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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />~! <br />~ <br />'--' <br />CJ <br /> <br />STATEMENT PRESENTED TO <br />THE PROJECTS COMMI'rl'EE OF THE NATIONAL RIVERS AND llARijORS CONGRESS <br />IN SUPPORT OF THE ~ <br />YELLOW JACKET PROJECT, COLORADO <br />By <br />Francis M. Bell-Senior Water Resource Engineer <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />Denver, Colorado <br />May 14, 1969 <br /> <br />The Yellow Jacket Project is a much needed multi-purpose <br /> <br />development which will bolster the livestock industry, enhance <br /> <br />recreation and improve prospects for early development of an oil <br /> <br />shale industry in Moffat and Rio Blanco counties in northwestern <br /> <br />Colorado. It is one of 25 potential participating projects given <br /> <br />priority in the completion of planning reports by the Colorado River <br /> <br />Storage Project Act of April 11, 1956. It is thus eligible for <br /> <br />partial financial support from power revenues credited to the Upper <br /> <br />Colorado River Basin Fund. <br /> <br />The project area urgently needs a dependable supply of <br /> <br />water for irrigation. A need for a municipal and industrial water <br /> <br />supply for uses associated with oil shale development is anticipated. <br /> <br />The availability of a water supply would be an important factor in <br /> <br />promoting the early establishment of an oil shale industry in the <br /> <br />area. The economic impact of such an industry could far exceed <br /> <br />that of all present development. <br /> <br />Years ago agriculture reached the maximum stage of develop- <br /> <br />ment possible with present water supplies. About 80% of the <br /> <br />irrigable land receives no irrigation water. The lands presently <br />