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<br />;:, J' , /.! ",lee -," <br />.1- 1', ..," '~1\-.1f:~:'.; 1:" r\ <br />'~):;_'" ; ~J <br />Purpose and Need <br /> <br />1-10 <br /> <br />. Dallas Creek Project - Ridgway Dam and Reservoir, part of the Dallas Creek <br />Project, were completed in 1988 on the Uncompahgre River approximately 25 miles <br />upstream (south) of Montrose. Reclamation's proposed operation of this 83,000 acre- <br />foot reservoir has been incorporated into the Sponsors' water supply analyses. The <br />AB Lateral Project would not draw on water from Ridgway Reservoir, nor would it <br />increase the amount of water withdrawn for irrigation purposes. The City of <br />Montrose may, in certain cases, change how it releases some of its own municipal <br />water to supplement Uncompahgre flows in late summer. Such releases would range <br />between 0 to 2,000 acre-feet, and are annually not expected to exceed 3,500 acre-feet. <br /> <br />. Smith Fork Project - The Smith Fork Project was constructed by Reclamation in the <br />early 1960's and is located in Delta and Montrose Counties about 25 miles east of <br />Delta. This project provides irrigation water supplies to about 10,350 acres east of the <br />Gunnison River. The AB Lateral Project would not affect operation of the Smith <br />Fork Project. <br /> <br />. Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program - The Lower Gunnison <br />Basin Unit of the Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program was <br />authorized for construction in 1984. The winter water portion of this program <br />replaced winter livestock water in the UVRP system with delivery through rural <br />domestic lines, and was completed in 1993. The program also includes lining <br />approximately 60 miles of canals and 195 miles of laterals on the eastern side of the <br />Uncompahgre Valley. These later improvements have not been done due to lack of <br />financing. AB Lateral could provide a source of funds for these improvements. Such <br />work, if done, would be the subject of future negotiations between Sponsors and <br />Reclamation. <br /> <br />. Shavano Falls Hydropower Facility - The Sponsors also propose to develop a 2.9- <br />MW hydroelectric facility at Shavano Falls on the M&D Canal about 6 miles west of <br />the Montrose. Reclamation prepared an Environmental Assessment of the facility in <br />1986 and issued a finding of no significant impact in 1987 (US Department oflnterior, <br />1987). The proposed AB Lateral facility would not alter those findings. <br /> <br />Developing the AB Lateral Project would reduce the amount of hydropower water <br />that would be diverted to this unit. As a result, the Sponsors may determine that a <br />smaller facility at Shavano Falls would be more economical. However, irrigation <br />supplies that are now diverted into the M&D Canal would not change. The Sponsors <br />anticipate constructing this facility at the same time as the AB Lateral. Development <br />of the proposed Project would not affect the anticipated impacts associated with <br />hydropower development at Shavano Falls. <br /> <br />. Upper Colorado River Recovery Program - The Upper Colorado River Recovery <br />Program for endangered fishes is looking at several activities along the Gunnison <br />River to help recover listed fish. Activities include reoperation of the Aspinall Unit to <br />benefit the fish, an investigation to build a fish ladder on the Hartland Diversion Dam <br />upstream from Delta, and other projects. <br /> <br />~ . . ,"'-".;'" oJ ' , <br /> <br /> <br />AS Lateral Hydropower Project <br /> <br />July 2000 <br />