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<br />. <br /> <br />D <br /> <br /> <br />O~:1773 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />United States Department of the Interior, and the War Department <br /> <br /> <br />were authorized, with funds allotted, to proceed with detailed sur- <br /> <br /> <br />veys looking toward development of a flood control plan. <br /> <br /> <br />The need for additional irrigation supply was evident at the <br /> <br /> <br />outset of these investigations and a plan has been developed to <br /> <br /> <br />accompliSh two purposes, .i.e., flood control and provide supple- <br /> <br /> <br />mental irrigation water supply. The Bureau of Reclamation investi-- <br /> <br /> <br />gations began in January 1937, ~vith reservoir surveys and the de- <br /> <br /> <br />tailed plan has been developed as set forth herwith. <br /> <br /> <br />A preliminary examination of the watershed above Trinidad and <br /> <br /> <br />a study of flood control plans previously reported, together with <br /> <br /> <br />past flood flows, led to the conclusion that the best plan of de- <br /> <br /> <br />velopment was fer the construction ef a regulating reservoir on <br /> <br /> <br />the main stream in the vicinity of Sopris, Colorado, about five <br /> <br /> <br />miles west of Trinidad. A reservoir so located controls about $7 <br /> <br /> <br />per cent of the drainage area of 742 square miles above Trinidad and <br /> <br /> <br />includes that portion contributing the major part of the annual <br /> <br /> <br />water supply. This location was selected as providing the greater <br /> <br /> <br />benefits over previously suggested plans of small tributary reser- <br /> <br /> <br />voirs and costly improvements to the channel through Trinidad <br /> <br /> <br />which vJOuld accomplish little, if any, flood control, and in the <br /> <br /> <br />caSe of channel impz'ovement, no irrigation benefits. <br /> <br /> <br />The reservoir selected has characteristics as follows: <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />