PROJ00259

• Contract/PO #: C153424
• Contractor Name: Colorado River Water Conservation District
• Water District: 0
• Bill Number: XB 99-999
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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II. INTRODUCTION

A. Project History

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I. Previous Studies

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Elements of the West Divide Project were studied as early as
1936 and 1937 (Ref. I, 2 and 3). The first major studies of the West
Divide Project were conducted during the early 1960's. At that time,
the project included the Placita Damsite, which was a major dam and
reservoir on the Crystal River. Water was to be conveyed to the pro-
ject area in the McClure tunnel and the Huntsman Conduit. (Ref.
4,5,6,7,14,17,47)

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During the early 1970's, the Placita Reservoir and the asso-
ciated conveyance structures were the subject of public dialogue.
Because of negative public reaction to project features on the Crystal
River, the focus of the West Divide Project was transferred to the
West Divide Creek basin in the late 1970s. The project was re-
evaluated and resulted in a USBR Planning Report (Ref. 42) dated May
1982.

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The 1982 USBR planning study involved pumping of Colorado
River Water to Dry Hollow Reservoir. Kendig Dam and Reservoir would
be used to regulate the flows of West Divide Creek. Using an exten-
sive system of new canals and pumping plants, water would be delivered
to existing irrigated land and new irrigated land from the West Divide
Creek bssin westward to Battlement Mesa. The project cost in 1980
dollars was $195 million.

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2. Historic Water Use - Project Area

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There are about 9,000 acres of land presently irrigated from
major ditches. Because no water storage currently exists within the
basin, the present pattern of irrigation involves flooding the irri-
gated areas with as much water as possible in May and June. By early
July the flow of West Divide Creek has dropped to levels which preclu-
des further irrigation. Irrigated crops must survive the remainder of
the growing season on residual soil moisture and available
precipitation.

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The consumptive use of the 9,000 irrigated acres is about
18,000 acre-feet annually. This is less than the available flow of
West Divide Creek which averages 24,000 acre-feet. The shortage of
water which exists (about 1.5 ac-ft per acre) is due to the distribu-

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