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<br />001546 <br />Chapter 2 - Alternatives <br /> <br />Removal activities would require measures, such as placement of boulders or riprap in the <br />riverbed or along the banks, to restore or enhance natural passage in the river channel by native <br />fish. Incorporating a fish trap in the designs for the dam removal alternative is not possible. <br />Therefore, a fish trap would be included in the design of the fish ladder proposed for the Grand <br />Valley Project Diversion Dam. <br /> <br />Boating safety would also be considered in removal designs (addition of boulders or riprap to <br />protect boaters from the dam abutments, and removal of hazards such as rebar protruding from <br />the remaining concrete). To the extent that costs to the Recovery Program would not increase, <br />designs for removal would also incorporate measures to enhance recreational boating. <br /> <br />Measures would also be required to protect the ability of Ute Water to deliver Colorado River <br />water to their treatment plant. Three possible options include: <br /> <br />1. Deliver Colorado River water to the Ute Water pump plant via the Orchard Mesa Power <br />Canal. Water would be available year round, except for about 2 to 3 weeks in the spring and <br />fall during maintenance of the power canal and Grand Valley Power Plant. Reclamation <br />estimates this option would cost from $150,000 to $300,000. This cost is included in the <br />total cost of the Dam Removal alternative, and would require the following measures: <br />a. Secure a firm supply of water. <br />b. Agreement among Ute Water, Orchard Mesa Irrigation District (aMID), Grand Valley <br />Water Users Association (GVWUA) and Reclamation to deliver water to the Ute Water <br />pump plant. <br />c. Execute a 'power interference' agreement among the Recovery Program, Reclamation, <br />aMID, GVWUA, and Public Service Company of Colorado to compensate for lost <br />power revenues, Ute Water would divert about 15 cfs from the 800 cfs Orchard Mesa <br />Power Canal, which would decrease the ability to deliver water to the Grand Valley <br />Power Plant. <br />d. Execute a crossing agreement with the Colorado Department of Transportation for a <br />pipeline through the Rapid Creek culvert under Interstate 70, <br /> <br />2, Lower the sump in the Ute Water pump plant. Reclamation estimates this option would cost <br />about $600,000, and would require the following: <br />a. Extend the foundation of the pump plant down 6 feet <br />b. Extend the intake structure and trash rack down 6 feet <br />c. Extend the discharge piping <br />d. Modify or replace pumps to allow for pumping from a lower elevation <br /> <br />3. Modify the river channel to assure an adequate water surface elevation during low flow <br />conditions. Reclamation estimates the cost of this option at $1,000,000 (due to lack of <br />construction access and magnitude of Colorado River flows), This option would involve <br />constructing a low head dam immediately downstream from the Ute Water pump plant. The <br />dam crest would be about 100 feet long, and the dam foundation would extend down into <br /> <br />14 <br />