... COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD STATE OFFICE BUILDING Denver, Colorado February 20, 1958 Honorable Fred A. Seaton, Secretary of the Interior, Interior Building, Washington 25, D. C. Dear Mr. Secretary: Under date of September 6 1 1957, a coordinated report on the San Juan-Chama and Navajo Projects in New Mexico was trans· mitted to you by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The report of the Bureau of Reclamation on the San Juan­ Chama Project, dated November, 1955, was supplemented by a report dated May 1957. The plan of the feasibility report of the Bureau of Indian4 Affairs on the Navajo Project, dated January 1955, was revised in a supplemental report dated March, 1957. On October 16, 1957, you approved and adopted the coordi­ nated report on the said projects. Copies of the reports were transmitted to the affected States for their review and comments. On behalf of the State of Colorado and pursuant to Section I of the Act of December 1944 (58 Stat. 887) there are transmitted herewith the comments of the State of Colorado con­ cerning the above mentioned reports on the San Juan-Chama and _ Navajo Projects. SAN JUAN-CHAMA PROJECT Ultimate Developnent In its report dated Novernberr 1955, the Bureau of Recla­ mation describes a project which would divert water from the West and East Forks of the San Juan River, the Rito Blanco, the Rio Blanco, the Little Navajo River and the Navajo River. The proposed Honorable Fred A. Seaton, February 20, 1958 Page two points of diversion, and the sites of three regulatory reservoirs which would be integrated in the diversion system, are all situated in the San Juan River basin within the State of Colorado. Water collected by the diversion system in Colorado would be conveyed into the basin of the Rio Chama, which is tributary to the Rio Grande in the State of New Mexico. A regulatory reservoir would be constructed on a tributary of the Rio Chama in New Mexico. It is estimated in the report that the project would divert an average of 235,000 acre-feet of water annually from the San Juan River basin, while leaving sufficient stream flow in the San Juan River and tributaries to provide for the existing water uses which would be directly affected. Initial Stage Development The supplemental report of the Bureau of Reclamation dated May , 1957, proposes an initial stage development of the ulti­ mate San Juan-Chama project. Water would be diverted in Colorado from the Rio Blanco, the Little Navajo River and the Navajo River, with no reservoirs included in the plan, except for the regulatory reservoir in the Rio Chama basin in New Mexico. It is estimated that under this plan an annual average of about 110 ,000 acre-feet of water would be diverted from the San Juan basin in Colorado ~ The hydrologic studies for the project contemplated the by-passing at diversion points of sufficient water to satisfy present water rights in Colorado. The supplemental report contains a recommendation that Congressional approval be sought for the ultimate developrnent of the San Juan-Chama project; that authority be sought for the Secre­ tary of the Interior to construct the initial stage development of the project as a participating project in the Colorado River Stor­ age Project; and that authority be sought for the Secretary of the Interior to operate the collection, diversion and regulation works of the initial stage development. Navajo Project The feasibility report on the Navajo Project, dated . ........ ~.. ·- Honorable Fred A. Seaton, February 20, 1958 Page three January, 1955, by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, proposes the fur­ nishing of a full water supply from the San Juan River to a project area of 137, 250 acres of land in New Mexi co . Approximately 80 percent of this area is Indian owned land. A supplemental report on the Navajo Project, dated March 1957, proposes the developnent of an all Indian project. This would result in a reduction in the project area to a net total of 110, 630 acres of irrigable land. The Navajo Dam and Reservoir, authorized under P. L. 485 , 84th Congress, would regulate the water supply for the project area. It is estimated that the average annual depletion of Colo­ rado River water would be 281,100 acre - feet, including reservoir evaporation loss. It is recommended that authority be sought for the Secre­ tary of the Interior to construct the Navajo Project as a partici­ pating project pursuant to the Act of April 11, 1956 (70 Stat. 105, 106} . Costs allocated to the irrigation of Indian owned tribal lands beyond the capability of such lands to repay, would be con­ sidered the responsibility of the Nation and nonreimbursable. Comments of the State of Colorado Colorado favors the full developnent of the water allo­ cated the Upper Basin States under compact. The construction of the San Juan-Chama and the Navajo Projects along with other poten­ tial projects, and the development of the prospective uses of water in the San Juan Basin would be of great benefit to the area served. The San Juan River Basin comprises a very important natural resource section of both New Mexico and Colorado. As the runoff of the San Juan River originates largely on Colorado Water Shed, Colorado feels a joint responsibility with the State of New Mexico in rendering state support and guidance for development of this all important resource of that section of the two States. Recognizing this joint responsibility with the State of New Mexico and to the citizens of the San Juan Basin, Colorado Honorable Fred A. Seaton, February 20, 1958 Page four feels it has had insufficient time for a complete analysis of the two reports and the long time effect of the proposed development on the San Juan Basin. From first examination of the reports, and in keeping with sound national resource development, it would appear desirable that the two states have the benefit of an analy­ sis of a complete basin plan of water development in order to assess long time requirements. It appears that some differences of opinion exist in respect to these projects. Realizing that fact, t he Governors of the States of New Mexico and Colorado are following established procedures to determine the facts involved and to attempt to re­ solve any differences that are found to exist. Respectfully submitted, Governor and Chairman Colorado Water Conservation Board Attorney, Colorado Water Director and Secretary Conservation Board Colorado Water Conservation Board ICC/lk .