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<br />Oi91
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<br />FRYlNGPAN-ARKANSAS PROJECT, COLORADO
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<br />which the commiU,ec has given to t.he Fryingpan-Arkansas project.
<br />This u.CC01.mts for the fact, that the cOJllmittee lLpproved the legis-
<br />lation wjth only minor nlllcndmcnt.s.
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<br />PURPOSE
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<br />This lcgislntion would nutltorize the COllSf,I'lIctioTl and operation
<br />by the Se"Cl'ct.afY of t,lle rllu~rior of t.he I1l1llt,iple-purpose Fryjngpnn-
<br />A'l'loUlsns projec;t, in Co}onHlo. for furnishi~lg sllpplementnl irrigation
<br />wat,cr, furnishing 111lllliciYill W!tt,Cl', controllmg floods on the .Ar.kllllSftS
<br />River, supplying el.cctnc power !ln~ ene'"gy, .llnd oth~r mCJ(~entlll
<br />purposes. Tlle project. would const'lt,~Jt.8. a Ill11Jur step 111 1l1UXIIJlUm
<br />uti]izl1tion of W!lter ltlld In.nel resources III Colorltdo.
<br />Supplementul irrign.t.ion water wpulcl be Illlt.de u.vailahle' for llpproxi-
<br />mn.t,elv 280,000 HCl'C~ of land through the tmnsmount,n,in diversion of
<br />an a,;crntrp, of ahout 83,000 acre-fect. of wat.er anlllllLlly (including
<br />n.ddit.ioIllt.l diversions t.hi'ough exist,ing works), t.he conscrvo,tioll of
<br />floodflows in the Arkallsas Valh~.y, the reregulnt.ion of wint.er flows ~,herc
<br />and the reuse of ref,urn flows. III addit.ioll, n.hout 20..500 ll..cre-feet of
<br />wn.ter would be mn.de n.vnilablc l1.lInun.lly to meet the rapidly expanding
<br />municipal wu,ter ne.erls of Colorado Springs, Pueblo, tllld other Ar-
<br />ktLrlSHS Vtl.lI()\' to\nlS. Operation of the project for flood cont.rol would
<br />prevcnt a l;\rge part. of the flood do.mag-es which, under present
<br />condit,ions, occur It.nnuft.H~. in the Arkansas Vo,lIey. The hydroelectric
<br />plant, a"d rell1ted faeilities would pro\'ide o\'er balE a hillion kilowal,t-
<br />hours of electric energy n.nnually to mElet the e:x-panding power !lnd
<br />energy needs in the area. Also, the project would benefit fish and
<br />wildlifc, provide rccr8fltionltl opportunities, he.]!> eontrol 5ediment,
<br />and prevcnt strelllll pollution.
<br />
<br />BACKGROUND
<br />
<br />The Fryingpnn-Arkftnsas project has hecn under study and eon-
<br />siderlltion for over 30 years. It hilS been ready for authorizfltion for
<br />8 years. How(~vel'l it was not until recent,ly that all intercstcd ptlrties
<br />in the State of Colorndo were able to agree on the dc\'elopment..
<br />During the prolonged effort on the part of t.he Stat.e of Colorado
<br />and t,he people of t.llC ArknnsHs Vnlle\' to secure llllt.horimtion of this
<br />project they hHve expeuded o\'er $iOO,OOO of their own funds pre-
<br />paring project studies o.nd doing the udditiollill grollnd\\'ork necessllry
<br />m ge~tjn~ the conSl~rVilJlt'-Y dist.rict organized. The grclltest portion
<br />of th,s sum "alOe from (,he people of tlw Arknns"s Vulley. In \958,
<br />~hey organized themselves into the largest wnter conserVtHlCY district,
<br />In the history of Colol'lldo, ill terms both of population llnd n.sses~ed
<br />valufl~ion. By doing so, they have demonstrltted their willingness
<br />to 1'o.18e from ad valorem taxes ftpproxim~ltely .~420,OOO annuall.v,
<br />based ~m present llssessed vnlues, to assist ill project repuyment ~wd
<br />operatIOn.
<br />The ~(lplll"t.ment, of t.he Int.erior complet.ed it.s planning report. on
<br />the proJect. in 19:il and, nfter review by rile S(,tltes in tIle Colorado
<br />Hi"'er Busill llnd /dfc'ct.ed Federal ~lgeneJesJ the report, Wl1S submitt.ed
<br />to the Congress ill J 9C)3 "nd \\,'IlS printed f1S House DOCllJlHmt 187 of
<br />the S~id Congress. At tllltt. time t.he DepllrLlllent. I'ccollullcrJded
<br />a.[I~hol'i;':l\ t.joll unci const.ruct,jOIl of t.he Fryjngplln-Ark:1.IlSlIS. project,
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