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<br />~ <br /> <br />, ., ~ <br /> <br />\ ' <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />3904 <br /> <br />DEP.-\RT:\fENT OF THE INTERIOR, <br />BUREA.U OF RECLAMATION, <br />REGIONAL OFFICE, REGCON 7, <br />Denver., 0010., J'uly 5,1950. <br />(Revised February 23, 1951.) <br />To: The Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation. <br />From: The Regiomtl Director, Rcgion i, Denver, Colo. <br />Subject: I Report on the Initi.l Development, Roaring Fork Diver- <br />SiOH, of t.he Gunnison-Arkansas Project,> Colorado. <br /> <br />TRANSMITTAL AND AUTHORITY <br /> <br />1. This is my report on the initial uevelopment., Roaring Fork di'ler. <br />sinn, of the potential Gunnison-Arkansas project, Colorado. The <br />initial development, tl. multiple-purpose pl'ojce..t illvQ.lving t.ransmoun- <br />tain diversion of wliter, is designed tJ..5 Cl major step 'in optimum: 'ilt.ili- <br />zBt,ion of watel' and related reSources in the upper Arkansas River <br />Basin. The report, and substantiating documents arc submitted fnr <br />your approval find for department,fil nction wit.h a view toward secur- <br />ing congressionnlauthorization for development of the project. <br />2. Authority t.o make this report a.nd supporting investiga"tions is <br />pro\"ided in (.he Federal reclanllltion laws (act of ,JulI'lIH.7,. 1902.32 <br />Stat. 388, and acts amendatory thereof or supplementa~ ~hereto). <br /> <br />INTRODUCTIOr.; <br /> <br />3. lhmll it.s origin on t.he snow capped mountains of l.ake County. <br />Colo., t.he ArkllIls~lS Riv'er (pronounced Ar-kan-saw) flows eastward <br />1..500 miles to its contiuence with the t\1ississippi. The river's dra.in- <br />age frolll the Continental Divide to Ellinwood, Kans., tomprises the <br />upper Arkansas River Basin. The economy of that semiarid section <br />of the Nation is bound closelv to it.s natural resources. Their con- <br />servation nn,l development are QSSentifd if the economy of the bHsin <br />is to be stabilized and expanded. Water is the key resource and its <br />utilization for all. beneficial purposes is of prime importance. The <br />Arkansas River is the hydrologic artery of the hasin. It furnishes <br />municipal wat,crl~l~dllstrjnl \l,rnter, nnci irrigat,ion \\,oater. The be- <br />havior and the yield of th~ river are, therefore, of concern to all inter- <br />ested in irrign.t.ioIl agriculture, in the protection and expansion of busi- <br />ness invel;J.tme-nt.s} and in the wise and orderly development of the re- <br />so~'~es of t.he basin. .. <br />y: potential GUIluison-.11:l1sflS project is a major unit in the <br />co. lsive plan of developn~t of t.he water resources of (,he <br />upper,'; -ansas River Basin wluch is being investigat,cd by the <br />Bure.u of Reclnmution. The project is adaptable to construction by <br />sucee,ssive cumulative stages. The init.ial devcloPDlcnt is planned 8S <br /> <br />1 "initial D(!n'1c>T1I1H'nt. Ron.rlng Fork [li.('rsion, or tho Gllnni3on.Ark!l.T1.'l3.S Pro]l'ct. ColOTll.drJ" W!LS the <br />ori~(na.l nl\m~ llsed rorprojt'r.t when the propeL :-erwrt w:)s prebared. It is now prCoposc'l to ch(Lll!:~ the ImUle <br />of the project to thE! "Fr~.iDlIT'J.n-Ark:sn~ ProJect." . <br /> <br />3 <br />