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<br />.. J .;.,--~ <br /> <br />Standards for Planning Water and Related Land Resources". The policies <br />set forth in those principles were several years in preparation and <br />the study team consisted of both federal and state representatives. <br />However, the President does not believe in taking chances with the <br />general public and state officials. Public input will therefore be <br />limited to dog and pony shows to be put on in Minneapolis, Denver, <br />Boston, Atlanta, San Diego, Seattle, Dallas and Cincinnati. These <br />show hearings in each case will be presided over by a "hearing moder- <br />ator". <br /> <br />The last hearing will be held on August 2, 1977. By September 1, <br />1977, the policy committee is to draft the final option papers. The <br />hurried schedule is such that there will hardly be time to transcribe <br />the public hearings, much less give them any consideration. The final <br />schedule is that the task force will submit its recommendations to the <br />President on September 30, 1977, and by October 15, 1977, the president <br />makes his decision. The final act in the grim charade is that on <br />November 1, 1977, Caesar speaks. <br /> <br />The scheduled presidential hearings in Denver on July 28-29 are in <br />direct conflict with the previously announced meeting of this board to <br />be held in Cortez on July 29-30. While any testimony given at the <br />Denver hearings will almost certainly be disregarded, it apparently will <br />be our only opportunity to express any opinion concerning the proposed <br />national water policy, whatever that may be. In order to have some <br />discussion in this critical matter, the next meeting of the board will <br />be held in Denver on July 27, 1977, commencing at 10:00 a.m., in lieu <br />of the meeting previously scheduled for Cortez. Perhaps by that time <br />we will at least have had an opportunity to review the proposed water <br />policy that we are supposed to comment on the following day. <br /> <br />2. Status of Colorado Reclamation Projects. As has been reported in <br />various newspaper articles, the status of the Fruitland Mesa, Narrows <br />and Save:r-pot Hook projects in Colorado is most uncertain. The <br />President s strategy of divide and conquer, aided and abetted by <br />Senator Stennis of Mississippi has been most successful. About the <br />only projects on the President's hit list which survived were those in <br />states which had senators on the appropriations committee. If this <br />trend continues, the rest of the Colorado congressional delegation may <br />as well join with Congressperson Schroeder and oppose the whole public <br />works appropriation bill. <br /> <br />The ultimate outcome of the bill will depend upon a joint conference <br />committee of the House and Senate. It is anticipated that the confer- <br />ence committee will be appointed and make its recommendations prior to <br />the scheduled congressional recess of August 5, 1977. The Congress will <br />be in recess from August 6 through the Labor Day weekend. It remains <br />to be seen whether or not the House conferees can effectively deal with <br />Senator Stennis. The prospects are not good. <br /> <br />While the President has announced that he supports the Dallas Creek <br />and Dolores projects, this may be only another calculated deception. <br />While there is no apparent delay by the Bureau of Reclamation, no <br /> <br />Memorandum <br /> <br />-2- <br /> <br />July 1, 1977 <br /> <br />2438 <br />