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." ~,(, ',,,'~ ..' FRUITLAND MESA j j Location: North of the Gunnison River In Delta, Montrose and Gunnison counties, Sponsor: Fruitland Mesa Water Conservancy District. Primary Purpose of the Project: Irrigation, Domestic. Secondary Benefits: Some recreation, municipal and industrial (coal) potential. History and BaCkground: The Fruitland Mesa Water Conservancy District was established in 1960 and Congress authorized construction of the project four years later. Funds were subsequently appropriated by Congress and then rescinded in 1977. Since that time, Congress has consistently refused to appropriate even modest sums for redesign of the project. The Colorado RiverWater Conservation District provided a new, scaled-down design of the project for the local district, and the Colorado Water Conservation Board has agreed to fund half the cost of a feasibility study on the redesigned project. The project, iocated above the coal- rich North Fork of the Gunnison Valley, has been scaled down to enlargement and rehabilitation of the Gould Reservoir and construction of a 10-mile open ditch collection system at the lower end of Black Mesa plus some improvement to the Fruitland Mesa Canal. Although there is a substantial amount of irrigable land in the area, crop production is limited due to a severe shortage of late season water. With the scaling down of the project, Irrigation Is limited to 9,000 acres: 2,600 tull service and 7,400 supplemental. As redesigned, the project can poten- tially increase the iivestock population of the area by 10,000 head of cattle. With increased growth in the North Fork Valley as a result of coal development, the project's value as a future, optional source of municipal and industrial water increases, Also, new residences to house mine workers in the project area and further increase water demand are being developed. Physical Facts and Figures: Height, length and type of dam: Increase height of existing earthfili dam from 55 to 80 feet Storage capacity (A.F.) of reservoir: Increase from 8,400 to 16,600 Shoreline and surface area: Shoreline from 2.5 to 4 miles; surface area from 300 to 500 acres Average annual power generation: N/A Population to be served: 600 plus anticipated increases Irrigated acres to be served: 2,600 full supply 6,400 supplemental Estimated cost: $7,000,000 Construction schedule: Start In 1982. completion one year later Proposed Sources of Funding: Colorado Water Conservation Board's revolving fund and/or the Water and Power Resources Service Small Projects Program. For Further Information Contact: Edward J. Currier; Engineer Western Engineers, P.O. Box 571, Grand Junction, CO 81501 242-5202 SAVERY-POT HOOK Location: In the Little Snake River Basin near Baggs on both sides of the Colorado-Wyoming border. Sponsor: Pot Hook Water Conservancy District In Colorado. Primary Purpose of the Project: Irrigation. Secondary Benefit: Recreation: History and Background: The greatest need in the Little Snake Valley is for stabilized agricultural water supply. With the limited reservoir storage now available, the area averages about 28 per cent of Ideal diversion requirements. This limitation has prevented agricultural expansion and forced the area's young people to go elsewhere for a livelihood. The project is sponsored by two conservancy districts, one in Colorado and one In Wyoming. The districts were created in 1960 and the project was authorized by Congress in 1964. Both districts have approved a repayment plan. The project Included $4 million for environmental and recreational considerations and is expected to contribute $2.5 million annually to the economy of the Little Snake Valiey. Additionally, the project would reduce erosion and sediment deposits In the malnstem Colorado River by flOOd control regulation of spring flows into the Little Snake River from Savery and Slater creeks. A definite plan report and final Environmental Impact Statement were completed In 1977 when President Carter successfully deleted construction funds from the publiC works budget. The project has remained essentially stagnant since. Main components of the project are Sandstone Reservoir on Savery Creek In Wyoming and Pot Hood Reservoir on Slater Creek In Colorado plus 62 miles of canal. Savery- Pot H.ook would very positively affect beef prices In that it would send five million pounds of red meat to the market place annually. (Continued on next page) 8