WSP09081

• File Number: 8443.600
• Description: Narrows Unit - Studies
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 11/19/1981
• Title: Narrows Dam Unit of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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means that the focus of the study will be on whether Narrows
is needed at all because the study is to develop where the
water is needed and then suggest how to get the water to
the place of need.

RLG submi~s that no 1981 funding for Narrows is appro-
priate until the present day place of need is defined.
The members of RLG, who ate acquainted by personal contact
with the South Platte River system believe..that the study
will necessarily 'show that Narrows is notlocatRd in a
position to serve the needs of the water users. -

Obviously; this statement by RLG cannot be detailed,
but we believe it should have credibility because the members
of RLG are long time residents of the Platte River "Valley
whose livelihoods are dependent on its flows, necessitating
an every day, year after year practical knowledge of the
operation of the River. The approach will be that of water
users rather than rec~ea~ionists.

A rough segmentation of the River can be made from
Platte Canyon, above Denver, to the Burlington Ditch head~-'
gate, which is just below Denver, a distance of thirty
miles, from the Burlington headgate to Kersey, approximately
fifty miles, Kersey to Balzac, another sixty miles, and
to the state line at JUlesburg, another seventy-five miles.
These distances are rough approximationspeither straight
line nor by river meander.

Returning to the course 'of the South Platte River from
Platte Canyon, were it emerges from the mountains to Julesburg
where it leaves the ~tate, we now furnish a bare outline
of river conditions. This bare outline is purely a stopgap
until Congress can have the benefit of the Basin Assessment
which, it is hop~d will be a thorough reconnaissance of
water need, the place of need and the availability of water
at the place of need in the South Platte Basin.

Except for the High Line Canal, near the mouth of
Platte canyon, the water supply for Denver and for the
ditches in the short stretch between Platte Canyon and the
Burlington is currently adequate. The only potential stabi-
lization of the Platte River supply for this area is Denver's
Two Forks Reservoir on the Platte River above Platte Canyon.
The High Line is a hundred miles above Narrows, too far
upstream for its perennial shortages to be ameliorated by
Narrows.

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