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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />EXISTING FACILmES - FLORIDA PROJECT (CONTINUED) <br /> <br />3 <br /> <br />E. Assessment of whether water conservation measures, other efficiency measures, <br />or operaiional changes could make water available: <br /> <br />1) Opportunities for "saving" water: <br /> <br />. The Florida Project distribution system consists of a combination of <br />Reclamation constructed and privately constructed, mostly unlined, canals <br />and laterals. A portion of the water users have constructed small pipe <br />lateral systems to provide gravity sprinkler pressure while some others <br />operate sprinklers with pumps. Improvements could be made to the entire <br />system to reduce the diversion requirements for irrigation water. "Saved" <br />water would consist of both privately adjudicated water and Project water. <br /> <br />2) How much: <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />It has been estimated that an average of about 7,800 acre-feet of water is <br />lost annually due to canal seepage, on-farm inefficiencies, evaporation, and <br />artificially created wetlands. The "lost" water is also the major source of <br />recharge for the many domestic wells on the Florida Mesa, provides for <br />instream flow in the Florida River, provides water for re-use by other water <br />users, and provides a water supply to areas ofthe Animas River Valley in <br />the form of seeps, springs, and surface flow. It is anticipated that <br />mitigation for impacts (i.e., maintaining the water supply to the present <br />users or uses on return flows) would reduce, or may even eliminate, the <br />amount of "saved" water that could be made available for other users/uses. <br />During years of Project water shortages, very little if any savings may be <br />realized. <br /> <br />3) When: <br /> <br />. The water would mainly be available during the historic irrigation season. <br /> <br />4) Where: <br /> <br />. The water would be available at the existing diversion points from the <br />Florida River. A portion of the water would be available from storage ai <br />Lemon Reservoir. <br /> <br />5) Unresolved Issues: <br /> <br />. A portion of the "saved" water would come from private water rights <br /> <br />* * 1/10/97 -- PRe:UMINARY - SUBJECT To REVISION - FOR DISCUSSION PURPOS~ ONLY *. <br />