BOARD00714

• Board Meeting Date: 7/9/1975
• Description: Agenda or Table of Contents, Minutes, Resolution
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

I

Project Objectives and Plannin~

The San Miguel project is a multiple-purpose water resource development
which would regulate flows of the San Miguel River for irrigation,
municipal and industrial use, fish and wildlife conservation, recreation,
and flood control.

Planning studies are being conducted to meet the needs of the area and
to reduce the project's adverse impact on the salinity of the Colorado
River. Deletion of the potential Paradox and a portion of the Dry Creek
Basin irrigated areas from the feasibility plan and substitution of the
potential West Lilylands area would dramatically reduce the project's
salinity impact. Studies are being made to determine if high elevation
runoff occurring south of the project area can be developed for project
use. In addition, sprinkler irrigation is being studied for full
service lands, which would reduce irrigation diversion requirements and
return flow.

Although plan formulation studies for this project are only beginning,
the opportunity to reformulate the project appears favorable. Prelimi-
nary studies indicate that a project plan can be developed that would
be responsible to the needs of the area and yet lessen the impact on
salinity of return flows over the impact of the plan contained in the
feasibility report.

Water for municipal and industrial development and for supplementing
the existing agricultural base is strongly supported by the San Miguel
Water Conservancy District and by local political officials. Prelimi-
nary studies indicate the possibility of additional development of water
supplies from the Lone Cone area to expand the agricultural acreage
without a significant increase in salinity effects. The need for
development of significant quantities of municipal and industrial water
as contained in the plan at the time of authorization, however, has
not been clearly demonstrated.

The San Miguel definite plan report is scheduled to be completed by
December 1977. A plan of development which recognizes changes since
the feasibility plan was authorized and best serves the national and
local needs should be selected by December 1975.

I

Feasibility Plan

River flows would be regulated at the Saltado Reservoir. Releases
would be made from the reservoir to the river for existing water rights,
municipal and industrial use, and fish and wildlife. Other water for
irrigation, municipal and industrial use and fish and wildlife would
be released into the Norwood Canal which would divert from the outlet
of Saltado Dam. The Norwood Canal would be the first link in a chain
of irrigation facilities that would extend west from Saltado Reservoir,
generally along the southern perimeter of the irrigable land area.
This chain would include in successive order the Naturita Reservoir at
the terminus of the Norwood Canal, . the Basin Canal heading at the
Naturita Reservoir, the Radium Reservoir which would receive wa~er from

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