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~. Coal takes back seat to farming:lh Dallas proiect" By WILLIAM H. NELSON __ Staff Writer Gov. ~ Lamm bas won the de- bate over using water for agriculture instead of for generation of electricity under the proposed Dallas Creek Proj- ect In Montrose and Ouray counties. The Colorado Water Conservation Boai'd voted here Thursday afternoon to ask Ule Bureau of Reclamation to cbange the plans for use of 24,000 acre. feet of water to reduce shortages of water undel' the existing Uncompahgre Project in Montrose and Delta counties. Kemmerer Coal Co. has an option for that amount of water for a coal-burning power plant south of Montrose. The motion on Dallas Creek passed by !be board read. "The Water Conserv:ation Board pledges its full support for the Dallas Creek Project and to securing construc- tion funds .from the Congress. "In doing so, we hereby request the Bureau of Reclamation to re+fonnulate the plan for the Dallas Project can- matent with the objectives in the gover- nor's letter proposing transfer of 24,000 acre-feet of water presently designated for Kemmerer Coal Co. to alternative uses which will serve agrlculture. mu- nicipal, light Industry~ and recreation needs and to follow the following prior- ities; "Utilize a portion, or all, of the 24,000 acre-feet to reduce irrigation shortages within the service area of the existing Uncompahgre Project. "If the fu112~,OOO acre.feet yield is not required, then 'consideration should be given to supplying an area of new lands west of the present Uncompahgre Proj- ect. "Increase the inactive pool of water .- in the reservoir." The pool is now planned at 15,000 acre-feel Harris Shennan, director of the De- partment of Natural Resources, read a statement in part from Gov. Lamm: _ "Based on my communications with the Bureau of Recl&lJlation, r have been assured the 24,000 ,acre.feet of water presently set aside for power COR- version purposes will instead be used for agriculture -and other - non-power uses in the valley. .. . "The re-emphasis toward meeting municipal and agricultural needs in the valley holds great promise for the re- gion and the state, - and ( pledge my wholehearted supporl" Felix Larry Sparks, director of the board, explained that a report by the National Water Commission had recom- mended that the federal government spend no more money on projects for irrigated agriculture. The Nixon Ad- ministration adopted this as a poliey, Sparks said, and impounded funds ap- propriated for Dallas Creek; When Kemmerer Coal approached the bureau asking about water, the ageney considered this a way of COlll- plying with the'policy to use water for energy and other industrial purposes and referred the company to the Tri. County Dial The question of what Tri-County can do about the option to Kemmerer came up; but Ben Stapleton of Denver, board chairman, said that would have to be worked out later. A representative of Kemmerer was present early in the meetings' but had left by the time he was called to speak. r J. F. Rinckel. chief of the planning division of the Western Colorado Proj- ects Office of BuREc, presented a slide show giving information on the project as outlined in the_definite plan report now under review. He also presented possible alternates for the use of the 24,000 acre-feet of water. The motion approved by the board COOlbined several of the alternatives Rinckel propOsed. Two not included were reduction of the size of Ridgway Reservoir and increase the amount 'of water to be released to the Uncom. pahgre River for fish. The decision Thursday followed BU- merous conferences, . dozens of pbone calls, airplane nights over the DaI1as Creek Project area and field trips to. reservoir sites. ! The vote on the Dallas CfeeII: Project was unanimous, but members' after- word privately asked tbe questlon. "With the governor making the deci- sions, what purpose doe:l this board have?" No one representing the Ouray C0un- ty Protective Assn. oppOsing Ihe Dallas Creek Project made any statements. But the decision was probably bitter- sweet to them. They oppose the project but were even more adamant in ftgbt- ing the power plant. fY\ Q.., '2 I \ q 1'5 S,,-,,+;n'L\ Co lh"- DO-I \, G \ <..:n w='\ C' . vp'-In''y'' I