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SHOSHONE PROJECT

WYOMING-MONTANA

The Shoshone project, originally called Cody project, was authorized by the Secretary under the Reclamation Act of 1902 (32 Stat. 388) on February 10, 1904; examined and reported upon by a Board of Army Engineers pursuant to the act of June 25, 1910 (36 Stat. 835), and approved by the President January 5, 1911.

Heart Mountain power development was found feasible by the Secretary on June 19, 1945, under the provisions of section 9 of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 (53 Stat. 1193).

The Shoshone extensions were authorized as part of the Missouri River Basin project under the provisions of the Flood Control Acts of 1944 and 1946.

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,

RECLAMATION SERVICE, Washington, February 1, 1904.

TO THE CHIEF ENGINEER: The undersigned have examined the maps and estimates on the irrigation project in the vicinity of Cody, Wyoming, and find that it is feasible to store water and construct canals for about 90,000 acres of land, and furnish the same with an ample supply of water at a cost not greater than the price at which the land would be readily taken by settlers. Many details are still to be investigated, and many modifications in the present project will probably be found advisable, but we are of the opinion that the project is feasible, and recommend it for early construction.

(Signed) A. P. DAVIS,

J. H. QUINTON,

L. H. TAYLOR,

J. B. LIPPINCOTT,
Board of Engineers.

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The Honorable the SECRETARY OF THE

MY DEAR MR. SECRETARY: This your letter of June 11, 1943, toge addressed to me through the Bureau authorization for the construction of existing Scofield Dam in Carbon Coun of the Water Conservation and Utilizat as amended, at a total cost of $640,00

Due to the apparent urgency as sta of War, and the War Food Administrai construction of this project under th recommended.

In keeping with your suggestion I ha to Mr. Donald M. Nelson, Chairman Board, requesting his cooperation relatin for the necessary materials and suppli construction during the short working sea Sincerely yours,

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th continued expansion of oil-drilling activities, Bureau of Reclamation's plants for power will er situation in the area became acute when in year there was a substantial reduction in power

SHOSHONE one power plant caused by a rock slide in the

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r. Although steps have been taken to clear away hoshone power plant intake works, a similar any time.

regoing, it is highly important to the economic rn Wyoming area that additional sources of at the earliest possible moment. The develophe Heart Mountain site on the Shoshone Fedoject is the most rapid means of furnishing an pply for the area.

tain power development, as described in the nsists of a 5,000-kilowatt hydroelectric plant ver water which would be available from the onduit. It would utilize a head of approximately truction of this plant, at a cost of $900,000, Dwatts capacity to the system at a point where The revenue from the sale of the additional as shown on the financial study of the report, al expenses, amortize the power investment eration, and, in addition, pay a fair share of it as a rental charge for its use in conveying the power plant. In view of the fact that the cted as an irrigation feature of the Heart on Basin divisions of the Shoshone project, pacity, except for a small winter flow, will tion purposes when the Oregon Basin division ed and power will not be able to rely firmly no allocation of any part of the cost of the be made to power. The rental charge fixed rtionate use of capacity for power. During Oregon Basin is developed for irrigation st 15 years following the end of the war), be $6,933 annually, based upon the use of nd of capacity throughout the year. Theresin is developed, the use will drop to 200 hich use will occur principally during the resulting in a rental charge of $3,555 nated, the Oregon Basin is not developed war, the Heart Mountain power develop230,969 rental for use of the Shoshone end of 50 years' operation of the power aterial contribution toward repayment of ost of approximately $1,600,000.

power plant would thus, as an added power e project, add 5,000 kilowatts of peaking the power system at a most favorable point, Sower situation at the earliest possible time, bute to the cost of the Shoshone Canyon

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,
Washington, February 5, 1904.

The Honorable the SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.

SIR: On January 26, 1903, the Board of Land Commissioners of the State of Wyoming offered to turn over to the Reclamation Service the lands segregated under the Carey Act and known as the "Cody and Salisbury Tract." In accordance with this and subsequent correspondence, surveys were made during 1903 and estimates prepared during the following winter, showing that approximately 90,000 acres of land can be irrigated on the north side of Shoshone River, in Bighorn County, Wyoming, by the construction of a dam in Shoshone River, and a canal heading in the canyon above the town of Cody.

The preliminary estimates, prepared by Mr. Jeremiah Ahern, have been submitted to a board of consulting engineers consisting of Messrs. Arthur P. Davis, J. H. Quinton, L. H. Taylor, and J. B. Lippincott. The report of this committee is as follows:

The undersigned have examined the maps and estimates on the irrigation project in the vicinity of Cody, Wyoming, and find that it is feasible to store water and construct canals for about 90,000 acres of land, and furnish the same with an ample supply of water at a cost not greater than the price at which the land would be readily taken by settlers. Many details are still to be investigated, and many modifications in the present project will probably be found advisable, but we are of the opinion that the project is feasible, and recommend it for early construction.

Additional details of structures are to be worked out during the remainder of the winter, and during the early spring the project will be examined on the ground by consulting engineers, to determine upon additional facts preliminary to drawing up the plans, specifications, and form of advertisement. It is, however, desirable to take some definite action in the matter, as the people of Wyoming have expressed a desire to learn definitely whether this work can probably be taken up under the reclamation law.

The questions as to title to this tract of land and the attached water rights have, as suggested by the late Governor De Forest Richards, been held in abeyance, pending consideration of the project. It now appears that the present Governor has some doubts in regard to the legal situation, and before proceeding further it will be necessary to obtain definite transference of rights to land and water. In order to facilitate prompt action, I respectfully make the following recommendations:

RECOMMENDATION

That you give general approval to the construction of the Cody

Project, under the Reclamation Fund, provided that satisfactory rights to land and water can be secured, and provided that further consideration of details on the ground, by consulting engineers, results in favorable reports.

That the sum of $2,250,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be tentatively set aside for use in construction, subject to the conditions above noted.

That authority be granted to the Chief Engineer of the Reclamation Service to negotiate with the Board of Land Commissioners of the State of Wyoming for the full transference of necessary rights.

That upon satisfactory and complete transference, a further report be received by you, to be based upon the considerations on the ground of some of the alternatives not yet determined upon.

In short, what is now desired, is a formal expression of willingness to proceed with the project, and one upon which to base definite negotiations with the State authorities of Wyoming.

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SIR: In a letter of the 5th instant to the Department you reported in the matter of the proposed Cody Project, Wyoming, under the Reclamation act of June 17, 1902-32 Stat., 388.

You stated therein that the Board of Land Commissioners of the State of Wyoming have offered to turn over to the Reclamation Service the lands segregated under the "Carey" act and known as the "Cody and Salisbury tract," and that as the result of investigations and surveys it appears that, approximately 90,000 acres of land can be irrigated on the north side of Shoshone River in Bighorn County, Wyoming, by the construction of a dam in Shoshone River, and a canal heading in the canyon above the town of Cody.

It appears from the facts you have related that the project is a feasible one and that the cost of storing water and constructing canals for the lands proposed to be irrigated and furnishing an ample supply of water will not be greater than the price at which the lands can be readily sold to settlers.

You have accordingly recommended as follows:

First: That I give general approval to the construction of the

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