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<br />Plan 6 - Improved Irrigation Water Management and Onfarm Ditch Lining _ <br />Mixed Levels - on 115,500 Acres of Selected Area <br /> <br />This is the plan that tends to maximize net benefits. It assumes <br />implementing improved irrigation water management at the minimum level in four <br />watersheds, implementing improved irrigation water management and onfarm ditch <br />lining at the minimum level in two watersheds, and implementing improve~ <br />irrigation water management and onfarm ditch lining at the maximum level in <br />ten watersheds. Included in this plan are 50 miles of off-farm lateral improve- <br />ments, the estimated amount needed to assure proper operation of the improved <br />onfarm systems. Each watershed included in this plan has individual economic <br />feasibility based on total benefits. The indicated level of implementation is <br />the one that produces the highest net benefit. The irrigated area targeted <br />for improvement is 115,500 acres and is in the watersheds tabulated below. <br /> <br />Scope of Level of Watershed Areas Improvemerit <br />Improvement Implementation Included in Plan 6 Area <br />Irrigation Water Management Minimum 10, 14, 16, & 23 35,900 acres <br />Irrigation Water Management <br />& Onfarm Ditch Lining Minimum 4 & 21 7,900 acres <br />Irrigation Water Management <br />& Onfarm Ditch Lining Maximum 1, 3, 7, 8, 9, 11, 71,700 acres <br /> 17, 19, 20, & 22 <br /> <br />The onfarm portion of the plan can be implemented at a one-time construction <br />cost of $102,800,000. Technical assistance and administrative costs, estimated <br />to be $20,600,000, make a total installation cost of $123,400,000. Including <br />the remaining 85 miles of off-farm lateral improvements with this plan would <br />add $17,900,000 to the construction cost and $3,600,000 to the cast of technical <br />assistance and administration making a total installation cost of $144,900,000. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />The 295,000 ton reduction in salt loading due to improvements represents a 67 <br />percent reduction in the total salt load being delivered to the Colorado River <br />from the Gunnison, due to irrigation. Adding off-farm lateral improvements to <br />this plan will increase the potential salt load reduction by 45,000 tons making <br />a total of 340,000 tons. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />Implementation of this plan could impact an estimated 5,900 acres of wetland <br />or about 19 percent of the total wetlands in the Lower Gunnison Unit, Full <br />mitigation for the impacted habitat, estimated to cost $27,400,000, would <br />require upgrading the habitat value on 13,700 acres of wetlands elsewhere in <br />the valley undisturbed by implementing this plan. <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />IV-14 <br /> <br />I <br />