[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 20, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S42]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BUFFALO BILL DAM

  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, during the 57th Congress, our 
predecessors passed the Newland Reclamation Act that changed the 
landscape of arid Western States. Part of the 1902 act, which created 
the Reclamation Service, included funding for a dam in a narrow, 70-
foot gorge in the Shoshone Canyon, 6 miles from Cody, WY.
  The construction of the Shoshone Dam began in 1905. Workers used 
78,576 cubic feet of rubble concrete to build the massive structure. 
When work was completed on January 15, 1910, the Shoshone Dam was the 
world's highest concrete arch dam at 325 feet. The total bill for the 
dam was $1,345,000.
  Water from the Shoshone River filled a reservoir that covered an area 
10 miles long and 4 miles wide--over 300,000 acres of land. Promotional 
brochures published during the early years boasted that the dam and 
reservoir created a ``healthful, invigorating and enjoyable climate 
with an abundance of sunshine and irrigation water.'' Further, in an 
effort to draw enterprising farmers to the basin, they stated the area 
is ``immune from storms and that tornadoes and cyclones are unknown in 
the region.''
  The 79th Congress once again passed legislation affecting the dam--
this time to rename it for one of the West's favorite sons: William F. 
Cody. In 1946, the Shoshone Dam formally became the Buffalo Bill Dam. 
While Buffalo Bill may be most famous for his Wild West Show in the 
early 1900s, he had the vision to harness the Shoshone River to open 
the area for development. Cody and his colleagues had big dreams to 
build more than 50 miles of canals and irrigate more than 150,000 
acres. He was only able to bring water to 6,000 acres before his 
finances and stamina ran out. However, it was because he saw the 
region's potential that the dam was initially built.
  Those of us who are fortunate to call Wyoming home have a great 
appreciation for the opportunity to live with, utilize and benefit from 
the Buffalo Bill Dam. It is a positive presence in the world of the 
West.
  Last week marked the tremendous structure's 100th birthday. We 
remember the ingenuity, courage and foresight of the men and women who 
made the dam possible. It changed the near desert landscape into one 
that supports a wide range of agricultural and recreational activities. 
We often say Wyoming is what America was. The Buffalo Bill Dam is a 
great reminder of this.

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