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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br /> <br />. quality water-oriented outdoor recreation and fish and wildlife resource <br />for public use. Historical or archaeological sites or resources are <br />currently being surveyed in accordance with the National Historic <br />Preservation Act. Protection and preservation of historic and cultural <br />resources will be as required by Executive Order 11593 and 36 CFR 800. <br /> <br />Current Status <br /> <br />Advance planning on the project was essentially completed in 1951. <br />After the project's re-authorization in 1970, advance planning began <br />anew and is now virtually completed. It is expected that repayment <br />contracts for the project will be executed by the Lower South Platte <br />Water Conservancy District, the Central Colorado Water Conservancy Dis- <br />trict, and the state of Colorado within the next year. The available <br />project water has been oversubscribed in the Lower South Platte District <br />and the conservancy board will have to make a decision concerning water <br />allocation. <br /> <br />Funds to initiate preconstruction planning were appropriated in <br />fiscal year 1972, for land acquisition in 1973 and 1974, and for con- <br />struction this year. <br /> <br />An environmental impact statement was filed with the Council on <br />Environmental Quality in 1970. However, the Bureau of Reclamation is <br />preparing a new statement in accordance with current guidelines and <br />standards and has scheduled filing of a draft statement in July and a <br />final statement in February, 1976. <br /> <br />Current flood data has necessitated a restudy of the Narrows Dam <br />design which may increase the project cost and delay filing of the <br />environmental statement a few months. Although the delay will defer <br />initiation of construction until late spring of 1976,the Bureau expects <br />to initiate land acquisition soon after public hearings are held on the <br />draft statement this fall. <br /> <br />Through June 30, 1974, a total of $1,960,000 has been expended on <br />the Narrows project from federal funds. Approximately $300,000 has <br />been expended in state funds. <br /> <br />Conclusions and Recommendations <br /> <br />The South Platte Valley below Denver is one of the leading agri- <br />cultural areas of the United States. It is a major livestock feeding <br />and processing center. Chronic shortages of available water supplies <br />lead to constant litigation and. decreased crop yield. " The only <br />remaining flows available in the South Platte River for use in Colorado <br />are those which escape at the state line during floods and other high <br />water periods. In 1970 alone, almost 800,000 acre-feet of water reached <br />to the Nebraska state line, most of which could have been stored in the <br />Narrows Reservoir for use in more critical years. <br /> <br /> <br />The Narrows Reservoir will provide a major flood control facility <br />for that area of the state below the reservoir to the state line. Some <br />flood damages occur on the South Platte River almost every year. With <br />control of the middle reach of the river through Chatfield Dam and <br />control of the lower reach of the river through Narrows Dam, flood <br /> <br />-3- <br />