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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I expensive.) Thus reservoir levels would have to be lowered to 8020 ft to allow the top of the frame to be above water. The reservoir is essentially empty at that elevation. If existing plug were to be used, water would have to be pumped over the spillway to meet downstream water requirements. The possibility of using a siphon if the reservoir level is 8027 feet or greater appears unlikely. The releases must be able to provide about 9 cfs to Durango and 8 cfs for the river fishery. The cost of power to operate the pumps would be at least $13,000 plus the cost to install the pumps which is estimated to be approximately $13,000. Because of the pumping costs and the potential need to substantially lower the reservoir, alternatives to the concrete plug were explored. A diving firm, solus Ocean Systems, was contacted. This firm constructed and placed a steel plug on an outlet at Coalridge Dam in Arizona for Reclamation which operates the dam owned by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The potential for fabricating a steel plug for Lemon Dam was discussed and it was decided that this approach would be significantly better than using the concrete plug. The advantages of using the fabricated steel plug are cited below: 1) The condition of a new plug will be excellent and the seal can be made to fit, whereas ~he condition of the concrete plug, especially the seal, is unknown. 2) The steel plug will be significantly lighter than the concrete plug. It weighs about 1700 pounds in air, thus requiring considerably smaller equipment to place and remove the plug. 6.0-4