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<br />. , <br /> <br /> <br />8U(t -;- -;- - ..{\O~ <br />I:AU OF RECLA.tAA. <br /> <br />Western Colorado Area Office-Northern Division <br />Grand Junction, CO <br />Carol DeAngelis (970) 248-0600 <br />For Release August 19, 1997 <br /> <br />Eastern Colorado Area Office <br />Loveland, CO <br />Jack Garner (970) 962-4302 <br /> <br />Canal Improvements Proposed <br />to Conserve Water and Help Endangered Fish <br /> <br />RECEIVED <br />AUG 2 2 1997 <br /> <br />Colorado Water <br />Conservation Board <br />The Bureau of Reclamation is proposing to make improvements to the Government Highline Canal, the main <br />canal of the federal Grand Valley Project. The canal, built by Reclamation in the early 1900's, provides <br />irrigation water to about 1/3 of the 70,000 acres of irrigated land in the valley. <br /> <br />The improvements would help the Grand Valley Water Users Association more closely match the supply of <br />water in the canal with the needs of their water users. Operation of a modemized system would result in <br />substantial water savings during the late irrigation season (August-October). The proposal includes: <br /> <br />. adding six "checks" (adjustable dams) in the canal, and modifying existing checks, <br />. adding a bypass pipeline near Palisade to allow the water users to adjust flows in the canal and return <br />unneeded water to the Colorado River, above a IS-Mile Reach that is important habitat for the <br />endangered Colorado squawfish and razorback sucker, <br />. adding a pumping plant at Highline Lake, to ensure water is available for customers in the west end of <br />the valley, and <br />. providing some of the conserved water to the Grand Valley Power Plant, also near Palisade. The <br />tailrace of the power plant retums water to the top of the IS-Mile Reach. <br /> <br />Irrigation water is diverted from the Colorado River into the Government Highline Canal at the Grand Valley <br />Diversion Dam in Debeque Canyon. When river flows are too low to meet canal diversion requirements, <br />water can be released from Green Mountain Reservoir near Kremmling. The proposed improvements would <br />allow the Association to reduce their irrigation water diversions. This, in turn, would increase water in the <br />Reservoir that is surplus to the needs of historic users. It is some of this surplus water that would be delivered <br />to the Grand Valley Power Plant. <br /> <br />The changes would not increase operation and maintenance costs to the Association, or their customers. All <br />costs, estimated at $8.4 million, would be funded under the Recovery Program for the endangered fish. <br /> <br />Reclamation is preparing an environmental assessment on the proposal, and is now accepting comments that <br />help identify and clarify issues of concern. The draft assessment should be available for public review in <br />October, 1997. To obtain more information and discuss your concerns, please contact Lorrie West, Bureau of <br />Reclamation, 2764 Compass Drive, P.O. Box 60340, Grand Junction, Colorado 81506; telephone <br />970-248-0635. <br /> <br />#### <br />