WSP06679 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

.' . . - COLORADO RIVER ASSOCIATI~ 417 South Hill Street ... Los Angeles, California 90013 Phone: 6G4.-90 1 . SEPTEMBER 1, 1966 IMMEDIATE RELEASE Controversy between the Colorado River Board and State Resources Admini- strator Hugo Fisher over federal plans to conserve water of the stream near Topock Gorge was made plain today in a letter signed by Raymond Rummonds, Board chairman. Officials of the State Dept. of Water Resources have expressed agreement with the Colorado River Board position in support of plans of the Bureau of Reclamation to improve the river so as to save water and to enhance recreation. The State Dept. of Fish and Game opposes the federal proposals. Both State departments report to Fisher, whose position favors the fish and game group. The letter reads: "We have a copy of your letter dated August 26, 1966 to Mr. A. B. West, Director of Region 3, U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, transmitting the State's conclusions and recommendations on the Bureau's draft reports on Comprehensive River Management Plan, Lower Colorado River, Topock Gorge, Parker and Yuma Divisions. "It is regretted that lack of time apparently precluded the standard procedure of officially submitting the proposed conclusions and recommendations to interested state agencies for comment before mailing them to the Regional Director; also that we were unaware of the conferences in Sacramento on August 3 and 8 in which the decision was reached and directions given as to the character of the State's comments. "Your conclusions and recommendations in the letter of transmittal to the Regional Director and in the summary attached thereto are obviously incompatible with and ignore the position and views which have been expressed by the Board and the Department of Water Resources and the view of the California water contractors on the Colorado River, which were presented at Boulder City, Nevada. These water contractors hold legal rights which cover more----