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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I CHAPTER V - DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVES Agriculture in the San Miguel study area currently suffers from an inadequate water supply in the late summer months when crop water demands are high. Streamflows are abundant during the spring snowmelt runoff, but existing collection and storage facilities are not capable of capturing and saving adequate flows to meet late season demands. Improving and expanding the existing irrigation systems could be accomplished in a number of different ways. Various alternatives for improving the existing systems were developed by first determining the most beneficial improvements to individual components of the irrigation systems and then combining the components into alternative projects. The components or project elements studied included such things as canals, reservoirs, diversion structures and ground water supplies. The most effective project elements were considered individually and in various combinations to develop alternative projects. The alternative projects were then tested for their effectiveness in increasing the reliability of late summer irrigation water supplies, This chapter describes the identification and selection of project elements and the formulation of project alternatives. Identification of Proiect Elements The first step in developing project alternatives consisted of identifying project elements. Numerous project elements were identified for possible use in developing alternative projects, Project elements considered include all of the elements recommended in the 1985 feasibility study of the Lone Cone Reservoir enlargement and in the 1985 reconnaissance study for the San Miguel Project. In addition, other project elements were developed in this study and discussed with the study advisors in technical review sessions. All of the project elements, or their proposed sites, were reviewed in the field, and specialized investigations were carried out for some of the project elements as well. Geological and topographic map surveys were conducted for potential ground water sources. Available ditch and canal profile drawings were surveyed for potential small hydropower sites. Preliminary geological investigations at the Cone and Lilylands Reservoirs were carried out regarding proposed increases in dam heights. The geology of the proposed Radium Reservoir and San Miguel Canyon Hydropower Project sites were also studied in the field and with published data, V-I