BOARD02109

• Board Meeting Date: 6/15/1950
• Description: Table of Contents, Minutes and Resolutions. Volumes I and II of Transcription of Meeting
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

193

I

The Committee recommends that loss of, and damage to, fishery
values in Roaring Fork River and its tributaries above Aspen Reservoir
,resulting from diversions from those streams be prevented by including
as part of the project works of the initial phase an extension of the
Hunter Creek Conduit to the South Forks of Hunter Creek and the
enlargement of the tunnel from Chapman Gulch to the east end of the
Frying Pan-Arkansas Tunnel at an estimated total cost of $2,179,000,
with the understanding that these costs will be shown in the report as
allocated to fish and wildlife purposes. This is based on the theory that
the additional water to be collected will be available for exchange to the
Twin Lakes Reservoir and Canal Company upon execution of appropriate
agreements whereby that company will refrain from diverting waters from
the Roaring Fork River and its tributaries to which it is legally entitled
(without abandoning any of its rights thereto) whenever the natural inflow
of the Roari.'lg Fork and its tributaries may be only sufficient to maintain
a flow equal to, or less than, that recommended as a minimum at Aspen
according to the schedule submitted by the Fish and Wildlife Service and
the Colorado Game and Fish Commission.

Return Flow of Imported Water

It is recognized by the Committee that due to use and reuse of
return flow the project benefits will be more than the first application
of project water. The Engineering Advisory Subcommittee has estimated the
water supplies attributable to the project, and -it is recommended that the
table included in the Engineering Report of December 30, 1949, co~ of
which is attached hereto, be used as a measure of project irrigation
benefits for the Initial Phase, Gunnison-Arkansas Project.

Magnitude.of Project

After further study of the situation, the Committee agrees that a
project smaller than that described in the special report of September 1949
should not be undertaken because the presently planned Initial Phase represents
the minimum project. that c~, probably be found justifiable.

I

It, is understood that in submitting this. statement concerning the
first phase of the proposed Ounnison-Arkansas Project, the Policy and Review
Committee makes available to the office of Region 7, Bureau of Reclamation,
certain conclusions designed to enable that office to revise its report in
keeping with the views and recommendations of the State and affected local
interests. Certain questions affecting project operation and the prinCiples
which carr,y opt the'policy of the state respecting the exportation of water
from the natural basin of the Colorado River in Colorado remain to be formu-
lated and considered by the Policy and Review Committee. These policies and
principles will be formulated and later submitted to the Regional Office; and
it is understood that both the informal and fonnal comments of the State of
Colorado, effectuated through action of the Colorado Water Conservation Board,
will be submitted in due course. It is hoped that these policies and principles,
not covered by this statement, may be ready for submission to the Regional