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OC23li2 . LOWER GUNNISON BASIN UNIT Background The Lower Gunnison Basin Unit (Unit) was authorized for construction in October 1984 with enactment of Public Law 98-569. The Unit consists of the Uncompahgre River valley from its confluence with the Gunnison River at Delta, Colorado, to Colona, Colorado. The Unit contributes approximately 360,000 tons of salt annually to the Colorado River system. The salt is attributable to seepage losses from unlined canals and laterals as well as deep percolation from irrigated lands. The Feasibility Report/Final Environmental Impact Statement (FR/FEIS) on the Unit was filed with the Environmental Protection Agency in February 1984. The plan of development consists of six components. One of these components (referred to as Winter Water Replacement) will eliminate and replace winter water flows, currently used as a source of stockwater, by constructing extensions and enlargements to the existing rural domestic water delivery systems. Construction on this portion of the unit was initiated in FY 90 and when complete, will prevent approximately 74,000 tons of salt from entering the river system annually. . The remaining components would consist of lining the five canal systems on the east side of the Uncompahgre River. If constructed, the lining components will prevent approximately 66,500 tons of salt from entering the river system annually. Because of the marginal cost effectiveness associated with the canal lining components (approximately $140 per ton of salt removed as compared to $40 per ton for the winter water component) this portion of the program has been deferred until they are considered necessary to meet salinity goals. Winter Water Replacement Status Replacement stockwater deliveries will be provided through the existing rural domestic water systems that are currently owned and operated by the Tri-County Water Conservancy District and the Menoken and Chipeta Water Companies. These entities are constructing the off-farm system improvements under cooperative agreements with Reclamation. The on-farm system improvements, consisting of pipelines and stock tanks installed on private property in order to provide stockwater deliveries to the point of historical use, are being constructed by the Uncompahgre Valley Water User's Association (Association). The projected construction schedule and budget are presented in the following table. The costs reflect the government cost estimate for constructing the facilities. Fiscal year 1990 construction performance indicates a 40% cost savings due to the force account construction method being employed. . 9