WSP00916 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION REPORT at alternative sites on Florida River, the diversion to project lands of surplus Pine River water as regulated by the existing Vallecito Reservoir on Pine River, and the diversion of Florida River water to Vallecito Reservoir for regulation and rediversion to Florida River for use on proj~ ect lands. Estinated Project Costs Construction costs of project features and detailed data on the features are summarized in the table on the following page. As shown by the table, project costs are estimated at $6,232,000 or $6,211,500 exclu- sive of $20,500 of nonreimbursable money expended for project investiga- tions from the Colorado River Development Fund. The construction cost estimates are based on December 1949 prices and include allowances for engineering, overhead, contingencie s, and rights-of-way. Annual costs for operation, maintenance, and replacanents of project facilities are expected to average $21,140. About $500 of the cost would be for maintenance of fish screens and the river channel improvanent. The remaining $20,640 would be for irrigation facilities and would amount to about $.90 an acre for lands requiring supplemental water ani $1.45 an acre for lands requiring a full supply. In addition, presently irrigated lands would continue to be charged present operation an::l maintenance costs averaging $.55 an acre and thus would be charged a total of $1.45 an acre. The operation, maintenance, and replacement co st s are based on average 1939-1944 prices which are assumed to be indicative of average prices over an extended period in the future. The allowances made are expected to provide for proper operation and maintenance and sufficient replacements to insure the project works a useful life of 150 years or more. Water Supply Water supply studies show that with the Lemon Reservoir operating the Florida River run-off would be adequate, in all but occasional dry years, to satisfy all water rights prior to those of the project and still provide irrigation for project lands. The quality of the water is well suited to irrigation use. " ,. . " ~~ ~~ (. During the It'lw run-off period studied in detail (1931-1940) the recorded annual flow at the stream gage near the head of the project area averaged 67,200 acre-feet annually, ranging from a low of 27,000 acre-feet in 1934 to a high of 108,000 acre-feet in 1932. This run-off was measured below the diversion to the city of Durango and some other smaller diver- sions. Compared to the run-off the annual derrand on the river with proj- ect operation would amount to about 57,300 acre-feet. Approximately 54,900 acre-feet of this demand, or 2.73 acre-feet an acre, would be for the irrigation of 1,150 acres already adequately irrigated under senior direct flow water rights and 18,950 acres of project lands. The remaining 4