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<br /> <br />0:1559 <br /> <br />smaller amounts of Douglas-fir and spruce-fir woodlands. Blue <br />grama and western wheatgrasses are the dominant species on the <br />upland range sites. Historically, most of[B the watershed has <br />been overgrazed. Thirty-five percent is considered in poor range <br />condition, 34 percent in fair condition, and 31 percent in good <br />condition. <br /> <br />Historically, mining in the Trinidad area was the major <br />economic contributor. However, since World War II, mining has <br />decreased and only a few mines remain. There are no active mines <br />within the watershed. <br /> <br />The Trinidad Lake Flood Control Project was authorized for <br />construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on July 3, 1958, <br />and completed in 1976 at a cost of $52,500,000. Trinidad is a <br />multiple purpose reservoir. It is used for flQod control, <br />irrigation storage and regulation, sediment retention, and <br />recreation. <br /> <br />TRINIDAD LAKE AUTHORIZED STORAGES <br /> <br />51,000 Ac. Ft. - Flood Control, at elevation 6259.6 <br />20,000 Ac. Ft. - Irrigation, at elevation 6226.4 <br />39,000 Ac. Ft. - Joint storage, at elevation 6209.3 <br />4,500 Ac. Ft. - Recreation Pool, at elevation 6142.8 <br /> <br />114,500 Ac. Ft. - Total active storage <br /> <br />The 39,000 Ac. Ft. of joint-use active storage is used for <br />irrigation water, fish and wildlife, and the accumulation of <br />sediment. This active-use storage will be used until depleted <br />due to sedimentation. <br /> <br />The project provides irrigation water storage for many farms <br />and ranches in the area. It is also a major recreation area for <br />both in-state and out-of-state visitors. <br /> <br />Irrigated farming has been and is important to the economy <br />of the Trinidad area. Model Reservoir was the main source of <br />water for irrigation. The reservoir was abandoned due to the <br />loss of capacity from sediment deposition. The irrigation water <br />storage rights from Model Reservoir were transferred to Trinidad <br />Lake. Water stored in the lake now irrigates 19,717 acres <br />downstream from Trinidad. <br /> <br />The recreational income centered around Trinidad Lake has <br />become important to the economy of the area and has helped to <br />offset the loss of income due to the decrease in mining <br />activities. . <br /> <br />Trinidad Lake provides excellent fishing. Rainbow and <br />mackinaw trout, largemouth bass, channel catfish, blue gill, <br />walleye, and crappie are stocked in the lake. Rainbow trout are <br /> <br />11 <br /> <br />