Board Meeting 11/03/1983

• Board Meeting Date: 11/3/1983
• Description: Agenda, Minutes, Memos
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

as to there the sales are made. Mr. Johnston's motion was
adopted by consensus.

Chairman Vandemoer called on Mr. Scott Balcomb, Attorney
from Glenwood Springs. Mr. Balcomb represents the Dorchester
Coal Company, owner of coal property near Fruita.(?) The company
plans to develop its property and has applied to the Bureau of
Reclamation for purchase of 400 acre-feet of water annually from
Blue Mesa Reservoir. Mr. Johnston inquired as to why the Company
is requesting water from Blue Mesa Reservoir rather than from
Ruedi Reservoir particularly in view of the fact the Ruedi water
was available at the present time. Mr. Balcomb replied that it
was Dorchester's thinking that under the Bureau's marketing
criteria for Ruedi water, there would be more of a demand than
the supply available. On the other hand, Blue Mesa has a huge
supply of uncommitted water and the Company felt it reasonable to
begin the process of negotiating a contract for a small portion
of that water and that the 400 acre-feet requested could not have
any measurable impact on any later agreement concerning the
compact criteria.

. Following considerable discussion on the question of
marketing water from either Ruedi or Blue Mesa Reservoirs, Mr.
Robbins moved, seconded by Mr. Johnston, that the Board approve
the sale of 400 acre-feet of water from Blue Mesa Reservoir by
the Bureau of Reclamation with the proviso that such sales not
set a precedent and the Bureau will advise the Board in the
event that more water out of Blue Mesa Reservoir is offered for
sale. The motion was adopted by unanimous voice vote.

At this point in the proceedings, Mr. McDonald suggested
that Agenda Item 19, Operation of Colorado River ReservoIrs be
considered and that Item 18, Little Snake River Management
Project, Wyoming be considered during an executive session during
breakfast on November 4, 1983. Mr. Paddock approved this
procedure. Thereupon, Chairman Vandemoer recessed the meeting at
4:45 p.m.

Agenda Item 19 - Operation of Colorado River Reservoirs

Mr. McDonald discussed this item along the lines as set
forth in his October 28, 1983 memorandum to Board members. He
recalled that this subject was discussed at the September meeting
at which time the Board adopted as its formal position the
statement which Mr. McDonald gave before the House Interior and
Insular Affairs Committee on September 7, 1983 and asked that
this topic be included on the November meeting's agenda. (See
Appendix J attached.)

Subsequent to the September meeting, the Bureau of
Reclamation had prepared a proposed operating plan for water
years 1984 and 1985. Based upon a prelimiary review of the
proposed operating plan, four major issues should be addressed:

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