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o ... 0\.)41 9. Questionable Irrigation Benefits Need for channel storage on the main stem of the South Platte River has long been recognized. Also, it is an accepted fact that the further upstream such storage can be located the greater the benefits that may be derived. Herein lies the controversy of location of a dam at the "Narrows" or the much preferred Weld County Site some thirty miles up- stream from Narrows. Knowledgeable water authorities (from State Engineers' Office, regional and local). excepting the Bureau of ReclaMa- tion, have repeatedly expressed this preference along with the many advantages of the "upstream site." In the past, certain Bureau Engineers have likewise stated preference to the upper site. Refer t.o "Site Selection Presentation to the South Platt.e Steering Committee - February, 1963, - j) Bureau of Reclamation, Region .7, Denver, Colorado. Page 37, Statement in part _ "In conclusion important items should be noted from the project reservoir operation studies:-----with .the adjusted historic condition. the supply accruing at each site is about the same, at 1990, approximately 11,000 acre feet more accrues at Weld County than at Narrows. The total basin shortages are 11,000 acre feet less with Weld County than with the Narrows." The Bureau uses an expectance of 50 to 100 years in estimating benefit-cost ratios. In a statement addressed to Honorable Floyd K. Haskell attention was called to the fact that the Narrows Project "does not provide irrigation for approximately 55.000 acres of.gravity flow irrigated land that needs additional water." In answer to this statement in a letter to Honorable James P. Johnson, June 3, 1974, the Bureau replied that "Irrigation of an ,..... /'j