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<br />Plan Five - 1m roved Irri ation Water Mana ement and Onfarm Ditch Linin <br />Maximum Level - On 41,400 Acres of Selected Area <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />The plan assumes implementing onfarm ditch lining and improved irrigation <br />water management at the maximum level only for those watersheds having individual <br />economic feasibility based on downstream salinity benefits alone. Included in <br />this plan are 53 miles of small off-farm lateral improvements, the estimated <br />amount needed to assure proper operation of the improved onfarm systems. The <br />irrigated area targeted for improvement is 41,400 acres in Watersheds 1, 3, 4, <br />7, 8, 9 and 20. <br /> <br />The onfarm portion of the plan can be implemented at a one-time construction <br />cost of $56,000,000. Technical assistance and administrative costs, estimated <br />to be $11,200,000, make a total installation cost of $67,200,000. Including <br />the 82 miles of remaining off-farm lateral adds $17,400,000 to the construction <br />cost and $3,500,000 to the cost of technical cost and administration making a <br />total installation cost of $88,100,000. <br /> <br />The 190,000 ton reduction in salt loading represents a43 percent reduction in <br />the total salt load being delivered to the Colorado River due to irrigation. <br />Adding the off-farm laterals to this plan will increase the potential salt <br />load reduction by 45,000 tons making a total of 235,000 tons. <br /> <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />Implementation of this plan could impact an estimated 3,100 acres of wetlands <br />within the area targeted for improvement, or about 10 percent of the total <br />wetlands in the Lower Gunnison Basin Unit. Full mitigation for the impacted <br />habitat, estimated to cost $14,600,000 would require upgrading the habitat <br />value on 7,300 acres of wetlands elsewhere in the valley otherwise undisturbed <br />by implementing this plan. <br /> <br /> <br />IV-12 <br />