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MEMORANDULl June 1, 1950 FROM: Clifford H. stone, Director, Colorado Water Conservation Board SUBJECT: Proposed Narrows Dam Near Fort korgan, Colorado. The Narrows Dam, located near Fort j"organ, Colorado, on the South Platte River, was authorized, and money made available for fiscal 1950 for commencement of its construction. It was understood at the time money was first made available for this purpose that certain additional investigations, surveys, and project designs must be completed before construction could be started. These investigations involved a decision on the final location, capacity, and operation plan for the project. Affected local interests, in- cluding present irrigators and land o1'mers, as well as the staff of the Colo- rado Water Conservation Board, raised pertinent questions 1'dth respect to the proposed physical Tlorks and operation plan. It was necessary to assure pro- tection of present and potential water users in the South Platte Basin, in- cluding beneficiaries under the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, to secure through the project maximum benefits, and to reduce to a minimum consistent with proj- ect requirements the inundation of presently irrigated land. It is recognized by the Colorado "ater Conservation Board that a reservoir on the South Platte must eventually be built to reregulate and make useable all of the water which is exported from the natural basin of the Golorado River for use in the South Platte Basin in Golorado. The Colorado Water Conservation Board at its meeting on September 16-17, 1949 considered the matter and took the position that in the interest of the State and all affected local interests, further investigations and study of the problems above-mentioned, in collaboration with the Bureau of Reclama- tion, must be undertaken. The Director of Region 7, Bureau of Reclamation, with head~uarters at Denver, Colorado, was contacted and a number of conferences held with him and his associates; and it was agreed that no restrictive con- dition should be incorporated in acts passed by the Congress making appropria- tions for this project, but it was understood that no construction of the proj- ect would be commenced until these investigations were completed and a report thereon considered by the Colorado Water Gonservation Board and local interests. A local committee was created and is now actively collaborating with the State Water Board and Region 7 of the Bureau of Reclamation in this endeavor. Later a petition, signed by a number of residents and Ol"1IlerS of property of Fort Eorgan and vicinity, was riled wi th the Colorado Vater Con- servation Board, stating that the signers of such petition favored the proposed location at the Narr~lS site and urging initiation of construction of the dam (, ;': , - I) I~ ,.. ....J/