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<br />InCL:NU, STAPLETor~, PRYO~ l. HOL-~.'O:":", <br />PROF"F: S5 'ocr2U~"o~AT lor~ <br /> <br />Mr. Harris D. Sherman <br />January 26, 1976 <br />Page -3- <br /> <br />areas and will provide substantially enhanced irrigation water <br />. <br />supplies for a most fertile valley at a time of impending <br /> <br />world food shortages. <br /> <br />The criticism of Bureau of Reclamation <br /> <br />projects contained in such publications as the Report of the <br /> <br />National,Water Commission and the Ralph Nader publications <br /> <br />are not supported by the experience with Colorado projects. <br /> <br />The District's directors have frequently criticized <br /> <br />the Bureau for projections calculations and assumptions made <br /> <br /> <br />by it from time to time. One of those has been that benefits <br /> <br />are too low. These objections, along with those submitted <br /> <br />by opponents, have been subjected to new studies and correct~ <br /> <br />ion or refinement. <br /> <br />However, because it was not critical to <br /> <br />the project, new benefits have not been computed, other than <br /> <br />by indexing, even though the directors believe them to be <br /> <br />low. <br /> <br />The Weldon Valley landowners argue existing recre- <br /> <br />ation benefits are not considered. <br /> <br />In fact, the principal <br /> <br />beneficiaiies of recreation benefits which presently exist <br /> <br />are O'dners of private hunting facilities along the South <br /> <br />Platte River in the take area. <br /> <br />They have been persistent <br /> <br />opponents of the project in an incredible effort to retain <br /> <br />for a few what many could enjoy. <br /> <br />The few doctors and business- <br /> <br />men who own existing recreation rights are an outstanding <br />