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Joe Hall, formerly of the Oklahoma City Office, to serve as Regional Director. Mr. Hall has an outstand. ing reputation in the Bureau as an excellent Adminis- trator, and is well acquainted with the Project, having worked closely with the Colorado representatives on the Arkansas River Basin Interstate Committee. Pueblo Dam and Reservoir PUEBLO DAM AND RESERVOIR COTI-struclion on Pueblo Dam began with a Ground Breaking Ceremony in August of 1967, when then Commissioner of Reclamation Floyd Dominy, and a large delegation of dignitaries, joined members of the Board of Directors of the District in breaking ground for the relocation of the mainline of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. In 1969 the District made strong pleadings with the Congress of the United States to increase the Budget recommended by Presi- dent Lyndon Johnson, in order that construction could start on Pueblo Dam in 1970. The Congress did ap- propriate an additional $3 million, which were im- mediately frozen by the Administration, and the Dis- trict then met with then Secretary of Interior Walter Hickel to have the funds released. He approved the request of the District, and construction on the first phase of the Dam began in 1970. The first phase involved pulling a massive concrete plug in the main channel of the river, and an impervious core across the entire width of the Valley. Dravo Corporation was the contractor, and completed their work in record time. The second and final contrCl.ct was awarded to the Green-Massman Construction Company, and work began on June 30. 1972. This contractor was also a very outstanding contractor, and completed its assign- ment on schedule, even though it was faced with serious fuel curtailments in 1973 and 1974. 9 ',-".:',' ..' ',.. 6 a '"""' 00 CD N , ; .... Construction was completed on the Dam in August 1975, and the Bureau asswned full responsibility from the contractor in December. During the years when construction was continuing on the Dam, other con- tracts were awarded for the construction of recreation facilities on the North and Southside shores. Work was far enough along on the Northside Marina and boat launching ramp in early 1975, that the Bureau Officials decided to open it for limited public use in 1975. The District registered serious concern over the open iug, due to the fact there were no permanent toilet facilities, and the State had failed to appropriate suf- ficient funds for proper management to prevent pollu- tion and related problems. The State Legislature sub- sequently appropriated sufficient funds to permit the Division of Parks and Recreation and Wildlife to as- 5UJne management responsibilities on a limited basis on July 1, and the recreation facilities were opened for the first time. Work continued on the Southside recreation facilities, and it is expected that they will be available for public use in 1976. The District was instrumental in getting an additional $1.3 million added to the 1975 appropriations, which provided $1 million for the Bureau to continue work on the rec- reation facilities at Pueblo Reservoir. Completion of the Dam also afforded the Ditch, Canal and Irrigation Companies downstream to utilize the space in Pueblo Reservoir for storage of winter waters. As is mentioned in the "Winter Storage Sec- tion," this Program was begun on December 1, 1975, and District Officials are confident this Program will be one of the most valuable uses of Pueblo Dam. Com- pletion also permitted the Bureau to make plans to deliver Project water to the District from Pueblo Reservoir in 1976, rather than the time consuming movement of Project water from Turquoise Reservoir to the customers east of Pueblo. PAYMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES The Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District assumed the legal sponsorship of the Frying- pan-Arkansas Project on January 21, 1965, when the Board of Directors signed a Contract with the United States to repay the reimbursable costs of the Project with interest. The Contract requires that when the Secretary of Interior declares the Project "ready for delivery," the District will begin immediate payments of 9/10ths of one mill on the toral assessed valuation within the District each and every year; S5.40 per acre. foot for water purchased by the District, and $2.25 per acre-foot for water stored in Pueblo Reser- voir. The members of the Board of Directors have been cognizant of this massive financia.l obligation since entering into the Contract in 1965. and have approved Annual Budgets which would provide for a "Debt Sen'ice Fund" to meet contingencies. The Di!:itrict will only be able to assess one mill when the Project is "ready for delivery," of which 9/l0ths will 10 :.'""""'":;;'"-":."" .-~4-,:.-;..--.c-:--.,.~~<.: