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1\) W .,j::. ...... : H' 4\:_,,::>1\..Junservatlbn-- bo.ai'd, replied "in. -no ~un~:'_:_~:!)lh.~-_~:.: : tern.~."o Carhart and pomtedout that every mte,'-,'"ted state, local and federal organization and board coop- , erated in working out the Frying Pan-Arkansas proj- ect and that every protection possible was given to preserve the scenic beauty and the recreational facili- ties and the economic values of the region. Western Slope representatives have been in on the design of the Frying Pan.Arkansas project and have given it 'their wholehearted approval through an east. west slope, agreement which also guarantees the further' study and design of projects to utilize the surplus waters of the Western Slope for the greatest potential develop- ment of that area, as well as trans-mountain diversion, Pueblo and the Arkansas valley have developed their water resources to the utmost, but there is a basic shortage of water to meet the needs of agriculture and industry without any consideration whatsoever of future growth, There is no other place to get water for the Arkansas valley,.in any amount which is economi- cally practical than thru trans-mountain diversion. The question which Mr, Carhart does not try to an- swer and we challenge him to do so, is that in spite of his charges concerning any damage to wil,dlife or scen- ery in Pitkin County, with which we do not agree, does he feel that 70,000 acre feet of water which can be put to productive use in the Arkansas Valley, and which is surplus water by the most conservative esti- mates, is more valuable when put to use in the Ar- kansas Valley than it would be left where it is in order not to injure the aesthetic taste of a group led by new- comers to the state? Residents of the Eastern Slope want the Western Slope to take advantage of every drop of surplus water as quickly as possible and also to protect itself for the development of industry and other projects in the future,. Then when that is done the residents of the Eastern Slope feel that, as residents of Colorado, they should be e.ntitled to utilize such surplus waters for their own development and not allow those waters to go down the Colorado river whete California sits on the river's edge waiting tiJ divert anything they can get their hands on for their own benefit and withoutcontribut- ing one drop of water into the Colorado river basin. If Carhart and some of the rest of the misguided souls of that area really want something to howl about, ~hey 'should take after California and its grandiose schemes to attempt to break the Colorado river com- pact and all other agreements which preserve certain rights.to the upper basin and to take as much of that surplus water as they can possibly get, regardless of our needs in this region. Without Carhart's assistance or those in Pitkin Counto' who seem to be complain- ing now, Colorado has stood foursquare together with other, upper basin states to preserve for our mountain regions the waters to which we are entitled for our development. ' Actually we welcome Carhart's diatribes and all of the rest of those who wish to join with ]fim because they are going to emphasize and advertise the Frying Pan-Arkansas project and its soundness from an en- gineering as well as an economic standpoint to a great. er extent than could have been done otherwise. W earen't going to get mad at the Western Slope, Mr. Carhart, because we know how the vast majority of persons in that region feel about the development and utilization of surplus waters in Colorado. To the people of P,itkin County, may we say that the economic advantages which will accrue to you will come from expenditures to be paid for by the resi. dents of the Eastern Slope in the Arkansas Valley. You will not be obligated to pay one dime of the cost ,and the wildlife and conservatio,n advantages to you will increase the attractiveness of your area to your own individual advantage, . i ] 1 I , { [' i I t p