|
<br />structures along 6.7. miles of, the..government Highlim~,Ca1J.al, b~tween.
<br />Big Salt Wash and, Black Wash in We~tern,Grand Valley., Fourteen
<br />laterals now serve the area, and the canal sections lined will ]:le
<br />consolidated into 12 laterals placed in pipe sections. The laterals
<br />total approximately 29.7 miles. ~ ',: , . .
<br />
<br />I
<br />
<br />The operation and maintenance contract for, the propose~work has b~~n
<br />approved by the Grand Valley Water Users Association and is awaiting
<br />final approval by the Bureau, which we expect at any time now. One
<br />of the, issues that ,has been, holding up the contract, and constructiqn
<br />is a matter of appropriation ceilings. Some of you hear~ information
<br />on this before, but I will just mention a few things. This has to do
<br />with the tcta+ ceiling of the project and the Fish and. W:ildlife pro-"
<br />gram and placing some"pipe-:-the laterals in the pipe,.
<br />
<br />.
<br />On May 7, the Secretary sent to Walter Mondale,. Vice President of th~
<br />U.',iS;;. a letter, and I would like to refer to a few items in the
<br />letter. Under Section 208 of the Act, it provides that the Secre~ary
<br />is authorized to provide modifications of the project authorized under
<br />P.L. 93-320, which this, section: of, the Act, has dete,rmin~4 appropriate
<br />for meeting the purposes and objectives.., of the title; however, no
<br />funds for any modifications shall be expended until the expiration of
<br />60 days after the proposed modifications have, been submitted to the
<br />appropriate committees of Congress and not then if 9isapproved ,by said
<br />committees except funds may be expended prior to the expiration of
<br />said,60 days in any case in which the Congress approves an earlier
<br />date by concurrent resolution.
<br />
<br />So part of the problem is that the use of pipe and laterals is not
<br />specif.ically ident.ified in P,. L.,: 93,-,320r.:; Studies and,' .investigation,s: of
<br />the Grand Valley: Unit have indicated that. because of .the., incre,!-sed
<br />efficiency resulting from the use of closed pipe or for the lateral
<br />system, there is. a significant increase. ,in salinity reduction.
<br />
<br />.: :. r. c '. . .1., ,J -;
<br />
<br />,. _-.I.~
<br />
<br />. ~ ;'.
<br />is also silent on the question of
<br />problems as a result o~ constructio~.
<br />
<br />P.L. 93-320, Public Law 93-320,
<br />mitigation: of f.ish' and wiidlife
<br />
<br />I
<br />
<br />.., .l . ; . I H" ," ~ . l':
<br />As a result of the ,increased: ,cost associated with, the design ,change,
<br />it wilL ,be necessary for us to.,obtain an incre.ase .in cost ceiling., We
<br />plan to request dl,1ring ,this se,ssion of- Congress. an increase intheover-
<br />all ceiling. This goes on to discuss that a little further, and then
<br />it says : "In conclusion, we :plan] to' pr.O'C~eed. with con~tructio~ of, ,
<br />Stage 1 .of' :the',.Grand Valley Unit. prior to, obtaining the ~eiling increase.
<br />The purpose of proceeding with Stage 1, which comprises :less than 10
<br />percent of the total unit facilities is to allow us to monitor the .
<br />effect of the water system improvement and verify the,estimates ,of
<br />salinity reduction developed earlier. We believe this to be
<br />
<br />,-13..,.
<br />
|