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3 . Purgatoire River through Trinidad was authorized by Congress in 1944, substantially as recommended in this document, preconstruct ion planning of the project was postponed pend ing the resu I ts of a rev iew survey investigation requested by Congress in 1945. '. d. House Document No. 325, 84th Congress, Pur~atoire Rive~ Colorado. This report consisted of a review of House Document No. 387, 78th Congress"to determine whether the recommendations'contained therein should be modified to provide flood protection for Trinidad and, at the same time, improve the water supply for agricultural and indus- trial uses. In accordance with the recommendations of the report, Congress authorized the construction of the Trinidad .Dam and Reservoir on the Purgatoire River above Trinidad to provide flood protection to the city and conservation of the water supply. The authorization also prov i ded for abrogat i on of the channe I improvement project, when the dam is placed under construction. Preconstruct ion planning of the project is nearing completion. 5. The report of the Arkansas-White-Red Basins Inter-Agency Committee, dated June 30, 1955, was publ ished as Senate Document No. 13, 85th Congress, Development of Water and Land Resources of the Arkansas-White and Red River Basins. This comprehensive report pre- sented a long-range plan, coordinated among al I interested Federal agencies and the States involved, for the development and uti lization of the water and land resources of the Arkansas, White, and Red River Basins. The plan included improvement of the Arkansas River at Las Animas in the interest of flood control. 6. IMPROVEMENTS DESIRED.- Public hearings were held by the Albuquerque District Engineer at Pueblo on March 20, 1944, and August 3, 1950, to afford local interests an opportunity to present their flood probl.ems and to express their views c.oncerning the char- acter and extent of water resources improvements desired on the Arkansas River and tributaries in Colorado. A joint regional publ ic hearing was held at Pueblo on October 5, 1950, by the Arkansas-White-Red Basins Inter-Agency Committee. . 7. During the hearings, statements made in behalf of the city of Las An imas and Bent County re I ated an i ncreas i ng I y ser i ous flood threat at Las Animas caused by heavy plant growth in the riverbed which retards flows and results in deposition of si It and decreased channel capacities. Furthermore, it was brought out that as a result'of aggradation and bank erosion, the river threatens to change its course during floods and flow through the town. Local interests also mentioned that Las Animas could possibly be flooded by backwater from John Martin Reser- voir. Channel straightening and installation of steel jetties were suggested as corrective measures. In conclusion, it was stated that the city and county together had accomplished some work for flood pro- tection which relieved the problem temporariiy, but adequate measures for solution of the serious flood problem were beyond the financial ability of local interests.