Laserfiche WebLink
<br />297:2 <br />COUNTER PETITION AGAINST THE PROJECT HAD BEeN SIGNED BY LESS THAN 200 <br />COUNTY RESIDENTS. <br /> <br />ON AUGUST 28, 1970, PUBLIC LAW 91-389 WAS ENACTED REAUTHORIZING <br />THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NARROWS UNIT OF THE MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT. <br />THE INITIAl. SECTION OF 'fllE l.A1I PROVIDES IN PART AS FOLLOWS: "BE IT <br />ENACTED BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.OF THE UNITED STATES <br />or-AMERICA IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED. THAT THENARROWS-UNIT. HERETOFORE AUTHO- <br />RIZED AS AN INTEGRAL PART-or-TH[ MISSOURI RIVER BASIN PROJECT BY SECTION 9 <br />OF THE FLoon CONTROL ACT OF DECEMBER 22. 1944, AS AMENDED AND SUPPLEMENTED, <br />IS HERE8Y REAUTHORIZED AS A UNIT OF THAT PROJECT FOR THE PURPOSES OF <br />PROVIDING IRRIGATION WATER FOR ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY.SIX THOUSAND ACRES <br />OF LAND, FLOOD CONTROL, FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT, <br />PUBLIC OUTDOOR RECREATJON. POTENTIAL PUTURE MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL <br />SUPPLIES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. THE CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND MAIN- <br />TENANCE OF THE NARROWS UNIT SHALL BE SUBJECT TO TilE FEDERAL RECLAMATION <br />LAlI'S . . . THE PRINCIPAL FEATUltES OF THE NARROWS UNIT SHALL ISCLUDE THE <br />NARROWS DAM AND RESERVOIR. FISH HATCHERY AND REARING PONDS, ACQUISITION <br />AND DEVELOPMENT OF TilE EXISTING JACKSON LAKE AND RESERVOIR. INCLUDING <br />SOME REHABILITATION OF JACKSON l.AKE DAM. FOR PUBLIC OUTDOOR RECREATION <br />AND FISH AND WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT, AND OTHER NECESSARY WORKS AND FACIL- <br />ITIP.S TO EFFECT ITS PURPOSE." <br /> <br />MOST OPPONENTS OF THE NARROWS PROJECT CONCEDE THAT CHANNEL <br />STORAGE ON THE LOWER SOUTH PLATTE RIVER IS DESIRABLE, BUT THEY ARGUE THAT <br />SUCH STORAGE SHOULD BE CONSTRUCTED AT THE WELD COUNTY SITE. IT HAS BEEN <br />SUGGESTED THAT THIS COULD BE DONE UNDER THE PREShNT AUTHORIZATION. DURING <br />THE COURSE OF CON~RESSIONAL HEARINGS ON THE PROJECT. CONGRESS WAS MADE <br />FULLY AWARE OF THE CONTPOVERSY BE1'WEF.N THE TWO POTENTIAL DAMSITES. THE <br />AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION IS CLEAR AND UNAMBIGUOUS ON THIS POINT AND STATES <br />THAT "THE PRINCIPAL FEATURes OF THE MARROWS UNIT SHALL INCLUDE THE NARROWS <br />DA'" AND RF.SERVOIR . . ." THI! SPECJFIC LANGUAGE IS HARDLY OPEN TO AN <br />INTERPRETATION THAT IT WAS THE INTENT OF CONGRESS TO AUTHORIZE A DAM IN <br />WELD COUNTY ~ANY MILES UPSTRF.AM. <br /> <br />SINCE AUTHORIZATION OF THE N~RROWS PROJECT. NEW PRINCIPLES AND <br />STANDARDS FOR WATER RESOURCE PLANNING HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY THF. UNITED <br />STATES WATER RESOURCES COUNCIL (SEPT. S. 1973). THESE PRINCIPLES PRO- <br />VIDE IN PART AS FOLLOWS: "AUTHORIZED PlANS OR PROJECTS THAT ARE SUBSTAN- <br />TIALLY REFORM1JLATED AS A RESULT OF APPLICATION OF THESE PRINCIPLES AND <br />STANDARDS WILL BE SUBMITTED TO CONGRESS FOR REAUTHORIZATION " <br />(Seo. IE). <br /> <br />AT THE TIllE OF THE ADOPTION OF THE NEW PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS, <br />THE NARRO~S PROJECT HAD ALREADY SEEN AUTHORIZED AND PUNDED. CONSTRUCTION <br />OF THE PROJECT TIIEREFORE HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS <br />IN SUCCESSIVE APPROPRIATION BILLS UNnER THE CRITERIA EXISTING AT THE TIME <br />OF PROJl!CT AUTHORIZATION. REFfJIH!:JLATION OF THl; PPOJECT AT THIS TIME <br />WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY REQUIRE REAUTHORIZATION AND THE APPLICATION OF A <br />NEN INTEREST RATE, A PROCEDURE WHICH PROBABLY WOULD BE FATAL TO EITHER THE <br />NARROWS OR WELD COUNTY SITES. <br /> <br />TIME ESTIMATES FOR THE PRr:~ARATION OF A NBW FEASIBILITY REPORT <br /> <br />-4- <br />