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.- ....~.'-:' "" 00,1337 OGALLALA-HIGH PLAINS STUDY Colorado Study Elements Introduction Declining water levels in the Ogallala aquifer of eastern Colorado as well as in the States of Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico resulted in a common concern for not only the future of these state areas, but also for the effect of this decline on agriculture production as a significant part of the regional and nationa 1 economy. This common concern for the economic impact of decline in irrigated agriculture coupled with decreasing energy production in several of the states lead to enactment of Public Law (P.L,) 94-587 Sec. 193 which provided for the six-state High Plains-Ogallala Area Study. The intent of the Congress for the study is stated as follows: "Sec. 193. In order to assure an adequate supply of food to the nation and to promote the economic vitality of the Hiqh Plains Reqion. the Secretary of Commerce. . . is authorized and directed to study the depletion of the natural resources of those regions... presently utilizing the declining water resources of the Ogallala aquifer, and to develop plans. to increase water supplies in the area and to report thereon to the Congress.. .In formulating these plans, the Secretary is directed. . . to examine the feasibility of various alternatives to provide adequate water supplies to the area. . . to assure the continued economic qrowth and vitality of the reqion... " (emphasis added) As a result of this legislation and the problems cited in it, the states re- quested the Department of Commerce through its Economic Development Adminis- tration (EDA) to formulate a study design to meet the need. The six states, with EDA, formed the High Plains Study Council to assure proper state participation in and guidance for the study. Each state has three members on the Council appointed by their Governor as well as a member on a Liaison Committee to coordinate the state efforts with those of EDA and the Gen- eral Contractor. Colorado Council membership includes Harris Sherman, Execu- tive Director of the Department of Natural Resources; Milton Mekelburg, Yuma , area farmer and businessman; and Morgan Smith, Commissioner of the Depart- ment of Agriculture. William R. Smith, Acting State Engineer is Colorado's rep- resentative on the Liaison Committee. In October, 1976, the Congress authorized the study at a funding level of six million dollars. The allocation of funds provides for two million dollars to conduct the state elements as set forth in the study plan developed from the High Plains Project, noted below, approximately three-fourtlEof a million dollars for the U . S. Corps of Engineer's responsibilities to review interbasin transfer prospects to be noted later, and the remainder to be expended by the general contractor on the regional element assignments as set forth in the study plan. __':'J _