OCR Text |
Show to help repay the costs of irrigation features beyond the ability of the water users to repay. It has been impossible for the Bureau of Reclamation to undertake work simultaneously on all eleven participating projects because of the large amount of investigational work needed to firm the development plans and to make cost estimates and repayment studies. Therefore, the Bureau sought the advice of officials of each State, and, on their recommendations, has selected specific projects on which to concentrate work in order that construction can be started on these projects as soon as possible. A brief description of each of the authorized participating projects and the present status of its construction or investigations follows: 1. Authorized Colorado Participating Projects a. Paonia Project This project is located near Paonia and Hotchkiss in Westcentral Colorado on the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The Paonia Reservoir will be constructed to a capacity of 21,000 acre-feet. The Fire Mountain Canal will be completed, enlarged, and extended to distribute the project water. By these means, the irrigation water supply will be improved for an additional 13,070 acres of irrigated land and a full water supply provided for about 2,230 acres of new land. Fish and wildlife values in the area will be enhanced, and flood damages will be decreased. Construction Activities About 70 percent of the embankment has been placed in Paonia Dam. Earthlining of various sections of the existing Fire Mountain Canal will continue during the non-irrigation season. Paonia Project Construction, which was started early in 1959, is on schedule. Paonia Dam should be completed my midsummer 1961 with the first full year of operation and benefits to the area in 1962. b. Smith Fork Project The Smith Fork Project is located in Delta County, along the Smith Fork of the Gunnison River. Crawford Dam and Reservoir, capacity 13,650 acre-feet, will be constructed on Iron Creek, a tributary of Smith Fork. The reservoir will regulate surplus flows of Iron Creek and Smith Fork that will be conveyed to it by the Smith Fork Feeder Canal. Small quantities of reservoir storage water will be released to Iron Creek and diverted by several small existing ditches. The remainder will be released to the new Aspen Canal and conveyed by the canal to existing ditches for distribution. Some of the storage releases through 49 |