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O&1253 CHAPTER IV IMPROVEMENT AND EXTENSION . Existing tracks of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad inundated by Dominguez Lake would be relocated to a route approx- imately paralleling U. S. Highway 50 for a distance of about 27 miles. Dominguez Lake would also inundate an existing bridge across the Gunnison River that provides acceSs to areas near the mouth of Dominguez Creek from Highway 50. Alternatives for providing access to these areas include a new bridge across Dominguez Lake and a new road about 8 miles in length extending from the Gibbler Reservoir site. Recreation and Fish and Wildlife Facilities Dominguez Lake would provide a habitat for fish and waterfowl. The reservoir with its minimal drawdown pattern would provide out- standing recreational opportunities including fishing, hunting, boat- ing, swimming, and water skiing. Facilities would be provided at several locations for camping, picnicking, sightseeing, and launch- ing of boats. Municipal and Industrial Water . Regulation of flows of the Gunnison River by Dominguez Lake would p~ovide a uniform good quality water supply for future munici- pal, industrial and domestic water needs in the Grand Valley area in and around Grand Junction. The present plan provides for supplying 20,000 acre-feet annually for such use. This could be increased as future requirements demand. Facilities for conveyance, treatment and distribution of the water would be provided by the water users. Potential Hydro Power Development A powerplant at the toe of Dominguez Dam would need to operate at a fairly uniform rate unless afterbay storage were provided to re- regulate reservoir releases and by-passes as required for downstream use. Without provision of afterbay storage, a powerplant with a capacity of about 17,000 kilowatts could generate an average of about 123,000,000 kilowatt-hours of electrical energy annually. The Gibbler Reservoir site is located at an elevation of about 6,200 feet in an area known as Cactus Park about 3 miles west of the Dominguez site. Construction of the reservoirs, tunnels connecting the reservoirs, and pumping-generating units would allow the daily transfer of water between the reservoirs. During periods of off-peak electrical power use, electrical energy would be purchased from non- project sources and utilized to pump water from Dominguez Lake through the tunnel to Gibbler Reservoir. During periods of peak power demand, water would be released from Gibbler Reservoir through the Same tunnels to generate power. The pumping-generating equipment would include reversible motor-generators and pump-turbines. . 56