Animas-La PLata Project Environmental Impact Statement

analyze both alternatives on a commensurate or equivalent basis. As with Refined Alternative 4, Refined
Alternative 6 also consists of two components:
❑ One component would be equivalent to the structural component of Refined Alternative 4 by
developing up to 57,100 afy of depletions in the San Juan River Basin to serve essentially the
same M &I needs as would be served by Refined Alternative 4.
❑ A second component for Refined Alternative 6 was developed under the assumption that water
could be acquired to develop an equal amount of depletions of 13,000 afy and in a manner
similar to Refined Alternative 4 by purchasing agricultural lands and associated water rights.
For the first component of Refined Alternative 6, approximately 11,933 acres would be purchased to
yield 17,432 afy of depletions. Other proposed sources of water for Refined Alternative 6 include: the
purchase of storage from Red Mesa Reservoir, the coordinated operation of existing reservoirs with
streamflows in the San Juan Basin for more efficient utilization of water supplies, and the raising of
Lemon Dam.
Land (11,933 acres) and associated water rights would be purchased in the Pine, La Plata, and Mancos
River Basins, and McElmo Creek Basin to supply a yield of 17,432 afy of historical depletions. This
does not include the land required to supply the 13,000 afy depletions for the water acquisition fund.
❑ Pine River Basin - A total of 10,000 acres of non - Colorado Ute irrigated land would be
purchased in the Pine River Basin. The associated 15,114 of of average annual depletion would
be removed from the land and allowed to flow into Navajo Reservoir under the same 'delivery
pattern that would have occurred to the irrigated land. This would become project water with the
delivery point at Navajo Reservoir for purposes of administering the purchased water rights in
the Pine River.
❑ La Plata River Basin - To meet the demands not met by available streamflow, a total of 785 acres
of irrigated land would be purchased and the associated average annual depletion of 521 of
transferred to M &I use.
❑ Mancos River Basin - To meet the demands not met by available streamflow, a total of 500 acres
of irrigated land would be purchased and the associated average annual depletion of 761 of
transferred to M &I use.
❑ McElmo Creek Basin - A total of 648 acres, sufficient to provide a firm yield depletion of
1,036 af, would be purchased and the water transferred to M &I use to satisfy regional demand in
Montezuma County. All water resulting from these purchases from McElmo Creek would be for
the benefit of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.
Several federal storage facilities were evaluated for coordinated operation with streamflows in the San
Juan Basin for more efficient utilization of water supplies. Navajo Reservoir would be operated to
supplement available Animas River flow in meeting the SJWC and Navajo Nation demand, the
Farmington, Aztec and Kirtland regional water demands, and the demands for the non - binding uses at the
coal mine, coal -fired power plant and gas -fired power plant for the Colorado Ute tribes. To the extent
that capacity is not sufficient, additional irrigated acreage could be purchased and retired above the
reservoir to augment the water supply. Vallecito Reservoir would continue to operate as it has
historically, with any water transferred from irrigation to M &I use delivered in the same pattern as would
normally occur for irrigation. Jackson Gulch Reservoir would be operated to store agricultural water
purchased for conversion to M &I and release it according to demand as long as such operation did not
impact the delivery of agricultural water to existing right holders.
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