WSP01413

• File Number: 8220.122.A
• Description: Paonia Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Gunnison
• Water Division: 4
• Date: 6/12/1947
• Title: Paonia Project Colorado ‎(Senate Document No. 61)‎
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

VI

LETTERS UF SUBMITTAL

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(without exception such flows have resulted from spring melting of
snow ac~umulated on the watershed, accelerated by warm rains or
. warm wmds) have always occurred, heretofore, the .storage would be
use~ .entirely for flood control until the danger of flood is past. The
pOSItIOn apparently taken by the Secretary of War is contrary to the
experience gained by the Bureau in the operation of many reservoirs
for irrigation use primarily, over many years. Definite, measurable
reductions of flood peaks are obtained simply by the regulation and
retardation effects of a reservoir on a stream, and the beneficial effects
of such reservoirs can be greatly increased through evacuation of
storage space in anticipation. of high spring run-off, the extent of
which is estimated by surveys of the snow cover in the watersheds
above the reservoir. The flood-control benefits indicated in the
report would result from the seasonal method of operation proposed
in the report. The average annual benefit computed takes account
of the seasonal type of operation. Hence, the flood-control benefits
claimed are assured and the proposed allocation of $32,000 to flood
control is justified.
The Secretary of Agriculture, in commenting on the report, agrees
that the project is a worth-while one, and believes that the extent of
present irrigation development in the area justifies improving the
water supply. He states. that the Department of Agriculture,
through its control of the national forest lands which comprise the
bulk of the watershed of East Muddy Oreek, will assist in developing
more intensive watershed management by reducing the use of this
watershed for grazing, thus assuring the maximum serviceable life
of the existing and proposed irrigation facilities. .
The Secretary also has suggested that a more detailed treatment of
the land and water use phases of the project will be essential to a
sound irrigation development. These necessary detailed studies on
the land and water problems of the Paonia project are scheduled for
initiation immediately following authorization. They will constitute
an integral part of the preconstruction activities required for success-
ful construction, development, and operation of the project.
As I have already pointed out, the State of Oolorado has approved
the report, except that it recommended that the report be appro-
priately modified and changed to provide for increased unit costs of
water to the water users and for an extension of the repayment period
(to approximately 60 years). In addition, in commenting on the
Oolorado River Basin report, the State of Oolorado has assured us
that the Paonia project will cause a depletion of water well within
any ultimate allocation of Oolorado River water which may be made
to the State by the Upper Oolorado River Basin Oompact Oom-
mission.
Subsequent to my previous letter of May 16, 1946, transmitting the
Paonia report to you, Public Law 732, Seventy-ninth Oongress, was
adopted on August 14, 1946. This act provides that the Secretary
of the Interior shall make findings on the part of the estimated cost
of a project which can properly be allocated to the preservation and
propagation of fish and wildlife, and costs allocated pursuant to such
findings shall not be reimbursable. I find that the amount of $78,000
may be allocated to fish and wildlife. This finding has the concurrence
of the Fish and Wildlife Service
Recent price indexes for the kind of work included in the project
indicate that the cost of construction may be approximately

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