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35S7 48 RUEDI DAM AND RESERVOIR, COLO. estimated in this report: Faeto~ that eould affect tl~e "\Va.ter requ~re- mellts include elw.nges m p)ans~ lrrlgnble acreages, diversIOn reqUIre- ments flnd amounts and patterns of OC'3urrence of return flow. Alt.llOu"h the requirements for irrigation water may be subject to substant.i~l modifieations, it appears tllat it can be reasonably eon- eluded at this time that Ruedi Reservoir could provide an adequate water supply for the lnnds eonsidered for irrigation developlll~nt, and such use would constItute a pOSSIble alternate to that of supplym,g munieipal and industrial needs. Therefore, eareful study of t.ills alternate is warranted to establish its desirability based on factors of economy, time of need, and availability of water sources for the eompetitive uses. Future investigations Any future investigations by the Bureau of Reclamation of irriga- tion service from Ruedi Reservoir to the lands discussed herein should be of a seope adequate to firmly establish feasibility of development. Detailed land classification surv"ys should be made to supplement the available recunlll.lissanc.e information and more accurately deter- mine the quality and extent of the lands and their suitability for irrigation development.. Additional streamflow records find climato. logical data shollld be obtained to evaluate water supplies, water requirements. and capacities required for water conveyance and dis~ tribution facilities, Plan formulntion studies would be required to properly determine lands whieh eould be cconomically served in COnillTIctioll with const.ruction features necessary for such service. Field sU!'\'eys, geologieal explorations, and detailed designs and eon- struction cost estimates WOlllrl be required for an features. Est.imates should also be made of the costs of operating- and maintaining the requir~d irrigatiOl~ features. Existin~ and antIcipated future farming operatIOns, erop YIelds, expenses, ,and markets should be analyzed to determine the payment abIlity of the water users and to derive esti- mates of benefits for eomparison with costs of development. Com- parable stlldies should also be made of companion and alternative ll!=ies of irrignble lands and 'l\"ater from Ruedi Reservoir to determine the proper and most economjcaJ course of development. POWER ALTERN..I.\TIVE Preliminary consideration has been given to hydroelectric power deyeloprnent at Ruedi Dam. Po'\\er g(~ncration, however, would be (Jf limited amount e\"en though all reservoir )'elem:es were patterned to attain maximum output. Available hend would runO'e from a minimum of 136 feet to a maximum of 263 feet. Under most fnyorable cirCuIllsta.nces, average annual generat.ion would amowlt to alxmt 19 million kilowatt-hours with an installed plant eapacit.y of about 4,300 kilowatts. In 'lilY case the nse of watcr for power 'Wo\Jld be subordinate to a higher beneficial use such 3S municipal and industrial water or irriga- tion in any ultimate operating plan that future det.ailed investigations indicate. Also, it is apparent that afterbay regulation would be essential for the generat.mn of an optimum degree of firm power. . These studies indicate that, the feasibilit.y of power would be mar- gmu] even under the most favorable circumstances.