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<br />0) <br />~ <br />'" <br /> <br />FISH AND WILDLITE SERVICE REPORT <br /> <br />4. Pro ject areas. - The plan of improvement for Rifle Creek, embodied <br />in the Silt Project, is confined to that portion of Rifle Creek and its <br />tributaries between river mile 12 and the mouth. Since the project <br />will have no effect on fish and wildlife in the Rifle Creek Watershed <br />above river mile 12 (the upper project limits) the following paragraphs <br />treat only with the project area proper. <br /> <br />Engineering Development Plan <br /> <br />5. Purpose. - The purpose of the Silt Project is to conserve waters of <br />the Rifle Creek Watershed for irrigation by construction of the Rifle <br />Gap Dam and Reservoir on the main stem and necessary canals and other <br />appurtenances about 6 miles north of the town of Rifle. <br /> <br />6. Plan of improvement. - The plan of improvement provides for con- <br />struction of a dam am reservoir at tre Rifle Gap Site with a total <br />storage capacity of 10,000 acre-feet, of which 1,000 acre-feet would <br />be dead storage; enlargement of the existing Grass Valley Canal fram <br />East Rifle Creek to the existing Harvey Gap Reservoir to a capacity <br />of 50 second-feet; and construction of two new lateral canals leading <br />from the Grass Valley Canal above the Harvey Gap Reservoir to irrigable <br />lands in West Elk Creek Valley. One of these canals would have a <br />capaci ty of 2) second-feet; the other would have a caFBcity of 12 <br />second-feet. Both canals would be abo ut 4 miles in length. The Davie <br />Ditch with an initial capacity of 18 second-feet would divert directly <br />from the Rifle Gap Dam and extend for 6 miles. <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />7. Plan of operation. - As presently planned, no change in the opera- <br />tion of the Harvey Gap Reservoir would be made. As at pre sent, the, <br />noma1 flow of East Rif 1e Creek would be diverted by means of a di ver- <br />sion dam to the Grass Valley Canal thence to the Harvey Gap Reservoir <br />for storage. This reservoir wmld begin to fill about November 1 <br />of each year and total capacity (4,850 acre-feet) would be reached <br />about March 1. Water withdrawal for irrigation would begin about <br />July 1, and the reservoir would be completely drawn down at the end <br />of the irrigation season. No dead storage is now or would be provided <br />at this reservoir. <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />:;: <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />8. The Rifle Gap Reservoir would collect the winter and spring flow <br />of Rifle Creek for irrigation of lands holding prior water rights on <br />Lower Rifle Creek. This reservoir is designed for seasonal use with- <br />out hold-over storage (except 1,000 acre-feet of dead sU'rage). It <br />would be filled to capacity each year during the winter and spring <br />months and would be drawn down severely during the 3.lmner months. <br />Water supply studies for the period 1930-1949 indicate the reservoir <br />would be filled to capacity every year. <br /> <br />I <br />