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<br />3.2.2.1 Red Mesa Reservoir Enlargement and Operation <br /> <br />The LPWCD has conducted feasibility-level investigation and preliminary design work for the <br />enlargement of Red Mesa Ward Reservoir from a storage capacity of 1,172 AF to one of 4,070 <br />AF, (Harris, 1995) and hopes that construction of this enlargement will be completed within the <br />next two to three years, although the Western La Plata County Water Management and <br />Conservation Plan (WMCP) suggests that a 2008 completion is more likely. <br /> <br />The Red Mesa-Ward Reservoir and Ditch Company (Ditch Company) diverts water primarily to <br />serve three ditches that irrigate lands in the vicinity of Red Mesa. The return flows from these <br />lands drain (30% of ground water flows) into the MA. (Figure 9) The Ditch Company has <br />proposed to acquire an additional 600 acre feet in an enlarged Red Mesa Ward Reservoir. <br />Reclamation, being a share holder in two of the ditches and in the reservoir would share in the <br />additional 600 acre feet. The additional quantity of water Reclamation would be able to get from <br />the expansion cannot be quantified until details of the reservoir expansion are finalized. <br /> <br />The basic expansion of Red Mesa-Ward Reservoir will change the availability of water to <br />irrigated lands from an average of 50% of desired water for 1140 acres of land served to an <br />annual average of 89% for the same acreage. Currently the reservoir is able to provide 90%+ of <br />optimal water supply only I year in 18, while the operations study model for an expanded <br />reservoir showed the ability to provide 90%+ on 16 of 18 years with the same available <br />precipitation in the system. <br /> <br />The option of using water stored in an enlarged Red Mesa-Ward Reservoir to help meet La Plata <br />River Compact is also being explored. Compact deliveries from this reservoir would flow <br />through the wetland/riparian areas of the MA. <br /> <br />3.2.2.1.1 Impact to Return Flows in the MA from the Enlargement Red Mesa Ward Reservoir <br /> <br />An enlarged Red Mesa Ward Reservoir would provide the opportunity to increase the supply of <br />irrigation water in the Red Mesa Area. Increasing the irrigation supply in this area would <br />increase return flows and cause increased base flows to occur in the MA. Additional return flows <br />would also go to Long Hollow and gains would be even be more significant in the La Plata River <br />below Long Hollow during low flow periods. <br /> <br />3.2.2.1.2 Impact to High Spring Flows in the MA from the Enlargement Red Mesa Ward <br />Reservoir <br /> <br />Channel maintenance flows of 85 cfs for I week per year have been recommended for the La <br />Plata River. Currently flows of this magnitude and duration do not occur annually on the La <br />Plata River. In wet years the flows rates well exceed the flow recommendations ( flows in excess <br />of 300 cfs are not uncommon) during in spring runoff and also during late season rain events. <br />Duration of flows in excess of 85 cfs for a week currently occur approximately one year in four, <br /> <br />-23- <br />