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<br />? <br /> <br />! ~'J <br /> <br />,< <br /> <br />I;: <br /> <br />,~ <br /> <br />", <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />, <br />, <br /> <br />~~ <br /> <br />> <br /> <br />, <br />:f <br /> <br />i <br /> <br />:~, <br />, <br />\; <br /> <br />cc <br />" <br />) <br />0:1 <br /> <br />C\l <br />0") <br />0") <br />C\l <br />o <br />o <br /> <br />f:~&.:' <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />(Y1 <br />I"",.) <br />';;' <br /> <br />At Reclamation's request, our boards will identify <br />the water users who want their laterals to be <br />improved under the salinity control program.. If <br />the voters of the districts authorize the districts to <br />do so, the appropriate district will contract with <br />Reclamation for the operation and maintenance of <br />the improved laterals within its district. Our two <br />boards believe it is in your best interest for our <br />districts to assume the management of the laterals <br />under our respective systems for operation and <br />maintenance purposes. <br /> <br />districts can legally contract with Reclamation. <br />The language of the bill (about 12 pages) is too <br />lengthy to be included in a newsletter.. However, <br />you can obtain a copy of the proposed bill from any <br />one of our board members.. <br /> <br />The following are the major provisions of the bill <br /> <br />as we understand them. <br /> <br />1. Creation of a contracting district - <br />election. The proposed legislation would <br />enable our disticts to become authorized <br />to serve as a "contracting district." A <br />contracting district would be able to <br />enter into a salinity control contract with <br />Reclamation. Authorization will require <br />a vote of our qualified voters. Once the <br />contracting district is so authorized, the <br />following provision would apply: <br /> <br />Our legal counsel has reviewed the eXlstmg <br />Colorado irrigation district laws in light of the <br />salinity control program and has concluded that <br />certain amendments are needed to the irrigation <br />district laws, These changes are necessary to permit <br />us to qualify as a non-Federal entity which can <br />assume the responsibilities of the salinity program <br />if you request us to do so.. On our behalf, our legal <br />counsel has prepared proposed amendments to <br />the Colorado irrigation district laws. We have <br />approved the amendments and the Colorado Water <br />Conservation Board also supports them. <br /> <br />2, Irrigation district - authority to <br />contract. This provision authorizes <br />a contracting district to enter into a <br />long-term salinity control contract with <br />Reclamation. <br /> <br />Changing State statutes is important <br /> <br />3. The following two provisions relate to the <br />operation, maintenance. and replacement <br />of the improved laterals: <br /> <br />Our boards firmly believe that changes to the <br />Colorado Revised Statutes are necessary to permit <br />us to enter into salinity control contracts with <br />Reclamation.. <br /> <br />a. Special assessment. As explained <br />earlier, the Federal Government will <br />pay for the operation and maintenance <br />of the improved laterals to the extent <br />that the costs exceed the base O&M. <br />Since our irrigation districts will <br />take over the responsibility for the <br />operation and maintenance of the <br />improved laterals, you will no longer <br />be performing those tasks or spending <br />money individually for that purpose. <br /> <br />The bill's objectives and provisions <br /> <br />It is important that each of you understand and <br />support the bill's provisions.. The bill's primary <br />objective is to provide enabling provisions so the <br />