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<br />'~~. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />NARROWS PROJECT <br /> <br />(Supplemental information to a news release made by <br />Governor Lamm on February 27. 1976) <br /> <br />The foregoing news release was based upon a detailed analysis <br />of the current status of the Narrows project prepared jointly by the <br />Governor's Office. the Colorado Department of Natural Resources and the <br />lead agency of that department in this matter. the Colorado Water Con- <br />servation Board. That analysis is as follows: <br /> <br />Under date of November 3. 1975. a group of concerned Morgan <br />county residents under the description of "Regional Landowners Group" <br />filed a written memorandum on the Narrows project with the Colorado <br />Department of Natural Resources. copies of which were sent to the <br />Governor's Office. to the news media and to other agencies and indi- <br />viduals. The expressed purpose of the memorandum was "to call attention <br />to discrepancies and debatable allegations of proponents of a dam <br />located at the Narrows Site on the South Platte River and to outline the <br />total negative impact of the Narrows Project on Northeastern Colorado." <br /> <br />After setting forth in some detail various reasons for opposing <br />the Narrows project. the memorandum concluded with the following state- <br />ment: "In light of the above facts. we the representatives of the <br />Regional Landowners Group formally request that the state of Colorado <br />and the Colorado Water Conservation Board cease to endorse construction <br />of a dam at the Narrows Site and that efforts be made to construct a <br />dam or dams at elevations that will provide flood protection to all of <br />the South Platte Basin, potable water for developmental areas, and <br />additional irrigation water to those systems where the need exists." <br /> <br />There is now pending for official comment by the state of <br />Colorado a draft environmental impact statement for the Narrows project. <br />Until this statement is completed and filed in accordance with federal <br />law, construction on the Narrows project cannot be undertaken, although <br />Congress has already appropriated funds to initiate construction. In <br />view of the urgent request of the regional landowners group, the state's <br />comments on the environmental impact statement have been delayed at the <br />Governor's direction pending a review of the allegations set forth in <br />the regional landowners' memorandum. This review has now been completed <br />and constitutes the basis for Governor Lamm's comments on the draft <br />environmental statement, a copy of which is attached hereto. The basis <br />of the Governor's action and recommendations are set forth in some <br />detail as follows: <br />