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Show Officials Optimistic Abut Mill Creek Project This past, year has been one of progress on several fronts for the Economic Development De-velopment program being carried on by Grand County, according to the director of the department, Don Hoffman. Hoff-man. The year of 1971 saw tho formation of the Grand County Coun-ty Water Conservancy District Dist-rict which began a chain of events leading to present on-timism on-timism concerning the ultimate ulti-mate construction of the Mill Creek Dam. Last year, the Corps of Engineers En-gineers reported that after updating their study of the project, it was not feasible. However, during 1971, the Utah Division of Water Resources Re-sources has become involved in the project and it is hoped that the dam can be built for $3 million. Preliminary design de-sign on the dam will begin after the first of the year and plans will then be submitted to the Corps of Engineers for approval. The design must meet their specifications if monies from the Corps are to be provided. Hoffman stated that it is hoped that construction on the project can begin within three years if the Corps approves ap-proves the plans. The Corps this week sent a hydrologist to Moab to look over the watershed wa-tershed which will drain into the dam. A flight over the area as well as ground work were designed to give the hydrologist hy-drologist some idea of how much water can be generated generat-ed by torrential rains, the capacity of the creek bed, and the storage capacity ef the reservoir to handle any flood. The Water Conservancy District is presently working with San Juan County on plans to gain a pilot project for Moab which, along with another such project near Bluff would determine meth ods for growing high value cash crops in this area if water is available through the use of the dam and reservoir. Some crops being discussed for possible growing include grapes and berries in the val- ', ley areas and potatoes on th-; I Mesas. Hoffman stated that ' if funds are forthcoming the (initial phases of the study may be started this spring. ; Results of a Schick International Interna-tional Agricultural Consulting Consult-ing Service study released last fall indicated that fail development of the Mill Creek water supply would generate over $600,000 annually in net direct agricultural benefits. This figure is based on an optimum production of higii value crops. Other more modest mod-est figures based on continued continu-ed operation as is now getting done also show good improv-ments improv-ments in monies brought into in-to the land owners and employees. em-ployees. Other products being carried car-ried on by the Economic Development De-velopment department include inclu-de an ongoing ski area feasibility feas-ibility study which began last year. The study is under contract con-tract to Envirocon, Inc. and reports from the firm indicated indicat-ed that information which has been obtained concerning terrain ter-rain is favorable and marketing market-ing potential of .the area is also good, although not yet completed. Snow measurements measure-ments thus far have been good and another measurement measure-ment is due next week. Some industrial leads have been brought to the attention of the Economic Development Committee, however, at this point none of them have materialized. ma-terialized. Beginning next year, the committee will be divided into sub-committees with each assigned a specific function to allow each to pursue pur-sue the various potentials for the area. |