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<br />The area to be studied is Jackson Gulch dam, reservoir and the borrow pit that was created with the building of <br />the original dam. The Bureau of Reclamation will conduct the feasibility study as outlined in the attached <br />Project Management Plan: <br /> <br />1. Construction of Lake Mancos Dam, Reservoir and Canals. Total cost is $38,000 ($20,000—State Funds for <br />Jackson Gulch Borrow pit study. This study will: <br />Develop information on feasibility of a new Lake Mancos Dam in the borrow pit. <br />? <br /> <br />Perform geotechnical investigation of the borrow area. <br />? <br /> <br />Develop information on the enlargement of the Crystal Creek Ditch for delivery of water. <br />? <br /> <br />Provide information on needed outlet works and additional storage that could be gained. <br />? <br /> <br />47% or $18,000 of cost provided by in-kind services. <br />? <br /> <br /> <br />2. Jackson Gulch Dam ($80,000 from the Basin Account—approved by the CWCB in July 2007). <br />The funds will be used to prepare a feasibility level study for increasing the storage capacity of the <br />? <br /> <br />reservoir, including raising the dam a total of five feet. This will provide for approximately 2,000 <br />additional acre-feet of storage. <br />The study will define structural needs for the Dam and related features. <br />? <br /> <br />Establish the additional water that can be stored, construction cost estimates and impacts that must be <br />? <br /> <br />mitigated. <br /> <br />The Applicant states that water stored in the Jackson Gulch Expansion Project will be available for multiple <br />uses, including: irrigation, stock, wildlife, M&I, environmental, hydropower, recreation and fire protection. <br />Moreover, funding assistance will help meet Colorado’s future water needs—namely, projected capacity <br />shortfalls in the San Juan River Basin as identified in the Statewide Water Supply Initiative. The reservoir will <br />help to protect Colorado’s water from future Lower Compact States designs on Upper Basin water by <br />allowing the District to store entitled rights. The Applicant states that the project provides an excellent <br />location and supply of raw water for forest fire suppression. In addition, storage at this headwater facility <br />preserves water quality and provides drought protection. The Project is necessary for the health and welfare <br />of the Districts’ constituents. <br /> <br />This application is actively supported by the Mancos Conservation District. The Conservation District is <br />conducting a Water Conservation Project and a Watershed Management Plan for the Valley, both of which will <br />be greatly enhanced by increased water storage capacity. Efficiency of the use of irrigation water has been <br />improved using over $5 million of salinity control funds plus private funding in the past 2 years to build <br />pipelines and install sprinkler irrigation systems in the valley. But the Mancos River is over adjudicated in some <br />stretches and there are needs for additional water in the river during most months of the irrigation season. The <br />drought has severely impacted the valley and additional stored water is in demand; not only for agriculture, but <br />also for the growing population. According to the initial survey of the health of the Mancos River system, <br />stretches of the River are dry during the irrigation season and the riparian habitat is degraded in much of the <br />lower valley. Additional stored water is expected to become a significant factor to the success of the riparian <br />habitat improvement program under the Watershed Management Plan, as well as preserving the agricultural <br />character of the Valley. <br /> <br />This application is also supported by the Mancos Rural Water Company which provides domestic water to rural <br />residents within the District boundary. The Water Company serves 485 members and presently has a waiting <br />list for 85 new memberships which are not served pending an increase in raw water available to the Company. <br />Under a new contract with the District and the Bureau, the Water Company is encouraging existing users of <br />Jackson Gulch water to transfer irrigation water to M&I uses. This is a choice that residents of the Valley are <br />facing in order to increase the supplies of domestic water. Additional water storage capacity will enable <br />adequate domestic water supplies to be maintained without reducing water available for agriculture. <br /> - 2 - <br /> <br />