WSP02395

• File Number: 8443.100
• Description: Narrows Unit - Project Description
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 8/1/1966
• Title: Report on the Narrows Unit Colorado South Platte Division Missouri River Basin Project part 1
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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General Description

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the western and central sectors and 138 serves the eastern sector.
All of these highways are linJ<ed together and tie in with other
Federal and State highways of the surrounding area. The two larger
towns, Sterling and Fort Morga", have airports, and some of the
smaller communities have airstrips or landing fields. Commercial
airline services are available within a few hours travel time.
Adequate means for communication are available, including telephone,
telegraph, radio and television.

Adequate facilities are available for satisfying the immediate
electrical energy needs of the area. Private power companies now
furnish electrical energy to Sterling and Brush. Fort Morgan and
Julesburg have municipal systems, and REA systems serve the rural
sectors. Pipelines installed by private companies serve all the
principal towns with natural gas. In addition, an interstate pipe-
line system for gathering refined products of local plants is located
in the area.

Educational facilities through high school are available
locally. Institutions of higher learning, especially the junior
college at Sterling, Colo., are also favorably located to serve
the residents of the area.

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PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS

As e. result of severe water shortages and nUJ!lerOliS disastrous
floods the need for an ad"quate irrigation and flood control reser-
voir near the present site has been recognized locally for more than
50 years. Following early investigations by private interests, the
Corps of Engineers, and the Bureau of Reclamation, the Narrows Dam
and Reservoir yas eventually authorized as a unit of the comprehen-
sive Missouri River Basin Project by the flood control acts of 1946
and 1950. Preconstruction activities were initiated in 1947, and a
definite plan report was prepared by the Bureau of Reclamation in
1951. Public hearings were held in 1951, which indicated considerable
opposition to the plan, principally by residents located in the
reservoir area. As a result of the lack of official support by the
State of Colorado, all preliminary activities on the dam and reser-
voir were terminated.

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During the intervening years, mar,y discussions and meetings of
interested groups were held, a steering committee was organized, and
the Colorado Water Conservation Board advanced funds to the Bureau of
Reclamation for the resumption of studies. The Bureau was specifical-
ly requested to make a hydrologic study and cost comparison of an up-
stream site in Weld County. These studies terminated in a meeting
of the Colorado Water Conservation Board in Fort Morgan on Septem-

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