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M9G~ " U Conclusions and Recommendations The South Platte Valley below Penver is one of the leading agricultural areas of the united States. It is a major livestock feeding and processing center. Chronic shortages of available water supplies lead to constant litigation and decreased crop yield. The only remaining flows available in the South Platte River for use in Colorado are those which escape at the state line during floods and other high-water periods. In 1970 alone, almost 800,000 acre-feet of water reached the Nebraska state line, most of which could have been stored in the Narrows Reservoir fOr use in more critical years. The Narrows Reservoir will provide a major flood control facility for that area of the state below the reservoir to the state line. Some flood damages occur on the South Platte River almost every year. With control of the middle reach of the river through Chatfield and Bear Creek Dams and control of the lower reach of the river through Narrows Dam, flood damages on the South Platte River will be signifi- cantly reduced. FLoods originating in the Bijou Creek drainages will not be controlled. The project will also provide major fish and wildlife benefits and major recreation benefits. The reservoir will be the largest ever constructed in the state. It will contain a permanent pool of approximately 50,000 acre-feet. Situated near the heart of the popu- lation center of the state, it will provide water-oriented recreation on a scale not matched by any other facility east of the Continental Divide, ,The South Platte River below Denver now has minimal fishery value. The Narrows Reservoir and Jackson Reservoir will provide major warm water fisheries. In 1977, the Carter Administration denied construction funds for the NarrOWS Unit, although they were recommended by President FOrd. Questions raised by the Carter Administration which formed the b~sis for denial of funds included environmental impacts, safety of dam, flood control benefits, and water quality. As a result of these questions, further studies were made by the Bureau of Reclamation and private consulting engineers to determine '~he validity of the claims. These studies have been completed; and, in a report released recently by the Bureau, it was concluded that (1) a safe dam can be constructed at the Narrows site and that seepage rates would be well within earlie= estimates; (2) that flood control benefits have been re-evaluated and remain valid; (3) that water quality of the reservoir would not pre- clude swimming and boating; (4) that the dam construction would have no adverse effect on waterfowl in a migratory pattern downstream; and (5) a groundwater recharge alternative to the Narrows Unit is not economically feasible. At the time President Carter's budget recommendations were prepared, the additional information requested for the Narrows proj~ct was not available. It is available now and fully supports the con- struction of the project. The project is already in a construction -4-