Sandia National Laboratories in the 1950s

In 1960, the Cold War was a thing – the moral imperative of our global stand against the commies. At the time, Albuquerque, New Mexico, was one of the nation’s centers for nuclear weapons research, development, and management. What better reason for supporting water development?

From a May 20, 1960 hearing before the House Subcommittee on Irrigation and Reclamation on the San Juan-Chama Project came this, from John Bliss, New Mexico’s Upper Colorado River Commissioner:

Albuquerque is one of the most rapidly growing cities in the United States. Located there are large installations which play a vital role in our program of research and development for national defense. An assured water supply is essential for the continuation and possible expansion of that program in the Albuquerque area….

They built the project.