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<br />SUMMARY
<br />
<br />Water for the powerplant would be diverted from the Gunnison
<br />River using a priority system for allocating flows for needs
<br />including irrigation, instream flow, and power production.
<br />Senior irrigation demands and instream flow agreements would be
<br />given priority over hydropower needs, Mean annual diversions
<br />from the Gunnison River would be 691,013 acre-feet, A minimum
<br />instream flow level of 300 ft3/s would be met in the Gunnison
<br />River, except in dry years when water is needed to satisfy senior
<br />irrigation rights, as in existing operations.
<br />
<br />Environmental commitments under alternative B include protection
<br />of instream flows and irrigation supplies, acquisition and
<br />development of lands for wetland replacement, acquisition of
<br />lands to preserve an endangered plant species, development of
<br />deer escapes in ,the enlarged AB Lateral, protection and
<br />monitoring of riverbanks along the Uncompahgre River downstream
<br />from the pOwerplant, monitoring of the endangered bald eagle, and
<br />restoration of areas disturbed during construction.
<br />
<br />ALTERNATIVE C
<br />
<br />Alternative C, like alternative B, would divert water from the
<br />South Canal and AB Lateral into a penstock that would convey
<br />water to the powerplant near Montrose, To increase water
<br />supplies fo'r hydropower production, alternative C includes
<br />enlarging the Tunnel from its present capacity of 1,135 ft3/s to
<br />1,300 ft3/s. However, the penstock and turbine capacity would
<br />still be limited to 1,135 fe/so Mean annual diversions from the
<br />Gunnison River would be 726,896 acre-feet, Other features and
<br />operational and environmental considerations are similar to
<br />alternative B.
<br />
<br />ALTERNATIVE E
<br />
<br />The physical features of alternative E are similar to
<br />alternative'B. The penstock and powerplant would be designed to
<br />a maximum Capacity of 9'50 ft3/s, rather than 1,135 ft3/s, The
<br />penstock and enlarged AB Lateral would be scaled down from
<br />alternative B. The plan would include the bypass of flushing
<br />flows in the Gunnison River to reduce siltation, and it would
<br />deliver additional water'to the uncompahgre River upstream from
<br />Montrose du~ing the summer. Mean annual diversions from the
<br />Gunnison River would be 661,090 acre-feet. Other features and
<br />operational and environmental considerations are similar to
<br />alternativeB. Alternative E is Reclamation's recommended plan.
<br />
<br />S - 6
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