Primary purposes of the project include agricultural, municipal and industrial, and recreation. The contract for construction of Vega Dam was awarded in 1957 and the dam was completed in 1960. Other construction and rehabilitation contracts were awarded beginning in 1959. All work was completed in 1962. Benefits Irrigation Vega Dam and the Southside Canal provide water for the supplemental irrigation service to 22,210 acres of project lands.
Principal crops are alfalfa, hay, small grains, and pasture.
These crops are used primarily to support beef cattle and sheep production. Recreation and Fish and Wildlife Construction and operation of the reservoirs have improved lake fisheries and wildlife values. Some minor damage to stream fisheries and wildlife values resulted from the reduction of flows downstream from storage or diversion structures and from inundation of stream habitat in the Vega Reservoir area. However, the net effect is an increase in fish and wildlife. The Vega State Recreation Area is administered by the Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation.