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<br />ProJect Formu I at'i on <br /> <br />The area of damage is primarily agricultural. However, since there are <br />the Federal Highway 138 and the Union Pacific Railroad crossing the <br />flatter, lower lying areas of the flood plain and the town of Ovid, <br />consideration was given to classifying the structures according to the <br />potential damage that could occur in case of failure. As a result of <br />these considerations, sponsors have agreed to floodwater retarding <br />structures located above the steeper lands of the irrigated area and the <br />farmsteads, providing up to the 50-year level of protection.' This would <br />prevent most of the problems now related to high peak runoff to canals, <br />water courses, and irrigated lands. This will materially reduce sedi- <br />ment and debris damages and related costs. This degree of protection <br />will reduce the chance of loss of irrigation water service due to canal <br />damage from all but the larger, more infrequent storm events. <br /> <br />The level of protection for the lower lying area along' Highway 138 where <br />the remaining flood peaks have ample opportunity to spread out and be <br />less damaging, would be reduced to handle the damages from the 5-year <br />storm frequency peak flow runoff produced on the unreservoired area <br />except in the vicinity of Ovid. <br /> <br />A 100-year level of protection will be provided to the town of Ovid. <br />This will reduce damages to residential and commercial property and <br />reduce the possibility of loss of life from storms of greater magnitude. <br /> <br />State Forester's review of the watershed conditions in each state con- <br />---~~--'-1:hITted-that "he ong(>Ing programs for forestry were adequate except for a <br />minor amount of tree planting in Nebraska and a modest acceleration of <br />fire control in two rural fire control districts in Colorado. <br /> <br />The reconnaissance by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Colorado Division <br />of Wildlife, and the Soil Conservation Service indicated that: (1) the <br />dry nature of the tributaries of the watershed, except during flash <br />floods, and the unavailability of a dependable water supply preclude the <br />establishment of fish pools in the floodwater retarding structures or <br />opportunities for waterfowl hunting, (2) the proposed proJect would not <br />significantly affect fishery resources; (3)'pr6jett will have a' sl ight <br />beneficial effect on wildlife reSources; and (4) fencing of structures <br />and planting of borrow and construction sites with native plant's and <br />grasses' suitable for wildl ife food and cover will provide additional <br />wildl ife benefits as well as erosion control. <br /> <br />Environmental Considerations <br /> <br />Agreements with sponsoring organizations and the Colorado Division of <br />Wildl ife provide that fencing 'around construction sites will conform to <br />specifications agreeable to the Service and the Division,of Wild'life. <br />Seeding of construction and borrow areas to establish vegetative cover <br /> <br />30 <br />