Laserfiche WebLink
<br />322 <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />It was also indicated just eight years ago that there was a possibility <br />of macing a diversion to the south Platte River Valley of 400,000 acre- <br />feet. It appeared at that time that the only problems were the allo- <br />cations necessary to divert that water to the good land in Eastern Colo- <br />rado. A short time after this, Mr. Silmon Smith and others in Western <br />Colorado, realizing that possibly there would be some limitation on <br />the amount of water in the river, issued the famous Silmon Smith <br />figure. I believe this Board was supplied these figures. Many people <br />felt like taking Mr. Smith apart in repudiation of the figures taken. <br />Possibly we should also review the anmver received by Mr. Smith only <br />four years ago on the water supply available for use in Colorado. <br />In the light now of information developed by Mr. Hill, and the figures <br />by Mr. Smith, only a few years ago, a very short period, show that Mr. <br />Smith at that time was overstating the water. situation in the Colo- <br />rado River Basin. As Hill points out now, certainly the 800,000 acre- <br />feet that we were talking about for a diversion to the Arkansas Valley, <br />is probably past history. The water we were talking about eight years <br />ago for the South Platte River Valley has disappeared from our con- <br />sideration. .The pe ople in Western Colorado have asked that I make a <br />tabulation in presenting the over-all clear picture. In doing this we <br />endeavored to take advantage of the Hill report and studies I conducted <br />personally. I had a very limited time. It would seem only good judg- <br />ment now that this water supply be examined. The Denver engineers are <br />very capable and very honest in their studies. . It is only good judg- <br />ment to study diversions. Establish the point where that water is going <br />to do the, most good to most people. Is it proper to establish the all <br />time future economy when in a relatively short period of about eight <br />years, our river basin has lost a large supply of water. I have com- <br />piled some figures, in some respect I should s~, those will develop <br />heartily.. I have been on the entire subject only six weeks." Mr. Jex <br />submitted these figures. (Appendix II). <br /> <br />Mr. Bailey: "Does anyone else wish to make a statement?" <br /> <br />Mr. Hunter: "I l'/ould like to request that ~-ou give us a recess for <br />five to ten minutes". <br /> <br />Mr. Bailey: ."Any other statements at all? Anything anybody wants <br />to say? If not, we will take a short recess". <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />Mr. Bailey called the meeting to order and said, "we had a telegram <br />that I neglected to read, addressed to IvanC. Crawford, Director <br />of the Board. The telegram reads as follOl'1s: <br /> <br />Ivan Crawford <br />Colorado Water Board <br />State Capitol Building <br />Denver, Colorado <br /> <br />Connnissioners of twenty-one Western Colorado counties <br />resolved that no Western Colorado waters would be <br />diverted until an adequate survey be made of present <br />and future need. This action taken at their annual <br />association meeting November 9. We ask this be con- <br />