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c 0') co ~ CHAPl'ER V ALTERNATIVES STUDIED (Tomichi Creek Unit) Tomichi Creek Unit Unit plan The Tomichi Creek Unit would be located east of the community of Parlin and west of the Continental Divide. It would regulate the flows of Tomichi Creek for irrigation, recreation, and fish. It would develop an average annual irrigation supply of 15,100 acre-feet at diversion points for 9,480 acres, inClUding 7,570 acres of presently irrigated land in need of supplemental water and 1,910 acres of nonirrigated land. Res- ervoir recreation and fishery opportunities would be provided. Water supplies for the Tomichi Creek Unit would be obtained from To- michi Creek and its tributaries of Needle and Razor Creeks. Surplus flows of Tomichi Creek would be regulated in the potential Elko Reservoir. The reservoir would be formed by a dam on the creek about 27 miles east of Gunnison in Saguache County in the Gunnison National Forest. Reser- voir releases would be made to the Crookton Canal and also to the stream channel. Irrigation supplies would be distributed to project lands by the ClI'ookton Canal and by existing ditch systems along Tomichi Creek. Lands along Tomichi Creek above Elko Reservoir and in the Needle and Ra- zor Creek areas above the Crookton Canal would receive supplemental water by exchanges whereby direct flows used below project facilities would be replaced with reservoir water and would be transferred to users upstream. The increased return flows from project lands would be reusable on lands along Tomichi Creek. Project drains would be installed as necessary. Specific recreational facilities would be provided at Elko Reservoir. Flows for fish would be sustained, with streamflows maintained specifi- cally for fish in the winter months. As a part of project development, 1,900 acres of private lands would be purchased and developed as big game range to mitigate losses of big game range that would result from inundation of lands by Elko Reservoir and irrigation of presently undeveloped lands. Features Elko Dam and Reservoir Elko Reservoir on Tomichi Creek would have a capacity of 18,300 acre-feet and a surface area of 420 acres at normal water surface eleva- tion 8,353.7 feet. The active capacity would be 14,500 acre-feet, and a dead and inactive capacity of 3,800 acre-feet would be provided for rec- reation, fish, and for elevation to provide water to the Crookton Canal. A surcharge of 7,880 acre-feet would be available to temporarily retain some flood flows until discharged through the spillway and outlet works. Sediment accumulation in the reservoir would be negligible. 41