BOARD01504 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

., o State of Utah DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES Michael Q. LeaVitt Governor Kathleen Clarke Exeeut.ive Director D. Larry Anderson DiVision Director 1594 West North Temple, Suite 310 PO Box 146201 SoHoke City, UT 84114.6201 801.538-7230 801,538.7279 (Fax) October 25,2001 Randy Seaholm Colorado Water Conservation Board 1313 Sherman Street, Room 721 Denver, CO 80203 Randy: Thank you for providing us with a copy ofyqur September 14 Memorandum to the Colorado Water Conservation Board members entitl~d "Discussion on Future Policy Regarding the Gallup Navajo Project in New Mexico." We understand you distributed this document to other Upper Colorado River Basin states. ' As you may know, the fastest growing area in Utah is Washington County located in the far southwest comer of the state. Water is scarce in this area, although local officials have done a credible job of planning for future growth and encoljraging water conservation. Still, we project that in 20-30 years it may be necessary for water to ~e piped into the area from Lake Powell. Preliminary steps have been taken in this regard. Ll\'ke Powell, of course, impounds Upper Basin water and Washington County is in the Lower Basin;. The state of Utah does not view the Law of the River as prohibiting this type of use. Indeed, Utah officials have never imagined that offi~ials from another Upper Basin state would object to such a use, providedthe div.ersion from L*e Powell is acco~tedforas a depletion from Utah's share<ofUpper Basin water, Further, we carmot see .howdiverting water from Lake Powell and piping it to Washington County would ~arm the Upper BasinStates,' so long as the water is adequately accounted for. We have assum~d, at the least, that as a matter of comity, Upper Basin states would not object to intrastate us~ of Colorado River water. Obviously, we disagree that the Law of the River would prohibit N~w Mexico's use of Upper Basin water in the Lower Basin portion of that State, provided such use is appropriately accounted for. i i , Providing customer service for Water Resources planning, deu8lopment and conservation. . e e .e