Laserfiche WebLink
<br />01809 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />the other fectors that influence restoration of groundwater have been <br /> <br /> <br />unfavorable allover Western Colorado during the last 10 years, and <br /> <br /> <br />~roas apparently not deficient in precipitation have shown just as great <br /> <br /> <br />a reduction iu base flow as those in which precipitation was notably de- <br /> <br /> <br />ficient. <br /> <br />.' <br /> <br />In rllre cases it is possible by water-spreading or similar <br /> <br /> <br />plans to restore groundwater, and where conditions are favorable this <br /> <br /> <br />can often be very cheaply done. The only certain method, however, to <br /> <br /> <br />make up for tho reduced base flow is by providing stored water. The <br /> <br /> <br />to~n of Crested Butte reached the point many years ugo at which the base <br /> <br /> <br />flow of Coal Creak \'Ins inadequate for its winter supply, nnd now, even <br /> <br /> <br />with the storage then provided, the town faces the necessity to increase <br /> <br /> <br />the stored water. <br /> <br /> <br />Crested Butte Water SYstem <br /> <br /> <br />The to"n of Crested Butte, population 1,250, is located 28 miles. <br /> <br /> <br />north of Gunnison, county scat of Gunnison County, just west of the Con- <br /> <br /> <br />tinental Divide in contral Western Coloredo. Its only present industry is <br /> <br /> <br />the mining of conl, of lihich both hard tlIld soft varieties are available in <br /> <br /> <br />grent quantity and >3xcelleut quality. Crested Butte enjoys unusually <br /> <br /> <br />steady production becnuse of th2 domestic market for its fine hard coals. <br /> <br /> <br />The town water system first built about 1893, secures water from <br /> <br /> <br />Coal Creek, a tributary of Slate Creak, ons of the streams fanning Gunni- <br /> <br /> <br />son River. For mony years, not only the domestic water supply but also <br /> <br /> <br />the electricnl supply of the town 1me furnished by Coal Creek. WOlter was <br /> <br /> <br />token from Co('~ Croek cbout one and one-half' miles west of town cmd carried <br /> <br /> <br />in steel pipe of l4-inch diameter to a reservoir about three-fourths mile <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />-2- <br />