[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 103 (Tuesday, July 26, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S8960]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ALLARD (for himself and Mr. Salazar):
  S. 1498. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey 
certain water distribution facilities to the Northern Colorado Water 
Conservancy District; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy 
District has contacted me, along with other members of the Colorado 
Congressional Delegation, seeking the introduction and passage of 
Federal legislation authorizing the title transfer of specific features 
of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project from the Untied States to 
Northern. This title transfer will be similar to a bill that I carried 
during the 106th Congress, which transferred other Bureau of Rec 
facilities to Northern. The projects involved in the proposed title 
transfer are those single-purpose water conveyance facilities used for 
the distribution of water released from Carter Lake Reservoir: the St. 
Vrain Supply Canal; the Boulder Feed Canal; the Boulder Creek Supply 
Canal; and the South Platte Supply Canal.
  The entire project, called the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, was 
built from 1938 to 1957, and provides supplemental water to more than 
30 cities and towns. The water is used to help irrigate over 600,000 
acres of northeastern Colorado farmland.
  The proposed legislation will divest Reclamation of all present and 
future responsibility for and cost associated with the management, 
operation, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation and replacement of, and 
liability for the transferred facilities. This responsibility will 
become that of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District.
  The legislation will eliminate the duplication of efforts between the 
District and Reclamation in issuing and administering crossing licenses 
and other forms of permission to utilize the land on which the 
facilities are located. Finally, the legislation will provide for 
enhanced local control over water facilities that are not of national 
importance, and allow these facilities to be used for more efficient 
and effective water management. Local control, especially in the case 
of matters in relation to water, has always been a major component of 
my philosophy. I am proud to introduce this bill which will serve to 
further that intent.
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