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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I located near the existing Minnesota Dam. Additional detailed information regarding surface water resources in the project area is provided in Section 6.6. 5.4 Surface Water Demand The Minnesota eanal and Reservoir eompany operates the Minnesota Reservoir located approximately one mile downgradient from the project site. Based on ten years of diversion records (1973-1982) an average of 410 acre-feet of water was diverted by the reservoir, with the minimum and maximum diversion being 79 acre-feet (1977) and 546 acre-feet (1980), respectively (Armstrong, 1980). The average annual quantity of water diverted by the existing reservoir amounts to approximately 27 percent of MeRe's total decreed water rights, or approximately 82 percent of the reservoir's capacity. The proposed project will have a maximum operational capacity of 500 ac-ft. If the existing Minnesota Reservoir is not decommissioned after construction of the proposed facility, the maximum total quantity of water which could be diverted and stored by both reservoirs is approximately 1,000 ac-ft. The project is not anticipated to change the method of water utilization nor the quality of water provided to shareholders. 6.0 DFSeRIPTION OF PROJEeT AREA 6.1 Project Location The New Minnesota Dam Project Site is located approximately 8 miles east-northeast of Paonia, eolorado and is within the Gunnison National Forest. The project site is situated in Gunnison eountyand more specifically within the NE 1/4 Section, of Section 33, of Township 13 South and Range 90 West, of the Sixth Principal Meridian. Access to the project site is by way of a forest service access road via State Highway 133. Figure 6.1 shows the location of the project. 6.2 Regional Setting The project site is situated within the Mesa and Foothills region along the northwest flank of the West Elk Mountains. Elevations within the project area range from 7,400 ft to topographic highs of 8,200 ft. The proposed project area is confined to the Dry Fork of Minnesota ereek, which is tributary to Minnesota ereek and the north fork of the Gunnison River. The Dry Fork of Minnesota Creek occupies a relatively narrow creek basin with. an average flowline gradient of approximately 5 percent. Vegetation along the creek is primarily characterized by willow and native grasses. Hillslopes surrounding the creek rise above the valley floor at grades between 20 percent and 60 percent, and average approximately 35 percent. Hillslope vegetation is generally characterized by scrub oak, small shrubs, and grasses with some occurrences of aspen and evergreens. 5