Bureau Considers Canal as Source of Water for Fish

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MAY -23 -95 02 :44 FROM: COLO RIVER DISTRICT ID: 3039458799 Bureau considers canal as source of water for fish Heather McGregor 5,_ A 01 W C»iiy Sentinel The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is eyeing the Government Highlinc Canal as a source of water for endangered fish in the f,.'olorado River. But fruit ranchers along the canal need not worry about losing water, officials say. At present, the Grand Valley Water users Association has to keep a flow of at least 450 cubic feet per second in the flighlit►e Canal so the water is high enough to reach all diversion points. By September. irrigators are only using about 250 cfs. said Dick Proctor. Grand Valley manager, The bureau would like to figure nut. a way for the other 200 cfs to stay in the Colorado River for the fish. It would come at just the right time. when flows are at their lowest. due to irrigation diver. lions. -We're looking at installing check structures to artificially raise the level of water in the canal." said Bob Norman, hureau engineer. The automated gate would drop down into the canal when they're needed. and the lower water would pool up behind them to the normal level, just like little dams and reservoirs In the eatl.il. Norman figures five or six auto- mated structures would serve the entire 55- mile -Ion; canal, and See CANAL, pride 12B > CANAL: Automated, gates estimated to cost $ 5 million x. Continued from page 19 estimates the systetn would cost about $5 million. "We know that technically we Can do it. But how we're going to protect that water if it stays in the rivet' is still up in the air." Nor- man said. Under state water law, water that's not taken from the river is up for grabs by other water users, In this case, water users east of Glenwood Sprints would he drool - ino over the possibilities. "We'd get a windfall of water from this, and the question is, how do you divide it up and who pays'" said John Hamill, directur of the fish recovery project for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife "rvice. The Bureau of Reclamation isn't going to shell out $5 million for check structures on the Highlinc° Canal if the water doesn't stay in the river for the fish. Securing that water would likely be seen as a bit; step in the recovery program. said Norman, and something that would prevent the. Fish and Wildlif'r Service from reiecting all new watr.r diversions. PAGE 3