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<br />4 -14 -It. <br /> <br />Project support expected <br />at Dallas Creek hearing <br /> <br />< <br /> <br />~ <br />~ /MoNTROSE - A strong show of sup- <br />"$.. ~ for the Dallas Creek Project is eJ:- <br />"f IM!cted Saturd"ay at an enviroomental <br />lnilpact hearing called by the u.s. Bu- <br />........ '-'U of Reclamation. TIle b.earIng <br />'. opens at 9 a.m. In the Redskln Inn at <br />:::: Montrose HIgh School. <br />....... :Boll\ written and orallestlmony are <br />~ ~~~~~~"I_tOO <br />,~ dlffereol organizations, according to <br />Ed Nelaon, director of the Montrose <br />.............. County Chamber of Commerce. T~ <br />" .:: ~ber'a water cmunlttee, beaded by <br />" DIck Edmtmdson, has been coordlnat- <br />.'~ lIig pro-Dallas testimony and will make <br />ils own presentation. <br />: So far, there bas been little opposition <br />to the dams on envlronmenlal grounds, <br />although a Om'ay-based group is ac- <br />tively opposing il1beir Initial opposi- <br />liIln was to plans for use of project wa- <br />ter for a coal-washing plant and' , <br />~ly a coaI~rJred power plant. That <br />baa been scuttled by Gov. RIchard <br />Uunm's insistance that the Industrial <br />_ter allocation ~ used instead for ag- <br />flculture and dcmestic water. <br />l'l'he project is eslima. ted to COllt about <br />f80 miUlon. II Includes a haIf-mlle-lq <br />dflm 1'12 feet high on the Uncompahgre <br />River near Rlclgway, providing a lake <br />of nearly 3,000 surface acres; another, <br />lOnger but lower dam 011 Cow Creek, <br />j~ above ils confl.-ce wltb the Un- <br />cllmpahgre River, providing 540 acres <br />of surface; and a small diversion dam <br />with a 4O-acre lake at Sneva. About 52 <br />dilles of canals are planned, for <br />p\unped storage and to lrrilIale 23,000 <br />=. land In Ouray and Montrose <br />" TIle various groups the chaml!er bas <br />contacted will claim the dams improve <br />rillber than detract from the area's eII- <br />v,lronment, according to Nelson. <br />, He noted that II will improve income <br />ill the area, provide much-needed water <br />recreation, COIIlrol floodiDg on the Un- <br />compahgre, improve water quality ,pro- <br />vide more high quality domestic water, <br /> <br />improve fishing in both the reservoirs <br />and downstream and provide more <br />habitat for area deer and elk ~rds, and <br />improved hunter access to the area. <br />Among those expected to testify, ei- <br />ther In writing or orally, are the cham- <br />ber, the town of Rlclgway, town of Mon- <br />trose, Montrose County, OIathe and <br />Delta chambers, National Farm Organ- <br />ization, woo1growers and cattlemen's <br />assoclationB, Colorado Water Con- <br />servation Board, area planners, the <br />U.S. Son Conservation Service, State <br />Rep. Walt Waldow, D-Olathe, Demo- <br />crat and Republican central COIn- <br />mittees, Uncompahgre Valley Water <br />Users Assn., Tri-County Water Con- <br />servancyDist. (theprojectsponsor)and <br />others, such as Project 7. <br /> <br />, <br />, <br />,. <br />o' <br />