BOARD00852

• Board Meeting Date: 7/10/1950
• Description: Table of Contents, Minutes and Resolutions. Volumes I and II of Transcription of Meeting
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

215

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citizens, as a whole, do not have any great understanding of the seriousness
to the State of Colorado, of the Colorado River problem. He called attention
to California I s high-priced lObby, the sixth largest in the nation, and com-
pared that endeavor with the lack of effective mutual cooperation among the
other Basin states.

Mr. Tipton said he agreed 100 per cent with the description of
. California's motives, outlined by Mr~' Breitenstein. He explained the
differences of interpretation of provisions of the 1922 Compact, as between
California and the Upper Basin States. He explained that California ex-
pects to benefit from water that is 'surplus', and is seeking to have more of
the river water classified as 'surplus' in order to benefit therefrom.

Director Stone predicted that California will oppose the proposed
Colorado River Storage Project, for the reason that its approval will mean
projects in the Upper Basin, and initiation of a plan to put upper basin
water to beneficial use.

Reference was made to a factual document on the Colorado River
situation, prepared in 1947 by Mr. Breitenstein, but never edited for publi-
cation and release. There was discussion as to whether this report should be
brought up to date, and made available.

It was moved by Mr. Hunter, and seconded by Mr. Cross,
that the Breitenstein report on the Colorado River, be re-
vised and submitted to the Board.

On vote, the motion carried unanimously.

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The Board took up Item 4, consideration of Comments of the Colorado
Water Conservation Board to the President's Water Resources Policy Commission.
The Director submitted a copy of a statement he had made at the ,Denver hearing
of the Commission, and asked the Board to decide if the _ st:atemel'lts:-therein
would be acceptable as policy statements for the State of'.Ccilorad6.,,-'" He also
submitted a statement that the National Reclamation AssoCiation h~d~srrbmitted
to the Commission, on reclamation in the 17 western:reclamition sta~~ It
was agreed that the Board statement to the Commissi~n- should include a ~trong
statement for the modification and revision of the 1~d limitation protisions
of the Federal Reclamation law. Mr. Feast reported ;gn' the suggest:iRns'sub-
mitted for fish and wildlife. C:. ,-.,' ' ~',',"

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The Board, following general discussion, subscriO"ea-'td'the principle
that the overall national policy on water resources should favor the economy of
the local territory, as a basic principle.

A. W. McHendrie, spokesman for the Water Development Association of
Southeastern Colorado and the Arkansas Valley Ditch Association, informed the
Board that his organizations would subscribe to and back all of the statements
contained in the Director's comments to the President's Commission.