Cottonwood Creek Appendices

• Case Number: 05CW0149
• Stream Name: Cottonwood Creek
• Water Division: 4
• Water District: 60
• County: Montrose
• Instream Flow App - Doc Type: Supplemental Data

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GUNNISON BASIN

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Basinwide Conditions Assessment:
The SWSI value of 3.0 indicates that for July the basin
water supplies were above normal. Storage in Taylor park,
Crawford, and Fruitland reservoirs totaled 112% of normal as
of the end of July. Flow at the gaging station Uncompahgre
River near Ridgway averaged 678 cis as compared to the
1961.1993 July average of 338 cis.

Outlook
Hot weather in July kept the snow melting at a high
rate, and the subsequent runoff was high but not at flood
stages. The flows will continue to be higher than usual
throughout the summer and fall months.

Administrative/Manasrement Concerns
Administration of water rights in the basin has been
relatively easy this year, since there has been excess water.
Some smaller creek systems in the Cedaredge area that usually
go on call during June did not have a call until the middle of
July. On Kannah Creek, which is a highly administered
system southeast of Grand Junction, the call did not occur
until the first part of August. Other systems are also
experiencing a delayed call, or no call at all.
For the reservoir concerns, Taylor Park and Blue Mesa
Reservoirs are being slowly brought down according to their
operating policies. Both reservoirs came extremely close to
spilling this year, but through strategic operating by the
USBR, were able to store the high flows and diminish
flooding. Both Morrow Point and Crystal Reservoirs spilled.
Ridgeway Reservoir did not spill and will stay full during the
summer season for recreational purposes.

Public Use Impacts
The division office has received numerous calls
concerning river levels and how they are affecting the
recreational uses. Many people have found it necessary to
cancel fishing and rafting trips due to high flows and river
closures. Most river closures were rescinded in July when
flows dropped. High rivers can take their toll on rafters and
several people died this year from rafting accidents.
Recreational use on reservoirs has been high this year because
of full levels.

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