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<br />00238:
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<br />If the Congress limits the amount of money'made available ,to the
<br />Bureau of Reclamation for ,surveys, investigati~sand:Tesear~h,to '~3,l15,700,
<br />being the amount under the House-passed bill, and if 'the directives of the,
<br />House Committee report ,are left ,undist.urbed, then t'here are only two project
<br />investigations in Western Colorado which can 'be ,completed in 1953, except
<br />for two small investigations on existing projects, the cost of which is
<br />estimated at $12,000.
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<br />An investigation known as the Cliffs-Divide Project, which involves ~~
<br />area from the headwaters of the Colorado River in Colorado, to the Color~~
<br />Utah line, was started about two years ago. There was made available during
<br />the present fiscal year for this project investigation $138,000. The Bureau
<br />of the Budget estimated for the continuance of this investigation for the
<br />present fiscal year $134,000. It is estimated that, under the House action,
<br />there would be available only from ~3,OOO to $5,000 to continue the work on
<br />this very important survey. This would be equivalent, of course, to delay
<br />of the entire investigation for a period of at least one year. The Colorado
<br />Water Conservation Board, with the concurrence of both Eastern and Western
<br />Colorado, has urged the importance of this investigation.
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<br />The investigation for the comprehensive plan of development of the Upper
<br />Colorado River Basin is of concern to the States of Colorado, New Mexico,
<br />Utah and V~oming. During the present fiscal year, $149,000 was made avail-
<br />able for this work; the Budget recommended ;p74,oOO and the amount available,
<br />under the House action, cannot be more than an estimated ~30,OOO,
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<br />In Southwestern Colorado, the San Miguel investigation, covering a
<br />project which would affect the whole basin, has been underway for several
<br />years, It is not scheduled for completion in fiscal year 1953, The amount
<br />made available for the present fiscal year for this investigation was $28,000.
<br />It is estimated that under the House action, no app~eciable amount of money
<br />could be spent on this survey; it would virtually cease during the next
<br />fiscal year.
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<br />The proposed Dolores Project affects a large area in Southwestern
<br />Colorado and in adjoining territory in Utah. A sum of $40,000 to carry on
<br />the surveys in that area was included in the Budget recom:nendation for the
<br />next fiscal year. A period of drouth in that area resulted in meetings
<br />between the Bureau of ReClamation, the State Water Board, and the people of
<br />t/1e area to expedi ta tjlis survey. Instead of being expedited, under the
<br />House action, it is estimated there would be no money available for that
<br />project in fiscal year 1953. A considerable amount of investigational and
<br />survey work was done on this Dolores Project some years ago. Lack of funds
<br />did not permit resumption of the work, during the present fiscal year. It
<br />is respectfully suggested that it is neither in the interests of the Reclama-
<br />tion program, nor of the State, and the local people, to decree a further
<br />cessation of the surveys in that area.
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<br />A number of other examples in Colorado could be cited, and, I hasten to
<br />explain that I have used the Colorado situation in this respect, because I am
<br />familiar with it, but, as explained above, I feel confident that the same
<br />situation exists in most, if nqt ~ll, Westerq states.
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