BOARD01598

• Board Meeting Date: 9/27/1946
• Description: Table of Contents and Minutes
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

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The meeting recessed at 12.,0 P.M. to reconvene at 2.00 P.M.

Afternoon Session - September 27. 1946

The meeting reconvened and was, called to order by Vice-Chairman Chris
Wallrich at 2:15 P.M.

The Board proceeded to consider the Collbran project. located near I'
Grand Junction in Western Colorado. Mr. Royce J. Tipton, Consulting Engineer
for the Board. and Herbert D. Fritz. City Manager of Grand Junction. were
present to present. matters respecting this project.

Mr. Tipton called attention to the fact that the proposed Collbran
projeot oonstituted a part of the State's Colorado River development
program. He displayed a map of the project and its proposed' features. He
pointed out that it was originally oonoeived as an irrigation projeot to
provide supplemental water supplies for approximately 15,000 aores of land
in the Plateau Valley. It was also a part of the original plan that additional
aoreage north of Plateau Creek, oalled the Sunnyside diversion. would be inoluded,
It now develops that that part of the projeot would be too oostly. In the
meantime the City of Grand Junction has found it necessary to increase its
municipal water supplies. At the present time there is about suffioient
water to take care of its present population but the City is growing rapidly.
Also a rural ares adjaoent to Grand Junction has definite need for domestio
and stock "!Ster supplies. .

Aooordingly a multiple use Collbran project has been oonceived to
furnish supplemental irrigation supplies in the Plateau Valley. domestio
. water for Grand Junction and immediate vicinity and hydroelectric energy.

The investigation of the project has not yet gone far enough to
demonstrate its eoonomio justifioation. However, the multiple use projeot,
on the basis of investigations would be a better projeot, serve recognized
needs in the area and be much more likely to lend itself to economic
justificat~on,

Mr. Fritz. City Manager of Grand Junction, stated that it was the
policy of Grand Junction to make the maximum economic development of water
without any harm to existing water users or irrigation development in the
area. He strongly urged that the Board not only approve the revised plans
for the projeot but take all necessary measures to expedite its investigation
and ultimate authorization in order that the multiple use features, providing
domestic water supplies for Grand Junction and immediate vicinity may be
realized.

Frank C. Merriell, Engineer-Secretary of the Colorado River Water
Conservation Distriot Board, supplemented and supported the statements made by
Mr. Tipton and Mr. Fritz. He assured the Board that the present plans for
such a multiple use projeot were desirable as a part of the development of
Colorado's water program.

It also appeared that the City of Grand Junotion was prooeeding
to obtain funds from the Federal Works' Aaministration to carry out its share
of the planning for this projeot. The Bureau of Reolamation is investigati.ng
and perfecting plans and a report for the projeot, except that it is
inoumbent upon the City of Grand Junotion to finance and provide the plans

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