WSP08397

• File Number: 8276.300
• Description: Lower Gunnison Basin Unit - Colorado River Salinity Control Program
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 4
• Date: 3/1/1981
• Title: Lower Gunnison Basin Unit/ Colorado - Status Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

irrigation water and flood control for a service area encompassing the Lower

Gunnison Basin Unit study area and other portions of Montrose, Delta, and

Ouray Counties. The principal project feature, Ridgway Reservoir, will

be formed by Ridgway Dam on the Uncompahgre River about 6 miles north of

the town of Ridgway and will have a storage capacity of 80,000 acre-feet.

Water supplies are expected to include 11,200 acre-feet for municipal

purposes, 5,500 acre-feet for light industrial use, 900 acre-feet for

supplemental irrigation of land south of the Lower Gunnison Basin Unit

study area, and 10,300 acre-feet for supplemental irrigation within the

study area. Water will be distributed through eXisting facilities or

facilities constructed by the Tri-County Water Conservancy District or

the water users.

Uncompahgre Project

The Uncompahgre Project was authorized for construction in 1903

following passage of the Reclamation Act in 1902. Most of the project

facilities were constucted before 1915, and the last feature, Taylor Park

Reservoir, was completed in 1937.

Irrigated lands served by the Uncompahgre Project are included

within the study area of the Lower Gunnison Basin Unit, and are located

in the lower Uncompahgre Valley surrounding the town of Montrose and

extending northwest along both sides of the Uncompahgre River to Delta, a

distance of 34 miles. Project features include Taylor Park Dam and

Reservoir, Gunnison Tunnel, 7 diversion dams, 138 miles of main canals,

414 miles of laterals, and 216 miles of drains. The system diver!lCkLtl;!;74

from the Uncompahgre River and from the Gunnison River to the east

through the Gunnison Tunnel to serve 83,000 acres of project land. The

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