Colorado - Battlement Reservoir #3_Application

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Water Supply Reserve Account -Grant Application Form Form Revised May 2007 The Battlement Reservoirs are a chain of seven historic reservoirs, located in a montaine setting at 10,000 feet elevation in the White River National Forest, seven miles south of Battlement Mesa, Colorado. The Reservoirs were originally constructed for irrigation use by the Battlement Water Supply Company (BWSC) in the late 1800's using mule teams and "fresnos" (steel dozer-like implements). Many of these historical tools are still on- site, representing the historical significance of the area. Maintenance of the Battlement Reservoirs became very difficult due to the inaccessability of the site to motorized equipment. Most of the outlet structures were inoperable by the 1960's, when the reservoirs were no longer anually drained. This lack of reservoir maintenance actually resulted in an environmental benefit for the reservoirs' highly productive fisheries. The Battlement Reservoirs became very popular with anglers that desired a pristine, back-country experience. Battlement Reservoir #3, the largest reservoir at 10 surface acres (408.67 acre feet) breached during spring run-off in 1983. This breach resulted in major damage to the Battlement Creek channel, as well as County roads downstream of the reservoirs. The USFS and the Colorado Division of Water Resources (State Engineer's Office) began the proceedings to force the BWSC to breach all the dams. The local communities of Parachute and Battlement Mesa became quite upset with the plans to breach the dams of the Battlement Reservoirs. Community members began petition drives and wrote letters to their federal representatives voicing their displeasure and concerns with the loss of the fisheries. The USFS began working with multiple partners including the BWSC in 1987 toward retaining the quality and highly desired fisheries and associated habitat by stabilizing the Battlement reservoirs to safe standards. Six years were required to obtain the road right-of way through five private landowners to ensure public access in perpetuity to the White River National Forest, where the Battlement Reservoirs are located. Eventually, an interagency agreement between the USFS and the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) was developed to design and reconstruct Werhonig and Gardner (W&G) Reservoir, as well as Battlement Reservoirs # 1, #2, and #3. W&G Reservoir was successfully and cost efficiently rehabilitated in 2001 and 2002. So, plans proceeded to complete Battlement Reservoirs # 1, #2, and #3 . A Fishing is Fun grant was received in 2002, and the Battlement Reservoirs Project began as a cooperative effort between the CDOW, USFS, BOR, and Battlement Mesa, Inc. Battlement Reservoirs # 1 and #2 were breached and rehabilitated. Battlement Reservoir # 1 became an approximately 10 foot deep fishery habitat, while Battlement Reservoir #2 became a two feet deep impoundment to provide shallow wetlands. All of Battlement Reservoir #2 and the upper portions of Battlement Reservoir #1 provide shallow wetland habitat. Battlement Reservoirs #4, #5, and #6 were also converted to wetland habitat for amphibians, migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and other wildlife species. Battlement Reservoir #3 was breached and dewatered, but the dam reconstruction was not completed. Reconstruction of Battlement Reservoir #3 will include: 1) removal of the non-working outlet structure, 2) construction of a permanent, hardened spillway that will maintain a constant water level in the Reservoir, 3) outsloping the downstream slope of the dam, and 4) revegetation of disturbed areas. The dam will be reconstructed to meet current dam safety standards. Vegetation removed during the project will be replanted in the project area, when possible. Native seed mix will be used for revegetation of disturbed sites. The completion of Battlement Reservoir #3 will complement all of the other Reservoirs within the Battlement system by providing fish and wildlife habitat. An additional 6 surface acres will increase the total surface 6