FLOOD03331

• County: Gunnison
• Community: Uncompahgre Valley
• Basin: Gunnison
• Title: Uncompahgre Valley Reclamation Project - Hydropower - Part 3 - Environmental Impact Statement DRAFT
• Date: 4/19/1989
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Project

CHAPTER 1

PURPOSE AND NEED

section; (4) installation of new concrete-lined sections on the
West Canal to prevent leakage and slippage; (5) repair of the
lining along the South Canal; (6) repair of the Gunnison Tunnel
and tunnels along the South Canal; and (7) capping the downstream
apron on the Ironstone and M&D Diversion Dams and replacing the
sluice gate on the Selig Diversion Dam. Completion of the R&B
program would not be affected by AB Lateral alternatives.

Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program

The Lower Gunnison Basin Unit of the Colorado River Water Quality
Improvement Program was authorized for construction in 1984 under
Public Law 98-569. The winter water portion of the unit provides
for replacing winter livestock water in the UVRP system with
delivery through the rural domestic systems. Also part of the
overall plan is to concrete-line approximately 60 miles of canals
and 195 miles of laterals on the east side of the Uncompahgre
Valley. The winter water component of the plan will be
implemented as the initial phase of development. Construction
and operation of the unit would not be affected by alternatives
being considered for the hydropower project.

Shavano Falls Hydropower Facility

The Sponsors also propose to develop a 2.9-MW hydroelectric
station at Shavano Falls on the M&D Canal about 6 miles west of
Montrose. Power and energy from the Shavano Falls Facility would
be sold to the Public Service Company of Colorado. Reclamation
prepared an environmental assessment for the development in 1986
and issued a finding of no significant impact in 1987
(Reclamation, 1986 and 1987b) .

Developing the AB Lateral Facility would reduce the amount of
hydropower water that would be diverted to this unit. This
action would reduce the energy production at Shavano Falls;
however, developing the AB Lateral Facility would not diminish
the quantity of water in the M&D Canal for irrigation purposes.

Other Water Projects

The Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority is
presently conducting a study of water and related resources of
the Upper Gunnison and Uncompahgre Basins. The primary objective
of this study has been to identify and evaluate water resource
development plans to enhance the water-based economy of the study
area in an environmentally sound manner with the goals to provide

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