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<br />001402 <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />./ <br /> <br />Other Alternatives <br /> <br />Many commentors on the draft EA urged the Federal government to arrange or direct that the <br />subject water be used in the Dolores River for either the trout fishery or rafting purposes. <br />Because the water is privately controlled by MVIC, a private entity, and not controlled by the <br />Federal government, this was not considered an alternative to the earriage eontract in this EA <br />(See also eomment and Response No.2 in the Consultation and eoordination section of the EA). <br /> <br />Related Activities <br /> <br />Demand for water in the Dolores Project area is high and has expanded beyond traditional <br />beneficiaries. Water stored in McPhee Reservoir is considered fully allocated requiring new <br />innovations to meet future needs. WETP ACK (Water for Everyone Tomorrow Package) is an <br />initiative led by the DWCD to fmd new ways to develop additional water for irrigation, fisheries, <br />and other uses. VariOllS alternatives are being considered such as new storage upstream from <br />McPhee Reservoir, temporary use of municipal water for other purposes, acquisition and use of <br />Totten Reservoir, and other alternatives. The acquisition of water from MVIC and the Carriage <br />Contract fit within, and are compatible with most of the alternatives being considered for <br />WETPACK (Dolores Water Conservancy District, 2000). <br /> <br />The Dolores River Instream Flow Partnership (DRIP Committee) is a group of governmental and <br />private interests seeking ways to add water to the Dolores River fishery pool. Purchase of <br />agricultural water rights or shares is one alternative examined by this group. <br /> <br />DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT <br />AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES <br /> <br />Introduction <br /> <br />The area is primarily agricultural, with pinto beans, small grains, and hay being the main crops <br />produced. Most of the land in the area is privately owned. The area is bordered by the San Juan <br />National Forest to the north and the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation to the south. McPhee <br />Reservoir is located on the Dolores River downstream from the town of Dolores. Prior to <br />construction of the Dolores Project, direct diversions were made from the Dolores River and <br />other waterways in the area to supply water users served by MVIC and other water user groups. <br /> <br />McPhee Reservoir has a total capacity of381,000 acre-feet, including 152,000 acre-feet of <br />inactive capacity. It provides an annual average water supply of around 91,000 acre-feet for <br />irrigation, 8,700 acre-feet for municipal and industrial use, 29,300 acre-feet for the downstream <br />fishery, and 1,600 acre-feet for fish and wildlife development within the Dolores Project area. <br /> <br />7 <br />