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. . . "' , "'... '} ~"i~~) CHAPTER VI PLAN SELI.:CTIOrl A:lD ALTERlfNl'IVES--BASALT PROJECT Introduction A number of alternative plans for the Basalt project were considered in the process of selecting the plan discussed in previous chapters of this report. The alternatives primarily involved different means of con- veying water from Ruedi Reservoir to the irrigable lands in the project area and different scales of irrigation development. /iJunj,cipal and indus- trial use of project water was not considered in any plan since future water requirements for these purposes cannot be appraised at this time. Power generation by the use of irrigation water released at Ruedi Dam was found to be economically infeasible and is therefore not included in any of the plans. One of the al ternati ve plans includes a powerplant in the irri.gation distribution system but the inclusion of the power fea- ture doeS not improve the plan. Project effects in such fields as rec- reation, fish and wildlife, and flood control were not estimated as these effects would not significantly affect the relative attractiveness of the plans considered. All of the plans would utilize natural flows of streams within the project area to the fullest practicable extent. Description of Plans Of the numerous alternative plans considered 13 that appear to be the more favorable are briefly deScribed and compared in this chapter. Till; :Jlnns cover five different sCill(;;s of irriGation develo;:w.lent. -vdt11 the acreo.cc bGcoming larger in fi'Te steps in plans 1 through 13. Irrigation of lands in the Cattle Creek area is basic to all plans. All but the first two plans would also serve lands in SOIDe other areas. All planS 1,ould include the Basalt Conduit, Landis Canal, tlnd Spring Valley lateral. although the conduit and canal alignments tind capacities vary from plan to plan. Other canals and associated facilities are added to the basic project features in plans serving lands outside the Cattle Creek area. The alignment, gradient, and capacity of the Basalt Conduit were decisive factors in plan formulation. If the canal "ere constructed hi{!h enough to deliver ;Tater by gravity flo" to Missouri Heie:hts Reser- voir enlargements, special design problems lfould be presented in main- taining the gradient through the steep slopes traversed by the upper several miles of the canal. Increasing the conduit gradient "auld reduce the cost but this would require pumping to the Missouri Heights Reservoir 40