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<br /> <br />PAONIA E,ROJEC';f, COLORADO <br /> <br />7\ <br /> <br />$1,266,000 in a 40-year repayment period in excess of costs for opera- <br />tion and maintenance. Of the total cost, an allocation of $32,000 <br />is reasonably made to flood control and is nonreimbursable. An <br />indeterminate amount, not expected to exceed $300,000, will be col- <br />lected from sale or rental of the reserve storage capacity in Spring <br />Creek Reservoir as future need for this capacity develops. Any <br />remaining balance of construction costs is appropriately allocable to <br />those benefits of a public nature previously discussed and is not con- <br />sidered repayable by the water users under reclamation laws. <br /> <br />PARTICIPATION BY OTHER AGENCIES <br /> <br />23. The Paonia project plan has been reviewed by other Federal <br />agencies having an interest in development and conservation of <br />national resources. Although other agencies are in general accord <br />with the plan of development, their interests are not sufficiently <br />affected to justify their direct participation in the project. . <br />24. The Fish and Wildlife Service recognizes that the net Qffect <br />of the project on fish and wildlife, although small, will be favorable. <br />Irrigation of 2,000 acres of new land and a supplemental water supply <br />for 12,750 acres now under irrigation should result in a somewhat <br />improved environment for upland game birds.. Reduction in flood <br />flows and other stream regulation resulting from operation of the <br />Spring Creek Reservoir should result in some improvement to the <br />stream habitat for fish and birds. <br />25. Only a small amount of federally owned grazing land, adminis- <br />tered by the Grazing Service, will be directly involved in the develop- <br />ment. Oonsummation of the project will undoubtedly be beneficial <br />to the range livestock industry and will effect a better land use in the <br />area. In view of the general benefits to be obtained from the project, <br />the Grazing Service is in accord with the plan of development. . <br />26. The National Park Service has no existing or proposed units- <br />of the National Park system in the project area,- and no development <br />for recrllational use of the Spring Oreek Reservoir appears to this <br />agency to be warranted. ' <br />27. The Geological Survey has supplied basic streamflow data <br />used in the planning of the project and recognizes the needs for its <br />various stream-gaging stations maintained in the area. <br />28. Mining and minerals will be little affected by the project devel- <br />opment. There are no national forest or Indian lands in the project <br />area. The Army engineers made flood~control studies for the Spring <br />Creek Reservoir, but flood-control benefits will be small and incidental <br />compared to the reservoir costs and irrigation benefits. <br /> <br />CONCLUSIONS <br /> <br />29. The revised plan for development of the Paonia project as out- <br />lined herein is economically sound. Its measurable benefits alone <br />exceed its estimated costs by more than2~ to 1. In addition there <br />are many tangible benefits not appraised in terms of economic dollar <br />returns to the Nation, but which are nevertheless equally real. The <br />plan has engineering feasibility as evidenced by results of the engineer- <br />ing studies, surveys, designs, and estimates. Local and State officials <br />desire the project as planned and water users have voiced a willing- <br />ness to repay the amount herein reported as being within their ability <br /> <br />, <br />