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<br />2928 <br /> <br />xvi <br /> <br />The effect of any future decrees granted far a second filling to an existing <br />reservoir on the stor~ge right for Narrows Reservoir would be minor since flows <br />:'Cl excess of direct-flow rights usually' only occur during the period of high spring <br />runoff when reservoirs are full. Consequently, the only '/later available to existing <br />re,ervoirs in excess of one filling is primarily restricted to late season floods <br />that produce discharges in excess of direct-flow rights. The quantity of water so <br />obtained is further dependent upon the capac:i. ty of the inlet channel which in most <br />cases is being used for direct-flow diver~ion. Therefore, if the rights for second <br />fillings are recognized by the courts, the effect or, tele rights of Narrows Reservoir <br />will be minor. <br /> <br />Tax Losses <br /> <br />Numerous questions have been raised relative to the loss of taxG.ble property <br />in j',iorgan Count;}; if the Ilarrows Reservoir :'5 constr'.lcted. The railroad will be <br />relocated vdthin ;,iorgan Co'mty, and it is assumed t:mt the relocated line will have <br />an assessed valtultion comparable to that of the existing line. Based on 1947 assesse:i <br />valuation, the loss to ..organ County in assessed valuation llould be approximately <br />2.17 percent of the total assessed valuation. This percentage applies only to the <br />area to be acquired in fee. Some additional losses ltill be experienced in the flood <br />control area where easements would be taken. Under ultimate conditions, a water <br />supp~ would be available for about 30,000 acres of land now dry-farmed. A con- <br />siderable portion of this land to be supplied llater under the ultimate plan will be <br />located in Morgan County and thus would eventually compensate the county for the <br />loss of irrigated lands. <br /> <br />Flood Control <br /> <br />One of the primary purposes of the ,.arrows Dam is to provide flood control for <br />the lower valley. To achieve full flood control benefits, it is necessary to con- <br />trol historical floods on the <iouth Platte !liver and also control Bijou Creek floeds, <br /> <br />The storage space required in the Narrov/s Reservoir for control of floods was <br />determined in cooperation with the Corps of Engineers, based upon permissible re- <br />leases and the flood control benefits that l;ill result from construction of the <br />reservoir. Detailed studies by the Corps of li.nginc"rs c.eter'11ined that a, maximum <br />capacity of 325,000 acre-feet of flood control stor8,c;e wO'lld be sufficient to control <br />the combined snowmelt and r2instorm floods' and that orJ.] 250,000 acre-feet would be <br />required to control rainstorm floods after June lS. ~"_~,ce snowmelt floods can be <br />forecast in advance, it would be possible in some years to use all or part of the <br />flood control space in excess of 250,000 acre-feet for conservation purposes. Space <br />in the Narrows Heservoir to be used exclusively for flood control will amount to <br />250,000 acre-feet. In addition, there lC~ll be a jo:.nt-use space of 75,000 acre-feet <br />for irrigation and flood control. Narrows Reser,oir would easily control the maxi- <br />mum flood of record on Bijou Creek, which occurred in 1935. It Has not considered <br />necessary or econonically feasible to provide sufficient flo00 control space for the <br />extremely remote possibility of a simultaneous occurrence of the 1935 flood on Bijou <br />Creek and the 1921 flood on the South Platte River. llegulation of ur.used flood <br />flows based on historical records wOllld make availane about 36,000 acre-feet annually <br />for i.r.rie"- lion. <br />