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<br />
<br />proje.ct on whir.h r.onstrur.tion bad not been initiated. It became neces-
<br />gary, therefore, to reorient tbe studies toward the preparation of a
<br />feasibility planning report,
<br />A more comprehensi ve description of the studies tbat led to the
<br />s~lection of the Na~rows Dam site in preference to the Weld County
<br />SIte may be found lD part IV of tbis repor~ under "Alternate Plans,"
<br />
<br />Part III-PROBLEMS AND NEEDS OF THE AREA
<br />
<br />lRRlGA TION
<br />
<br />Because or ina.dequate water supplies, the areas irrigated within the
<br />Lo\\-er South PIRtle Wa.ter Conservancy District have been limited,
<br />and the irrigf\tion potentialit.ies of the ba.sin have failed to materialize.
<br />:r~e frequent lack or sufficient surfa.ce wat.er supplies has caused ma.ny
<br />.lITIga.tor;; .to construct wells for pumping ground water for supple-
<br />mentallITlgation, About one-haIr of the total farm irrig..tion supply
<br />was obtaU1ed from this source duri.ng the 15-'yefU" period 1947~61.
<br />Water supply shortages have been lurther mtensified by severe
<br />droughts which cause serious depletions of the surfa.ce \\"a.ter supply
<br />and a. resulta.nt greater demand on the wells. For example, in 1956,
<br />well and surfA.ce supplies together provided only about. two-tbirds of
<br />tbe farm irrigation requirement. Of this a.vLl.ilable supply, nearly equal
<br />amounts v.."ere obta.ined from ea('.h source, tbat. is, u.bout 50 percent wa.s
<br />supplied from ,,\'"ells and t.be ot.her 50 percent from surfo.ce supplies.
<br />
<br />FLOODS
<br />
<br />T,he eastern slope 01 Colorado, including the South Plaite River
<br />Basm, IS subJect to deluge type of rninstormB that a.re erratic a.nd in-
<br />credibly violent, Such storms during the period 1844 to 1965 have
<br />caused major floods on nine different occasions. Numerous smaller,
<br />though severe, Boods have also or-curred. The impact on the affected
<br />areas is substantial; property, transportation facilities, r.rops, and live-
<br />stock are destroyed, often resulting in devllsting effects tv the economy.
<br />
<br />EXPANSION 01" ECONOMIC BASE
<br />
<br />The greatest. needs of this 8.gTicultural area lITe expansion of irriga-
<br />tion and control of :floods. The beneficial effects of increased irrigation
<br />would be reflected in many sectors or the economy: Agricultural pro-
<br />dU(~tion would be stabilized at higher and more profitable levels, the
<br />individual irrigator would be virtually assllred of a level of economic
<br />,,,"ell-being consistent with his own industry and ability, cattlemen
<br />would be afforded a mOre reliable source of feedstuffs for maintenance
<br />of herds, nnd the overall business atmosphere of towns and cities would
<br />be enuanced,
<br />Freedom from recurrent floods also would contribute to a mOfe
<br />healthful and satisfying economic climate. The numerous floods e.x-
<br />perienced in tue area have damaged crops, roads and bridges, rail-
<br />roads an? utilities, and contributed to very heavy flood damage in
<br />metropolitan areas, Flood protection would provide added stability
<br />for t.he agricultural enterprises of the area.
<br />Outdoor recreation opportunities associated ,,,it.h large bodies of
<br />water are very limited in tue vicinity. With the continuing nn.tionwide
<br />
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<br />
<br />emphasis on expansion of water-oriented recreational activities, the
<br />construction of Narrows Reservoir and its associated recreat.ion and
<br />fish and wildlife facilities would supplement the limited facilities of
<br />Jackson Lake and satisfy this increasing need of residents in tbe
<br />vidnity of the Narrows unit.
<br />
<br />LOOAL INTEREST AND SUPPORT
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />Interest in water resource development has been high in the unit
<br />area from tbe time of settlement, At the outset of the great drought
<br />or the 1930'5, this interest was focused. on ground-water development,
<br />aDd indi'\iduaJ farmers constructed wells in substantial numbers for
<br />both supplemental and new irrigation. uses. However, exp_~nsion or
<br />ground WRU>r development cannot be looked upon to fulfill supple-
<br />mental requirements because many parts or the area.. are not u~derl~iD
<br />by suitable water-bearing a.quifers, and becfLuse recent leglBla.tlOn
<br />limits new developments where suitable aquifers are present.
<br />Upon resumption of studies of tbe N arrows unit by tbe Bure.u of
<br />Reclamation in 1959 with funds advanced by the Colorado Water
<br />Conservn.tion Board, t.he South Platte Steering Committee was
<br />appointed by the Board, That committee was instrumental in keeping
<br />CItIZens of the valley informed on the status of the studies. Another
<br />organization, the Narrows Dam Association, was instnlmen~al ~n the
<br />formation of the Lower South Platte Water Conservancy DIStrIct on
<br />May 6, 1964,
<br />The conservancy district has demoDst.rat.ed continued interest in,
<br />and support for, the Narrows unit. That support has intensified since
<br />the June 1965 flood with many requests for early construction 01 the
<br />unit, The district hll.'3 indicated its willingness and desire to contract
<br />for the supplemental irrigation water that would be made available
<br />by the unit. The plan of development is also strongly support,ed by the
<br />Colorado Water Conservation Board, other State agencies, and by
<br />communit.ies and service agencies in the area.
<br />Although local entities, in general, support development 01 the
<br />N arrows unit, there ha.s not been uQanimity among tbem with respect
<br />to the details of the plan, The notable disagreement was concerned
<br />with tbe location of the dam and reservoir. One group sought to have
<br />the Weld County (Ho.rdin) site developed in lieu of the proposed
<br />N arrows site. In an effort to be responsive to local preferences, addi-
<br />tionlll studies were made to show the comparative advant'4;"" 01 the
<br />two sites. From a functione.J viewpoint neither site offered SIgnificant
<br />advantages in producing benefits, but O,ost\\;se, the Weld County site
<br />would be more expensive to develop. (See II Alternate Plans" in part
<br />IV "Plan of Development" for the details of these site selection
<br />studies),
<br />
<br />Part IV-PLAN OF DEVELOPMENT
<br />
<br />The principal feature of the unit is the Narrows Dam 8Jld Reservoir
<br />to be constructed on the South Platte River near Fort Morga.n, Colo.
<br />Also p'roposed i.~ the acquisition of the existing Jackson Lake e.nd
<br />rehabIlitation 01 the dam for recreation lIJld fish 8Jld wildlife enhance-
<br />ment. Locations of these facilities are shown on the general .map,
<br />exhibit 1. No Federal construction of irrigation distribution facilities
<br />would be involyed.. since reservoir. releases would be carried by existing
<br />irrigation systems.
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