WSPC12822

• File Number: 8200.700
• Description: Colorado River General
• State: CO
• Author: Silmon Smith
• Title: Analysis of Colorado's Share of Colorado River Water and It's Use, Consumptve, Present and Potential
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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It is binding upon any development,operating through a water conservation
district. Theoretically at least, the Bureau of Reclamation has recog-
nized this policy as binding upon its development of Colorado's water use.,

The figures appearing herein are facts developed almost entirely by
the Bureau. They are available to anyone who searches. How, in good
faith in the face of these facts, can the Bureau continue to expend
millions of dollars of public "moneys on plans to divert more than a
million acre feet of water, which it knows does not exist? We take pride
in the splendid accomplishments of the Bureau of Reclamation, and only
recently the Bureau broke all records in an emergency repair of a failed
project tunnel which otherwise would have most seriously damaged the
economy of Western Colorado; and we are glad Qf this opportunity to ex-
press our gratitude.

It is not the purpose of the writer to criticize all of the personnel
of the Bureau of Reclamation. It is a large and far-flung organization.
There are some who recognize the facts as they are, but these seem power-
less to correct the situation.

The people,of Eastern Colorado do not wish or intend to destroy
Western Colorado. The Eastern Slope people are. being told that "the
water we seek to divert and which you can use in Eastern Colorado, is
surplus and cannot be used in Western Colorado and unless. diverted to
Eastern Colorado, it will be lost to California and Arizo~atl. The men
who tell this to the Eastern Slope people should know it :1,s not true., We,
of Western Colorado, where originates more than 70% of all the water "
which flows to Lee Ferry (the dividing point between the Upper Basin and
Lower Basin) and 65% of all the water which flows in the entire Colorado
River Basin (including the Gila River) d~plore the failure of the repre-
sentati ves of the Bureau of Reclamation to speak up and tell the facts to
the people of Colorado.

Since the Colorado River Compact was exeoutfd in 1922, it has been
found there is and was less water in the Rivet.' than it was formerly
assumed. When the treaty with Mexico was executed, there was granted to
Mexico about twice the amount of water we eoul.dspare without loss to the
Basin in the United States. When the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact
was executed, Coloradoacce:pted less water than she kn$W she needed.
This was upon the theory that the resulting shortage would Qe suffered by
the proponents of tranSmountain diversion. In spite of all these facts"
the engineers in charge of Bureau Diversion Frojects proceed'as though
they had never heard of, them, with possibly minor e)(;ceptions; for example:
We don't hear much said abOl.lt a proposed third Gunnison-Arkansas diver-
sion, calleq the pumping unit, of an additional 800,,000 acre feet which
has not even been listed among the diversion plans on the first sheet.

The people of Westerp Colorado do riot'want a River Authority. We do
not want such an auth~rity for the sStn,e reason that we prefer an in-
efficient bungling representative or democratic form of government to a
streamlined efficient dictatorship.

We realize the need o!' some co-ordination, between Regions IV and
VII; between the Bursa\1 of Reclamation,and the Bureau of Mines; between

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