BOARD00836

• Board Meeting Date: 9/6/1956
• Description: Minutes and Resolution
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

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3. In light of the comments received from the affected
States, and with specific regard to the Comment of the State of
Colorado that the project be restudied with a view of determining
the most economical size reservoir for the area and other
pertinent factors, the project plan was modified. The December,
1955 Report of the Department of the Interior has been drafted
to conform with the expressed wishes of the State of Colorado, and
to take cognizance, insofar as possible, of the comments of
other States and Federal agencies.

Description of Project

4. The plan of development contemplates construction of
a concrete-arch dam at Wagon Wheel Gap for regulation of the flows
of the Rio Grande under terms of the Rio Grande Compact, to provide
a supplemental and regulated water supply for 271,000 acres of
presently irrigated land. In addition, the reservoir would
provide material flood control benefits. There are no power
features included. Releases from the reservoir would be made into
the channel of the Rio Grande for diversion and distribution
through the existing irrigation systems.

5. The following data are from the December, 1955 Report:

Wagon Wheel Gap Reservoir

Ca~ci tj
100 Control, unpredictable floods
Flood Control, predictable floods
Irrigation and Flood Control
predictable floods

60,000 acre feet
140,000 acre feet

300.000 acre feet
500,000 acre feet

Cost Allocation
Irrigation
Flood Control
Recreation
Fish and Wildlife

$11,642,000
10,545,000
59,000
325,000
$22,571,000

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Annual Benefits
Irrigation
Flood Control
Recreation
Fish and Wildlife

Total
$1,955,000
590,300
17,300
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Direct
$1,199,000
590,300
17,300
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. ,
Estimated net losses of $191,000 annually included in
annual economic costs.