Laserfiche WebLink
<br />, <br /> <br />(:fl.';.- <br /> <br />were developed to minimize the Impact. The following is 8 brief summary of the <br />numerous alternatives considered by the Advisory Team. <br /> <br />Over 60 reservoir sites were identified by the Team, approximately 20 In the La <br />Plata River drainage and the remainder in the Animas River drainage. The various <br />alternatives used about a third of the reservoir sit.s, The sites w.re generally evaluated <br />for embankment quantity versus storage capacity. The best reservoir site In the La Plata <br />River drainage Is the Southern Ute Reservoir site Included In the 1979 Definite Plan <br />Report ("DPR"). The Ridges Basin Reservoir site was determined to be the best sit. In <br />the Animas River drainage from an engineering and environmental perspective. <br /> <br />Water from the Animas River is essential to meet the water needs of the Project <br />area. The La Plata River has an average annual flow of only 39,000 acre-feet per year; <br />water needs In the La Plata River drainage are n.arly four times that annual flow, with <br />the needs of the two Ute Tribes being over 60,000 acre-feet. Th. irrigators in the La <br />Plata dralnag. apply far less water per acre than do Irrigators In other drainages In the <br />San Juan Basin. Therefore. a project was needed to utilize .lCC888 water trom the <br />Animas drainage to supply waterto the severely dry La Plata Basi.I), which I. under nearly <br />constant strict dally administration under Colorado law and two Interstate compacts. <br />Oiverslon of Animas River flows to the La Plata drainage could resolve many of the user <br />conflicts currently experienced on the La Plata River. Return flows will help serve down- <br />stream users and provide easier Compact administration tor Colorado officials. Crops will <br />be Irrigated to maturity and lands brought under cultivation which have been left fallow <br />tor years. If not decad.s. <br /> <br />Three conceptual plans were formulated to divert water from the Animas River to <br />the La Plata River drainage: <br /> <br />1) a gravity diversion from the Animas River about half way between Durango <br />and SlIverton; . <br /> <br />2) a diversion near Durango to pump wster into an off stream reservoir; and <br /> <br />3) a large reservoir on the Animas River near the stat. line with a very high <br />pump lift. The plan to divert water at Durango was selected primarily <br />because of environmental considerations described In the 1980 FES, <br /> <br />Since the La Plata River drainage Is higher than the Animas River drainage, a <br />study at the physical topography of the Project area eliminated options other than the <br />current AlL.P Plan for bringing gravity flow water from the Animas drainage to the La Plata <br />Rlv.r In an efficient, cost-effective manner, Flow into a higher elevation ditch, If one could <br />be constructed, would cease after spring n.moff. Lower elevation ditches would fail to <br />reach the lands in severe need of additional Irrigation water. <br /> <br />2 <br />