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8 ,.... ::';) ,.... .... ,,:;-) (;:) that water are left behind on the ground surface, As a result, much of the land surface is thickly covered with alkalai, little useful vegetation p,rO\IS, and mbst DE the area cannot be productively farmed. Of the 130,OOO:acre Project area, only 2,000 acres are irrigated farmland. The rest is poor to very poor rangeland. Almost half of the area is in the public domain (State of Colorado or Bureau of Land Management). This is because the land is of such low value that it \1185 never worth\.,;rhi Ie for anyone to claim it. There is no other part of the Valley where the Project could be built and cause so little disruption of the private sector (see section III-B). To summarize the aspects of the Project I s design \.,hlch assure that its operation will not harm the established economy tif the Valley: 1. The Project is designed to salvage water which is not being beneficially used. Without the Project, a source of water which can benefit the Valley evaporates. 2, The effects of the Project are rigorously confined to the area within the Project boundaries. Land and subsurface water outside those boun- daries will not be significantly affected by the operation of the Project. 3. The area within the Project boundaries where some effects will be visible is one of the least developed areas in the Valley. Those effects will, accordingly, cause minimal disruption. The primary purpose of the Project is to provide a Source of water which will help Colorado meet its legal obligations to downstream water users and relieve the San Luis Valley from the annual strain and uncertainty which is the result of meeting those obligations under the current system. Federal law and regulations discourage single-purpose construction projects, These rules are designed to make sure that projects are designed to achieve all of their potential ~enefits, Benefits which can be achieved at little or no additional cost are strongly encouraged. The Project's recreation and fish and wildlife aspects are of this nature. The fish and wildlife aspects of the Project are in part related to the stringent Federal laws protecting wetlands and endangered species. The law recognizes that wetlands are particularly important to "Udlife and are often critical habitat for rare or endangered species. Projects "hich destroy or disturb wetland areas are required to replace the disturbed habitat. The project Fish and IHldlife Enhancement Plans are in part a response to these mitigation requirements. Those plans include the deli- very of Project water to the Alamosa Wildlife Refuge and the Blanca Wildlife Habitat Area. A waterfowl management area in the Russell Lakes vicinity will also be established. Russell Lakes will not use Project salvage water. The Bureau plans to acquire the land and appurtenant water rights for Russell Lakes from "illing sellers. This water is for wildlife enhancement only and will make no contribution to the rest of the Project system.