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~U.j4 of Reclamation began extensive subsurface in- vestigations at the Narrows site. A board of consultants concluded, in 1948, that a safe dam could be constructed at that site. In anticipation of construction requirements, six- teen permanent type houses and garages, an I office, a warehouse, arid two seven-car garages were constr~cted in Fort Morgan and completed by July of 1948. During these preconstruction years, several meetings were held by this Board and the Bureau of Reclamation with local interests to keep them informed of the plan. At the request of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, a detailed comparative analysis was made between the Narrows and the Fort Morgan sites. This analysis indicated that the Narrows site was the more feasible location. However, local opposition to a dam at the Narrows site inten- sified and crystallized, due principally to reservoir right-of-way requirements. On July 11, 1951, the Board directed its then Director, Judge Clifford H. stone, to hold a series of public hearings concerning the Narrows Unit. These hearings were held to permit local and interested persons to consider the proposed plan of development, to express their views concerning it, and to aid the Water Board in formulating the state's official views on the project. The Board also requested its consulting engineer, Mr. Royce J. Tipton, to conduct an independent investigation per- taining to the most suitable reservoir site. Mr. Tipton subsequently recommended to the Board that the reservoir be constructed at the Narrows site. Public hearings were held in I Fort Morgan, Greeley and Sterling. The final hearing was to be held in Denver to consider the state's formal comments on the project. However, this meeting was never held due to the untimely death of Judge stone. Consequent- ly, to this date the Bureau of Reclamation has never been advised as to the official attitude of the state of Colorado. Again, I might