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<br />CHAPTER 2 <br /> <br />ALTERNATIVES INCLUDING <br />PROPOSED ACTION <br /> <br />Detailed Description of Alternatives <br /> <br />Alternative A (No Action) <br /> <br />Existing UVRP operating conditions would continue under <br />alternative A. Water diverted from the Gunnison River through <br />the Gunnison Tunnel is delivered to the Uncompahgre River through <br />the South Canal and, to a lesser extent, Cedar Creek. Cedar <br />Creek is used because of capacity limitations in the South Canal <br />(see chapter 3). After entering the Uncompahgre River, Gunnison <br />River flows are combined with Uncompahgre flows and diverted into <br />six major canal systems -- the Montrose and Delta (M&D) , <br />Loutzenhizer, Selig, Ironstone, East, and Garnet. Water supplies <br />are delivered to the West Canal via a direct diversion from the <br />South Canal. (Each of these systems are described in detail in <br />chapter 3) . <br /> <br />In addition to the West Canal, flows are diverted from the South <br />Canal into the AB Lateral and several other small laterals along <br />its 11.6-mile length. Project 7, which also diverts a portion of <br />its water supplies from the South Canal, is a rural water supply <br />system which provides domestic supplies to three area water <br />conservancy districts as well as for Montrose, Olathe, and Delta. <br />Project 7 water diverted from the South Canal is stored in <br />Fairview Reservoir, which is adjacent to the canal about 1 mile <br />downstream from the West Portal of the Tunnel. <br /> <br />Average annual historical supplies and diversions for the UVRP <br />are presented in table 2.1. Values shown in this table are based <br />upon a 32-year period of record used as the basis for analysis of <br />the remaining development alternatives. <br /> <br />periodic flooding on the Uncompahgre River has caused the UVWUA <br />to reduce diversions through the Tunnel to prevent additional <br />flows from being introduced to the Uncompahgre River. In <br />general, flooding conditions occur annually along the <br />Uncompahgre, although the severity of flooding has varied <br />greatly. Ridgway Dam is not specifically operated for flood <br />control, but its operation will reduce flooding along the <br />Uncompahgre. Flood conditions are described in chapter 3. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Before the Aspinall Unit was constructed, it was not uncommon for <br />Gunnison River flows to fall below 100 ft'/s. However, the <br />Aspinall Unit has helped to stabilize flows in the Gunnison River <br />which in turn has allowed the establishment of a Gold Medal <br />fishery in the river between the tunnel portal and the North Fork <br />of the Gunnison River. To protect this fishery and to meet <br /> <br />2 - 3 <br />