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<br />(}02184 <br /> <br />and statisticalllIUllysis of the data indicates that the occurance of significant shortages would be even less. <br /> <br />Non-Project Water - Water from the Dolores River is used to irrigate approximately 2,300 acres of land in the <br />Dolores Basin above McPhee Reservoir, and transbasin diversions deliver water to irrigate approximately 42,100 <br />acres of land in the San Juan Basin. The major transbasin irrigation diversions consist of MVIC's diversion of up to <br />153,400 AF annually from the_ Dolores River for the irrigation of 37,500 acres of land. an4 for stock watering <br />purposes, and Summit Irrigation Company's diversion from Lost Canyon to supply irrigation water to approximately <br />4,600 acres of land. Both are senior to the Project. Tnere are otber smaller transbasin water users senior to the <br />Project including the municipal, industrial and domestic water rights held by the City of Cortez and the Montezuma <br />Water Company. There are water rights totaling 3,900 AF senior to the Dolores Project doWnstream from the <br />McPhee Dam. <br /> <br />Dolores River - The water supply for the Dolores River ~Iow McPhee Dam consists of Project water released from <br />storage, water passed through tbe reservoir to slltisfy senior dov.'TlStream water rights. IInd water released in <br />anticipation of spills and/or actual spilis. TIle DPRlFES criteria for minimum releases to the river specifies either 20, <br />50, or 78 cfs during non-spill periods. Tnese flows consist of Project water released from storage and water passed <br />through tbe reservoir to. satisfy senior downstream rights. Water released in anticipation of spills and during actual <br />spills averages about 76,000 AF. Since 1>iovember 1990, McPhee Reservoir has been operated under an interim <br />operating agreement which provides a pool of Project water in the reservoir available for release as directed by the <br />Biology Committee. <br /> <br />DiVIROI"oi1\.IE?'\iAL CONSEQL"EJS"CES <br /> <br />Project Water <br /> <br />Proposed Action - implementation of the proposed action would not affect the Project M&1 water supply, the 800 AE <br />or Vw"1l.te:" reserved for fish and wildlife purposes by the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, th~ 800 AF of fish ana wildlife wate: <br />reserved roruse in Totten Reservoir. Toe Project water supply for irrigation would -be slightly cie::reasee from the <br />supply presented in the DPR. During normal and dry periods. McPhee Reservoir wouid operate at slightly lower <br />eievations and provide less C8ny-over storage for use during succeeding years. Also, more water would be released <br />downstream to the Dolores River during dry period. TIUs will result in increased incirients of shortages to i."Tigators <br />and increased severity of shor..ages during extended drought f>l:riocis. During wet periods, McPhee Reservoir would <br />operate at slightly hi~er elevations IInd provid~ more cllr'ry-over storage for use during succeeding years. However. <br />-the long term avemge annulll wllrer l'uppiy I\Vl\iiRhi" for irriglltion would only PI:: reduced approxinuueiy i 5r as <br />compared to the no RCtlOn Rhemfltive. <br /> <br />No Action - ImpiementHtion of the no action alternlltive would sJi:;htly decrease the Project wflter supply for irrigation <br />from tbe supply presented in the DPR due to the discrepl\nc)' in the 1977 Project operation study discussed in the <br />background section of this document. Tnere would be no affect on the Project M&I waler supply, the 800 AF of <br />water reserved for fish and wiidlife purposeli by the Ule MountHin Ute Tribe, the 800 AF of fish and wildlife water <br />reserved for use in Totten Reservoir. <br /> <br />Non-Project Water <br /> <br />Proposed Action - implementation of the proposed action would not affect non-project water users with water rights <br />senior to the project. <br /> <br />No Action - Implementation or the no lIetion alternative wouid not affect non-project water users with water rights <br />senior to the pro_iec~. <br /> <br />lS <br />