WSP04218 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

f'- '.J ,.;;) .~ Irrigation and/or Drainage Organizations Grand Valley Irrigation Company Grand Valley Water Users' Association Orchard Mesa Irrigation District Redlands Water & Power Company Palisade Irrigation District Mesa County Irrigation District Frui ta Land & Canal CO]1lpany Grand Junction Drainage District These organizations are charged with providing their water users the best service possible for the money expended and have been so doing in every case for more than SO years and ill some cases back to the late 1800's. As the years pass changes occur, including changes in the Nation's laws. Beginning with the Federal Water Quality Control Act and amendments thereto, plus additional environmental oriented legislation with related controls and regulations, it became apparent that users of Colorado River water were facing problems and challenges fOr different from the many experienced to date. This was especially true of the Grand Valley which was being cited from all directions as a major polluter because of its alledged salinity contribution to the river. As early as 1967, the above-named organizations began to be aware of the potential crippling burden that could result to the Valley's water users were they forced to comply with the law at their expense. Consequently efforts were begun to initiate action based on the concept that abatement of the salinity problem would be a regional, national and international benefit, therefore abatement activities directed toward the problem should certainly involve the beneficiaries. Further it was claimed that develop- ment of irrigation within the Grand Valley was done without intent of damage to others and was done within existing laws and regulations an4 therefore. the Valleys water users should not be penalized for their actions by laws and regulations enacted after the fact. In the next several years a great deal of interest was generated and effort expended in attempting to develop a method and means for salinity control in the Grand Valley, with the irrigation and drainage organizations co-operating in every reasonable way. By late 1972 there were several governmental agencies and other interested parties working on the problem,most of whom you will hear from later, and it was decided to form the Grand Valley Salinity Co-ordinating Committee to be "composed of representatives of Federal, State and local organizations now engaged 1n salinity control measures in the Grand Valley, Colorado." "The primary purposes of this committee are to cooTdinate water activities, eliminate duplication of effort, and to bring about a better understanding of salinity control programs among the citizens of the Grand Valley, the State of Colorado, and their representatives." Procedures to be followed by the committee are as follows: "Since the states of the Colorado River Basin have agreed that the Bureau of Reclamation shall be responsible for the Colorado River Water