WSP01413

• File Number: 8220.122.A
• Description: Paonia Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Gunnison
• Water Division: 4
• Date: 6/12/1947
• Title: Paonia Project Colorado ‎(Senate Document No. 61)‎
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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VIII

LETTERS OF SUBMITTAL

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COMMENTS OF THE STATE OF COLORADO ON PLAN FOR DEVELOP-
MENT, PAONIA PROJECT, COLORADO' RIVER BASIN, COLO,

COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD,
Denver 2, November 1, 194.6.
To the SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
Pursuant to section 1 of the Flood Control Act of 1944, the State
of Colorado respectfully submits its comments on the report of the
Bureau of Reclamation dated February 1946 (project planning report
No. 4-8aA-1), on the plan for development of the Paonia proJect,
Colorado River Basin" Colo. This report has been reviewed and the
. comments thereon prepared and submitted by the Colorado Water
Conservation Board, being the State agency designated by the Gov-
ernor of the State of Colorado in accordance with the above-mentioned
section of the Flood Control Act.
The comments are as follows:
1. The report, induding the studies and conclusions therein con-
tained, is approved except in these respects:
Subsection (c) of section (3), page 91, of the regional director's
letter specifies:
(0) That th" water users shall be required to pay only that part of the estimated
construction cost of the project which, in the judgment of the Secretary of the
Interior upon consideration of an appropriat" factors, they should reasonably be
expected to r"pay in the maximum repayment period and on terms and con-
ditions available under provisions of subsection 9 (d) o. the Reclamation Project
Act of 1939. .
The report discloses that the water users under the project cannot
fully repay its costs in the maximum repayment period and on terms
and conditions available under provisions of subsection 9 (d) of the
Reclamation Project Act of 1939. However, if the repayment period
is fixed at 50 years, plus the so-called development period specified
by the 1939 act, and the unit costs to the water users are slightly
increased, it appears that this project can be made fully reimbursable
under present costs of materials and labor.
Under subsection (d), section (3), page 91 of the regional director's
letter, it is suggested that the excess costs, if any, of the total esti-
mated cost of all works proposed in accordance with the report to be
constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation, shall be nonreimbursable.
It is the view of the State of Colorado that it is preferable to extend
the repayment period and slightly increase the. unit cost to the water
users under the project, as above mentioned, than to attempt to
obtain authorization of the project, and appropriations therefor, on
the basis of nonreimbursability of a portion of the cost of the project.
The Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board held a
meeting with the representatives of the water users under this project.
They are willing and desire that the repayment period be extended
as mentioned, and will assume an increased unit cost to them of
$2.84 an acre for the Fire Mountain lands and $1.64 an acre for the
Leroux Creek lands in lieu of $2.60 and $1.50, respectively, set out
on page 17' of the report. It is the considered opinion of the water
users under the project and of the ColoradoW ater Conservation
Board that these increased payments are within the repayment
ability of the water users.
1 P. 8 of this volume.'
2 P. 23 of this volume.