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<br />While we'are now warking in, the Grand Valley on the matter af salinity
<br />contral, the greatest salinity cantributar in Calarada, tosthe.:.C01:drado
<br />River, is"the Lower,'Gunnison area.' It cantributes almost twice.:as,
<br />much: salt to the Calorada River as'daes the'Grand Valley area. That is
<br />the area af' Delta and Mantrase Caunties upstream fram us here an the'
<br />Gunnisan River. Thase peaple are also. very enthusiastic abaut
<br />improving their system. I see the manager, Jahn Bigham, fram the
<br />Uncampahgre. As has been detailed by the Bureau,spakesman, the 'Bureau
<br />is naw warking au 'the praject.,. the Bureau, the SCS, and ather agencies,
<br />on salinity cantral in the Lawer.Gunnisan area, which, again, will
<br />invalve such things' as T; J. has been talking about'in the way af
<br />impraved irrigatian efficiency. We are satisfied that it will invalve
<br />the use af'less water' ar make"the' same amaunt' of 'water serve' a greater
<br />amount of land.
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<br />Sa I think this 'is ane ,af, the 'iilOst"impartant"pragrams:that'this baard
<br />has ever engaged in. It.must be continued throughoutthecstate.
<br />indefinitely, because the anly future for Calarada is to. make the
<br />available water'ga further"ta:'keep'our'agricultural, industry thriving.
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<br />I have a few subjects, Mr. Chairman, I would: like to. bring up. . First,
<br />in reference. to. the Clased Basin project--as" yau knaw, "the President
<br />has recommended funds. to, initiate canstruction an the Clased Basin
<br />praject. .This., indeed, was: a very welcome additian to'the President,l.s
<br />budget. 'We,are'now'grappling,with,the prablems af getting canstruction
<br />started. One af the prablems is with the fact that the: state must,'
<br />under the legislation, the autharizing legislatian far: the project, the
<br />state must furnish the lands and rights-af~way far any state 'awned
<br />lands far praject purpases. In the Closed'Basiri, the"State Land Baard
<br />daes awn a cansiderable amaunt af land. Since the State Land Baard
<br />is under a canstitutianal:mandate to. pravide the maximum funding fram
<br />thase lands to. schaal funds, we have been in samewhat af a dilemma as
<br />to haw to. handle thase state lands."'~ ~:;" ~ iI',',,' .'
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<br />One passible salutian that the State Land Board has..thraWn aut is that
<br />that baard be allawed to. subscribe to. any water from the praject which
<br />is excess to. the presentcpraject needs; so,.-that it could :lease. lands.'
<br />in the Clased,Basin!1far'i:rrigatian purpasescwhen the salinity cantents
<br />of those lands is reduced sufficiently to'restare::-them to'production.
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<br />The legislatian prav~des "a fi:rst priarity for:the de1:ivery af ,water
<br />fram the praject far 60,000 acre-feet annually to satisfy the demands
<br />af the Mexican Treaty. Under the 1906 Treaty with Mexico,: the United
<br />States guaranteed Mexico. 60,000 feet from the Ria Grande River, which
<br />is delivered:lto Mexico near'El Paso; ':Texas.1 . ; - " ,.., ,_I"
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<br />The'secarid"priarity is to. satisfy any debits which 'the State 'of
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