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<br />Executive Summary <br /> <br />this dam raise and associated work was estimated to be in the range of $6 - $10 million. The <br />maximum reasonable dam size on the Willi= Fork River near Hamilton is 70,000 af and the <br />preliminary estimate of the total project cost of this dam and reservoir was approximately $30 - <br />$45 million. The Elk Creek and East Fork sites were estimated to have development costs of <br />$50 - $75 million and $35 - $55 million respectively. <br /> <br />Recommendations <br /> <br />The ,evaluation of water supply development alternatives included analysis of existing <br />and of future basin water demands, model predictions of the ability of various development <br />alternatives to meet demands, environmental impacts or benefits resulting from project <br />implementation and estimated project costs. Three recommendations were made as a result of <br />this evaluation. <br /> <br />The first recommendation, and perhaps the most important with regard to near-term <br />water supply and recreational needs, was to develop the enlargement of Elkhead Reservoir <br />utilizing a portion of the Juniper Reservoir water right. The second recommendation called for <br />the development of a decree for the potential future enlargement of Stagecoach Reservoir to <br />52,000 af utilizing a portion of the Juniper Reservoir decree. Results of this study suggest that <br />the Elkhead and Stagecoach enlargement projects together would provide the ability to reliably <br />serve all eJ(isting and projected future water demands in the Yampa Basin with the least <br />adverse environmental impact and project cost of the development alternatives examined. <br /> <br />Finally, a recommendation was made to move ahead with an overall project development <br />plan which would accomplish the first two recommendations, above, and provide conversion of <br />the available portion of the Juniper Reservoir water right to instream flow use. <br /> <br />RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVE <br /> <br />General Description <br /> <br />The recommended near-term project alternative was to develop the enlargement of <br />Elkhead Reservoir utilizing a portion of the Juniper Reservoir water right. As a result of <br />further study and analyses, an enlargement of Elkhead Reservoir to 46,500 af was identified as <br />the maximum practical size given limitations on topography and natural hydrology. Further <br />optimizing of the reservoir enlargement size will be considered as a part of a future Detailed <br />Feasibility Study. <br /> <br />Under the long-term demand scenario (year 2040) the recommended alternative calls for <br />the development of a decree for the potential future enlargement of Stagecoach Reservoir to <br />52,000 af utilizing a portion of the Juniper Reservoir decree. Results of the Study suggested <br />that 52,000 af is the maximum practical size for an enlargement given physical constraints at <br />the Stagecoach site. <br /> <br />Facilities <br /> <br />The recommended plan calls for the enlargement of the existing Elkhead Dam/Reservoir. <br />The crest of the enlarged Elkhead Dam would be raised 45 feet above the top of the existing <br />dam to elevation 6,420. This produces a maximum reservoir pool elevation of 6,406 feet and a <br />storage volume of 46,500 af. A raise to this elevation provides engineering advantages in <br />terms of spillway construction by permitting the emergency spillway to be cut through a saddle <br /> <br />S-24 <br />