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

182

would not go to Washington until after the Secretary of the Interior had made his
decision on the objections urged b,y various groups to constructing a reservoir in
the Dinosaur National Monument. He further stated that a hearing on these objec-
tions would be held in Washington on April 3.

Governor Johnson excused himself from the meeting, and Vice-Chairman Bailey
resumed as presiding officer.

The Director reported that the Region 4 report on the Collbran Project had I
been submitted to Washington, and that affected states had been given an opportu-
mty r" oov1_. with ~ly th, St.t. or Calif=," ootoci", ."" obj.ot1~ to tho .
project. 1'he California objection specifically was in regard to use of the in-
Iterest component of power revenues, but the Director commented that it seemed
\evident that all California objections were aimed principally to preven:f; or delay
any developments in the Upper Colorado River Basin.

The Director reported he had attended a public hearing at Estes Park on
April 26, 1950, in which the local people voiced objection to erect~on of overhead
power lines b.1 the Bureau of Reclamation. The Director said he had' taken the
position that it was too late to change plans, that construction was already under-
way, that program stopr.age would prObably mean damage payments on present contracts,
and that it would seem unfair to expect the power and water users to defray the
additional cost aggregating an estimated $1,000,000, of putting the' wires under-
ground in the area. He explained that provision to meet such situations should be
covered by appropriate general legislation and considered when projects are author-
ized for construction. .

, It was::'moved by Mr. Cross, and seconded by Mr.' Beaty,
that the action taken by the Director at the April 26
hearing at Estes Park be endorsed by the Board.

On vote, the motion was unanimously carried.

On inquiry, it was revealed the Board never has taken a stand opposing the
attitude of the National Park Service in restricting or prohibiting' economic wel-
fare types of construction in national parks and monuments. Following discussion,
it was decided that Byron E. Rogers and Judge Dan H. Hughes would prepare a suit-
able resolution, embodying the sentiment of the Board, for the Board to take action
upon.

The Director reported that of three recently completed compacts, the State
of Colorado was interested in two - the Upper Basin Compact and the Arkansas River
Compact. Funds for installation and maintenance of gaging stations on streams
affected by these compacts to aid in compact administration are being sought from
the Congress.

The series of field meetings being held by the President's Temporary Water
Resources Policy Commission, particularly the area hearing to be in Denver June 27
and 28, was discussed. The Director reported that V'dI'ious agencies in the State
would file cOJlll!lents with the COlllIllission, and that an effort had been made through
the Colorado Water Conservation Board to coordinate the statements applying to
Colorado. The Director asked that the statement to be submitted by the Colorado
Water t,;onservation Board .be reviewed, when ready, by the Board and approved as a
rr~tter of policy.

I

The meeting adjourned at 12:10 o'clock for the noon recess, to be recon-
vened at 1:30 o'clock.