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3599 8 that water are leEt behind on the ground surface. As a result, much of the land surface is thickly covered \~ith alkalai, little useE11l vegetation p,.ro\/s, and most DE the area cannot be pruductively farmed. .')f the 130,U007acre Project area, only 2,000 acres are irrigated farmland. The rest ig poor to very poor ranreland. ~lmogt half of the area is in the public domain (State of Colorado or Bureau of Land ~anag.ment). rhis is i)ecause the land is of such 10v1 value that it tY'8S never worth\"hile for anyone to claim it. There is no other part of the Valley where the Project could he built and calise so little disruption of the private sector (see section I[l-B). To summarize the aspects of the Project's design \.,hich assure that its operation will not hRrln the established economy of the Valley: 1. The Project is desi~ned to salvage w3ter which is not ~eing beneficially used. Without the Project, a source of water which can benefit the. Valley evaporates. 2. The effects of the Project are rigorously confined to the area within the Project boundaries. Land and subsurface water outside those bOlln- daries will not be significantly affected by the operation of the Project. 3. The area \dthin the Project boundaries wherE' somi" effects \...ill be visible is one of the least developed areaR in the Valley. Those effects will, accordingly, cause minimal disruption. The primary purpose of the Project is to provide a source of water which will help Colorado ~eet its legal obligations to downstream water users and relieve the San Lllis Valley from the annual strain and uncertainty which is the result of meetin~ those obligations under the current system. Federal law and regulations discouraAe single-purpose construction projects. These rules are designed to make sure that projects are designed to achieve all of their potential :lenefits. 6enefits which can be achieved at little or no additional cost are strongly encouraged. The Project's recreation and fish and wildlife aspects are of this nature. The fish and wildlife aspects of the Project are in part related to the stringent Federal laws protecting wetlands and endangered species. rho law recognizes that wetlands are particularly important to wildlife and are often critical habitat for rare or endangered species. Projects which destroy or disturb wetland areas are required to replace the disturbed habitat. The pro ject Fish and \H Idli fe Enhancement Plans are in part a response to these mitigation requirements. Those plans include the deli- very of Project water to the Alamosa Wildlife Refuge and the Blanca Wildlife Habitat Area. ~ waterfowl management area in the Russell Lakes vicinity will also be established. Russell Lakes will not use Project salvage water. The Bureau plans to acquire the land and appurtenant water rights for Russell Lakes from willing sellers. rhis water is for wildlife enhancement only and will make no contribution to the rest of the Project system.