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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Uncompahgre River and supplemental waters through the Uncompahgre _ Gunnison Tunnel Project. The West, Montrose and Delta, and Ironstone Canals carry irrigation water to the West, and Loutzenhizer, Selig, South, and East Canals carry water to the east. In addition, there are a number of small irrigation canal systems within the Valley. FLOOD HISTORY ( The Uncompahgre River has a long history of flooding. Flooding along the lower Uncompahgre River usually results from rapid snowmelt of an above average snowpack from mid-May through early July, but may also result from runoff of general rain, particularly in the Delta area. Historically, floods on the Uncompahgre River have disrupted highway and rail traffic, damaged and destroyed irriga~ion diversion structures, eroded farmlands, damaged and destroyed crops, eroded channel banks and roadway embankments, deposited sand, silt, and debris on croplands, inundated structures, and destroyed natural vegetation. PEAK FLOWS OF HISTORICAL FLOODS (In cubic feet per second) Year 1921 1927 1938 1957 1975 1983 Colona Gage 5,140 cfs 3,400 cfs 3,390 cfs 3,300 cfs 3,360 cfs 3,260 cfs Date June 13-14 June 28 June 22 June 29 July 4 June 26 FLOODING CHARACTERISTICS During a flood, the velocity of flow in the channel of the river averages 6-10 feet per second throughout the study reach. Flood waters in the overbank may flow as slowly as 1 foot per -2-