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, I I t.... (\1 (.;) C) Summary Statement -- Support for the Closed Basin Project by the State or Colorado and the Colorado Water Conservation Board The State of Colorado, acting through the Colorado Water Conservation Board, advocated the development of a water resource development project in the San Luis Valley following the execution of the Rio Grande Compact in 1938. The following year, the Board employed R. J. Tipton, consulting engineer, to investigate a proposed project in the valley which would help Colorado meet its compact commitments. Mr. Tipton's investigation culminated in a report entitled "San Luis Valley Project." That report was subsequently included in a U.S. Department of the Interior report entitled "Reservoirs in the San Luis Valley project." The findings in this report were published as House Document No. 693, 76th Congress, 3rd Session. The Congress subsequently authorized the construction of the San Luis Valley project by the Department of the Interior Appropriation Act of 1941. However, action on the proposed project was suspended until after the end of World War II and the Korean War. Investigations of a project in the San Luis Valley were resumed by the Bureau of Reclamation in the early 1960's. During these investigations, the Colorado Water Conservation Board contribu'ted state funds to the Bureau and to the U. S. Geological Survey to expedite the studies. Concurrently with the resumption of investigations, the Board promoted the organization of the Rio Grande Water Conservation District in recognition of the need for a Valley-wide organization to assist with the studies and to serve as a contractual and operating entity. This effort resulted in the creation of the District by the Colorado General Assembly in 1967. The investigations during the 1960's culminated in the preparation of a feasibility report on the Closed Basin project by the Bureau of Reclamation. The plans for the proposed project as set forth in the feasibility report were accepted by the State of Colorado. Subsequently, in 1972, Senators Allott and Dominick introduced a bill to authorize the construction, operation, and Inaintenance of the Closed Basin Division, San Luis Valley Project. In October of 1972, the Congress passed the Reclamation Project Authorization Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-514). This Act, among other things, authorized the Secretary of the Interior to construct, operate, and maintain the Closed Basin Division, San Luis Valley Project. 707A rpt. (ss)