WSPC05817 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

" . \ . " 000300 -3- Reservoirsll to enable the States of the Upper Colorado River Division to meet their obligations at Lee Ferry under the Colorado River Compact of 1922 and provide power production. Actually the Vfuitewater unit provides little value for holdover storage to meet delivcricG ~t LGs Ferrj., but would principally serve to provide power and- ~'2.ter conservation for irrigation in the State. Under this proposal of the Bureau ote large holdover storage in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River would be re- sarved for further study and f~Ftaer authorization. fu..-iU./o"""e. After presentation of the matter by representatives of the Bureau and c0~sideration of it by Board members, a motion was passed which provided that Colorado, until further action, with respect to proposed Gunnison River storage, would stand on paragraph 4(b) entitled "The Gunnison River DevelopmentJ', set forth on page 3 of the attached Colorado Informal Comments of December 17, 1949. This paragraph 4(b) is brief and reads as follows: liThe Gunnison River Development (As a part of the Upper Basin plan set forth in the report to provide for delivery of water at Lee Ferry as required by the Colorado River Com- pact, and for power production). It is recognized that further study, investigation and considerati,on of problems incident to storage on the Gunnison River mU3t be undertaken. It is necessary for Region 4 of the Bureau of Reclamation, in collaboration with the State, to york out a final plan for Holdover Storage on that river. It must be made clear, however, that Colorado requests inclusion of a plan for the development of the Gunnison River in the report as a part of the initial authorization of Holdover Storage units. Such in- clusion is an essential condition to the approval by this State of the plan set forth in the report." A reason for this action of the Board on July 10 is that further study of proposed Gunnison River storage was required and it was also necessary to hold con- ferences with interested groups in Western Colorado. It is understood that before ths State submits its final comments these further studies, consultations ,vith Region 4, and meetings in Western Colorado will be undertaken. It is also realized that the proposed Gunnison River development, as a part of the Colorado River Stor- af,e Project, is intimately related to a plan for comprehensive development of the entire Gunnison River Basin, which is covered by a separate Bureau report. It is hoped that before the meetings are held by the Board in Western Colorado, this latter report will be available for presentation to interested groups. 3. Action of the State Board or its Staff with Respect to the 1950 Re- port of Region 4, Bureau of Reclamation on the Colorado River Storage Project, In- cluding the 30-day Review Period Fixed oy Region 4 for States to Make Further Comments or Recommendations. This subject is covered in the statements hereinabove :c~1e. It should be remembered that questions which have been or may be raised with lE',~pect to this project plan have been held in reserve and that the Water Board does not expect to take any action until Western Colorado people and interests in other parts of the State, have been fully consulted through mee~ings and otherwise. It 0~ould also be appreciated ~hat this matter is of such [reat concern in the future r.ater development of the State that hasty action witho~t full understanding of all