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, ' STRUCTURAL ALTERNATIVES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL WATER: Increase the active capacity of McPhee Reservoir by inereasinllthe hcillht of McPhee Dam - McPhee Dam could be raised 10 increase lhe ma.ximum reservoir elevation above 6,924 feet. Implementing lhis alternative would require purchasing and/or relocating of most of lhe lawn of Dolores. TIlis aClion would require Congressional authori~tion. Increase the active capacity of McPhee Reservoir by lowering the intake elevatioll of the diversion points _ This would require draining the reservoir below the minimum pool elevation for an extended period of time. This could be more expensive than raising the dam because of physical construction consrraints. II would adversely affect recreational opportunities associated with the reservoir and could adversely effect the reservoir fishery. It would require Congressional authorization. Provide water from inactive storage in McPhee Reservoir using pumps. Pumping plants could be constructed adjacent to Great Cut Dike Pumping Plant and the Dolores Tunnel to deliver water to lhe existing intake structures. This could adversely affect future years' water supply and be expensive to operate and maintain the pumping plants. It would likely adversely effect reservoir recreation, and may adversely effect the reservoir fishery. It would also require Congressional authorization. fmprove additional portions of tbe ~C water delivery system to conserve water and reduce salinity, ia return for water saved - Only those portions of the MVIC system that are economically feasible for salinity control purposes are presently.included in the Dolores Project. Seepage from other MVfC canals has increased. Reclamation could line those MVfC canals in return for the saved water. Reclamation's use of saved water would require a change of water right by the state and constrUction would also require Congressioaal authorization. Release Project water for the Dove Creek area full-service lands to tbe Dolores River througb McPbee Dam and pump tbe water from tbe river near Bradfield Bridge - Project water for the Dove Creek full-service area could be released from McPhee Dam and pumped back to the Project dellvery system from near Bradfield Bridge. ConstrUction, operation, and maiorenance costs of this alternative could be hi!!h. It would . require modification of the automated control system of the dam and of the Great Cut Pumping Plant. It would require Congressional authorization. Construct Plateau Creek, Bear Creek, or Beaver Creek Reservoirs to provide additional Project water storage. DWCD owns conditional water storage rights on Plateau, Bear, and Beaver Creeks, all tributary to the Dolores River above McPhee Dam. Small reservoirs could be constructed on any of these tributaries and operated to increase the Dolores Project water supply and provide additional water for release downstream. For example, Plateau Creek Reservoir was previously evaluated as a pumpback storage unit. Construction, operation and maintenance costs of any of these reservoirs, except Plateau Creek, would be high. These dam/reservoirs would require Congressional authorization and negotiadon with DWCD for the storage rights. OPERATIONAL ALTERNATIVES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL WATER: Purchase Groundhog Reservoir from MVIC and designate all or part of its water for release tbrough McPhee Dam . Groundhog Reservoir is located in the Dolores River Basin upstream of McPhee Reservoir. lu water is used by MVIC when the flows of the Dolores River are inadequate. Under an existing agreement between OWeD and MV1C, at least 3000 acre. feet of water is released annually from Groundhog reservoir during July, August, and September. However, MVle would not.likely be a willing seller at a reasonable price. This alternative could increase MV1C's demand for Project water, increasing the frequency and magnitude of Project water shonages. ^ safety of dims evaluation of Groundhog Dam would be required. A change of water right would need 10 be granled by the state. 18