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Show additional acres of project lands. Flood control and fish and wildlife values are derived from the development. The project includes 5,730 acres of new land and 13,720 acres of presently irrigated land needing a supplemental water supply. All work contracted by the Bureau of Reclamation on Florida Project has been accomplished. Lemon Dam, key feature of the project, was completed, and storage of water started in November 1963. Under provisions of the Drainage and Minor Construction Act of June 13, 1956 (70 Stat. 274), the United States advanced funds to the Florida Water Conservancy District to rehabilitate four existing irrigation systems on the Florida Mesa. All work originally contemplated has been completed. In 1967 the District requested that funds be advanced for it to perform channel improvement work in the vicinity of a small existing reservoir. Funds for this work have been included in the Bureau's fiscal year 1968 appropriation request for the project. Water stored in the Lemon Reservoir has been available beginning with the 1965 irrigation season. Lemon Dam is being operated and maintained by the Bureau during 1967. All conveyance and distribution facilities were transferred to the Florida Water Conservancy District for operation and maintenance on April 1.. 1967. It is planned to transfer the Lemon Dam to the District for operation and maintenance by January 1, 1968. Lemon Reservoir received its first full year of recreation use during 1965. Recreation facilities include a boat ramp, picnic areas, campgrounds, parking, water, and sanitary facilities. The reservoir area sustained 46,100 visits during the 1966 season. d. Silt Project The Silt Project is located between Rifle and Elk Creeks near the towns of Silt and Rifle in western Colorado. An improved water supply for 4,628 acres of partially irrigated land and a full supply for 2,416 acres of new land will be provided. Constructed features include Rifle Gap Dam which has created a reservoir of 12,600-acre-foot capacity, the Silt Pumping Plant, headworks and inlet channel, rehabilitation of existing works, and construction of laterals and drains. Rifle Gap Dam is a 1,736,000-cubic yard earth- and rock-fill structure, rising 120 feet above the streambed and is 1,575 feet long at the crest. Storage of water was initiated in the reservoir in November 1966. The dam was accepted as completed in June 1967. The Silt Project was dedicated by Congressman Wayne Aspinall on September 8, 1967. First water releases from Rifle Gap Dam were 108 |