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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />f) 'I. <br />L)~L <br /> <br />Plan of Development <br /> <br />but only limited information was available on the Weld County site. <br />In the case of the cost analyses, therefore, the estimates indicated <br />a definite advantage in the favor of the Narrows site to the extent <br />of about $7 million. <br /> <br />It was the opinion of the staff of the Colorado Water Conservation <br />Beard, shared by many others, that the geologic investigations at the <br />Weld County site were insufficient to make a fair comparison between <br />that site and the Narrows. The Board therefore employed the consult- <br />ing engineering firm of Woodward-Clyde-Sherard and Associates to conduct <br />additional geological investigations at the Weld County site and to <br />make percolation tests at both sites. The Bureau of Reclamation <br />assisted in these additional investigations. <br /> <br />At the conclusion of these new investigations the consulting firm <br />rendered a report to the Board on March 11, 1964, stating conclusions <br />essentially as follows: <br /> <br />1. That the percolation of water through and around the <br />dams at either site would be essentially the same <br />unless positive cutoff was accomplished. <br /> <br />2. That positive cutoff could be accomplished at the Weld <br />County site but could not be accomplished at the Narrows <br />site. <br /> <br />3. That from purely geologic considerations the Weld COWlty <br />site was preferable to the Narrows site. <br /> <br />Based upon the information contained in the consultant's report <br />the Bureau of Reclamation was requested to make new comparative cost <br />estimates of the two reservoir sites, with the understanding that <br />these new estimates would be reviewed and reported upon by the con- <br />sul tants. <br /> <br />The information presented by the consultants indicated that the <br />alluvial deposits along the axis of the Weld County site extended to <br />a greater depth than was originally estimated, but that positive cutoff <br />could be obtained by complete excavation and replacement of these <br />alluvial materials. Because of the direct downstream flow of water <br />under the dam foundation if positive cutoff was not made, the Office <br />of the Chief Engineer, Bureau of Reclamation, concluded that for <br />safety reasons a dam should not be constructed at the Weld County site <br />unless positive cutoff was assured. The new estimates were prepared <br />on this basis. <br /> <br />29 <br />