BOARD00836

• Board Meeting Date: 9/6/1956
• Description: Minutes and Resolution
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

457

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September 10, 1956

The Honorable Fred A. Seaton
Secretary of the Interior
Washington, D. C.

I

Dear Mr. Secretary:

On behalf of the State of Colorado and pursuant toSectiun
I of the Act of December 22, 1944 (58 Statute 88-7) there are. .
transmitted herewith the comments of the State of Colorado'
concerning the Supplemental Report on Rio Grande and Weminuche
Pass Divisions, San Luis Valley Project, Rio Grande Basin, Colorado,
of the Department of the Interior, prepared by the Bureau of
Reclamation and dated December, 1955. These comments are
submitted under the authority of Chapter 265, Session Laws of
Colorado of 1938, creating the Colorado Water Conservation Board
and defining its functions, and in accordance with the designation
of such Board by the Governor pursuant to Section I of the Ac~
of December 22, 19~4 (58 Statute 887), as the official State agency
to act in such matters.

Hi story

1. The San Luis Valley Project was originally authorized
for construction in 1940. The Rio Grande and Weminuche Pass:
Divisions are parts of that project. The original project was
found feasible by both the Bureau of Reclamation and Corps of
Engineers. The projects as recommended by both agencies were
essentially identical. The substance of the reports of the Bureau
of Reclamation and Corps of Engineers are contained in House
Documents 693 and 694, respectively, 79th Congress, 3rd Session.

2. After the project was authorized, it was not possible
to immediately form an-organization to deal officially with the
United States and to negotiate and enter a contract for repayment
of costs. In the meantime, World War II came about; investigations
were drastically curtailed and construction costs rose sharply.
Because of these factors, and certain suggestions made by the I
State of Colorado, wthe Bureau of Reclamation reviewed and restudied _ .'
the Rio Grande and eminuche Pass Divisions of this project. In
1949 a water conservancy district was organized that could contract
for repayment of costs. Subsequently, a Supplemental Report by
the Department of the Interior was issued under date of February,
1953 and submitted to the affected States and government agencies
for comment.