Testimony on Behalf of the City of Pueblo

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r ' • BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATER AND POWER RESOURCES TESTIMONY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF PUEBLO, COLORADO, Michael A. Occhiato, President, Pueblo City Council Anne J. Castle, Esq., Holland & Hart LLP, Special Water Counsel March 19, 2002 H.R. 3881 would authorize the Secretary of Interior to enter into contracts that would effectively increase the capacity of Pueblo Reservoir available for the storage of non = federal wat-er rights -by-a substantial amount, and also authorize feasibility and other studies relating to the proposed physical enlargement of Pueblo Dam and Reservoir. As discussed in more detail below, the City of Pueblo, Colorado opposes H.R. 3881, as currently proposed, because the legislation would result in substantial, additional depletion of the already severely impacted Arkansas River as it flows through Pueblo. 1. TESTIMONY OF MICHAEL A. OCCHIATO Pueblo is a community of approximately 105,000 people located on the semi -arid 1 p 1 i i1, s Colorado, and serve as the medical, financial, retail and cultural plain in VouLLLV V VV1V1 V, and serves as the V\ll 1, i 111 11 , i LV4 1 and cultural center for 350,000 people from the Continental Divide east to Kansas, and from the City of Fountain south to the New Mexico border. Located at the confluence of the Arkansas River and Fountain Creek (see the location map attached at Tab B), Pueblo has been an important trading and population center for over 300 years. Spanish and French explorers visited in the sixteenth century and Zebulon Pike explored the area in 1806 when it became part of the United States. The present day city of Pueblo was incorporated in 1886 as a consolidation of three previously existing towns. From the 1870s until after completion of the Moffat Tunnel in 1928, which allowed the diversion of rail traffic across the continental divide at a more northern location, Pueblo was a thriving industrial and railroad city, second in population only to Denver. The Arkansas River has always been an important part of the City, due both to its prominent role in commerce and industry and as a source of water for the community. The River may have divided the City geographically, but it has also united the people of our community both as a devastating force of nature such as occurred in the 1921 flood, and as the peaceful riparian habitat enhancing the urban core of the City adjacent to our City parks, river trails and nature center. We have very serious, continuing concerns regarding the impact that passage of H.R. 3881 will have upon our community. Before addressing the flaws in this bill, a brief history of the original Fryingpan - Arkansas Project, of which Pueblo Reservoir is an integral part, may be helpful. * Disclosure information and the qualifications of Ms. Castle are attached at Tab A. 2