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<br />OOutJ85 <br />10 WATER. SUPPLY FOR THE SAN JUAN-.CHAMA PROJECT <br /> <br />i, ,< <br /> <br />.;>' <br /> <br />and that Ule active capacity of Navajo Reservoir would be reduced to <br />960,000 acre-feet at the end of 100 years. <br />Mr. Reynolds pointed out that the release of 224,000 acre-feet <br />annually for futureM. & I. uses (210,000 acre-feet average) actually <br />constituted an estimated amount of water remaining available after <br />other releases and was not an estimate of re:quirements for M. & 1. <br />purposes as of any :(larticular date. He stated that the. Bureau of <br />Reclamation had estrmated that the municipal and industrial water <br />demands will reach 70,000 acre-feet in the next 60 years, He stated <br />that the shortages indicated were tolerable and pointed out that they <br />were based upon the assumed release of 224,000 acre_feet annually for <br />municipal and industrial purposes, <br />With respect to the Animas-La Plata project Mr. Reynolds stated <br />that New Mexico had no objection to the operation of Navajo Reser~ <br />voir to provide exchange storage benefits to that project as long as <br />requirements from the reservoir for the Navajo, the San Juan-Chama, <br />and the Animas-La Plata projects are all on parity and that any <br />shortages would be shared equitably in proportion to diversion re- <br />quirements. Mr. Reynolds did point out that the water supply <br />studies show clearly that Navajo Dam cannot do a great deal for the <br />Animas-La Plata project and that the problem is finding adequate <br />storage capacity on the Animas River for the Animas~La Plata project. <br /> <br />Colorado's studies and position <br /> <br />Felix L. Sparks, director, Colorado Water Conservation Board, <br />testified that studies oy the technical staff of the board lead to the <br />conclusions that there is no conflict between the San Juan-Chama and <br />Navajo projects and the Animas-La Plata proiectandthat the San <br />Juan~Chama and Navajo projects have the approval of the State of <br />Colorado. Mr. Sparks stated that Colorado's position and operation <br />studies were premised upon the assumption that Navajo Reservoir <br />would be operated for the regulation of the San Juan River for the <br />benefit of all the. upper basin States and that there would be times <br />when Navajo Reservoir must be operated to release water to satisfy <br />New Mexico uses which, without the existence of Navajo Reservoir, <br />might constitute a legal demand against the State of Colorado for <br />the release of natural streamflows. <br />. One of the studies prepared for the Colorado Water Conservation <br />Board in conneCtion with Colorado's future water needs in the San <br />Juan Basin was a study by Mr. Clifford H. Jex entitled "Stream De- <br />pletion of the San Juan River Basin in Colorado." This very detailed <br />report presents a study of present water use development and the <br />potential water requirements. Mr. Jex's study shows that irrigated <br />land of the basin in Colorado at the present time (March 1960) de- <br />pendent upon the San Juan Basin water totals about 10.9,000 acres <br />with a depletion requirement of 130,400 acre-feet. Mr. Jex estimates <br />that potential irrigation expansion will increase irrigation by an <br />additional 63,000 acres with an additional depletion requirement from <br />San Juan Basin of 114,500 acre-feet. These figures imply an ultimate <br />depletion requirement from the San Juan Basin for irrigation amount- <br />ing to 244,900 acre-feet. Mr. Jex estimates reservoir evaporation <br />of San Juan Basin water in Colorado under future conditions at 15,000 <br />acre-feet annually, municipal water uses of San Juan Basin water in <br />Oolorado under future conditions at 20,300 acre-feet annually, and <br /> <br />'-", <br /> <br /> <br />