents of Echo Park area. and Split Mountain reservoirs are attempt­ This point is emphasized by David H. ing to invade areas which were withdrawn Madsen, the acting superintendent of This is a rtist's d ra wi ng of from the public domain and set aside for Dinosaur National Monument at the time p roposed Echo Park Dam. the specific purpose of water and power it was enlarged. Structure wi ll cover only development and conservation, by duly "I was authorized to state and did o ne-sixth of canyo n walls. constituted agencies of the United States state as a representative of the National many years before the extension of the Park Service, that grazing on the area ECHO PARK KEY UNIT Dinosaur National Monument was ever would not be discontinued and that in the thought of. event it became necessary to construct a OF Vil Al COLORADO "And these withdrawn areas enjoy the project or projects for power or irrigation same status now as they did the day they in order to develop that part of the RIVER STORAGE PROJECT were withdrawn," the Senator declared. states of Colorado and Utah, that the Echo Park Dam is unreservedly recom­ Senator Watkins, who won widespread establishment of the Monument would not mended by all residents of the Mountain commendation for his successful conduct interfere with sue. development " Mr. West beca'.!Se_ it is th key un· cLt of the Senatct:.. McCru:thy censure case, pro­ adsen says. Colorado River Storage Project. duced his new evidence after an extensive Mr. Madsen promised the people of Utah It is the "work horse" of the project. search of government records. and Colorado that grazing and r eclam ation It can produce more power and produce Following study of the records, he said rights would be preserved. In the 17 it more efficiently t h an any other site, he could categorically state that the Echo intervening years, grazing has continued according to reclamation officials. Park and Split Mountain dam sites "are in the Dinosaur area-and power and "The Echo Dam is the key unit in the not now an d never have been under the irrigation rights are just as valid. Upper Colorado development because it exclusive possession and jurisdiction of the makes feasible the other dams in t he gen­ National Park Administration. 11 POWER WITHDRAWALS eral area. No other dam in the Upper "In ·fact," the Senator told his col­ system can stand alone as a power pro­ leagues, "it is extremely doubtful that the IN EFFECT NOW, FPC SAYS ducer," says Iva! Goslin of t he Upper National Park Service has now, or ever Eleven power site withdrawals in the Colorado River Commission. has had, jurisdiction over said areas, Echo Park area are as effective today as "No other substitute site is available except in subservient capacity, the day they were filed. which can provide stream regulation on "These conclusions furthermore are sus­ So ruled Jerome K. Kuykendall, chair­ the upper reaches of the river system; tained by irrefutable documentary evi­ man of the Federal Power Commission, in which can provide water for consumptive dence from the records of the Federal a recent opinion- for Sen. Arthur V. Wat­ use in the Uintah Basin; which can provide Power Commission-an independent fed­ kins. a tie between Glen Canyon and the Upper eral agency set up by Congress-and the "You asked to be advised as to: What Basin power outlets," Mr. Goslin said. Department of the Interior," the Senator was the status of the power withdrawals Echo Park is what reclamation engineers said. on July 14, 1938, and what is their status fondly term a high-altitude deep-walled IN SUPPORT OF HIS STAND at this time?" Mr. Kuykendall wrote. dam site, thus providing the least possible The Sen ator produced a recent letter "In answer to that inquiry, the follow­ evaporation losses. The best possible from Jerome K. Kuykendall, chairman ing power site withdrawals were in effect alternate would involve •the added loss of the Federal Power Commission, which July 14, 1938, as to lands now within the through evaporation of 100,000 acre feet stated that the "power site with drawals monument boundaries and no appreciable of water a year. This is enough water to were in effect July 14, 1938, as to lands change has been m ade in them since that supply a city the size of Denver..:..and in now within the monument boundaries date" (eleven power site withdrawals the water-short West, that loss is pro­ and no appreciable change has been made listed). hibitive. in them since that date." See Documents on Page 4 Lands Withdrawn for Power Purposes Within Dinosaur National Monument

Legend Power Site Withdrawals Date of Approval Still in Effect PSR Reserve No. 5 May 26, 1909 Yes Power Site Reserve Reserve No. 42 Aug.27, 1909 Yes Reserve No. 121 March 10, 1910 Yes PSC Reserve No. 721 July 11, 1919 Yes Power Site Classification Reserve No. 732 Dec. 27, 1919 Yes Classification No. 3 May 17, 1921 Yes Red Area Classification No. 60 Feb.21,1924 Yes Dinosaur National Monument Classification No. 87 Feb.14, 1925 Yes Classification No. 93 April 16, 1925 Yes Black Area (Echo Dam) Lands withdrawn for power purposes FPC Project No. 524 Aug.4, 1924 Yes

