WSP07057 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

, 4Gli. Federal legislation authorizing a diversion project was first introduced in Congress in 1951. Congressional hearings on the diversion project ensued for several years which provided oppor- tunity for many interests to express support and opposition to the proposed project. During the decade in which Congressional Hearings were held, it became apparent that ,some western slope interests objected to the project plan, particularly concerning the Aspen Dam and Reservoir site near Aspen, Colorado. As a result, in 1958 the Colorado Water Conservation Board instigated consideration of a substitute replacement reservoir for the Aspen feature. Various alternative sites were considered. All of them except the Ruedi Reservoir site were rejected because of geologic, water supply, or other limitations. . The geology snd water supply conditions at the Ruedi Reservoir site permitted the development of a larger reservoir than was contemplated above Aspen. By comparison, the plan for Ruedi Reservoir provided for approximately 100,000 acre-feet of active storage capacity while Aspen Reservoir had been planned for only 28,000 acre-feet of active storage capacity. Ruedi Reservoir, therefore, not only met the replacement requirements of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project but provided an additional storage capacity to regulate the water supply for other uses on the western slope. Following selection of the Ruedi site, the Colorado Water Con- servation Board reconstituted a policy and review committee for the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project on January 14. 1959. The committee consisted of representatives of the Colorado Water Conservstion Board, the Colorado River Water Conservation District, the Southeaatern Colorado Water Conservancy District, and the Colorado Division of Wildlife. The revised Operating Principles were completed and approved by the policy and review committee and the Governor of Colorado on April 30, 1959. The "Operating Principles, Fryingpan-Arkansas Project" were amended December 30, 1959, and December 9, 1960, and published as House Document No. 130, 87th Congress, 1st Session. . The Project plan as modified by the "Reevaluation Statement, Fryingpan-Arkansas Project" dated January 1960 was authorized by Public Law 87-590 which was signed into law on August 16, 1962. Since authorization, Bureau of Reclamation officials have met and corresponded with the public to discuss and explain the complex multipurpose Project. ,Many Federal and State agencies have assisted the Bureau of Reclamation in development of the Project. The Bureau of Land Management X-2 .