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U.S.
Senator Member of the Agriculture, Energy and Veterans Affairs
Committees |
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For Immediate
Release June 6, 2005 |
CONTACT: Cody Wertz – Press Secretary 202-228-3630 Jen Clanahan – Deputy Press Secretary 303-455-7600 |
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| SEN. SALAZAR
ANNOUNCES FULL SUPPORT FOR ARKANSAS VALLEY CONDUIT
“For too long, the lower Arkansas River communities have been withering on the vine because their agricultural land is drying up,” said Salazar. “I am determined to help preserve these communities and to assist in revitalizing their economic future. Bringing clean drinking water to these communities via the conduit is an important piece to preserving the lower Arkansas River Valley.” A copy of the letter Senator Salazar sent is included below: June 6, 2005
Mr. Bill Long
Mr. Wally Stealey Dear Chairman Long and President Stealey, As we have discussed many times, I fully support construction of the Arkansas Valley conduit. This pipeline will transport clean drinking water nearly 125 miles, stretching from Pueblo Reservoir to Lamar. It will supply water to many communities in the Lower Arkansas River Valley. The conduit was authorized by Congress in 1962 as an original part of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project. I am very pleased to be an original co-sponsor, along with Senator Allard, of the legislation recently introduced in the U.S. Senate to complete it. For too long, the lower Arkansas River communities have been withering on the vine because their agricultural land is drying up. I am determined to help preserve these communities and to assist in revitalizing their economic future. Bringing clean drinking water to these communities via the conduit is an important piece to preserving the lower Arkansas River Valley. During discussions with the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District and others during the past few months, I have asked the District and the Arkansas Valley Conduit Committee to study and learn from the successful pipeline project recently completed in Colorado. The Southern Water Supply Project pipeline was constructed by the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District in 1999, and brings Colorado-Big Thompson Project water to Front Range cities and towns. The Southern Water Supply Project is a buried pipeline that begins at Carter Lake and delivers water as far south as Broomfield and as far east as Fort Morgan. As a member of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, I was involved in working on this important project and know the many partners and funding sources that made it possible. The Arkansas Valley conduit can and will profit from the experience and knowledge gained in the construction of the Southern Water Supply Project. I specifically asked Eric Wilkinson, Executive Director of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District to help us in this endeavor and he has agreed to do so. I am therefore very pleased to learn that the Southeastern District and the Conduit Committee have scheduled a detailed inspection of the Northern District’s pipeline project on June 14, 2005. I am very grateful to Eric Wilkinson and the Northern District for their willingness to discuss their project with you. I would like to schedule a meeting with the stakeholders of the Arkansas River conduit in the next few weeks to further evaluate the status of the effort and to help develop a timeline for moving forward with this project.
cc: Eric Wilkinson, Northern
Colorado Water Conservancy District # # # |
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