FLOOD10516

• County: Delta
• Basin: Gunnison
• Title: North Fork Water Conservancy District Water Management Plan
• Date: 7/1/2001
• Prepared For: Delta County
• Prepared By: Delta Soil Conservation District
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Floodplain Report/Masterplan

North Fork Water COf1servancy District - Water Management Plan...

with initial storage I capacity of 18,150 acre-feet. Sedimentation over the years has decreased active
storage capacity. Today, active storage is estimated at 15,327 acre-feet. Storage water is allocated to
th~ following uses::

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. 8,100 a9re-feet to Fire Mountain Canal
. 4,550 aore-feet to Leroux Creek Water Users Association
. 2,000 acre-feet to Ragged Mountain Water Users Association
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. 677 acre-feet remaining in a sedimentation pool
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Fire Mountain Div~rsion Dam, located on the North Fork of the Gunnison River near Somerset, is a
timber sheet-piling; rockfill structure. Crest height is approximately 11 feet above the streambed. Fire
Mountain Canal extends 34.7 miles along the north side of the valley with over 30 miles of laterals. The
capacity of the canal is 200 CFS, reducing to 100 CFS at the Leroux Creek crossing. The canal services
over 480 water users that irrigate over 8,200 acres (Map 2, see map tube). Table 1-2 summarizes the
Fire Mountain Canal facilities.

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The USBOR hold~ title to structures constructed as part of the,Paonia Project. These structures include
the Paonia Dam, Fire Mountain Canal Diversion Dam, Fire Mountain Canal, and Leroux Ditch. To ensure
proper maintenance, BOR inspect these facilities on a 6-year cycle. Dams are examined annually with a
comprehensive review completed every six years. Facilities other than dams are examined every 6
years. BOR completes exam reports that may contain maintenance recommendations to the NFWCD.
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TABLE 1-3
Summary of Fire Mountain Canal Facilities

34.7 miles
200 CFS

Len th
Diversion ca acit.
Length of canal section
clay !
concrete
shotcrete . !
i e/box culvertlsi hon
Number of turnoUts
Number of si horis
Number of washouts
Number of canal flow measurin devices

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Previous Water ;Management Plans
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The NFWCD or FMCC completed water management plans in 1987 and 1992. The 1992 plan stated the
following goals: I

1. Continuk to budget for and construct canal improvements

2. Cooper~te with other organizations to improve Paonia Project facilities

3. Identify loptions that will replace storage capacity being lost by sedimentation of Paonia
Reserv6ir

4. Enlargel East Beckwith Reservoir

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5. Ensure accurate water measurements throughout the Fire Mountain Canal

19.21 miles
3.77 miles
0,96 miles
0.76 miles
85
7
7
4

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