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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />EA is also available on our web site www.usbr.gov/uc/envdocs under the Environmental Assessments <br />heading. Comments should be provided by Friday, November 12, 2004. <br /> <br />McPhee Proposals Finalized: After two years of meetings, members of the McPhee Recreation Plan <br />Committee submitted a list of ideas for the Dolores Public Lands Office to consider as a benchmark for <br />enhancing the livelihood at McPhee Reservoir. The Dolores office manages land operations in and <br />around McPhee and is the final decision maker on future proceedings or improvements at the lake. The <br />following are a description of the proposals that were received: <br /> <br />I. revitalize development at the current marina site, <br /> <br />2. to fund the new infrastructure by using public money from the community, state or Congress, <br /> <br />3. solidify a relationship with Colorado State Parks to jointly manage a marina and recreation <br />opportunities in and around McPhee with the Bureau of Reclamation, Colorado Division of <br />Wildlife and Dolores Water Conservancy District, who are partners in the venture. <br /> <br />4. Collect fees to help pay for trash pick-up, law enforcement, new and upgraded facilities, <br />maintenance and safety signs. <br /> <br />5. Instituting some free areas as a pilot project. Free or reduced costs could be looked at around <br />the reservoir for people who swim, hike, kayak or canoe. <br /> <br />6. explore funding for a comprehensive ($1.3 million) McPhee Master Recreation Plan, which <br />addresses all opportunities on land and in the water, including expanded recreation at House <br />Creek. <br /> <br />The Dolores Public Land's Office is expected to report their findings on the recommendations by the <br />end ofthe year. <br /> <br />To view the entire recommendation list of the McPhee group, access www.co.montezuma.co.us. then <br />click on McPhee Recreation Plan Committee. <br /> <br />Water Court Agrees to Water Applications: On Nov. 4 the Water Court in Durango removed the <br />last objections to a task force's efforts to find a reliable source of drinking water for southeast La Plata <br />County. Under three out-of-court agreements presented to Judge Gregory Lyman on Wednesday, the <br />La Plata Archuleta Water District Task Force can apply for water from the Animas, Pine and Piedra <br />rivers. Details of the agreements weren't available Wednesday. <br /> <br />Although water isn't guaranteed, the task force has gotten in line for IS cubic feet a second of Animas <br />River water, 7.5 cfs from the Pine River and 5 cfs from the Piedra River. One cubic foot of water a <br />second produces 2 acre-feet every 24 hours. An acre-foot is enough water for the annual needs of two <br />or three families. <br /> <br />Lyman, water court judge for state Water Division 7, still must approve the applications. But task force <br />members anticipate they will be able to hold an election in January to create a formal water district <br />board of directors. Once approved by the court, the board of directors can raise money to pay for a <br />treatment plant and pipelines. <br /> <br />Durango water attorney James Anesi, who represents the task force, said the group could draw on any <br />or all of the river sources. The claims would be junior to previously approved claims. <br /> <br />The task force wanted to lease 2,000 acre-feet of water annually from Vallecito Reservoir to provide <br />drinking water for a 400-square-mile area in southeast La Plata County where homes use wells for <br />potable water. Pine River water from Vallecito Reservoir currently is used for agriculture. <br /> <br />27 <br />