I Echo Park Dam Site I

Originc,I Monument Area (80 ACRES)

I n DOCUMENTS SHOW ECHO PARK AREA RESERVED FOR POWER USE

Shown in black on the accompanying quested release of these power and map are the 11 power and reclamation reclamation reservations but that both site withdrawals made from 1904 to requests were rejected by the Federal 1925 in what is now Dinosaur National Power Commission. Monument. These land reservations Following is the direct quotation of -specifically including the Echo Park the FPC on this matter at that time: dam site--were made ·by the Secretary " ... Giving due consideration to the of the Interior or by the Federal Power prospect that some time may elapse Commission for the purpose of water before this power is needed, the Com­ and power development in the public mission believes that the public inter­ interest. These reservations are still est in this major power resource is too in full force and effect today, according reat to permit its impairment by to the chairman of the ederal ower vo untary re mqms ment of two units Commission and government authori­ [Echo Park and Blue Mountain dam ties who have checked the documents sites] in the center of the scheme. The in the case. Commission will not object, however, Thus, there is no question of the to the creation of the monument if the dam site invading the national monu­ proclamation contains a specific pro­ ment-in fact it is the other way vision that power development under around actually. The reclamation site the provisions of the Federal Water has first and prior rights legally. Power act will be permitted." This Documents accepted recently by the specific provision was included in the House and Senate Committee hearings presidential proclamation of 1938 on the Colorado River Storage Project which expanded Dinosaur National show that the National Parks Service Monument from 80 to 203,965 acres and the Secretary of the Interior twice and took in the above-mentioned dam -once in 1934 and once in 1935-re- sites. DOCUMENTS Continued from Page 1 Also introduced into the Senate record were letters from the Federal Power Com­ HISTORY OF Pleas to Release Echo Site mission of Dec. 13, 1934 and again of Jan. 6, 1936, in which Frank R. McNinch, ECHO PARK DAM SITE Twice Reiected by chairman of the Federal Power Commis­ sion, rejected requests of the National 1904 to 1925: Eleven withdrawals or Federal Power Chief Park s •~rvice and the Interior Department reservations of large tracts within the that the power sites be relinquished. areas in controversy and including the R,elease of eleven power site withdrawals Senator Watkins also traced the expan­ Echo Park and Split Mountain Reser­ in the Echo Park area was twice refused sion of the original 80-acre Dinosaur voir sites were made either by the by the Federal Power Commission, a study Monument to its present 203,965 acres by Secretary of Interior or the Federal of the records discloses. presidential proclamation in 1938. He Power Commission for the purpose of Consequently the power site withdrawals quoted the specific language of the pro­ water and power development in the are still in full force and in effect today, clamation which specifically stated that public interest. ( See inside pages.) FPC officials state. the expanded area would not affect the 1915: October 4. President Woodrow The first effort to release the power site operation of the Federal Water Power Act Wilson, under the Federal Antiquities withdrawals was made by A . E. Demaray, and would be subject to reclamation with­ Act, sets aside an 80-acre tract of land acting director of the National Park Serv­ drawal. in northeastern Utah where some ice, in a letter to the Federal Power Com­ Concluding documentary evidence by skeletons of dinosaurs have been dis­ mission, August 9, 1934, Sen. Watkins was a legal opinion by covered as a national monument. Re­ "We are studying the possibility of set­ Nathan R,. Margold, solicitor of the Interior moval of dinosaur fossils begins. ting aside certain lands in northwestern Department. The Secretary of t he Interior Colorado as a National Monument," Mr. had asked in 1939 if a national monument 1934: August 9. The National Park Demaray wrote ... "The proposed monu­ could be created subject to the reclama­ Service writes to the Federal Power ment would be affected by the Echo Park tion withdrawals and power site classifica­ Commission urging that the power dam site and the Blue Canyon dam site, as tions and thereby preserve and continue withdrawals be released in northwest­ indicated on the enclosed map of the pro­ the effectiveness of the withdrawals and ern Colorado including the Echo Park posed monument." (This clearly indicates classifications. Mr. Margold replied in the and Blue Mountain power development the Echo Park dam site was known and affirmative. areas proposed for a national monu­ recognized even at this early date.) "This puts the shoe on the other foot," ment. December 13. The Federal Power "If it is possible to release the power the Senator said. " It is not a national Commission rejects the request because withdrawals that you now have in the monument that is being invaded-it is a "the public interest in this major power area, our monument will be placed in a matter of some misled or misinformed resource is too great to permit its im­ much better position from the standpoint conservationists who are trying to urge pairment." of administration," Mr. Demaray said. that Uncle S'am violate his integrity and Frank R. McNinch, chairman of the treat as mere scraps of paper solemn 1935: November 6. The Secretary of Federal Power Commission, replied as fol­ reservations