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<br />OO-:~S5 <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />Much of the farmland is located between Cortez and Dove Creek; major crops are alfalfa, dry <br />beans, wheat, and pasture. <br /> <br />Dolores County has approximately 772,000 acres of land, with 35 percent privately owned and <br />the remainder state and Federal land. There are 167,000 acres of cropland with the majority <br />being dryland farmed. <br /> <br />The Dove ereek lands to receive irrigation water are located in Montezuma County. The <br />proposed Carriage Contract would facilitate an increase of the irrigated acreage in the Dove <br />ereek area by approximately 3,000-4,000 acres. Lands that would be irrigated are presently <br />dryland farmed, cultivated primarily for pinto beans and wheat. <br /> <br />Additional information on irrigated agriculture in the area can be found in the Dolores Project <br />Definite Plan Report (Reclamation, 1977c). <br /> <br />Fish and Wildlife Resources <br /> <br />In the region, there are a variety offish and wildlife habitats that reflect the diverse topography <br />and climate that occur in a relatively small geographical area. The Dolores River and other <br />streams have headwaters in mountainous areas that drop rapidly into areas of plateaus and mesas. <br />Major wildlife habitats of the watershed range from alpine tundra, aspen and spruce-fir forests in <br />the mountains to pinon-juniper woodlands, semi-desert shrubland, and grasslands at low <br />elevations. A diversity of riparian-wetland habitats occur immediately along streams and in <br />association with some irrigation systems. Streams at upper elevations in the area support trout <br />fisheries; at lower elevations fisheries are limited by increased diversions of water for irrigation <br />and warmer temperatures. Reservoirs such as McPhee, Totten, and Narraguinnep support warm <br />and cool water fisheries that are managed by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. <br /> <br />The Dolores River downstream from McPhee Dam developed into ari excellent trout fishery in <br />the mid-1980's, shortly after McPhee Reservoir was constructed, due to more stable and <br />perennial flows and cooler waters. As Dolores Project diversions increased, the quality of this <br />fishery later declined due to below optimal flows and this problem was magnified in the dry <br />years of 1989 and 1990. Flows were reduced to 20 cfs using the criteria existing at that time, and <br />this event showed that the original plans for fishery releases were not the best way to manage the <br />resource. , A fishery management "pool" has since been designated in McPhee Reservoir for <br />downstream fishery releases to reduce this problem. Alternatives are being investigated to <br />increase the size of this pool so that downstream releases can be improved. <br /> <br />~ <br />, <br />\, <br />\ <br /> <br />McElmo Creek's sport fishery is limited by sediment, high summer temperatures, and widely <br />fluctuating flows. Native fish species present include flannelmouth and bluehead suckers and <br />speckled dace. Non-native fish are also found, including common carp and fathead minnows. <br /> <br />The proposed Carriage Contract should have little effect on fish and wildlife resources. The <br />water involved was historically used for irrigation since the late 1800's. Over the last several <br /> <br />11 <br />