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Show APPENDIX E DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Office of the Secretary WASHINGTON January 31, 1952 Mr. John Geoffrey Will Secretary and General Counsel Upper Colorado River Commission 520 Rood Avenue Grand Junction, Colorado Dear Mr. Will: The Department of Agriculture has endeavored through the years to encourage and facilitate the protection, development .and conservation of the natural resources of the Colorado River area, including the Upper Basin. It has large responsibilities for administration of important timber and range producing areas on the National Forests there which also perform a key watershed protection function of interest and value to all residents of the area and to many others elsewhere. It has contributed to the stabilization and improvement of the area's agricultural resources and interests. We appreciate the recognition given to these efforts by the Upper Colorado River Commission, in its resolution enclosed with your letter of January 14, and expect to continue them as available means will permit. In order to give direction and leadership to future efforts, this Department now proposes to develop, in cooperation with the States and other Federal agencies, a multiple purpose program for the proper use and conservation treatment of the watershed lands of the Colorado River Basin that will be complementary to engineering structures on the main stem of the River. An initial appropriation request, in the form of a $200,000 increase for General Basin Investigations under the Department's Flood Control item, is included in the Budget Estimate for the Fiscal Year 1953. We believe you will be interested in this and in the prospects it holds for further sound development and use of the Basin's resources. Sincerely, (signed) Charles F. Brannan Secretary -33- |
