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<br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />what the project formulation will contain. These are not construction <br />funds. Before we ask for construction funds, the board must have the <br />definite plan report. That's what we're trying to get out now. ' <br /> <br />MR. FETCHER: Mr. Chairman, for the matter of discussion, I will second <br />the motion, but I would suggest that we hear from Rolly Fischer a <br />little bit about it. <br /> <br />MR. STAPLETON: Mr. Fischer, are you acquainted with this project, too? <br /> <br />MR. ROLAND FISCHER: Mr. Chairman, I think Director Sparks has said it <br />very well. The West Divide project is currently in the status of <br />examining several possible alternatives to the project as originally <br />authorized by the United States Congress. I believe that report was in <br />1966, Larry? <br /> <br />MR. SPARKS: Yes. <br /> <br />MR. FISCHER: There is a great deal of local opposition to the project <br />as originally set forth in the 1966 report to the Congress. This <br />opposition runs to the originally proposed Placita Dam on the Crystal <br />River. The Bureau of Reclamation, working with the West Divide Water <br />Conservancy District, is in the process of evaluating several alterna- <br />tiv~s. The West Divide Board is also independently evaluating alterna- <br />tives. Those alternatives include the elimination of the dam on the <br />Crystal River. Those alternatives include the examination of not only <br />that but a direct flow diversion out of the Crystal River during the <br />runoff to various reservoirs for terminal storage on the Divide Creek <br />side. The opposition has been very vocal. The people who are resi- <br />dents in the Crystal River Valley are members of a Citizens' Advisory <br />Committee, as suggested by the Bureau of Reclamation. <br /> <br />Unfortunately, Mr. Chairman, the opposition has directed a tirade of <br />abuse against personalities w~thln the Colorado River Water Conserva- <br />tion District. We are in a situation where the emotionalism runs very <br />high. Newspapers are in this.argument. There is a newspaper in <br />Carbondale that, under the guise of environmental protection, is taking <br />up the cudgel against the project itself, with the express intent of <br />killing the project. There is a petition now pending in the District <br />Court in Glenwood Springs for an election of the West Divide Board. <br />That petition has been -challenged as to sufficiency and the reliability <br />of the names on the petition. A group of land owners in the West <br />Divide District have challenged the petition in court. The situation <br />is one of very high emotionalism by a fairly small number of people. <br />They are represented by counsel. The situation is one -- at this <br />point in time -- of study funds, and not construction funds. <br /> <br />The newspaper situation is one that's very difficult and there was an <br />editorial in the largest circulation newspaper, the Glenwood Post, on <br />Tuesda~, in favor of the river district and the project. So you can <br />see it s in the realm of emotionalism and we would like to bring it <br />back in the realm of truth and fact. We don't know how soon that can <br />be done. I will be happy to answer questions. <br /> <br />-13- <br />