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<br />~ <br /> <br />C") <br />o <br />o <br /> <br />~~ Canal Act did not apply and because as part of the original <br />~~ contract the private owners agreed to provide the land needed to <br />construct the canal. The canal right-of-way (ROW) for the last <br />half-mile of Reach lB and most of Reach 2 was perpetually reserved <br />under the 1890 Canal Act (reserved ROW). At the time, these were <br />privately owned, unimproved desert lands which the Grand valley <br />project opened up to irrigation and development. Scattered along <br />Reach 2, the canal corridor also utilizes Federal unpatented lands <br />which were withdrawn from the public domain for the project. <br /> <br />The Rights-of-Way section of the FEIS further states: <br /> <br />No additional right-of-way would be obtained for the 38 miles <br />of the Government Highline Canal except where possible <br />realignment would be necessary. In general, the installation <br />of the proposed membrane lining would be contained within the <br />widths presently used. The average width of the Government <br />Highline Canal right-of-way, which includes the entire area <br />needed to perform operation and maintenance work, is presently <br />estimated at 125 feet and encompasses approximately 606 acres. <br /> <br />The canal corridor in Reach 1 is typically 135 feet wide instead of <br />125 feet. The reserved ROW for Reach 2 is not a set width and <br />varies according to specific needs. Based upon experiences in <br />designing, constructing and maintaining the membrane-lined portion <br />of the canal at the west end, it became apparent that Reclamation <br />needs to purchase additional fee lands and temporary construction <br />rights-of-way (temporary ROW) along the north side of the canal if <br />the membrane lining alternative is implemented. <br /> <br />The existing 70-year-old earth canal is U-shaped and is 45 to 60 <br />feet wide. It is primarily operated and maintained from the road <br />on the south side of the canal. plans in the FEIS called for a 16- <br />foot wide operation and maintenance (O&M) road along both sides of <br />the canal. The membrane-lined west end provided relatively gently <br />sloping canal sideslopes (2.5:1 slope), with a l6-foot O&M road on <br />the north side of the canal and an additional l4-foot wide adjacent <br />area. The road and adjacent area allow for the cleaning and <br />placement of spoil. In many places, the corridor exceeds 100 feet <br />from the edge of the water on the north. After completion of the <br />membrane lining for the west end of the Government Highline Canal, <br />it was determined that the amount of sediment deposited in the <br />canal was greater than anticipated and regular use of the north O&M <br />road was needed for cleaning. The top width of the membrane-lined <br />west end canal is about 45 feet making it beyond the reach of heavy <br />equipment. The north O&M road has been used on numerous occasions <br />to inspect the canal features and clean the sediment. Spoil <br />storage areas are needed as perpetual upkeep and maintenance <br />continues. Both sides of the corridor are fenced. <br /> <br />Because the canal carries more water through Reach 1 and Reach 2 <br />than through the west end, it would need to be constructed with a <br /> <br />5 <br />