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Traditionally, the River District has kept an eye on the Col- the Rifle/Silt area. Both projects have been built although World orado House and Senate. So it was in the early days that the War II delayed them for more than a decade. board became troubled by certain bills being introduced suppor- ting the formation of Conservancy Districts. Not that they were opposed to such districts but, according to Delaney. bills seemed to be written so as to be of a greater benefit to Eastern Colorado than the West Slope. Out of this concern came one of the early accomplishments of TIME FOR CHANGE the River District, influencing acceptance of an ammendment to the Conservancy District Act. The ammendment implemented the Delaney principle of Senate Document 80, compensatory n : storage reservoirs on the West Slope for any transmountainUhe Great Depression came to an end as the nation shifted diversion by a conservancy district. gears to a war economy. International affairs. the war to end all The District has actively participated in the formation of Con- wars, WWII, had an increasing effect on the Colorado River servancy Districts by working with local groups and individuals District for the next five years. District programs such as in- interested in sponsoring a water storage project. Upon comple- vestigations into water projects anticipating post-war develop- tion of a project decrees have been signed over to a Conservancy ment did continue. but on a limited basis. Manpower to ac- District responsible for the financing, operation and maintenance complish survey plans was hard to come by due to the heavy draft of the dam and reservoir. Many reservoirs in place and serving of men into the armed forces. Investigations and permit work on Western Colorado today were built on River District decrees several projects was delayed because of a shortage of engineers. maintained for just such a purpose. In the nation's capitol, high priority was being given to a water An October 1956 resolution adopted by the Board of Directors treaty with Mexico by the war command. The Colorado River had clearly states River District responsibilities as: filing upon and been a source of disagreement between the United States and old reserving, by conditional decree. water for future development Mexico for years. Mexico complained its rights to use of the river within the District, and providing that the water rights so were being ignored by the U.S. Then, in 1945 during the war. the established would be assigned, without cost. to any suitable enti- United States entered into a treaty with old Mexico calling for ty proposing to construct or contract to obligate themselves for delivery of 1.5 million acre-feet of Colorado River water per year such development, provided that no transfer would be made of to Mexico. such water rights except for beneficial uses within the boun- The quid pro quo not specifically mentioned in the water treaty daries of the District. was that the United States could send its forces to Mexico to By statute, the Colorado River District cannot go into debt. but repel the anticipated invasion of southern California by way of it is through the financing capability of subdistricts or conservan- the unprotected Mexican Baja California Peninsula. cy districts in cooperation with the River District that the California fought against ratification, but other basin states, District had been able to put water to beneficial use fulfilling its lead by Colorado, campaigned for the treaty. The River District statuatory responsibility. board endorsed the actions of the state, and further, Frank Mer- Two early examples of working with the locals to build a pro- rill, secretary-engineer for the District, devoted almost full time ject ...oi)ld be: creation of the North Fork Water Conservancy to help secure ratification. Thus, a maximum effort by the state District'iII 1941 to sponsor construction of the Paonia Project, and and by the River District to accomplish a task that seemed urgent the formll1ion of a conservancy district to build the Silt Project in at the time. .'~ 5