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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I DOLORES PROJECT RESOURCES OPTIMIZATION STUDY The Dolores Project, located in Montezuma and Dolores Counties of southwest Colorado, is a multipurpose project that provides water for many diverse uses. Irrigation, municipal and industrial water supplies are served by trans-basin diversion from McPhee Reservoir into the San Juan River basin. Storage of water in M~Phee Reservoir provides many recreational opportunities while water released from McPhee downstream to the Dolores River provides trout fishing, white water boating, and other recreational opportunities. Operation of the project as directed by the Definite Plan Report (DPR) and the Final Environmental Statement (FES) may not be optimizing the project's resources. In March 1990 a "dry year" determination was made in accordance with the Dolores Project Operating Criteria and downstream releases to the Dolores River were set at 20 cfs. Trout Unlimited, Colorado Division of Yildlife, and others expressed much concern for the welfare of the trout fishery that had developed at the previous minimum release of 78 cfs. Through cooperation with the Dolores Yater Conservancy District, additional water was made available for release downstream to alleviate the crisis. It has become evident that the operating criteria developed in 1977 and set forth in the DPR and FES may not be optimizing the project's resources. In October 1990 a 3-year interim operating agreement was signed with the Dolores Yater Conservancy District to provide a fixed pool of water for downstream release until the project is fully developed. This agreement will assure the viability of the downstream trout fishery while providing time to conduct the studies necessary to develop feasible alternatives to the current project operation. The Dolores Project Resources Optimization Study was initiated in January 1991 to explore the needs and opportunities for enhancing the resources of the entire projects. The study is currently focused on determining the requirements for maintaining a viable trout fishery below M~Phee Dam and developing alternatives to meet those needs. Fishery studies are underway and numerous alternative project operations have been evaluated. Opportunities to acquire additional water to supplement the downstream releases are currently being explored. Other aspects of the project will be evaluated after the downstream release issue has been resolved. The following groups and agencies are participating in the study: Dolores Yater Conservancy District, Montezuma Valley Irrigation Company, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Trout Unlimited, Yhite water Boating interests, Colorado Division of Yildlife, Colorado Division of Yater Resources, Colorado Yater Conservation Board, Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, Fish and Yildlife Service.