BOARD02308

• Board Meeting Date: 1/3/1958
• Description: Minutes
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

838

THE SOUTHWESTERN WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

December 31, 1957

Colorado Water Conservation Board
212 State Office Building
Denver, Colorado

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Attention: Mr. Ivan Crawford, Director

Re: San Juan-Chama Report, Comments
of the State of Colorado

Gentlemen:

The Board of Directors of the Southwestern Water Conserva-
tion District request the Colorado Water Conservation
Board to include the following items in the Comments of
the State of Colorado regarding the San Juan-Chama Project
Report:

1. Conflicts exist between this project and Colorado
projects and joint Colorado-New Mexico projects. These
conflicts arise through the diversion of water in certain
streams of Colorado resulting in insufficient water for
proposed projects below the points of diversion.

2. The report contemplates the full use of New
Mexico's share of Colorado River Storage, Project revenues
for a period of 61 years. This fact makes remote the
possibility of New Mexico participation in the Animas-
La Plata Project, a joint Colorado-New Mexico project.
It is contemplated that approximately 20,000 acres of New
Mexico land will be irrigated under the Animas-La Plata
Project.

3. Colorado lands below the diversion point of San
Juan-Chama Project are not adequately considered or pro-
tected. Present developments are considered only as of
the year 1951. Subsequent uses are not"" considered at all.
Also, water use is estimated on the basis of 40 acres per
second foot. A more realistic use would be 20 acres per
second foot.

4.
tion and
although

No consideration is given in the report to recrea-
fishing rights damage in the State of Colorado,
many miles of Colorado streams are depleted.

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5. The Report is not realistic as to New Mexico's share
of Upper Basin water or as to New Mexico water uses, i.e.,