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0, .)n I L ..u )"t TlCRI: IS NO SOUim RZASQ!! FOR APPLYDm THZ !AND LWTATIOl! l'JOVISlOi:S TO TlIE COllEJOS m:IT OF TlIE SAlT LUIS V ALLEY PROJECT. ~ application of the land limitation provisions to the Conejos pro- jcct would :neo.."'l that a la:ldol'lner under the project could not reoeive water if he :101d more than 160 aores of land unless ha executed a bi::1ding record3.blo oontract to sell the exoess aoreage at prices fixed by federal appraiserse Such a requireme:rt would defeat the project. The farIMrs will s1.:nply refuse to approve ~1d execute a general repayment oontraot whioh oompels enforcement of the land limitation provisions. This is true even though the farmers realize that by me&lS of certain eubterfub6s there could be an apparent 000- pl1auoo with these laws. The Canejas people do not w&nt a project if they ~edi~tely have to start oonniving to avoid what they deem to be unfair and unworkable st~tutory provisions. From a purely pr~otioal standpoint the land limitation provisions wilJ not be effeotive when applied to the Conojos Projoct. In the first plaoo the projeot oontemplates the stora.;o of water now oovered by exiBting adjudioated rights. A.."1 owner of oxoess lands could so use his direot flow rights that the storago water mado availablo by tho projeot would not bo aotually ~od on marc than 160 aores. In the secon~ :JInce as there is no obligntion upon an excess l~"1d owner to take projeot water he could decline to do so and yet benefit by utilitinr, increased retur:l flows or by pu:!l.ping fro:n. the reple.nshed undergro\md water supply. Such methods of evasion would be utterly u:1f'air to the water usors who obligate themselves to pay for the project. The Reol&m&- tion Law would be discredited and the repayment to the United States of the co~struction charges would be jeopardized. B)' ..;ay of sWILJ.a.ry the la..'1.d litrltatio::l provisions should not be api3lied - 15 -