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<br />
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<br />
<br />Economics
<br />
<br />Narrows Unit plan, cost estimate, repayment
<br />data, and other economic aspects are 'currently
<br />being reviewed and updated. Based on 1975
<br />information, estimated cost of the Narrows Unit
<br />was $139 million. Because of inflation, however, it
<br />is estimated project costs will exceed $300 million.
<br />Of that amount, portions would be repaid by
<br />irrigators and Missouri Basin Program power
<br />revenues. Fish and Wildlife and Recreation costs
<br />would be shared among the Federal Government
<br />and State fish and wildlife and recreation agen'
<br />cies.
<br />
<br />Nonreimbursable costs include flooe! control,
<br />highway improvement, and a share of fish and
<br />wildlife and recreation costs. In all, the Narrows
<br />Unit continues to be a sound investment from an
<br />economic standpoint.
<br />
<br />Once completed, many different organizations
<br />and groups will be involved in operating the unit,
<br />Initially, the Bureau of Reclamation will operate
<br />and maintain the Narrows Dam and Reservoir.
<br />The Corps of Engineers will direct the operation of
<br />the flood control storage, and the two conservancy
<br />districts will, in turn, sell water to individuals and
<br />ditch and canal companies, which have existing
<br />irrigation distribution works, '
<br />
<br />N ati9nally, Reclamation projects have accrued an
<br />enviable record from an economics standpoint, In
<br />the 17 Western States, about 84.percent of the cost
<br />, of all Reclamation projects is repaid by users. .,..
<br />
<br />Although lands irrigated from' Reclamation'pro'
<br />jects make up, only 1 p'ercentofthe country's
<br />farmland, those lands produce about 10 percent of
<br />the Nation's agricultural commodities.
<br />
<br />For more information concerning the Narrows
<br />Unit, write or call Regional Director, Bureau of
<br />Reclamation, Lower Missouri Region, P.O. Box
<br />25247, Denver 80225, (303) 234-4257,
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />The environment
<br />
<br />Effect of construction of the Narrows Unit on the
<br />environment has been considered during planning
<br />activities. The first environmental statement was
<br />filed in 1970 and a more comprehensive statement
<br />drafted in 1975. Following meetings, public
<br />hearings, and input from citizens, 'organizations,
<br />and local, State, and Federal agencies, the final
<br />environmental statement on the Narrows project
<br />was issued in May 1976, .
<br />
<br />Plans call for establishing major wildlife manage,
<br />ment areas adjacent to and downstream from the
<br />reservoir. Such management was difficult in the
<br />past because of extensive private ownership of
<br />lands paralleling the river, Wildlife management
<br />will be the responsibility of the Colorado Division
<br />of Wildlife, and that agency will work to increase
<br />the quality and quantity of wildlife in the project
<br />area,
<br />
<br />The largest warm'water fishery in Colorado also
<br />will be created by the hatchery and the reservoir-'
<br />along a stretch of rivet where a limited fishery now
<br />exists,
<br />
<br />Planning is underway to establish a program to
<br />survey the project area, identify historic artifacts
<br />and sites, and record this information fOr use by
<br />fu.ture generations. During' project construction,
<br />some particularly significant buildings may even
<br />be moved or preserved.
<br />
<br />,>
<br />
<br />
<br />Unique two story sod house was identified
<br />during a cultural resources survey of the
<br />.Narrows project area,
<br />
<br />GPO 835- 005
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