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0261 Mr . Joe D. Hall $ebruary 20, 19J6 Page two wildlife management area would be under the jurisdiction of the Colorado Division of Wildlife. That agency. is prepared to do everything within its power to increase the wildlife carrying capacity of the project area, particularly for waterfowl. The reservoir would create the largest and most significant warm water fishery in the State of Colorado, along a stretch of the river where no fishery now exists. The Narrows Reservoir will contain a permanent pool of approxi- mately 50,000 acre-feet. Situated in the heart of the population con- centration of this state, it will provide water-oriented recreation 'on a scale not matched by any other facility east of the Continental Divide. The annual visitor-day use is estimated at about 1,225,000. In all probability, this will increase to over 2,000,000 within ten years after the facility is completed. Water~oriented recreation is scarce in the plains area of our state. The Narrows Reservoir will provide a most needed addition. Insofar as outdoor recreation is concerned, the Narrows Reservoir will represent a vast improvement over the existing outdoor recreational opportunities in the area. These opportunities, for the most part, are now limited to private hunting clubs and other' exclusive private rights. I regard the most sp.rious environmental problem as being that one relating to the human environment. The project will require the, relocation of a number of people now residing in the reservoir area, many of whom have resided there for all or most of their lives. This is an unfortunate circumstance attendant upon the construction of any such reservoir facility and one which cannot be properly evaluated except by the people affected. While the present residents of the area will receive adequate compensation for both their property and relocation costs, there are other losses to them which unfortunately cannot be measured in financial terms. The reservoir acquisition area is new almost totally devoted to agriculture, which will terminate with the construction of the reservoir. Ro~!ever, the economic benefits of the project far outweigh the economic loss. , The South Platte Valley below Denver is one of the leading agricultural areas of the United States. It is an area which depends almost entirely upon irrigation for crop production. Shortages of water supplies often reduce crop yields and create uncertain economic con- ditions. No major channel reservoir storage exists on the South Platte River in Colorado. During the period 1950-1970, the average loss of water through lack of reservoir storage was 304,000 feet annually. In 1970 alone, almost 800,000 acre-feet of floodwater was lost. The State of Colorado can ill afford the loss of such a valuable natural asset. The proposed reseL"oir will also provide a major flood control facility for that area of the state below the reservoir to the state line. Since 1965 alone, flood damages throughout the length of the South Platte River ,in Colorado have exceeded a half billion dollars.