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<br />0022'16 <br /> <br />Summary <br /> <br />Opinion and a RPA on the endangered fish from the Service dated February 1996, <br />allowing an initial average annual depletion of 57,100 acre-feet. Other requirements of <br />this RP A. are generally also similar to those of the previous RP A. <br /> <br />PROJECT OPERATION AND CONSTRUCTION <br /> <br />The Project would be constructed and operated in two phases as a result of a 1986 Cost <br />Sharing Agreement and the subsequent Settlement Act (both discussed below). In <br />addition, because of the RP A and the resulting 57,100 initial average annual acre-feet <br />depletion limitation, the first phase has been separated into two distinct stages (A and B), <br />Project features and water supply by phases and stages are shown on tables S-l and S-2. <br /> <br />Phase I, Stage A <br /> <br />Reclamation would develop an initial annual Project water supply of 80.100 acre-feet. <br />Facilities constructed for Phase I, Stage A would include: Durango Pumping Plant, <br />Ridges Basin Inlet Conduit, Ridges Basin Dam and Reservoir, a small Ridges Basin <br />Pumping Plant, Ridges Basin Reservoir recreation facilities, and Durango, Shenandoah, <br />and La Plata Rural M&I Pipelines. . <br /> <br />In Phase I, Stage A, Durango Pumping Plant and its appurtenant structures would be <br />designed with capability to accommodate future water deliveries (Phase I, Stage B and <br />Phase II). Durango M&! Pipeline would deliver Project water from Durango Pumping <br />Plant to the city of Durango's existing storage reservoir, Durango Terminal Reservoir, <br /> <br />Ridges Basin Dam would be constructed in two increments-foundation preparation and <br />embankment placement. During the first increment, the footprint of the dam would be <br />excavated. and the necessary grouting of the abutments and base would occur. Based on <br />the Service's Biological Opinion, issued after an approximately 7-year research study of <br />endangered fish in the San Juan River, the size of the dam and reservoir would be <br />determined and the dam and pumping plants could be sized accordingly. <br /> <br />In lieu ot Long Hollow Tunnel and Dry Side Canal. which would not be constructed if <br />future ESA consultations do not allow additional depletions, La Plata Rural M&I Pipeline <br />would be constructed to deliver municipal water from Ridges Basin Reservoir to the <br />La Plata rural area. Ridges Basin Pumping Plant would also deliver water to supply <br />rural subdivisions west of Durango via Shenandoah M&I Pipeline. <br /> <br />When the reservoir reached approximately 168,000 acre-feet capacity (assuming the <br />reservoir would be built to full size), the system would be declared operational. <br />M&l water could be available to the Nation, San Juan Water Commission, and the city of <br />Durango. Water would be available to the Animas-La Plata Water Conservancy District <br />and the Shenandoah M&I and La Plata Rural M&! Pipelines following additional <br />appropriate National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance. Water for the two <br />Ute Tribes would be made available in Ridges Basin Reservoir or at the point of diversion <br /> <br />5-4 <br />