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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Section I
The Early History of the
F'rylngpan-Arkansas Project 1900-19)'(

The early history 01' the l"ryine;pan-Arkan~:l!ls Projoct

can be traced back as far as the earl~r 1900 I s when t he need for

additional water, other than the normal flo\i of the Arkansas
River, \ias needed. It is very important to note tllat \iat.er was
and still is very important to the Lower Arkansas Valley because

their entire economy is based upon water. Aericulture, of cour~~,

is tile main occupation or business of the Lower Valley and thIs

industry cannot survive without water. As a result the business-

men who operate the grain elevators, the sue;nr J3eet ?actories,

farm implement stores and the like, thei.r businesses su1'fo'!' when
1
the farmers suffer throuc;h bad years. The need for Hater in

the Lower Valley now becomes very blatant.

A lack of 'mter in the Lower Arlmnsus \':).11ey 1ni tiated

by several years of 'irought caused neie;hbors to battle each other

for available water. Later as irrigation farming increased and

late season water demands could not be met by unregulated stream
2
flow, farmer owned m'ltual irrigation companies were formed.

These irrigation or ~anal companies were formed to regulate and

1
Intervi~w with Roy Coope~, Pueblo, Colorado, December
11, 1974, p. 90.
2
Terence Brace, "The Southeastern Colorado \'later Conser-
vancy District and Its Relation to the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project
and Their Functions", p. 1.

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