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<br />0014 <br /> <br />Alternative 4 - Upper Valley Reservoir <br /> <br />, ':il <br />While Alternative 4 has not been selected, it has some merits. It <br />would provide for west slope storage and it would allow the Cities and <br />others to develop their State-decreed water rights. It would provide <br />for flat water recreational opportunities; however, it would also <br />result in the loss of 290 acreS of wetlands. In this alternative, 16 <br />acres of Wilderness, near the boundary, would be adversely affected. <br />Alternative 4 was not selected because it proposes a complex joint <br />venture that does not exist between the decreed water rights holders <br />nor does the Forest Service have an application for such an alterna- <br />tive. I would consider Alternative 4 to be consistent with the laws <br />and regulations governing the use of National Forest System lands. <br />The State of Colorado would be, in my judgment, the logical <br />governmental body to initiate and plan such a venture. <br /> <br />Alternative 5 - Water Trade <br /> <br />This alternative is conceptual in nature and does not at this time <br />include any specific sites or development proposals. The alternative <br />is included in the analysis to provide a more complete disclosure and <br />to provide some comparisons, even though they are speculative in nature. <br />This alternative would require an exchange of water rights between <br />Aurora, Colorado Springs, and Denver and modification of Green Mountain <br />Reservoir rights (FEIS Section 4.1.2, page 4-15). In Section 2.2.5, <br />page 2-30 of the FEIS, some conceptual facilities are assumed to be <br />required for Alternative 5. These are: <br /> <br />1. A west slope replacement reservoir to be located in the Colorado <br />or Eagle River basins. The capacity of the reservoir could vary <br />depending on the yield of the water rights to be exchanged. No <br />specific reservoir sites have been identified. The 35,000 acre- <br />foot Eagle-Colorado Reservoir site near Wolcott may be a possible <br />location. <br /> <br />2. A pump station(s) at Green Mountain Reservoir and an estimated <br />21 to 23 miles of pipeline from Green Mountain Reservoir to <br />Dillon Reservoir. The pipeline may be located above ground or <br />below ground depending on the site-specific conditions encoun- <br />tered and would be between 48 inches and 84 inches in diameter, <br />depending upon the volume and delivery schedule of transported <br />water. <br /> <br />3. Approximately 10 to 20 miles of temporary roads would De required <br />for access to the above facilities. The amount of roads could <br />vary depending on the facilities involved in the water trade. <br /> <br />4. An east slope reservoir(s) to store water delivered from the <br />exchange. The size and location of any east slope storage facil- <br />ities is unknown. <br /> <br />Alternative 5 would have no effect on the Holy Cross Wilderness. Out- <br />side the Wilderness, about 1,000 to 2,000 acres of surface disturbance <br />would occur. Annual water diversion of 120,000 acre-feet, of which <br /> <br />13 <br />