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<br />I't...,~..., 3 <br />'..- -J....J ~ <br />Alternatives. Including Proposed Action <br /> <br />2-3 <br /> <br />~,~ <br /> <br />-'~ <br /> <br />2.1.2 <br /> <br />Feasible Development Alternatives <br /> <br />Several alternatives were determined to be financially feasible. They would have similar <br />project features. Some existing facilities operated by the UVWUA would be modified, <br />while other facilities would be new construction. <br /> <br />The alternatives would all use flows diverted from the Gunnison River through the <br />Tunnel and into the South Canal. A portion of the diverted flows would continue to be <br />used to meet UVRP irrigation needs in the West, M&D, and Loutzenhizer canals as in the <br />past. The remaining flows would be used for power generation. Water from the South <br />Canal and AB Lateral would be conveyed through a penstock to a new powerhouse (the <br />AB Lateral facility) located in north Montrose. Discharges from the powerhouse would <br />enter the Uncompahgre River through an excavated tailrace and would be used to meet <br />the irrigation needs of canals downstream of the facility (Selig, Ironstone, East, and <br />Garnet canals). To make the projects economically feasible, diversion would be extended <br />into the non-irrigation season. All of the alternatives would be nonconsumptive, meaning <br />that all flows into the proposed facility would be returned to the river system without <br />being diminished. The features of the proposed development are located as shown in <br />Figure 2-1. A general description follows. <br /> <br />2.1.2.1 <br /> <br />Canal Modifications <br /> <br />The development would begin at the AB Lateral diversion works on the South Canal. <br />The present diversion works would be modified to divert a greater portion of irrigation <br />flows into the AB Lateral than has in the past. The new gate on the South Canal, together <br />with the gate proposed for the AB Lateral, would be remotely controlled. <br /> <br />The water diverted for hydropower generation would then flow through the AB Lateral, <br />which would be widened to accommodate increased flows. The modified section <br />between the South Canal and U.S. Highway 50 would have a rectangular cross section <br />and be constructed with reinforced concrete. The remainder of the modified lateral would <br />be trapezoidal and lined with reinforced shotcrete.1 The proposed AB Lateral alignment <br />and typical sections are shown in Figure 2-2. Irrigation deliveries to areas served by the <br />AB Lateral would continue as described in Subsection 2.2. <br /> <br />One option that is being considered is to eliminate the enlarged section of the AB Lateral, <br />and instead substitute a buried penstock that runs all the way to the di version off of the <br />South Canal. Alignment ofthe last (upper) mile of penstock would also be affected (See <br />Figure 2-3). This would eliminate the necessity for duplicate control systems (the <br />AB/South Canal junction and penstock/canal junction) and canal safety features, but may <br />cost slightly more. The Sponsors propose to select among these two options after seeking <br />bids from general contractors. <br /> <br />Shotcrete is the name given to mortar or concrete conveyed through a hose and pneumatically projected <br />at high velocity onto a backup surface. <br /> <br />h.-., <br /> <br /> <br />AS Lateral Hydropower Project <br /> <br />July 2000 <br />