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<br />Winter water <br /> <br />To achieve optimum salinity reduction with each plan, it was assumed <br />that winter water flows through all Uncompahgre Project canals and <br />laterals would be eliminated. Whether the canals in a certain area of <br />the project are lined or not, the removal of winter water flow through <br />these canals will accomplish salinity concentration reductions (approxi- <br />mately 3 mg/L more than the plan with winter water being used in the <br />canals) at Imperial Dam. This would also reduce damage to concrete-lined <br />canals. <br /> <br />In order to maintain the delivery of winter water for livestock in <br />the project area, the cost of delivering this water by other means has been <br />added to the total project cost. The most feasible way to replace this <br />winter water would be to provide the water users with hookups to the <br />Tri-County Water Conservancy District's domestic water system. The cost <br />for these hookups has been estimated at $1.1 million based on January <br />1981 prices. These costs have been incorporated into each of the candidate <br />p~M. <br /> <br />Bureau's Recommended Plan <br /> <br />The recommended plan proposes concrete lining 254 miles of canals and <br />laterals on the east side of the Uncompahgre River. The plan proposes <br />lining all the east side canals and laterals, involving 58.9 miles of <br />canals and 195.4 miles of laterals. Flexible lining would be considered <br />if concrete lining were determined to be infeasible. More than 2,000 <br />structures would be replaced along the canals and laterals as needed. <br /> <br />In addition, the plan would include the purchase of about 2,100 acres <br />of livestock grazing land along the Uncompahgre River where development <br />would not aggravate the salinity problem. This land would be developed <br />to mitigate losses to wildlife resulting from lining the canals and <br />laterals. Development would consist of creating parking areas and <br />50 acres of shallow ponds; installing perimeter fencing, signs, and vault <br />type sanitary facilities; constructing 3 miles of gravel roads; and 100 <br />acres of plantings. Deer esr-apes would also be included in one of the <br />canals as a part of the mitigation plan. <br /> <br />Before project construction could begin, a new contract would <br />be required between the Federal Government and the Uncompahgre Valley <br />Water Users Association. The contract would be similar to the one <br />executed with the Grand Valley Water Users Association for the Grand <br />Valley Unit, and would ensure that the Association would assume all obliga- <br />tions relating to the continued operation and maintenance of the improved <br />system and that the facilities would be operated in such a manner that the <br />planned salinity reduction would occur. The contract would limit lands <br />served after project construction to those acreages already under irrigation <br />by the water users. Existing diversion capacities would be maintained to <br />provide adequate flows during peak demand periods. This would help eliminate <br />current shortages at critical times and excess flows at other times would <br />be spilled into drains as required. The contract would also encourage <br />efficient water use on presently irrigated land and a water management and <br />conservation program would be available for use with the improved system. <br /> <br />000918 <br /> <br />IL <br /> <br />19 <br />