WSP07440 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

VI COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD, Denver, Gala., February 2, 1968. Hon. FLOYD E. DOMINY, Oommissioner oj Reclamation, U.s. Department oj the Interior, Washi~on, D.G. DEAR MR. COMMISSIONER: This will supplement my letter dated December 29, 1968, which presented the views and recommendations of the State of Colorado on your proposed report on the Narrows unit. Among other things, the letter indicated the intent of the State of Colorado to agree to administer the land and water areas for recrea- tion and fish and wildlife enhancement and to share in the separable costs of the project allocated to those purposes in accordance with the Federal Water Project Recreation Act. This letter will serve to further advise you that it is also our intent to meet our repayment obligations established by the act within a 50-year period after initial use of the first facilities developed for the aforementioned purposes. Sincerely yours, FELIX L. SPARKS, Director. . ." - " REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF RECLAMATION . U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF RECLAMATION, , Wasl<i~on, D.G., January 29,1968. The SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. SIR: This is my report on the Narrows unit, South Platte Division, :Missouri River Basin project, Colorado. It is based on and includes our proposed report of September 12, 1967, which you approved and adopted as your proposed report on September 22, 1967. Copies of the proposed report were transmitted on September 26, 1967, to the affected States and to the Secretary of the Army for review as required by law. In accordance with the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, the report also was sent to the State of Colorado for comments from the head of the agency exercising administration over the wildlife resources of that State. In addition, copies were sent to the interested Federal agencies in accordance with procedures approved by the President on May 15, 1962. Copies of the co=ents received are attached to and made part of this report. The State of Colorado is in complete accord with the basic plan of development presented in our proposed report and urges its approval and adoption. The State finds that the proposed alternative plan presented in the report, which proposal assumed maintenance of a 25 cubic foot. per second base flow in the South Platte River below the proposed Narrows Reservoir to its confluence with the North Platte River for recreation and fish and wildlife enhancement, would reduce the unit's beneJits and violate the constitution and laws of the State, and therefore the alternative is unacceptable. As required by section 2(a) of the Federal Water Project Recreation Act, the State indicates its intent to agree to administer the land and water areas of the unit for recreation and fish and wildlife enhancement and to bear one-half of the separable costs of the unit allocated to those two functicns and all of costs of operation, maintenance, and replacement mCUITed therefor. The State of Iowa has no objection to the Narrows unit.if the au- thorizing document and legislation provide that the diversion of water for the unit does not constitute. prior appropriation, that it shall not prejudice any existing or future determination of rights, and that it shall recognize the need for and permit future consideration of the distribntion of the water among the States. . The proposed development of the Narrows unit would not require water use greater than that considered by the Missouri River Basin Interagency Committee in its supplemental report cf April 1959.That report found that there was adequate water in the Missouri River " * * for irrigation and other agricultural purposes as planned above Sioux City, supply the requirements for downstream water supply and sanitary purposes, provide sufficient water for navigation from Sioux (1)