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CWCB Construction Fund Grant Application Grand Valley Water Management Project 4 will be lined as part of the Colorado River Salinity Control Program to control seepage. Plans are to place all laterals, including those served by the Middle Government Highline Canal, in pipe. East End Government Highline Canal' The first 10 mi. of the Government Highline Canal is referred to as the East End Government Highline Canal (East End). The initial design capacity of the canal is about 850 ft3/S. This portion of the canal also serves the lands of Mesa County and Palisade Irrigation Districts. About 120 ft3/s is delivered to the districts during the irrigation season. The last 8 miles of the East End have been membrane lined. Middle Government Highline Canal: The next reach ofthe Government Highline Canal is the Middle Government Highline Canal. The design capacity at the beginning of this section is 730 ft3/S. This 20 mi. reach of the canal delivers water to 54 laterals and about 12,300 ac. It is an unlined canal with no check structures. The required water surface elevation in the canal is maintained by adjusting the amount of water in the canal. The Middle Government Highline Canal is not scheduled for improvement. Stage One: The next 7 mi. of the Government Highline Canal is called Stage One. The design capacity of the beginning of Stage One is 360 ft3/ s. This section of canal delivers water to 12 laterals and about 6,300 ac. All the laterals in this section of canal have been placed in pipe. The canal is concrete lined and has four check structures which can maintain the upstream water surface elevation regardless of canal flow. West End Government Highline Canal: The last 8 mi. of canal is called the West End Government Highline Canal (West End). The design capacity of the beginning of the West End is 160 ft3/S. It delivers water to 9 laterals and about 5,200 ac. All the laterals in the West End have been placed in pipe. The canal is membrane lined and has four check structures which can maintain the upstream water surface elevation regardless of canal flow. WATER MANAGEMENT IN THE GARFIELD GRAVITY DIVISION Operation ofthe current system has been described by the manager of the GVWUA as an art. The intricacies and "art" of daily operations are extensive. This art is developed through years of observation of how the system responds to various conditions. It is through this experience that the manager makes daily decisions on how the canal should be operated. And it is the accumulation of this observed knowledge that makes the science of water management difficult. Historic Water Management During the early part of the irrigation season, about 1 April through 1 May, there is usually an abundant supply of water in the Colorado River. During this period, irrigation demand is often