BOARD01982

• Board Meeting Date: 7/30/1976
• Description: Agenda or Table of Contents, Minutes, Resolution
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

Many Df the farmers are improving their own irrigation methods by
lining their ditches and making more uniform application of water to the
lands. In our early studies of improvement on the project, we've analyzed
different alternatives in lining selected reaches of the canals and re-
placing essential structures, to a full-blown program of finding
alternate canals and major laterals and replacing the structures. The
estimated cost to do this entire program approaches about $75,000,000.

Twenty-eight farmers with over 3,000 acres are participating in a water
management program using weather data on rainfall, temperatures, and
wind velocity, and correlating it with soil data through the use of
computers to determine the mDst opportune time and amount of water to
apply to the land. Water is measured on and off the land to determine
its efficient use, and water tables are continuously monitored to
determine their effects on crop production.

The Lower Gunnison Water Quality Improvement Program now under way
includes irrigation scheduling. It also analyzes lining the canals and
laterals to reduce water losses. To assist in these studies, a contract
was let on June 29 to obtain orthophotographs to help planning engineers
and design engineers to determine the best sizing and design of the
project features.

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In conjunction with the improvement program and in correlation with the
water quality program, a water sample program is in progress to deter-
mine the salt load from deep percolation and surface runoff. ~pproxi-
mate1y thirty sites are sampled regularly to determine the salt ~ontent
of the streams in the project area. In addition, another thirty samples
of tile drains are measured to determine ,the effects of the deep perco-
.lation. Hopefully, the improvement and/or water quality investigation
. will result in a plan that will be beneficial to the Uncompahgre Valley
water users and to all users of Colorado River water downstream from
the project. Thank you.

Dave Franson, our team leader for the Dominguez project, will now:,put
on the slide presentation for the Dominguez Reservoir project.

MR. FRANSON: Mr. Chairman, gentlemen of the Board, ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to present the progress to date and the status of the
Dominguez Reservoir project.

A ,special report on the need for the improvement and extension of the
Uncompahgre project was issued in January, 1972. This report led to the
authorization of feasibility studies for two projects -- first, the
Uncompahgre Improvement project and, second, the Dominguez Reservoir I
project, which was the extension portion of the 1972 report. Although
feasibility investigations were authorized in October of 1972, funding
to conduct the studies was not received until October of 1974,at which
time the studies began.

The investigations are being carried out under the multi-objective
planning procedures as outlined in the principles and standards that were
established by the National Water Resources Council in 1971..

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