FLOOD01459

• County: Gunnison
• Community: Uncompahgre Valley
• Title: Upper Gunnison-Uncompahgre Basin Phase 1 Feasibility Study Summary Report
• Date: 5/1/1989
• Prepared For: Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority
• Prepared By: HDR Engineering, Inc.
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Project

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4.3 FORECAST OF FUTURE AGRICULTURAL WATER DEMAND

Agriculture, as treated
and livestock production.
segments.

in this study, consists of irrigated agriculture
Separate forecasts were made for these two

The forecasts of irrigated agricultural demand were prepared based on
three scenarios of projected growth. The basel ine condition for irrigated
agri culture assumes continued cult ivati on of currently i rri gated 1 ands with
associ ated hi stori cal croppi ng patterns and water shortages, whi ch is the
present situation with no change. The moderate growth scenario assumes
providing a full irrigation water supply to all currently irrigated lands.
The high growth scenario assumes providing a full water supply to all
currently irrigated lands as well as to all other arable lands that are
presently not irrigated. This entails bringing 30,235 acres of new land under
irrigation. The probability of market changes occurring which would make this
level of development economical is low, but it illustrates the potential
maximum growth condition in the agricultural sector and the associated water
demand.

The forecast of 1 i vestock water demand was based on consumpt i ve use
figures for the particular animals raised in the area and livestock population
projections. The livestock population projection was based on maintaining the
historic ratio of population per irrigated acre in the study area.

4.4 SUMMARY OF WATER DEMAND FORECASTS

Table 4.1 summarizes projected future water demands for the study area in
the year 2035.