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<br />REPORT .DF THE BOARD OF BNGINEERS ,FOR RIVERJ> AND
<br />HARBORS ,.'
<br />
<br />tSecond endorsoment]
<br />
<br />THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS, " :.:
<br />. Washington, D. C.; Al11JUSt 23, 194f!, .
<br />To the Chief of Engineel's, United States AmlY,
<br />1. The Board of Engineers concurs with the reporting officers ill
<br />,.the view that reservoirs in Purgatoire (Picket Wire) River,Basin for
<br />.flood control aud allied purposes are not economically justified at this
<br />time. The proposed plan for channel improvementthrongh the city of
<br />Trinidad will provide complcte flood protcction for the city and in the
<br />opinion of thc Board will produce sufficient flood benefits, both tang,
<br />ible and intangible, to jnstify the constrnction. Due to the local
<br />nature of these benefits, the Board believes it equitable that lQca1in,
<br />tereets contribute substllntially towards the cost of the constrUction.
<br />Accordingly, the Board recommends improvement of Purgatoire
<br />(Picket Wire) River, Colo., consisting of channel and levee construc,
<br />tion works for protection of the city of 1'rinidad, generally in accord,
<br />ance with the plans of the district engineer, at all estimated cost to the
<br />United States of $849,000 provided that local interests contribute
<br />$60,000 towards the initial cost and, in addition, furnish assurances
<br />satisfactory to the Secretary of War that they will: (a)'provide"with-
<br />out cost to the United States, all lands, easemeuts, aad rights,of-way
<br />necessary for cons,truction of the project; (b) hold and saVe the United
<br />States free from damages due to the construction works; (e) make the
<br />necessary changes in public utilities, bridges, draillage inlets, and irri-
<br />gation diversion facilities within the project limits ; (d) maintaill and
<br />operate all the works after completion in accordauce with regulations
<br />prescribed by the Secretary of:W ar. '
<br />. For the Board:
<br />
<br />, JOHN J. KINGMAN,
<br />Brigadier General, United Btates Army,
<br />Senior Member.
<br />
<br />SURVEY OF PURGATOIRE (PICKET WIRE) RIVER; COLO. '
<br />
<br />SYLLABUS
<br />
<br />The district engineer finds that there is a serious :flood problem in the Purga-
<br />toire Hiver I!asin at Trinidad, CoIQ.,. involving not only the welfare of the com-
<br />mun.ity but also national interests, in that vital transportation facilities, both rail
<br />and; highway, are subject to extensive flood damage and attendant interruption.
<br />'l;'.~e"district engineQr, also finds that, while flood damages a~e sUEltained in agri-
<br />cuJtural areas and a demand for floodwat.er conservation eXIsts, flood control or
<br />dual-purpose reservoir construction, singly or in combination with ch~llliel
<br />i~provement, is not economically feasible. He further finds that the most
<br />economical mqthod of providing flood control benefits to the Trinidad urban' area
<br />and for th~ proteotion of vulnerable transportation facilities located therein is the
<br />construction of a channel improvement within Trinidad at an estirnated first cost
<br />of $1,034,500 and annual charges of $42,200. The district engineer concludes
<br />that, since the, estimated monetary' benefits accruing to the channel-improvement
<br />project closely approximate the estimated annual costs, and since important in-
<br />tangible benefits involving the security of the community and nat.ionally important
<br />transportation' facilities also accrue, constru~'tion of the channEll-improvement
<br />,project is justified.
<br />The district engineer recpmmends that the channel-improvement project
<br />at Trinidad, Colo. be adopted as the most suitable plan for essential' flood
<br />protection in Purgatoire River, Colo., and'that Federal funds in the amount of
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