Interior Reports to Congress on Three Reclamation Projects

News release: United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, "Interior Reports to Congresson Three Reclamation Projects in Western Colorado," May 6, 1966, page 1UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT of the INTERIOR *********************news release DeWitt - 343-4662 BUREAU OF RECLAMATION For Release to PM's, MAY 6, 1966 INTERIOR REPORTS TO CONGRESS ON THREE RECLAMATION PROJECTS IN WESTERN COLORADO The Department of the Interior today transmitted its reports to the Congress on the Dallas Creek, the West Divide, and the San Miguel water resource development projects in western Colorado. The Bureau of the Budget indicated it would favor deferral of these projects pending the establishment of the National Water Commission and completion of its review of related water problems. Comments received from the States of the Colorado River Basin were generally favorable, although some concern was expressed as to the availability of water within Colorado's entitlement for these and other proposed projects in the State. The Department's report pointed out that Bureau of Reclamation studies had determined the availability of uncommitted water within Colorado's apportionment of upper Basin supplies. All three potential developments are multiple purpose projects for the conservation and beneficial use of water in the Colorado River Basin, and all were given planning priority as potential participating projects by the Colorado River Storage Project Act of 1956. Project purposes in all three cases would be the development of waters of Colorado River tributaries for irrigation, municipal and industrial uses, flood control, recreation, and fishery benefits. The Dallas Creek Project would develop waters of the Uncompahgre River and tributaries for use in Delta, Montrose, and Ouray counties. Construction cost of the project is estimated at $37,687,000. Provision of long-term recreation development at the principal project reservoir (Ridgway) could increase the total cost to $38,889,000. The West Divide Project would develop flows of the Crystal River, West Divide Creek, and North Thompson Creek for use in Garfield, Mesa, and Pitkin counties. The estimated construction cost of the project is $99,800,000.Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 24 bit, 2,260,049 byte