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I I I I I I I I I I 7 and has dispelled the fears of damages that might result to the land and irrigation practices. Another important factor in the local acceptance of thia project is the r~alization that without this, or a aimilar project, or a large reservoir on ths Rio Grands, there ia no way in which deliveries to the Lobetos gaging station can be controlled. Because of this situation an overdelivery becomes necessary to assure the scheduled delivery. In spite of general acceptance of the Closed Basin Drain it is realized that the cost of construction, operation end maintenance for the project as proposed by the Bureau of Reclamation is not within the financiel cspsbility of the local residents, This situation has caused the Board of Directors to attempt to have the project combined with channelization of the Rio Grande and to have construction accom- plished by the Bureau of Reclamation as a nonreimbursable Federal project. Feeling is strong that if channelization of the Rio Grande from the mouth of the Closed Basin Drain southward is not accomplished prior to or concurrently with completion of the Closed Baain Drain, any benefit from the project would be seriously diminished. To promote the project on this basis a delegation representing the psople of the San Luis Valley arranged a meetiug with Reprssentative Aspinall in Denver and with Senator Allott and Senator Dominick in Washington as well as with Assistant Secretary Smith and members of the Bureau of Reclamation and advisors of the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee. While the results of the meetings were not dis- couraging there has been no apparent progress up to thia time. Mr. Felix Sparks, Executivs Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, accompanied the delegation to Washington. He haa been in touch with various key officials during subsequent trips to Washington snd has kept members of the Rio Grande Water Conservation District advised of the status snd progress of the project. Serious consideration is being given to a similar project of smaller size that might be constructed with state and local financing on a stage construction basis. This possibility has not been investigated sufficiently to arrive at a cost/benefit ratio nor to determine the feasibility of local sponsorship. No doubt an extensive investigation will be made into this possibility if Federal participation is denied. Also recommendsd for study in 1968 are the projects listed below which are not in the orper of priority, inasmuch.as it is felt that each would require more study to approximate its feasibility, importance and benefits. 0543