Reclamation grows in Colorado basin

PAYOFF SOARS IN BASIN PROJECT

HE Colorado River Storage Project has achieved outstanding progress since it began Toperation in 1963. Assets of the project had reached a total of $837.2 million as of June 30, 1969. Gross revenues during fiscal 1969 amounted to $21.9 million. In view of these figures, the project's future pro­ duction holds high promise for people in many fields of endeavor. Large popu}ations of seven States are directly or indirectly benefitted by the CRSP. The seven favorably affected are Arizona, California, Colo­ rado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. This multipurpose project delivers electric power for homes and industries, and water for both metropolitan and farm uses. The construction includes facilities for extensive lake recreation, and enhancement of fish and wildlife. Last year four powerplants at CRSP dams gen­ erated sufficient power during periods of heavy customer use to meet the equivalent full-day needs of more than 800,000 homes. Actual revenues from power sales in fiscal 1969 totaled a significant $19.8 million-income from 4 billion kilowatt-hours of generation. The powerplants are at four dams, Glen Canyon, Ariz.; Flaming Gorge, Utah; Blue Mesa, Colo.; and Fontenelle, Wyo. Seventy-five percent of the power produced on the project took place at Glen Canyon Dam where eight large turbines operate. This facility gen­ erated. 3 billion kilowatt-hours. Other power was from Flaming Gorge with 684 million kwh; Blue Mesa with 258 million kwh; and Fontenelle with 67 million kwh. Arizona was the highest user of CRSP power at 37.7 percent. Utah used 26 percent. New Mexico used 13.6 percent. Colorado used 12.9 percent. Nevada used 4.5 percent. California used 3.3 per­ cent, and Wyoming used 2 percent.

6 Two New Plants F & W Enlargement

The population in this area is growing faster Fish and wildlife programs will result in major than the national average, so to help meet the de­ new benefits in this region. Two fish hatcheries mands for power, such facilities ,Yill increase dur­ had been substantially completed with funds of the ing the next fe,y years, and new plants to be added CRSP Act. will include Morrow Point and Crystal Dam in Jones Hole National Fish Hatchery is located Colorado, and 3 dams on the Central Utah Project. below Flaming Gorge Dam. It is still under con­ About 74,000 acres of land are now being served struction, but the administrative buildings, resi­ with ,Yater from CRSP facilities, and crops from dences, and the hatchery facilities were in opera­ this land are nlued at about $51/z million for the tion last year. The first rainbow trout eggs were year. received at the hatchery. CRSP lakes, some of them attracting visitors from throughout the Nation, are used more each Ta ll co rn g rown by irrigation on part of CRSP in Co lorado. year for recreation. There were 3.4 million visits last year ( 1969) . The increase was 5 percent over the year before at the 12 CRSP reservoirs, with the largest gains showing at Lake Powell behind Glen Canyon Dam, and Blue Mesa Reservoir. At Lake Po,Yell an access highway was com­ pleted in 1968 to the Bullfrog Basin recreation site. Bullfrog is located along the upper part of the reservoir and is about 100 miles closer to Salt Lake City, Utah, than the "\iVahweap site in Arizona. Basic recreation facilities are nearly completed at Bullfrog Basin.

Recreation Facilities

Oonstruction is continuing on basic recreation facilities at the Elk Creek and the Iola area at Blue Mesa Reservoir. Camping and picnicking facilities ,Yere added along >Yith a better access road and parking areas. Year 1969 was only the third full year of use at Blue Mesa, but with the added facilities about 134,000 more visitor days were recorded than in 1969. Flaming Gorge Reservoir was again the most popular and heavily used recreation area of the CRSP. It sustained nearly 1.2 million visitor-days which is far above the early estimates made for the area at its present stage of development. Fishing is reported good in all project reservoirs and it has been exceptional at Flaming Gorge and Navajo Reservoirs. A successful fish stocking program has been carried on by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife and by the various State fish and game agencies. Release of clear cold water from the reservoirs has also created an extraordinary stream fishery below most of the dams.

7 connection with the Colorado River Storage Project. Development of the Seedskadee National Wild­ life Refuge has begun along the Green River below F ontenelle Reservoir and will continue over the next several years. A land acquisition program is underway in this area to purchase some 7,400 acres to be used in conjunction with other publicly owned land.

Waterfowl Management Browns Park Waterfowl Management Area is located below Flaming Gorge Reservoir in Utah. A residence, shop, and bunkhouse have recently been completed. About 30 acres of land have been planted to millet, stra-wberry clover, and winter wheat to provide feed for the migrant and perma­ nent bird populations. This Browns Park area has been stocked with some geese, ducks, and pheasants to increase local populations of these birds. Miller Mesa ·waterfowl Area on the west shore of Navajo Reservoir just south of the Colorado­ N ew Mexico border is about complete. A small reservoir and dikes are completed and full. About 170 acres of agricultural land have been planted to barley, oats, wheat, and alfalfa. Some work began during fiscal 1970, with nonreimbursaible funds obtained through the CRSP Act, on Desert Lake Waterfowl Manage­ ment Area. It is located in eastern Utah near Huntington North Reservoir. Purchase of about 280 acres of land is planned in addition to that already being developed by the Utah Division of Fish and Game. Preliminary plans are in final form for the development of this area. Joint fishery investigations for Lake Powell have continued by the Arizona and Utah fish and game departments, and at Flaming Gorge Reser­ voir by the Utah and "Wyoming departments. The 6-year studies of these organizations are being extended beyond the original completion date. Due to the continuing needs of fishery man­ agement and the desirability of an efficient transi­ tion of the anticipated workload, a 3-year extension has been proposed during which the States are to Hotchkiss National Fish Hatchery is located assume a progressively increased share of the near Hotchkiss, Colo. The Bureau of Sport Fish­ pertinent costs. eries and Wildlife approved this facility for operation. To Sustain Quality A National Wildlife Refuge and three wat~r­ Objective of the organizations is to obtain the fow l management areas are being developed in basic management data needed to sustain the out-

8 Artist Dean Fausett paints scenic lake lighted by setting sun.

standing fishing quality already dernloped at these The act specifies that those projects must be con­ reservoirs. structed concurrently with the Central Arizona A contract was a warded for the third segment Project, also authorized by the act. of the 6-year game and fish study at the Curecanti On the phases of the CRSP still under construc­ tion, work is continuing on the BonneYille Unit of Unit complex of Blue Mesa, :Morrow Point, and the Central Utah Project, the Bostwick Park Crystal Resenoirs. This work is being conducted Project a.nd Morrow Point Powerplant in Colo­ by the Colorado Di vision of Game, Fish, and rado, the Lyman Project, in Wyoming, and the Parks. Navajo Indian Irrigation and San Juan-Chama A modified contract was awarded for two fishing Projects in New Mexico. lakes (Dome Lakes) on Archuleta Creek to adjust The Bureau of Reclamation expects that the re­ to an anticipated increase in construction costs. imbursable Federal investment in the CRSP will Five new multipurpose water })rojects were au­ be repaid to the Treasury well within the alloted time span. thorized by the Colorado River Basin Act that was It is a huge program, and it holds promise of signed by the President in September 1968. These fabulous benefits which are known to be possible projects, all in ,yestern Colorado, are the Animas­ by the results of other Reclamation developments, La Plata, Dolores, San Miguel, ,,rest Divide, and and by the successful results of the CRSP's own Dallas Creek Projects. 7 years of operation. # # #

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