[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2650]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF FOUNTAIN CREEK WATERSHED FEASIBILITY STUDY ACT

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                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of COLORADO

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2007

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, today with my Colorado 
colleague, Representative John Salazar, I am introducing a bill to 
authorize a feasibility study regarding a multipurpose project in the 
Fountain Creek watershed in Colorado. The bIll is in the House 
companion to a similar bill, S. 2384, the Fountam Creek Feasibility 
Study Act, introduced by Senator Ken Salazar.
  As Coloradans know, Fountain Creek is a major tributary to the 
Arkansas River. Its watershed, which encompasses some 927 square miles, 
supports a wide variety of plants and wildlife and directly affects 
many residents of our state--in fact, according to the 2000 census, 
more than 500,000 people live in the watershed's boundaries. But the 
effect of Fountain Creek's flows extends beyond the watershed's 
boundaries. Water from the watershed serves municipal, industrial and 
agricultural uses. Creeks within the watershed contribute about 15 
percent of the--drinking water for Colorado Springs and are a source of 
irrigation for over 100 farms and ranches. The fertile farmland there 
produces wheat, com, hay, oats, and vegetable crops; there are also 
many working livestock ranches along Fountain Creek. But the watershed 
has its problems, and in recent years, issues related to Fountain Creek 
have tended to divide local residents who otherwise would be united by 
its ability to serve as an important link for commerce and recreation.
  Decades of neglect, increased waterflows resulting from urban 
development in the northern part of the watershed, increased stormwater 
discharges, and sewage spills have all contributed to the problems and 
the controversies. The watershed is subject to frequent flood damage, 
erosion, and sedimentation. In 1999 a major flood caused millions of 
dollars of damage to public and private property, and destroyed the 
foundations of numerous homes and roads. Indeed, earlier this year 
there was minor flooding from the Fountain in the Pueblo area. Farmers 
and ranchers near the downstream end of the watershed in particular 
have suffered substantial losses of productive farmland. Degradation of 
the water quality and thus aquatic and wetland habitats is accelerating 
due to wastewater spills, loss of natural vegetation, and high water 
volume. Simply put, Fountain Creek watershed's ecological conditions 
are unstable and under constant threat.
  Senator Salazar's bill, and this House companion to it, aim at laying 
a foundation stone for the work of restoring Fountain Creek and turning 
the corridor between Colorado Springs and Pueblo into an environmental, 
agricultural, and recreational ``crown jewel'' for Colorado. Under the 
legislation, the Army Corps of Engineers would be required to conduct a 
study of the feasibility of constructing one or more dams and 
reservoirs to provide more reliable flood and sediment control, to 
conserve fish and wildlife and preserve their ecosystem, and to improve 
the water quality throughout the watershed. The Corps' expertise and 
experience will be critical to determining the options for restoring 
the health and stability of the Fountain Creek watershed.
  The idea of such a multipurpose project on the Fountain is not new. 
It was first proposed in 1970 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after 
the 1965 flood that inundated communities along the Fountain Creek, 
including particularly the city of Pueblo. The proposal was supported 
by the States of Colorado and Kansas and local officials, and was even 
the preferred option of the Army Corps for addressing flooding in the 
Fountain. Like Senator Salazar, I think a similar proposal should be 
evaluated again, in light of changed conditions and increased flows in 
Fountain Creek resulting from urban development in the Colorado Springs 
metro area.
  Senator Salazar has laid out a vision to revitalize Fountain Creek 
and connect the communities along its bank in a regional project. The 
feasibility study called for in S. 2384 and this House companion would 
be an essential first step. I agree with Senator Salazar on the 
desirability of taking that step, and the bill I am introducing today 
is intended to assist in making it happen.

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