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<br />..000333 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Of the total lands involved for project purposes. about <br /> <br />61,000 acres is owned by the State of Colorado, approximately fifty- <br /> <br />five percent of the total. By the terms of the legislation the <br /> <br />state-owned lands must be contributed as part of the project without <br /> <br />cost to the federal government. The project will also enhance the <br /> <br />existing Alamosa National wildlife Refuge and provide for the estab- <br /> <br />lishment of the Mishak National Wildlife Refuge. We.heartily <br /> <br />endorse both of these wildlife refuges, even though they occupy <br /> <br />Colorado lands and consume Colorado water. <br /> <br />Colorado finds itself in a position today that almost <br /> <br />fifty percent of its total surface water supplies have been allo- <br /> <br />cated to other states by federal court decisions, interstate <br /> <br />compacts and international treaties. No other state of this union <br /> <br />bears such a burden in connection with its native water, with the <br /> <br />possible exception of Wyoming. Eighteen other states and the <br /> <br />Republic of Mexico share the use of water which originates within <br /> <br />our state. We do not believe that either justice or logic dictate <br /> <br />that Colorado should bear the full expense of a national and inter- <br /> <br />national problem. <br /> <br />We urge this committee to report favorable on the pending <br /> <br />legislation prepared and sponsored by our distinguished Colorado <br /> <br />congressman, Mr. Aspinall. Recognizing that this is a year which <br /> <br />has been and will continue to be most trying to the members of the <br /> <br />-11- <br />