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<br />i <br /> <br />3 <br /> <br />While these dams are considered safe because they are <br /> <br />new and meet design criteria by present day standards, <br /> <br />dams <br /> <br />sti 11 <br /> <br />present a hazard <br /> <br />and increases the risk to life and <br /> <br />property. <br /> <br />The 1976 failure of the new Teton <br /> <br />Dam in <br /> <br />Idaho <br /> <br />illustrates the point. <br /> <br />Almost every tributary to the South Platte River has <br /> <br />at <br /> <br />least <br /> <br />one dam. <br /> <br />The majority of these dams were built <br /> <br />between 1900 and 1950 to provide water for irrigation and for <br /> <br />a dependable municipal water <br /> <br />supply. <br /> <br />In <br /> <br />areas near <br /> <br />Fort <br /> <br />Collins, <br /> <br />Boulder <br /> <br />and <br /> <br />Metropolitan <br /> <br />Denver, <br /> <br />downstream <br /> <br />development <br /> <br />caused many of these old dams to be reclassified <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />as high <br /> <br />or <br /> <br />moderate <br /> <br />hazard <br /> <br />dams. <br /> <br />With the increase in <br /> <br />development, <br /> <br />the number of reclassifications also increased. <br /> <br />When a dam is reclassified, the owner is given notice <br /> <br />by the Colorado State Engineer to evaluate and upgrade the <br /> <br />dam spillway and make the other necessary improvements to <br /> <br />reduce the probability of failure. Repairs and alterations to <br /> <br />these structures have often exceeded one million dollars. <br /> <br />To compound the problem, when a dam is repaired and <br /> <br />improved, <br /> <br />local <br /> <br />planners allow developers to construct more <br /> <br />homes and commercial buildings below the dam and <br /> <br />thereby <br /> <br />imposing an additional <br /> <br />liability upon the dam owner. <br /> <br />The <br /> <br />owners <br /> <br />liability <br /> <br />insurance <br /> <br />premiums <br /> <br />are subsequently <br /> <br />increased proportionally. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Colorado dam owners have discussed <br />, <br /> <br />their problems <br /> <br />i <br /> <br />with the autnor over the past eight years and have expressed <br /> <br />the opionon that <br /> <br />they should be compensated for improving <br /> <br />their dams and for the imposed additional liability. <br />