PUB00039

• Year: 1992
• Title: Bureau of Reclamation Durango Projects Office Information
• CWCB Section: Water Conservation & Drought Planning
• Description: Information about various Durango projects
• Publications - Doc Type: Historical

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Vetlands adversely affected by the project will be mitigated. Much of the
replacement wetlands will develop naturally in the full service irrigation area
due to irrigtion return flow. In order to fulfill this commitment, Reclamation
will develop 75 acres of wetland below McPhee Reservoir and provide funding to
CDOV for operation and maintenance.

Project Status

Construction of the Dolores Project began in 1977. Approximately 80% of the
project facilities are complete. McPhee Dam was completed in 1984 and filled
to capacity in 1987. The Dove Creek and South Canals are complete and all
pumping plants and lateral systems to supply water to all petitioned lands in
the Dover Creek full service area are complete. The entire full service area
will receive water for the 1992 irrigation season. The Dolores Tunnel is
complete and in use to deliver water to the Montezuma Valley Irrigation
Company.

Reach 1 of the Towaoc Canal, from the Towaoc Canal Power Plant to U.S. Highway
160 east of Cortez, was operational for the 1991 irrigation season. Final
completion of construction of Reach 1 will be during the summer of 1992. The
contract for construction of Rea~h 2 of The Towaoc Canal, from U.S. Highway 160
east of Cortez to U.S. Highway 160/666 south of Cortez, was awarded in
September 1990 and will be completed to deliver water in 1993. The contract
for construction of Reach 3 was awarded to Veeminuche Construction Authority.
Completion of Reach 3 is scheduled for February 1994. Contract award to
Veeminu~he Construction Authority for construction of the Towaoc Laterals is
scheduled for the fall of 1992. All facilities to deliver full service
irrigation water to the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal lands will be completed in
1994. The contract for construction of the pipe laterals to serve the Rocky
Ford area was awarded in June 1992 with completion scheduled for the fall of
1994. Contract award for lining of the various segments of the Lone Pine and
Upper Hermana Laterals is scheduled for February 1993 with completion scheduled
for the fall of 1994.

Construction of
underway with.
summer 1992 and
of 1992.

the McPhee Dam and Towaoc Canal Power Plants is currently
Completion of Towaoc Canal Power Plant is scheduled for the
completion of McPhee Dam Power Plant is scheduled for the fall

Contracts and Obligations

Repayment contracts have been executed between the United States and the
Dolores Vater Conservancy District, the Montezuma Valley Irrigation Company and
the Ute Mountain Ute Indian tribe which define the amount of project water
available annually for irrigation, municipal and industrial use. Project water
has also been reserved by the United States for fish and wildlife purposes.

After all project facilities have been constructed and tested for proper
operation, the responsibility for operation and maintenance of the facilities
will be transferred to the Dolores Vater Conservancy District (DVCD). The DVCD
will operate and maintain the project consistent with the contracts and
agreements with the Bureau of Reclamation, MVIC, and the Ute Mountain Ute
Tribe.