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<br />~. 000 i 1 5 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Narrows project to an active construction status through the <br />requested appropriation. <br /> <br />2. Closed Basin pro;ect. This project in the San Luis Valley of <br />Colorado was authorized by Congress in 1972 after over twenty <br />years of investigation. At the present time, in excess of <br />600,000 acre-feet of water is being lost in the Closed Basin of <br />the Rio Grande River. The states of Colorado, New Nexico and <br />Texas are now parties to litigation in the United States Supreme <br />Court concerning the waters of the Rio Grande. A temporary stay <br />in the pending litigation has been granted by the Supreme Court <br />pending an administrative solution of the problem. The only <br />solution is the salvage of at least a part of the great amount <br />of water now being lost in the Closed Basin. This project <br />represents reclamation in its truest sense. It is designed to <br />salvage sufficient waters to satisfy the needs of the Mexican <br />Water Treaty and the Rio Grande Compact. <br /> <br />As a: result of the demands on the Rio Grande under the <br />Mexican Treaty and the Rio Grande Compact, together with the <br />pending litigation in the United States Supreme Court, the <br />Colorado State Engineer has been forced to curtail water diver- <br />sions in the San Luis Valley. This has resulted in severe <br />economic hardship to an. area which is already economically <br />depressed. In terms of immediate economic hardship and the <br />creation of lasting bitterness among neighbors, the San Luis <br />Valley has the most critical water problem in the State of <br />Colorado. <br /> <br />Several years ago, a preliminary environmental impact <br />statement for the project was prepared. That statement indicated <br />that the project would have a favorable environmental impact by <br />restoring native vegetation destroyed by existing salt encroach- <br />ment, and by improving the river flow through the Rio Grande <br />Gorge, a segment which is part of the National Wild and Scenic <br />Rivers system. The final impact statement will be completed this <br />year and all available information indicates that it will be <br />favorable. <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />For the various reasons I have expressed, we urge that <br />construction funds in the amount of $100,000 be appropriated, <br />subject to expenditure upon a favorable review of the impact <br />statement. It is my understanding that the States of New Mexico <br />and Texas are in accord with this construction request. <br /> <br />3. Animas-La Plata pro;ect. This project was authorized in 1968 <br /> <br />-3- <br /> <br />