Laserfiche WebLink
<br />bad. then I think there will be ~ays to put it back in. So I am not <br />concerned about the Meadows Reservoir being in the wilderness proposal. <br /> <br />Mr. Hauk made the statement that as far as he knew the only people that <br />are interested in the extension of the wilderness area are the conser- I <br />vationists. I sort of hate to admit it. but I have had to change my <br />thinking on this thing. I run cattle in that area. I have a permit <br />which will be included in the proposed wilderness area and I am ready to <br />try and accept it. We are trying to learn to live with the ba~kpackers. <br />motorcyclists and the jeepers. and everybody. We love them all, but <br />they don't always have much respect for either the land or the tights of <br />others. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />I think it is the duty of this board to say at this time that there are <br />no needed water developments within this area. the proposed wilderness <br />area. <br /> <br />The oil shale people. as near as we can tell. are more interested in <br />diversions downstream. We may at some future time need storage. All the <br />projections that we get now say that the White River will be inadequate <br />to service the oil shale industry and the coal industry and the other <br />things that will certainly happen in that area some time in the future. <br />I don't know when, but we know that it will happen. It would be the <br />height of folly to divert water out of the White River into the Colorado <br />River. Larry decided it exactly right. The activity will be in the <br />middle of the Piceance basin. along Piceance Creek where the rich oil <br />shale is. There are also rich coal beds within the area around Meeker <br />which will need water to develop them. The latest figure I heard. and <br />you can hear anything. is that it will take two barrels of water to <br />produce a barrel of oil. We are more than fearful that the river will <br />be inadequate even if it is left intact. <br /> <br />I agree with Clarence and I agree with Rayon some of these technical <br />matters about wilderness. I testified against wilderness areas before. <br />But I think the overriding influence is water. We must protect' the water <br />resources of the White River exportation. <br /> <br />I think it is important that this board take action on the matter. I I <br />see no other way to go as far as l am concerned. The energy crisis is <br />overriding. It takes water. The water is there. Why not keep it in <br />the White River basin and use it there? Any other plan is absolute <br />folly. 'think that we ,an live with thi. kind of a bill. 'wa. in .. <br />favor of the original Forest Service proposal. I have lived in that <br />country for twenty-five years. I have a forest permit which will be <br /> <br />-40- <br />