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<br />3.2.2.2.2 Impact to High Spring Flows in the MA from the Development of a Long Hollow <br />Reservoir. <br /> <br />Any Compact water released from Long Hollow Reservoir could decrease the amount of water <br />that has historically flowed through the portion of the MA above the confluence with Long <br />Hollow. Compact water released from Long Hollow Reservoir would flow only through the <br />lower portion of Tract 2. The impoundment in Long Hollow could also reduce peak flows <br />contributions (natural runoff) of Long Hollow to the mainstem of the La Plata River below Long <br />Hollow. This would allow water that was used to satisfy the Compact to increase irrigation <br />supplies higher in the basin including the Red Mesa area and could increase useable return flows <br />in the MA. <br /> <br />3.2.2.2.3 Long Hollow Reservoir Impacts to the MA Assessment Conclusion <br /> <br />The development of a regulatory reservoir in Long Hollow would likely have an impact to the <br />flows through the wetland/riparian zone in the lowest reach of the MA since the flow regime that <br />currently exists will be disrupted. Without monitoring and a more in-depth feasibility study, the <br />extent of the impact to the wetland/riparian area of the of the MA is hard to quantify and is <br />unknown. The development may not significantly impact the wetland/riparian area of the MA. <br /> <br />The low summer flows in the MA, supported by return flows, would likely increase if the <br />development of a Long Hollow Reservoir allowed for increased irrigation in the Red Mesa area, <br />will not be diminished and will continue to provide flows to the lowest reach in the MA. When <br />compact deliveries are not being made from Long Hollow Reservoir, Long Hollow would <br />probably contribute a lesser constant flow than currently occurs. When Compact deliveries are <br />being made from a Long Hollow Reservoir, flows will be released through the lowest portion of <br />the wetland/riparian area of the MA. The increase in return flows to the MA that would be <br />caused by increased irrigation deliveries cannot be quantified at this time but may make up for <br />the expected losses from Long Hollow. <br /> <br />Overall, no significant impact to the functions and values of the wetland/riparian area is expected <br />to occur in the MA below the confluence of Long Hollow and the La Plata River. Iffor some <br />reason Long Hollow Reservoir is not operated as presently envisioned and it is determined that <br />there would be significant negative impacts to the wetland/riparian portions of the MA from its <br />development, Reclamation will augment supplies to ensure that adequate water is available to <br />maintain the MA. The various steps and measures that Reclamation would take are discussed in <br />Section 3.2.3. <br /> <br />3.2.2.3 Johnny Pond Arroyo Reservoir Development and Operation <br /> <br />Development of a Johnny Pond Arroyo Reservoir is a less preferred alternative, to the La Plata <br />Conservancy District, than the development of a Long Hollow Reservoir, but could allow for a <br /> <br />-28- <br />