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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br /> <br />first alternative, but would increase target flows by 148,000 acre-feet, including 68,000 acre-feet <br />in leases from willing sellers, The so-called wet meadow alternative focuses on land restoration <br />and would increase target flows by 118,000 acre-feet. The fourth alternative, the water <br />emphasis alternative focuses on water acquisition and would increase target flows by 185,000 <br />acre-feet and preserve 7,000 acres, <br /> <br />The total cost of the alternatives has not yet been calculated, but the major components are said <br />to range from $50 million for the "wet meadow alternative" to $181 million for the "water <br />emphasis alternative," <br /> <br />In a departure from most environment impact statements, Interior did not indicate a preferred <br />option for managing the basin. <br /> <br />Chatfield Reservoir Reallocation Study: The CWCB completed the final project meeting for <br />the Recreation Mitigation Study on Feb, 4, EDA W ofFort Collins was hired to assist the <br />CWCB in working with State Parks to have an accurate determination of costs related to moving <br />and relocating facilities up above the reservoir elevation level of 5444, EDA W worked <br />methodically to come up with a "classy estimate" that included an itemization of all costs related <br />to the mitigation of the recreation facilities, The grand total estimate for the mitigation within <br />this project was approximately $30 million, With the completion of the recreation mitigation <br />study and the water rights study the major work tasks of the CWCB have been completed to date, <br />On Mar, 17 the project team will get together to discuss the next steps in the project. <br />Concurrent with this study was consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Service for threatened <br />and engendered species mitigation, The Corps of Engineers with the consultant firm of Tetra <br />Tech are leading that effort but the CWCB will continue to stay involved to keep that study <br />progressing along, <br /> <br />Rio Grande Basin <br /> <br />Alamosa River Watershed Restoration Master Plan: In February 2004 the contract between <br />CWCB and Montgomery-Watson-Harza (MWH) for the preparation of the Alamosa River <br />Watershed Restoration Master Plan was approved by the State Controller, completing the <br />contracting process, CWCB is managing the project on behalf ofthe DNR, but none of the <br />funding to pay the consultant is coming from the CWCB, Interest that has been accumulating on <br />the Natural Resources Damage Settlement, a legal settlement between the mine operator at the <br />Summitville Mine and the state and federal governments, is paying for the study, The settlement <br />was in the amount of$5,000,000, half to the state and halito the federal government. The <br />settlement fund principal will pay for projects that will mitigate some of the impacts of the mine <br />or provide comparable benefits to resources within the watershed, The purpose of the <br />Restoration Master Plan is to develop a comprehensive list ofinterre\ated projects that represent <br />the best overall approach to addressing the needs of the watershed with the $5,000,000 (and any <br />additional funds that can be acquired), Work on the master plan will last approximately 9 -10 <br />months, starting this month, <br /> <br />San Juan and Dolores River Basins <br /> <br />Animas-La Plata Project (ALP) Cost Issue: Sen, Domenici of New Mexico plans to hold a <br />congressional hearing to address the approximately $162 million in cost increases for ALP in late <br />March, We will help prepare testimony to be provided at the hearing, Also, the Project <br />Coordination Committee (PCC) will meet on Mar, 26 in Durango, We also anticipate the <br />resumption of the Project Operations Committee (POC) shortly after the Senate hearings. <br /> <br />Navajo Indian Water Rights Settlement: At a special meeting on Feb, 6, staff for the Office of <br />the New Mexico State Engineer and Interstate Stream Commission were directed to brief <br />interested state legislators and continue negotiating with the Navajo Nation on a final settlement <br /> <br />23 <br /> <br />. <br />