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Show IXill Creek Project Looks Good following Review. of Lengthy Report Considerable optimism was upressed this week by Moab representatives who attended i meeting in Sacramento, Calif. . last Thursday with officials of the U. S. Corps of Armv Engineers concerning :he proposed Mill Creek Project east of Moab. "Studies to date indicate the project is entirely ieisible. and that it should be bui; is quickly as studies can be completed due to inflaiion-rv inflaiion-rv pressure1;." stated K. F. McDougald. chairman of the Grind County Water Conser-nncy Conser-nncy District. He. along with L L Schumaker of Moab and ci!s of the Utah Water -sources Board met for the arsy review of the project. "If studies proceed as we not have them outlined, we mold be under construction by October of 1978," Mr. Mc-Dougald Mc-Dougald stated. He released a time-table for the project ihich was reviewed by the officials Thursday which runs as follows: July 1, 1975 to Jan. 1. 1977: Prepare environmental impact statement and report for Congress. Jan. 1, 1977 to July 1, 1977: Congress reviews EIS and feasibility report. July 1. 1977 to July 1. 1978: Advanced planning stage, final design specifications and supporting data (approval by Corps of Engineers). Jan. 1. 1978 to Oct. 1, 1978: Congress reviews project and approves funding for the project. Oct. 1, 1978: Start of construction. A Lengthy Report The timetable was incorporated incorpor-ated in a lengthy, 100-page report prepared under the direction of the Utah Water Resources Board. Also included includ-ed in the report was the indication from the Corps of Engineers that they would participate in the funding of the expensive project to the tune of $2.5 million, with $250 thousand of that amount to be set aside for operation and expenses over a thirty year period. Previously, the Engineers Engin-eers had obligated only around $1.5 million to the project, those funds being for the portion of the overall project which could be attributed to flood control. The subjects of discussion in the meeting covered engineering engineer-ing of the dam, just east of Moab Valley, which is being done by Utah State Water Resources personnel; environmental environ-mental statements on various subjects to be included in the final environmental impact statement which is now in preparation by the Corps of Engineers. Costs Studied In Detail Costs of the entire project were examined in detail and many cost saving items were " suggested which were set out for further study. The largest single item in the many-faceted project will be the construction of the large 202-foot high earth and rockfill dam just below the confluence of the North and South Forks of Mill Creek, approximately two miles east of Moab city limits. That project, using today's construction costs, was pegged at just under $5 million. Other facets of the project would be to develop transmission transmis-sion facilities to get the useable water from the project onto lands in Spanish Va"ey; and other locations. At the meeting Thursday, methods of financing the project were discussed and sources of funds were suggested sug-gested that might be available. It was pointed out by the representatives of the Conservancy Conser-vancy District that they had been in contact with the congressional delegation in Washington and it asked the delegation for assistance in setting up a program to obtain additional federal funds that could be used toward the project. Feasibility Agreed Everyone at the meeting agreed that the Mill Creek Dam now appears to be economically feasible and should be built as soon as possible since inflation is a major cost item which increases increas-es the cost every year. All agencies who were present at the meeting pledged an all out effort to advance the project as fast as was economically possible, because of the inflation factor. Seven alternate methods of obtaining the desired results concerning water were discussed dis-cussed and all will be analyzed by computer in the next three weeks to determine the best possible construction plans. Water availability and water rights in Grand County will be studied separately in the near future and a plan will be developed which should provide pro-vide water for the irrigation and culinary uses in both City of Moab and Spanish Valley Continued on Page A3 n 01 Creek Project . .. .,i.il fnim ri! A I Millies i,i ,i, ...... i ... ., ,,j protect oilier c-m n 1 1 1 1 1 'Ms I" Hher "u's ot Mill Oool. m.miXu. Nov. 1 . in irn'Olini! -is hold with oftVijI" t the Conervan-.v Conervan-.v pisl riot iul Mi'. Pave the I1'"'' state ttiivi-tor 4 (k. imomic Development 'umiiiislri"'0" ami '" Chris lfljs, Ihf plantic-r. The IDA i -ijis wore asked to partici-: partici-: ylf in the financing of the L,,;vt. "Ii is 1,10 ,U,P ' I,K' ' isfnaiK'V District that the u'll Creek Project will quality jg, some Economic Develop-; Develop-; ( Administration funding 1 iiWh is usually in the form of , jranl." Mf- McOougaM A Detailed Report ; D,e detailed report hieh 1JS review ed in California last irt'k C0" '"l0 "uililude of lijeots of the project. luclud-: luclud-: j'Jrf studies of blocks of land j( mii;ht be brought under ' sitivition. quality of lands aiolvod in the various areas niight be served from reservoir, and a number of ' iienutive proposals for de-' de-' lelopment of the spin-off les produced by (he main I t'st'i voir. Also detailed information l"'"a"""K ' the dam design "sell as included. Reports of ';Vk sl",", 'l"HinK programs; ,U'S'" "I'iHway features "'! 7s seelioal diagrams !" , 1 10 itself were 'Eluded, -...every effort has I'ecn made to provide a safe "d economical struelure 1 Uens.ve work has been completed to date i, ,he Roology of the proposed dam sue. subsurface exploration material sources and stability '""'l.vsis of the slopes of the ilam...", the report indicated. History Analyzed A historical section of the lands involved; archaeological values in the area of the proposed reservoir site, and many other aspects of the project were also detailed in the preliminary report. The report summarized: "It is hoped that through the continued effort of the Grand County Water Conservancy Conser-vancy District. Utah Divisions of Water Resources, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers a feasible project can be developed that will have the support of the majority of the People in the Moab area. The 1'ioposed Moab Development Project makes use of, and controls, a natural resource --Hie --Hie waters of Mill Creek. If the proposed Moab Dam is built, Hie flood hazard in Moab will lie reduced significantly and Hie wak rs of Mill Creek can be used in the area to upgrade the economy and provide for additonal employment. The new land brought under irrigation will help to provide a stable economic base that can be depended on for many years. The reservoir itself will provide additonal recreational opportunities, swimming, boating, and fishing - not only for those living in the area, but also for the thousands of tourists who visit the area each year. The City of Moab will also have a guaranteed water supply for the continued growth of the City." |