WSP02165

• File Number: 8278
• Description: Title I
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 3/1/1984
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Colorado River Basin Salinity Control - Coachella Canal Unit, Title I Overview
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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Reduction or SccJisge Losses

Coachella Canal Unit

The estimated 8\'Crage seepage of the u....iginally unlined
-t9-mile length of ('anal was 141,000 acre-feel pcr year. h
was pmjef:led thai this Ius.... wOllin he redm'ed to 9.000
at're-feet per year after lining was ('ompleted, represent-
ing an annual sa\'ings of 132.000 acre-feci of waler.

Acreage Reduction

When the Coachella Canal was first placed into sen'j(:e in
1948, it was estimaled the irrigation potential on Im-
perial East j\-lesa ",",ould he aboul 6,500 at'res. How-
e\'er, only 500 at'res of this land ha\'e Leen de\'e1operl.
Congre~s made a pro\'ision in the law. and authorizef!
the Colorado Rh'er Basin Salinity Control Prujcd to
appro\'e pun'hase of prh"ate lands on Impl~fial East
J\:lesa adjacent to the Coat.'hel!a Canal. The acquisition
of these lands h)' the Federal Go\'ernment will he at
Federal Go\'ernmenl expense, and the lanns will be
returned to public domain. By purchase of these pri-
\"ate lanns, tile Imperial Irrig-ation District wafl relie\"ed

of responsibility to pro\idc the~e lands with irrig-ation
!ienif"es. "'hen the pun~hase of lands on the Imperial
East J\:lesa for acreage retirement is complete. the com-
mitment of water to agriculture Im'atef! adjat.'ent to
the Coachella Canal will nol l'Xt.'l.t..d 2,000 acre:'.

Fi.h and Wildlife

A rt'dudion in greenbelt areas and seepage ponds has
ot.'cllrref! as a result of l'onslrul'lion of the newly lined
section. ami has l'aused a loss of habitat. Fi\'e measures
were rel'ommended fur mitigation:
I. Constnld wells wilh windmills am! watering de\'il'es
for wilfllife use, Each windmill is l'apahle of pro.
ducing 300 gallons of water per hour whell operat.
ing under optimum l'onf!itions. The California De-
parlment of Fish and Game is responsillle for the
operation ami maintcnalwe uf the .....indmills with
funds prO\'ided lIy the Bureau of Reclamation.
2. Contract with the California Deparlment of Fish am!
Game to restore fish and wildlife habitat at the
Finne)'.Raml'f 'Wildlife l\'lanagement Unit.