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Rep. Jerry Moran <br /> page 3 <br /> Certainly if Colorado is allowed to increase their storage vessels by 122,000 acre feet, <br /> that would mean less water for Kansas. Water quality is another very big concern. EPA required <br /> Total Maxium Daily Loads (TMDL) be set for the waters of the Arkansas. Some TMDLs have <br /> been established and some are still to be set. Water quality is worse in "low flow" conditions of <br /> the river, and the reduction of streamflow to Kansas could cause tremendous difficulty in <br /> meeting new water quality regulations. <br /> There is no doubt that this legislation would cause damage to Kansas and to its citizens <br /> who depend on this water. In 1949 the Arkansas River Compact Administration was formed to <br /> deal with these types of technical issues. The Compact Administration should not be bypassed <br /> when considering expansion and storage of water that would normally flow down stream and <br /> eventually into Kansas. <br /> This legislation affecting compact violations is particularly troubling coming on the heels <br /> of the latest court decisions. After the latest decision last year, representatives of both states <br /> commented that they hoped to stay out of court in the future. I fear that the proposed legislation <br /> before the committee today would set us down the path of more litigation and unnecessary costs <br /> for both the state of Kansas and the state of Colorado. At a time when we should be considering <br /> advanced measures of conserving water and maximizing its use for as many interests as possible, <br /> we will be heading back to the courts. People in both states uniquely value water and recognize <br /> the limitations of such a scarce commodity, and is not the best course of action for the citizens of <br /> either states. <br /> I would again like to thank the chairman and other members of the committee for <br /> allowing me to testify, especially to those members of the Colorado delegation. I live in a city <br /> struggling to access enough water. When members of the Colorado delegation meet with their <br /> community leaders from Aurora, Pueblo or others, I do understand the difficulty of the situation. <br /> I look forward to working with members of the committee on this legislation. Thank you <br /> again. <br />