WSP08556

• File Number: 8220.126.A
• Description: San Miguel Project
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 4
• Date: 1/20/1981
• Title: Notification of Planning Study Termination for the San Miguel Project
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Si_ the ...Uer ruervoir C&pKitie. .tu4ied dllriD& .clvece plamli11&

for onstream regulation would not significantly change the natural

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flows of the San Miguel River, flood control is not included in the

alternatives.

Alternative Plans

The 23 representative alternatives include on-stre~ and off-stre~

reservoir sitea, irrigation water for acreages of from 11,480 to 19,760,

and municipal and industrial water supplies of lOO, 14,000, or 28,000 acre-

feet. A non-structural alternative to improve the existing irrigation

system includes irrigation aervice to 11,480 acres and a municipal

supply of 100 acre-feet. Recreation facilities and a fish and wildlife

program are included in the on-stream and aU but one of the off-stream

alternatives. A cultural resources program would be included in all of

the alternatives, where appropriate.

Alternative plans with on-stream reservoirs

The on-stream reservoir alternatives include damsites at eight

different locations on the San Miguel River. At these sites, 17 alterna-

tives were formulated that vary in acreage served, in municipal and

industrial water supplies, and in other refinements. Based on economic

criteria, one alternative - Specie Creek Dam and Reservoir with the

trrigation of 15,150 acres - emerges as the best of the on-stream alter-

natives studied and is discussed below in some detail. All of the

on-stream alternatives include recreation facilities at the project

reservoirs and fish and wildlife and cultural resource progr~s.

Specie Creek Dam and Reservoir - Irrigation of 15,150 Acres

Under this alternative, the project would store flows of the San

Miguel River to provide an average annual supply of 42,270 acre-feet for

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