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<br />001519 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Status of Animas-La plata and Narrows projects <br /> <br />As you are aware, the Colorado Water Resources and power <br />Development Authority has been authorized by the General Assembly <br />to consider financial participation in these two projects. Ival <br />Goslin, the Authority's Executive Director, has had the lead in <br />discussing these projects with the Bureau of Reclamation. At <br />Ival's invitation, Bill McDonald has been involved in most of the <br />discussions with the Bureau. <br /> <br />with respect to the Narrows project, the Bureau is just now <br />completing an update of the project to reflect current <br />conditions. Until final information is available, the Authority <br />is not in a position to commence formal discussions with the <br />Bureau. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />with respect to the Animas-La Plata project, Ival has had <br />several meetings over the last four months with the Bureau. Ival <br />has agreed only to finance the portion of the project's costs <br />which are allocable to M&I water supply (there is no power <br />component in this project). His reasoning is that this is the <br />only project purpose which will generate sufficient revenues to <br />return the Authority's investment (note--Ival is proposing that <br />the Authority provide funding directly out of the money <br />appropriated to it rather than issue revenue bonds). <br /> <br />The Bureau, at the direction of Assistant Secretary <br />Carruthers, has taken the position that the state must also <br />finance 100 percent of the costs of fish and wildlife and <br />recreational enhancement features. These costs are <br />nonreimburseable under current law. Ival is adamantly opposed to <br />financing such features using Authority money. He has indicated <br />to the Bureau that if fish and wildlife and recreational features <br />are to be financed by the State, then further appropriations <br />should be made to the Divisions of wildlife and of Parks and <br />outdoor Recreation for that purpose. <br /> <br />-. <br /> <br />Drafts of contracts representinq Ival's position and the <br />Bureau's position were forwarded to Assistant Secretary <br />Carruthers last week for his review and comment. As of the <br />writinq of this memorandum, we are not aware of any response from <br />the Assistant Secretary. <br />