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<br />. <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />..~ <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />0674 <br /> <br />'ll. ~onrer~nces with local interests. -.S~nce the time of the public <br />hearing, ma~ me~tings, hoth formal and informal, have been held to ob- <br />tain the currant views and opinions of the Congressmen, members of the <br /> <br />. .' . <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board, Irrigation District Committees, the <br />Trinidad Chamber of Commerce, interested groups, ahd individuals. The <br />most recent meeting with a large number in attendance was held at the <br /> <br />Las Animas County Courthouse at Trinidad on November 29, 1950. At that <br /> <br />time local interests expressed their preference for the construction of <br /> <br />a dam and reservoir on Purgatoire River above Trinidad rather than the <br /> <br />authorized channel improvement through the city. They also presented ah <br /> <br />estimate of flood damages experienced in the vicinity for the period <br /> <br />1900-1950, and requested further study of the benefits to be derived <br /> <br />from the proposed improvement. <br /> <br />72. Trinidad city officials.have expressed a desire to consolidate <br /> <br />and improve facilities of the municipal water supply which now consists <br /> <br /> <br />of several elements dispersed over a distance of 35 miles west of the <br /> <br />city, along the Purgatoire River and its tributaries. <br /> <br />73. In the last few years, there has been considerable interest in <br /> <br />the development of the synthetic liquid fuel potential of the coal pro- <br /> <br />ducing area of Las Animas County. <br /> <br />PROBLEMS AND NEEDS <br /> <br />74. Flood problems. - Floods originating in the watersheds of North <br /> <br />and Middle Forks which form the Purgatoire River at their confluence are <br /> <br />infrequent. Topographic barriers impede the inflow of moist air thereby <br /> <br />diminishing storm intensities, and the coniferous forests and favorable <br /> <br />ground cover increase infiltration which diminishes runoff. However, <br /> <br />much of the remainder of the watershed above Trinidad has been closely <br /> <br />grazed for many years, and the timber has been cut for mine props. In <br /> <br />this condition, it is the source of large magnitude flood discharges which <br /> <br />are noted for their high sediment content and debris load. <br /> <br />29 <br /> <br /> <br />e <br />