WSP07770 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

4 171 ~RYINGPA.'1-ARKANSAS PROJECT, COLORADO II eomplet,ely independent multiple-pnrpose unit tbat eonld be the first sta~e of a much lnrger project. The compreheusive project would r;quire export.at.ion of n. relat.iyely large amount. of Colorado River wuter eust.wnrd t,hrough t.lle Continent,al Divide t.o t.he Ar- kansas Vallev of Colorado. The fnll potential uses of wat,er in western Colorado have not been completely determined; therefore, only the amonnt of water assuredly beyond t,he requiremeuts for development on the western slope is proposed for diversion at this time. 5. This report aud attached substant,inting report hnve been sponsored and prepared hy the Burenu of Reelnmat.ion for the United States Department of the Interior. All agencies of the Department concerned with the development and administration of resources in the project area have made imporl,ant eont,ributions. Ot,hcr Federal ft.g('ncies~ numerous State and local governmental agencies) water dis- tricts, civic organizations, corporate enterprises, and private indi- vidunls have given substantial aiel in the de\-elopment of the report, Preliminary drafts of t.he report Were furnished to the States of Colorado and Kansas, and to the field offices of affected Federal agencies. These dl'l1!ts were reviewed by the two Stat.es [<uel at field, level by the following agcncics: 'Depart.ment of Agricu\t,ure: Forest Service Soil Conscrvation Sen'ice Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers Feueral Power Commission Department of the Interior: Bureau of l\lines Bureau of Land Manngement Fish and Wildlife Service Geological Survey Nat.ional Park Service DESCRIPTION OF AUEA 6. PhysicaIJeaturc8.-Two distinct areas are involved in the project. They are separatcd by the Contincntnl Divide which exceeels an altit.ude of 12,000 feet. The western slope diversion area. where trans- mountain water \lwuld be obt,ained, is located in t.he Roaring Fork River Basin of the Colorael" Ri,'er drainage. Water would, be di- verted from tributaries of the Fryingpan River and from Hunter Creek-both tributaries of t.he Roaring Fork. The eliversion area is mountainous and primitive. It is -locat.ed \....ithin the bounadries- of the White River Nat.ional Forest at. elevations above 10,000 feet. Most of the 100-sqnare mile aren is accessible onlv by tralls. 7. The eastern slope project area extellels from the headwat.el's of the Arkansas River, near Leadville, t,() the Colorado-Kansas boundary. The upper reaches of the ArknnsRs Valley nre ItS ruggeel us the div"r- sion area. The Rocky ~Jountnins reach the.ir highest elevation near Lendville at Mount Elbert" 14,431 feet aoove sen level. Close hy are Mount. Massive, 14,410 feet, and l'vlount Hltcvard, 14,300 feet. Elbert, and l\lassive are the second and third highest. peaks in the continental United States. Originating high above timberline, t.he Arkansas River flows south and east-successively through canYOns.