WSP03949

• File Number: 8141
• Description: Fryingpan-Arkansas Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 12/16/1975
• Author: Terence Brace
• Title: The History of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project Prepared by Terence Brace
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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;toy Cooper )f Las Ani.1l1u8.

Thi8 sllrvcy wac: 01\ th'3 W:'ltcr needs

of the pe)plc in the Arkan~nH Valley. !n conductinG this surVB

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ooper, an ne peop f1 vl0r~(j.nr: \.;j. l"l !J.t1~1) ',,zOU._'. \..oll~CC 1,.1 reo [\"It:ruf,c

famers (n0itbcr the poorest nor Lbe :'.:.Ch0[;t, \J'JL peQple in th8

miaulo inco)r1o hr:l(.~k0t) frOlll o:H:h c()nl~l~y ,)~, 'i.:t,Y' i. :::,:.1 t., :i.lill :';:!:J l~(:rl\ and

hc.ve these fnrJr.ers tX'). to doscrioe the 8.1no:.mt of "ater they

used in past years nnrl \-Ihat their prod'.lction wn::; ~,itb the amont

of water that haa boon aV(liJ.~blc to thorn. Th~y were tnen asked

what effect !J.n extra ~ Rcre root. (thc p:'Qjectsd Ecul''3 ,lh1c\1 might

be available to the fnrmerr.) would h~,ve on the::'r production. The

approximate amount of monetary e;ain for ench f'aI'l'ler wns ~,;~.O an

acre, or :;20 an acre net profit. So tbe sc.in in prcfit and pro"

duction for the entire valley, Rccordi.ne to tnis ~,urvcy Hould \)8

in the millions of dollar" i.f this uddit,'.onnl \'llltcr could be se-

cured. Alro brought out by this s'.lrvny H'l.8 tne fact that tHO

Inajor problems are encoun te1',.:)(t \oJ i t ,'l Ho.'cer, (1) 1'looels, nnel (2)

drought. H:>wever, if the project could be st.',rtecl both problorls
could be eused sOlJlcwhat. f'irst 01' ail \mon a flood occurred,
this could be controlled anel the daInf'-C" star-per) and secondly,

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the extra water thus stored from the flood coula be saved fcr

drought years insteud of floHing <lo,m to thc :.:issi::Jsippi 2\1 V8r
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which already had too much \.mtor. This sClrv0Y WIlS very useful

for the people of the Arkansas valley to support their project,

however, lUlother water project was alre'Hl~' in progrer.s ~lhictJ

2b
Cooper, pp. 95. 96.