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Energy committee approves Colorado land, water billsColorado On Sept. 11, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources approved several key Colorado land and water bills that United States Senator Ken Salazar has been championing. The committee, of which Sen. Salazar is a member, approved legislation to rehabilitate the Jackson Gulch Irrigation Canal in Montezuma County, authorize construction of the Arkansas Valley Conduit in southeastern Colorado, designate lands in Mesa, Montrose and Delta counties as the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area and Wilderness, and protect open space in and around the Arapahoe-Roosevelt National Forest in northern Colorado. "In Colorado, the protection of our land and water is fundamental to our way of life," said Sen. Salazar. "I appreciate the support of my colleagues on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee who helped us advance bills that are vital to communities across the Colorado. These bills will help farmers, ranchers and local communities in southeastern and southwestern Colorado have reliable access to clean water, help communities along the Front Range protect open space, and preserve, for the enjoyment of generations to come, one of the signature landscapes of the Western Slope." A summary of the Colorado bills that Sen. Salazar has championed and that the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved today is below. I-70/HW 50 Corridor, S. 3065--The Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area Act (Introduced by Sen. Salazar): Would designate approximately 210,000 acres of federally-owned land on the Uncompahgre plateau as the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (NCA), of which approximately 65,000 acres would be designated as the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area. Arkansas Valley Region, S. 2974--THE ARKANSAS VALLEY CONDUIT ACT (Introduced by Sen. Wayne Allard, co-sponsored by Sen. Salazar). Establishes a 35 percent federal cost share for the construction of the Arkansas Valley Conduit, a proposed 130-mile water delivery system from Pueblo Dam to communities throughout the Arkansas River Valley. The Conduit was originally authorized in 1962 as part of the Fryingpan-Arkansas project. Four Corners Region, S. 1477--The Jackson Gulch Rehabilitation Act (Introduced by Sen. Salazar, co-sponsored by Sen. Wayne Allard): Would authorize federal funding to rehabilitate the Jackson Gulch irrigation canal, which delivers water from Jackson Gulch Dam to residents, farms and businesses in Montezuma County. In addition to providing supplemental agricultural water for about 8,650 irrigated acres and a domestic water supply for the Mesa Verde National Park, the Mancos Project also delivers water to the more than 500 members of the Mancos Rural Water Company, the Town of Mancos and at least 237 agricultural businesses. Northern Colorado, H.R. 903--The Front Range Mountain Backdrop Act (Introduced by Sen. Salazar): Directs the Forest Service to work with local communities to identify ways in which they can protect open spaces and natural resources near the Arapahoe-Roosevelt National Forest. These bills will now move to the floor for consideration by the full Senate. 9/29/08 Date: 9/24/08
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