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<br /> <br />PURGATOIRE (PICKET WIRE) RIVER, COLO. <br /> <br />'35 <br /> <br />to tho maximum flood of record, and also equal to the probable maxi. <br />mum occurrence during the life of the structure. The estimated fir&t <br />costs of this plan would be $1,034,500 and the annual charges would <br />amount to $42,200., <br />108. Tho average' annual tangible benefits accruing to the recom' <br />mended plan of improvement ,amount to $41,650, While the annual <br />benefits closely approximate the annual costs ($42,200), the economie <br />ratio is slightly loss than 1 to 1 a.nd conclusive economic justification <br />is lacking. The intangible benefits accruing to the recommended plan <br />of improvement would be large. Among such benefits, on wb.ich <br />monetary yltlues cannot be placed, Itre the p'reservation of nationally <br />imporliant. transportation facilities, both rail and b.ighway, and pre-, <br />vention of service interruptions affecting national commerce. Also <br />included .are the more local benefits of prevention of possible loss of <br />life, exposurn, and human suffering dlle to flood destruction, and gen- <br />eral impaivmont of community welfare. Therefore, in consideratian <br />of both tangible and intangible benefits accruing to the recommended <br />plan of hnpr?ve';llent, in comparison with its estimated annual costs, <br />Its constructIOn IS warranted. ' <br />109. A dual,purpose reservoir at the Sopris site in combination <br />with an improved chllJlllel through Trinidad would most adequately <br />serve the Purgatoire River Valley. Local interests have stated that <br />flood protection in the urban area of Trinidad and the agricultural <br />arellS along the main river and tributary streams is desired. They <br />have stated, also, that conservation of f1oodwa, tel'S above the ability <br />of the irrigation systems to divert the",e flows is desired. The dual. <br />"purpose 'reservoir \Ind~r plan 2 would provide conse1'Vatiou, ofwatfjI" <br />for irrigation "useand"somidlood protection in agricultural ai'eas'while <br />, the improved channel through Trinidad would provide complete flood <br />protection in the urban area. This combination is shown by analyses <br />to provide the most economical accomplishment of the desires of local <br />interests. Since neither item of the combinatiou shows a favorable <br />ratio of benefits to costs the combination is uot ecouomically justified <br />at this time. <br />110. Summarizing all plans submitted by local interests, multiple- <br />purpose projects which would most adequately serve the ueeds in <br />Purgatoire Valley, and channel improvements through Trinidad for <br />protection of the major, dama~e center, it is, found that the .t<lCom- <br />, inmr1lelFpllliti io'f 'improvein'ent' would provide the greatest returns on <br />the,.inv:estlnent. <br />111. The recommended plan of improvement would provide flood <br />pro~e?tion t? the urban area, of T~in!da~ only. 1t would provide no <br />addItIOnal dIvertable water to theuTIgatlOn systems. However, con- <br />struction of thc recommended plan of improvement will in no manner <br />interfere with, construction of hTigation storage reservoirs anYwhere <br />in the watershed when such cons'truction may be found desirable. <br />112. Because of the local nature of the tangible benefits, responsible <br />local interests should give aSSUl'l1nces satisfactory to the Secretary of <br />War that they will: (a) Provide without cost to the United States all <br />lands,"OI1somentsi and rights-of,way necessary for the construction of <br />thepwjoct; (b) nolO.. and save the United Sta~os free from dam.w:~s <br />due to'the constructIon of the works; (c) provIde tho costs of pUblIc <br />utility and bridgo revisions, relocations, or replacements; (d) provide <br />