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<br />Gunnison Basin
<br />Growth
<br />
<br />The Gunnison Basin is
<br />comprised of all or part of
<br />six counties. Changes in
<br />population from 2000 to
<br />2030, including percent
<br />annual growth rate on a
<br />county level, are shown in
<br />the table here. During that
<br />time, the population in the
<br />basin is expected to grow by
<br />72,900 people, or
<br />82 percent.
<br />
<br />
<br />Gunnison Basin Population Projections
<br />
<br />Gunnison River Basin
<br />
<br /> Increase in Percent Percent
<br /> Population Change Annual
<br /> 2000 2030 2000 to 2000 to Growth
<br />County Population Population 2030 2030 Rate
<br />Delta 28,000 50,200 22,200 79 2.0
<br />Gunnison 14,000 19,700 5,700 41 1.1
<br />Hinsdale 800 1,200 400 50 1.4
<br />Mesa 11,700 22,500 10,800 92 2.2
<br />Montrose 30,300 61,500 31,200 103 2.4
<br />Ou ray 3,800 6,400 2,600 68 1.8
<br />TOTAL 88,600 161,500 72,900 82 2.0
<br />
<br />Gunnison Basin
<br />Water Demands
<br />
<br />Gunnison Basin Demand Projections
<br />
<br /> Identified
<br /> Projected Increase in Gross
<br /> 2000 Gross 2030 Gross Conservation Gross Demand
<br /> Demand Demand Savings Demand Shortfall
<br />Subbasin Designation (AF) (AF) (AF) (AF) (AF)
<br />Delta 6,600 11,100 700 4,500 500
<br />Gunnison 2,900 4,400 200 1,200 1,100
<br />Hinsdale 200 300 - 100 100
<br />Mesa 2,000 3,900 200 1,700 100
<br />Montrose 7,000 4,300 900 6,400 300
<br />Ou ray 1,600 2,700 100 1,000 300
<br />TOTAL 20,300 37,600 2,100 14,900 2,400
<br />
<br />The Gunnison Basin is
<br />projected to increase in
<br />municipal and industrial
<br />(M&I) and self-supplied
<br />industrial (SSI) water
<br />demand by 14,900 acre-feet
<br />(AF) by 2030. M&I is defined
<br />as all of the water use of a
<br />typical municipal system,
<br />including residential,
<br />commercial, industrial,
<br />irrigation, and firefighting.
<br />Large industrial water users
<br />that have their own water
<br />supplies or lease raw water from others are
<br />described as SSI water users. M&I and SSI water
<br />demand forecasts for the Gunnison Basin are shown
<br />in the table above.
<br />
<br />The 2000 and 2030 gross demands are presented in
<br />the table along with the projected conservation
<br />savings. Conservation practices include ordinances
<br />and standards that improve the overall efficiency of
<br />water use, such as installation of low water-use
<br />plumbing fixtures. As the table indicates, the
<br />Gunnison Basin will need an additional 14,900 AF to
<br />meet the increased demands of M&I water use. The
<br />majority of the demand is expected to be met
<br />through existing supplies and water rights and
<br />through the implementation of various projects and
<br />processes. However, there are still some anticipated
<br />shortfalls expected in certain portions of the basin.
<br />This is also shown in the table.
<br />
<br />Surface Water Diversions in Acre-feet by Use
<br />
<br />. Irrigation
<br />. Storage
<br />
<br />Wet and Dry Periods
<br />
<br />Every year, there is at least one lOa-year flood
<br />somewhere in the state. Colorado's total estimated
<br />flood losses to date are $4.9 billion. The Gunnison
<br />Basin's most recent flood event was in June of 1995.
<br />The estimated total historic flood damages for this
<br />basin are $ 13.2 million to date.
<br />
<br />
<br />Source: Colorado Division of Water Resources, Cumulative Yearly Statistics of
<br />
<br />May through
<br />June 1993
<br />Basin floods
<br />
<br />-
<br />
<br />June 1957 Sept 1970 May through
<br />Basin floods Basin floods June 1984
<br />Basin floods
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />=..=~
<br />
<br />June
<br />1995
<br />Basin
<br />floods
<br />
<br />-
<br />
<br />Dry Avg Wet
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />-=
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />Source: Colorado Water Conservation Board and Division of Water Resources
<br />
<br />
<br />Waterfall on Nellie Creek
<br />(photo courtesy of Dale Lough)
<br />
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