BOARD01880

• Board Meeting Date: 4/1/1982
• Description: CWCB Meeting
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD
Department of Natural Resources
823 State Centennial Building
1313 Sherman Street
Denver. Colorado 80203
Phone; n03) 866-3441

STATE OF COLORADO
o

RichardO. Lamm
Governor

M E M 0 RAN DUM

I. William McDonald
Director
David W. Walker
Deputy Director

TO:

Members, CWCB

FROM:

Bill McDonald

DATE March 26, 1982
II'
SUBJECT: Aqenda Item/9, April 1, 1982, Board Meeting--
Meetinq--Dominguez Reservoir

Introduction

As you will recall, the Board reviewed this proposed project
at its February meetina (see my January 28 memo for details). I
subsequently informed the Bureau of Reclamation of the_~oard' s
position in a letter dated February 22 to Clif~Barnett~ the \(
Rea ional Di rector (copy attached). --- /'

Mr. Barrett, in a letter dated March 5 (copy attached), has
responded. His letter expresses concern about proceeding with a
feasibility study of the M&I formulation of the project. This
matter is brought to your attention in order that you might
consider whether a response to Mr. Barrett is in order.

Discussion

Mr. Barrett's March 5 letter raises two main issues: (1)
whether commitments for the 221,200 acre-foot annual yield of the
reservoir are likely to be forthcoming, and (2) whether Colorado
is prepared to devote such a large increment of its remaining
compact entitlement to this project (an estimted 250,900
acre-feet per year including reservoir evaporation).

with respect to the first item, reclamation law does not
require that letters of intent or commitments to purchase the
water supply of a potential project be forthcoming before the
Bureau can proceed to perform a feasibility study. Indeed, such
a requirement would be inconsistent with the purposes of

ed
ai/9

Robert A. Jackson, Chairman. John R. Fetcher, VICe Chairman
eM. Fumeaux, Dale F. Grant, Richard W. Johnslon, Jr. Frederick V. Kroeger, David W. Robbins, Herbert H. vandemoer