Laserfiche WebLink
<br />1 <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />MR. SPARKS: No difference, really. It depends on what agency conducted <br />the study. <br /> <br />MR. VANDEMOER: All right. I understand. <br /> <br />MR. STAPLETON: <br />response.) All <br />Those opposed? <br /> <br />Are there any further questions or discussion? (NO <br />those in favor signify by saying "Aye." (Ayes.) <br />(NO response.) <br /> <br />Those reports are approved. '(See Appendices B through 1.) <br /> <br />NOW, we will have a report from the Director. <br /> <br />MR. SPARKS: Mr. Chairman, I sent out a memorandum to the Board prepared <br />by Mr. IvaI Goslin of the upper Colorado River Commission, setting forth <br />the President's budget request for the next fiscal year for reclamation <br />projects in Colorado. <br /> <br />I will give you a brief rundown on the President's recommendation. <br />There were adequate construction funds in the President's budget to <br />continue the construction of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, the Dolores <br />Project, and the Dallas Creek Project. So at least on those three proj- <br />ects it appears that we are off and running. The Fryingpan-Arkansas <br />Project is now nearing completion. <br /> <br />The major construction on the Dolores and Dallas Creek has not yet <br />started. We seem to keep running into delays in getting the prime con- <br />tract for the dams advertised and initiated, although there are construc- <br />tion features of both projects now well under way--road relocation and <br />what have you. So for two new projects, the Dallas Creek and the <br />Dolores, it appears that the President will fully support construction of <br />those projects. <br /> <br />A very significant item in the budget was funds for the construction of <br />the Closed Basin Project. You will recall that we got funds added last <br />year, a small amount for construction. It was added to the President's <br />budget, and he did not have any adverse comment 'about the Closed Basin <br />Project, for which we were greatly gratified. It appears now that we are <br />off and running on the first two stages of that project. We are consoli- <br />dating the first two stages into one stage. The eventual cost of that <br />project will be over $30 million. We had anticipated some problems with <br />the President because of the nonreimbursab~e aspect of the project. But <br />it appears that he is fully supporting the project. I personally have <br />been working on that project now for almost 21 years, and I am getting a <br />little tired of the Closed Basin, and I hope to dump it in your lap from <br />here on, Frank. Hopefully, we will get the State money that is required <br />for that during this session. <br /> <br />This project would be a tremendous asset to the San Luis Valley. We <br />have had nothing but endless litigation down there about the delivery <br />of water. The State Engineer has had to reduce deliveries in Colorado <br />in order to deliver to New Mexico, because of the pending litigation in <br />the case of Texas and New Mexico versus Colorado, which is now in the <br />Supreme Court. <br /> <br />-23- <br />