in the public interest in the the Interior, Harold L. Ickes, writes to lows by letter of December 13, 1934: the chairman of the Federal Power Dinosaur Monument area that precede the "It is generally recognized that the limited monument proclamation. Commission on November 6 in a follow­ up to the National Park Service letter. Green and Yampa rivers present one of "It ill behooves honest conservationists the most attractive fields remaining open to take such an untenable position, be­ He urges that the power withdrawals be released. for comprehensive and economical power cause we who love our parks and monu­ development on a large scale. Power ments should strive to preserve as honor­ 1936: January 6. Again the Federal possibilities on Green River between the able and legal commitments the reserva­ Power Commission chairman rejects the proposed Flaming Gorge Reservoir and tions of pub.lie lands for such a noble and request, as being against the public Green R,iver, Utah, and on the Yampa worthy use as parks and monuments. interest. River below the proposed Juniper Moun­ Therefore, how can we, in the same breath, tain Reservoir are estimated at more than ask that equally binding and legal reserva­ 1938: July 14. President Franklin D. 700,000 primary horsepower, which would tions for water development be invaded, Roosevelt issues a proclamation ex­ normally correspond to 1,500,000 to 2,- especially when the monument proclama­ panding the Dinosaur National Monu­ 000,000 horsepower installed capacity. tion itself recognizes and exempts from the ment by 203,885 acres, subject to the Excellent dam sites are available, and as Dinosaur Monument land reservation these significant exemption that the expan­ the greater part of the lands remain in previous withdrawals for water resource sion was "subject to all valid existing the public domain, a very small outlay development?" rights." would be required for flowage rights. The The Senator pointed out that residents sites we are considering are important of the sb-called "public-land" states also PRESIDENTIAL ORDERS links in any general plan of development have cause for concern lest t he Congress of these streams. accede to uninformed public pressure in CONFIRM WITHDRAWALS ". . . Giving due consideration to the this case, and, in effect, establish a pre­ Language of two presidential proclama­ prospect that some time may elapse before cedent for violating reservations for power tions establishing Dinosaur National this power is needed, the Commission and water resource development. Monument confirms the fact that the Echo believes that the public interest in this "Most states in the western half of the Park dam site area was legally reserved major power resource is too great to per­ country still have thousands of acres of for reclamation purposes. mit its impairment by voluntary relin­ public lands reserved under withdrawals The Dinosaur National Monument was quishment of two units (Echo Park and similar to those now in effect in eastern established by proclamation of President Blue Mountain dam sites) in the center of Utah and western Colorado, and they Woodrow Wilson of October 4, 1915, which the scheme. The Commission will not should be concerned lest a bonafide pre­ set aside an 80-acre tract around the object, however, to the creation of the cedent be established that would endanger dinosaur quarries. monument if the proclamation contains future development of public water re­ Some 23 years later the Monument area a specific provision that power develop­ sources in the semi-arid West where water was expanded 2,500-fold by proclamation ment under the provisions of the Federal conservation has prime priority over all of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who Water Power act will be permitted." other resources. added 203,885 acres to the original 80. However, the National Park Service was "The record evidence I bring before you However, this expansion was subject to a not easily discouraged. On November 6, today is known, or should have been very significant condition: 1935, another try was made, this time by known, to the leaders among the oppon­ I "Now, therefore, I, Franklin D. Roose­ I the Secretary of the Interior, Harold L. ents of the Echo Park and Split Mountain velt, President of the United States of Ickes, himself. projects. Even a casual research would America ... do proclaim that, subject to "I shall appreciate receiving your opin­ have revealed this information to anyone, all valid existing rights, the following de­ ion as to the possibility of releasing the and it is a record which cannot be suc­ scribed lands in Colorado and Utah are power withdrawals that exist in the area," cessfully challenged. hereby reserved . . ." the proclamation he wrote to Federal Power Commission "I charge, therefore, that these Echo reads. Chairman Kuykendall. Park opponents have consciously or uncon­ "There is not the slightest doubt as In his reply of January 9, 1936, Mr. ciously deceived and misled thousands of to what rights were intended by that Kuykendall again rejected the power with­ sincere and well-meaning American citi­ statement," Sen. Arthur V. Watkins told drawal request and quoted from his own zens into taking a position of opposition Congressional hearings on the Colorado above mentioned 1934 letter that explains and hostility to a very meritorious and River Storage Project bill. "Power and why the FPC could not, in the public desperately needed water development reclamation withdrawals are valid and interest, release the reservations preserv­ program," the Senator said. existing rights." ing power resources of such magnitude.