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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ~ PINE RIVER PROJECT, COLORADO LOCATION The project is located in La Plata County of southwestern Colorado. PURPOSE The project furnishes supplemental water to about 56,400 acres of project land, including a supplemental water supply for 15,120 acres of Southern Ute Indian Tribal Land and 41,280 acres of land outside the reservation. PLAN Vallecito Dam and Reservoir are located 18 miles northeast of Durango, Colorado. The dam is a 162-foot high earthfill structure, and the reservoir has an active capacity of 126,300 acre-feet. The distribution of project irrigation water is through privately-owned systems or through systems under Tribal jurisdiction. AUTHORIZATION AND CONSTRUCTION The President approved project construction on June 17, 1937, under the provisions of Section 4 of the Act of June 25, 1910 (36 Stat. 835), and Subsection B, Section 4 of the Act of December 5, 1934 (43 Stat. 701). Public Law 485 (84th Congress, April II, 1956) authorized an extension of the Pine River Project as a participating project of the Colorado River Storage Project. Construction of Vallecito Da. commenced Hay 14, 1938, and was co.pleted in early 1941. Distribution facilities were not included as a part of the original project, and construction of the extension of the project has been deferred indefinitely. . BENEFITS - Irrigation The project has made possible an increase in potential irrigation from less than 17,000 acres to more than 50,000 acres with the added assurance of crop maturity. Improved pasture, alfalfa, wheat, oats, and barley are the principal crops grown on project land. Flood Control . Valled to Dam spring runoff irrigation. I i t , ! ! prevents the flooding of all farmland along the river during by storing floodwater for controlled releases to benefit I