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<br />,-'" C''( <br />'..) ). ., <br /> <br />flood protection below the dam, the reservoir is being drawn down by <br />March 31 esch year to a level sufficient to accommodate storage of <br />the spring runoff and help prevent downstream flooding. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />3. Issue: Another mistake was made in not foreseeing the environmental <br />damage along Lake Fork Creek and Arkan~as River. This damsge consists of <br />15 miles of stream bank erosion through the county, pastures made wet <br />and boggy from the rising water tables, disruption of historic uses <br />of ground by livestock being unable to ford the high water, land being <br />covered by ice during the winter months, and several bridges and roads <br />being jeopardized. <br /> <br />Compounding these errors is the Bureau's attitude, "if there is damage-- <br />you prove it." <br /> <br />Raised by: <br /> <br />Name <br /> <br />Representing <br /> <br />Bernard Smith <br />William Hoffman <br /> <br />Lake County Soil Conservation District <br />Lake County Soil Conservation District <br /> <br />Response: <br /> <br />As early as 1965 the problem of potential environmental damage along <br />Lake Fork and the Arkansas River was under consideration. Tbe possibility <br />of channelizing this reach was studied but the idea was abandoned when <br />it proved to be economically and environmentally infeasible. Because the <br />county road bridge over Lake Fork was possibly jeopardized by high flows <br />in that stream, the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project financially cooperated <br />with Lake County in replacing the bridge. The Sugar Loaf Dam Reservoir <br />superintendent and other Bureau personnel are constantly alert for reports <br />of possible damage throughout this reach. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />After the Project is in full operation, Project and Homestake water <br />will be carried through the Mt. Elbert Conduit to the Mt. Elbert Forebay <br />and Po"erplant and then through the Otero Canal and powerplant to <br />Clear Creek Reservoir. With this operation the high flo"s that now <br />occur "hen Project water is released to Lake Fork will not occur. Flows <br />in Lake Fork will be due only to natural flows, into the stream below <br />Sugar Loaf Dam, release to the stream to sustain a live stream and <br />occasional flood spills from the Reservoir. <br /> <br />4. Issue: The Bureau and others associated with this Project have <br />access to expert hydrologists,-- people who know what water can do <br />in the way of damage. We therefore are surprised and shocked at the <br />reticence of these people to admit any possible damage. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />XI-445 <br />