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<br />FRymGPAN-ARKANSAS PROJECT, COLORADO
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<br />nno. sillce then has cont.inuC'd to press for it.s l1utlwrizl1t,ion. The
<br />project, was specific-nlly endorsed by former Presirl.ent Eisenhower in
<br />bis last seyeral budget messages to the Congress, lllHI it hils the
<br />unqulllified support of t,he pl'esent adminislrnJion. .
<br />Tlu.'-l'e hflYC bCPIl only 11 few ll1odificlll,iollS in the project plnn sInce
<br />J95:J, t,he major onl' beillCT j,11C suhst.it.ution of Rucdi DUIllllnd !{(lscr-
<br />voir for f,hc .Aspen Dam u~l(l Resel'voir to provide replacement st.ol'uge
<br />on the west, ern slope. This chllIlge in pllll\ WllS reconuncnded by the
<br />D<:,pal'tmellt..of t.he Int.erior and ~mbmit.t.cd to the Congl'ess in ?vftlrch
<br />of lOGO and the report. 011 if, wns print.ed 11S House Document, 3,j;3 of
<br />t.he 86t.h Congress, It. WllS t.his chullge in pIau t.hat, cont.ribut.ed
<br />largely to t.hc meet,illg of the minds wit.hin trhe Stat.e of Colol'tHlo on t.he
<br />}"'ryillgpllJl-ArkullsIlS proj(.ct.
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<br />PREVIOUS CONSIDERATION
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<br />Legislat.ion t,o authorize tbe Fr.yingpan-Arkansas project hns veen
<br />considered by the committee and by the COIlg-ress since 19.14. The
<br />conuniLtnc.has held ext~lIsivc JJcurinfrs on t.he legislal.ion. All aspects
<br />of tile PJ'oj('(..t hHve hi-'elt t,IIOI'Olll,!'hly cOJlsiden~ll. The cO/llmittee
<br />fll.\'(lrahly reportell leg-islntion to l1ut,horize t.lle Fryingptl.ll-..Al'kllnsns
<br />projed lUlU Ule Rules COiTlmiu,f'p fll\-nrilbl,v reported a. Tf'solution
<br />prnviding' for fluor considerat.ion ill tile 83d~ 84 th, and 8ilt.h Congresses.
<br />Howcwer, t,he If>gi~Jtlt,ioH llHS I1C\.C1' GOllle up on tbe Hoar for delHtte.
<br />Tlw rt":'lolulioll fJl'o\.iding for its cOJlsidel"iuion "'llS defeated in the
<br />closing days of the S:Jd snd 84/.h Conb'Tesses and in the 85th Congress
<br />the resolution was not considered. Legislat.ion t.o authorize the Frying-
<br />pan-Arkansas project. pllSsed the Senute in the 83d, 84th, and 85th
<br />Congresses.
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<br />AREA NEEDS AND PROJECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
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<br />The wat.ers of the upp~r Arkansas River Bnsin are presently over-
<br />appropriated llnd there are. serious losses in e,fOp production on the
<br />presently. irrigated farmland. Supplement,al water supplies are
<br />necessary to stabilize the llgl'icultw'al economy in the area. The
<br />2S0,OOO acres which would benefit from t.hi-s. project. now have all
<br />inadequat.e or 11lldepclldl1blt.~ supply of' water. NUlIlerous irrignt.ion
<br />oitches have no \\.'llter until :rvlay and many have none after early
<br />August. Pumping fwm g~ou.nil watet: to supplement surfllce supplies
<br />h"s bee,' eXl'ullded to the lumt o( u,""i\abl. ro,dmrge. . Crop losses on
<br />irrigllted hlllds have beell, stw€,re in recent years, wq.h t.he, irrigat.ed
<br />area unable t.o prodUl.'.e sufficient livestock feed for it,s owii lise. It is
<br />estill~ated t,!lSt. timely r~lcsscs of pl'ojeet wfltcr during eriticnl t'rop-
<br />growlIlg perIOds, 81110untlllg to an n.\'eJ'sge of 0,6 of fin acre-foot for the
<br />280,000 inadequately il'rigutcd acres, \\'ill cut the long-term o.verfwe
<br />yearly irrigation shortages in hnlf-t.hut. is, from 32 to 16 perceI;'t.
<br />which is tolerable. '
<br />NIunicipul water needs in t,he Arknnstls Valley Imve become eritinLl.
<br />Diminishingwatersllpplies and I,he rapid popull1tion growth in Pllehlo
<br />Colorado Sprillg3, find other valley cit.ies find towns have cont.ribut.ed
<br />to this crit,i"ll! Wllter supply situlltion. A D.S, Public Healt,h Senice
<br />study in ]9.57 indicute(l t.hat. f,IIe ArkuIlsas River is OIle of the worst in
<br />the N n.tion from t.he standpoint of pollution, chloride content, 'tdkn-
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