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<br />\ <br /> <br />Q~1901 <br /> <br />construction eontract for the Gould Canal siphons, amount to $2,180,853. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Local Interest <br /> <br />St~e and local interests are actively encouraging construction of <br />the project. The Fruitland Mesa Water Conservancy District was organized <br />in 1960 to be the administrative and contractual ageney for the recla- <br />mation features of the project. The State of Colorado, through the <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board, supplied $14,000 to the Bureau of <br />Reclamation to aid in the investigations. The Colorado River Water. <br />Conservation District has assisted in the investigations and has seeured <br />the necessary water rights for the project. <br /> <br />Conclusions and Recommendations <br /> <br />This section of Colorado is semi-arid and is presently undergoing <br />a general decline in population due to the undependable and inadequate <br />water supply (approximately 25% of optimum through existing facilities <br />over the past 25 years). The area has been designated a depressed area <br />under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965. <br /> <br />area, <br />base. <br />which <br /> <br />Completion of the project would be of great economic value to the <br />including an increase of over 2 million dollars to the loeal tax <br />All irrigated crops would be utilized for livestock production, <br />at the present time could be of significant national benefit. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The recreational benefits derived from local fisheries along the <br />streams and at Gould and Soap Park Reservoirs would serve to take <br />local pressure away from the Curecanti National Recreation Area and <br />provide additional facilities for the qverflow from Curecanti and Black <br />Canyon of the Gunnison area. <br /> <br />Approximately $3,236,000 of FY 1976 funds are now available to <br />initiate construction. A repayment contract has been executed. A small <br />construction start has been made through the replacement of the Gould- <br />siphons. It is recommended that the Governor and the members of Colorado's <br />congressional delegation be requested to support the former President's <br />proposed budgetary item of $7,702,000 to continue project construction <br />during FY 1978. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />3 <br /> <br />