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10. Purchase of Water--Ruedi and Green Mountain <br /> Reservoirs <br /> Mr. McDonald referred back to the discussions held <br /> with the Bureau of Reclamation in 1980 regarding sale of <br /> water from Ruedi Reservoir. At that time consideration was <br /> given to a Board proposal to purchase Ruedi Reservoir and <br /> sell water to repay the Federal investment and after liqui- <br /> dation of the Federal indebtedness, revenues could accrue to <br /> the Board 's construction fund. The Colorado River Water <br /> Conservation District was investigating this possibility at <br /> about the same time. The Board members had requested that <br /> Mr. McDonald approach the Legislature about the proposal to <br /> purchase Ruedi Reservoir. Mr. McDonald discussed this ap- <br /> proach with the House Agriculture, Livestock and Natural <br /> Resources Committee late in the Session. The Committee ex- <br /> pressed an interest in the proposal but not a willingness to <br /> proceed, indicating that in the Committee 's collective <br /> opinion, the proposal had not been well flushed out. <br /> Stemming from recent action by the River District to <br /> reinitiate discussions with the Bureau with respect to pur- <br /> chase of Ruedi and Green Mountain Reservoirs , Mr. McDonald <br /> recommended to the members that this proposal should be <br /> reactivated by the staff and placed on the agenda for the <br /> March Board meeting. During the interim period the staff <br /> will work with the District on its proposal. Following <br /> discussion, Chairman Vandemoer, sensing the members ' <br /> desires, directed Mr. McDonald to actively pursue <br /> negotiations with reference to both reservoirs and relay the <br /> Board 's interest in proceeding with negotiations to the <br /> Bureau of Reclamation. <br /> 11. Colorado River Endangered Fish Species <br /> In his report on this item, Mr. McDonald stated that <br /> the Bureau of Reclamation had suspended negotiations of <br /> contracts for water sales from Ruedi Reservoir. This sus- <br /> pension resulted from a recent jeopardy opinion issued by <br /> the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on a proposed project by <br /> Exxon Oil Company in Wyoming. He also indicated that a <br /> jeopardy opinion would likely be forthcoming on the Dolores <br /> Project which is presently under construction. He surmised <br /> that this jeopardy opinion was only the first in a series of <br /> such opinions, possibly the next project would be Dallas <br /> Creek. These opinions will most likely recommend two <br /> methods of solution, namely: <br /> a. A depletion charge <br /> b. Required minimum flows which would necessitate <br /> reservoir releases . <br /> During the ensuing discussion, Mr. Getches stated that • <br /> the Department of Natural Resources plans to counter the <br /> -6- <br />