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<br />051'1 <br />and by the Platte River basin to 'the east. The basin contains <br />24,300 square miles of wbich 80 percent is in Colorado, The re- <br />maining portion is in Nebraska. The South Platte River flows <br />generally northeast and is about 442 miles long from source to <br />lIDuth. Slopes vary from 1,000 feet per mile near the source to <br />about 15 feet per mile just dovnstream from Denver to 8 feet <br />per mile in the dovnstream reaches, <br /> <br />STUDY AREA <br /> <br />The study area includes the Lower South Platte River from <br />its mouth to the Narrows Unit damsi te, a distance of about 187 <br />miles. Plate 1 shows the general location of the study area, <br />The South Platte valley in the study area is broad, ranging from <br />1 mile to 4 miles vide. The river supports an extensive system of <br />irrigation diversions. Considerable valley land is also served by <br />vell irriga.tion. The Lover South Platte valley contributes an <br />important share of Colorado's agricuJ.tural production. Corn, <br />alfalfa, sugar beets, dry beans, wheat, and other small grains <br />which are the area's principle crops, support the local cattle <br />feed lots. Cities and towns of varying size are located along the <br />Lower South Platte River. The larger communities have food <br />processing and other agriculture-related industries. The study <br />area is served by numerous county and local roads. MaJor traffic <br />routes parallel the river and include the Union Pacific Railroad, <br />U.S. Highwa.y 34, and Interstate Highve:y 80 s. <br /> <br />ExISTING PROJECTS <br /> <br />There are no existing or authorized Federal projects in the <br /> <br /> <br />study area. other than the Narrows Unit. There are, however, three <br /> <br /> <br />dams and reservoirs which were constructed or are under <br /> <br />2 <br />