WSP11486

• File Number: 8220.129.J
• Description: Upper Gunnison Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Gunnison
• Water Division: 4
• Date: 11/1/1962
• Author: CWCB and USDA
• Title: Water and Related Land Resources - Gunnison River Basin - Colorado - Nov 1962 - Part 2 of 2
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Valley lands in the vicinity of Austin and Delta that are irrigated by direct
diversion from the Gunnison River have had essentially an adequate water supply
for all "eir requirements. In general, the remaining lands within the sub-
basin ha "" "ad varying degrees of deficient water supplies. The development
of the" l,2'1sIve reservoir system on Grand Mesa helped to equalize the water
supplie;",n the George Creek-Surface Creek-Currant Creek areas in the vicinity
of the t ".'Ie of Cedaredge, but has not provided for the full seasonal require-
ments of the irrigated lands in this area. Late-season flows available to
canal systems heading directly in the North Fork River or tributaries generally
have not been adequate to fully meet the irrigation requirements.

Total water resources of the subbasin are more than sufficient for all require~
ments of the present and potential irrigated lands. Regulation of early~
season high flows by reservoir storage would eliminate the existing late-
season water-supply shortages, providers ample water for the remaining
,suitable lands, and permit full development of the subbasin.

The undepleted water supply for the North Fork subbasin is summarized in
table 22.

Table 22.- Water Supply, North Fork Subbasin, 1/ 1943-60 average

Acre-feet

North Fork near Somerset
Minnesota Creek and tributaries
Hubbard, Terror, Jay and Roatcap Creeks
LeRoux Creek
Currant Creek
Surface Creek, including Milk Creek
Young, Kiser, Cottonwood, Ward and
George Creeks
Oak and Doughspoon Creeks
Incidental Areas
City of Delta export
Overland Ditch import

318,100
16,900
21,700
32,900
4,600
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31,800
4,000
2,000
2,000
---2.... 400

Total 2../

469,300

1/ Includes subbasin accrettons to Basin water supplies. Does not include main
river flow entering subbasin, local return flows, or direct accretions to
river flow, if any.
1/ Partly estimated by correlation.

Present Water Use

Of the 61,900 irrigated acres in the North Fork subbasin, about 31,200 acres,
or more than half, has had insufficient water supplies to provide full crop
production. An additional 7,200 acres on the average has been cropped to
small grain which has a short-growing season and accordingly has generally
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