Name/Title
Teton Dam Scrapbook Mary SmithDescription
Mary Smith Attorney note reads:
Mary drafted the first bill for the authorization and construction of the Teton Dam and Reservoir, which was introduced before the Congress of the United States.
In 1964 the bill authorizing the construction of the Teton Dam and Reservoir was passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate without a dissenting vote, which is very unusual.
Appropriations for the project's construction were not made for several years and until the death of Representative Kerwin, who was chairman of the Appropriations Committee.
After legislation was passed by Congress providing funds for its construction on the day of the bid opening, the environmentalists filed an action in the United States District Court of Idaho, seeking to stop the construction of the dam. This resulted in three years of litigation. The U.S> District Court of Idaho refused to halt construction and its decision was appealed by the environmentalists to the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. This court also refused to halt construction of the dam.
The farmers of the valley made many changes in their farm operational plans, converting dry land to sprinkler irrigation systems, and farmers who already had irrigated farms made provisions for supplemental water from the Teton Project. Millions of dollars were invested. It would have added greatly to the economy of the valley.
The tragedy is not only the tremendous property damage, and the physical and mental suffering of the people of the valley, but the loss of benefits to be derived through the years from the operation of the project: irrigation, flood control, power and recreation. The necessity for the project is just as great now as it was sixteen years ago.
The Fremont-Madison Irrigation District which supplies storage water for the farmers of Madison, Fremont and Teton Counties from the Grassy Lake and Island Park dams and reservoirs, had contracted with the United States for storage space for water to be impounded by the Teton Dam and Reservoir.
Mary Smith Oldham, as attorney for the Fremont-Madison Irrigation District, and the members of its Board of Directors, have spent more than sixteen years of intense work and effort for the authorization and construction of the Teton Dam. They, together with the many other people of the valley who have worked hard and effectively for the Teton Dam, saw their dream near its realization June 4, 1976.
It was a multi-purpose dam, providing much needed irrigation water, flood control, power and recreation.
(The attached is one of the exterior views of her law offices June 6, 1976.)