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<br />enter our protest to the Governor for this action and <br />reconsideration on the part of the Governor. In both <br />asked for written replies. <br /> <br />also asked for <br />instances we <br /> <br />The written replies were made. Before we left Washington, we had the <br />reply from Commissioner Stamm, and at the Stapleton Airport we received <br />the written reply from Governor Lamm. We have furnished the members of <br />the board, likewise, copies of these two letters. <br /> <br />The letter from the Governor to us reiterated his position, stated that <br />he was opposed to the use of water for industrial purposes. The letter <br />from Commissioner Stamm stated the Bureau of Reclamation had no alter- <br />native but to reformulate the project in accordance with the wishes of <br />the Governor of the state of Colorado. In other words, that constitutes <br />the policy of the state of Colorado. <br /> <br />As the result of these decisions and actions, it is obviously impossible <br />for Tri-County Conservancy District to perform its option agreement with <br />the Kemmerer Coal Company, and this date we advised Kemmerer Coal Company <br />by letter to that effect. Mr. Coulson, Pra.sident".6f Kemmerer,'ls.':;Pl.'esent, <br />and today we hand delivered the letter to him. ,. <br /> <br />The Tri-County Board during this past six weeks has spent many hours and <br />days considering the status of the project, the position of the district <br />and, most important the interest of residents of the Uncompahgre Valley. <br /> <br />It is the official policy of the board, taken at a meeting yesterday <br />morning, as follows "that we deplore being forced into the position that <br />prevents us from performing our obligations." We know that the Dallas <br />project is vital to the future of the Uncompahgre Valley. More than <br />forty percent of the water supply of that project is now allocated to <br />domestic use, both municipal and rural. <br /> <br />I have a more detailed statement of the critical domestic needs included <br />in the testimony which was presented to the House Committee on Public <br />Works in the past week, and I would like to hand that to the board. The <br />board of Tri-County Water Conservancy District views with alarm and <br />opposes strenuously threats founded on any reason whatsoever from the <br />Governor, from the Bureau, from anyone else, to the realization of this <br />project. For these same reasons, the point in time has arrived when <br />further delays will result in a critical water shortage, a water <br />shortage in the immediate and distant future, and these shortages will <br />have a disastrous effect on the population of the area. <br /> <br />Therefore, we cannot agree, and we cannot join in any position .that the <br />project should be reformulated as demanded by the Governor and ordered <br />by the Bureau. Nevertheless, we must accept realities, and such <br />reformulation of the project is now a reality. <br /> <br />The importance of the Dallas project far exceeds the present problem or <br />controversy over industrial or agricultural use. Our continued existence, <br />not to mention the future growth of our area, are dependent on the water <br />to be supplied by this project. Tri-County, by the very nature of its <br /> <br />-36- <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br />