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," 296J COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD 823 state Centennial Building 1313 Sherman street Denver, Colorado 80203 March 1978 NARROWS PROJECT The Narrows project area lies along the lower South Platte River, extending generally from FOrt Morgan to the Nebraska state line. The project was originally authorized by the Congress in 1944 as a part of the comprehensive plan for the Missouri River Basin project. Pre- construction activities on the project started in 1947, but were terminated in 1952 because of the lack of official support for the project by the state of Colorado. The project was re-authorized by the Congress in 1970 as a unit of the Missouri River Basin project. The Lower South Platte Water Con- servancy District was organized in 1964 as the principal sponsoring and contractual agency fOr the project. This district includes por- tions of Logan, Morgan, Sedgwick and Washington counties. The Central Colorado Water Conservancy District was organized in 1965 and is also a sponsoring and contractual agency for the project. This latter district includes portions of Adams and Weld counties. Plan of Development During the fifteen-year period 1947-1961. which was used for the feasibility study of the Narrows project, an average of 187,000 acre- feet of water frOm the South Platte River flowed acrOss the state line in excess of compact commitments. During the period 1965-1971, the average annual wasted flow was approximately 400,000 acre-feet of water. The Narrows project was designed to conserve a portion of these unused flows. The Narrows Darn would be located on the South Platte River a few miles above the city of Fort Morgan. It would serve the functions of irrigation, flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife enhance- ment. The reservoir would provide supplemental irrigation water for presently irrigated lands in Morgan, Logan, Washington, Adams and Sedgwick counties. A fish hatchery would be located a short distance downstream frOm the darn for stocking purpOses. Specific lands and facilities, including the existing Jackson Lake, would be acquired for recreation and fish and wildlife purposes. The project would involve the construction of the Narrows Darn, relocation of the Union Pacific Railroad and State Highway 144. recreation facilities. fish and wild- life facilities, rehabilitation of Jackson Lake Darn, and the fish hatchery. Distribution of the stored waters would occur through existing facilities.