BOARD00600

• Board Meeting Date: 3/19/1956
• Description: Minutes
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

MR. PUGHE:

J

,-

MR. MOSES:

~
tW

"Gentlemen, we will take up this
matter. Now I am going to call on
Mr. Moses, member of the Water Board
to lead off on this discussion."

"Mr. Chairman, before I introduce the
heads of the delegation and before I
start discussion, I do want to introduce
my predecessor on the Board from that
area, Senator A. E. Headlee. This
Closed Basin drain is not a drain but
only a name. I think $25,000 was
allocated to the San Luis Valley for
an investigation of this drain in
H. B. 82. There is a very sharp
difference of opinion, first, as to
whether the investigation shodd
be made at all and second, what
should be done after the investigations,
if one is made. I would like to call
the Board's attention to the
resolution of the Saguache County Farm
Bureau, dated February 20, which is
in the file of each Board member. I
will read it:

Whereas: - The underground waters of the San Luis
Valley have proven to be of great value to the San
Luis Valley during the period of drought and,

~hereas: - it is the belief of the Saguache
County Farm Bureau that the water underlying
the San Luis Valley is the property of the land and
the peoples thereofjbnd,

Whereas: - by draining any of this underground
water either through wells or ditches will
undoubtedly cause inestimable harm to the water
table, land, and peoples of the San Luis Valley.

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED--
That we, the Saguache County Farm Bureau, very
strongly oppose the taking of any underground water
to help supply water to the lower Rio Grande River
under the Rio Grande River compact.

I

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED--
That we oppose the pumping from or the draining
of any of the San Luis Valley specifically for the
payment of the ~io Grande River compact water.