WSP10951 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

C'I") J:"ooo '" CoJ HISTORY OF THE WEST DIVIDE PROJEcr Settlement of the West Divide Project area and the vicinity began around 1880 after the Ute Indians were relocated on a reservation in Utah. The coming of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad in 1889 accelerated settlement of the area, and by 1900, nearly all of the best lands were taken. One ortbe first tasks facing most of the settlers was attempting to develop a water supply for irrigation. Many privately owned systems were constructed, varying from individual farm ditches of less than one cubic foot per second {cfs} to mutually owned canals of 80 c[s. It was soon discovered that direct. diversions from tributary streams were not adequate to provide the required amounts of water: Streamflows varied widely from year to year, but even in good years, late-season flows dimi- nished and some creeks dried up completely. About 1913, a proposal to convey water for irrigation from West Divide Creek to the Hunter Mesa area south of the town of Rifle was investixated. Water in this creek was read#r found insufficient to develop a neW area, however. In 1936, the Bureau of Reclamation began surveying the area to help local people develop storage facilities and improve con- veyance systems. During the next 20 years, several rudimentary plans were proposed, none of which received widespread sup- port. The Colorado River Storage Project (CRSPJ Act of 1956 gave priority to the West Divide Project for tbe completion of .. j planning reports, and named it as a potential participating project of the CRSP. The West Divide Water Conservancy District was formed in 1964 to serve as sponsor and contracting agency for tbe project. A feasibility report publisbed in 1966 proposed a plan for developing irrigation, municipal, and industrial water in tbe Crystal River drainage and {1long the Colorado River between Glenwood Springs and DeBeque. Under this plan, principal water storage was to have bten on the Crystal River. Congress authorized construction of the West Divide Project in 1966, in response to the feasibility report. Following project authorization, uncertainties about water requirements for industry became apparent. At the same time, opposition developed to constructing a reservoir on the Crystal River. For these reasons, the West Divide Water Conservancy District and the Bureau of Reclamation determined that the scope of the project would have to be reduced, and a different water supply source would be required. There fol/owed a period of intense study to identify a suitable alternate water source and to develop a new project plan. The current plan has evolved from these late studies and is believed to be the most viable alternative under present econo~ mic and political conditions.