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<br />Heron D~n, the project regulation facility, is located on <br />Willow Creek just above its confluence with the Chama River. <br />The dclJn provides a regulating and storage reservoir with a <br />capacity of about 1100, 000 acre~feet. The dam is an earth- <br />fill structure rising about 265 feet abo~e the streambed <br />with a crest length of about 1,250 feet. <br /> <br />The reservoir created by Heron Dam required the relocation <br />of 8.5 miles of New Mexico State Highway 95. The old highway <br />was a graveled surface throughout its 21-mile length. The ' <br />new higlway will be asphalt surfaced and will include parking <br />overlook areas on the relocated portion. The increased cost <br />of the relocated portion is provided for under the provisions <br />of the Flood Control Act of 1962, better known as the Kerr <br />bill. The remainder of the road is paid for by the State of <br />New Mexico. <br /> <br />El Vado Dam, an existing structure located about 5 miles <br />dOlmstream from the mouth of Willo'fl' Creek, required the <br />enlargement of the outlet works to permit passing the imported <br />'flater immediately through El Vado Reservoir. The modification <br />consisted of removing the existing penstock and gates and the <br />installation of 4.5- by 9.0-foot-high pressure gates in a <br />new l,370-foot-long diversion tunnel. <br /> <br />Impact on Environment <br /> <br />Development of the collection and diversion element of the <br />San Juan-Chama project will improve the socioeconomic <br />environment for the use of the diverted water and related <br />land resources by people. The principal environmental impact <br />of ' the diversion will be a dependable municipal and industrial <br />'flatel' supply for the city of Albuquerque, . <br /> <br />In addition, outdoor recreation opportunities of considerable <br />local and area significance would be provided by the construc- <br />tion of the collection and diversion element. The National <br />Park Service has estinBted the project will generate 150,0()() <br />activity days annually for general use; 30,000 activity days <br />for boating annually; and 41,000 activity days annually for <br />camping. On the basis of these figures, the Park Service <br />estimated in 1964 the annual benefits to be about $115,000. <br />Current indexing would increase these annual benefits. <br /> <br />3 <br />