WSP09790 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

LOCATION . The Grand Mesa Project study area 1s located in west-central Colorado near: the town of Cc.daredge in the Gunnison River Basin, a part of the Upper Colorado River Basin. PURPOSE SUMMARY SHEET Grand Mesa Pro1ect March 1980 Page 1 of 2 The Grand Mesa Project is a potential multiple- purpose water resource development. The project would develop water from streams draining into the Gunnison River and its North Fork from the south- sloping Grand Mesa. Most of the water supply developed would be used for 'irrigation. but the project would also provide municipal and domestic water supplies and would create recreational opportunities and fish and wildlife benefits. ~ Feasibility studies on the Grand Mesa Project were authorized by the Colorado River Storage Project Act of April ll~ 1956 (Public Law 84-485). Because the Grand Mesa Project had not been planned according to NOP procedures, a Concluding Report was prepared in 1973 to provide informa- tion and plternatives for further consideration. Project investigations were initiated in 1977 and are proceeding following the Principles and Standards for water resource projects. Public input has heen solicited through public meetings and questionnaires. The multiobjective planning team is developing alternatives to meet the needs of the area as expressed by public inpt!t and com- patible with established planning criteria. . The study emphasis is to increase water supplies for municipal, irrigation, recreation, fish and waterfowl useS. ~ The plan presented in the Concluding Report of 1973 is no longer a viable alternative as it had an unfavorable benefit-cost comparison and con- . Total irrigation service area (acres) Water supply (acre-feet) Irrigation Municipal & industrial Waterfowl refuge Total Total construction cqst Annual operation, malntennnce, and replacement costs Direct benefit-cost ratio tained several environmentally unacceptable features. A proposed plan of development for the Grand Mesa Project apparently had local support at the May It 1979, p.ublic meeting. Opposition to this plan sur- faced at the environmental scoping meeting held in Cedaredge on September 11, 1979. The Boards of Directors of the Grand Mesa and North Fork Water COn- servancy Districts passed a joint resolution requesting additional studies of alternatives for the Grand Mesa Project. A news release was issued on November 9, 1979, announcing that the Water and power Resources Service would conduct additional feasibility studies. These studies will include potential small hydroelectric plants in connection with Cactus Park and Electric Mountain Reservoir, as well as the existing Paonia Reservoir and along the existing Overland Canal. The May 1979 proposed plan would serve. irrigation water to the lands on Lower Redlands Mesa, Cedar Mesa. and in the Surface Creek valley. Project storage, would be provided by enlarging the existing Fruit- growers Reservoir. A system of three pumping plants and lateral systems ~ould distribute storage water throughout the project area. The project lolould also provide a municipal water supply for towns and rural areas, increased fishing and recreational opportunities by stabilizing some reservoirs on top of Grand Hesa and water for a waterfowl refuge below Redlands Hesa. The summary below compares the financial analysis of the May 1979 proposed plan and the Concluding Report Plan as of September 1973 and as indexed to January 1978. The Feasibility Report is scheduled for mid-calen- dar year 1983. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement and public hearing are due in mid-calen- dar year 1983 "and the Final Environmental Impact Stateme~t in early calendar year 1984. The FY80 appropriations include $224,000 to con- tinue investigations. STATlSTICS From Concluding Indexed Report, to May 1979 September January proposed 1973 1978 plan 28,270 28,270 22,250 52,100 51,000 34,900 5,000 6,000 6,150 5,000 5,000 _5 -,-000 62,100 62,000 46,050 $76,798,000 $127,010,000 $54,200,000 $197,800 $253,000 $265,000 (1967-69 (estimated (estimated prices) January January 1978 costs) 1978 cost~) 1.07:1 .62:1 1.10: 1 (5-1/2%) (6-7/0%.) (6-7/8%) 39