BOARD02203

• Board Meeting Date: 3/20/1975
• Description: Agenda or Table of Contents, Minutes, Resolution
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

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Mr. Sherman: They indicated there were 25,000 acres'. irrigable land in
the region, and that as a re~ult ~f the switch a number of acres would
not be irrigated. I am cu:r.1ous as to what the acreage figure is.

Mr. ,Sparks: I think the explanation is that much of the new land which
is not irrigated today has been eliminated.

Mr. Brooks: That's right.

Mr. Aspinall: Mr. Chairman, if I may be heard for just a moment. When
these projeCts were authorized it was understood that they were prin-
cipally irrigation projects with M&I possibility. NOW! if we are going
to listen to the complaints that we had at that time a lover again,
this simply means that we are going to have to have are-authorization.
We knew that coal development was in the picture at that time. We also
knew that the Tri-County District needed the water, and that the irriga-
tion was a part that was basic to all reclamation projects in Colorado.
That's the reason we authorized the projects.

Mr. Stapleton: I'm sure of that. I am also sure that you would agree
with me if the new Governor of Colorado makes a request we meet with
the Board and go ahead, that that is what we should do.

Mr. Aspinall: Mr. Chairman, the Board is a creature of the Colorado
Statute, and under the leadership of the Governor of Colorado, and if
he wants to be heard, wants other matters taken up, most certainly the
Board should do so.

But as far as another congressional authorization before Congress, that
is another question.

Mr. Stapleton: I don't think that is contemplated by the Governor. In
my mind, what he wants to do is get a clear understanding of it. I
think he is concerned in terms of developing energy with our resources
for other areas, and a public statement in this regard. I think it is
a question of meeting with the Board, and giving the information we
get from that maeting to the Governor. I certainly don't contemplate
going back to Congress.

Mr. Aspinall: If I were a member of the Board, I would recognize it
all.

have the meeting set up with your Board, we should
there to explain their plan. We don't know what
'.

Mr. Sparks: When we
have the coal people
their plan is.

Mr. Brooks: I agree. I would like to make one statement. I have been
advised by Kemmerer on several occasions, by Mr. Colson, the president,
that they intend to develop this energy source, whether or not the.
project becomes a reality. Better than 70 percent of the coal leases,
the BLM leases, are on government land. Kemmerer states they will get
the water, whether or not they get it from us; and there is also the
possibility to purchase it by condemnation.

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