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<br />~ <br />CJ:) <br />~ <br /> <br />STATUlE.,T OF <br />SA.! liIGUIL WA1'"R CO,.jSl.llVA.ICY iJISTRIC',J' <br />BLFOFL; ffLC <br />PUBLIC \{OWill SUBC01IIiIT'.';;J:; 0" APPROPIlIA'l.'IO,iS <br />Ilashington. iJ. C" Hay 22, 1913 <br /> <br />Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Committee: My name is Mike Young. I <br />am president of the San \'ie;uel "ater Conservancy District and I wish to <br />speak on behalf of the San Miguel Project. This project was authorized <br />by Congress as a part of the Colorado River Basin Project Act of ceptem- <br />ber 1963. Advance planninG studies were initiated in fiscal year 1912 and <br />were scheduled for completion with a Definite Plan Report by the end of <br />F. Y. 1916. However, the ;.:.xecutive Branch o,"itted advance planning funds <br />for this project from its F.Y. 1914 budget, thus tenninating these studies <br />as of June 30, 1913. The only funds available for the San Higuel Project <br />during F. Y. 1914 are eanllarked for salinity studies only. <br /> <br />We request that your Subcov~ittee restore Advance Planning funds for the <br />San Miguel Project to the F.Y. 1914 Public Works Appropriation Jill so <br />that the ~nvironmental Stat~lient and Definite Plan Report can be completed <br />on schedule. \-Ie understand from Congressman Frank 1:.. .i;,vans' statement <br />that the Bureau of Reclamation has the capability to meaningful use $220,000. <br /> <br />'l'he completion of a Definite Plan Report "ill permit our District to proceed <br />with the execution of a repaynent contract and the allocation of project <br />water, both of which are prerequisites to the initiation of construction. <br /> <br />'l'he project located in the Oan j,liguel River :Jasin, would develop water to <br />meet nllmicipal. rural, industrial and ar,ricul tural needs of portions of <br />;.Iontrose and San i!iguel COilIlties in Southwestern Colorado. It would also <br />provide recreational opportunities, fish and wildlife enhancement and <br />flood control benefits, <br /> <br />Business activity st~ulated by the project is needed to stabilize an <br />otherwise sluggish econolC,y heretofore dependent upon the boow and <br />bust of minin~ activities and a water sllort agriculture. <br /> <br />Lxisting irrigated f~1s in the project service area have a short water <br />supply and are, therefore, subject to severe crop failures. Many of the <br />rural residences now haul their domestic water from distant sources and <br />store it in cisterns for later use. The project would satisfy these needs. <br />It would also provide water to develop extensive coal reserves which would <br />help meet the nation's I!'.ounting energy needs. A significant wildlife man" <br />agement prograL1 would be developed at one of the project reservoirs. <br /> <br />Local interests have stronr,ly supported the project and have to date, <br />contributed a total of :;;45 000 toward project investigations. <br /> <br />\fuen the Colorado TIiver Dasin Project Act was passed in 1968 five Upper <br />Basin Projects, in"lllilin~ th" nan Mip;ll"l. wen, 8uthorized to be built <br /> <br />1 <br />