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<br />water is available to maintain the MA. The various steps and measures that Reclamation could <br />take are discussed in Section 3.2.3. <br /> <br />3.2.2.2 Long Hollow Reservoir Development and Operation <br /> <br />The development of a reservoir in Long Hollow, to be used to aid with the delivery of Compact <br />water to New Mexico, may impact flows through the MA. Water to fill the proposed Long <br />Hollow Reservoir would come from natural runoff and groundwater return flows. Studies have <br />shown that approximately 70% ofthe groundwater return flow from irrigation east of the La <br />Plata River enters Long Hollow. Long Hollow Reservoir would capture return flows near the <br />bottom of Long Hollow, which has an average annual flow of7 cfs, with a total annual yield of <br />approximately 5,500 AF in a dry year to 7,000 AF in a wet year. <br /> <br />During certain times of the year, water would be released from Long Hollow Reservoir to help <br />meet the La Plata River Compact requirements. This would allow water that was used to satisfy <br />the Compact to help increase irrigation supplies higher in the basin including the Red Mesa area. <br />Compact releases from Long Hollow Reservoir would generally not occur during the spring peak <br />period because there would be sufficient water in the river to meet the Compact. According to <br />the WMCP, development of a Long Hollow Reservoir would most likely occur after the <br />development of an expanded Red Mesa Ward Reservoir. <br /> <br />3.2.2.2.1 Impact to Return Flows in the MA from the Development of Long Hollow Reservoir <br /> <br />Above the confluence of the La Plata River and Long Hollow, no negative effects on flows <br />through the MA are expected and increased irrigation water supply in the upper La Plata River <br />area could increase return flows through most of the MA. An approximate 30% of the <br />groundwater from the irrigated portion of the land in the basin east of the La Plata River drains to <br />the west into the La Plata River and MA. <br /> <br />During Compact deliveries, water would be released from Long Hollow Reservoir and flow <br />through the lower end of the MA and provide opportunities for groundwater re-charge to occur. <br />Consistent flows at rates currently occurring in Long Hollow at the confluence will likely be lost, <br />and replaced with lower inter flows, but in summer irrigation seasons flows will be inconstant <br />and variable, depending on flows at Hesperus and Compact needs. Sometimes the summer flows <br />will be heavier than historic flows and sometimes less. <br /> <br />-26- <br />