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CHAPTER 1 PURPOSE AND NEED the AB Lateral and West Canal. However, 337,000 acre-feet annually diverted from combined with uncompahgre River water to the majority of the over the Gunnison River are irrigate UVRP lands. Water is diverted from the Uncompahgre River at six diversion dams and passed through several hundred miles of canals, laterals, and drains to meet irrigation needs. Moving downstream from the South Canal outfall, other major canal systems include the Montrose and Delta (M&D) , Loutzenhizer, Selig, Ironstone, East, and Garnet Canals. Annual irrigation diversions for the UVRP and other private systems have averaged about 559,000 acre- feet per year. About half of the flow diverted to these canals is used consumptively (mainly for irrigation), and the remainder returns to the Uncompahgre River for downstream use and ultimately joins the Gunnison River near Delta. Historic UVRP operations have been constrained by two major factors, the capacity of the Gunnison Tunnel and periodic flooding on the Uncompahgre River downstream of the South Canal. Presently, the capacity of the Gunnison Tunnel (the Tunnel) is 1,135 ft'/s, based upon tests conducted by the UVWUA and the Colorado State Engineer in September 1987 (Colorado State Engineer) . The Gunnison Tunnel is 5.8 miles long and crosses under the hydrologic divide between the Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basins., Construction on the Tunnel was started by private interests before 1900 but was stopped due to financial problems. Construction began again in 1904, shortly after the development efforts were assumed by Reclamation (then known as the Reclamation Service). The Tunnel was completed in 1909, but full operation did not begin until 1912, when the Gunnison Diversion Dam was completed. Because of its significance to the historical development of the region and because of the history surrounding the actual construction, the Tunnel has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has also been registered by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a National Engineering Landmark. Relationship with Other Projects The Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basins have been the subject on numerous projects, plans and programs discussed below. The proposed development would operate in concert with existing projects and become part of future management plans for the two basins. 1 -10