Materials in this collection are from John L. Bacon and are related to his work on the Colorado River Commission, the Boulder dam (aka Hoover dam) project, water supply for California, division of Colorado River water within California, and affiliated matters. The collection includes extensive correspondence with individuals involved in the Boulder dam project.

The collection consists of reports, conference transcripts and summaries related to the Colorado River Basin Water Quality Control Project.

The colleciton consists of reports on the activities of the Department and speeches relating to the construction and financing of the State Water Project and particular sub-projects, and to the growing political controversy surrounding state water policy.

The collection consists of correspondence and reports concerning the legal aspects of reclamation, water rights, public lands, Columbia River Watershed, Snake River Watershed, and Colorado River Watershed.