OCR Text |
Show sume water of the Upper Colorado River System for irrigation, municipal and industrial purposes, and will participate in the use of revenues in the Basin Fund 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. COLORADO 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 The construction of Paonia Dam is 99 per cent complete. Earth-lining of various sections of the existing Fire Mountain Canal continued during the non-irrigation season. The first full year of operation and benefits to the area will be 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 56 |