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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Section 1.0

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose of report

The purpose of this report is to determine the impacts of developing
the AB Lateral Hydropower Facility (facility) upon the streamflows on the
Gunnison and Uncompahgre Rivers, and to determine the amount of flow
available for power production under .various . development alternatives.
Because flows into the system are regulated by upstream reservoirs which are
controlled and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), this
report does not discuss "hydrology" in the pure sense. . Precipitation
patterns, runoff parameters and other hydrologic criteria are not discussed.

The primary purpose of the facility is to generate electrical energy
for sale to local utilities. The facility would be designed, constructed
and operated by the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association (UVWUA) and
the Montrose Partners (together referred to as "Sponsors") under the
authority of the Act of June 22, 1938 (Public Law 75-698, Stat. 941).

1.2 Proiect description

The facility would utilize water flows in association with existing
irrigation on the Uncompahgre Valley Recl amation Project (UVRP). Water is
provided to the UVRP by diverting flows from the Gunnison River via the
Gunnison Tunnel and South Canal. The majority of water entering the South
Canal is discharged into the Uncompahgre River, where it is subsequently
di verted into the Montrose and Delta, the Loutzenhi zer, Se 1 i g, Ironstone,
Garnet and East Canals. Water is diverted from the Gunnison River during
the irrigation season, which typically includes the months of April through
October.

The facility proposes to divert flows from the South Canal and AB
Lateral of the UVRP to a powerhouse located in north central Montrose. This
diversion would require the enlargement of 1.2 miles of the existing lateral
from a capacity of about 100 cubic feet per second (cfs) to a capacity of
1,235 cfs. This enlargement would end at an intake structure which would be
constructed as part of the facility, and would be used to divert flows from
the lateral into a 10- to II-foot diameter penstock. The penstock would be
buried throughout all of its length, and would be constructed of either
concrete or steel pipe. It would convey flows a distance of about 38,380'
to a powerhouse located in the northern part of Montrose.

The powerhouse would be located about one-quarter mile west of U.S.
Highway 50 near the abandoned Montrose Sewage Treatment Plant: It would
enclose two vertical Pelton turbines. The power and energy produced by these
turbines would vary according to the design flow alternative selected. The
powerhouse would have concrete foundations and walls, with a steel
superstructure enclosing the facility, and would enclose the necessary
switchgear and control systems for turbine operation.

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