Laserfiche WebLink
<br />APPENDIX A <br /> <br />COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD <br />823 State Centennial Building <br />1313 Sherman Street <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br /> <br /> <br />i'larch 7, 1978 <br /> <br />M E M 0 RAN DUM <br /> <br />TO: Members, Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />and Colorado Water Congress Executive Committee <br /> <br />FROM: Felix L. Sparks, Director <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Agenda Item No. 2 - Consideration of FY 1979 Funding <br />Requirements for Colorado Reclamation Projects, <br />Board Meeting, March 16, 1978. <br /> <br />Since the release of the President's budget message to the <br />Congress for FY 1975, the board staff has reviewed the proposed <br />Colorado reclamation budget with local Bureau of Reclamation officials <br />and other interested parties. I also spent several days in Washington, <br />D. C. reviewing the proposed budget with various members of Colorado's <br />congressional delegation and with the Commissioner of Reclamation. <br /> <br />The President has informed the Congress and the Interior <br />Department that he is opposed to any new starts for water resource proj- <br />ects during FY 1979. This is a philosophy which has been expressed on <br />various occasions by previous presidents. Since no construction funds <br />have actually been expended for the Animas-La Plata, Closed Basin, <br />Fruitland Mesa and Savery-Pot Hook projects, they appear to be caught <br />up in the President's no new start policy. However, the Narrows preject <br />was previously in a construction status, but the President recommended <br />no funds to continue its construction. <br /> <br /> <br />The staff has been attempting to make a realistic appraisal <br />of the chances of securing additional funds for Colorado reclamation <br />projects through the congressional route. If additional funds are <br />requested, it is critical that the Bureau of Reclamation indicate to <br />the Congress that it has the capability of expending such additional <br />funds. ,In recent years, the Bureau has been caught in a manpower <br />squeeze and its staff has been reduced by over fifty percent. Its <br />capability to move rapidly ahead with project planning and construction <br />is therefore disappointing. <br /> <br />Based upon a thorough analysis of all the factors known at <br />this time, the board staff believes that it is imperative that the <br /> <br />APPENDIX A <br />