BOARD00836

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

459

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Annual Economic Costs - 50-year analysis - $903,400
Estimated annual construction cost and
Operation and Maintenance charges; per acre
Estimated annual repayment ability of
project lands; per acre

$1.34
$5.19

I

Benefit-Cost Ratio- - 50-year analysis
Total Benefits 2,84
Direct Benefits only 2,18

* * * *

6. As evidenced in the foregoing tabulation the project
is well justified when benefits are compared to costs. The need
for storage on the Rio'Grande in Colorado has heretofore been amply
demonstrated. A conservancy district to contract for repayment
of the reimbursable portion of. the costs has been organized.
The project will provide only supplemental water supply; there
are no new lands to be served.

,

Wa t er Supply and Repayment

7. All of the waters of the Rio Grande available
project have been appropriated. Consent agreements with
direct-flow water right owners to provide for storage of
portion of the water, which they would otherwise divert,
necessary before water could be stored in the Reservoir.
is recognized by both the Bureau of Reclamation and the
Conservancy District, and the District has expressed willingness
to secure consent agreements among the irrigators for such storage.

to this
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a specified
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8. The repayment ability of the project lands is several
times the amounts required for payment of assignable construction
costs and operation and maintenance charges. The water supply
operation studies demonstrate that, for a period such as 1925-1951,
the project can operate under terms of the Rio Grande Compact,
and that occasional shortages of irrigation water will not ,
impair the repayment ability of the project. Adequate outlet.
capacity is provided in the design to pass natural inflows to
the Reservoir without an appreciable increase in storage. This I
will permit all vested water rights to be satisfied at such times
when proviGions of the Compact preclude operation of the
Reservoir. Studies indicating the ability of the Reservoir to _
prevent damage from floods on the Rio Grande in Colorado, and to
reduce flood damages in New Mexico, have been concurred in by the
Corps of Engineers. Certain steps are recommended which tend
to reduce fish and wildlife damages assigned to the project.