WSPC04206

• File Number: 8541
• Description: San Luis Valley Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Water Division: 3
• Date: 3/28/1946
• Author: Robert C Brown
• Title: San Luis Valley Project Closed Basin Division - 1947 - Subject: Excess Land Situation, San Luis Valley Project, Colorado
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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I.!aroh 28, 1911>

From, Aotillg Projeot EngiJleer

Tal Rer;lonal Direotor

Subjeota Exa... t&nd Situation, San Luis Valley Projeot, Colorado.

1. Reterence 11 made to letter at Jiarch 15. 1946. 170m the Commie.
110ner to the ~1l1onal Direotor, barilla, Texa., and to your tel.~ra.m
of Mar_o!L25. _l946._toJrojeot..Eng1neer .--Vonw- Vbta ,-Colorado.- berth-on
the above subjeot.

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2. The oontraoting entities on the San tuh Valley Projeot will
be Water Conservation Dlstrlots organiled pursuant to provisions ot the
1937 Colorado State Water Conaenranoy Aot. This plan and type at repa:r-
ment enti'ty ha.8 been pMtrloWlly apprond by the Deplrtment and by' Conuesa.
in the enaotment of the Appropriation Aot tor the Filoal Year 1938 tor the
Colorado - Big Thompson projeot, wherein the law varies from the providons
of the ReolaDltion Aat and authorizes a repayment oontraot with "water
oonservanoy distriots or lrrl~tlon distriots or water users assooiations
organized under the l.~ of Colorado, or other form of Drganization satia-
faotoZ7' to the Seoretary of the Interior..

3. Water ooneenation distriots. orp.nized UDder laWII of the State
of Colorado, are partioularly designed tor suoh projeot. a. the San Luis
Valley. The JDelana at finanoing the ooat of the irrigation works b '
unusual, it being a dual lleans of rabins f\mda, first by an ad valorem
tax in limdted amouDt asseseable againet all the property, rural and
urban, within the distriot. and seoondly, for an a..esslllltnt against landa,
cities, and induatrle. nioh will aotually use the water being furnished,
upon a tued oharp upon the basb at the quantity used. The proces. ot
making the obarp . lien upon the lands whloh actually use the water, i.
by oonsent ot the indiT1dual land owners. By _ana of the ad n.lorem
tax JIIl..J:lJ" individuals and oonoerns indireotly 'benefiting from the project
help bear aome of the coat of the projeot and the oost of water to the
land owner 18 reduoed to a point where it will be in delland at the oharge
..a fixed. The means provided for in the 11.... for having the oharge for
water attaoh to the land owner, for suoh owner applies to the dhtriot
for an allooation of ..ter at the prioe fixed per aore toot. Upon Aocom-
anoe by the distriot of the application, a certified OO~ thereat ~8n
plaeed upon reoord authorbe. the taxing offioers to place the 'Oroperty

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