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referenced survey. The reservoir supplies irrigation water to cultivated lands in southeast Pueblo County, north of the Huerfano River. The reservoir storage basin has accumulated a large quantity of silt with the current level against the upstream face of the dam at gauge height 80. There are two functioning 36 inch diameter outlet slide gates on the face of the outlet works having their inverts approximately eight feet below the existing silt level. A silt catchment fence and depressed rock basin around the outlet structure allows water to flow to the valves with minimal silt flow through the valves. The spillway is a 300-foot long concrete ogee crest with an estimated capaciry of 42,000 cfs with no residual freeboard. The spillway discharge channel is a rock cut rectangular channel which is approximately 100 feet wide with a depth of 19 feet and drops vertically from the canyon rim to floor, approximately 80 feet below. B) PREVIOUS STUDIES COMPLETED URS Corporation completed a feasibility study in 2006. The recommended alternative of this study was to replace the existing dam with a new Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) Dam downstream of the existing dam. The construction of a saddle dam near the left abutment was also required to maintain the desired reservoir storage level. This remains a long-term goal of HCIC, but the estimated thirty million dollar price tag for a new dam is far beyond their present financial capability. An interim and more affordable alternative is currently sought by HCIC that would avoid a zero reservoir restriction and maintain at least some storage in the reservoir. C) PROJECT LANDS This project would not expand the Company's service area and would not irrigate any new lands. The historic maximum land area irrigated is approximately 6,000 acres with approximately 3,000 acres being irrigated under current practices. The dam and reservoir are located in Sections 25, 26, 35, 36, Township 26 South, Range 65 West: Sections 30 and 31, Township 26 South, Range 64 West: Sections 6 and 7 Township 27 South, Range 64 West; Sections 1, 2, 3, 10,11, 12, 14 and 15, Township 27 South, Range 64 West, 6~ P.M., in northeast Huerfano County. D) WATER DEMANDS The number of irrigated acres under the company distribution system has declined from a high of around 6,000 Acres to a current estimate of 3,000 acres. Both a twenty year old reservoir storage restriction and declining and sporadic basin yield are contributing factors to the reduction in irrigated acres. A minimum of one acre-foot of water is required per irrigated acre to raise even a minimal crop with desired supply of two acre-feet per acre for optimal crop yield. The Company in priority basin yield does not supply enough water on an average annual basis to meet the current irrigation demands creating the need for sufficient reservoir storage to capture excess runoff during wet years to carry over to drier periods. E) WATER RIGHTS, YIELD, HYDROLOGY Lytle Water Solutions used historic flow records and water rights call data to project the potential future yield of Cucharas Reservoir. This estimate provides a basis for evaluating Cucharas Feasibility Study ~ Project Background and Need