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'to . . c Co Hon. Stewart L. Udall - 2 - January 3, 1963 Project on the Animas River and potential upstream San Juan River projects on the basis of each stream's historic contribution". Since the quoted statement reflects a conservative view, we have no quarrel with it being used solely for the purpose of determining project feasibility. It is not however, legally correct. The rights and obligations of Colorado and New Mexico are fixed by the terms of the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact and the Colorado River Compact. Historic conditions impose no limitations upon any signatory state so long as compact obligations are not violated. The foregoing comments are prompted because of the direct connec- tion between the proposed Animas-La Plata Project and the San Juan- Chama and Navajo Irrigation Projects in New Mexico. We have, for many years past, conducted a series of intensive water supply studies in the San Juan River Basin. As a result of those studies we have concluded that there would be no significant conflict, if any, among the stated projects. We therefore joined with the State of New Mexico in urging the now authorized construction of its San Juan- Chama and Navajo Irrigation Projects. Our support of those projects remains unchanged. The basis for our water supply studies was stated in my testimony before the Subcommittee on Irrigation and Reclamation, House of Representatives, 1st Session, 87th Congress, during the hearings on the San Juan-Chama and Navajo Irrigation Projects, as follows: "At this point, I would like to re-emphasize a portion of our testi- mony given last year. We stated then, and continue to state now, that our operational studies were in the first and final instance premised upon the assumption that the Secretary of the Interior would operate Navajo Reservoir ior one of the primary purposes for which it was authorized, that is, for the regulation of the San Juan River for the benefit of all the Upper Basin States. This means to us that in any year in which New Mexico has water available, or it can be reasonably anticipated that water will be available, for its full allocation under the terms of the Upper Colorado River Basin compact, from any and all sources, then Navajo Reservoir must be operated to release either stored water or stream inflow to satisfy New Mexico uses from or below the reservoir. In referring to New Mexico uses, we are speaking of those uses which, without the existence of Navajo Reservoir, might constitute a legal demand against the State of Colorado for the release of natural