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0541 It is inconceivable at this point in history that they should be capriciously and arbitrarily terminated. Such termination would deprive Colorado of those means to utilize its water resources which were pain- fully and laboriously arrived at over a period of some fifty-four years, with the full assistance of Congress and numerous past Presidents. The same story holds true for the Narrows project in eastern Colorado. That project has been twice authorized by the Congress and construction activities have now been initiated. No reclamation proj- ect in the history of our state has been more thoroughly evaluated under constantly changing criteria. In addition to increasing signifi- cantly agricultural production, the project will also provide major recreational, fishery, wildlife and flood control benefits. All of these projects are agricultural in nature. However, some thirty thousand people residing in rural communities will also receive urgently needed domestic water supplies. You may ask why Colorado wishes to promote agricultural projects. The answer is clear and simple: The citizens of Colorado and their representatives have long shared a common desire to see that rural Colorado continues to exist. The agricultural industry in Colorado contributes over two billion dollars annually to the state's economy. This has been our most sus- taining renewable resource and industry. As a way of life, our rural agricultural population is composed of fiercely independent, hard- working people, who have resisted being swallowed up in an urbanized and industrialized society. Agriculture is a land use which has been in harmony with Colorado's environment and has complemented other important industries of the state. With the new economic bases being developed in Colorado, agriculture must maintain its strength to insure diversity in the state's economy. The projects in question were not selected haphazardly. After studying some fifty potential reclamation projects over a forty-year period, the federal government, in conjunction with the state, selected the projects now before you. We have not attempted to carve out new frontiers, but rather to preserve those areas where a viable agricultural industry has existed during the past hundred years. We have examined in minute detail the attendant environmental, water supply, economic and social problems. The projects that we have chosen were selected as part of a common fabric to preserve and strengthen the economic and social health of our state. one of these projects was designed to help the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe. OVer a hundred years ago, that Indian tribe was herded at gunpoint into what was then considered to be the most desolate and barren area of this state. While the lands of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe are not entirely barren, they are almost totally devoid of water supplies. For many years past, the members of that tribe have attempted to sustain themselves through the maintenance of sheep and cattle herds. The one problem that they have not been able to overcome is the pro- duction of feed for their livestock. In addition to the feed problem, water is hauled on a daily basis to cattle which graze on the eastern mesas of the reservation. Drinking water for the Towaoc Indian cOmmunity is hauled from the city of Cortez. This intolerable situ- ation has existed now for over a hundred years. It is time that it be corrected. The Dolores project is designed to remedy most of these deficiencies. -4-