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Show it could be determined whether the irrigation project and the trona could both be developed. Through the excellent cooperation of State of Wyoming officials, the Union Pacific Railroad Company, and the Bureau of Reclamation, a stage development plan has been proposed. The railroad company, at its own expense, drilled exploratory holes to determine if there were commercial trona mining possibilities under the Northern two-thirds of the project area which would be developed as the initial stage. The results of that drilling showed that there was not commercial trona available in the upper area. The railroad company has given assurance that it is willing to exchange or sell its sections of land in the initial stage area. Fontenelle Dam will be built large enough to provide storage for the ultimate project. The construction contract for Fontenelle Dam is scheduled for issuance in April, 1961. The irrigation system to serve the Northern two-thirds of the project area will be built initially and expanded later to serve the Southern part of the project after the land subsidence following trona mining and the effect that subsidence will have on surface irrigation can be determined. E. PROJECTS HAVING PRIORITY FOR PLANNING UNDER PUBLIC LAW 485, 84TH CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION In carrying out further investigations of projects under Federal Reclamation Laws in the Upper Colorado River Basin, the Secretary of the Interior is directed to give priority to completion of planning reports on twenty-five projects. Brief descriptions of these projects are to be found in the Commission's Eighth Annual Report. The Bureau of Reclamation, so far as limited funds and personnel will permit, is continuing its studies on these projects. Considerable progress in investigations has been accomplished during the past year. The San Juan-Chama, Navajo Indian Irrigation and the Savery-Pot Hook Projects have been found feasible and legislation has been introduced in Congress to authorize their construction as participating projects of the Colorado River Storage Project. Other projects in the priority-for-planning category are in various stages of detailed planning for feasibility reports or preliminary investigations for reconnaissance reports. A list of these projects given priority-for-planning status by P. L. 485, the Colorado River Storage Project Act, follows: 60 |