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<br />0014 79 <br /> <br />Comment 10- The water involved was historically been diverted from the Dolores River and <br />used in irrigation of salty soils. The proposed agreement will allow it to remain with agriculture <br />and will be used on non-saline soils. <br />Response 10- MVIC's water has been historically been diverted from the Dolores Basin to the <br />San Juan Basin and used within their irrigation system, which extends from the Ute Mountain <br />Ute Indian Reservation to the south and to the Lewis area to the north. DWCD is proposing <br />continued use of this water in the San Juan Basin and place it into the Dove Creek Canal system <br />to provide additional sprinkler-applied irrigation for around 3,000 acres. The salinity content of <br />the soils within the Dove Creek Canal system are among the lowest in the Colorado portion of <br />the Colorado River Basin. Dolores Project planning estimates for the irrigation of these lands <br />actually predicted a slight net decrease in salt loading to the eolorado River system as salts <br />would be precipitated in the soils. <br /> <br />Comment 11- The financial benefits of the original salinity control should be stated and the <br />financial costs (of increased salinity) with putting additional lands in irrigation should be stated. <br />Response 11- The salinity features of the Dolores Project (and McElmo Creek Unit) are designed <br />to reduce seepage from MVIC's distribution system and are expected to prevent approximately <br />24,500 tons of salt from entering the Colorado River annually. Projected total cost for the <br />salinity work in the area is around $26 million dollars (Departinent of the Interior, 1999). The <br />estimated cost per ton of salt reduced is $53; financial benefits of salinity control programs are <br />significant and benefit agricultural, municipal, and industrial users downstream. The objective of <br />the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program is the maintenance of salinity levels at or <br />below levels found in the main stem of the eolorado River as of April 1972 while allowing the <br />Upper Basin States to develop full use of their Colorado River eompact apportioned water. The <br />salinity content of the soils identified for irrigation under the proposed action are among the <br />lowest in the Colorado portion of the Colorado River Basin and substantially lower than the <br />marine shale derived soils of the Montezuma Valley. Therefore, there should be very little new <br />salt loading. <br /> <br />Comment 12- Can the water saved through public investments in salinity control be used to <br />increase irrigation in the same area? <br />Response 12- Yes. In accordance with the Supplement to the Definite Plan Report (January <br />1988) Appendix B, Water SupplylHydro salinity, Saved Water: Approximately 6,700 acre feet of <br />water resulting from canal seepage reduction will occur when the canal lining program is <br />completed and will be available for irrigation application by MVIC. The water that is carried to ' <br />the Dove Creek Canal system as a result of the Carriage Contract will be placed on soils with <br />significantly less salinity content than the soils from which it was removed. The proposed action <br />is consistent with Salinity Control Program objectives and with related contracts. <br /> <br />Salinity eontract No. 9-70-40-R0730, Article 9, Page 23, states that "Nothing in this contract <br />shall be construed to alter, amend, modify, or conflict with the rights of MVle to make use of all <br />water adjudicated for its use in a manner consistent with the laws of the state of Colorado. <br />MVIC, the District, and Reclamation agree that any water saved by the rehabilitation, <br />construction and operation of facilities under this contract may be used by MVIC for any use, <br /> <br />24 <br />