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. '1.", ... . - "TOI The 'Secretary , Vnder secr~tary .' OOTED STATES, DEPARTlJIENT OF THE INTERIOR, ' OFFICE OF THE SEC,RETARY Washington 25, D, c,' November 18, 1953 , Memorandum ,"Fromi ~ ! 'Subject: Constr\1cti,on of DaIrisinthe Dinosaur National ivlonument . . ,. ~ "'. . .," " " In accordance with your verbal instructions: I have'made a studyconce::ning thep!'oposa1to build the Eoho :!\arkDam ,and the Split , Mountain Dam 8S a part of the Upper Colorado River Basin development. The':letwo dams, if built, will be located wHhin the Dinosaur National Mon\llllent" They we:re O)~ig-\.Mlly proposed to be inCluded in the plan of de'relopment of the basin which was prepared by the Bureau of Reclamation . and reo'ommended forappro.,al by the Secreta:tW of the Intedo.' in January 1951'- Oppos'itiondeveloped to the constru.ctionof these two dams in the Dinosaur National Mor.timent, and on'December 4: 1952,the'~henSecretary 'of the Interior revised his recommendation and proposed that further consideration be given to studi,es of alternate sites. "It, was' under theSe circUlll8tances that you directed me to investigate the matter with 'particular reference to the suggested alternate sites, In connection with this investig~,tion I have reviewed the reports, sought and been furnished data andinfcirmation from both the National Park Service ...nd the Bureau of Reclamation,oonferred wi.'~h various, interested par":.ies and organizations" and have, in oompany with the Director of' +'he Natj,onalPark 'Ser:rice and 'the Commissioner of the Bureau of:Reclamationt perso:w.l1yvisHedthe'two dam sites in question and: inspected a considerable portion of the DindsaurNationalMonument. "I alsoinspectedonthll ground and from the air 'other portions of the Upper Colorado River area. ' ' The opposition to :the two dams in question arises from persons and organizations interested in the national parks and their desire to p:t:eserVe the Dinosaur National Jvlonument in its present natu::-al state. The Echo Park bam, inpartic:ular ~ will create a large reservoh' wi thin thi,s lvionumen'~and will ce!'tainly,aiter its appearanCe and the existing , conditions, It isa.:matter of personal opinion as to the extent of the ha~ that maybe created by this reservOir. l~ovnifeeling is, that the altel"ation will be substantial and if conflicting interests did not exist, I would prefer to see the Monument remain in its natural state. However~, I do feel that if the dam is built.. the beauty of the park will by no, means be destroyed and it will remai.n an area of great attraction to many people. , '; , " It should be noted that neither of, these proposed reservoirs win inundate any portion of the quar1'Y where the dinosaur skeletons have been found.