Glendo Project Correspondences 1950-1953

• Description: Glendo Project Correspondences 1950-1953
• State: CO
• Author: Various
• Title: Glendo Project Correspondences 1950-1953
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Correspondence

whenever changed conditions make such joint operation
possible.
(f) Any change in conditions making modification of
the decree or the granting of further relief necessary or
appropriate.
On June 11, 1951, State Engineer Bishop of 7yoming directed
a letter to Regional Director Batson in which he stated opposition
to the Glendo Project on the basis that it takes 4,000 irrigated
acres of Wyoming land out of production and does not replace them
and also on the ground that it will require undesirable highway
and railway relocation. It is understood that the Aryoming
natural Resource Board will consider the project at a meeting on
July 16 and 17.
When called upon by Air. ? Batson to state the position of
Colorado, I pointed out that the Colorado Water Conservation
Board had never taken any official stand on the Project Report
and hence, I could not bind the Board one way or another. I
expressed the thought that the limitations on Colorado water
uses under the 1945 decree could not be justified under the
conditions now existing on the stream and that Colorado was en-
titled to a reconsideration of that decr6:e. I further commented
on the fact that Colorado had as yet taken no steps to secure a
modification of the decree even though there was a water supply
for the Kendrick Project and that if Colorado permitted a major
project such as the Glendo to be constructed, there would re-
sult economic development which might forever preclude Colorado
from freeing itself from the decree limitations. My remarks
evoked a minimum of enthusiasm from the group. ivir. Bishop stated
that on the area above Pathfinder the '!tyoming situation was
comparable to Colorado and he would certainly be willing to dis-
cuss the matter. State Engineer Kleitsch of Nebraska made it
clear that he would not accept a discussion of a modification of
the 1945 decree as a condition precedent to action on the Glendo
Project. Regional Director Batson expressed the :i.ew that any
proceedings to discuss decree modifications or interstate water
allocations might well be deferred until the completion of the
Bureaus comprehensive basin report on the North Platte. As I
understand it, this Report is scheduled for completion in 1953.
The procedure to be followed in securing the comments of the
states was discussed. In view of the provisions of the appro-
priation acts, Regional Director 'Batson stated that he could
request those comments in advance of the clearance of the report
through the Commissioner of Reclamation and the Secretary of the
Interior. Certain technical changes in the report have to be
made. The sheets on which such changes appear will be forwarded
to the States and the states will then have sixty days in which
to make their comments.
I assured Mr. Batson that I would recommend that the matter
be discussed at the next meeting of the Colorado Water Con-
servation Board. To facilitate this discussion I have made this
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