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<br />"Some projects in the President's budget appear to allocate <br />considerable water for conversion of our natural resources to clean <br />energy which might be exported to provide jobs and bolster the economy <br />of other areas. It is uncertain to what extent such projects would <br />impact adversely on Colorado's agriculture and environment. We must <br />fully protect our interstate compact rights, but we must also use our I <br />water for purposes that. are in the best interest of the state and the <br />communities where the projects are located. . <br /> <br />'~general position is that Colorado must make significant strides <br />in the coming decade to strengthen our agricultural economy which has <br />been our largest and most stablE! industry. We should also insure that <br />Colorado's municipal and energy needs are fully provided through ' <br />existing, or future water projects. But we should not be in the business <br />of converting our mineral fuel resources to clean energy for other <br />regions of this country. Our water is too scarce and our environment <br />too fragile to undertake this kind of activity. <br /> <br />"Therefore, I want to'inquire more fully into the uses to which <br />certain waters relating to these projects will be put. I would ask you <br />particularly to scrutinize the Dallas Creek Project according to the <br />above standards. It seems to me possibly appropriate for the Colorado <br />Water Conservation Board to meet with the Tri-County District and to <br />reconstitute the Dallas Creek Project with the idea of re-emphasizing <br />agricultural and municipal water needs. Much of this information is <br />not yet available, and I urge the Water Conservation Board to obtain <br />and evaluate such information before we give our unqualified support. <br /> <br />"Congratulations to your fellow board members and you for seiZing <br />the initiative and taking our message to our representatives in <br />Washington. Best wishes for a successful meeting. Sincerely, Richard <br />D. .Lamm, Governor." <br /> <br />We have. two distinguished Coloradoans here, and I would like to intro- <br />duce them first, although they need no introduction to any of us, the <br />distinguished former Chairman of the House Interior and Insular Affairs <br />Committee, Wayne Aspinall. We are glad to have you here. <br /> <br />And, representing for msny years the City and County of Denver, Byron <br />Rogers. <br /> <br />Mr. Rop;ers: Thank you. <br /> <br />Mr.. Stapleton: We have had meetings throughout the State of Colorado, I <br />as nearly all of you know, for many years, and tried to. visit virtually <br />every proposed water project in the state. One of our greatest regrets <br />was that through pressure of time our congressional delegation has not <br />been able to meet with us. On that basis we have come to Washington <br />to meet with not only members of Congress, but also their staffs, to <br />emphasize again the importance of a continued close relationship with <br />the Congress, and the board and the district representatives here <br />today, and our vital concern about continuing involvement in the water <br />resources of the State of Colorado. <br /> <br />-2- <br />