BOARD01764

• Board Meeting Date: 2/16/1960
• Description: Minutes
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

I

MR. CONOUR:

MR. MOSES:
MR. CONOUR:
MR. MOSES:

MR. CONOUR:

MR. MOSES:

MR. STAPLETON:
MR. BURR:

I

..LOO.1.

against the interests of the Colorado irriga-
tors.

As I say, you always have the question, in
matters of this kind, of which should come first
but right now you are on a dead center. The
Corps, which is the operator of John Martin
Reservoir, says we can't authorize the creation
of the pool unless there is enabling legislation
from the Congress to that effect. So I think
this is a logical first step. I think, Mr.
Chairman, there are some people here from the
Arkansas Valley who might want to be heard on
it, but I think this does give them reasonable
protection, or should, that nothing will be done
to injure their interests because this is, as I
say, just an initial step."

"Mr. Moses, to whom does the flood control
pool belong when released?"

"When it's released?"

"Yes."

"It's not contemplated that this would be
released."

"I'm 'not talking about the permanent pool
but I am talking about the present flood con-
trol pool. To whom does that belong when it is
released?"

"The Commission makes the decision about the
operation of the reservoir, but the Corps of
Engineers does the actual operating. That goes
to downstream users, of course. It's a physical
matter - the flood control water." .

"Mr. Burr."

"There's nothing mentioned in this bill about
changing the water from irrigation purposes into
a permanent pool. Therefore I hope there is no
precedent formed for this - such as fisheries
over irrigation purposes. That's what the
sportsmen have been trying to do for some time.
To take this water and have a preference right
over the irrigation rights. That's what this is
doing to this decree. It's taking it out of one
category and putting it in another. I think we
should know something more about the working
principles."