BOARD01412

• Board Meeting Date: 2/16/1953
• Description: Minutes and Resolution
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

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96

Mayor Newton presented the follmving statement to the Board:

Vlith due regard for the gravity of the problem before us, we
are prepared to present in a relatively brief manner the serious need
of the metropolitan Denver area for additional water supply and the
urgency of your recommendation to Congress for the ultimate inclusion
of the Blue River project in its authorization and appropriation.

Let me say, at the outset, that our principal objective in
approachin~ the water problem of the metropolitan area by appearing
before this state ','!a+,er Conservation Board is to establish a close
and ef"ective harmony among the people and sections of Colorado to the
benefit of all the state.

As a part of the metropolitan area, the City of Denver is
officially represented today at this meeting by its Mayor, members of
its City Council and members of its Board of Water Commissioners which
is in charge of Denver's municipal water system. All are united, in
support of the request being presented.

In addition to the increased domestic use by the residents
of the metropolitan area there has been, and "{till be, the critical
need of water for commercial and industrial growth. The President of
'the Denver Chamber of Commerce, Aksel Nielsen, ,fill describe this need.

The requirements of water for civilian domestic, commercial
and industrial use by the metropolitan area are only a part of the
picture. Equally important are the comnitments to the Nation's
military and defense installations in the area including Lmvry and
Buckley Fields, Fitzsimons Hospital, Rocky Mountain Arsenal and the
Rocky Flats Atomic Energy projects - all supplied by the Denver system.
Representatives of these organizations are here to describe their needs.

Sometimes in t~e past there have been thoughtless remarks con-
cerning water matters by individuals or groups of individuals having
no official connection lvith the citizens of the metropolitan area or
their elected representatives. Occasionally these remarks have caused
unfortunate misunderstandings.

We, the officials of the area, are therefore appearing today
before you, an official state agency, ,fith the hope that the facilities
and decision of this Board will result in a complete and unified
official program for the best use of the water resources of Colorado
for all its citizens - a program based on frankness and fairness and
devoid of misunderstanding.