BOARD01567

• Board Meeting Date: 5/1/1975
• Description: Agenda or Table of Contents, Minutes, Memos
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

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of Dallas Creek, that flows in an easterly direction towards Ridgway
from the Uncompahgre Plateau. Most irrigated lands along this low
yielding stream could benefit from an increased water supply, particu-
larly during late July and August.

The town of Ridgway and the upper Uncompahgre Valley is just east of
Dallas Creek as illustrated in this slide with the familiar San Juan
Mountains in the background. U. S. Highway 550, serving the area south
of Montrose and the Uncompahgre River curve through the picture.

From Ridgway, the Uncompahgre River enters a narrow canyon and is joined
by Dallas Creek from the west. A county road parallels the stream for
part of the way, then crosses the river to meet Highway 550. Within
the canyon we see the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad track, the
owners of which have filed a request to discontinue service and to
abandon the line.

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Further downstream, we view the confluence of the Uncompahgre River and .
Cow Creek. The murky condition of the Uncompahgre is caused by pollution
from upstream mine tailings, while the water in Cow Creek remains com-
paratively clear. Near Colona, pictured here, the river leaves the
narrow canyon and enters the lower Uncompahgre Valley. A field of sugar
beets is seen here with a portion of Cimarron Ridge in the background.
Other common crops in the area are pinto beans, malting barley, corn,
alfalfa, and some fruit. Further down the valley is the city of Montrose,
the largest city in the Uncompahgre Valley.

The vast agricultural area of the Uncompahgre project lies between Delta
and Montrose and is pictured with Grand Mesa in the background. Its
present agricultural success and that of fields like it are dependent
on irrigation. Even as productive as these fields are, they could
benefit from an increased water supply in July and August.

Near the city of Delta is the confluence of the Uncompahgre and the
Gunnison Rivers. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and already popular
scenic area, lies east of Delta and Montrose. To the south of Black
Canyon is Cimarron Ridge, as seen here from a field on Log Hill Mesa.
The Uncompahgre Valley is experiencing a rapid rate of population growth
typified by this development on Spring Creek Mesa near Montrose. Here
is a broader view of the same general area showing the trend toward
small tract development.

The Tri-County Water Conservancy District, sponsors of the Dallas Creek
project, has begun an extensive construction program to bring domestic
water to the rural homes throughout the basin. When this system was
begun, the district anticipated obtaining a permanent water supply from
the Dallas Creek project. They are now using an interim supply from the
Gunnison River, delivered through the Gunnison Tunnel by agreement with
the Uncompahgre Water Users Association.

Now, let's look at the present anticipated plan of development for the
Dallas Creek project. Water for this project would be provided by
storage of flows in two reservoirs -- Dallas Divide on Pleasant Valley

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