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298:5 . . is felt that every effort within reason should be made to use all the imported water witdin the State of Colorado, including the return flows if possible. The State's position in regard to exportation of we.ter from the Colorado River for use within the State ,,"auld be g;reEl.tlyen- hanced in any possib:e future litigation if the State had made every reasonable effort to use completely the water within its boundaries. 2. Question: From Bureau studies and information, how much water does the Bure~~nticipate will be delivered from the Colo~adD-Big Thomp- son diversion? How much vmte:, d,) you anticipate from the lilue-South Platte Project and if ~~U have studies on this) how n~ny years do you anticipate before this latter project will be put into operation? Answer: For a firm yield of the protracted drought period 1931 through 1<146, it is anticipated that the Color~do-Bie; Thompson Project, with eurrently authorized fo.cilities, will yield uppro:>'i:aately 2~O,DOO ~cre-feGt to the Ecstern Slope. However, studies of means to bring the firm annual yield up to 310,000 acre-feet are now under way. ThrouGh ':ohio s,,'ne period, the firm yield of the Blue-Sout:1 Platte Project as now contem?l!lt"d would be [,::,proximately 430,000 acre-feet. The "l'Je- South Pl~tt" Project r.<ls net yet been autil')rized for constru,otion by the Congress. Studies made in this office indicate that with El. normal con- struction program, it vmuld b" anpI'oo:imately 22 J'eal'S nfter auti,orization before nll features of the Blue-South Flo.tte construction would he com- pleted. Hovrcver, some wn,te:. would be OIvailuble prier to completion, and the actual pro[';rcss which ",ig:.t be 1!1l:.de would be primarily dependent on t.he l"'~tc at which money w~~s mudc o.vailo.tle by the Congress after :1uthor- ization. 3. C:uesticn: concerning 2cssiblc Wh~t studies ~nd informQti~n o.dditionnl irrigated lands? d':h:1S the Bur,:-;[:.u have ~S.'!!?.E.: The B"ror.u hes :,een porfor:nin['; ccrblin land clccssifi- cation studies on lands not now irrigated in the South Platte ba.sin below the N..rrows. Plans have not progress 3d to tne point where a firm choice bet,vsen various areas may be made. However, much more suital11e land h..s been loco.ted wi,ich might be irri,,,;c,ted than the water sup;>ly to be made e.'lailable by the Narrows Uni t I'iill serve with tolerable short"-,;es. 4. QUGstion: distribute ~Gd sell ~h..t studies and how dGes the Bureau propose to water for possible new irrigation projects? Answer: On all Bureau projects, the m2.ximum amount which the water user may be called upon to pay is limited by his repo.yment ability and in no event mo.y he be charged more than his utility to pay. Repay- ment abilit~/ studies are now in progress but no firm answer is as ~ret available. Actual form Df repayment co"tract w"ieD might be required prior t,o deli',ery of water to any new lands must be the result of nego- tiation, and considerably more study is required. It is our thou~ht tha t wa ter ace ruing to the Narro'.':s could be s old on a year to j"ar basis to holders of currently irrigated lwnd, at least until such time 8