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<br />The water sub-Committee recommends careful consideration of Judge Stone's re-
<br />marks by all citizens 01 Colorado and particularly by aU members of the A!Sricultural
<br />Planning Committee,
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<br />The PRESIDENT'S l{ATEft RESOURCES CO~ISSION held a hearing in ,Denver June 27
<br />and 28, 1950. !Ir,Neill made a statement to the Commission, which was approved by
<br />the, sub-colIuui t tee, as, 1'ollows;
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<br />"Those whom'I'represent (5 orgariizations were named) are strongly apposed to
<br />a VALLEY AuTHORITY, by reason of the fact that the econonw of Colorado is based on
<br />tho lJOCTRIi~E ,OF _I'RIO.( At'fROPRIATIOi, in the use of water. ,We believe that 'this
<br />doctrine "of prior' appropriation, which is acknowledged and 'accepted by the Bureau
<br />of Reclamation, should not be disturbed by a Valley Authority. Moreover, we believe
<br />that ,this"_dootrine of prior appropriation can be both exp,-,nded and 10rtified through
<br />the construction' of, large, dams at strategicpointa' in our' \i alleys which 'will stor,,.
<br />large bodies of water, ,this'store'd water, to be available for a furtner'expansi'on of-
<br />the economy of this area, in actual consumption and in insurance against years-of
<br />drought, and in generating electrical energy which -will ad,d' further t'o' the economy,lI
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<br />"\{e believe ,that ,the ""resent, 'program of development'through the Bureau, 01
<br />RecL.ll1lation...and,_the' Corps 'of 'Engirieers, with ,alL 01' the'ir' inherent we'a.lCne'sses;,,'
<br />when provide'd ,wi th adequate',funds" 'will, accomplish this: two-'fold' purp'ose in, an
<br />ord8rly mann8r and in no way or 'mann8r disturb the present doctrine' of prior appro-
<br />priation in the use of water."
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<br />'''~Ie ,further believe' that, the 'newly created Upper Colorado 'Hi Vel' Commission, is-
<br />the organization,togeth&r wi,th'- the tStates,:of, the' Upper Colorado- River' 'Basin,' the
<br />Bureau :'of. ;(eclamaticin 'and Corps :of E:rlgineers ;.,which' can b"st accompli'sh, this two-
<br />fold, purpose" and -Vi~ SO,'RECO","Y1El~D- the, above ,as 'a -foli~y -too_this 'Coliuni'ssion'" ' '
<br />;;.:u" .1 ~.'liJ ,~ii.'J ~ .1c. ..:..... ~ .'__.
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<br />',l'he,water users whom I 'am' representint" beli'eve, that' the :98th' Meridian :;-should'
<br />be the dividing line between the points where water is used for' !RRIGhTION and where
<br />it will be used lor N"VlbATION, west 01 the 98th ~eridian for IRRIGATION and east of
<br />it for ,NAvIGATION'., ~~e' do not' believe' that water- originating' in our. arid area should
<br />b8 reciuired, for down 'stream navigation, as ,there...is insuffiCient water for_ irrigatiol~
<br />dOlllestio, municipal and industrial' use ,in our arid area', and WE SO RECOililWF:liD as a
<br />Policy to this _Commission that, the 98th wicridian. be, that, dividing line. II:," ",_
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<br />This Sub-Committee prepared and circulated among its members, Chairman of the
<br />County [Planning; ,Commi ttees and 'other.s', two resolutions directed to the '1951: General
<br />ASSGIpbly, as follows:' , ," - _ ,- ,,' ,
<br />RESOLUTION URGING' SurPO\1T FOR COLOililOO WATER CoNSERVATION OOARD, "
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<br />-v/HEREAS The Colorado Water Conservation Board was created by Statute in 1937
<br />and has accomplished an outstanding task and has attained National $tature, in its
<br />work and-, '
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<br />WHEREAS Funds spent, by this State Agency is in the nature. of- an investment by the,
<br />State of Colorado in the i.ater Resources and future development of the State, and
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<br />WHEREAS at the 1949 session of the Colorado Legislature gl'eat difficulty was ex-
<br />perienced in securiilg, the appropriation of sufficient funds for th" carrying on of
<br />this vital work,' and,
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<br />WHEFtSAS To cripple the activity of the Colorado ~vater Conservation Board at this
<br />oritical time through lack of appropriation of sufficient 1'unc1f to canyon the work
<br />could result in irreparable loss to the St~te of Colorado, now therefore,
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