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<br />FRYINGPAK-ARKANSAS PROJECT, COLORADO
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<br />Arkansas Valley by the Fryinrrpan-Arkansas project would not in-'
<br />-crease harvest of surplus Cl'opS,but would, on the. contrary, shift. part
<br />of the economy to crops which are less risky in lliltUl'e and hu,-e iL
<br />better cash value on a longrun basis. I regret to say that I do not
<br />have the exact. figures on this shift, but I am sure they would be avail-
<br />able t.hrough rhe'Department, of Agricult.ure.
<br />The present proposal fur the Fryingpan-Al'kansas involyes t.he same
<br />cost figures as previously proposed to this committee; namely, $169,-
<br />905,000, but would involve the cost of the Ruedi Reservoir on the
<br />western ~lope in phC'e of the Aspen Reservoir. Since the Ruecli Ueser.
<br />voir will han an est.imated cost. of $12,831,000 as opposed to $7,800,000
<br />for the Aspen Reservoir, it is apparent t,hat the estimated cost of the
<br />construction of the entire project is somewhat lower than originally
<br />contemplated by t.he Bureau.
<br />Yon will note that all four Congressmen from Colorado h,lve joined
<br />in sponsoring identical bills for t.his project which, I believe is a good
<br />indicat.ion that the vast Illftjority of the people in Colorado are in
<br />support, of this project. I have heard l'nJllors that. there is a small
<br />group in Pitkin County which is still opposed to it and I suspect that
<br />their ohjec.t.ifJIlS will be brought out in the course of the he,uings. The
<br />fact. remains, howevcr, that the massin.', objections formerly eXIH'essed
<br />by subst.ant.ial sect.ions of the western slope haye now been C lUnged
<br />to endorsement. of t.he project by yirtue of the inclusion of the Ruedi
<br />Resen'oir as :1 rereg111ating reseryoir for downstream users.
<br />The Ruedi Resen-oir will pt'O\'ide a storage capacity of 100,000
<br />ac.re-feet and the elltire project will provide surplus water in the
<br />amount of 8D,100 acre-feet for the Arkansas Valley. Twent.y thousollld
<br />ar.I'P'-fpet. will be ll.~d as additional municipll.lit.y water supplies for
<br />Pueblo, Colorado Sprinp:s, La. Junt.!l, Lamar, nnd other municipal-
<br />ities nnd the balance will be lIsed as snppleIlIenhll irrigation water
<br />for lnnds which already fall in the category of i rl'igated properties,
<br />althongh the water short.age in t.hese nl'e<lS has been yery evident in
<br />past. yenrs.
<br />It, should be emphasized that no new hllld will be brought under
<br />cnlti ,'ntion by virtue. of this project, that t.he rights of downstream
<br />users of wa.ter on the western slope will be preserved by t.he Ruedi
<br />Reserl'o;,' alld t.hllt t.lie project has l,een endorsed by t.hp. Upper Colo-
<br />rado River Commission pursuant to nn nc1jonrnecl regular meeting
<br />held ill Dem'er on ~f:Ly 11. 1081. In addition, the projpct has the
<br />unanimous approynl of the Colorado 'Yater COllse.r\"lltion Board, has
<br />had t.he support, and approml in t.he past of t.hree administrations-
<br />two Democratil; and one Republican-and hns been recommended in
<br />its prese.nt form by the Department of the Interiol'.
<br />;.Mr. Chairman, I appreciate. t.he opportunity given to Ille to t.est.ify
<br />iil':support of the proposal fn .J strongly urge that. t.he committee
<br />again. approve t.he projeet. al :. port t.he bill favorably to the full
<br />Conllnlttee.
<br />1\11". ROOERS. The Chair no~ h~cognizes the gentleman from Florida,
<br />Mr. Haley. '.
<br />:Mr. H~'L,. E,X-:- f. r. Chairman, I want to compliment the chairman of
<br />the full cr. ,tee, for the statement that he has i1 made in regard
<br />tothis p ,ar matter.:
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