FLOOD02454

• County: Gunnison
• Community: Uncompahgre Valley
• Basin: Gunnison
• Title: Uncompahgre Valley Reclamation Project - Hydropower - Part 2 - AB Lateral Unit Water Supply Study
• Date: 12/1/1988
• Prepared For: Montrose Partners and Ucompahgre Valley Water Users Association
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Project

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2.1.3

Montrose & Delta Canal

The Montrose and Delta Canal, ("M&D") was privately built but acquired
as part of the UVRP in 190B. The canal is about 40 miles long, and diverts
flows from the Uncompahgre River to over 25,200 acres along the west side of
the valley. The entire length of the canal is unlined, and the canal
section is generally 26 feet wide by 5 feet deep.

Maximum flows into the system generally range between 550 to 560 cfs,
(see Appendix A) with the majority of diversions occurring in the irrigation
season. The principal source of these diversions is flow diverted from the
Gunnison River via the South Canal. However, flows are also diverted into
the system during the winter months. Generally, these flows are not
recorded, but have been estimated by the UVWUA's General Manager to range
between 25 to 35 cfs.

An average winter flow diversion of 28 cfs has been assumed for
purposes of this report. The source of flows for winter diversions is the
Uncompahgre River, rather than the Gunnison.

2.1.4

Loutzenhizer Canal

The Loutzenhizer Canal diverts water out of the Uncompahgre River at
headgates about two miles downstream from the M&D headgates. The canal is
nearly 15 miles long and was privately built before the turn of the century.
It was acquired by Reclamation for the UVRP in 1908. The canal serves about
6,200 acres on the east side of the valley near Montrose. It is unlined,
and has a maximum bottom width of about 16 feet. Mean monthly flows are
presented in Appendix A. As with the M&D, the vast majority of diversions
occur during the irrigation season, using waters provided from Uncompahgre
and Gunnison Rivers via the South Canal. Winter diversions are normally in
the range of 10 to 15 cfs, with flows provided solely by the Uncompahgre
River.

2.1.5

Sel ig Canal

The Selig Canal irrigates nearly 10,000 acres on the east side of the
valley north of Montrose. The canal diverts water from the Uncompahgre at
headgates in the north central part of Montrose, and runs about 20 miles to
the north towards Olathe and Delta. The canal was privately constructed but
acquired by Reclamation in 1914.

The canal is unlined. It has a maximum diversion capacity of 320 cfs,
but maximum diversions have been in the range of 190 to 200 cfs (see
Appendix A). Winter diversions range between 10 and 15 cfs.

2.1.6

Other canal systems

The UVWUA also operates three other canal systems in the valley which
divert flow from the Uncompahgre River downstream from the Selig Canal
headgates. These systems include the Ironstone Canal, which irrigates over
22,500 acres, the East Canal (7,660 acres), and the Garnet Canal (1,600
acres). The maximum diversion capacities at the headgates of these canal
systems are 400, 165 and 75 cfs, respectively [Reclamation, 1980].

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