WSP09830 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

o o '"J ... 00 ~ eJ\ :i , "~I " Ii , II , , pil )1 ;,/ I !~ , II " "rl . ~II "J1 ,,:11 '0< "":1 -::;:,II[ 'II I '1'1 ",,':1 I :!I i II , ,III i j :i - --:1 >-<1 ';' "'II I! L "r In addition to these water resource studies, the District has maintained stream gaging stations .t Salida, Canon City, Pueblo and tbe Apisbapa River for many years, and the readings are taken daily by the Staff during the irrigation season, and the mformation is disseminated widely throughout the Valley, to assist Official Agencies and water users in obtaining the maximum benficial use of the waters available at that specific time. WATER LEGISLATION The Board of Directors of the District has had a longtime Policy of "Legislation rather than Litiga- tion", when it comes to water matters. They know the Water Programs of the State were created orig- inally under the Constitution, and then by Statutes authorized by the General Assembly through the demo- cratic process. Expensive litigation has not created a new drop of water. and it is essential, therefore, that the Legislative process be used to develop water management programs in the best interests of all. Since 1967, the members of the Colorado General Assembly have devoted a great deal of time studying and passing Water Legislation which would update the archaic Water Laws, with the hope they would provide a more beneficial use of the limited water sup- ply for the citizens of the State of Colorado. This ef- fort came to a culmination in 1969, when the Legis- lature passed the sweeping ~.W ater Rights and Deter- mination Act oC 1969", which it was hoped would com- pletely update the Water Laws, and it would, therefore, not be necessary for the Legislature to enact any ad- ditional Legislation pending the testing of the 1969 Act. However. in 1970 it became apparent there were still some flaws, and a number of administrative and supplemental Bills were passed. Again in 1971 it be- came apparent that a true Colorado Water Manage- ment Plan could not be fully implemented without the passage of additional Legislation. Consequently, dur- ing the 1971 Session, twelve House Bills and thirteen Senate Bills were introduced, of which eight House Bills were ultimately passed; and nine of the Senate Bills were passed. This Legislation further corrected inadequacies, and it was the strong desire of the Gov- ~rnor. the members of the General Assembly, Official Water Agencies and water users about the State. that no further Water Legislation be introduced until the Laws on the Books could be tested and tried. However, in November it became apparent there were still minor inadequacies, and it was expected the Governor would place several water matters on his Call, paramount of which was the relationship of the water supply to Sub- division Development. which is increasing at an alarm- ing rate throughout the entire State of Colorado. ~ ;. WINTER STORAGE PROGRAM Long before the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project was authorized by the Congress in 1962, water users in the Valley realized the absolute necessity for adequate storage facilities to hold their decreed Arkansas River waters during periods of surplus, in order that they might be used later when water was in short supply. Evidence of this gras'S root interest is shown in Min. utes of meetings of the Boards of Directors of the ma- jority of the Ditch and Canal Companies as far back as April 22, 1949, when Official Statements of Policy were adopted by said Boards. indicating their interest in some form of Winter Storage Program as an inte- gral part of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project. In 1970, the members of the Board of Directors of the District commenced a cursory study of this con- cept wilh Officials from the Bureau of Reclamation, and early in 1971 the Board authorized the General Manager and Officials from the Bureau to commence informal meetings with members of the Boards of Di- rectors of the thirteen eligible Ditch and Canal Com- panies throughout the Valley, in order that an ex- change of ideas might be had. and some type of an experimental program might be developed prior to the completion of Pueblo Dam. Commencing on October 4, 1971 and ending December 9, 1971, representa- tives from the District and the Bureau did hold meet- ings with the Boards of Directors of twelve of the thir- teen Companies, being unable to arrange a specific meeting with Officials of the Excelsior. During these informal meetings it was determined there was a continuing interest in some form of Win~ ter Storage as a part of the Project, and a wide variety of concepts were developed. Several Companies felt the suggested five month period was too long, due to the necessity of some winter irrigation, while others felt it was absolutely necessary. A major topic of discussion was the suggested allocation of winter waters stored in either Pueblo Reservoir, or existing off-stream reservoirs. and the procedure for calling owned winter stored water. I, Officials from the District and the Bureau plan to continue to meet informally with Officials from the eligible Ditch and Canal Companies, as well as others who indicate an interest during 1972, in order that a more specific and more acceptable program might be developed prior to completion of Pueblo Dam, and the availability of this much needed, and apparently, much sought after feature of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project. . .. " " . ~::;(: :;-::; :-":'>:'". .:.... ,;:..;...~"..., ..-::.:. ;.0 :::. ".:".:~ ".~:':"~:"..""- .~.~~.;: "'.:7:;:.'::::':.:':: '. ',..~...' ?"..-cr<;<; .,.~.. ~~'~-.'-'" ..- . -~. "": .;:....;