BOARD00361

• Board Meeting Date: 9/13/1945
• Description: Table of Contents and Minutes
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Minutes

""'f/V

The meeting adjourned at 5~30 P. M., Thursday, September 13, 19451:0
reconvene at 9,.30 A. M., Friday morning, September 14, 1945.

Friday morning, September 14, ,1945

The meeting reconvened and was called to order by J. M. Dille, temporary
chairman, at 10,10 A. M , Friday, September 14, 1945.

Mr. J. O. Riddell, Irrigation Engineer, P.W.D., of the Government of New
Zealand, was presented to the Board. He explained the program of irrigation
development in New Zealand. He made a very interesting explanation of the
irrigation problems in his country and the manner in which they were being
handled by the Government. One interesting observation was that, while ih
the United States an effort was made to make all reclamation projects fully
reimbursable, in his country the benefits of irrigation are oonsidered to
be of suoh great value to the entire country that the Government approves a
substantial aid to the water users from the general treasury without reim-
bursement.

Mr. Patterson, Chief Engineer of the Board, was asked to oomment on the
report of the Corps of Army Engineers, reoently submitted for preliminary
oomments, for oomprehensi va flood control development of the Kanaas River
(a,publioan River). He exhibited a map showing thirty projeots within the
basin, three of whioh are of interest to Colorado, namely, the Wray, the
Pioneer and the Bonny. All other proposed projeots are in Nebraska and Kansas.
He explained that the total estimate oost of the thirty projeots would be
$232.560,000. He further explained that the State was uked tolllake suoh
preliminary oomments as it desired on or before September 15, 1945.

II

l

!I

In conneotion with Mr. Patterson's report on the Kansas River report,
E. B. Debler, Director of Region 7, Bureau of Reolamation, was requested to
oomment, if he wished. He concurred generally in Mr. Patterson's statement,
exoept that he stated that, in his opinion, it would be desirable for the
Bureau of Reolamation to build the projeots above the Harland County Reser-
voir. He exphasized that losses due to evaporation should be clarified be-
oause of the terms of the existing Republioan River Compaot, He stated that
the Bureau of Reolamati on was nOw engaged on a basin report for the Republic..n
basin and the Smoky Hill River basin, and when these Bureau reports lIllre o~t.
he rec01lll1lended that some further study of the OQlltp&ot should be given for
olarifioation purposes. He said that the present report of the Army should
not be looked upon as a final plan of development.

Mr. Patterson recommended that, although the benefits to Colorado in the
Republican River development are relatively small, the interest of the Stat.
should be protected in the oase of proposed projeot appropriations and di.
versions of water in Colorado for use in other States. He also stated that
provisions should be made in such a case for compensation to Colorado for
property that is flooded and thus taken off the tax rolls.

It was moved by Judge O'Rourke and seoonded by Mr.
Bailey that the Board approve the reoonnnendations and
suggestions of the Chief Engi~eer and authorize him to
submit the preliminary conunents of the Colorado Water
Conservation Board respeoting the proposed plan of
Republioan River development of the Army Engineers, and

.'

"
"